Thinking SpainA: Please, give me the other book from that box. B: The box is empty. There’s nothing else in that box.
This exchange makes sense, but so did the original. There's nothing else in the box implies that the other book, whichever book it may be, is not in the box.
Of course, if you add the fact that the box is empty, then not only is "the other book" not in the box, but nothing else is in the box either.
B can be correct in the following scenario:
[A is busy with something else and is not looking at what's in the box.]
A. Please give me the poetry book from that box. B. Is it this one with the red cover?
A. Please give me the other book from that box.
B. There's nothing else in the box. [Note that the box is not empty at this point. Nevertheless, it's true that "the other book" is not in the box, because there is no other book. There is nothing else in the box, that is, nothing except the book that was already rejected as the wrong book.]
CJ
CalifJim
Thank you very much. That's quite an explanation!
I really appreciate your patient and your examples.
A does not automatically mean that B is correct. B is correct if all items in the box have been removed.
Then, what could be an automatically one including the phrase nothing else in "B"
Thanks in advance
CJ
A: Please, give me the other book from that box.
B: The box is empty. There’s nothing else in that box.
Does it make sense now?
Of course, if you add the fact that the box is empty, then not only is "the other book" not in the box, but nothing else is in the box either.
B can be correct in the following scenario:
[A is busy with something else and is not looking at what's in the box.]
A. Please give me the poetry book from that box.
B. Is it this one with the red cover?
A. Please give me the other book from that box.
B. There's nothing else in the box.
[Note that the box is not empty at this point. Nevertheless, it's true that "the other book" is not in the box, because there is no other book. There is nothing else in the box, that is, nothing except the book that was already rejected as the wrong book.]
CJ
Thank you very much. That's quite an explanation!
I really appreciate your patient and your examples.
Have a nice day
CJ