Taka  +  721490 Fri, 08 May 09 04:18 PM ・I have two daughters who became musicians. ・I have two daughters, who became musicians. What do you native speakers think the semantic difference between these is? Taka Difference Between, Semantics

	Best answer by Yankee  +  721493 Fri, 08 May 09 04:27 PM Hi Taka One difference is that it is clear to me is that in the second sentence the speaker has exactly two daughters. In your first sentence, the speaker might have only two daughters, or there might be more than two. However, no matter how many daughters there are, only two of the daughters became musicians. Yankee

	Taka  +  721495 Fri, 08 May 09 04:29 PM In other words, if you have only two daughters, you cannot use the first sentence? Taka Sentences

	Yankee  +  721498 Fri, 08 May 09 04:34 PM You can use either sentence if there are exactly two daughters.  However, in my opinion, if there were three daughters, you could only use the first sentence. The first sentence could possibly be a reference to "two of my three daughters", for example. Yankee Sentences, References, Business, Career

	Taka  +  721505 Fri, 08 May 09 04:50 PM Yankee “You can use either sentence if there are exactly two daughters. ” How come it's possible to use the restricted 'who' when you have exactly two daughters, no more? Taka Sentences

	Yankee  +  721531 Fri, 08 May 09 05:13 PM Hi Taka This is how I look at things: "I have two daughters, who are muscians." The phrase "who are musicians" is extra information (i.e. non-restricting).  Thus, first you have a simple statement of fact:  I have two daughters. Then you basically have an afterthought which amounts to something like this: Oh, and by the way, both of my daughters are musicians. ------------------------------------------------------------------ "I have two daughters who are muscians." This sentence modifies the meaning of "two daughters", but it does not state that there are only two daughters.  It only restricts the meaning of the particular two daughters being referred to. For example: I have six kids. I have two daughters who are musicians. I have one daughter who is an ESL teacher. And all three of my sons are graphic designers. Yankee Sentences, ESL

	Taka  +  721551 Fri, 08 May 09 05:27 PM In your examples, you have six kids and then identifed the two daughers by using the restrictive 'who'. You said, even if I had only two daughers, no more, I could still use the restrictive 'who'. I wonder what kind of case it could be used for. Taka

	Yankee  +  721568 Fri, 08 May 09 05:42 PM One possible scenario I can imagine for "I have two daughters who are musicians" being a statement about someone's only two daughters OR about two of several daughters might be a conversation something like this: A: Do you have any kids? B: Yes, a son, who we're very proud of. He's a musician, and he just got accepted at Juilliard on a full scholarship. A: Wow! That's impressive. I have two daughters who are musicians. They both tried to get into Juilliard but didn't get accepted. Yankee Speaking, Chat, Friendships, Conversational, Scholarship

	Taka  +  721594 Fri, 08 May 09 06:08 PM I'm trying to figure out why in your example that restrictive who works. Is the feel of the restrictive usage behind the statement of your A something like 'Yes, I have two daughters. They do not do usual jobs. They are, like your son, also musicians (i.e. not just two daughters but two who are both musicians')? Taka Usages