How would you interpret ‘I can’t ever thank you for what you did.’
I would think it means the same as ‘I can’t ever thank you enough for what you did’.
What do you think?
Thank you.
The excerpt is taken from the short story ‘The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber’ written by Ernest Hemingway.
PS: In the story, they had killed a lion not long ago.
The excerpt:
“Here’s to the lion,” he said. “I can’t ever thank you for what you did.”
Search from various English teachers...
Answers · 5
1
If the word 'enough' is present so that the sentence reads: "can't ever thank you enough," then the meaning that is being expressed is one of extreme greatfulness or thankfulness. Without 'enough' the sentence comes across as negative in meaning, but at that point, I have a hard time imagining an instance wherein it would make sense to express that negative meaning in this way. I'm not familiar with the mentioned story.
1
I think it means the same thing! (In terms of feeling)
0
“I can’t ever thank you for what you did.”
means Macomber can not thank Wilson.
It is similar to saying "I can't ever forgive you for what you did".
In the story, Macomber disgraced himself, and if he thanked Wilson he would make himself look weaker.
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