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any difference?

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billy

Junior Member
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Nov 7, 2003
1.I'm not ready give up on you
2.I'm not ready give you up

3. I want to keep doing it
4. I want to keep on doing it

I'm totally confused by these expression above :roll:


need your help

thank you in advance
 

RonBee

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billy said:
1.I'm not ready give up on you
2.I'm not ready give you up

3. I want to keep doing it
4. I want to keep on doing it

The first two mean two different things. In the first sentence, the speaker is saying he is not going to withdraw his support from the person, that he is going to continue to support him or her. In the second sentence the speaker seems to be saying that he is not going to reveal the person's location to authorities. The other two sentences are identical in meaning.
 

Tdol

Editor, UsingEnglish.com
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billy said:
1.I'm not ready give up on you
2.I'm not ready give you up

3. I want to keep doing it
4. I want to keep on doing it

I'm totally confused by these expression above :roll:


need your help

thank you in advance

I agree with Ron's comments, but would add that in number 2 you should say 'to give you up'. Also, it could have an alternatiive interprtation, based on the idea of surrendering. If you were in competition for a partner and were losing, yet not willing to admit defeat, you could say number 2 to express this. ;-)
 

RonBee

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It's something that I overlooked earlier, but the to is needed in both sentences, thus:
  • I'm not ready to give up on you.
Or:
  • I'm not ready to give you up.
 

Tdol

Editor, UsingEnglish.com
Staff member
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Nov 13, 2002
Member Type
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