0
Moon7296 Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary
I will ever
Words such as any, which normally occur only in negative statements but are themselves not negative, are called negative polarity items.
1. He will budge an inch on the issue.
2. I will ever forgive you for that.
3. John doubts that he'll ever fly a plane anymore.
It is said # 1 and 2 are ungrammatical while #3 is grammatical.
I think the verb 'budge' in #1 is usually used in a negative sentence, isn't it?
I don't know why #2 is ungrammatical; because of that, I get confused about #3's grammaticality too.
1. He will budge an inch on the issue.
2. I will ever forgive you for that.
3. John doubts that he'll ever fly a plane anymore.
It is said # 1 and 2 are ungrammatical while #3 is grammatical.
I think the verb 'budge' in #1 is usually used in a negative sentence, isn't it?
I don't know why #2 is ungrammatical; because of that, I get confused about #3's grammaticality too.
Top answer
Budge doesn't contain a negative meaning. However, it is most often that we see something like: He wo n't budge... (so yes, it is often used in the negative sense) I will never forgive you for that.
- Budge doesn't contain a negative meaning.
- However, it is most often that we see something like: He wo n't budge...
- (so yes, it is often used in the negative sense) I will never forgive you for that.
- (never is negative, don't know if you forgot to type a word or do you mean ever) ever - "at any time" "all the time" If you put in these definitions, the sentence becomes quite weird.
- "I will forgive you for that at any time" and "I will forgive your for that all the time" just don't make sense.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
3 Answers
0
Budge doesn't contain a negative meaning. However, it is most often that we see something like:
He won't budge... (so yes, it is often used in the negative sense)
I will never forgive you for that. (never is negative, don't know if you forgot to type a word or do you mean ever)
ever - "at any time" "all the time" If you put in these definitions, the se
He won't budge... (so yes, it is often used in the negative sense)
I will never forgive you for that. (never is negative, don't know if you forgot to type a word or do you mean ever)
ever - "at any time" "all the time" If you put in these definitions, the se
00
Thank you.
then if I say 'I will never everforgive you for that', it makes sense, doens't it?
My dictionary
then if I say 'I will never everforgive you for that', it makes sense, doens't it?
My dictionary
00
In the first and second sentences, there are two parties involved.
In the third, it is only John and John's thoughts on himself.
There is nothing to contend or possibly disagree with.
In the third, it is only John and John's thoughts on himself.
There is nothing to contend or possibly disagree with.
moon7296Thank you.
then if I say 'I will never ever forgive you for that', it makes sense, doens't it?
My dictionary also says 'ever' is used in
0
Related Questions