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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Vocabulary
Not
Hi.
He was not believed to be at home at the time.
He was believed not to be at home at the time.
Is there any difference in the meaning between two sentences?
Thank you.
He was not believed to be at home at the time.
He was believed not to be at home at the time.
Is there any difference in the meaning between two sentences?
Thank you.
Top answer
I tend to see the first sentence to have more doubt implied, but that's largely because I'm conditioned to see it that way because of a knowledge of French (which you may see as well). However, I am sure that most English speakers see no difference between the two sentences.
- I tend to see the first sentence to have more doubt implied, but that's largely because I'm conditioned to see it that way because of a knowledge of French (which you may see as well).
- However, I am sure that most English speakers see no difference between the two sentences.
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3 Answers
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I tend to see the first sentence to have more doubt implied, but that's largely because I'm conditioned to see it that way because of a knowledge of French (which you may see as well). However, I am sure that most English speakers see no difference between the two sentences.
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AnonymousIs there any difference in the meaning between two sentences?No. In English it is customary to transfer a negation in the residual clause to the main clause in statements of belief.
I don't [believe / think] that he is at home, for example, usually strikes native speakers as more natural than I [believe / think] that he is not at
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