Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
pertaining to a city; pertaining to citizenship
nearby
civic
unnecessary
admirable
TOEIC prep test: Word games free: Online Adjective Game Answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

Construction: One cannot have too many friends like you!



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
Why some students unable to use grammatical structure in daily life? | Which of the following to be clicked or ticked? (Block pop up window)
Listening exercises
Message
Author
Construction: One cannot have too many friends like you! #1 (permalink) Sat Jul 04, 2009 17:50 pm   Construction: One cannot have too many friends like you!
 

This construction can mean two opposite things, for example:

One cannot have too many friends like you!

It can be interpreted as:

1) Even one friend like you is more than enough. (You always cause trouble to friends, so I feel very disappointed in you.)
2) One could never have enough friends like you. (You alway do good to friends, so I feel very proud of you.)

Am I right? My question is: are there any rules governing the uses of this structure?
Iwanna
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 15 Sep 2007
Posts: 111

cannot...too #2 (permalink) Sun Jul 05, 2009 1:06 am   cannot...too
 

What kind of rule do you suppose might obtain? You understand that the sentence is ambiguous out of context, but then many or most statements require context to complete their meaning, like 'I can't eat one more banana'.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's
Mister Micawber
Language Coach
Mr. Micawber

Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 7435
Location: Yokohama, Japan

Are you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsSign up for FREE and explore English! Click to subscribe to email English courseIn this story you'll learn everything about the passive voice
Display posts from previous:   
Why some students unable to use grammatical structure in daily life? | Which of the following to be clicked or ticked? (Block pop up window)
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms Construction: One cannot have too many friends like you! All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums
intend sth. to be / intend asCan we use "many" or the like instead?reporting an electronic problem.Why 'equal' in sentence: All men are created equal?"I am appreciated" or "I appreciate"Abbreviation of "example"Grammar usage: There is always a heavy traffic in the city centre...Job offer: But as far as opening of branches is this or that way connected...Why is the sentence finite? (He claims that he knows the answer.)English synonym words: massive, critical, substantial, burly, sizable, toweringa vs the (John is the/a professor of English at ABC University.)example vs. illustrationSentence: he never learned anything in his life that did not come of use to himspecialty vs. speciality'there is a sufficiently number' vs 'there are a sufficient number'I’m following a new techniques in teaching grammarNoise vs Sound'Everything' versus 'Every thing'Construction: One cannot have too many friends like you!

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail