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ahoom
Joined: 29 Aug 2006 Posts: 6
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Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 7:43 pm Post subject: Which one is correct ? |
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Hi, These two sentences are about the same topic.
(a) My father has been to America.
(b) My fathe has been to Canada.
When we combine these two sentences into one using the
expression "not only ~, but also...", which one is correct ?
(1) My father has been not only to America but also to Canada.
(2) My father has been to not only America but also Canand.
If both are correct , which one is more commonly used ? |
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2006
Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Posts: 610
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Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 9:02 pm Post subject: |
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I wouldn't use either of your sentences. The usual way to say the sentence is My father has not only been to America but also to Canada.
We don't want to break up "been to America". |
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redset
Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 582 Location: England
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Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 10:57 am Post subject: |
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| I don't see a problem with breaking up been to - it emphasises that you're using the same verb (been) with 'to America' and 'to Canada'. |
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myprofe

Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Posts: 425 Location: Madrid, Spain - Native Boston, USA
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Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:13 am Post subject: Re: Which one is correct ? |
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| ahoom wrote: |
(1) My father has been not only to America but also to Canada.
(2) My father has been to not only America but also Canada. |
I think that sentence number one is alright but I don't like sentence number two very much.
| 2006 wrote: |
| My father has not only been to America but also to Canada. |
Yes, I like this one the most. _________________ I'm never going to learn if you don't correct my mistakes! |
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2006
Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Posts: 610
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Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:19 am Post subject: |
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| "been to" is the standard way of saying it; there is no need to change it. |
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Mary W. Ng
Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 261
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Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 8:13 pm Post subject: Re: Which one is correct ? |
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Hi ahoom,
| Quote: |
(1) My father has been not only to America but also to Canada.
(2) My father has been to not only America but also Canand.
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The correlative conjunctions not only ... but also join two grammatically balanced elements. Grammatically speaking, both sentences are correct; but they sound stilted.
| Quote: |
(a) My father has been to America.
(b) My fathe has been to Canada |
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I'd suggest using both ... and to combine the two sentences, as in:
'My father has been to both America and Canada.' _________________ Mary W. Ng
Helping students learn grammar
http:www.aimpublishing.com |
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