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"I never quite like flowers" "I never quite liked flowers" Does it sound like something a native would say?
2019년 9월 22일 오후 9:54
답변 · 8
1
No, we would not say this. The word 'quite' is wrong in this sentence. (Ellen Hogue is right that there is a difference between American and British English with how 'quite' is used as a modifier. However, this really only applies in the affirmative. For example, it is normal in BrE to say "I quite liked flowers" to mean that you liked them in a 'lukewarm' kind of way). 'Quite' does not work in this way in the negative. In general, it makes no sense to add a negative to 'quite' : you either liked them, you didn't like them, or you 'quite liked them' - 'never quite liked' is just odd. In some cases, it is possible to put [never/not] 'quite' before a few verbs, but the meaning is slightly different. For example: "When I was a child, I spent a lot of time with my great-grandfather. He spoke an old-fashioned dialect and I never quite understood what he was saying." This means 'I never totally understood what he was saying". '[Not/never] quite' means 'not 100%'. For example, if you said "I'm not ready yet. I haven't quite finished my lunch", it means that you haven't completely finished your lunch. As you can see, we use this to express quantitative ( rather than qualitative) ideas. The most normal way of expressing the idea which (I think) you mean is this: "I never really liked flowers" or "I never liked flowers very much". If those don't work for you, why don't you just tell us what you want to say in Spanish? There are plenty of people here who could give you an exact translation.
2019년 9월 23일
1
I would say, “ I never really liked flowers.” “Quite” is OK but sounds a little odd to me in this context.
2019년 9월 23일
1
Hi Sol, I believe the use of the word 'quite' is a regional preference. It will sound natural to many but may sound a bit formal or even stilted to others. British English speakers are more likely to use 'quite' rather than the American English 'really' and it will be more common in literature, poetry, and academic sources. I am from the midwest of the US and I use 'quite' pretty frequently myself -- but it may be the influence of my British friends. I find it quite natural as written :) -- as long as you are using 'liked' in the past tense. e.
2019년 9월 22일
As a native speaker, yes. This is perfect. I use quite like this all the time. I never quite like those who are so uppity about their own version of English or ignorant of others' that they can't quite hop on board. Quite about time they did, I say.
2019년 9월 23일
To me, it's simply unclear. I don't like flowers. (now) I've never liked flowers. (ever)
2019년 9월 23일
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