1. I never said she took my book.

I never said she took my book. (Someone else might have said it.)

I never said she took my book. (I didn’t say it at any time.)

I never said she took my book. (I might have implied it, but I didn’t say it outright.)

I never said she took my book. (Someone else might have taken it.)

I never said she took my book. (Maybe she borrowed it or found it.)

I never said she took my book. (It could be someone else’s book.)

I never said she took my book. (Perhaps it was something else.)

2. He didn’t tell me you called.

He didn’t tell me you called. (Someone else might have told me.)

He didn’t tell me you called. (He never mentioned it.)

He didn’t tell me you called. (He told someone else, not me.)

He didn’t tell me you called. (He told someone else, not me.)

He didn’t tell me you called. (He mentioned someone else, not you.)

He didn’t tell me you called. (He might have said you emailed or visited.)

3. Why did you leave early?

Why did you leave early? (What was the reason?)

Why did you leave early? (Emphasis on the act of leaving.)

Why did you leave early? (Why you specifically, not someone else?)

Why did you leave early? (Why not stay longer?)

4. She can’t believe he did it.

She can’t believe he did it. (Someone else might believe it, but not her.)

She can’t believe he did it. (It’s beyond belief for her.)

She can’t believe he did it. (She doubts it actually happened.)

She can’t believe he did it. (She thought someone else was responsible.)

She can’t believe he did it. (She’s shocked about what he did.)

5. That’s not what I meant.

That’s not what I meant. (The specific thing is wrong.)

That’s not what I meant. (A denial of meaning.)

That’s not what I meant. (What I was trying to convey is different.)

That’s not what I meant. (It could be what someone else meant.)

6. I didn’t steal your red car.

I didn’t steal your red car. (Someone else did, not me.)

I didn’t steal your red car. (I absolutely deny stealing it.)

I didn’t steal your red car. (I might have taken it, but not by stealing.)

I didn’t steal your red car. (Maybe I took someone else’s red car.)

I didn’t steal your red car. (I didn’t take the red one, but perhaps another color.)

I didn’t steal your red car. (Maybe I took something else, but not the car.)

I didn’t steal your red car? (Are you accusing me of it?)

I didn’t steal your red car! (An emphatic denial, possibly angry.)

I didn’t steal your red car... (Trailing off, suggesting hesitation or a hidden truth.)

I didn’t steal your red car, but maybe I borrowed it. (Suggesting a subtle admission of another act.)