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yoshi-pooh
Joined: 04 May 2006
Posts: 195
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 Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 8:47 pm Post subject: A little more question about "if not" |
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Hi, everyone.
"Conventional wisdom in America about public education in Japan revolves around several negative, if not overstated, themes. More than just competitive, Japanese education is stressful, the argument goes, and students spend long hours every night grinding away homework..."
I remember the passage above is originally from Newsweek magazine.
In this case, what does "if not overstated" mean?
1. even if it is not overstated
2. or perhaps even overstated
Thank you!
yoshi-pooh |
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myprofe
Joined: 29 Jun 2004
Posts: 425
Location: Madrid, Spain - Native Boston, USA
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| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 8:28 am Post subject: possibly overstated |
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I agree with number two. I think it means that the themes are exaggerated or overused.
_________________
I'm never going to learn if you don't correct my mistakes! |
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pinenut
Joined: 16 Feb 2006
Posts: 165
Location: Illinois, U.S.A.
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| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Code: |
| "Conventional wisdom in America about public education in Japan revolves around several negative, [b]if not overstated[/b], themes. |
If you want to know how the clause in bold fit into the sentence, you can rewrite it as below.
| Code: |
| Conventional wisdom in America about public education in Japan revolves around several negative, [b]if they (= the themes) are not overstated[/b], themes. |
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