Forum newsfeeds 
|  | | Notices | You are welcome to answer questions posted in the Ask a Teacher forum as long as your suggestions, help, and advice reflect a good understanding of the English language. If you are not a teacher, you will need to state that clearly at the top of your post. Please note, all posts are moderated by our in-house language experts, so make sure your suggestions, help, and advice house the kind of information an international language teacher would offer. If not, and your posts do not contribute to the topic in a positive way, they will be subject to deletion. | 
08-Oct-2004, 09:39
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Nov 2003 Country: China
Posts: 2,121
Current Location: China First Language: Chinese Member Type: Student or Learner Thanks: 384
Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts
| |  grammar
Dear teachers,
I found it difficult to interpret the meaning of 'there is no question of'.
I'll show my confusion by the following examples:
1. There is no qustion of his dismissing you at the moment.
The sentence could be explained as 'It's impossible that he will dismiss you'. Is it possible to interpret it as 'Without any doubt he will dismiss you at the moment'? If it can't it's because there is 'at the moment'. Is that right?
2. There is no question that they are active in class.
Does it mean 'they are active' or 'without doubt they are not active'?
3. The same question with the third sentence:
There is no question that he'll come back after studying in Australia.
Could you please kindly clarify the meanings of the sentences?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.
Jiang |
08-Oct-2004, 09:40
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Nov 2003 Country: China
Posts: 2,121
Current Location: China First Language: Chinese Member Type: Student or Learner Thanks: 384
Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts
| | Re: grammar
Quote: |
Originally Posted by jiang Dear teachers,
I found it difficult to interpret the meaning of 'there is no question of'.
I'll show my confusion by the following examples:
1. There is no qustion of his dismissing you at the moment.
The sentence could be explained as 'It's impossible that he will dismiss you'. Is it possible to interpret it as 'Without any doubt he will dismiss you at the moment'? If it can't it's because there is 'at the moment'. Is that right?
2. There is no question that they are active in class.
Does it mean 'they are active' or 'without doubt they are not active'?
3. The same question with the third sentence:
There is no question that he'll come back after studying in Australia.
Could you please kindly clarify the meanings of the sentences?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.
Jiang | |
08-Oct-2004, 11:26
|  | VIP Member | | Join Date: Sep 2003 Country: Canada
Posts: 12,997
Current Location: China First Language: English Member Type: Other Thanks: 0
Thanked 60 Times in 57 Posts
| | Re: grammar
Quote: |
Originally Posted by jiang 1. There is no question of his dismissing you at the moment.
The sentence could be explained as 'It's impossible that he will dismiss you'. Is it possible to interpret it as 'Without any doubt he will dismiss you at the moment'? If it can't it's because there is 'at the moment'. Is that right? | It's an absolute. That is, there's no need to question X (i.e., think about X, wonder about X, ask about X, enquire about X) because X has/did/is going to/will happen. Quote:
2. There is no question that they are active in class.
Does it mean 'they are active' or 'without doubt they are not active'?
| They are active. That is, there is no need to question it. It is what it is. Quote: |
3. There is no question that he'll come back after studying in Australia.
| He will come back. There's no need to question it. He will be returning.
All the best, :D |
08-Oct-2004, 12:07
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Nov 2003 Country: China
Posts: 2,121
Current Location: China First Language: Chinese Member Type: Student or Learner Thanks: 384
Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts
| | Re: grammar
:) & :?
Dear Casiopea,
I asked the question because I read it in a book that 'there is no question ( of sth. happening/sb.doing sth.) means 'there is no possibility'. In that case, the meanings of the sentences are just opposite of what you explain and what I think are correct but not sure of. Could you please explain what's wrong with my understanding?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.
Jiang Quote: |
Originally Posted by Casiopea Quote: |
Originally Posted by jiang 1. There is no question of his dismissing you at the moment.
The sentence could be explained as 'It's impossible that he will dismiss you'. Is it possible to interpret it as 'Without any doubt he will dismiss you at the moment'? If it can't it's because there is 'at the moment'. Is that right? | It's an absolute. That is, there's no need to question X (i.e., think about X, wonder about X, ask about X, enquire about X) because X has/did/is going to/will happen. Quote:
2. There is no question that they are active in class.
Does it mean 'they are active' or 'without doubt they are not active'?
| They are active. That is, there is no need to question it. It is what it is. Quote: |
3. There is no question that he'll come back after studying in Australia.
| He will come back. There's no need to question it. He will be returning.
All the best, :D |  |
08-Oct-2004, 12:26
| | VIP Member | | Join Date: Sep 2003 Country: Canada
Posts: 12,997
Current Location: China First Language: English Member Type: Other Thanks: 0
Thanked 60 Times in 57 Posts
| | Re: grammar
Quote: |
Originally Posted by jiang :) & :? | Your use of the emoticons is great! I love it. :D Quote: |
Originally Posted by jiang I asked the question because I read it in a book that 'there is no question ( of sth. happening/sb.doing sth.) means 'there is no possibility'. In that case, the meanings of the sentences are just opposite of what you explain and what I think are correct but not sure of. Could you please explain what's wrong with my understanding? | I'd need to see the exact definition before I'd feel comfortable answering. Sorry.
Maybe it means, 'there is no possibility (of any other outcome). 
All the best, :D |
08-Oct-2004, 12:34
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Nov 2003 Country: China
Posts: 2,121
Current Location: China First Language: Chinese Member Type: Student or Learner Thanks: 384
Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts
| | Re: grammar
I see.
Jiang Quote: |
Originally Posted by Casiopea Quote: |
Originally Posted by jiang :) & :? | Your use of the emoticons is great! I love it. :D Quote: |
Originally Posted by jiang I asked the question because I read it in a book that 'there is no question ( of sth. happening/sb.doing sth.) means 'there is no possibility'. In that case, the meanings of the sentences are just opposite of what you explain and what I think are correct but not sure of. Could you please explain what's wrong with my understanding? | I'd need to see the exact definition before I'd feel comfortable answering. Sorry.
Maybe it means, 'there is no possibility (of any other outcome).
All the best, :D | |
08-Oct-2004, 12:37
| | VIP Member | | Join Date: Sep 2003 Country: Canada
Posts: 12,997
Current Location: China First Language: English Member Type: Other Thanks: 0
Thanked 60 Times in 57 Posts
| | Re: grammar
OK.  |
08-Oct-2004, 13:36
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Nov 2003 Country: China
Posts: 2,121
Current Location: China First Language: Chinese Member Type: Student or Learner Thanks: 384
Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts
| | Re: grammar
Dear Casiopea,
I meant I would wait for your further explanation. But I wouldn't push you.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.
Jiang Quote: |
Originally Posted by Casiopea OK. | |
08-Oct-2004, 22:54
| | VIP Member | | Join Date: Sep 2003 Country: Canada
Posts: 12,997
Current Location: China First Language: English Member Type: Other Thanks: 0
Thanked 60 Times in 57 Posts
| | Re: grammar
Quote: |
Originally Posted by jiang I meant I would wait for your further explanation. But I wouldn't push you. | But... I'm waiting for you, too.  Quote: |
Originally Posted by Casiopea I'd need to see the exact definition before I'd feel comfortable answering. | | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode | 
Posting Rules
| You may post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off | | | All times are GMT. The time now is 06:05. | |
