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Zeppe Posted 19 years ago
Vocabulary
the word "doubt"
0 Hi all! 02 br
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00 I have a problem related to the word "doubt". I always used it (in a similar way as is used in Italian, actually) as: 02 br
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00 I have a doubt about [kant metaphisics / convex functions / c++ template metaprogramming] 02 br
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00 meaning that I don't know something, I have a question to ask and possibly I have some hypotesis on what could be the answer, but not necessarly. 02 br
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00 It happened that a north american guy pointed out that "doubt" somehow suggests distrust, or disbelief, or states that I'm not persuaded with something, like in: 02 br
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00 I have doubts about your sincerity 02 br
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00 Now, is that correct? Can I say "i have a doubt on this topic" meaning that I'm uncertain about it, and I'm asking for help? 02 br
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00 Thank you! 0-
02 br
00 I have a problem related to the word "doubt". I always used it (in a similar way as is used in Italian, actually) as: 02 br
02 br
00 I have a doubt about [kant metaphisics / convex functions / c++ template metaprogramming] 02 br
02 br
00 meaning that I don't know something, I have a question to ask and possibly I have some hypotesis on what could be the answer, but not necessarly. 02 br
02 br
00 It happened that a north american guy pointed out that "doubt" somehow suggests distrust, or disbelief, or states that I'm not persuaded with something, like in: 02 br
02 br
00 I have doubts about your sincerity 02 br
02 br
00 Now, is that correct? Can I say "i have a doubt on this topic" meaning that I'm uncertain about it, and I'm asking for help? 02 br
02 br
00 Thank you! 0-
Top answer
0 Hi, 02 br 02 br 00 The advice your friend gave you was good. 05 0 02 br 02 br 00 Best wishes, Clive 010id 1
- 0 Hi, 02 br 02 br 00 The advice your friend gave you was good.
- 05 0 02 br 02 br 00 Best wishes, Clive 010id 1
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4 Answers
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0 Hi, 02 br
02 br
00 The advice your friend gave you was good. 05 0 02 br
02 br
00 Best wishes, Clive 010id 1
02 br
00 The advice your friend gave you was good. 05 0 02 br
02 br
00 Best wishes, Clive 010id 1
00
0 I'm not too familiar with "a doubt" used as a noun in the singular. In my experience, it's more often plural ( 01 i 00 I have doubts about that 02 i 00 ) unless it's negative ( 01 i 00 without a doubt 02 i 00 ) or the phrase "a lingering doubt" (all the other ones have been cleared up, but this little bit of uncertainty remains). 02 br
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00 I al
02 br
00 I al
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0 Thank you guys! 02 br
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00 Grammar geek, you were quite explanatory, I think I understand. 02 br
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00 Oh well, quite happy to have learnt this: given the meaning that I tought (as many italian people I bet) it had, it would have be the danger for me to come out with comments that could sound pretty harsh or rude! 02 br
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00 Regards,
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00 Grammar geek, you were quite explanatory, I think I understand. 02 br
02 br
00 Oh well, quite happy to have learnt this: given the meaning that I tought (as many italian people I bet) it had, it would have be the danger for me to come out with comments that could sound pretty harsh or rude! 02 br
02 br
00 Regards,
00
0 01 blockquote
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00 We had the following situation at work, where we employ Spanish speakers. 02 br
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00 Boss: 01 i
00 Can I say "i have a doubt on this topic" meaning that I'm uncertain about it, and I'm asking for help? 12 blockquote10 No! This is a common mistake among speakers of Spanish and Italian. 02 br
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00 We had the following situation at work, where we employ Spanish speakers. 02 br
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00 Boss: 01 i
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