Thread: many
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Old 27-Jun-2003, 12:53
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Default Re: many

Quote:
I don't know many things about her.
It is fairly clear what that means. So, no. It is not ambiguous. It is not likely to cause any confusion.

Quote:
1-I don't know many things about her.
a-It is not true that I know many things about her. I know few things about her.
b-There are many things about her that I don't know (may-be there are also many things about her I do know).
[If I am correct, in spoken language the difference would be clear. I think in a, don't would be stressed and in b many.]
In (1) don't is stressed (slightly). In (a) not is stressed (slightly), and few is stressed (more strongly). In (b) many is stressed (as you suggested).

I think you have got it just right. :D

8)
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