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 Sun Apr 23, 2006 5:32 am Why can't I use "appeared in our home" here? |
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Appeared in our home suggests a sudden unexpected manifestation, but the friends could not or would not have simply entered the house without notice. Appeared at our door would be possible, meaning that they arrived unexpectedly.
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Mister Micawber
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| Sun Apr 23, 2006 6:16 am Appeared in our home |
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Thank you M M for answering the question on my behalf (I am the author of this test).
To reiterate what M M is saying, appear would indicate that the person / people have suddenly become visible without being noticed by anyone. This would normally not happen. Therefore came by would be the correct answer in this case.
Mark |
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MarkR
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| Sun Apr 23, 2006 6:34 am Appeared in our home |
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Hi Mark,
Thank you both for answering this question - good responses - but Mark I think you're mistaken. I wrote this test. Just wanted to let you know that you must be thinking of another exam.
Take care,
Linda
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Linda
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| Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:08 am Why can't I use "appeared in our home" here? |
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Huh? I thought I wrote this test! Isn't this the ETS website?...
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Mister Micawber
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| Mon Apr 24, 2006 13:28 pm Why can't I use "appeared in our home" here? |
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I am sorry I can't get this mental image out of my head of these unwelcome guests who have suddenly materialized out of thin air at my house. 
Ghostbusters, anyone? |
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outofbreath
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| Mon Apr 24, 2006 14:39 pm Breathlessly appeared |
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| outofbreath wrote: | I am sorry I can't get this mental image out of my head of these unwelcome guests who have suddenly materialized out of thin air at my house.
Ghostbusters, anyone? |
Welcome aboard, outofbreath!
No wonder you are panting: ten posts in fourty odd minutes. Wow! Hope you like it here!
Regarding the term 'appear', maybe it was just translated from its use in another language. In Spanish, at least, it can have the sense of drop in/by/over, (i.e. without an appointment) or materialize, arrive suddenly at your doorstep. |
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Conchita
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| Sun Jun 24, 2007 3:18 am Why can't I use "appeared in our home" here? |
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Hi,
Can I use "came to our home" instead? Why?
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seanmen
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| Tue Jun 26, 2007 4:40 am Why can't I use "appeared in our home" here? |
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| Came to our home would have been OK even though it doesn't quite sound natural...With came by as a choice, I'd pick came by. I think the test could have been written a little better to eliminate uncertainty. Yeah, "appeared in our home" would suggest a ghostly manifestation . |
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diverhank
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| Tue Jun 26, 2007 8:49 am Why can't I use "appeared in our home" here? |
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I understand "came to the house" like I approached the house, but havent come into the house (I am somewhere near the threshold)
Does it make sence?
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lost_soul
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| Tue Jun 26, 2007 8:55 am Came to our home |
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Hi Seanmen,
I'd have to agree that the term 'came to our home' doesn't sound natural. That's why the test question was created. A lot of students who are learning English make that same mistake. The idea is to choose the best possible answer and in this case 'came by' is the obvious choice.
Grammatically, you can say 'came to our home' but I haven't heard any native speakers ever say it like that.
I hope this helps. 
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Linda
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| Tue Jun 26, 2007 8:58 am Why can't I use "appeared in our home" here? |
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So, who posted this test
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Ahmadov
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| Tue Jun 26, 2007 9:29 am Why can't I use "appeared in our home" here? |
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thank you guys.
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seanmen
You can meet me at english-test.net
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Sat Aug 18, 2007 19:07 pm Came by sounds incomplete |
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How about if the speaker is far away from his house? Can he still say came by?
Does the statement suggest that the speaker is in the house?
Pls help thanks. |
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TheLearner
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| Sun Aug 19, 2007 13:12 pm Why can't I use "appeared in our home" here? |
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| Quote: | | Our friends — who we haven't seen in a long time — came by last night. |
Yes he can still say it-- in this sentence, there is no indication of where the speaker is.
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Mister Micawber
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| Meaning of "There's no point" | A lot of vs. many |
