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Northwind Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
The sky is not cloudy all day.
Partial negation is tough for me.
Are the following sentences partial negation or total negation? Or what does the following sentences mean?
#1. The sky is not cloudy all day.
I think #1 means there are no clouds sometimes, i.e.#1 is partial negation.
#2. Sue doesn't love him because he's poor.
I think #2 means the fact that he is poor is an absolute or very important reason Sue doesn't love him, i.e.#2 is total negation.
Are the following sentences partial negation or total negation? Or what does the following sentences mean?
#1. The sky is not cloudy all day.
I think #1 means there are no clouds sometimes, i.e.#1 is partial negation.
#2. Sue doesn't love him because he's poor.
I think #2 means the fact that he is poor is an absolute or very important reason Sue doesn't love him, i.e.#2 is total negation.
Top answer
That song always bugged me. It's completely ambiguous. " But there's nothing wrong with taking it your way.
- That song always bugged me.
- It's completely ambiguous.
- " But there's nothing wrong with taking it your way.
- Anyone who writes a line like that deserves to be misunderstood!
- Your second sentence is ambiguous as well.
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6 Answers
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That song always bugged me. It's completely ambiguous. I'm sure the composer meant, "All day long, there's not a cloud in the sky!" But there's nothing wrong with taking it your way. Anyone who writes a line like that deserves to be misunderstood!
Your second sentence is ambiguous as well. At least with this one we can make our intention know through inflection, if it's spoken.
Your second sentence is ambiguous as well. At least with this one we can make our intention know through inflection, if it's spoken.
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Woow!!
How interesting!!
Thanks!!
When you see #1 and #2, which meaning comes to your mind first, #3 to #6?
#3 and #5 do?
#3. There is not a cloud in the sky all day long.
#4. There are sometimes some clouds in the sky.
#5. Sue doesn't love him. Because he's poor.
#6. Sue loves him not because he's poor.
How interesting!!
Thanks!!
When you see #1 and #2, which meaning comes to your mind first, #3 to #6?
#3 and #5 do?
#3. There is not a cloud in the sky all day long.
#4. There are sometimes some clouds in the sky.
#5. Sue doesn't love him. Because he's poor.
#6. Sue loves him not because he's poor.
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I'd go with #3 and #6, but mainly because there's no context, and I have to make one up which suits me. I see no real reason to choose one over the other.
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The sky is not cloudy all day.
Sue doesn't love him because he's poor.
Welcome to "Ambiguity in English"!
Sue doesn't love him because he's poor.
Welcome to "Ambiguity in English"!
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Hello CalifJim,
Thanks for your detailed reply.
My English is so poor and I'd like to confirm.
Do you mean #6, not #5, comes in your mind first when you read #2?
Thanks for your detailed reply.
My English is so poor and I'd like to confirm.
Do you mean #6, not #5, comes in your mind first when you read #2?
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