"Just not" versus "not just" - do you think there is a difference?

Question

I am interested to know if, in your opinion, the following pairs of sentences mean the same thing or different things:

1.a) "Don't just sit there!"
1.b) "Just don't sit there!"

2.a) "It's just not an issue."
2.b) "It's not just an issue."

3.a) "I just can't give up."
3.b) "I can't just give up."

4.a) "She's not just another pretty face."
4.b) "She's just not another pretty face."

Please post answers for EACH pair of sentences. If the sentences have the same semantic meaning to you, just post "same". If you feel that the sentences have different meanings, explain the difference in your own words.

If they all seem different to you, but you can think of a better example of a similar pair of sentences that would have the same meaning in your opinion, please post those too.

Also, I would appreciate it if you would be willing to mention where you grew up, as I am curious to know if there are regional differences of opinion about this.

Answer 1

1a-means 'do more.'
1b-means 'do something, anything...'
2a-means 'it really doesn't matter.'
2b-means 'its more than an issue'
3a-means ' I can't bring myself to do it, it means too much to me'
3b-means ' I have got to do it, I'm not a quitter.'
4a-means 'She's pretty and some.'
4b-means 'She's not pretty'

Sometimes it's not what we say, it's how we say it. I place emphasis on the word 'just' on each of your sentences for the purpose of interpretation.

'I didn't say you were stupid.'
Placing the emphasis on 'I' implies someone else said it, placing the emphasis on 'you' implies that I said someone else was stupid, placing the emphasis on 'stupid' implies I said you were something else.

Born & raised in the south

Answer 2

"Don't just sit there" means "do something!" "Just don't sit there" means sit anywhere else but there, or could mean the same as the first sentence.

"It's just not an issue" means that it is not an issue at all. "It's not just an issue" means it is an issue, but it's more than just an issue.

"I just can't give up" means that I'm unable to give up. "I can't just give up" means that I feel like giving up is surrendering and I don't want to do that.

"She's not just another pretty face" means she is (or has) a pretty face, but she's more than just that. "She's just not another pretty face" means she's not pretty at all.

I'm from British Columbia, Canada.

Answer 3

In my opinion (not any kind of grammatical rules):

1. a--sounds like a call to immediate action "get going!"
b--sounds more like a command to not sit on that place (go somewhere else to sit)

2. a--a dismissal of the subject; stop talking about it
b--it's more than an issue, it's something else

3. a--I have to keep doing it out of necessity.
b--I can't stop trying, I must do more.

4. a--She's something special, more than the common person.
b--She isn't pretty.

California.

Answer 4

in number 1. Dont just sit there is not finished it means are you going to do somthing.
Just don't sit there means talk get with it

2 its just not an issue means its not an issue
2 its not just an issue its a problem fix it

3 I just can't give up, means I can't give up
3 I can't just give up, is a question, should I give up

4 shes not just another pretty face, this person mean something to you 4 shes just not another pretty face, means she is not pretty

take care Heather

Answer 5

linguistics project, maybe? sweeeet...

1a) I can't differentiate much here.

2a) It definitely isn't an issue. (dismissive)
2b) It's more than a simple issue; it's bigger than an issue.

3a) Under no circumstances can I give up (even if I want to).
3b) I will not give up (even if someone else wants me to).

4a) She is more than a pretty face.
4b) She definitely does not fall into this pretty face group.

Answer 6

Theistic Satanists are satanists who believe in the real existence of Satan. Luciferian can imply different things: 1) A satanist who knows that the word satan is simply a word meaning "adversary" and not a being; 2) A pagan who worships the Sumerian god of light and knowledge Lucifer. (The Christians "borrowed" Lucifer and demonized him to equate him with what they called "Satan. They even put it in their Bible.) They do not acknowledge Christianity or Satan. 3)A non-Wiccan witch who worships the Sumerian god Lucifer (not "the devil" or Satan). They don't acknowledge any of the tenets/mythos of Christianity, Satanism, or Wicca.

Answer 7

To me, in each case the two sentences mean something different. I grew up in So. Calif.

Answer 8

the first sentences means 2 do sumthing and the second means not to do dat thing.its da same 4 all

Answer 9

Hmm, fun!

1a--"Hurry up and do SOMEthing!"
1b--"Sit somewhere else, please, not there."

2a--"This is moot, pointless, I'm done talking about it."
2b--"This is bigger than *just* an issue!"

3a--"I realize that giving up may be the best thing right now, but I can't bring myself to do it."
3b--"I may have thought about quitting but there are enough rewards to keep going."

4a--"She is pretty but soooo much more than just that."
4b--"She may be great in other ways, but let's face it, she's not pretty."

I grew up in the great state of Oregon. :)

Answer 10

the first is like dont b lazy do sthin else
ib[forbids u from sittin there
2a[almost forbids u to talk of the issue
2b[means theres more we could talk about
3a[its like they forbid themselves from givin up
3b[its like they r thinkin about givin up
4a[not just said in a relaxed manner there r other optoins
4b [the person almost forbids u of thinkin otherwise
so i think theres a difference in meaning i grew up in kenya
2b