Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

Junkomama · Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 592

Hello, teachers.
Are the following sentences acceptable?

1.Many people believed that Nostradamus prophesied the earth would collapse/ be ruined/ be destroyed in July,1999 and some of them become panicked as the month approached.

2.Many people believed that Nostradamus prophesied the collapse/ruin/destruction of the earth in July. 1999 and some of them become panicked as the month approached.

Thank you in advance!
Junkomama

Anuradha Chepur · Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 933

Nostradamus prophesied the earth would be ruined/ be destroyed in July, 1999 and some of them had panicked as the month approached.

bluebary · Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Posts: 26 Location: Turkiye

Lorikeet · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 1877 Location: San Francisco

bluebary · Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Posts: 26 Location: Turkiye

certainly,it is her own opinion that no body does not tamper her mind ,

l am waiting her response because l dont know the meaning of 'thank

god ı dont belive in god'

l will have a question after her reply.
_________________
I am not MaRRieD

Junkomama · Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 592

Hello, Anuradha-san.
Thank you very much for your answer!
Would you tell me why "Nostradamus prophesied the ruin/destruction of the earth in July, 1999" is not good?
Is it because it can mean "Nostradamus prophesied in July, 1999 that the earth would be ruined." ?

Regards,
Junkomama

varekai_ · Joined: 18 Oct 2006 Posts: 6

hey junkomama,
the second sentence suggests that the collapse/ruin/destruction of the earth actually DID occur in jully 1999. using "prophesized it WOULD BE" is simply stating that he made a prediction about that year.

also, your sentence illustrates cause and effect, so i would suggest:

1. Many people believed that Nostradamus prophesized the earth would collapse/ be ruined/ be destroyed in July 1999. THUS, some of them become panicked as the month approached.

cheers!

Junkomama · Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 592

Hello, varekai_-san.
Thank you so much for your answer!

Regards,
Junkomama

Anuradha Chepur · Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 933

Hi bluebary,

Actually that is not what I say. (Thank God, I don't believe in God.) It's a quote I picked from somewhere and Lorikeet has precisely explained what it means. It's a funny quote.

I'm not an atheist. I stick to both reason and faith.