Some time back I posted a question under English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms. However I wasn’t satisfied with the lone view expressed. So I am reproducing it here:
[color=darkred]Could you try to convert the following sentence into positive degree retaining the same adjective, i.e. ‘close’, but without changing its meaning?
[color=red]Images in the mirror are closer than they appear.
Hi T H Lawrence,
are you referring to the engraved message on the rear-view and side-view mirrors of cars? If that’s the case, the correct sentence would be:
Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear.
It means that the objects you see in the mirror are in fact closer than they look.
Objects in the mirror might be too close to you to make a safe turn/maneuver.
Claudia
Yes, Claudia, you are absolutely right. But let me know first the difference between the two words - objects and images.
And now we will discuss the question from another angle. For example, see the sentences below:
John is taller than Henry. (Comparative degree)
Henry is not so (as) tall as John. (Positive degree)
What I meant was whether we would be able to convert that sentence in this way. If not, why? I would like the technicality involved explained by you. Thanks.
When you look in the mirror, you see objects reflecting in the mirror.
The reflection itself is an image: mirror image.
You would have to change the sentence, then, to retain the meaning.
The objects in the mirror (image) are not as close as they actually are.
Lol, nifty topic!
Claudia
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You would have to change the sentence, then, to retain the meaning.
The objects in the mirror (image) are not as close as they actually are.
Lol, nifty topic!
Claudia
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I beg to differ with you, Claudia, for the meanings of the two do not match each other.
[color=green]The objects in the mirror are closer than they appear.
[color=red]The objects in the mirror (image) are not as close as they actually are.
It was this semantic handicap that I wanted you to explain. So, I think we need to change the adjective into something like ‘far’, ‘distant’ etc so as to retain the idea of caution meant. The following one, I believe, will, perhaps, do more justice.
The objects in the mirror are not so far as they appear.
I would say that the objects are not in the mirror, only the images of the objects are in the mirror. So maybe it would be more clear to say:
“The objects seen in the mirror are not so far as they appear.” or
“The objects seen in the mirror are closer than they appear.”
I do agree that it seems impossible to convert the sentence to positive degree while still using close as the adjective.
You said you wanted to keep “close” specifically, so that’s the word I worked with. I do not see a difference in meaning between the two sentences. Since you do, please explain where the difference is.
Claudia
THANKS, Luschen. I fully agree with you.
By the way, I have used the word ‘images’ only to mean the reflections of the ‘objects’ seen in the mirror.
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You said you wanted to keep “close” specifically, so that’s the word I worked with. I do not see a difference in meaning between the two sentences. Since you do, please explain where the difference is.
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There is difference, Claudia. Let’s now take our two sentences and examine them further.
In (1) the implication is that the objects are farther than they actually are.
In (2) one can infer that the objects are nearer than they appear.
In the first case an accident is very likely because of the incorrect interpretation. (In fact, through the original sentence, the driver of the vehicle is cautioned against relying on the accuracy of the distance of the objects reflected in the mirror).
Please visualize the situation with due regard to the warning conveyed by the sentence.
I hope you realize that this is exactly what I explained to you.
There is a difference, Claudia.
You are confusing the sentences here. We were talking about these two sentences:
[color=green]The objects in the mirror are closer than they appear. = The objects in the mirror seem closer than they are in reality.
[color=red]The objects in the mirror (image) are not as close as they actually are. = The objects in the mirror seem closer than they are in reality.
There is no difference in meaning between the two sentences. I was able to keep “close” as a positive degree by simply reverting the original sentence into the opposite:
[color=green]The objects in the mirror are closer than they appear.
They are closer than they appear: here, the emphasis is on the distance being an illusion.
[color=red]The objects in the mirror (image) are not as close as they actually are.
They are not as close as they actually are: here, the emphasis is on the opposite of illusion, which is reality.
Therefore, the meaning of the sentences are the same, yet I am able to keep “close” as an adjective, but in a positive degree.
I would ask the same of you.
Happy New Year!
Claudia
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Happy New Year!
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Claudia
I would wish the same to you - [color=green]A Very Happy New Year !
Oopsie, I explained this part wrong. I corrected it now.
And I haven’t even drunk any champagne, yet! Lol.
If I’m still missing something, please let me know.
Claudia