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Teo Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
if ... not
1. The president wants me to talk to you about this and see if we can't reach a common ground.
2. The president wants me to talk to you about this and see if we can reach a common ground.
What's the difference in meaning between the above two sentences?
2. The president wants me to talk to you about this and see if we can reach a common ground.
What's the difference in meaning between the above two sentences?
Top answer
Hi, 1. The president wants me to talk to you about this and see if we can't reach a common ground. 2.
- Hi, 1.
- The president wants me to talk to you about this and see if we can't reach a common ground.
- 2.
- The president wants me to talk to you about this and see if we can reach a common ground.
- Logically, there's really no difference.
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2 Answers
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Hi,
1. The president wants me to talk to you about this and see if we can't reach a common ground.
2. The president wants me to talk to you about this and see if we can reach a common ground.
Logically, there's really no difference. However, in terms of how these expressions are commonly used, #1 suggests to me that there i
1. The president wants me to talk to you about this and see if we can't reach a common ground.
2. The president wants me to talk to you about this and see if we can reach a common ground.
Logically, there's really no difference. However, in terms of how these expressions are commonly used, #1 suggests to me that there i
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The first gives the impression that the issue has already been discussed before and met with resistance. The use of "can't" (when it means "can") in the if-clause suggests a sort of plea to make an extra effort to overcome this resistance and agree.
The second is quite neutral in comparison. The issue may have recently come up, but there is no feeling that has been thorough
The second is quite neutral in comparison. The issue may have recently come up, but there is no feeling that has been thorough
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