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 #2 (permalink) Mon Jun 09, 2008 0:05 am Which is correct? (Jack London's life and writings are thought by many to...) |
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The clearly correct ones are 1, 2 and 4, but 1 is iffy.
Number 1 can be improved by changing American's to Americans'.
Number 3 is quite wrong, but you could correct it also by changing American's to Americans'.
The best one is 4, in my opinion. |
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Jamie (K)
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| #3 (permalink) Mon Jun 09, 2008 8:20 am Which is correct? (Jack London's life and writings are thought by many to...) |
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Not if "the American's love of adventure" referred to London himself. |
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Molly
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| #4 (permalink) Mon Jun 09, 2008 11:15 am Which is correct? (Jack London's life and writings are thought by many to...) |
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| Molly wrote: |
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Not if "the American's love of adventure" referred to London himself. |
Yes, you're right. If it refers to London himself, it would be correct. If it refers to Americans in general, it would be wrong. |
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Jamie (K)
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| #5 (permalink) Wed Jun 11, 2008 17:09 pm Which is correct? (Jack London's life and writings are thought by many to...) |
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| Quote: |
| Number 3 is quite wrong, but you could correct it also by changing American's to Americans'. |
Hi Jamie,
Suddenly a question rises in my mind: the use of "could" present situations. I remember asking a question about this and the answer was that it can be used in question for politeness. (i.e: could you tell me this/that?)
So why do you use "could" here instead of "can"?
Many thanks
Nessie
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 Nessie
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| #6 (permalink) Wed Jun 11, 2008 17:13 pm Which is correct? (Jack London's life and writings are thought by many to...) |
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| Nessie, look up the "conditional mood" (or just the "conditional") in a grammar book. That will explain things. |
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Jamie (K)
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| #7 (permalink) Thu Jun 12, 2008 7:27 am Which is correct? (Jack London's life and writings are thought by many to...) |
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Thanks a lot, Jamie.
Actually I've learnt the conditional mood, but I'm just not used to sentences in conditional mood without "if". Do you mean this in your sentence:
Number 3 is quite wrong, but if you changed "American's" to "Americans'", you could improve it.
Many thanks
Nessie
_________________
:(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(
Sorry seems to be the hardest word... |
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Nessie
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| Construction: as ... as he/him? | What is under "I would/wouldn't use/write/add/omit..." |
