Because

   Share on Facebook  
Diamondrg  #178591  Tue, 03 Jan 06 06:41 PM

-  I didn't buy it because it was so expensive.

Is it possible to interpret this sentence as this: "I didn't buy it not because of its expensiveness but because of something else."?

  
Top 75 Contributor
Joined on Fri, Dec 2 2005
Turkey
Contributing Member (1,043)
davkett  #178596  Tue, 03 Jan 06 07:03 PM

In the right context, yes.

"I didn't buy it because it was so expensive; expense had nothing to do with it; I didn't buy it because it was ugly."

(That's a native speaker's opinion, only.  I don't know how to support that opinion on a grammatical basis.)

  
Top 50 Contributor
Joined on Tue, Jun 7 2005
Pennsylvania, USA
Senior Member (2,788)
Proficient Speaker
"The rose stays fresh in its name..." -Bernard of Morlay
Sam C  #178601  Tue, 03 Jan 06 07:24 PM
i can't see me interpreting it that way.

another interpretation:  my reason for buying it was not that it was expensive (although it was), but some other reason.
  
Not Ranked
Joined on Mon, Dec 19 2005
New Member (45)
davkett  #178609  Tue, 03 Jan 06 07:36 PM

 Sam C wrote:
  my reason for buying it was not that it was expensive (although it was), but some other reason.

Yes, that would be possible in the context where the thing was, in fact, bought.  But it would not be possible in the context where the thing was not bought.

  
Diamondrg  #178618  Tue, 03 Jan 06 08:10 PM
well, davkett thank you for answering. then, is it possible to interprete the same sentence as: "I didn't buy it because of its expensiveness."? If yes, which would cometo your mind first? That I didn't buy it because of its expensiveness or because of something else? 
  
davkett  #178634  Tue, 03 Jan 06 09:25 PM

 Diamondrg wrote:
well, davkett thank you for answering. then, is it possible to interprete the same sentence as: "I didn't buy it because of its expensiveness."? If yes, which would cometo your mind first? That I didn't buy it because of its expensiveness or because of something else? 

Without context, the meaning that would come most easily to mind is--  "I didn't buy it, and the reason I didn't is that it was too expensive."

  
Diamondrg  #178639  Tue, 03 Jan 06 09:41 PM
thank you.
  
AddThis Feed Button RSS Feed: ESL General English Grammar Questions
© 2008 MediaCET Ltd.
Terms and Conditions & Terms of Service