[Grammar] confused about negative sentences

[khanhhung2512]

Sometimes, I'm very confused about the meaning of negative sentences. For example, in Longman Preparation Course for the TOEFL, iBT Listening, 2nd, I saw a sentence (in the answer):
"He is not in class all the time"
I don't know whether it means "He is always not in class" or "He is not always in class", and how can I know it?
Thanks in advance!

 

[5jj]

"He is not in class all the time"
I don't know whether it means "He is always not in class" or "He is not always in class", and how can I know it?

Both meanings are possible, though the "He is always not in class" meaning is unlikely .

Your sentence is much more likely to mean, "He is not always in class". If we wanted to express the other meaning, we would be far more likely to say, "He is never in class". or, possibly, "He is absent from class all the time".

 

[khanhhung2512]

Both meanings are possible, though the "He is always not in class" meaning is unlikely .

Your sentence is much more likely to mean, "He is not always in class". If we wanted to express the other meaning, we would be far more likely to say, "He is never in class". or, possibly, "He is absent from class all the time".

Thank you very much!
I have another question. How could I understand the meaning of such confusing sentences like that in the future?

 

[Tdol]

The wider context will often make things clearer. Where there are two possible interpretations, people may have to make a decision, based on which is more likely. To get the always not meaning of your example, most people would probably use something like He's never in class.

 

[khanhhung2512]

Do the intonation, rhythm or stress of speakers help me to understand and how?
For instance, in that sentence "He is not in class all the time"

 

[5jj]

Do the intonation, rhythm or stress of speakers help me to understand and how?
For instance, in that sentence

Yes, these things can help.

 

[khanhhung2512]

I think, in the "He is not in class all the time", if we stress "all the time", the sentence means "He is always not in class", if we don't stress "all the time", it means "He is not always in class".
Is what I think right?

 

[TheParser]

I think, in the "He is not in class all the time", if we stress "all the time", the sentence means "He is always not in class", if we don't stress "all the time", it means "He is not always in class".
Is what I think right?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(1) I think that you are correct about stress.

(2) School principal/headmaster: I have to expel your son. He never

comes to class.

Mother: I understand, sir. Unfortunately, it is true: my little darling

is not in class ALL (!!!) OF (!!!) THE (!!!) TIME (!!!). (He is always

not in class.)

***

(3) School principal: I have to expel your daughter. She never

comes to class.

Mother: That is not true! Although my little darling Mona is not in

class ALL (!!!) of the time, she does (!!!) come one day every week!!!

(She is not always in class.)

P.S. Please remember what the teachers told you: native speakers

prefer to express those ideas in a different way.

 

[Soup]

I think, in the "He is not in class all the time", if we stress "all the time", the sentence means "He is always not in class", if we don't stress "all the time", it means "He is not always in class".
Is what I think right?

You are right.

• He is not in class all the time.
  • meaning, he is never in class.

• He is not in class all the time.
  • meaning, he is in class sometimes.