Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[missdaredevil]

Hi teachers,
I have 5 questions to ask you. Thank you for your time!
1.
Do you want to play raquetball on me this?
Is that the same as do you want to play racquetball "with" me?

2.
If you want to split *the*gas with me, we can drive down together.

Should the article exist or not?

3.
The motor home sleeps 7, so we can bring friends with us.

Can I also say "can hold 7 people"?

4.
....to see what checks have *cleared* *on* your account
1. checks get "cashed"?
2.not "in" your account?

[pugachevV]

1.
Do you want to play raquetball on me this?
Is that the same as do you want to play racquetball "with" me?

Your sentence is incorrect.
Do you mean, "Do you want to play ball with me on this?" (It means, Will you co-operate with me on this?)
2.
If you want to split *the*gas with me, we can drive down together.
If you want to split (the cost of) the gas with me...etc.
I would keep the article.


Should the article exist or not?

3.
The motor home sleeps 7, so we can bring friends with us.

Can I also say "can hold 7 people"?
Most motor homes that can sleep 7 people can hold a lot more than 7 people, so it is usual to specify the sleeping capacity.


4.
....to see what checks have *cleared* *on* your account
1. checks get "cashed"?
2.not "in" your account?

A check is cleared when the bank on which it is drawn, or written, allows payment from the account on which it is drawn.

Usually you would say..."to see what checks have cleared your account."

A check is cashed, when you take the cheque to the bank, or the store, or your best friend, and get cash for it.




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[missdaredevil]

[CP]

The sentence "Do you want to play racquetball on me this?" doesn't make sense, because of the "on me this" part. "Do you want to play racquetball with me?" is the usual way to ask whether the person wants to play. There is no implication whether to play singles or in teams.

When you take a check to the bank to cash it, you trade the check for money. You may get it in cash from the teller, or you may deposit it into an account, but either way, it's called cashing the check. The bank takes the check to the issuing bank to get the money, and once that is done, the money is credited to your account. That is called clearing the bank, meaning clearing the issuing bank.

If the check is no good, because there is not enough money in the issuing account, it "bounces," returning to your bank unpaid, and your account is not credited with the amount. If you already got the cash, then that amount is debited (subtracted) from your account.

Your bank then gives the bounced check back to you, usually marked "NSF" for "non-sufficient funds." You have to go back to the person who wrote the bad check to "make it good," i.e., give you the cash or give you a check that won't bounce, in exchange for the "rubber check." If the person refuses, you keep the "rubber check" for evidence and sue the person for the amount plus a penalty, depending on the local law. In California, the penalty is triple the amount of the check, up to $1,500.

Sorry for the long explanation. Hope this helps.
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