http://www.englishforums.com/English/GeneralEnglishGrammarQuestions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here.enCSMOD (Build: 3273.32735)http://www.englishforums.com/English/Only/mqmx/post.htm#63798Tue, 28 Dec 2004 09:37:55 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:63798Jandi0http://www.englishforums.com/English/Only/mqmx/post.htm#63798http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-63798.xmlThank you, Jim! <br />I've got it! <br />Have a nice day!!!!!http://www.englishforums.com/English/Only/mqmz/post.htm#63789Tue, 28 Dec 2004 08:31:05 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:63789CalifJim1http://www.englishforums.com/English/Only/mqmz/post.htm#63789http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-63789.xml1. If he just sold his only car, then he now has no car, correct. <br />2. This means what you say it means, but an English speaker would be unlikely to say it! Even less likely is "John just sold his only only-one-month-old car"!!! <br /> <br />John just sold his car, which was only one month old. (Here we're not sure if it was his only car.) <br />John just sold one of his cars, which was only one month old. (Here we know it was not his only car.) <br />John just sold his only car, which was only one month old. (Here we know it was his only car.)http://www.englishforums.com/English/Only/mqkg/post.htm#63756Tue, 28 Dec 2004 04:34:43 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:63756Jandi2http://www.englishforums.com/English/Only/mqkg/post.htm#63756http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-63756.xmlWhat about these? <br />1. John just sold his only car. [I think this means he has no car, isn't it?] <br />2. John just sold his only-one-month-old car. [I think this means John sold his car, which was only one month old, so he has no car even though both having and not having are possible. Am I right?] <br /> <br />Thank you very much. <br />Enjoy the clear sky. <br />http://www.englishforums.com/English/Only/mqkc/post.htm#63752Tue, 28 Dec 2004 04:14:41 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:63752CalifJim3http://www.englishforums.com/English/Only/mqkc/post.htm#63752http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-63752.xmlThis is not a problem which is very frequently encountered, of course! It would be phrased to avoid the inherent ambiguity. <br /> <br />The sentence does not say specifically whether John has other cars or not. Therefore, it can mean either of the two. If it were said to me, and I were not allowed to ask for further details, I would guess (and I emphasize, guess) that it meant the first of your two choices. <br /> <br /><img src="/emoticons/emotion-1.gif" alt="Smile [:)]" />http://www.englishforums.com/English/Only/mqjq/post.htmTue, 28 Dec 2004 03:17:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:63749Jandi4http://www.englishforums.com/English/Only/mqjq/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-63749.xmlHello, teachers! <br /> <br />- John just sold his only one-month-old car. <br />Does this mean 1 or 2? <br /> <br />1. John has only one car that is one month old, and he sold it, but he has other cars. <br />2. John has only one car, which is one month old, and he sold it, so now he doesn't have any car. <br /> <br />Thank you very much. <br />Best wishes! <br />