In Negations^x

Hmm. Let me rethink how that "rule" has to be stated. I'm trying to say this: Could I have some more cake? No, you can't. *No, you couldn't. I suppose the "negation" thing doesn't work, does it? Good catch! CJ

CalifJim wrote: Hela, The use of "could" to mean "can"* is not possible in that context - an "assertive" context. The use of "could" to mean "can"* in such contexts is restricted to "non-assertive" contexts, e.g., negations and questions. CJ *which, in turn, is being used to mean "may", (the...

Hela, The use of "could" to mean "can"* is not possible in that context - an "assertive" context. The use of "could" to mean "can"* in such contexts is restricted to "non-assertive" contexts, e.g., negations and questions. CJ *which, in turn, is being used to mean "may",...

in 1 and 3 both 'need to ' and 'must' sound fine to me. in 2 and 4, 'needn't' and 'mustn't' both sound fine to me, but have different meanings. the scope of negation with 'must' is different to the scope of negation with 'need'. compare, you needn't X = 'it is not required that you X'...

I agree with Paco. "Don't hurry up", used to assure someone that there is no need to hurry, i.e., the equivalent of "Don't hurry", doesn't work. However, in a tone of exasperation, used as the negation of a previous similar utterance, it will work. -- Hurry up! Hurry up! You're going to...

Hello, Ddarrin, welcome to the English Forums! The "a" comes from the Greek, it's the "alpha (=a) privative (implying privation or negation)".

My tries were as below but I too feel both forms may be OK. 11. Don't bother to do the dishes. cease to dump 42 / cease dumping 435 paco

Hello rvw again. I'm back. You may defend your claim by arguing that the reading .

I see. Then how about a 'postpositive modifier,' as a quite general label. .. /rvw/ I think you have to assume ellipsis and two main clauses. .. Then there should be included some negation of event, whereas 'the principal thrust of the sentence is to contrast the two.' It seems to...

Hello rvw. I'm that anon who asked about apples and Issinbaeva. Oh I see you are not so enthuisiastic for the pole vault (in addition the spelling of her name was wrong: Isinbayeva. She broke the world record at Helsinki, at IAAF world championships this year. She is beautiful, by the way..) ...