| It's fun to spell out 7 the different meanings you can get: - I didn't say she stole my wallet. Tom saw it happen and he's the one who said she stole my wallet. - I didn't say she stole my wallet. You're making up something I never said. - I didn't say she stole my wallet. Maybe I suspected her, but I never actually said it. - I didn't say she stole my wallet. Someone stole it, but I don't know who it was. - I didn't say she stole my wallet. She took it, but for safekeeping after I forgot it at the restaurant. - I didn't say she stole my wallet. I did see her steal a wallet, but it wasn't mine. - I didn't say she stole my wallet. She stole my money but left the wallet exactly where it was. It's a great example of how written speech doesn't capture all the nuance of spoken words. Well, italics helps, but hearing it makes a bigger impact. |