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Thanks for the replies and insights, everyone. Actually, the fact that the lake is clean may be a bit of a notable discovery in China lol. Anyway, I think the proper way to state what she was trying to say is the simplest way (The lake was clean). Often, ESL students try to wedge all the English the...

Thanks for the response. I think the real problem is that the student (like many others) tries to say too much in a single sentence. ESL students often seem to think they have to say everything in one sentence, when the simple sentence is the most proper. Anyway, thanks again for the response.
Cheers

Thanks for your help, guys! It's all welcome and much appreciated. Thanks again, and take care.

Cheers.

Thanks for your response. Yes, I think the proper answer is to simplify the sentence by simply saying 'The lake was clean.'

Anyway, thanks again for your response. It is much appreciated, indeed.
Take care.

Cheers . . .

This is a sentence from a student composition about a trip she took last week: 'I found the lake is clean.' It doesn't sound right to me, but I'm not sure why exactly. I corrected it using the infinitive form of 'be': 'I found the lake to be clean.' What is the rule here? Thanks in advance for any h...