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Please can someone point out the essential difference between the following sentences:-
(1) Dün akþam konsere gidemediniz mi?
(2) Dün akþam konsere gidemez miydiniz?
(3) Amerika´ya mektup yazmadýlar mý?
(4) Amerika´ya mektup yazamaz mýydýlar?
Thank you.
Tazx1
first of all, in a regular sentence, "soru eki" should be like I have corrected.
the difference between "gidemediniz mi" and "gidemez miydiniz" is that, in the first one it is asked if they couldn´t go (not sure if they went or not). In the second one, it is known that they did nto go, and it is asked if there was not any chance to go.
I think "Couldn´t you go to the concert last night?" can be interpreted in both ways so could be the translation for both. however, the second one could be better translated as "Wouldn´t you be able to go the concert last night?"
e.g.
Geçen yýl tatile gidemedim. (I was not able to go on a holiday last year; Maybe I had a chance but I did not go. )
Geçen yýl tatile gidemezdim. (I wouldn´t be able to go on a holiday last year. It was impossible for me - mostly because of things out of the person´s own control. it was clear that I did not have any chance)
please not that "-emezdim" could mean also in that way (although not in your examples):
18 yaþýndan önce tek baþýna tatile gidemezdi.
She was not allowed to go on a holiday herself before she was 18.
Edited (3/22/2009) by dilliduduk
[corrected Amerika]
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