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not able to / do not walk

English translation: cannot walk

19:11 Jun 22, 2006
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Poetry & Literature / linguistics
English term or phrase: not able to / do not walk
literature for children

the birds organized a great party on the banks of a river. they invited all the animals. ... As fish are not able (do not walk) to walk, they could not dance. But... they rested their heads on the sand and watched...

Is there any difference in meaning between "do not walk" / "are not able to walk" in this context? Many thanks in advance.
Lakasa Stnorden
Local time: 17:35
Selected answer:cannot walk
Explanation:
Fish cannot (are not able to) walk...therefore they could not dance.
Since it's a children text maybe it's worthwhile to underline that Fish cannot walk.
If you say that they do not walk it may seem that fish are lazy.
They can, but they don't want.
Selected response from:

giogi
Local time: 21:35
Grading comment
excellent answers many thanks
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +9same meaning in this context
NancyLynn
4 +3to a degree, yes.
Kurt Porter
3 +4cannot walk
giogi


  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +9
same meaning in this context


Explanation:
Some things we don't do by choice "I do not smoke." But some things we don't do because we can't "I don't speak Russian."

HTH

NancyLynn
Canada
Local time: 16:35
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 75

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Kurt Porter: I missed the "in this context." I think in this context, same thing.
1 min
agree  Jay Whitten
3 mins
agree  Vicky Papaprodromou
23 mins
agree  David Knowles: "do not walk" seems much more flowing to me. "are not able to walk" is clunky and pedantic by comparison.
31 mins
agree  Jeffrey Lewis: "Do not " is nicer and also safer! If you had fish up dancing some child might decide to go diving.
32 mins
agree  Emilie
37 mins
agree  Alexander Demyanov: w/David and Jeffrey
5 hrs
agree  Alexandra Tussing
6 hrs
agree  Alfa Trans (X)
4 days
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5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
to a degree, yes.


Explanation:
I would go with "are not able to." "Do not walk" could mean (depending on context), that they can walk, but they choose not to.

Kurt Porter
Local time: 01:35
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  giogi: sorry, I didn't read your answer!!!!!
8 mins
  -> It's ok..thanks!
agree  jccantrell: This would be my choice. As they have no legs, they are not able to walk.
11 mins
  -> Thank you, JC.
agree  Mwananchi
17 hrs
  -> Thank you, Mwananchi.
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12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
cannot walk


Explanation:
Fish cannot (are not able to) walk...therefore they could not dance.
Since it's a children text maybe it's worthwhile to underline that Fish cannot walk.
If you say that they do not walk it may seem that fish are lazy.
They can, but they don't want.

giogi
Local time: 21:35
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
excellent answers many thanks

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Sophia Finos (X)
10 mins
  -> thanks, but Kurt was the one!
agree  Tony M: I really do feel that "cannot" (or perhaps better still "can't") is the way to go on this one, in terms both of the flow, and the nuance of meaning
1 hr
  -> thanks
agree  Alexandra Tussing
6 hrs
  -> thanks
neutral  Jeffrey Lewis: Hey, diddle, diddle, the cat and the fiddle, the cow jumped over the moon. The little dog laughed to see such fun, and the cat ran away with the spoon./No, it's for your cat! I have 2 cats
7 hrs
  -> "The time has come, the walrus said ....." you may be right, Jeffrey! I had two but one unfortunately "jumped over the moon" threeyears ago!
agree  Mwananchi
16 hrs
  -> thanks
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