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Fri Aug 17, 2007 14:21 pm errors in the tests |
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Hi,
I left out the question mark to indicate that it is a request/invitation/instruction assuming the driver will move the car and it is not open for negotiation.
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Not Really |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 7378 Location: UK
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Fri Aug 17, 2007 14:33 pm errors in the tests |
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. Very creative, Alan, but I don't think you have that option-- it is still a question by structure if not by pragmatics. . _________________ Canadian-American native speaker who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach

Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 4281 Location: Yokohama, Japan
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Fri Aug 17, 2007 15:05 pm errors in the tests |
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It's not a matter of being creative, Charles but merely an indication that this isn't a question and therefore doesn't require a question mark. If you say to someone: Will you close the door. You are not expecting a reply but compliance.
Alan _________________ English as a Foreign Language You can read my EFL story Womens' Day |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 7378 Location: UK
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Fri Aug 17, 2007 15:25 pm errors in the tests |
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. Well. how about an exclamation point then-- something to make it look less odd from the western side of the Atlantic? . _________________ Canadian-American native speaker who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach

Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 4281 Location: Yokohama, Japan
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Fri Aug 17, 2007 15:51 pm errors in the tests |
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. Though some may find this hard to believe, I'd agree with Alan on this one. . _________________ Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 7833 Location: USA
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Sat Aug 18, 2007 1:09 am errors in the tests |
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| Quote: | | Will you close the door. |
Does this look odd to no one but me?
OK-- you win a lose, you few a few. . _________________ Canadian-American native speaker who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach

Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 4281 Location: Yokohama, Japan
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Tom I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 1986
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Sat Aug 18, 2007 13:12 pm errors in the tests |
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| Mister Micawber wrote: | .
| Quote: | | Will you close the door. |
Does this look odd to no one but me? |
Hi MM Yes, that one does look odd to me. For that one, I'd definitely use a question mark -- or possibly an exclamation point if I wanted to indicate a loud, impatient voice.
As I see it, in a longer, more complicated sentence which serves as a polite demand (especially one that is an announcement made over a PA system as the test sentence apparently was), the period/full stop is appropriate even though the word order is interrogative. The sentence isn't really a question -- the interrogative word order serves only to make the demand politer.
To be honest, though, using a question mark in the test sentence wouldn't have seemed completely wrong to me either. I just think the period is more appropriate in this particular case. . _________________ Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 7833 Location: USA
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Sun Aug 19, 2007 18:43 pm errors in the tests |
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. I'd be interested in hearing what others think of this test sentence and what changes would be appropriate: http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic3163.html#63413
(Incomplete/advanced-5 "Learning tips and instructions", question 5 ) . _________________ Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 7833 Location: USA
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Mon Aug 20, 2007 0:58 am errors in the tests |
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. My effort:
You should read not only novels but also newspapers, so that you can see examples of ......... language.
(a) idiomatic (b) automatic (c) axiomatic (d) symptomatic . _________________ Canadian-American native speaker who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach

Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 4281 Location: Yokohama, Japan
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Mon Aug 20, 2007 9:51 am errors in the tests |
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Hi Charles,
Thanks for your suggestion, we'll make that change. As for 'examples', we corrected this a long time ago in test itself. The original version stays on the forum though. _________________ Test Of English for International Communication TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary |
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Torsten Site Admin

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 7377 Location: EU
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Mon Aug 20, 2007 11:54 am errors in the tests |
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| Quote: | | The original version stays on the forum though. |
Aargh! What does that mean, exactly? And how universal is it?-- are we liable to be continually seeing long-corrected typos? . _________________ Canadian-American native speaker who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach

Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 4281 Location: Yokohama, Japan
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Mon Aug 20, 2007 11:57 am errors in the tests |
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Users take the test on the site, not on the forum so in order to see whether or not a typo has been corrected simply click on the appropriate link. _________________ Test Of English for International Communication TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary |
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Torsten Site Admin

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 7377 Location: EU
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Mon Aug 20, 2007 12:50 pm errors in the tests |
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| Mister Micawber wrote: | . My effort:
You should read not only novels but also newspapers, so that you can see examples of ......... language.
(a) idiomatic (b) automatic (c) axiomatic (d) symptomatic . |
Hi Charles I had the same thought about changing 'don't have to' to 'should' and like your suggested change for option (d). . _________________ Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 7833 Location: USA
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