Expression: A little salt on my food

Judith · #1 (permalink) Thu Nov 13, 2003 10:37 am *Expression: A little salt on my food*

hello all of you,

Test No. errors/elem-3 "She works hard", question 1

If you don't mind I'd like to have a few salt on my food before it gets any colder.

(a) mind
(b) a few
(c) food

Test No. errors/elem-3 "She works hard", answer 1

If you don't mind I'd like to have a little salt on my food before it gets any colder.

Correct entry: a little
The error was: (b) a few

my question to this sentence is: what does it mean "before it gets any older"?? is it like.... you are so slow to pass me the salt and i can't stand it anymore?? and 2.) isn't it a quiet rude saying?? 3.) could you give me please an example for this sentence?

best wishes and thank you

judith

Alan · #2 (permalink) Thu Nov 13, 2003 17:44 pm *Where did you find this phrase?*

Hi Judith,

Thanks for your note - I'll certainly reply with my comments. But could you first please tell me where this sentence comes from.

Best wishes

Alan
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Judith · #3 (permalink) Fri Nov 14, 2003 10:45 am *A little salt on my food*

hello Alan,

this sentence comes from the test: "errors in sentences what's wrong with this?-example" test number 3, question 1.

best wishes

judith

Judith · #4 (permalink) Fri Nov 14, 2003 10:53 am *A little salt on my food*

oh...and it is from a "elementary" test.

judith

Alan · #5 (permalink) Fri Nov 14, 2003 16:59 pm *A little salt on my food*

Judith · #6 (permalink) Fri Nov 14, 2003 17:30 pm *A little salt on my food*

hello alan,

everything is clear now!! i didn't think about that it could be a typing mistake. i thought something like "the british houmor"...?h.. is always intersting ;)

best wishes
judith

Sahid59 · #7 (permalink) Sat Jan 31, 2009 20:11 pm *proof-reading tools*

Dear Alan..

we have already come up with a handful of proof-reading tools to probe through the possible errors in spelling as well as in grammar.

But still we lack some vital program with artificial intelligence or something like that which will correct the words in our sentences according to the contextual meanings..

May be I am dreaming for this miracle to happen soon...
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Sahid59

Better tomorrow with better English

Maddy · #8 (permalink) Thu Jun 02, 2011 7:30 am *English error, elementary level*

Hello Alan,

Why it couldn't be "some salt",

Maddy

Beeesneees · #9 (permalink) Thu Jun 02, 2011 8:02 am *Expression: A little salt on my food*

Hi maddy,

'Some salt' would be a possible alternative. It would be correct - and that is why it is not given as an option in the test. The test can only work if there is just one correct answer.
If 'some salt' were given as an option, then there would be two correct answers, which would be misleading.
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Cheers m' dears!

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