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Fire1 Posted 5 years ago
Grammar

If not adjective

A. “John is smart, if not brilliant.”

Meaning 1
“John is smart, but he isn’t brilliant”

Meaning 2
“John is smart and maybe even brilliant”

I think that if "not" negates "brilliant", sentences A means Meaning 1, but if "not" negates "John is smart" as "John isn't smart", sentence A means Meaning 2.
So, is the meaning of sentence A changed according to what "not" negates? and am I right?

  

Top answer

I've only seen this used for Meaning #2. ” Clive

— Clive

  • I've only seen this used for Meaning #2.
  • ” Clive
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1 Answers
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I've only seen this used for Meaning #2.

If I intended Meaning #1, I'd say it more explicitly, eg “John is smart, but not brilliant.”

Clive

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