0

'Has no student used this previously?'

What is the exact meaning of the sentence above?

Maybe, I think the meaning of the sentence is 'I think that no one has used this previously.' Am I right? If not, could you tell me the exact meaning of the sentence?

Improve this question
4
  • 2
    The statement version is "No student has used this previously." Does that help you understand the meaning of the question?
    – stangdon
    Commented Mar 21, 2017 at 11:29
  • Yes, you are correct and stangdon is more precise.
    – Teacher KSHuang
    Commented Mar 21, 2017 at 11:37
  • But it could be paraphrased "I think a student may have used this previously. Am I wrong?"
    – TimR
    Commented Mar 21, 2017 at 12:24
  • Yes, that question can be asked in an incredulous tone, in which case it would be similar to "Hasn't a student used this previously?".
    – Lawrence
    Commented Mar 21, 2017 at 12:32

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

The exact, pedantic meaning is pretty much as you suggest - the questioner is asking if zero students have used this in the past.

Idiomatically, the questioner is probably expressing surprise that 'this' - presumably a tool or resource - has not been used in the past by any student, with perhaps the implication that this resource is obvious, and/or there's some major disadvantage that the questioner has not noticed yet.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .