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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Vocabulary
Never
Hi,
What is the difference in meaning between these two sentences?
He doesn't tell a lie.
He never tells a lie.
Thank you.
What is the difference in meaning between these two sentences?
He doesn't tell a lie.
He never tells a lie.
Thank you.
Top answer
He doesn't tell a lie. - it means that now, at the moment of speaking, he's telling the truth. He never tells a lie.
- He doesn't tell a lie.
- - it means that now, at the moment of speaking, he's telling the truth.
- He never tells a lie.
- - it means that he tells the truth all the time.
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4 Answers
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He doesn't tell a lie. - it means that now, at the moment of speaking, he's telling the truth.
He never tells a lie. - it means that he tells the truth all the time.
He never tells a lie. - it means that he tells the truth all the time.
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Note that "He never lies" is a much more natural way to say this.
"He doesn't tell a lie" is not really likely to be used at the moment the person is speaking. We'd be more likley to use the present continuous.
He is not lying.
He is not telling a lie. (Less common that the one above.)
It's hard for me to come up with a context when "He does not tell a lie" would be
"He doesn't tell a lie" is not really likely to be used at the moment the person is speaking. We'd be more likley to use the present continuous.
He is not lying.
He is not telling a lie. (Less common that the one above.)
It's hard for me to come up with a context when "He does not tell a lie" would be
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Thank you for your reply.
What's the difference between the two sentences?
He doesn't lie.
He never lies.
Thank you.
What's the difference between the two sentences?
He doesn't lie.
He never lies.
Thank you.
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