not so busy that ... can't

[Seiichi MYOGA]

I have two questions for (1).

(1) He is not so busy that he can't go for a walk now and then.

#1
Do you agree that (2) is the paraphrase of (1)?

(2) He is not too busy to go for a walk now and then.

#2
Do you agree that (3) correctly explains what (1) actually means?

(3) Though he is (very) busy, he can still go for a walk now and then.

Thank you in advance
Seiichi MYOGA

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by Seiichi MYOGA

I have two questions for (1).

(1) He is not so busy that he can't go for a walk now and then.

#1
Do you agree that (2) is [the] a paraphrase of (1)?

(2) He is not too busy to go for a walk now and then.

#2
Do you agree that (3) correctly explains what (1) actually means?

(3) Though he is (very) busy, he can still go for a walk now and then.

Thank you in advance
Seiichi MYOGA

Yes to #1, adjusted. I think that 'very' overstates the case. And I suppose that the speakers of 1 & 2 could be making a concession about his "busyness" and not truly believe he is busy, while 3 states that he is busy.

[Seiichi MYOGA]

Dear riverkid,

I appreciate your help and comments.

I slept on it.

I think (1) implies that he can go for a walk now and then. And my original interest was in what the rest part ("He is not so busy)" may mean. I had assumed it was a concessive reading but now I begin to suspect that it is a conditional or causal reading, depending on tense.

(1) He is not so busy that he can't go for a walk now and then.

#1
Do you agree that (1) really implies (4)?

(4) He can go for a walk now and then if he is not too busy.

#2
Do you also agree that (5a) implies (5b)?

(5) a. Mary was not so excited that she could hardly sleep.
b. Because she was not too tired, Mary was able to sleep a little.

Seiichi MYOGA