0
Taka Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

whenever/every time

(1)He won't help you every time you are in trouble.
(2)He won't help you whenever you are in trouble.

----------------


Are these above semantically the same or different?
  

Top answer

Taka (1)He won't help you every time you are in trouble. (2)He won't help you whenever you are in trouble. -- Are these above semantically the same or different?

— Philip

  • Taka (1)He won't help you every time you are in trouble.
  • (2)He won't help you whenever you are in trouble.
  • -- Are these above semantically the same or different?
  • 1) He'll help you some of the time, but not all of the time.
  • 2) I get the sense that he won't ever help.
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.

5 Answers
0
Taka(1)He won't help you every time you are in trouble.

(2)He won't help you whenever you are in trouble.

--

Are these above semantically the same or different?

1) He'll help you some of the time, but not all of the time.

2) I get the sense that he won't ever help. It doesn't matter when.
0
0
Just as I thought.

Thanks, Philip!
0
0
The combination of a negative with a universal (every, all, whenever, etc.) always strikes me as anomalous, so I find both sentences strange.
He never helps when you're in trouble.
He doesn't always help when you're in trouble.
CJ
0
0
Jim, is that your personal writing preference, or do you think they are both unnatural as English?
0
0
Both. I think they are completely unnatural, and I would never write them! Emotion: smile

Compare: All of us are not crazy! Altho
0

Related Questions