Timeline for "Can I do X" vs. "Can't I do X"
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
8 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 23, 2023 at 18:53 | comment | added | tchrist♦ | Related. | |
| Apr 8, 2013 at 19:44 | answer | added | Edward | timeline score: 1 | |
| Apr 8, 2013 at 16:32 | answer | added | Henrique Ordine | timeline score: 1 | |
| Apr 8, 2013 at 7:54 | history | tweeted | twitter.com/#!/StackEnglish/status/321169098220388352 | ||
| Apr 5, 2013 at 17:22 | comment | added | John Lawler | english.stackexchange.com/a/96447/15299 | |
| Apr 5, 2013 at 8:33 | history | edited | Yatharth Agarwal | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
added 403 characters in body
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| Apr 5, 2013 at 7:59 | comment | added | Edwin Ashworth | You've really hit the nail on the head with the overtones of indignation often present when the second variant is used. Intonation is controlling; a different tone with the second variant indicates the suggesting of a hitherto unstated and perhaps ingenious course of action - one that the addressee probably hasn't thought of; another tone, perhaps with an 'Oh!', indicates that the speaker has just had a eureka moment. The 'Can't' suggests asking for clarification of rules (rather than for overt permission), or feedback on the drawbacks about the suggested course of action X. | |
| Apr 5, 2013 at 7:25 | history | asked | Yatharth Agarwal | CC BY-SA 3.0 |