0
Wholegrain Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

What's the difference??

...Between:

I don't know that it isn't all true
and
I don't know if it isn't all true??

There are little differences between the two I believe.

The first means: He doesn't know that it isn't all true; therefore may believe the contrary.

The second means: He doesn't know if it is true or the contrary.

Overall, both can be used to convey the same idea of doubt.

Right???
  

Top answer

Hi wholegrain This is what those sentences mean/suggest to me: I don't know that it isn't all true. => I think it is all true, and there is nothing I know that would lead me to believe it isn't. ) I don't know if it isn't all true.

— Yankee

  • Hi wholegrain This is what those sentences mean/suggest to me: I don't know that it isn't all true.
  • => I think it is all true, and there is nothing I know that would lead me to believe it isn't.
  • ) I don't know if it isn't all true.
  • => Someone (else) said it isn't all true, and I'm not sure whether that is right or not.
  • )
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

22 Answers
0
Hi wholegrain

This is what those sentences mean/suggest to me:

I don't know that it isn't all true. => I think it is all true, and there is nothing I know that would lead me to believe it isn't.
(This sentence sounds natural to me.)

I don't know if it isn't all true. => Someone (else) said
0
0
Wait, the first is a double negative and the other is not?

Btw, there is no context.
0
0
The first one has two different shades of meaning to me.

The first is a way of suggesting one thing by denying the opposite. It's a bit like "I'm not unimpressed", for example. I expect there's a technical word for this figure of speech, but I can't bring it to mind right now. Anyway, the net effect is that you're saying "I rather think that it's all true" (not so positive, then, as "I kn
0
0
You can say:

I don't know that it isn't all true, or but, or but that, or but what, it is all true.

So why do "I don't know that it isn't all true" "I don't know but it is all true" "I don't know but that it is all true" and "I don't know but what it is all true" all mean the same thing???
0
0
Hi, Wholegrain,

I just looked to see where "but" sneaked into the thread and I couldn't find it.

This is very nostalgic for me. My grandfather was a yankee farmer, and he used to say that. I haven't heard it since he died, circa 1960. When he said it, it seemed like a contraction - I dunno b'what it's all true.

 - A.
0
0
that = but that = but what = but

0
0
wholegrainYou can say:

I don't know that it isn't all true, or but, or but that, or but what, it is all true.

So why do "I don't know that it isn't all true" "I don't know but it is all true" "I don't know but that it is all true" and "I don't know but what it is all true" all mean the same thing???

The variants with "but" are all obsolet
0
0
I don't know but I think, but here meant but that as in that, that's why I was not quite sure what it meant.
0
0
wholegrainI don't know but I think, but here meant but that as in that, that's why I was not quite sure what it meant.

I think you need to start using quotes around words that you are asking questions about. I cannot for the life of me figure out what you mean here.
0
0
Grammar GeekI think you need to start using quotes around words that you are asking questions about
My thoughts entirely.
0

Related Questions