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Navitasan Posted 7 years ago
Grammar

Tried not to

1) He tried not to drink.


I think in today's English that sentence unambiguously means

A) He tried to not drink.


But in the past, it was ambiguous, wasn't it?

It could have meant:

B) He didn't try to drink.


Is that correct?

Gratefully,

Navi

  

Top answer

navitasan But in the past, it was ambiguous, wasn't it? It could have meant:B) He didn't try to drink. If by 'in the past' we mean something like four centuries ago, then yes.

— CalifJim

  • navitasan But in the past, it was ambiguous, wasn't it?
  • It could have meant:B) He didn't try to drink.
  • If by 'in the past' we mean something like four centuries ago, then yes.
  • CJ
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1 Answers
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navitasanBut in the past, it was ambiguous, wasn't it?
It could have meant:B) He didn't try to drink.

If by 'in the past' we mean something like four centuries ago, then yes.

CJ

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