Is there something wrong here?
"Unless Mary doesn’t study, she will pass."
"Unless Mary doesn’t study, she will pass."
unless + do not
Unless Mary studies, she will not pass.
If Mary does not study, she will not pass.
OK, I have worked out what is strange. This is a proper English sentence, but the context is important.
<<
Is there something wrong here?
"Unless Mary doesn’t study, she will pass."
>>
Some courses are so easy, that everyone passes. Some courses are easy, so long as you are prepared to do the work.
So, if Mary studies, she will pass.
If Mary does not study, she will not pass.
Unless Mary does not study, she will pass.
So, Mary will pass, unless she does not study.
The course is easy to pass, if you are prepared to study.
I hope that makes sense.
If Mary does not study, she will not pass.
OK, I have worked out what is strange. This is a proper English sentence, but the context is important.
<<
Is there something wrong here?
"Unless Mary doesn’t study, she will pass."
>>
Some courses are so easy, that everyone passes. Some courses are easy, so long as you are prepared to do the work.
So, if Mary studies, she will pass.
If Mary does not study, she will not pass.
Unless Mary does not study, she will pass.
So, Mary will pass, unless she does not study.
The course is easy to pass, if you are prepared to study.
I hope that makes sense.
I don't think that "Unless Mary doesn’t study, she will pass." is example of proper English anyway
Maybe I'm mistaken but it's just my feeling
Maybe I'm mistaken but it's just my feeling
I think that the issue is that when the "unless X, Y" formula is used, people expect Y to be something bad, so this sentence throws them. It's not an issue of grammar but of usage.
<It's not an issue of grammar but of usage. >
Could you please explain a little further?
Could you please explain a little further?
Which sounds odd, "pass" or "fail"?
"I'm absolutely sure that Mary will pass. That is, unless she doesn't study. In which case, she will pass/fail."
"I'm absolutely sure that Mary will pass. That is, unless she doesn't study. In which case, she will pass/fail."
If Mary does not study, she will fail!
It is not a question of what sounds right or wrong. It is a question of logic.
The logic of the original statement is confused, which is why people might think that it is poor English. However native speakers do not always speak good English. In fact, native speakers could be characterised as speakers of poor English. However they have a vastly superior repertoire of English than people who have learnt English as a second language. Sometimes native speakers can even speak and use correct English. Although plain comprehensible English is a skill that only a few have.
"Unless Mary doesn’t study, she will pass."
This is an example of chopped logic.
Little Britain (Vicky Pollard, Carol Beer)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmejapTcsDA&NR=1
It is not a question of what sounds right or wrong. It is a question of logic.
The logic of the original statement is confused, which is why people might think that it is poor English. However native speakers do not always speak good English. In fact, native speakers could be characterised as speakers of poor English. However they have a vastly superior repertoire of English than people who have learnt English as a second language. Sometimes native speakers can even speak and use correct English. Although plain comprehensible English is a skill that only a few have.
"Unless Mary doesn’t study, she will pass."
This is an example of chopped logic.
Little Britain (Vicky Pollard, Carol Beer)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmejapTcsDA&NR=1
<<However native speakers do not always speak good English. In fact, native speakers could be characterised as speakers of poor English. However they have a vastly superior repertoire of English than people who have learnt English as a second language.>>
Especially if they use "however" a lot.
:-)
Especially if they use "however" a lot.
:-)
I get the feeling that "unless + negative phrase" only works when there is an implicit or explicit "that is" in the sentence.
It´s bad English. I don´t care how grammatical it is. If there is a simpler way to express the point, why make such monsters?
If Mary does not study, she will fail! - that's fine.
If Mary does not study, she will fail! - that's fine.
Received today, from the mouth of Prof GK Pullum himself:
"'Your example "Unless Mary doesn’t study, she will pass" is equivalent to
"if it is not the case that it is not the case that Mary studies, she
will pass".
Quite a brainful.'
Yes, quite a brainful indeed. ;-P
He goes on to say:
"
I'd say that (like every other normal human) you are somewhat oppressed by negation, and doubly so by (concealed) negations of negations."
"'Your example "Unless Mary doesn’t study, she will pass" is equivalent to
"if it is not the case that it is not the case that Mary studies, she
will pass".
Quite a brainful.'
Yes, quite a brainful indeed. ;-P
He goes on to say:
"
I'd say that (like every other normal human) you are somewhat oppressed by negation, and doubly so by (concealed) negations of negations."