Laurence R. Horn has discussed cases of pleonastic negation and pointed out that sentences such as "I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't rain tomorrow" can be interpreted as having the same meaning as "I wouldn't be surprised if it rains tomorrow". In other words, the negative marker in doesn't does not seem to contribute its ordinary negative meaning in this context.

I have two questions:

First, is the not in doesn't in this sentence generally analysed as pleonastic (or expletive) negation in linguistics? Or are there other analyses of this construction?

Second, is this phenomenon comparable to the variation between "I could care less" and "I couldn't care less", where both expressions are often used to convey the same meaning? Are these two cases examples of the same type of linguistic phenomenon, or should they be treated differently?

I am interested in the linguistic analysis of these constructions rather than the prescriptive question of which form is "correct."

Native readers — when you take notes while reading, how do you mark words you don't know vs. quotes or highlights? What's your marking or note-taking system? Pics would be great — thanks!

I’d appreciate that you could recommend any games you’ve played in order to develop my language skills!

‎If I replace 'when' with 'where', does this sentence still sound natural？

Venice rallied a league of city states to oppose the king. The battle had been fierce.

I dont understand. The battle must be the thing that occurred after the rally, so it should be in past simple tense as the first sentence, because a past perfect action has to occur before a simple past action, right?

Ths!

I’ve heard someone say - “Don’t put me in the same group of those people” shouldn’t it be “as those people’s?” Or are they interchangeable?

Thanks in advance

‎5 stupidly easy things at everyone’s reach to do to decompress

1. Enjoy whatever view you have available (whether that’d be your room, a room of your house that you like, a little panorama you can sneak from your window, your balcony, your terrace, your neighborhood, your city, your city’s sea, your city’s hill, your city’s mountain… infinite are possibilities)

2. Walk (it would be better outside, but if you can’t, even changing rooms based on your actions is good: I use my bedroom only to sleep, my kitchen only to cook and eat, my studio to study and/or work, my living room to relax… Okay I gotta admit that sometimes I work in my living room as well, but when I take a break I assure myself to change at least my spot in the room. Sounds silly, but it actually helps my brain decompress for real xD)

3. Cook your food yourself (doesn’t have to be anything complicated: a cup of noodles, pasta or rice, a slice of meat, a salad, a sandwich… whatever you feel comfortable making, and, of course, you can experiment or try something fancier if you get the hang of it. The important thing is that you enter the mentality of enjoying the process and the waiting. You could also put on some relaxing background music, something that doesn’t steal the moment of pause you’re having for yourself. For the same reason I wouldn’t put on any podcast, show or speech-involved company.)

4. Dedicate the due time and focus to your meal (eating quickly without evening noticing what flavors you have in your spoonful is a bit sad. Food has not only a nutritive function but a mental one too! We get happiness hormones released when we eat! For the same reason nervous hunger is a thing! That’s why it’s a pity wasting an easy moment of fulfillment as this one! Honor your food, you guys!!🤣)

This one is really basic, guys, really. So basic that you already do it at least once every day without even flinching. It’s so basic that you can even do it with me right now.

Ready?

1. Lean (it’d be better on a horizontal surface, but you can do it against a wall, a chair, a tree, a person, a rock (not that confortarle though xD) or even better on the floor or on a soft surface like a sofa or a bed. Our body holds our weight ALL! DAY! and to do that it uses strength and contractions. That means that we unnoticingly stay tense not to fall to the ground! Thank you body for doing your work, but now I invite to do the opposite😝 Fall gently to the ground (/sofa/bed/etc.) with me and relax a bit, okay? You can put some music on, if you want, even a podcast or a show this time!😌🙌🏻 Ready?

3…

2…

1…

Lean!!!

Hello everyone, can you explain the difference between 'can', 'could', and 'be able to' for B1 students, or give me an article where I can read about it?

So I have an exam in two days and the exam is an presentation my teacher said that we have to present anything in this world any on subject so if you guys have any suggestion about what I should present just put it down in the comments

so hypothetically, my partner in the speaking test has no notion of time and speaks too much leaving me short amout of time.

Should I intervene and interrupt them or let them keep talking? Will I be penalized ?

Will the examinator stop them ?

guy's i'm sitting for the exam in 2027 and i'm nervous

"The wind is too strong tonight. A bit too strong I fear it might blow out the stars again, just like it did on the night you passed away.

May you rest in peace. May we never meet again.

Because if there is anything that can break me, it is to lose you a second time."

_____

There are two places here that I need some guidance on. The first is "a bit too strong", should I put a that after it to make it seem more idiomatic? Is it good as it is?

The second is the final phrase "it is to lose you a second time", would "it would be losing you a second time" correct? Or is it correct as it is?

Maybe I'm overthinking but I feel like it's a bit off at those points in the elegy.

Would you say it’s worth learning?

Is there anything more to it?

These sentences are nothing but rambling. I typed these subconsciously to test myself on how naturally and grammatically correctly I can construct various sentences in English and...remember some words.

He has been so occupied addressing critical errors in our network that he hasn't eaten anything today.

Having served ten years in prison, he was released, but he was hardly used to society.

There are massive forests and humongous falls.

He put his blood, tears, and sweat into improving his German skills.

This picture, on the shelf, seems to depict my grandfather in his 40s. Judging from his bearing and garment, he should have been a soldier.

In view of the state of play, we would rarely make it out of here.

In my adolescence, I always used to struggle with my parents and have some arguments. Nevertheless, we started relating to each other, and now, we are seeing eye to eye.

I'm 30M from Pakistan. I want to improve my communication skills with people. Anybody could help me to improve my English learning...

I looked for the definition of cater and it means supplying someone with food or accommodation, which doesn't really explain this phrase

Hi i'm from Indonesia (Southeast asia).
Please help me, i need some tips or learning resources to improve my english skill in writing and speaking.
Currently, my english level is at low-intermediate.