Tài liệu ôn thi semantic ngắn ngọn và dễ hiểu nhất

SUGGESTED ANSWERS – SEMANTICS
PRESUPPOSITIONS
Lưu ý: Các existential presuppositions (có triggers là definite expressions, sở
hữu, vv) không giải ở đây, sinh viên tự làm).

1) Why don’t pigs have wings? Pigs don’t have wings
2) Dave knows that Jim crashed the car. Jim crashed the car
3) It was Harry who Alice loved. Alice loved someone
4) It was Alice who loved Harry. Someone loved Harry
5) The minister blamed his secretary for leaking the memo to the press. –
The minister has a secretary; the minister’s secretary leaked the memo
to the press.
6) Mr Singleton has resumed his habit of drinking stout. – Mr Singleton used
to have the habit of drinking stout; Mr Singleton had stopped drinking
stout for a while
7) Who discovered America in 1492? Someone discovered America in 1944
8) The police ordered the minors to stop drinking. The minors had been
drinking
9) Did you know that John and Mary split up? John and Mary used to be a
couple and they plit up
10)Isn’t it strange that the US invaded Cambodia in 1970? The US invaded
Cambodia in 1970
11)Valerie regretted not having a new T-shirt for her birthday. Valerie did not
have a new T-shirt for her birthday
12)Which one of the programs is better? There are two programs and one is
better than the other
13)I was riding a motorbike before you learnt how to ride a bicycle. The H
learnt how to ride a bicycle
14)What disgusted me was his behaviour. Something disgusted the S
15)He’s even more gullible than you are. The H is gullible; he’s the least likely
to be more gullible than the H.

16)That her pet turtle ran away made Emily very sad. Emily had a pet turtle;
something made Emily very sad
17)The administration forgot that the professors supported the students. The
H knows what university the administration, the profs, and the students
belong to; The professor supported the students.
18)Please take me out to the ball game again. The speaker has taken the
hearer to the ball game at least once before
19)Where did you buy the motorbike? The hearer bought a motorbike
20)It is regrettable that Jane’s friends did not break the news to her earlier.
Jane has friends and they did not break the news to her earlier
21)If only the patient had taken his doctor’s advice. The patient had a doctor;
the doctor gave the patient some advice; the patient did not take the
doctor’s advice.
22)I wonder how you didn’t manage to hand in your paper in due time. The H
had a paper to hand in; the H tried to hand in the paper in time
23)They congratulated me on the successful completion of the project. The S
had a project to complete; the project had been completed successfully.
24)Joan is going to change her major. Joan is a university student (and has a
major); Jane is still taking this major and has not changed to another
one yet.
25)The technician you recommended to me did quite a good job. The H
recommended a technician to the S
26)He pretended not to notice the remark. He noticed the remark
27)I wish I had not turned down the offer The S turned down the offer
28)I am not able to meet you this weekend. The S is expected/supposed to
meet the H this weekend
29)Is this how you returned my favor? The S had done the H a favor and the
H returned the S the favor in some way.
30)I’ve been dreaming of having a room of my own. The S does not have a
room of his/her own

31)I imagine having my own house. The S does not have his/her own house
32)If you had come to my party, you would have had a great time. The H did
not come to the S’s party
33)She proved to be a very efficient worker. She’s a worker
34)Why don’t you tell me the truth? The H did not tell the S the truth
35)If Hannibal had only had twelve more elephants, the Romance language
would not this day exist. Hannibal did not have twelve more elephants;
the Romance language exists today.
36)During the robbery, didn’t you think of your victim? The H was involved in
a robbery; the H victimized someone during the robbery
37)I’m asking you for the third time: “Did you steal the cake?” Someone stole
the cake; the S has asked the H the question twice before
38)John regrets that he stopped doing linguistics before he left Cambridge.
John used to be a student at Cambridge; John used to study linguistics
at Cambridge; John left Cambridge; John stopped doing linguistics
before he left Cambridge
39)I’m glad it’s over. It’s over
40)If you were my daughter, I would not allow you to do this. The H is not the
S’s daughter.
41)Do you remember where you put the key? The H put the key somewhere
42)Uncle Joe is worried that Chris has the flu. Chris has the flu
43)Tom started dating Mary. Tom had not dated Mary before that
44)What John lost was his wallet. John lost something
45)It was odd how proud he was. He was proud
46)Frankenstein was aware that Dracula was there. Dracula was there
47)Carter returned to power. Carter used to hold power and had stopped
holding power for some time
48)Joan stopped beating her husband. Joan is married; Joan had been
beating her husband
49)You will be amazed when you see the view. The H will see the view

50)Isn’t it surprising that he continued going out with her after being let down
so many times? She had let him down many times; he had been going
out with her; he continued going out with her after being let down so
many times
51)The medicine has cured her uncle. She has an uncle; her uncle was ill;
her uncle took the medicine
52)Dana forgot to post the letter. Dana was supposed to post the letter
53)Dick has begun to do a share of the chores. Dick has not done a share of
the chores before that
54)It doesn’t matter that they lied to us. They lied to us
55)You should have explained that your train was late. The H took a train; the
train was late; the H did not explain that the H’s train was late
56)She’s sorry that the Olympics are over. The Olympics are over
57)The email that Arthur sent us said Thursday. Arthur sent us an email
58)I loved you when we were in Monterrey. The S and the H were in
Monterey
59)I could have known without your cover-up. You covered something up; I
did not know that thing
60)Try asking Arthur for help. The H needs some help; Arthur may be able
and want to help
61)Bill regrets that the circus has left. The circus has left
62)Would you like another beer? The H has had at least one beer before
63)Have you stopped hugging your sheepdog? The H has a sheepdog; the
hearer has been hugging his/her sheepdog
64)When did the Sixers beat the Lakers? The Sixers beat the Lakers
65)I’ve coached Jack’s children for two years now. Jack has children; the S is
a coach; the S is still coaching Jack’s children
66)Tom drives his Datsun to work. Tom has a Datsun; he knows how to drive
a car; he has a job
67)After being interviewed, his confidence grew considerably. He was

interviewed
68)During the meeting, he received three phone calls. There existed a
meeting; he was probably at the meeting
69)I appreciate your coming here. The H came to where the S is
70)I promise to come back to your hometown. The S used to come to the H's
hometown at least once before
71)We know that they had no chance to succeed though they were trying a
lot. They tried a lot; they had no chance to succeed though they tried a
lot
72)Do you remember where you put the key? The H put the key somewhere
73)What was she talking about when you arrived there? The H arrived there;
she was talking about something when the H arrived there
74)It’s odd that the police were not informed of the murder earlier. The police
were informed of the murder at a later time than expected
75)I missed my class this Monday because I overslept. The S is a student;
the S overslept this Monday
76)I got lost when I first came to this city. The S has come to this city more
than once
77)When he phoned in, I was out for lunch. He phoned in
78)It’s a pity he failed his driving test. He took a driving test and failed it
79)I wish I could apply for another job. The S has a job; the S is still doing his
current job and has not applied for another job yet
80)He managed to get his bread. He tried to get his bread
IMPLICATURES
1) A: Did you drink all the bottles of beer in the fridge?
B: I drank some. B did not drink all the bottles of beer in the fridge.
2) A: Did you enjoy your holiday?
B: The beaches were crowded and the hotel was full of bugs B did not
enjoy his holiday
3) A: Would you drive a Toyota?

B: I wouldn’t drive any Japanese car. A Toyota is a Japanese car and B
wouldn't drive a Toyota
4) A: Are you coming out for a pint tonight?
B: My in-laws are coming over for dinner B is not coming out for a pint
tonight
5) A: How did Manchester United play this afternoon?
B: Well, eleven guys wearing Manchester United shirts ran out onto the
pitch Manchester United did not play very well this afternoon
6) A: I’m going to tell those young thugs to stop smoking in this compartment.
B: Do you have life insurance? It’s dangerous to tell those young thugs to
stop smoking in this compartment because they may hurt A badly
7) A: A lot of people’s livelihoods depend on your performance today.
B: Thanks, that really takes the pressure off. That puts even more pressure
on B
8) A: Does my smoking bother you?
B: I can’t say it doesn’t. A’s smoking does bother B
9) A: Would you like a beer?
B: Is the Pope a Catholic? I certainly would like a beer
10) A: Are you from America?
B: No. B does not want to continue the conversation
11) A: I have a terrible headache.
B: I have an aspirin. A should take an aspirin and it can help relieve A’s
headache
12) A: Can anyone use this car park?
B: It’s for customers of the supermarket. Not everyone can use this car
park
13) A: Have you read Long Walk to Freedom?
B: I find autobiographies fascinating. Long Walk to Freedom is an
autobiography and B has read it.
14) A: How did you like the guest speaker?

B: Well, I’m sure he was speaking English. What the guest speaker said
was confusing to B
15) A: Where is John?
B: He’s either in the cafeteria or in his office. B is not sure whether John is
in the cafeteria or in his office.
16) A: Where do you think I can get some gas?
B: There’s a gas station around the corner. The gas station around the
corner may be open and be selling gas
17) A: Did you buy salt?
B: I tried to. B did not buy salt
18) A: Mrs X is an old bag.
B: The weather has been quite delightful this summer, hasn’t it? B does not
want to talk about the topic
19) A: How much longer will you be?
B: Make yourself a drink. A will have to wait for a while before B is ready
20) A: Did your new assistant do a good job today?
B: I couldn’t say he was helpful. B’s new assistant did not do a good job
today
21) A: Do you use your local swimming-pool very much?
B: The salt water hurts my eyes. B does not use B’s local swimming very
much
22) A: Who was that man I saw you with yesterday.
B: That was just someone. B does not know that man or that man is not
someone worth mentioning.
23) A: Did you finish your report?
B: I started it. B has not finished the report
24) A: Should we sit here and talk?
B: There’s no better place than here. They should sit here and talk
25) A: How do you like the new librarian at the information desk?
B: You mean Ron? He’s been here as long as I have. B is new at the

library too and has not known Ron well enough yet.
26) A: Did the band play for two hours?
B: I left in the middle of the performance. B does not know if the band
played for 2 hours
27) A: The library is open on Saturday, isn’t it?
B: Let’s find out. B is not sure if the library is open on Saturday
28) A: Do you know where Dave is? I’ve gone over to his apartment several
times but he hasn’t been there.
B: He’s staying at his brother’s house. Dave hates the smell of fresh paint.
Dave’s apartment has just been painted
29) A: Are those Shelly’s photographs hanging in the hall?
B: You know Shelly only takes black-and-white photos. The photographs in
the hall are not black-and-white and are not Shelly’s.
30) A: Have you heard that Louis has a new boss.
B: Let’s hope that he gets along better now with this one. Louis did not get
along well with his old boss.
31) A: Is the swimming pool on campus open to the public?
B: Yes, but if you’re not a student, you have to pay a fee to swim there.
Students do not have to pay a fee too swimm at the swimming pool on
campus
32) A: Do the experts agree with this plan?
B: It depends on which expert you ask. Not all experts agree with the plan
33) A: Is it ever hot!
B: If you think this is hot, you should have been here last summer. Last
summer is hotter than this summer
34) A: Madelyn designed the costumes for the play. They’re wonderful, don’t
you think?
B: Absolutely. Who wouldn’t? B thinks the costumes Madelyn designed for
the play are wonderful.
35) A: That’s a tough slope to ski.

B: Yeah, even Robert had trouble skiing down that slope. Robert is the
best skier of them all
36) A: Was there anything you didn’t like about the novel?
B: Only that it was too short. B completely enjoyed the novel
37) A: Should I fill out this form with a pen or a pencil?
B: What difference does it make? B may fill out the form with either a pen
or a pencil
38) A: I wonder how I did on Professor Porter’s test.
B: Oh, she’s already posted the grades on her office door. B may look at
B’s grades on Professor Porter’s test on her office door.
39) A: Are Randy and his friends still going to play cards this evening?
B: He’s setting up the folding card table right now. Randy and his friend are
still going to play cards this evening
40) A: Mandy, did you get a chance to read that magazine I gave you?
B: Cover to cover. Mandy read everything in the magazine
41) A: Gary, do you know when the work on that new road will be done?
B: The sooner the better, as far as I’m concerned. Gary is not sure when
the work will be done
42) A: Traffic downtown was terrible today.
B: You don’t have to tell me. B was in the traffic downtown himself
43) A: Brian, could you handle this suitcase too?
B: How many hands do you think I have? Brian can not handle any more
suitcase
44) A: David, do you think that the music was too loud?
B: Well, no – not if you wanted the people across town to hear it. The
music was too loud indeed
45) A: Carter doesn’t look the same at all these days.
B: I’m not used to seeing him without glasses either. Carter looks different
now because he does not wear glasses any more.
46) A: Judy, I just wrote a new song. Do you want to hear it?

B: Well, what are you waiting for? B wants to hear A's song right away
47) A: Who are the two people in the photo?
B: That’s my mother and her husband. The man in the photo is not B’s
father
48) A: Professor Bryan always grades fairly.
B: I couldn’t agree with you more. B agrees Prof Bryan always grades fairly
49) A: Do you know where Dr Delanay is?
B: There’s a directory over by the elevators. B does not know where Dr
Delanay is and the directory may show where Dr Delanay is.
50) A: Do you think I’ve packed too much equipment for my camping trip?
B: It should be just right, Max – if you plan to be gone for a couple of weeks.
A has packed too much equipment for the camping trip
51) A: Professor, will you write a letter of recommendation for me?
B: Certainly. I will say that you were always neatly dressed, punctual, and
unfailingly polite. A was not a very good student.
52) A: I’m not feeling well today.
B: There’s a hospital across the street. A should go to the hospital and the
hospital will admit A
53) A: How do you like my new suit?
B: Well, your shoes look nice. B does not think A’s new suit is nice
54) A: I may win the lottery for $83 million.
B: There may be people on Mars too. It is impossible that A will win the
lottery
55) A: Have you done your homework and taken out the garbage?
B: I’ve taken out the garbage. B has not done his homework
56) A: Are the Browns at home?
B: Their car is in the driveway. The Browns may be at home
57) A: Let’s see if that store has what we are looking for.
B: We’re not millionaires. That store is very expensive.
58) A: Shall we go out and have some ice-cream?

B: I’m on a diet. B will not go out for some ice-cream.
59) A: How much do I owe you?
B: I’ll have to get my calculator. B cannot remember how much A owes B
and it may be a big debt
60) A: Meet me at Piccadilly Circus at midnight.
B: I’ll bring a large friend with me, in that case. Piccadilly Circus is a
dangerous place to meet each other at midnight
61) A: Do you like my new carpet?
B: The wallpaper’s not bad. B does not like A’s new carpet
62) A: My car’s broken down.
B: There’s a garage round the corner. The garage is open and can repair
A’s car
63) A: What do you think about her essay?
B: The second draft wasn’t better. Her essay is not good.
64) A: Do you expect a lot of rain this month?
B: It hardly ever rains in March. There will not much rain this month
65) A: What on earth has happened to the roast beef?
B: The dog looks very happy. The dog may have eaten the roast beef
66) A: It’s strange that Tom is dating Mary. I thought he would never love
anyone.
B: Every man loves a woman It’s not strange that Tom is dating Mary
67) A: Can you tell me what’s on TV tonight?
B: I never watch TV. B does not know what’s on TV tonight
68) A: Was the concert well received?
B: The audience applauded for a long time. The concert was well received
.