No hace sino

[Perikles]

Can someone please explain how 'no hace sino' works in this sentence?

La decisión no hace sino socavar la posición del presidente palestino, Mahmud Abbas, que rechaza reiniciar el proceso de paz mientras continúe el crecimiento de las colonias.

I can see what it says, but can't quite work out why. (I shall suppress any outrage I feel about the news item.)

[irmamar]

There's a difference between "sino" and "si no" . In this case "sino" means "otra cosa que". Maybe this link is helpful (1.c) :

http://cvc.cervantes.es/alhabla/muse.../museo_059.htm

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

There's a difference between "sino" and "si no" . In this case "sino" means "otra cosa que".

Thanks Iramar, the link was useful. So where Spanish has a double negative 'no hace sino' the English has a positive: 'all it does is'

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Perikles

Thanks Iramar, the link was useful. So where Spanish has a double negative 'no hace sino' the English has a positive: 'all it does is'

Yes, in Spanish a double negative is a negative.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Perikles: Sometimes "but" is not "pero", but "sino"... It's like saying "He/she doesn't do anything but..."

Juan no hace sino quejarse de su trabajo.
Juan doesn't do anything but complain about his job.

A mí no me gustan las manzanas rojas, sino las amarillas.
I don't like red apples, but yellow ones.

[Perikles]

Thanks Angelica

[Esperar]

Creo que me ha ayudado esta tema pero quiero estar seguro. Si entiendo correctamente, esta frase significa en inglés, "this doesn't do anything but reinforce the doubts" "Esto no hace sino reforzar las dudas."

Tengo razon?

Gracias por ayudarme.

[Julvenzor]

Creo que me ha ayudado este tema pero quiero estar seguro. Si entiendo correctamente, esta frase significa en inglés, "this doesn't do anything but reinforce the doubts" "Esto no hace sino reforzar las dudas."

¿Tengo razón?

Gracias por ayudarme.

Sí, correcto.
De nada.