"However fast you..." vs "No matter how..."

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

I agree with MrP that your sentences have basically the same meaning. It also seems to me that sentences using expressions such as 'however much' don't necessarily have to be used in negative contexts, but that sentences with 'no matter' may have a greater chance of being used as MrP suggested.
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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Yankee]

[Molly]

[Haihao]

I would like to lay an emphasis on the 'may' the original sentence carries. That's why I agree with MrP's positive and negative assessment. I also found Molly's examples without 'may' were indeed all negative to me so I couldn't on the other hand argue with her on this point.

[Lost_Soul]

Hi, Guys !

Could you answer my piffling question, please? :) :)

Can I rehash this sentence
...it can never compare itself with a hawk.

into these sentences:

...a vulture can never be compared to a hawk
...a vulture does not compare with a hawk

Also, what would be the most natural of the choices ?
Many thanks !

[Barb_D]

In the first one ("can never compare itself"), the vulture must be "self-aware" and making the comparison himself. That is unlikley in real life.

In the second one ("can never be compared") it's more of an admonition to not compare the two.

In the third ("does not compare") it's a value judgement - the hawk is far superior and the vulture just does not compare (favorably).

[Yankee]

I agree with Barb's take. The only thing I might add is that a vulture might possibly compare (or not compare) itself to a vulture in the context of a story, for example, in which the vulture is given human qualities.
.
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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[MrPedantic]

[MrPedantic]

1. However hard you try, you'll never pass that exam.
2. No matter how hard you try, you'll never pass that exam.

It seems to me that #1 implies simply that your maximum effort will be insufficient; whereas #2 also implies that it doesn't matter how much effort you put into it: it will still be insufficient.

Thus #1 seems a softer statement, to me. I would find it less discouraging.

MrP

[Molly]

[MrPedantic]

[Molly]

[Prezbucky]

Who wrote "can not"?

It's "cannot"!

FIE!

Enough people have misused it (can not) that some are now referring to it as acceptable... but "cannot" is the traditional form. There is no need for "can not". All a writer has to do is choose the correct expression of it. there is no difference in meaning between "can not" and "cannot", so why do we continue seeing "can not"?

It's not that important really... just a grammatical pet peeve of mine.
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Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee.

[Prezbucky]

"can not" and "irregardless"... grrrrrr.
_________________
Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee.

[Molly]