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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
grammar for script
I'm not sure about : See if you can't can hear him crying cry
You are using 'see' and 'hear'. Do you put 'can' or 'can't'?
Sam: The cat must be sick, under our bed. See if you can't can hear him crying cry. If he is, he must be sick.
John: I'll go see.
You are using 'see' and 'hear'. Do you put 'can' or 'can't'?
Sam: The cat must be sick, under our bed. See if you can't can hear him crying cry. If he is, he must be sick.
John: I'll go see.
Top answer
" I used to hear it frequently from my grandparents. " If your script is for a play set in the past, the "old" version might be appropriate. " It has nothing to do with vision.
- " I used to hear it frequently from my grandparents.
- " If your script is for a play set in the past, the "old" version might be appropriate.
- " It has nothing to do with vision.
- See if you can/can't solve this problem.
- = Try to solve it!
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2 Answers
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"See if you can't" used to be used frequently in place of "see if you can." I used to hear it frequently from my grandparents.
I'd say it's old fashioned, and lower register than "see if you can."
If your script is for a play set in the past, the "old" version might be appropriate.
"See" in both these versions means "go find out." It has nothing to do with vision.
I'd say it's old fashioned, and lower register than "see if you can."
If your script is for a play set in the past, the "old" version might be appropriate.
"See" in both these versions means "go find out." It has nothing to do with vision.
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A similar illogical negative used to be heard with 'I wouldn't be surprised' -
I wouldn't be surprised if Peter didn't come tomorrow.
This might mean that the speaker would not be surprised by the arrival of Peter; confusingly, it might also mean that the speaker would not be surprised by the non-arrival of Peter. I would use these words only with the first
I wouldn't be surprised if Peter didn't come tomorrow.
This might mean that the speaker would not be surprised by the arrival of Peter; confusingly, it might also mean that the speaker would not be surprised by the non-arrival of Peter. I would use these words only with the first
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