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Teleostomi Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

"Every...not": partial negation?



Everybody doesn't trust the truth.

I know this sentence to mean for example, "John doesn't trust, Mary doesn't trust, Tom doesn't trust." (Complete negation)

But could the sentence also possibly mean "John doesn't trust, Mary doesn't trust, but Tom trusts."? (Partial negation)
  

Top answer

I think the sentence does mean partial negation and not complete negation and that's the context in which it would be used. It's the truth. Mary trusts it.

— Wanwo

  • I think the sentence does mean partial negation and not complete negation and that's the context in which it would be used.
  • It's the truth.
  • Mary trusts it.
  • John trusts it.
  • But wait, Everybody doesn't trust the truth ....
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5 Answers
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I think the sentence does mean partial negation and not complete negation and that's the context in which it would be used.

It's the truth. Mary trusts it. John trusts it.

But wait,

Everybody doesn't trust the truth

.... Tom doesn't trust it.

For complete negation you'd probably say,

Nobody trusts the truth.
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I disagree. For the case where everyone seems to trust the truth except for Tim, i think it would be more accurate to say, " Not everybody trusts the truth".

" Everybody doesn't trust the truth" would sound hopelessly awkward in such a case.
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Teleostomi

Everybody doesn't trust the truth.

I know this sentence to mean for example, "John doesn't trust, Mary doesn't trust, Tom doesn't trust." (Complete negation)

But could the sentence also possib
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Wow, thanks everyone! (Everybody doesn'tfail to be a person whom I appreciate.Emotion: wink)
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