Subconsciousness vs. subconscious (noun)

[Torsten]

Hi, what exactly is the differennce between subconsciousness and subconscious (the noun)?

Thanks in advance,

Torsten
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Yankee]

Hi Torsten

I suspect I may have never actually used the word "subconsciousness", but I would say it describes a specific quality of or state of thinking. Or I might use it when describing the degree to which something is below the level of consciousness.


I would describe "the subconscious" more as a "place" in your brain (so to speak) or maybe as a "type of mental activity".

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Tom]

Dear Amy

You wrote:"I suspect I may have never actually ..."

Are MAY HAVE NEVER and MAY NEVER HAVE same expressions?

Tom

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

I usually use the word "never" (adverb of frequency) directly before the main verb rather than before an auxiliary verb:
MAY HAVE USED ---> MAY HAVE NEVER USED

I'd say that's the most standard word order. But there is some flexibility, so MAY NEVER HAVE USED could also be OK.

But, I definitely wouldn't have done it that way in my original sentence, and unfortunately you'll have to let me think about that for a while before I can tell you why not. (I think I'll have to dig the reason out of my subconscious.)

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English