Nouns

Question

1-When they meet me, psychologists think I am depressed.

Does this imply:

1a-All teachers think that

2b-Most teachers think that

3c-Some do

4d-One cannot tell

2-Scientists believe that travelling faster than light is impossible.

Does this imply:

2a-All scientists believe that

2b-Most scientists believe think that

2c-Some do

2d-One cannot tell

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

navitasan1-When they meet me, psychologists think I am depressed.
Does this imply:
1a-All teachers think that
2b-Most teachers think that
3c-Some do
4d-One cannot tell

Whaaa? 1a-All psychologists think that.

navitasan2-Scientists believe that travelling faster than light is impossible.
Does this imply:
2a-All scientists believe that
2b-Most scientists believe think that
2c-Some do
2d-One cannot tell

2a-All scientists believe that.

This is really the same question twice.

But note that even though the implication is "all", in real life the statement might prove to be 'technically' false if you actually had the time and patience to question each and every psychologist (or scientist) in the world. The speaker therefore normally means all of the psychologists (or scientists) that he knows of. People are not omniscient, so we have to take their statements to apply only to that part of the universe that they know about.

CJ

Navitasan · Answer

Thanks a lot CalifJim,

To me the the two sentences were different in that I have really met all the psychologists that have met me, but as you pointed out, nobody can have met all the scientists in the world. I thought that difference might be significant.

How about this one:

3-When he walked down the street, English people stopped him and asked for his autograph.

Does this imply that all the English people (who were in the street) stopped him and asked for his autograph?

Nouns

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