Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[TALA]

Hi,

Can anybody tell the difference in meaning of the first two sentences? Or do they mean the same thing? Does the second sentence contain the writer's opinion while the first one simply reports the fact?

1. The top-ranked Swiss star hopes to use this tournament to help him prepare for the French Open, the only Grand Slam title he has never won.

2. The top-ranked Swiss star hopes to use this tournament to help him prepare for the French Open, the only Grand Slam title he has yet to win.


Can I rewrite the second sentence like this?

3. The top-ranked Swiss star hopes to use this tournament to help him p repare for the French Open, the only Grand Slam title he has not yet won.


If yes, that is : not yet = never? Or is there any hidden meaning?



Thank you.

[bud]

In my opinion they are all very close in meaning. Perhaps 2 and 3 hint a little that he is likely to win it (or capable of winning it) someday. And yes, that would be a little bit of the writer's own opinion.

[TALA]

Thanks. But if you were the writer, which sentence would you write (to make it sound natural English)?

Thanks again

[bud]

They are all very natural, and any would be appropriate in an article on the sports pages of a newspaper. The first would be best only for the rare (or nonexisting) newspaper that insists on complete objectivity in its sports pages. Either of the last two might be more likely for the typical newspaper, as they are slightly more dramatic. But the difference between the first and the other two is so slight that any of them are fine. A reader would not pause to consider the phrasing.

[TALA]

Thank you..bud

[bud]

You're very welcome.