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kerstin



Joined: 30 May 2006
Posts: 241
Location: Taiwan

PostPosted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 7:13 pm    Post subject: One question Reply with quote

It wasn't until yesterday, that I realized I only have three more days in this class.

OR

It wasn't until yesterday, did I realize I only have three more days in this class.

Thank you.
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CP



Joined: 12 Jun 2006
Posts: 2875
Location: California

PostPosted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 5:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Your sentences don't need the commas, although they would need them in some other languages, like German. And the "only" could be placed better.

I would rewrite them as:

It wasn't until yesterday that I realized I have only three more days in this class.

Only yesterday did I realize I have just three more days in this class. [Used "just" so as not to have "only" twice.]
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bud



Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 2111
Location: New Jersey, US

PostPosted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 11:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Another possibility fo the second sentence:

Not until yesterday did I realize I only have three more days in this class. (or "I have only")

By the way, there might be a technical glitch with the verb tense in both sentences. Do you have only three more days as of today or yesterday? If today (when speaking the sentence) you have only two more days, I think the verb tense should be "I had only three..." Still, I'm no grammar guru so I'm not sure on that point. I am sure, though, that most people would use the very same verb tense you did, regradless of the technicalities.
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