Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Tetsu]

Which is natural, 1 or 2?
I'd greatly appreciate it if both an American teacher who lived on the West Coast for a long time and knows the West Coast English well and a British teacher would give me replies.

A1: I love jewellery/jewelry. But I have no diamonds. Is that strange?
A2: I love jewellery/jewelry. But I have no diamonds. Is this strange?
*My reqest.
To the British teacher. Please use jewellery.
To the American teacher. Please use jewelry.

B1: (On the phone) Hello. Is that Bob?
B2: (On the phone) Hello. Is this Bob?

C1: The train crashed this morning. That's why he didn't come.
C2: The train crashed this morning. This is why he didn't come.

D1: He swallows fish. That's how he eats it.
D2: He swallows fish. This is how he eats it.

Thanks a lot for the help.
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Tetsu

[CP]

This looks very familiar. Didn't someone already post these same questions?

The British spelling is jewellery; the American is jewelry. It seems you already know this.

As for answers, I would choose A1, B2, C1, D1.

My credentials: Born and raised in Los Angeles, as west coast as you can get, I suppose. I have lived and was educated in Southern California, except for military service elsewhere, and I spend all day speaking, reading, and writing English, except when studying and attending class in German or helping my daughter with her French. I am not a teacher right now, but I have taught in the past.
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[Tetsu]

Hello CP

Thanks for your kind and clear reply.
I also understand your career very well. You are the West Coast, the center of the United States.

Please give your wife and cute daughter my best regards.
Thanks!
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Tetsu

[Tetsu]

I'd greatly appreciate your kindness if a British teacher would give a reply to this post.

Thanks a lot for the help.
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Tetsu

[redset]

I'm British, I'll bite

A1 is more natural, but A2 is fine too.
B1 is more natural, but again B2 is fine.
C1 again, but C2 would work too.
D1 is more natural, D2 does work but it sounds a little awkward, as though you're about to demonstrate how he eats fish ('like this').

(It's 'request' by the way, in case that wasn't a typo.)

[Tetsu]

Hello redset

Thanks for your kind and full explanation!
I got a new feeling of English, which will help me long from now on.

Thanks!
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Tetsu