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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Same or similar structure yet different in meaning?

Hi. I think even though the underlined parts might be seen as the same in structure (that is, taking them in isolation), they are different in meaning, considering the whole sentences they are in. Please check what I wrote about each one to the right of the sentence. Thank you in advance for your help.

1. They will write about the people in their school. -- I think common sense tells us they can't be writing about all the people in school, It says they are writing (that is, going to write) about what people? The people in their school and not anywhere else.

2. They met the people in their school. -- Assuming it's possible, it says they met all the people in their school, not some of the people in their school.
  

Top answer

As you said 'assuming it's possible'—meeting as with writing about. Both seem equally likely to me, with the same meaning for the phrase you have underlined.

  • As you said 'assuming it's possible'—meeting as with writing about.
  • Both seem equally likely to me, with the same meaning for the phrase you have underlined.
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1 Answers
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As you said 'assuming it's possible'—meeting as with writing about. Both seem equally likely to me, with the same meaning for the phrase you have underlined.

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