(no subject)

[superslayer18.livejournal.com]

Mostly for Native speakers, but I'm sure anyone else can answer:

If you heard the phrase "я не скажу ни слова", would you immediately think (NOT which is the correct form grammatically):

1) I don't say a word
2) I'm not saying a word
3) I won't say a word
or
4) I haven't said a word

or something else?

ETA: General consensus seems to fall with the third option, but why is that? It was my first reaction too I guess, but that's only because I was thinking about it from an English-speaking point of view and no one would ever really say 1 or 2 (they might, but even in the present tense the third would be more natural). So now it becomes a question of tense: Unless I'm mistaken (which I probably am, so please let me know) skazhit' is a present tense verb... so why would it be translated into the future tense?

Comments

[scriabingirl.livejournal.com]

I, too, would think of the third option.

I have just started learning Russian, but I understand the basic sentences since I'm Slovene and both languages are constructed (in most cases) very similarly.

I have another question regarding your phrase... if I'm not wrong, there is a double negation - я не скажу ни слова. Is it possible to make this sentence with one negation only? And if it is, does double negation (like in this case) mean even stronger negation, like 'I won't say even one word about it.'?

[portugalist.livejournal.com]

which Slavonic language do you speak?

without double negation???

hm... я не скажу даже слова (with double negation it sounds more natural and stronger)

[scriabingirl.livejournal.com]

спасибо :)

[sinee-solnce.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but "Я не скажу ДАЖЕ слова" sounds terrible)) Doesn't it?

[portugalist.livejournal.com]

not so terrible, but awkward...

but such frases -

И слова не скажу!
Не скажу и слова!

sound OK.

[ex-eugzol340.livejournal.com]

no, it doesn't =)
i think that phrase means that one who says it is quite раздражён (irritated?).

[portugalist.livejournal.com]

oh, sorry, sure you speak Slovene :)))) First I read "I'm Slavic" :))) that's why I asked you