Could you correct or confirm my sentences?

Question

Hi teachers,This is for a listening comprehension exercise. The text is from a CD. (The Elephant Man) Context:At first he did not know many books: the Bible, and one or two newspapers, that’s all. But I gave him some books of love stories, and he liked them very much. He read them again and again, and talked about them often. For him, the men and women in these books were alive, like you and me. He was very happy.Assuming that we know that 'he' is 'Merrick', and 'I' is ‘the doctor’ would the following be suitable questions and answers?Could '1.a' and 1.b' be possible based on the context? Isn't '1.b' better that the other one?1a. Did Merrick read a lot of  books before he met the doctor? No, he didn’t.1b. Had Merrick read a lot of  books before he met the doctor? No, he hadn’t.Are all of them possible?2a. Did Merrick enjoy love stories? Yes, he did.2b. Was Merrick keen on love stories? Yes, he was.2c. What did Merrick like doing? He liked reading love stories and talked about them.3. Did Merrick read those books only once? No, he didn’t. He read them again and again.4. How were the characters of the books for him? They were alive people. (Not so sure about this one)Thanks in advance.

Shawn79 · Accepted Answer

1a. Possible in American English.
1b. Probably more universally accepted.

2a. Fine.
2b. Fine, although "keen on" is rarely heard in my experience.
2c. What did Merrick like doing? He liked reading love stories and talking about them.

3. I think it's fine, but you could ask how many times Merrick read those books.

4. Here's just one idea, although there are different ways:
How (real) did the characters of the book seem to him? They seemed (to be) alive.

You can't say "alive people". It would have to be "living/real people".

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi Shawn,
Thank YOU so much for your help, corrections, and comentaries.

'1b.' seemed the only choice to me just because the Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. Though I thought that maybe in American '1a.' would be acceptable too. For once I wasn't that bad.

1a. Did Merrick read a lot of books before he met the doctor? No, he didn’t.
1b. Had Merrick read a lot of books before he met the doctor? No, he hadn’t.

Then, these two will be equally correct won't they?
2c. What did Merrick like doing? He liked reading love stories and talking about them.
2c. What did Merrick like doing? He liked to read love stories and talk about them.

TS

Shawn79 · Answer

Thinking SpainThen, these two will be equally correct won't they?

Hope you don't mind my mentioning this. We don't use the future tense for this type of question. You can ask either:

Then these two are equally correct, aren't they?
Then these two would be equally correct, wouldn't they?

Same with asking about whether questions are suitable:

Are these good questions and answers for the text?
Would these be good questions and answers for the text?

When I see the future tense used this way, it reminds me of how I was taught Spanish in school.

And to answer you: Yes, those two sentences are correct and have the same meaning.

Thanks for your thanks!

Your appreciation and good attitude make helping you enjoyable!

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Shawn79Hope you don't mind my mentioning this.

Hi Shawm,
Not at all. I love to be corrected, I really mean it. But under one condition, 'Constructive criticism'.

Shawn79 When I see the future tense used this way, it reminds me of how I was taught Spanish in school.

Then your Spanish must be pretty good!

Shawn79 Your appreciation and good attitude make helping you enjoyable!

Wouldn't that be the opposite? Your, among other teachers, attitude, patience, and perseverance, make asking pleasant.

Whenever you can, will you send me an email to me please?

TS

Could you correct or confirm my sentences?

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