Zeppe Posted 19 years ago
Vocabulary
the word "doubt"
0 Hi all! 02 br
02 br
00 I have a problem related to the word "doubt". I always used it (in a similar way as is used in Italian, actually) as: 02 br
02 br
00 I have a doubt about [kant metaphisics / convex functions / c++ template metaprogramming] 02 br
02 br
00 meaning that I don't know something, I have a question to ask and possibly I have some hypotesis on what could be the answer, but not necessarly. 02 br
02 br
00 It happened that a north american guy pointed out that "doubt" somehow suggests distrust, or disbelief, or states that I'm not persuaded with something, like in: 02 br
02 br
00 I have doubts about your sincerity 02 br
02 br
00 Now, is that correct? Can I say "i have a doubt on this topic" meaning that I'm uncertain about it, and I'm asking for help? 02 br
02 br
00 Thank you! 0-
02 br
00 I have a problem related to the word "doubt". I always used it (in a similar way as is used in Italian, actually) as: 02 br
02 br
00 I have a doubt about [kant metaphisics / convex functions / c++ template metaprogramming] 02 br
02 br
00 meaning that I don't know something, I have a question to ask and possibly I have some hypotesis on what could be the answer, but not necessarly. 02 br
02 br
00 It happened that a north american guy pointed out that "doubt" somehow suggests distrust, or disbelief, or states that I'm not persuaded with something, like in: 02 br
02 br
00 I have doubts about your sincerity 02 br
02 br
00 Now, is that correct? Can I say "i have a doubt on this topic" meaning that I'm uncertain about it, and I'm asking for help? 02 br
02 br
00 Thank you! 0-
Top answer
0 Hi, 02 br 02 br 00 The advice your friend gave you was good. 05 0 02 br 02 br 00 Best wishes, Clive 010id 1
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
0
0 Hi, 02 br
02 br
00 The advice your friend gave you was good. 05 0 02 br
02 br
00 Best wishes, Clive 010id 1
02 br
00 The advice your friend gave you was good. 05 0 02 br
02 br
00 Best wishes, Clive 010id 1
00
0 I'm not too familiar with "a doubt" used as a noun in the singular. In my experience, it's more often plural ( 01 i 00 I have doubts about that 02 i 00 ) unless it's negative ( 01 i 00 without a doubt 02 i 00 ) or the phrase "a lingering doubt" (all the other ones have been cleared up, but this little bit of uncertainty remains). 02 br
02 br
00 I al
02 br
00 I al
00
0 Thank you guys! 02 br
02 br
00 Grammar geek, you were quite explanatory, I think I understand. 02 br
02 br
00 Oh well, quite happy to have learnt this: given the meaning that I tought (as many italian people I bet) it had, it would have be the danger for me to come out with comments that could sound pretty harsh or rude! 02 br
02 br
00 Regards,
02 br
00 Grammar geek, you were quite explanatory, I think I understand. 02 br
02 br
00 Oh well, quite happy to have learnt this: given the meaning that I tought (as many italian people I bet) it had, it would have be the danger for me to come out with comments that could sound pretty harsh or rude! 02 br
02 br
00 Regards,
00
0 01 blockquote
02 br
00 We had the following situation at work, where we employ Spanish speakers. 02 br
02 br
00 Boss: 01 i
00 Can I say "i have a doubt on this topic" meaning that I'm uncertain about it, and I'm asking for help? 12 blockquote10 No! This is a common mistake among speakers of Spanish and Italian. 02 br
02 br
00 We had the following situation at work, where we employ Spanish speakers. 02 br
02 br
00 Boss: 01 i
0