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Taka Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Partial negation
It is impossible for players to use the uniform number forever.
Players are unable to use the uniform number forever.
Players are prohibited to use the uniform number forever.
Which do these mean?
(1) They can never use the number.
(2) They cannot use the number for the time being, but maybe they can some time in the future (i.e partial negation)
Players are unable to use the uniform number forever.
Players are prohibited to use the uniform number forever.
Which do these mean?
(1) They can never use the number.
(2) They cannot use the number for the time being, but maybe they can some time in the future (i.e partial negation)
Top answer
Hi, My first reaction is that these sentences are unnatural and unclear. #3 in particular suggests 'non-native'. Where did you find them?
- Hi, My first reaction is that these sentences are unnatural and unclear.
- #3 in particular suggests 'non-native'.
- Where did you find them?
- I don't really want to struggle to unravel the writer's meaning.
- But if he, or you, can tell me the intended meaning, I can recommend a better way to say it.
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5 Answers
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Hi,
My first reaction is that these sentences are unnatural and unclear.
#3 in particular suggests 'non-native'.
Where did you find them?
I don't really want to struggle to unravel the writer's me
My first reaction is that these sentences are unnatural and unclear.
#3 in particular suggests 'non-native'.
Where did you find them?
I don't really want to struggle to unravel the writer's me
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Whether it's unnatural or not is not the point here(I kind of predicted you would point out such a thing, Clive 
).
My quest
).My quest
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Hi,
It is impossible for players to use the uniform number forever.
Players are unable to use the uniform number forever.
My question is purely about grammar: whether or not 'unable/impossible/prohibited+forever' is the partial negation as 'not+forever'.
The adverb 'forever' modifies 'to use'.
It is impossible for players to use the uniform number forever.
Players are unable to use the uniform number forever.
My question is purely about grammar: whether or not 'unable/impossible/prohibited+forever' is the partial negation as 'not+forever'.
The adverb 'forever' modifies 'to use'.
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So you think 'forever impossible to do/forever unable to do/forever prohibited from doing' is semantically different from 'impossible to do forever/unable to do forever/prohibited from doing forever'?
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