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NazAf
Joined: 01 May 2009
Posts: 6
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 Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 10:28 am Post subject: Grammar Questions |
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Hi,
Please I need to know the answer to the following questions that appeared in an English exam:
1. Jane had a car accident yesterday.
I told her she ______ too fast.
2. Adam's wife is bright.
Yes, she is. She is even _____ than her husband.
Thanks! |
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dragn
Joined: 17 Feb 2009
Posts: 450
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| Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 2:20 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
1. Jane had a car accident yesterday.
I told her she ______ too fast.
a) drives
b) drove |
Both are correct, but a) drives is better. This is reported speech. When we put the reporting verb (tell) in past tense, the verb in the reported clause (drive) also often appears in the past tense. However, it is perfectly normal to use the present tense with a past tense reporting verb to emphasize that the condition in the reported clause still exists. It is easy and natural to assume here that the speaker is emphasizing that Jane routinely drives too fast, not just yesterday at the time of the accident. However, drove is still acceptable.
| Quote: |
2. Adam's wife is bright.
Yes, she is. She is even _____ than her husband.
a) so more
b) much more so |
Only b) much more so could possibly be used here. It is quite an awkward sentence, though, in my opinion. When we use this kind of construction, we usually say it like this:
Adam's wife is bright.
Yes, she is. Much more so than her husband.
The subject and verb are typically understood and omitted in such a sentence in spoken English.
Hope this helps.
Greg |
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NazAf
Joined: 01 May 2009
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 6:37 pm Post subject: |
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Many thanks, Greg!
I found the questions a little hard.
| dragn wrote: |
| Quote: |
1. Jane had a car accident yesterday.
I told her she ______ too fast.
a) drives
b) drove |
Both are correct, but a) drives is better. This is reported speech. When we put the reporting verb (tell) in past tense, the verb in the reported clause (drive) also often appears in the past tense. However, it is perfectly normal to use the present tense with a past tense reporting verb to emphasize that the condition in the reported clause still exists. It is easy and natural to assume here that the speaker is emphasizing that Jane routinely drives too fast, not just yesterday at the time of the accident. However, drove is still acceptable.
| Quote: |
2. Adam's wife is bright.
Yes, she is. She is even _____ than her husband.
a) so more
b) much more so |
Only b) much more so could possibly be used here. It is quite an awkward sentence, though, in my opinion. When we use this kind of construction, we usually say it like this:
Adam's wife is bright.
Yes, she is. Much more so than her husband.
The subject and verb are typically understood and omitted in such a sentence in spoken English.
Hope this helps.
Greg |
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