Alternatively, consider that the trying and the action performed are actually have separate logical values - one can try and not succeed, as much as someone can try and succeed. So, in a sense, one is making an optimistic statement when they say they will try and perform an action.
And I do find that people who use that construction tend to focus on the fact that the action has a chance of failing, which I think gives credence to my reading of the construction.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2009-01-12 04:03 am (UTC)And I do find that people who use that construction tend to focus on the fact that the action has a chance of failing, which I think gives credence to my reading of the construction.