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Cassy
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Hi, again. The second one is the correct form, before "don�t" (subject + frequency adverb + negative (in this case don�t) + verbs). I generally don�t remember where I put my glasses. See ya Cassy
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11 Dec 2008
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Mietz
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Hi Cassy, Thank you! But why do I say: I generally don�t remember where I put my glasses. BUT I say: I don�t always remember where I put my glasses.
What�s the difference? I just don�t get it, and I just asked a native speaker (Scottish) and he just commented, that English is a crazy language... Sorry to bother you! Mietz
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11 Dec 2008
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Zora
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Hey Mietz...
I believe it has to do with the "always" .. when used in the negative form it has to be "subject + neg aux + always + verb".. Try it in any sentence and you will see...
"I don�t always eat my peas". - and not - "I always don�t eat my peas"...
"He doesn�t always go home on Friday."- and not - "He always doesn�t go home on Friday"
Linda
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11 Dec 2008
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Mietz
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Hi Zora - f, I�m not sure about the "always". Of course you are right about where it stands, but I think in a negative Simple Present sentence you could put most of the Adverbs of Frequency between the negative Auxiliary and the main verb. (e.g. I don�t normally ask silly grammar questions. OR I don�t often ask silly grammar questions.) Actually I just thought about that one: I usually don�t ask silly grammar questions. ...
Could that actually depend on each Adverb of Frequency individually? Sigh...
Thanks for your patience!
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11 Dec 2008
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cheezels
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I have no idea... but as an English speaker I would SAY " I don�t always eat my peas", meaning I do sometimes but not always... and the other sentence " I always don�t eat my peas", well I would never say that as it sounds like the meaning is "I never eat my peas". Which is exactly what I would say if I never ate them. I don�t know if that helped or confused the matter further... sorry!
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11 Dec 2008
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Mietz
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My TEFL-teacher used to say: The Simple Present isn�t always simple and not always present. -> I totally agree!
I know, that it doesn�t sound right to say: I always don�t eat my peas. OR I don�t generally remember where I put my glasses. But I wonder if there is some grammatical reason for that. If not, I�ll just bring my usual German reasoning on that one. We usually don�t know, why we say things either. It�s just the way it is...
Thanks for the input (so far)!
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11 Dec 2008
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goodnesses
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Hi , All There
A little more confusion: Which is correct? "I sometimes don�t do the homework." OR "I don�t sometimes do the homework."
Whatever the answer I really want to know the why of it.
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11 Dec 2008
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cheezels
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I would say " Sometimes I don�t do the homework" I can�t tell you why.The second one to me sounds definitely wrong and the first one sounds ok, but if I was speaking it I would start the sentence with sometimes as that is how I would say it to someone... I really need to brush up on my rules.... :-)
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11 Dec 2008
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Mietz
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Hi goodnesses - I already wondered if you were going to join us. ;-) Thanks for adding more confusion. I agree with your question - WHY?!
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11 Dec 2008
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Zora
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Well... guess what? I am gonna say that I agree - it probably depends on the adverb... and in goodnesses example I agree wholeheartly with cheezels... I�d say, "I sometimes don�t do my homework" not the other way around...
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11 Dec 2008
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