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Cho7712 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Negation
I got a problem to interpret this sentecne which relates to the scope of negation.
i.e.) He did not definitely speak to her.
As by Quirk, the range of 'not' goes usually the end of the sentence so that
the above exmaple is paraphraed as "It was not definite that he spoke to her."
Still, is it possible to interpret the exmaple sentence as "He spoke to her not definitely"?(in case the word 'not' only covers right following adverb)?
i.e.) He did not definitely speak to her.
As by Quirk, the range of 'not' goes usually the end of the sentence so that
the above exmaple is paraphraed as "It was not definite that he spoke to her."
Still, is it possible to interpret the exmaple sentence as "He spoke to her not definitely"?(in case the word 'not' only covers right following adverb)?
Top answer
Hi, I got a problem to interpret this sentecne which relates to the scope of negation. ) He did not definitely speak to her. " Yes, I take this meaning.
- Hi, I got a problem to interpret this sentecne which relates to the scope of negation.
- ) He did not definitely speak to her.
- " Yes, I take this meaning.
- ie Maybe he spoke to her, maybe he didn't.
- (in case the word 'not' only covers right following adverb)?
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4 Answers
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Hi,
I got a problem to interpret this sentecne which relates to the scope of negation.
i.e.) He did not definitely speak to her.
As by Quirk, the range of 'not' goes usually the end of the sentence so that
the above exmaple is paraphraed as "It was not definite that he spoke to her." Yes, I take
I got a problem to interpret this sentecne which relates to the scope of negation.
i.e.) He did not definitely speak to her.
As by Quirk, the range of 'not' goes usually the end of the sentence so that
the above exmaple is paraphraed as "It was not definite that he spoke to her." Yes, I take
00
thank you for your prompt answer, and then,
it is possible to interpret the example sentence as ''He spoke to her in a way that was not definite.", which means the scope of negation in the original sentence brings two different interpretation, am I get it right?
By the way, in general situation, the native English users tend to take the example sentence as the first meaning like Quirk sug
it is possible to interpret the example sentence as ''He spoke to her in a way that was not definite.", which means the scope of negation in the original sentence brings two different interpretation, am I get it right?
By the way, in general situation, the native English users tend to take the example sentence as the first meaning like Quirk sug
00
Hi,
If you said that sentence to me, I would only think of the first meaning. Not the second.
Clive
If you said that sentence to me, I would only think of the first meaning. Not the second.
Clive
00
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