Grammar teaser 2

[cygnusdei]

Let's play again! Consider this:

I didn't know Guinevere's grandpa was a diabetic.

Is Guinevere's grandpa alive?

[ahinton]

Let's play again! Consider this:

I didn't know Guinevere's grandpa was a diabetic.

Is Guinevere's grandpa alive?

Guinevere's grandpa could, in this context, either be dead of cured of diabetes, so he might be alive; "was" could in this instance imply either that he was no more or that he had recovered from that disease. Of course the focus so far has been on Guinevere's grandpa, but there's another aspect to this, which is that of the persona making the statement - i.e. the person identified here as "I"; this person clearly did not at one time in the past know (that) Guinevere's grandpa was a diabetic but he/she might know it now - i.e. there was a time when this particular "I" person did not know this apparent fact but that time has apparently passed, otherwise he/she should have said "I don't know whether or not Guinevere's grandpa was a diabetic".

OK - anyone for a decent recording of Beethoven's variations on a waltz by a diabetic?

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

Have you ever posted a short reply?

Thal

[ahinton]

Have you ever posted a short reply?

Thal

Yes.

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

Have you ever posted a short reply?

Thal

Indeed, but the above reply to which I assume you to refer was intended to be - and was and is - a considered one rather than a short one; it seeks adequately to address the questions posed, which I note you have yet to do (although merely contributing to this thread does not, one may suppose, necessarily obligate you or anyone else to do so, unless Nils takes a different view)...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

Back to normal.

[cygnusdei]

What if Guinevere's grandpa is neither dead nor cured of diabetes?

[gerry]

What if Guinevere's grandpa is neither dead nor cured of diabetes?

Oh great - another posting for the "What If" thread

[ahinton]

Back to normal.

"Usual" rather than "normal", I'd venture; that said, the short answer was to demonstrate my capacity for providing such answers when appropriate, whereas the longer one was to seek to address the question adequately.

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

What if Guinevere's grandpa is neither dead nor cured of diabetes?

Then he is presumably a living diabetic (as indeed most diabetics are).

Best,

Alistair

[cygnusdei]

It appears that more people are interested in sharp-nosed leeches than the fate of a diabetic grandfather 

Well, if he is indeed alive and still suffering from diabetes, the observer would have said exactly the same thing, for

I didn't know Guinevere's grandpa is a diabetic

would violate verb tense consistency. Guinevere's grandpa is rather upset for the insinuation of his death!


Now if Guinevere said

I didn't know Dad was a smoker.

Does it mean he still smokes? Is he dead? 

[ahinton]

It appears that more people are interested in sharp-nosed leeches than the fate of a diabetic grandfather 

Well, if he is indeed alive and still suffering from diabetes, the observer would have said exactly the same thing, for

I didn't know Guinevere's grandpa is a diabetic

would violate verb tense consistency. Guinevere's grandpa is rather upset for the insinuation of his death!


Now if Guinevere said

I didn't know Dad was a smoker.

Does it mean he still smokes? Is he dead? 

I suspect that you may find the following:

Thal thinks that this post was far too long for its own good.

Er, no...

Thal thought that this post was far too long for its own good.

...or is it

Thal thinks / thought that this post is far too long for its own good
?

Discuss.

In the meantime...

"my once diabetic grandfather was interested in sharp-nosed leeches"

OK, so was my grandfather diabetic only once? (i.e did he contract and suffer from it, get cured of it and then never suffer from it again?) - was his interest in those particular kinds of leech a thing of the past or does it continue to this day? - or even was his diabetes overcome by that interest?...

Er - I've got a better one.

"This thread has outlived any usefulness that it might ever have been thought to have"...

or is it

"This thread has outlived any usefulness that it might ever have been thought to have had"...

...(yawn)...

Best,

Alistair

[cygnusdei]

...(yawn)...

Best,

Alistair

I didn't know one could bore oneself to sleep 

[thalbergmad]

He does it every night.

AH posts should be marketed as a cure for insomnia.

Thal

[ahinton]

I didn't know one could bore oneself to sleep 

Nor did I, but perhaps it depends on the particular drill that one uses and the speed at which it bores...

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

He does it every night.

AH posts should be marketed as a cure for insomnia.

Not unless I get due royalties for the copyright, they shouldn't - and since the ones in this thread have kept you awake long enough to respond as you have done, I'd doubt their efficacy in any case...

Best,

Alistair