what's the semantic differences ???

Question

hi friends,enjoy this topic..What is the semantic difference between each of the following pair of sentences?1. a .you did not visit your grandmother . did you ?b. Did you visit your grandmother ?***********************2. a. I used to get up at 6 O'clock .b. I am used to getting up at 6 O'clock .***********************3. a. The man drowned in the sea .b. The man was drowning in the sea .**************************4. a He might have committed a big mistake .b. He must have committed a bid mistake.*************************5. a. My father lived in Palestine all his life .b. My father has lived in Palestine all his life .your'sranda

Ksenya · Accepted Answer

1. a .you did not visit your grandmother . did you ?

b. Did you visit your grandmother ?

a. The man, who asks the question, thinks and maybe even knows, that you did not visit your grandmother. He just makes shure. he has a little information about it. he had heard about it before. But in the b he doesn't know.. he just asks, he never heard about it, he has no information about it.

2. a. I used to get up at 6 O'clock .

b. I am used to getting up at 6 O'clock .

In the a he tells, that it was some time before in the past, he used to do it for example in august last summer and now he doesn't do it anymore. But in the b He has been doing it for some period of time from past and till this moment in the present. he is doing it now too.

3. a. The man drowned in the sea .

b. The man was drowning in the sea .

In the a the man is already dead, because he drowned in the see some time ago, for examle 3 years ago and that is the fact, nobody saw it. But in the b the teller may have seen him drowning in the sea. it was in the process. he may have seen it even.

4. a He might have committed a big mistake .

b. He must have committed a bid mistake.

In the a the teller thinks, that he had to, he should do and comit the mistake. But in the b the teller just makes a suggestion. he doesn't know and doesn'thave an opinion about it.

Nona the brit · Answer

Hi,

You have a go first and tell us what you think the answers are, and we'll help you if you get any wrong.

Randa · Answer

thanks

Ksenya · Answer

Wohoo, first, time I've helped somebody here with English..

, and I've even heard thatks..

, that makes me smile..

.. I'm really glad.. maybe even that sounds stupid..

what's the semantic differences ???

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