ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: nothing else could have gone wrong

New2grammar — Sat, 10 May 2008 06:37:42 GMT

Did someone log in using my username or what?
Why is the same question posted twice? Maybe I have double personality disorder I never knew about.

Please ignore the repeated question. GG's first answer/post on this topic has answered
all my concerns regarding this topic. Sorry for the confusion!

Thanks everyone!

Re: nothing else could have gone wrong

Grammar Geek — Fri, 09 May 2008 23:39:26 GMT

PLEASE do not start new threads on the same topic!

There is a BIG difference between saying "Nothing else could have gone wrong" and saying "Nothing went wrong."

The first says everything went wrong. The second says everything went okay.

Re: nothing else could have gone wrong

Anonymous — Fri, 09 May 2008 23:17:44 GMT

Hi,

I interprete differrently -- slightly though.

nothing went wrong = everything went right

nothing could have gone wrong -- I interprete this as "from the way I see it, it is possible that nothing went wrong or that everything went right.

Likewise:

nothing else could have gone wrong = everything else went right.

Lastly, I want to say:

I could be slightly wrong.

nothing else could have gone wrong

New2grammar — Fri, 09 May 2008 22:54:45 GMT

I interpret 'nothing could have gone wrong' as 'everything went right'

So, 'nothing else could have gone wrong' should be 'everything else went right'

Would you interpret 'nothing else could have gone wrong' as 'everything went wrong'?
If yes, why?

Thanks!

Re: nothing else could have gone wrong

Grammar Geek — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:40:13 GMT

Nothing else could have gone wrong means that absolutely everything went wrong. So many things went wrong that there was nothing left that could go wrong after all those other wrong things.

It is said with discouragement (or perhaps with a laugh if you're able to find humor in a situation that went so badly wrong - like a children's pageant).

nothing else could have gone wrong

New2grammar — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:21:32 GMT

I interpret 'everything went right' as 'nothing could have gone wrong'

So, 'everything else went right' should mean 'nothing else could have gone wrong'

Would you interpret 'nothing else could have gone wrong' as 'everything went wrong'?
If yes, why?

Thanks!