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17-Feb-2007, 05:51
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| |  also don't know
I don't know how to operate this machine.
I also don't know how to operate this machine.
The response is wrong. It should be I don't know, either.
I would like to know why I cannot say, "I also don't know ... " |
17-Feb-2007, 07:36
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| | Re: also don't know
Where does the sentence come from? |
17-Feb-2007, 08:03
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| | Re: also don't know
Hi,
It seems to me you can say so. |
17-Feb-2007, 08:38
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| | Re: also don't know
I guess if you put the stress on 'also' you could say that. I'm not sure. |
17-Feb-2007, 10:29
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| | Re: also don't know
I don't like durian. (#1)
I also don't like durian. (incorrect) #2
I don't like durian, either. (correct) #3
I don't know how to operate the machine. #4
I also don't know how to operate the machine. #5
I don't know how to operate the machine, either. #6
The first three sentences are structurally the same as the last three. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I know #2 is the wrong response to #1.
So, logically, #5 is the wrong response to #4.
Is my conclusion logical? If so, why is #5 the wrong response to #4? |
17-Feb-2007, 10:41
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| | Re: also don't know
Quote:
Originally Posted by kohyoongliat  I don't like durian. (#1)
I also don't like durian. (incorrect) #2
I don't like durian, either. (correct) #3
I don't know how to operate the machine. #4
I also don't know how to operate the machine. #5
I don't know how to operate the machine, either. #6
The first three sentences are structurally the same as the last three. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I know #2 is the wrong response to #1.
So, logically, #5 is the wrong response to #4.
Is my conclusion logical? If so, why is #5 the wrong response to #4? | Your conclusion is logical. So, if you know why #2 is the wrong answer to #1, you should know why #5 is the wrong answer to #4, no? Is my conclusion logical?  .......That was me being silly, Kohyoongliat.
I know that #6 is correct-of that I'm sure and I would prefer it to #5 but I don't see why #5 is totally wrong. |
17-Feb-2007, 13:43
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| | Re: also don't know
Thank you for the examples.  (Should 'durian' be durians?)
The Standard rule, I believe, is that not...either is negative, and also is affirmative. Affirmative
I like durian.
I also like durian.  Negative
I don't like durian.
I also don't like durian. 
I do n't like durian, either.
Note that, "I also do n't" is standard colloquial usage. The test you're taking is based on Standard (formal) English.
All the best. |
17-Feb-2007, 14:31
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| | Re: also don't know
No, indeed, I've just consulted a couple of books -also can't be used in the negative.
Still it doesn't jar on my ear and I suspect the mistake is common enough to be raised to acceptable usage in colloquial speach. |
17-Feb-2007, 14:34
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| | Re: also don't know
Oh,
I haven't seen Casi's post. So my ears don't fail me. |
17-Feb-2007, 14:36
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| | Re: also don't know
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