Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[hela]

Dear teachers,

Would you please tell me which sentence you prefer best and why (if possible) ?

1)
a) You DO look very tired. Shall I run you a bath ?
b) You look very tired INDEED. Shall I run you a bath ?

2)
a) �When ARE we LEAVING?� kept asking their nephew.
b) �When DO we LEAVE?� kept asking their nephew.

Why should the present progressive be better here ?

3)
a) The older he became, the less interested HE WAS in money.
b) the less interested in money HE WAS.

4) By saying the truth straight away, you may be
a) LET OFF with only a fine.
b) (IS THERE ANOTHER EXPRESSION ?) with only a fine.

5) If you wish to know more ( �,� ?) kindly ask at reception.
(do I have to add a COMMA after �MORE� ?)

6) La nuit tous les chats sont gris. = At night, all cats are grey.
(IS THERE ANOTHER EQUIVALENT to the French proverb ?)

7) She spoke more AS (is it an ADJECTIVE or an ADVERB here) a member of the Conservative Party than as the former Prime Minister.

Thanks a million,
Hela

[CP]

1. Either works fine.

2. Probably the nephew would say, "When are we leaving?" It is like saying, "When are we going to leave?" However, the way you would write it would be,
�When are we leaving?� their nephew kept asking.
or
Their nephew kept asking, "When are we leaving?"

3. I would write it, "The older he got, the less interested he was in money." But the other way is all right, too.

4. I would write it, "By telling the truth straight away, you may get off with only a fine."

5. Yes to the comma.

6. Isn't it "Dans la nuit, tous les chats sont gris"? Anyway, I don't know of an equivalent expression in English.
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[Mary W. Ng]

[hela]

Thank you.