0
Exp Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
He is not as tall as she. = He is shorter than she. Why?
1. He is as tall as she.
2. He is not as tall as she.
The first sentence says that his height is equal to that of hers (HE = SHE). The second sentence is the negation of it. Logically speaking, if his height is not equal to that of hers (HE ? SHE), then he must be either shorter (HE < SHE) or taller (HE > SHE) than she. But the second sentence generally means only the former, that he is shorter than she, and not the latter. Why is this so?
1. She is the tallest of all the students in the class.
2. She is as tall as any other student in the class.
The first sentence is often transliterated to the second second sentence. But if her height is equal to that of any other student in the class, how could she be the tallest?
2. He is not as tall as she.
The first sentence says that his height is equal to that of hers (HE = SHE). The second sentence is the negation of it. Logically speaking, if his height is not equal to that of hers (HE ? SHE), then he must be either shorter (HE < SHE) or taller (HE > SHE) than she. But the second sentence generally means only the former, that he is shorter than she, and not the latter. Why is this so?
1. She is the tallest of all the students in the class.
2. She is as tall as any other student in the class.
The first sentence is often transliterated to the second second sentence. But if her height is equal to that of any other student in the class, how could she be the tallest?
Top answer
Exp The first sentence says that his height is equal to that of hers (HE = SHE). The second sentence is the negation of it. Logically speaking, if his height is not equal to that of hers (HE ?
- Exp The first sentence says that his height is equal to that of hers (HE = SHE).
- The second sentence is the negation of it.
- Logically speaking, if his height is not equal to that of hers (HE ?
- SHE), then he must be either shorter (HE SHE) than she.
- But the second sentence generally means only the former, that he is shorter than she, and not the latter.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
7 Answers
0
ExpThe first sentence says that his height is equal to that of hers (HE = SHE). The second sentence is the negation of it. Logically speaking, if his height is not equal to that of hers (HE ? SHE), then he must be either shorter (HE < SHE) or taller (HE > SHE) than she. But the second sentence generally means only the former, that he is shorter than she, and not the latte
00
CalifJimIn any case, "as tall as any other" should not be used as a paraphrase of "the tallest of all". Those expressions do not have the same meaning.Then what does "as tall as any" mean as compared to "the tallest"?
00
ExpThen what does "as tall as any" mean as compared to "the tallest"?I interpret it as "the same height as all the others" or "at least as tall as any of the others", which may be the tallest or not.
CJ
00
CalifJimI interpret it as "the same height as all the others" or "at least as tall as any of the others", which may be the tallest or not.If all were 1.76 and so was she, therefore she could be both as tall as them and also the tallest (because no one would be taller than her). Is my interpretation right to you please?
00
CalifJimI interpret it as "the same height as all the others" or "at least as tall as any of the others", which may be the tallest or not.So it refers to such a rare case that all the students in the class happen to have the exact same height, including her? Or does it mean that she is one of the tallest students, if not the tallest student riva
00
Franky12 CalifJimI interpret it as "the same height as all the others" or "at least as tall as any of the others", which may be the tallest or not.If all were 1.76 and so was she, therefore she could be both as tall as them and also the tallest (because no one would be taller than her). Is my interpretation right to you please?No. "tallest" can only be one p
00
Exp CalifJimI interpret it as "the same height as all the others" or "at least as tall as any of the others", which may be the tallest or not.So it refers to such a rare case that all the students in the class happen to have the exact same height, including her? Or does it mean that she is one of the tallest students, if not the tallest student rivaled by none?
0
Related Questions