0
Stenka25 Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary
The meaning of IF
the meaning of IF
The passage below is from ‘the Blank Slate’ by Steven Pinker.
http://evolbiol.ru/blankslate/blankslate.htm
In the rest of this chapter I will show you that the answer is no. Discoveries of how the brain changes with experience do not show that learning is more powerful than we thought, that the brain can be dramatically reshaped by its input, or that the genes do not shape the brain. Indeed, demonstrations of the plasticity of the brain are less radical than they first appear: the supposedly plastic regions of cortex are doing pretty much the same thing they would have been doing if they had never been altered. And the most recent discoveries on brain development have refuted the idea that the brain is largely plastic. Let me go over these points in turn.
I have a question regarding the underlined part.
In this sentence 'if' seems to mean 'even if' to me.
Is my interpretation acceptable?
The passage below is from ‘the Blank Slate’ by Steven Pinker.
http://evolbiol.ru/blankslate/blankslate.htm
In the rest of this chapter I will show you that the answer is no. Discoveries of how the brain changes with experience do not show that learning is more powerful than we thought, that the brain can be dramatically reshaped by its input, or that the genes do not shape the brain. Indeed, demonstrations of the plasticity of the brain are less radical than they first appear: the supposedly plastic regions of cortex are doing pretty much the same thing they would have been doing if they had never been altered. And the most recent discoveries on brain development have refuted the idea that the brain is largely plastic. Let me go over these points in turn.
I have a question regarding the underlined part.
In this sentence 'if' seems to mean 'even if' to me.
Is my interpretation acceptable?
Top answer
Nothing underlined here. are doing pretty much the same thing they would have doing if they had never been altered. " That implies a different sort of contrast.
- Nothing underlined here.
- are doing pretty much the same thing they would have doing if they had never been altered.
- " That implies a different sort of contrast.
- I love my dog even if sometimes I get mad at Rex chewing up my slippers.
- " So you have two actions which are balanced against each other (I love my dog; he annoys me).
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
4 Answers
0
Nothing underlined here. However, let's look at the "if" statement:
...are doing pretty much the same thing they would have doing if they had never been altered.
I would not say "even if." That implies a different sort of contrast.
I love my dog even if sometimes I get mad at Rex chewing up my slippers. So we are using "even if" to mean "despite." So you
...are doing pretty much the same thing they would have doing if they had never been altered.
I would not say "even if." That implies a different sort of contrast.
I love my dog even if sometimes I get mad at Rex chewing up my slippers. So we are using "even if" to mean "despite." So you
00
Thanks a lot for your immediate answer, Doctor D.
But I am still in the dark.
Here's your example sentence.
I would not love her if she were the last woman on earth. (You do not love her now; you doubt that you would love her whatever happens to the planet).
You paraphrased the sentence in question in the bracket.
In it, the underlined part, it seem
But I am still in the dark.
Here's your example sentence.
I would not love her if she were the last woman on earth. (You do not love her now; you doubt that you would love her whatever happens to the planet).
You paraphrased the sentence in question in the bracket.
In it, the underlined part, it seem
00
You are right, there is a bit of "even if" in my example. I clearly need a better example.
"Even" can serve as an intensifier:
I wouldn't marry you if you were the last man on earth.
I wouldn't marry you even if you were the last man on earth.
However, that is not true in all cases.
If I believe you, George is a liar. (Your testimony is that Ge
"Even" can serve as an intensifier:
I wouldn't marry you if you were the last man on earth.
I wouldn't marry you even if you were the last man on earth.
However, that is not true in all cases.
If I believe you, George is a liar. (Your testimony is that Ge
00
Thanks a lot, Doctor D.
I really appreciate your sincere reply and keep in mind your statement.
I really appreciate your sincere reply and keep in mind your statement.
0
Related Questions