Contrast or correction in context: Ambiguous.

Ian B.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Contrast or correction in context: Ambiguous.

No me ha regalado nada material ________ ha reservado un billete para Cancún para dos. He diI thought n't give me anything material but he booked a flight to Cancun for two.sino quesinopero

I thought long and hard before answering this onr.  Although it fits the patter nor using sino que, if is a  correctionof  the first statement, the second statement is a contrast:  something practical rather than something material.  It is ambiguous depending on the circumstances and "pero" can be used following both positive and negative first statements. 



Asked 5 years ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hola Ian,

Yes, it is quite hard in negative sentences. I see what you mean, but I see the second sentence more of a "substitution", which would use "sino que". It is substituting the material present with something that is not material, " a trip to Cancún".

I will look into this a bit more anyway.

Saludos

Inma

Ian B. asked:

Contrast or correction in context: Ambiguous.

No me ha regalado nada material ________ ha reservado un billete para Cancún para dos. He diI thought n't give me anything material but he booked a flight to Cancun for two.sino quesinopero

I thought long and hard before answering this onr.  Although it fits the patter nor using sino que, if is a  correctionof  the first statement, the second statement is a contrast:  something practical rather than something material.  It is ambiguous depending on the circumstances and "pero" can be used following both positive and negative first statements. 



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