brought his rifle

Status
Not open for further replies.

navi tasan

Key Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2002
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
Persian
Home Country
Iran
Current Location
United States
1) This time, he hasn't brought his rifle to threaten you, has he?
2) This time, he hasn't brought his rifle to threaten you with, has he?
3) This time, he hasn't brought bring his rifle to threaten you with it, has he?


Which of the above sentences mean:
a) This time, he hasn't brought his rifle and can't threaten you with it. Isn't that so? (Presumably, there were other occasions when he had brought his rifle and threatened you with it.)
and which mean:
b) This time, he does not intend to threaten you with his rifle, which he has brought with him.

Gratefully,
Navi.
 

Tarheel

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2014
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
I cant tell from the sentence (#2) if the person has actually brought his rifle with him or not.

You might want to say:

He hasn't brought his rifle, so he can't threaten you with it, can he?
 

Tarheel

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2014
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
If I had to choose one it would be #2.
 

Skrej

VIP Member
Joined
May 11, 2015
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
All of these are ambiguous as to whether he actually has a rifle with him or not this time, and even if he does have one, whether or not he intends to threaten the person with it.
 

Rover_KE

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
If I had to choose one it would be #2.
Tarheel, please note that you could have used Edit Post to add this to post #2.
 

Tarheel

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2014
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
This mobile device I"m using doesn't like me to edit posts.

:-o
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top