What does "so...that" connect to in this phrase?

Question

Dr. Harry Carter, an old man about whom one wondered at once what he was doing in Washington, but not so strongly that one didn't decide rather easily that he doubtless had his reasons.

So, when it says "not so strongly", does it mean one didn't wonder so strongly as to decide...?

Marquez · Accepted Answer

Anyone?

Fivejedjon · Answer

Please don't bump your pos tafter such a short time. The people who respond here are volunteers, giving up their free time. Don't expect them to answer your questions immediately.

Marquez · Answer

I perfectly know. If I hadn't needed a quick answer, I wouldn't have done so. I think I waited long enough now.

Khoff · Answer

It's very poorly written, and it's not actually a sentence. There are so many negatives (not so strongly . . .didn't decide . . . doubtless. . . ) that it's hard to decipher.

One wondered what the old man was doing in Washington. Eventuallty, one decided that the old man must have had his reasons for being in Washington. The "wondering" was not so strong as to prevent that conclusion.

The repeated use of "one" as subject is awkward, and the assumption of what "one" "wondered at once" and then would "decide rather easily" seems pretty presumptuous. It's pretty hard for me to imagine what kind of person would provoke this particular reaction. And, as I said, it's not a sentence -- there is no verb to go with the main subject "Dr. Harry Carter." I'd be curious to know where you read this passage.

By the way, I almost didn't answer your post at all because of your impatience. Saying "I think I've waited long enough" so soon after your first post, especially after 5jj pointed out that we are all volunteers here, was more than a bit rude. If we don't reply quickly enough for you, feel free to find another place to ask your questions.

Fivejedjon · Answer

The book from which this was taken was written in the late eighteenth century, which explains the convoluted language.

CalifJim · Answer

marquezwhen it says "not so strongly", does it mean one didn't wonder so strongly as to decide...?

Yes. One wondered, but one didn't wonder too much. It was fairly easy to see that he had reasons for being in Washington.

I think the negatives are troubling you. The idea is that the wondering did not reach the level where a person would not be able to guess that the man had his reasons for being in Washington.

One did not wonder so strongly that one [did not decide / was not able to come to the conclusion] easily that the man had reasons.

CJ

Marquez · Answer

khoffIt's very poorly written, and it's not actually a sentence. There are so many negatives (not so strongly . . .didn't decide . . . doubtless. . . ) that it's hard to decipher. One wondered what the old man was doing in Washington. Eventuallty, one decided that the old man must have had his reasons for being in Washington. The "wondering" was not so strong as to prevent that conclusion.The repeated use of "one" as subject is awkward, and the assumption of what "one" "wondered at once" and then would "decide rather easily" seems pretty presumptuous. It's pretty hard for me to imagine what kind of person would provoke this particular reaction. And, as I said, it's not a sentence -- there is no verb to go with the main subject "Dr. Harry Carter." I'd be curious to know where you read this passage.By the way, I almost didn't answer your post at all because of your impatience. Saying "I think I've waited long enough" so soon after your first post, especially after 5jj pointed out that we are all volunteers here, was more than a bit rude. If we don't reply quickly enough for you, feel free to find another place to ask your questions.

Thanks, I will.

Rover_KE · Answer

Missing you already.

Fivejedjon · Answer

Rover_KEMissing you already.

Did I miss something?

Rover_KE · Answer

khoff wrote 'If we don't reply quickly enough for you, feel free to find another place to ask your questions', to which marquez replied 'Thanks, I will.'

What does "so...that" connect to in this phrase?

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