solves any problem

[navi tasan]

I wrote the following sentences:

1) You can't program this machine to solve any problem.
2) You can't make a machine that solves any problem.

I think in these sentences 'any problem' would mean 'no problem at all'. But could it also mean 'just any problem'?
Would using 'problems' instead of 'problem' make any difference?

 

[Annabel Lee]

1) You can't program this machine to solve any problem.
2) You can't make a machine that solves any problem.

If "You" refers to the reader/listener, the sentences are more about that person than they are about this/a machine.

In that case, the sentences say that s/he lacks the requisite machine-programming/machine-making know-how.

But perhaps you mean for the sentences to be interpreted as equivalent in meaning to these passivized versions:

1a) This machine can't be programmed to solve any problem.​

2b) A machine that solves any problem can't be made.​

​

Have you used "You" in place of "One"?

 

[navi tasan]

Thank you very much, Annabel Lee,

My problem was with 'any'.

1) You can't program this machine to solve any problem.

Maybe you are incapable of programming this machine to solve any problem. Maybe there is something wrong with the machine and nobody can program it to solve any problem. Maybe the machine can't be programmed in such a way that it will solve just any problem. There are certain problems it can solve, but it can't be programmed in such a way that it will solve just any problem.

The problem is that I think the sentence is ambiguous:
a) You won't be able to program this machine to solve a single problem.
b) this machine will not solve just any problem. It can't be programmed that way.

In the case of '2', one meaning would be:
2a) You can't make a machine to solve a single problem. (In this case, 'you' can't mean 'one')
and the other would be;
2b) You can't make a machine that solves just any problem. (In this case 'you' could presumable mean 'one')

My apologies if I've made things too complicated.

 

[Annabel Lee]

Thanks for clarifying, Navi. Going back to your original questions:

I think in these sentences 'any problem' would mean 'no problem at all'.

Yes, that's how they would normally be interpreted. In American slang, you could substitute "jack" for "any problem."

You can't program this machine to solve jack!
You can't make a machine that solves jack!​

But could it also mean 'just any problem'?

Yes, I think so, but I think there would be a great deal of stress on "any," and the word would be slowed down in speech.

You can't program this machine to solve aaannnyy problem.​

You have to coerce that meaning. Even then you won't be guaranteed that the hearer will interpret it thus. The sentence will still have its default meaning chomping at the bit. If you want this alternate meaning, you already know what to do: add "just." Alternatively, you could add "under the sun," "in the world," or a variety of relative clauses after "any problem."

You can't program this machine to solve any problem under the sun​

You can't program this machine to solve any problem in the world.​

You can't program this machine to solve any problem that can arise.​

Would using 'problems' instead of 'problem' make any difference?

In my opinion, it wouldn't.

 

[navi tasan]

Thank you so much for this detailed response. I really appreciate it.