new article

[navi tasan]

1-His new article about life in his hometown came out yesterday.
2-His new article describing life in his hometown came out yesterday.

In which case we do we have:
a-He has necessarily written articles about life in his hometown before.
and in which case:
b-His new article is about life in his hometown but we don't know whether he has written about that before.

 

[MikeNewYork]

1-His new article about life in his hometown came out yesterday.
2-His new article describing life in his hometown came out yesterday.

In which case we do we have:
a-He has necessarily written articles about life in his hometown before.
and in which case:
b-His new article is about life in his hometown but we don't know whether he has written about that before.

Sorry, I can't make that differentiation based purely on "about" versus "describing". :shock:

 

[navi tasan]

The question was phrased very badly. I have to apologize.

I think, and as usual, I am not sure, both sentences mean a, or else we would have a
comma.

1-1-His new article about life in his hometown came out yesterday.
as opposed to:
1'-His new article, about life in his hometown, came out yesterday.


And:
2-His new article describing life in his hometown came out yesterday.
as opposed to:
2'-His new article, describing life in his hometown, came out yesterday.


It seems to me that in 1 and 2 he has written articles about (describing) his hometown before; while in 1' and 2' all we know is that his new article is about (describes) his hometown.

 

[MikeNewYork]

The question was phrased very badly. I have to apologize.

I think, and as usual, I am not sure, both sentences mean a, or else we would have a
comma.

1-1-His new article about life in his hometown came out yesterday.
as opposed to:
1'-His new article, about life in his hometown, came out yesterday.


And:
2-His new article describing life in his hometown came out yesterday.
as opposed to:
2'-His new article, describing life in his hometown, came out yesterday.


It seems to me that in 1 and 2 he has written articles about (describing) his hometown before; while in 1' and 2' all we know is that his new article is about (describes) his hometown.

I see your point, but I would still hesitate to jump to that conclusion. In both cases, "his new article" might suggest that he has written about something before, but I'm not sure I would say that we know the previous subject in either case.

 

[navi tasan]

Thanks. I get it:
Does the same apply to "wh" clauses? Is this sentence correct:
1-His new wife who is a chain smoker coughs a lot.
(Assuming he has only one new wife).

 

[MikeNewYork]

Thanks. I get it:
Does the same apply to "wh" clauses? Is this sentence correct:
1-His new wife who is a chain smoker coughs a lot.
(Assuming he has only one new wife).

Because there is usually one "new" wife, I would put that clause in commas.

 

[navi tasan]

Thanks a lot Mike. It was almost like talking to you. Cheers.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Thanks a lot Mike. It was almost like talking to you. Cheers.

I like talking to you, Navi. :wink:

 

[navi tasan]

So do I.
(In my language that would mean I too like talking to myself! But I think in English, it has the meaning I want it to have here.)

 

[RonBee]

• Mike: I like talking to you, Navi.
  Navi: I also like talking to you.

If Navi says "So do I" it might indeed mean that Navi likes talking to Navi.

:wink:

 

[MikeNewYork]

So do I.
(In my language that would mean I too like talking to myself! But I think in English, it has the meaning I want it to have here.)

I'm afraid Ron is correct. From now on you will only be allowed to post to yourself. :wink:

 

[navi tasan]

In English it MIGHT mean that!
I am the one who is always being told not to worry so much about ambiguity! And here's what I get!!
For the record:
I don't like talking to myself. I find myself pretty predictable! So the conversation goes:
I knew you'd say that.
So did I......

 

[MikeNewYork]

In English it MIGHT mean that!
I am the one who is always being told not to worry so much about ambiguity! And here's what I get!!
For the record:
I don't like talking to myself. I find myself pretty predictable! So the conversation goes:
I knew you'd say that.
So did I......

We were only teasing you. You will hear "so did I" used that way, and people understand what it means. :wink:

 

[navi tasan]

Well, that's one use for ambiguous sentences! Teasing simple-hearted, honest, naive people like good old me!!

 

[MikeNewYork]

Well, that's one use for ambiguous sentences! Teasing simple-hearted, honest, naive people like good old me!!

Amen! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: