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Mr. Tom Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Not much that he is sorry.
Hi
Not much that he is sorry.
In a film, a servant is caught stealing. The man of the house talks to him alone in his room and then comes out. His wife says to him:
Wife: What did he say?
Husband: Not much (considerable pause) that he is sorry.
Now, to me, this sentence gives two meanings:
He didn’t say much – he only said he was sorry.
and
He didn’t say much about his being sorry.
Could you please help me with the correct meaning?
Thanks,
Tom
Not much that he is sorry.
In a film, a servant is caught stealing. The man of the house talks to him alone in his room and then comes out. His wife says to him:
Wife: What did he say?
Husband: Not much (considerable pause) that he is sorry.
Now, to me, this sentence gives two meanings:
He didn’t say much – he only said he was sorry.
and
He didn’t say much about his being sorry.
Could you please help me with the correct meaning?
Thanks,
Tom
Top answer
A native speaker would naturally take this only as meaning #1. Clive
- A native speaker would naturally take this only as meaning #1.
- Clive
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4 Answers
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Thanks, Clive.
If there were no pause in that sentence, do you think it could have given the other meaning? I mean, any remote possibility of the other meaning?
Not much that he is sorry. (He didn't say much about his being sorry.)
Tom
If there were no pause in that sentence, do you think it could have given the other meaning? I mean, any remote possibility of the other meaning?
Not much that he is sorry. (He didn't say much about his being sorry.)
Tom
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Mr. TomNot much that he is sorry.That's not a natural thing to say.
Mr. TomHe didn't say much about his being sorry.)That's fine (with or without "his").
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