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I sort of know the difference between разве and неужели - but only sort of.... :lol:
Would anyone care to elaborate a bit? Or maybe give some examples in which you can definitely only use one or the other?
I'm having a hard time "feeling" these two.... :?
Заранее спасибо :)
Неужели sounds to me a bit ironical.
"Вчера мы наконец-то порвали ту команду!"
"Неужели?" (сарказм)
Далеко не всегда.Quote:
Originally Posted by Vincent Tailors
For example:
"Разве можно обижать маленьких?" - reprimand
"Неужели можно обижать маленьких?" - surprise, consternation
Feel the difference?
"Разве он там был" and "Неужели он там был" are similar in that they both indicate the speaker doesn't know/think that the guy in question was there.
"Неужели", however, communicates a stronger surprise and/or disbeliefe than "разве".
"Разве он там был" communicates something lke "Oh, so he was there? I thought he wasn't?"
"Неужели он там был" is something like "Oh, he was there? I didn't even think it was possible!"
разве vs. неужели
From http://www.multitran.ru/
разве conj. phrases | g-sort gener.really (выражает интерес, удивление, сомнение и т. п.); perhaps; only (is it the only reason? - разве это единственная причина?); unless math.if разве? conj. to start gener.is that so?
неужели prepos. phrases | g-sort gener.really; is it possible; indeed (выражает удивление, иронию, сомнение); can it be true (вопрос) colloq.coo (выражает удивление, недоверие, сомнение) jarg.you don't say
Well, all the above is actually my problem.... :lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by charlestonian
My book says more or less the same thing: there's a positive (неужели)/negative (разве) connotation, but once they start translating them by "really?!", "is that so?!" and "you don't say?!", "indeed?!" - I'm lost again, because in English, all four of these can be both reprimanding, stunned, happily surprised, or negatively loaded, all depending on the tone of voice..... :|
Argh. :wall:
But thanks guys :thumbs: , for all the examples, I'll try to battle my way through it for a while, and get back to you if I still don't get it.... ;)
when разве is said, normally a negative/contradictory response is expected. ie
вот скажи мне, американец, в чем сила? разве в деньгах?
ie, you REALLY think just money?
(olga, please be gentle with my grammar :P )
Lt. Columbo, in this particular case "разве" can be replaced with "неужели" without any change of meaning.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lt. Columbo
P.S. Like "Брат-2", yea? :wink:
8)
........ see what I mean? :? :cry:Quote:
Originally Posted by Basil77
Don't worry, I'll get it. Some time. :wink:
Let's make it a test for a change.Quote:
Originally Posted by BabaYaga
Your team is losing a match, again. You can express your anxiety saying
"..... мы опять проиграем?"
And you may say about your team performance
"..... это игра? Это позорище!"
or
"..... ЭТО они называют игрой? Это позорище!"
I think you can use неужели as a single word (it can make a short phrase by itself) but not разве...
For example:
Разве так говорят? Неужели?
(you would not just say Разве?).
Quote:
Originally Posted by E-learner
Good example :wink:
PS. In the last sentence, you can also use Неужели, methink...
Yes, you can.Quote:
Originally Posted by charlestonian
- Он по субботам не работает.
- Разве?
P.S. I think this test was not for russian native speakers.
Разве does not sound right, by itself...Quote:
Originally Posted by Оля
"Разве?" sounds absolutely right.
Whatever...Quote:
Originally Posted by Оля
Actually, I meant "неужели" to be the only right answer for the last sentence.Quote:
Originally Posted by charlestonian
"Неужели ЭТО они называют игрой? ..."
Is there anyone else who disagree with me?
Can you say действительно by itself?
- Он по субботам не работает.
- Действительно?
[quote=E-learner]Actually, I meant "неужели" to be the only right answer for the last sentence.Quote:
Originally Posted by charlestonian
"Неужели ЭТО они называют игрой? ..."
Is there anyone else who disagree with me?[/quote:3u8g3pho]
To think of it, you are right about the last one. My bad :wink:
Допустимо, но звучит плохо.Quote:
Originally Posted by basurero