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Navitasan Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Some/certain
1) You didn't know I had seen some of these pictures.
2) You didn't know I had seen certain of these pictures.
Is there any difference in the meanings of these sentences?
Is there any ambiguity in either or them?
Could either one of them correspond to:
A) There were certain specific pictures that you did not know I had seen. (You knew I had seen the rest.)
I don't think '1' or '2' could have that meaning. I find them unambiguous and virtually synonymous.
Gratefully,
Navi.
2) You didn't know I had seen certain of these pictures.
Is there any difference in the meanings of these sentences?
Is there any ambiguity in either or them?
Could either one of them correspond to:
A) There were certain specific pictures that you did not know I had seen. (You knew I had seen the rest.)
I don't think '1' or '2' could have that meaning. I find them unambiguous and virtually synonymous.
Gratefully,
Navi.
Top answer
Hi I think you are right - I've seen some pictures of him - I've seen certain pictures of him The first sentence is neutral; the second implies that the pictures are special in some way - maybe good, maybe not Dave
- Hi I think you are right - I've seen some pictures of him - I've seen certain pictures of him The first sentence is neutral; the second implies that the pictures are special in some way - maybe good, maybe not Dave
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9 Answers
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Hi
I think you are right
- I've seen some pictures of him
- I've seen certain pictures of him
The first sentence is neutral; the second implies that the pictures are special in some way - maybe good, maybe not
Dave
I think you are right
- I've seen some pictures of him
- I've seen certain pictures of him
The first sentence is neutral; the second implies that the pictures are special in some way - maybe good, maybe not
Dave
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navitasanIs there any difference in the meanings of these sentences?"some" focuses on quantity. It goes in the same category as "a few" or "several" or "not many" or "not all".
"certain" focuses on the identity of specific pictures. It goes with "this one and that one" or "those three" or "that one and those two".
navitasanIs the
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Thank you very much Dave and Jim,
Can the other idea be expressed unambiguously with:
A) You did not know I had see any of these pictures.
Meaning: I had seen one or some of them, but you did not know that and thought I had not seen any of them,
Gratefully,
Navi.
Can the other idea be expressed unambiguously with:
A) You did not know I had see any of these pictures.
Meaning: I had seen one or some of them, but you did not know that and thought I had not seen any of them,
Gratefully,
Navi.
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navitasanCan the other idea be expressed unambiguously with:Speaking of ambiguity, what is the other idea?
navitasanA) You did not know I had seen any of these pictures.I don't think I would generate this sentence. I'd use 'some' instead of 'any'. The meaning is what you
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Can someone help me to response to this email today?? Please!!!
I want you to know that I read your essay “What makes me happy?” And I thoroughly enjoyed it. Based on its content you have every right and reason to be Happy if simply having “support” and “the simple fact that you can have someone by your side that’s going to not give up on you no matter what” because that is what you have
I want you to know that I read your essay “What makes me happy?” And I thoroughly enjoyed it. Based on its content you have every right and reason to be Happy if simply having “support” and “the simple fact that you can have someone by your side that’s going to not give up on you no matter what” because that is what you have
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Please don't post letters in the grammar section! This is unrelated to the topic of this thread.
Post this in the section marked Formal, General & Business Letter Writing.
Thank you.
CJ
Post this in the section marked Formal, General & Business Letter Writing.
Thank you.
CJ
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That sentence, I'd say, is neutral. It can be used either way
Two friends talking:
- You know a lot about Italian art
- You didn't know I'd seen any of these pictures?
Suspect with detective:
- I'd like to see my lawyer
- You didn't know I'd seen any of these pictures?
Dave
Two friends talking:
- You know a lot about Italian art
- You didn't know I'd seen any of these pictures?
Suspect with detective:
- I'd like to see my lawyer
- You didn't know I'd seen any of these pictures?
Dave
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Thank you very much Jim and Dave,
My apologies about the confusion. I think I started this whole thing in a rather unintelligent way!
I will begin again and try to be brief.
1) You didn't know I had seen some/certain of these pictures.
I see two possible meanings here:
a) As far as you knew, I had not seen any of these
My apologies about the confusion. I think I started this whole thing in a rather unintelligent way!
I will begin again and try to be brief.
1) You didn't know I had seen some/certain of these pictures.
I see two possible meanings here:
a) As far as you knew, I had not seen any of these
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Hi
I think maybe you were right to suggest 'certain'. If there's a number of pictures, but we are talking about a few from that group that we are mentioning, in particular, then I think this is natural:
- There were certain pictures that you did not know I had seen
Dave
I think maybe you were right to suggest 'certain'. If there's a number of pictures, but we are talking about a few from that group that we are mentioning, in particular, then I think this is natural:
- There were certain pictures that you did not know I had seen
Dave
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