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Richuk Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Would you say this differently depending on what you meant?
Hey everyone, just a quick question, I would really appreciate your opinions please.
Imagine you had just finished a Maths lesson. You have an opinion of the lesson which you say to your friend...
...either you are satisfied: “We learnt so much more in that lesson. I definitely know about the distance-time graphs now, hehe.”
...or dissatisfied: “We learnt so much less in that lesson. I definitely know about the distance-time graphs now, hehe.”
Notice how the final statement “I definitely know about the distance-time graphs now, hehe” is exactly the same for both the satisfied and dissatisfied opinions.
Presumably the final statement would have to be meant in a displeased/sarcastic way in order to make sense as a part of the dissatisfied opinion - as if the speaker actually means ‘Well at the very least I definitely know about the distance-time graphs now, hehe.’ Would you agree or not?
Do you think, in order to make sense in both versions, the final statement would be said in a different way in the dissatisfied opinion compared to how it would be said in the satisfied opinion? By this I mean a different tone of voice or other indicators such as rolling eyes, shaking head, etc. Would you personally say the final statement in a different way depending on which opinion you were speaking?
Thank you very much for your help.
Imagine you had just finished a Maths lesson. You have an opinion of the lesson which you say to your friend...
...either you are satisfied: “We learnt so much more in that lesson. I definitely know about the distance-time graphs now, hehe.”
...or dissatisfied: “We learnt so much less in that lesson. I definitely know about the distance-time graphs now, hehe.”
Notice how the final statement “I definitely know about the distance-time graphs now, hehe” is exactly the same for both the satisfied and dissatisfied opinions.
Presumably the final statement would have to be meant in a displeased/sarcastic way in order to make sense as a part of the dissatisfied opinion - as if the speaker actually means ‘Well at the very least I definitely know about the distance-time graphs now, hehe.’ Would you agree or not?
Do you think, in order to make sense in both versions, the final statement would be said in a different way in the dissatisfied opinion compared to how it would be said in the satisfied opinion? By this I mean a different tone of voice or other indicators such as rolling eyes, shaking head, etc. Would you personally say the final statement in a different way depending on which opinion you were speaking?
Thank you very much for your help.
Top answer
I don't think relating it to satisfaction or dissatisfaction is helping you. He is being sarcastic in the final phrase as you already know. I think the person wouldn't use more or less in the first sentence as it has to compair with something.
- I don't think relating it to satisfaction or dissatisfaction is helping you.
- He is being sarcastic in the final phrase as you already know.
- I think the person wouldn't use more or less in the first sentence as it has to compair with something.
- We learn't so much in that lesson etc - he learnt so much that he is now confused, (all relating to distance time graphs) or he already knew about then and didn't learn anything.
- Body language would tell you.
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1 Answers
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I don't think relating it to satisfaction or dissatisfaction is helping you. He is being sarcastic in the final phrase as you already know. I think the person wouldn't use more or less in the first sentence as it has to compair with something. We learn't so much in that lesson etc - he learnt so much that he is now confused, (all relating to distance time graphs) or he already knew about then
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