For daring I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third
“Smart fellow, that,” observed Holmes as we walked away. “He is, in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known something of him before.”
The Red-headed League, short story
Hi. Will the meaning of the underlined part remain unchanged if we remove the bold word “not” in red? Or if we remove the “not” in red, how will the meaning change?
Thank you.
Top answer
The removal of 'not', as usual, will reverse the meaning. Holmes thinks that the man may have a claim to be the third smartest man in London; by removing 'not', we see that Holmes does not feel he could be the third smartest.
- The removal of 'not', as usual, will reverse the meaning.
- Holmes thinks that the man may have a claim to be the third smartest man in London; by removing 'not', we see that Holmes does not feel he could be the third smartest.
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The removal of 'not', as usual, will reverse the meaning.
Holmes thinks that the man may have a claim to be the third smartest man in London; by removing 'not', we see that Holmes does not feel he could be the third smartest.
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