Teo Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
BUT: negative relative pronoun
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/but
I think the above sentence means "No leaders worthy of the name ever existed who were not optimists." So the word they is redundant. Am I right?
| 7. | who not; that not: No leaders worthy of the name ever existed but they were optimists. |
I think the above sentence means "No leaders worthy of the name ever existed who were not optimists." So the word they is redundant. Am I right?
Top answer
No, IMO the reading is closer to: No truly optimist leaders ever existed but they WERE at least to some extent optimists. or: No leaders worthy of the optimist name ever existed but they WERE at least to some extent optimists. The accent is on were and one cannot get rid of they .
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No, IMO the reading is closer to:
No truly optimist leaders ever existed but they WERE at least to some extent optimists.
or:
No leaders worthy of the optimist name ever existed but they WERE at least to some extent optimists.
The accent is on were and one cannot get rid of they.
No truly optimist leaders ever existed but they WERE at least to some extent optimists.
or:
No leaders worthy of the optimist name ever existed but they WERE at least to some extent optimists.
The accent is on were and one cannot get rid of they.
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