About three other sentences

Question

Wow, I'm deeply touched to get all of your help, esp by Franke's reply. He's so detailed. Actually that helps me learn English. So thank you, Franke (or CyberCypher)!

For no. 16, what I really wanted to say is that "The principal was at the back of the classroom watching the teacher teach."

For no. 1, I guess grammatically it's the best to have the tenses agreed.

But I still have questions,

like for no. 4, would it be better to say "...by land IT would have been too slow."

and for no. 7, what about "...from nine in the morning TO six in the evening."

and for no. 11, do we need "in" before "Down Under" as "in the States"?

Usenet · Accepted Answer

on 08 Jan 2004:
[nq:1]Wow, I'm deeply touched to get all of your help, esp by Franke's reply. He's so detailed. Actually that helps me learn English. So thank you, Franke (or CyberCypher)![/nq]
No problem. I teach English in southern Taiwan and have for almost 8 years.
[nq:1]For no. 16, what I really wanted to say is that "The principal wasat the back of the classroom watching the teacher teach."[/nq]
That's the way to say it, then. The prepositional phrase "at the back . . ." needs to immediately follow what it modifies; here it is a locative(1) complement to "was".
[nq:1]For no. 1, I guess grammatically it's the best to have the tenses agreed.[/nq]
"agree".

1. All the bridesmaids were wearing pink, but the bride wore white.

I don't think there's a grammatical problem with #1, but you do have a stylistic choice to make. My choice would be to say "wore/wore" or "were wearing/was wearing". I don't think that this is the only choice, though.
[nq:1]But I still have questions, like for no. 4, would it be better to say "...by land IT would have been too slow."[/nq]
4. I sent the package by air because by land (it) would have been too slow.

Yes, this is also perfectly fine.
[nq:1]and for no. 7, what about "...from nine in the morning TO six in the evening."[/nq]
7. Our business hours are from nine in the morning to six in the evening.

This is fine too.
[nq:1]and for no. 11, do we need "in" before "Down Under" as "in the States"?[/nq]
No, you don't need "in" before "Down Under", which is not the name of a country but a description of where it is. Okay, it means, to the best of my knowledge, "Australia", but I suppose that it might also include New Zealand for some people.

(1) Function and not case.

-- Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor.

Usenet · Answer

It's been very nice of you, Franke, to explain to me so clearly. I'm sure you're a very good teacher. In college? I don't mean to probe. Just curious.

So I guess "from (a time) to/until (a time) are both acceptable?

That's very different from what I learned at school. I was taught it's "from...to". But I've heard "from Mon through Sat". So that's three of them: "from...to", "from...until", and "from...through"!?
[nq:1] on 08 Jan 2004:[/nq]
[nq:2]Wow, I'm deeply touched to get all of your help, ... helps me learn English. So thank you, Franke (or CyberCypher)![/nq]
[nq:1]No problem. I teach English in southern Taiwan and have for almost 8 years.[/nq]
[nq:2]For no. 16, what I really wanted to say is that "The principal was[/nq]
[nq:1]at[/nq]
[nq:2]the back of the classroom watching the teacher teach."[/nq]
[nq:1]That's the way to say it, then. The prepositional phrase "at the back . . ." needs to immediately follow what it modifies; here it is a locative(1) complement to "was".[/nq]
[nq:2]For no. 1, I guess grammatically it's the best to have the tenses agreed.[/nq]
[nq:1]"agree". 1. All the bridesmaids were wearing pink, but the bride wore white. I don't think there's a grammatical problem ... choice would be to say "wore/wore" or "were wearing/was wearing". I don't think that this is the only choice, though.[/nq]
[nq:2]But I still have questions, like for no. 4, would it be better to say "...by land IT would have been too slow."[/nq]
[nq:1]4. I sent the package by air because by land (it) would have been too slow. Yes, this is also perfectly fine.[/nq]
[nq:2]and for no. 7, what about "...from nine in the morning TO six in the evening."[/nq]
[nq:1]7. Our business hours are from nine in the morning to six in the evening. This is fine too.[/nq]
[nq:2]and for no. 11, do we need "in" before "Down Under" as "in the States"?[/nq]
[nq:1]No, you don't need "in" before "Down Under", which is not the name of a country but a description of ... knowledge, "Australia", but I suppose that it might also include New Zealand for some people. (1) Function and not case.[/nq]

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]It's been very nice of you, Franke, to explain to me so clearly. I'm sure you're a very good teacher. ... and "from...through"!? "From Monday through Saturday" is American usage, but I understand it means the same as the other two.[/nq]
Regards, Einde O'Callaghan

Usenet · Answer

on 09 Jan 2004:
[nq:1]It's been very nice of you, Franke, to explain to me so clearly. I'm sure you're a very good teacher. In college? I don't mean to probe. Just curious.

[/nq]
Nantai Keji Dashuei, Youngkang-Shi.
[nq:1]So I guess "from (a time) to/until (a time) are both acceptable? That's very different from what I learned at school. I was taught it's "from...to". But I've heard "from Mon through Sat". So that's three of them: "from...to", "from...until", and "from...through"!?[/nq]
And "from...till". All four are used.

-- Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor.

Usenet · Answer

on 09 Jan 2004:
[nq:2]It's been very nice of you, Franke, to explain to ... Sat". So that's three of them: "from...to", "from...until", and "from...through"!?[/nq]
[nq:1]"From Monday through Saturday" is American usage, but I understand it means the same as the other two.[/nq]
It exists to remove the ambiguity of the other two. One can never be sure if "From Monday to/until Friday" includes 4 or 5 consecutive days, but "From Monday trhough Friday guarantees that all day Friday is also included".

-- Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1] on 09 Jan 2004:[/nq]
[nq:2]It's been very nice of you, Franke, to explain to ... In college? I don't mean to probe. Just curious.

[/nq]
[nq:1]Nantai Keji Dashuei, Youngkang-Shi.[/nq]
Oh, the county that's famous for the Lotus Festival and all those lotus fields, and where my sister lives.

[nq:2]So I guess "from (a time) to/until (a time) are ... Sat". So that's three of them: "from...to", "from...until", and "from...through"!?[/nq]
[nq:1]And "from...till". All four are used.[/nq]

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