Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Vin21]

I get confused with these sentences.
I don't know which one is " partial negations "and which one is "complete negation".
Would you please help me out ?

(1) Both of the books are not interesting.
(2) Both of the John and his wife are not at home.
(3) I don't agree to all your points.

Thanks!

[Bob S.]

[Vin21]

Thank you,Bob S.

Shakespeare's famous saying:

All that glitters is not gold.

I know it is partial negation.But it's just because I figured it out from it's intent. If from the sentense itself I don't know why.
And why it is "is not gold" not "are not gold"?

Thanks !

[advoca]

Viv21

Forgive me mentioning it, but the correct saying is, "All that glisters is not gold."

And the word *all* as it is used in this sentence is an uncountable noun. That is why in this case you cannot use *are.*

All my friends are female. (All is a countable noun here.)
All the glittering vessels are made of gold. (All is a countable noun here.)

All the world is a stage. (All is an uncountable noun here.)
Let us flee. All is lost. (All here is an uncountable noun.)

I hope this helps

[Vin21]

Thanks,advoca.
Surely it helps.
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There is a saying that "Not all that shines is gold" similars to that "All that glisters is not gold".

If the meanings of the two sentences are similar,then
*All that glisters is not gold = Not all that glister is gold
Is that right?

But in this sentence,
All of the books are not interesting.(Complete negation.)

If we put the word "not" before the sentence.
Not all of the books are interesting.

I think the meaning would be changed,the sentence would become a partial negation,right?

But why in this sentence the meaning would be changed and in the above* wouldn't?
That's what I want to find out.
Thanks!