0
Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage
Negative sentence with 'think'
Would you look at the following sentence?
"Nothing in it, I shouldn't think," said Kate.
(Dead Cert, p128, by Francis)
From context, it obviously means " I should think there is nothing in it."
or I shouldn't think there is anything in it.
In the original sentence, 'think sentence' is independent of the former one, it seems.
'think sentence' in this case seems not to have been uttered as a subject clause to the former.
Is this way of expression general or local?
"Nothing in it, I shouldn't think," said Kate.
(Dead Cert, p128, by Francis)
From context, it obviously means " I should think there is nothing in it."
or I shouldn't think there is anything in it.
In the original sentence, 'think sentence' is independent of the former one, it seems.
'think sentence' in this case seems not to have been uttered as a subject clause to the former.
Is this way of expression general or local?
Top answer
[nq:1]Would you look at the following sentence? "Nothing in it, I shouldn't think," said Kate. (Dead Cert, p128, by ...
- [nq:1]Would you look at the following sentence?
- "Nothing in it, I shouldn't think," said Kate.
- (Dead Cert, p128, by ...
- not to have been uttered as a subject clause to the former.
- [/nq] I think of that "negative tag of agreement" as primarily British, but the longer I'm out of the States, the harder it is for me to judge that.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
27 Answers
0
[nq:1]Would you look at the following sentence? "Nothing in it, I shouldn't think," said Kate. (Dead Cert, p128, by ... not to have been uttered as a subject clause to the former. Is this way of expression general or local?[/nq]
I think of that "negative tag of agreement" as primarily British, but the longer I'm out of the States, the harder it is for me to judge that. I might say something l
I think of that "negative tag of agreement" as primarily British, but the longer I'm out of the States, the harder it is for me to judge that. I might say something l
00
[nq:1]"Nothing in it, I shouldn't think," said Kate. (Dead Cert, p128, by Francis) . . .. Is this way of expression general or local?[/nq]
Not local, but very common in spoken
English. Both clauses are cliches (standard
phrases used in many situations.) Together
(joined by the comma splice) they may be
interpreted as a "double negative," forbidden
by conventional rules of
Not local, but very common in spoken
English. Both clauses are cliches (standard
phrases used in many situations.) Together
(joined by the comma splice) they may be
interpreted as a "double negative," forbidden
by conventional rules of
00
[nq:2]Would you look at the following sentence? "Nothing in it, ... the former. Is this way of expression general or local?[/nq]
[nq:1]I think of that "negative tag of agreement" as primarily British, but the longer I'm out of the States, the ... here, is there? B: No, there's no problem. As opposed to "Yes, there's no problem", which just doesn't sound right.[/nq]
Unless you're a lawyer,
[nq:1]I think of that "negative tag of agreement" as primarily British, but the longer I'm out of the States, the ... here, is there? B: No, there's no problem. As opposed to "Yes, there's no problem", which just doesn't sound right.[/nq]
Unless you're a lawyer,
00
[nq:2]Would you look at the following sentence? "Nothing in it, ... the former. Is this way of expression general or local?[/nq]
[nq:1]I think of that "negative tag of agreement" as primarily British, but the longer I'm out of the States, the harder it is for me to judgethat.[/nq]
It's quite American. See the last bullet in the AHD usage note on "double negatives" at . Of course, "Nothing
[nq:1]I think of that "negative tag of agreement" as primarily British, but the longer I'm out of the States, the harder it is for me to judgethat.[/nq]
It's quite American. See the last bullet in the AHD usage note on "double negatives" at . Of course, "Nothing
00
[nq:1]It really gets interesting when a lawyer asks one of those "is there" or "isn't there" questions and then tries to demand a yes or no answer.[/nq]
What happens if one simply replies "Correct"?
Katy Jennison
spamtrap: remove the first two letters after the @
What happens if one simply replies "Correct"?
Katy Jennison
spamtrap: remove the first two letters after the @
00
[nq:1]Would you look at the following sentence? "Nothing in it, I shouldn't think," said Kate. (Dead Cert, p128, by Francis)[/nq]
[nq:1]Is this way of expression general or local?[/nq]
It's not general and it's not local. As I think someone else has said, it's may be acceptable colloquial English in England and not in America.
Anyway, it brings to mind a remark that was quoted in this
[nq:1]Is this way of expression general or local?[/nq]
It's not general and it's not local. As I think someone else has said, it's may be acceptable colloquial English in England and not in America.
Anyway, it brings to mind a remark that was quoted in this
00
[nq:1]He always said he never read any book but he didn't learn from it At first reading, I thought it ... but without changing the negatives, it's He always said he never read any book that he didn't learn from. Comments?[/nq]
He always said he had never read any book from which he didn't learn.
If put this way, it would be perfectly understanable to non-natives.
So, I'd lik
He always said he had never read any book from which he didn't learn.
If put this way, it would be perfectly understanable to non-natives.
So, I'd lik
00
[nq:2]He always said he never read any book but he ... never read any book that he didn't learn from. Comments?[/nq]
[nq:1]He always said he had never read any book from which he didn't learn. If put this way, it would ... English. Time or New York Times are put into standard English automatically for non-natives who have gone through the English.[/nq]
I would avoid using the term "Basic E
[nq:1]He always said he had never read any book from which he didn't learn. If put this way, it would ... English. Time or New York Times are put into standard English automatically for non-natives who have gone through the English.[/nq]
I would avoid using the term "Basic E
00
[nq:2]He always said he never read any book but he ... never read any book that he didn't learn from. Comments?[/nq]
[nq:1]He always said he had never read any book from which he didn't learn. If put this way, it would ... English. Time or New York Times are put into standard English automatically for non-natives who have gone through the English.[/nq]
I'm not sure I follow this. Are you s
[nq:1]He always said he had never read any book from which he didn't learn. If put this way, it would ... English. Time or New York Times are put into standard English automatically for non-natives who have gone through the English.[/nq]
I'm not sure I follow this. Are you s
00
[nq:1]I'm not sure I follow this. Are you saying there's a computer program that does this every day? If so, ... these two publications require that only standard English be used in the articles? If so, there are certainly many exceptions.[/nq]
My idea is to separately use Standarized English just for non-natives. For example, just after New York Times is put out in usual version for natives,
My idea is to separately use Standarized English just for non-natives. For example, just after New York Times is put out in usual version for natives,
0
Related Questions