pseudo
Junior Member
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2012
- Member Type
- Interested in Language
- Native Language
- Korean
- Home Country
- South Korea
- Current Location
- South Korea
I think 'to infinitive' generally has future meaning.
For example,
s1. I have no friends to help me.
-> I have no friends that can help me.
However,
s2. He is the only student to pass the exam.
In the case of s2, it means that he was the only student that passed the exam. (He passed the exam.)
But I think it can also be translated he was the only student that could pass the exam. (He didn't take the exam yet but he had the potential to pass the exam.)
Can s2 be translated both meanings? Should it be translated depending on contexts?
Or should s2 be translated for one meaning?
For example,
s1. I have no friends to help me.
-> I have no friends that can help me.
However,
s2. He is the only student to pass the exam.
In the case of s2, it means that he was the only student that passed the exam. (He passed the exam.)
But I think it can also be translated he was the only student that could pass the exam. (He didn't take the exam yet but he had the potential to pass the exam.)
Can s2 be translated both meanings? Should it be translated depending on contexts?
Or should s2 be translated for one meaning?