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#17 (permalink) Fri Sep 22, 2006 10:26 am Is this good English? |
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. Well, I think I understand what Quoc is getting at... . Quoc, in your example it would be MUCH better and MUCH more understandable to say something like this:
It isn't exactly true that I have "no car" at all. I do own a car. It just isn't working at the moment. So, what I mean is that I have no access to a car that runs.
Trying to use "I don't have no car" to mean "I have a car." is a bad idea because the double negative in this short little sentence would typically NOT be understood as a way to create a positive idea. :? _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
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#18 (permalink) Fri Sep 22, 2006 10:49 am No car |
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Hi,
Sure. A complete rewrite, yes but then not to forget that a certain articulate comment about double negatives by our same correspondent has mysteriously been deleted!
Alan _________________ English as a Foreign Language You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13891 Location: UK
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#19 (permalink) Fri Sep 22, 2006 10:58 am Is this good English? |
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. Hmmm.... I guess I must have missed that. :? _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
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#20 (permalink) Fri Sep 22, 2006 11:02 am Mysterious post |
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| Yankee wrote: |
. Hmmm.... I guess I must have missed that. :? |
Yes, so have I. And now we'll never know what it said. It's not fair (pouting)! |
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Conchita Language Coach

Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 2826 Location: Madrid, Spain
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#21 (permalink) Fri Sep 22, 2006 11:25 am Is this good English? |
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Hi, I guess, this could be an example how the literature ,or the poetry are able to mix up words and phrases and confuse us poor "no natives". ( most probably not only "no natives" :lol: )
I don't have "no car"
just don't have a working car, but it'll be repaired by next week...
In dialogues, it does happen quite often , doesn't it ?
Regards Jan |
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Jan I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 319 Location: At sea
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Mister Micawber Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 13015
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
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#24 (permalink) Sat Sep 23, 2006 9:22 am Is this good English? |
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"You're no good for me, I don't need nobody" (c) _________________ It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water… |
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Tamara I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 25 May 2006 Posts: 1577 Location: UK
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#25 (permalink) Sat Sep 23, 2006 9:38 am Meaning |
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Hi Tamara,
Do you mean you want to know what it means?
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You're no good for me, I don't need nobody |
I would say: you are no use to me because I really don't need anybody.
The double negative has reared its head again! It's acceptable in colloquial use for emphasis.
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Passive Voice |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13891 Location: UK
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#26 (permalink) Sat Sep 23, 2006 9:50 am Collocations |
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No use/no good
With some (usually uncountable) nouns, 'no' is used instead of 'not a/any':
no time no doubt no point no problem no idea no way
There are probably quite a few more. |
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Conchita Language Coach

Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 2826 Location: Madrid, Spain
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#27 (permalink) Sat Sep 23, 2006 10:17 am Is this good English? |
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Hi Conchita!
Now? my confusion is pretty perfect! :?
If a noun is uncountable how may I use a definite or undefinite article? no = not a/ not any Or is there any exception from the rule about uncountable nouns?
Michael _________________ "Ho ho!" said the clown |
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Foah I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 1358 Location: next to Dortmund , Europe
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#28 (permalink) Sat Sep 23, 2006 10:27 am Meaning |
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Yes, Alan, - sorry I didn’t ask properly :oops: – and thanks a lot for your explanation.
By the way, I’ve found the phrase in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Good_(Start_the_Dance)
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| The original sample "You're no good for me, I don't need nobody" is by Kelly Charles and comes from the single "You're No Good For Me" (1987, London Records LONX153). Liam Howlett had doubts whether to use the sample because he thought it is too pop. |
...Yes, the colloquial speech is more expressive... _________________ It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water… |
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Tamara I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 25 May 2006 Posts: 1577 Location: UK
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#29 (permalink) Sat Sep 23, 2006 10:41 am Is this good English? |
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| Fan of Arabian horses wrote: |
Hi Conchita!
Now? my confusion is pretty perfect! :?
If a noun is uncountable how may I use a definite or undefinite article? no = not a/ not any Or is there any exception from the rule about uncountable nouns?
Michael |
Sorry, Michael!
It's not really an exception -- as you said, no = not a/not any. 'No' is often more emphatic, though. What I was trying to point out is that there are a number of nouns that usually combine with 'no'. E.g. 'I haven't got an idea' is far less frequent than 'I have no idea'. Or: 'There's not any doubt about it' vs. 'There's no doubt about it'. |
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Conchita Language Coach

Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 2826 Location: Madrid, Spain
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#30 (permalink) Sat Sep 23, 2006 11:38 am Is this good English? |
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Hi, My modest proposal would be to start a new thread or to tread on some old thread,where everybody could add for example just uncountable nouns in English. I was sometimes looking for information but nothing have been found by Sailor Jan. It may be powerful treading on the thread with hundreds of words within it. And later Gentlman Torsten would be enlighted that it is just what he alawys wanted to have had right next to Esl lessons and before Esl articles. :lol: on first page. It would cause million of new clicks on mouses wordwide. And everybody would have new Mercedes,and Sir Alan would cruise wordwide next time not just along Baltic. This would create the unforgotten opportunity to meet QQ in person somewhere in Vietnam. And they would be best friends :lol:
Regards Yours faithfully Salmon / Salamon Jan |
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Jan I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 319 Location: At sea
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| Are these noun phrases too difficult to explain? | Modifier "Any" |