Where would you live in Arcanum

Ah, so you don't make a habit of saying it's comprehensive IS the correct way to read that. I didn't think you meant it like that, I thought you made a mistake trying to say that the one instance she was referring to stated that it was understandable, not comprehensive.

 

Well, that's tricky. As a non-native speaker, I would take the first option, "What can you not understand?", as if you're given the chance to understand some things and not understand others, whereas "What can not / cannot you understand?" would mean the presently used "What can't you understand?", which sounds way better. But it's not allowed in formal speech. Darn the discourse red tape.

 

I agree that what can't you understand sounds better, that's why everyone says it. Grammatically though, you should break up the contraction to make sure it's correct, which in this case it is. The contraction doesn't change it's grammatical correctness, it merely makes it easier to say.

 

I would say "What is it you can't understand?" but with "can not" that sounds a bit weird too.

But I'm no native.

 

Like I pretty much just said, can not is the same as can't grammatically. Can not does sound weird, I only used it since, in that sentence, he didn't contract, so to aid in the example I didn't either.

 

Nooooooo!!!! A linguistic debate!! We're all DOOOOOOOOOOMED!!!!!!!

Oh and I'm happy you changed your sig Sofokl, though I know not its new meaning. Where are you translating program...?

 

Hey, linguistic debates aren't all that bad. If you feed them properly.

 

Um... Sorry to say this, but they are. These kind of debates creates a whole new meaning of "boring".

 

And give a new life to your grammar studybook (if you want to win your opponent in debate by quoting different, forgotten by everyone rules. )

 

Add a comma after everyone, and the sentance will be perfect.

 

You mean sentence?

 

Yes, that's true.
God, how I hate myself right now.

 

Good old self-loathing.

 

Quite so. But I hate you guys too. Just wanted you to know.

 

Awww, he's lashing out...

 

Yes I am.
"Give me some attention! I need it! Waaah!"

*lashes out*

 

Here have some candy. They're called Ritalins. Think of them like icky Skittles. *Gives wolfsbane ritalin*

 

Mmmmmm. Ritalin...
*dies*

 

Ritalin doesn't kill you, you fool. Unless you overdose ofcourse.