Tom knows everything

[navi tasan]

1) Tom knows anything.
2) Tom knows everything.
Can one use #1 instead of #2?

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3) This robot does anything you tell it to.
4) This robot does everything you tell it to.
Can one use #3 instead of #4?

I don't think #1 works at all, but #3 means basically the same as #4.

 

[emsr2d2]

1) Tom knows anything.
2) Tom knows everything.
Can one use #1 instead of #2?

No.

3) This robot does anything you tell it to.
4) This robot does everything you tell it to.
Can one use #3 instead of #4?

Yes.

I don't think #1 works at all, but #3 means basically the same as #4.

You're right about #1.
#3 doesn't mean the same as #4 but they're both grammatically correct.

 

[emsr2d2]

@navi tasan Here's a bit more info. With the verb "know", the word "anything" can be used only in the interrogative and the negative.

Do you know anything about Greek mythology?
I don't know anything about horses.
They know anything about maths.

 

[jutfrank]

1) Tom knows anything.
2) Tom knows everything.
Can one use #1 instead of #2?

No.

3) This robot does anything you tell it to.
4) This robot does everything you tell it to.
Can one use #3 instead of #4?

No. There's a difference in meaning. I'm sure you already know this.

I don't think #1 works at all, but #3 means basically the same as #4.

That depends on what you mean by "basically the same".

 

[kttlt]

There's a difference in meaning.

#3 doesn't mean the same as #4

Excuse me, I'm confused by these answers. Is the difference that 3) implies that there are no limits to what the robot can do, while 4) simply states that it performs all of the required tasks (possibly with certain limitations)? Otherwise I fail to see the difference at all.

 

[jutfrank]

Is the difference that 3) implies that there are no limits to what the robot can do, while 4) simply states that it performs all of the required tasks (possibly with certain limitations)?

Yes, that's a decent way to put it.