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Does this conversation sound natural?



 
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ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
special vs. especial | 'have been' vs 'went'
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Does this conversation sound natural? #1 (permalink) Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:54 am   Does this conversation sound natural?
 

Can someone please tell me if the following conversation sounds natural?

John: I have to make two folders and put all the modified files in one folder and the ones that were not modfied in the other.
Jake: How would you know what are modified and what are not?
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Does this conversation sound natural? #2 (permalink) Mon Aug 04, 2008 13:18 pm   Does this conversation sound natural?
 

.
John: I have to make two folders and put all the modified files in one folder and the ones that were not modified in the other.

Jake: How will you know which are modified and which are not?
.
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Does this conversation sound natural? #3 (permalink) Mon Aug 04, 2008 13:21 pm   Does this conversation sound natural?
 

Hi Daemon

I would prefer the word 'which' (instead of 'what') in your second sentence.

In addition, using the word 'would' suggests to me that Jake thinks John will have some trouble distinguishing between the two types. If you used 'will' instead of 'would', it would be a more straightforward question (i.e. no suggestion of presupposition).

That's my two cents.

EDIT:
Oops, I see MM was faster than I was.
.
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Does this conversation sound natural? #4 (permalink) Mon Aug 04, 2008 13:23 pm   Does this conversation sound natural?
 

.
But you were more lucid, Yank.
.
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special vs. especial | 'have been' vs 'went'
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