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Moon7296 Posted 15 years ago
Essay & Composition Writing

How could you not~ /// How couldn't you~

1. How could you not notice you were sewing that up in there

2. How couldn't you notice you were sewing that up in there

When there is a contraction 'not' and the subject(you) change?

Is the order only difference? or different in other ways too?(translation, style etc,.)
  

Top answer

Hi, #2 does not seem to me like a natural thing to say. The whole point of this structure is emphasis, so the natural thing is to say the whole thing without abbreviation in order to stress the word 'not'. A rough Google search finds 11, 500 for "how could you not" 185 for "how couldn't you" Clive

— Clive

  • Hi, #2 does not seem to me like a natural thing to say.
  • The whole point of this structure is emphasis, so the natural thing is to say the whole thing without abbreviation in order to stress the word 'not'.
  • A rough Google search finds 11, 500 for "how could you not" 185 for "how couldn't you" Clive
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3 Answers
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Hi,

#2 does not seem to me like a natural thing to say.

The whole point of this structure is emphasis, so the natural thing is to say the whole thing without abbreviation in order to stress the word 'not'.

A rough Google search finds
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Hi,

So 'How could you not~' emphasises 'you', doesn't it?
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Hi,

In a suitable context, yes, but I'd say the main emphasis is those four words is usually on 'not'.

eg (wife to husband) How could you not remember our wedding anniversary?

Clive

Clive.
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