| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
poet13
Joined: 22 Jan 2006
Location: Just over there....throwing lemons.
|
 Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 6:08 pm Post subject: Grammar question. Which is more correct? |
 |
|
"John, Steven, and their friends were at my house yesterday."
We were at my house yesterday.
They were at my house yesterday.
I think 'they' is more correct than 'we', but I'm not sure.
Could it be that 'we' is not correct at all, and the sentence would have to be, "John, Steven, their friends, and me were at my house yesterday"? but then wouldn't using 'me' and 'my' in the same sentence be cumbersome?
Can anyone sort me out? I'm preparing a review for my next class.
Thanks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
faster
Joined: 03 Sep 2006
|
| Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 6:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| The second one leaves open the possibility that the speaker wasn't home. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
poet13
Joined: 22 Jan 2006
Location: Just over there....throwing lemons.
|
| Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 6:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Ah yes, I see that now. Is that the only solution, or am I missing something else?
Thanks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
shantaram
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
|
| Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 6:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| We were together at my house yesterday. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tokki1
Joined: 14 May 2007
Location: The gap between the Korean superiority and inferiority complex
|
| Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 5:21 am Post subject: Re: Grammar question. Which is more correct? |
|
|
| poet13 wrote: |
"John, Steven, and their friends were at my house yesterday."
We were at my house yesterday.
They were at my house yesterday.
I think 'they' is more correct than 'we', but I'm not sure.
Could it be that 'we' is not correct at all, and the sentence would have to be, "John, Steven, their friends, and me were at my house yesterday"? but then wouldn't using 'me' and 'my' in the same sentence be cumbersome?
Can anyone sort me out? I'm preparing a review for my next class.
Thanks. |
"John, Steven, and their friends were at my house yesterday."
This sentence gives no indication as to whether or not the speaker was home at all. I'd use 'they' were at my house; 'we' cannot be used since the speaker may have not been there. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
yingwenlaoshi
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Location: ... location, location!
|
| Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 5:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
"John, Steven, and their friends" is "they". 
"John, Steven, their friends, and I" is "we".
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tokki1
Joined: 14 May 2007
Location: The gap between the Korean superiority and inferiority complex
|
| Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 6:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Yup |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PhD
Joined: 15 May 2007
|
| Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 6:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
Another option,
| Quote: |
| My friends and I were at my house yesterday. |
or
| Quote: |
| We were at my house. |
This removes the ambiguity of who was home and who was visiting.
If you were not at your house, then
| Quote: |
| They were at my house yesterday. |
Is fine. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
