If not: I'm glad to see your father had your teeth fixed, if not your tongue.

[Marc56]

Hello everybody

I was watching ''Dynasty'' with my granny last night. The episode in which Alexis returns to Denver, after 16 years, to testify against her ex-husband, Blake Carrington.
In one of the scenes Alexis talks to her spoiled daughter, Fallon, in the courtroom. Alexis ends the conversation with the following sentence:

''I'm glad to see your father had your teeth fixed, if not your tongue.''

I seem to understand what this sentence means, however, I'm not sure. My interpretation of this sentence is 'I'm glad to see your father had your teeth fixed, but not your tongue'. Since Fallon is very arrogant towards her mother.

Alan, could you please explain to me what this if-construction is all about; also could you give me another sentence than the one Miss Collins used?

Thanks
Marc

[Alan]

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Hi,

'If not' here suggests 'although he didn't fix your tongue'. Another example:

We went on holiday and stayed in a hotel which was of a high standard, if not 5 star (although it wasn't actually 5 star).

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Guy Fawkes Night for You