Re: Subject/Object + Everyone/Someone

Tristan McLeay wrote:
>
> My logic lecturer pointed out that while 'Mary loves John' and 'John is
> loved by Mary' mean the same thing, 'everyone loves someone' and 'someone
> is loved by everyone' mean different things and so concluded that you
> can't apply 'subject' and 'object' to 'everyone' and 'someone'.
>
> Is that true? Then what would you call the everyone and someone? If not,
> what's happening?

I think he's confused about syntax vs. semantics.

Like the old joke, Which is better: complete happiness
in life or a ham sandwich?

Answer: a ham sandwich, because Nothing is better
than complete happiness in life, but a ham sandwich
is better than Nothing.

--Ph. D.

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