Ted didn't eat the cake because it was delicious.

Hi,

Which does sentence x mean, y or z?

x: Ted didn't eat the cake because it was delicious. He ate it for some other reason.

eg He ate it because someone put a gun to his head and said 'Eat the cake!'

This is the meaning intended in your option z.

y: Because it was delicious, Ted didn't eat the cake.
z: Ted ate the cake not because

"didn't eat the cake because it was delicious" - it sound strange to me.

If it has the meaning like y, its context must be so queer. But still I think it has the meaning of y.

If it has z meaning, the sentence should be "Ted didn't eat the cake just because it was delicious." ( It may be made by his mother...)

May be you must wait later answer.

Thanks!

OK. I understand.

How about u? Does u mean v or w?

u: Ted didn't eat the cake because it was terrible.

v: Because it was terrible, Ted didn't eat the cake.
w: Ted ate the cake not because it was terrible.


It's tough to me. I can't tell which it means.

northwindI can't tell which it means.

Here's why.

Not X because Y has two meanings.

1. X didn't happen. The reason was Y. [not(X), because Y]

2. X happened. But the reason was not Y. [X, but not (X because Y)]

1. Ted didn't eat the cake because it was delicious.
(Ted knew that the cake was delic

Hi CalifJim,

I understand!

Thanks.


I'll try your exercises.

CalifJim Helen didn't want to date Frank because he had a new car.

Helem wanted to date, but her reason for doing so was not that he had a new car. Presumably she had another reason for wanting to date.

CalifJimHelen didn't want to da

northwindAm I right?

Yes. I think you understand the basic principle.


CJ

Hi CalifJim,

I understand.

I think I made a big leap.

Thanks.

northwindHi CalifJim,

I understand.

I think I made a big leap.

Thanks.

That's a great feeling, isn't it? Congratulations.

Oh, yeah.

CalifJim and Clive gave me a sure sense to sail the sea of English.

I'm so happy.

Thanks.