milan2003_07
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2011
- Member Type
- Academic
- Native Language
- Russian
- Home Country
- Russian Federation
- Current Location
- Russian Federation
I'm currently expanding and revising my knowledge of grammar using the book "Oxford Grammar Course Advanced" by Michael Swan and Catherine Walter. This grammar edition is often recommended for studying and revising the English grammar at high levels.
The sentence is as follows: "I didn't sing because Pat was there". (= 'I didnt sing' or 'I sang, but for another reason')
The book says that the original sentence can have two meanings (they are provided in the brackets above), which I don't understand. I'm used to interpreting such sentences in one meaning that "I didn't sing because of Pat's presence" which coincides with #1 in the brackets. However, I don't understand how this sentence can also mean that "I sang, but for another reason" (there is a clear negation that I didn't sing).
Could you please confirm that both meanings are possible and explain meaning #2?
By the way, the book suggests reorganizing the sentence(s) the following way:
"Because Pat was there, I didn't sing" (meaning #1). or "I sang, but not because Pat was there" (meaning #2).
The sentence is as follows: "I didn't sing because Pat was there". (= 'I didnt sing' or 'I sang, but for another reason')
The book says that the original sentence can have two meanings (they are provided in the brackets above), which I don't understand. I'm used to interpreting such sentences in one meaning that "I didn't sing because of Pat's presence" which coincides with #1 in the brackets. However, I don't understand how this sentence can also mean that "I sang, but for another reason" (there is a clear negation that I didn't sing).
Could you please confirm that both meanings are possible and explain meaning #2?
By the way, the book suggests reorganizing the sentence(s) the following way:
"Because Pat was there, I didn't sing" (meaning #1). or "I sang, but not because Pat was there" (meaning #2).