Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Yukineko]

Hello teachers. Could you help me?
I'm studying English writing.
My textbook says, "All animals can live on earth only because the atmosphere, water, and soil are all present. They could not survive if any of them were missing ."
Is it possible to express it in the following ways?
1. " Without even one of them, we could not live."
2. " But for even one of them, we could not live."
3. "Even if it weren't for one of them, we could not live."
Thank you in advance.
Yukineko

[lotus]

Hi Yukineko,

You could use #1 by adding "just":
"All animals can live on earth only because the atmosphere, water, and soil are all present. Without even just one of them, we could not live."

Another way to say it would be:
"All animals on earth live only because the atmosphere, water, and soil are all present. Without even just one of these, they would not survive."


Others may have better suggestions.


--lotus

[lotus]

Correct my second suggestion to:

"All animals on earth live only because the atmosphere, water, and soil are all present. Without even just one of those, we would not survive."

We are animals after all.


--lotus