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Chan-Seung Lee
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 1032
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 Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:10 am Post subject: may want to |
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| Quote: |
| You may want to turn bread over to toast both sides. Remove from oven. |
In the quote, I have two questions.
First, can 'You may want to turn bread over to toast both sides.' be interchangable to 'You may turn bread over to toast both sides if you want.'?
Second, I think 'Remove from oven.' is not correct. Instead, I think 'Remove it from oven.' is correct. But I am not sure. Please let me know.
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CP
Joined: 12 Jun 2006
Posts: 2875
Location: California
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| Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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These sound like cooking directions, from a recipe or a package. "You may want to" do something is a polite way to suggest that you do it that way, even though it isn't absolutely required. Here, if you don't want it toasted on both sides, you do not want to turn the bread over. If you want it toasted on both sides, you do.
"Remove from oven" is the telegraphic language of directions and recipes. "Mix all dry ingredients. Add eggs. Stir with wooden spoon until batter reaches smooth consistency." In recipes, as in telegrams (ask your grandparents), just the essence of the thing need be communicated. No need for extra words like "the" and "please."
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