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Tulip Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
Not more/ any less are the same?
Hi.
A. I don’t mean love is any less important than money.
B. I don’t mean love is not more important than money.
Are these sentences perfectly the same or slightly different?
I’ve slept on it, and my conclusion is
in A, ‘love > or = money’.
I’m not sure of B, though.
In B is it just ‘love > money’?
Could you provide some context for both so that I could use them confidently with a subtle nuance?
A. I don’t mean love is any less important than money.
B. I don’t mean love is not more important than money.
Are these sentences perfectly the same or slightly different?
I’ve slept on it, and my conclusion is
in A, ‘love > or = money’.
I’m not sure of B, though.
In B is it just ‘love > money’?
Could you provide some context for both so that I could use them confidently with a subtle nuance?
Top answer
B works the same way. 'love > or = money'. 'not more' is 'less or equal'; 'not less' is 'more or equal' The 'not' in B could also be 'any': I don't mean love is any more important than money.
- B works the same way.
- 'love > or = money'.
- 'not more' is 'less or equal'; 'not less' is 'more or equal' The 'not' in B could also be 'any': I don't mean love is any more important than money.
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4 Answers
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B works the same way. 'love > or = money'.
'not more' is 'less or equal'; 'not less' is 'more or equal'
Th
'not more' is 'less or equal'; 'not less' is 'more or equal'
Th
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That’s a very clear answer, thanks.
But could you take another look at B, please?
B has double negation; that is, ‘I don’t mean’ + 'not more'(less or equal)
Then, doesn't the whole sentence mean ‘love is more important than money’?
Actually my question should have been about the difference
between ‘I don’t mean .. not more’ and ‘I don’t mean … any less’
But could you take another look at B, please?
B has double negation; that is, ‘I don’t mean’ + 'not more'(less or equal)
Then, doesn't the whole sentence mean ‘love is more important than money’?
Actually my question should have been about the difference
between ‘I don’t mean .. not more’ and ‘I don’t mean … any less’
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I would take B as meaning love is more important than money.
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I don’t mean love is not more important than money.
I wasn't concentrating on the double negative, just "not more" and "not less".
Now that you point out the double negative, I'd have to say that, under the most likely reading the sentence is equivalent to
I mean love is more important than money.
as you say. Or, rather, that the "equivalent" might be inferred
I wasn't concentrating on the double negative, just "not more" and "not less".
Now that you point out the double negative, I'd have to say that, under the most likely reading the sentence is equivalent to
I mean love is more important than money.
as you say. Or, rather, that the "equivalent" might be inferred
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