Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[jasonlulu_2000]

I cannot reach my full potential due to an out-of-form performance.

I cannot perform well due to a stressed state of mind.

Are both underlined parts correctly written? Do they sound natural to a native teacher?

Thanks for your help!

[IanT]

The second one is ok, but the first one is a bit odd.

"I cannot reach my full potential" is a general statement, describing a long-term problem. So it would not be caused by one performance.

And normally people are out-of-form, not performances.

So an alternative sentence might be:

"My performance did not reflect my potential because I was a bit out-of-form."

Hope helps,
Ian
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