[Vocabulary] nearly didn't come

[maiabulela]

Dear all,

What is the meaning of "I nearly didn't come" in:

[FONT=&quot]A: Hello[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]B: This is a surprise.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] A: Yes, I'm sorry. I'm sorry it's so late.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]B: I nearly didn't come at all. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]A: - It's alright.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]A paid a surprise visit to B [/FONT][FONT=&quot]. Now I can't get the structure of it . How come she visited her and then say "I nearly didn't come"??? And how "nearly"? What does that mean.[/FONT]


**She came to console her

[FONT=&quot]Thanks a lot
[/FONT]

 

[5jj]

"I nearly didn't come." There had been a real possibility that the speaker would not come.

I nearly died - I was close to death but, clearly, I did not die.
I nearly didn't come - I was close to not-coming, but I didn't not-come = I came.

 

[maiabulela]

"I nearly didn't come." There had been a real possibility that the speaker would not come.

I nearly died - I was close to death but, clearly, I did not die.
I nearly didn't come - I was close to not-coming, but I didn't not-come = I came.

Yes! I totally got it! The first example you have kindly provided really made the picture so clear. Thanks for analyzing the negative structure:up: I'm so grateful.

 

[Barb_D]

However, if I read your post correctly, the person making the surprise visit is A, so why would B comment that she almost didn't come? That part is confusing.

 

[5jj]

However, if I read your post correctly, the person making the surprise visit is A, so why would B comment that she almost didn't come? That part is confusing.

I hadn't spotted that. It is strange.