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Post by Elis on Apr 4, 2024 13:40:05 GMT
Am correcting an English exam and have probably thought about it for too long.
Two examples:
1. The restaurant was opened in 1926 by a British businessman.
2. The restaurant was opened by a British businessman in 1926.
What is (more) correct?
The given solution is "In 1926, the restaurant was opened by a British businessman.", but not many students have written it that way.
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Post by JoeP on Apr 4, 2024 14:27:25 GMT
I may have to think about this for a long time too!
Both examples seem fine to me. The difference between 1 and 2 might be one of emphasis - in 1, the year is maybe more important, in 2 the British businessman. But it's very slightly and I'm sure not all native English speakers will agree!
You can tell your examiners that the given solution "In 1926, ..." sounds less natural! Unless you are giving a sequence of events: "In 1919, something. In 1926, the restaurant ... In 1933, it became a council office."
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Post by Elis on Apr 4, 2024 17:28:03 GMT
Thanks, Joe. That is actually a big help.
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Post by ceptimus on Apr 4, 2024 21:26:12 GMT
1926, Restaurant, British businessman, opened it, he did. - Yoda.
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Post by Moose on Apr 4, 2024 22:36:37 GMT
I think that both are equally fine, honestly.
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Post by tangent on Apr 5, 2024 0:01:20 GMT
Yes, I like Joe's explanation.
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Post by kingedmund on Apr 6, 2024 2:22:17 GMT
1926, Restaurant, British businessman, opened it, he did. - Yoda. Oh that’s funny.
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Post by Elis on Apr 7, 2024 18:38:41 GMT
One more sentence I'm not sure about: "Darjeeling was introduced to tea about 150 years ago by the English."
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Post by tangent on Apr 7, 2024 22:58:15 GMT
It's not clear that Darjeeling refers to the people and not the type of tea. I would say, "Inhabitants of Darjeeling were introduced to tea by the English about 150 years ago."
Or perhaps,
"The English introduced tea to the Darjeeling people about 150 years ago."
Active is clearer than passive.
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Post by JoeP on Apr 8, 2024 6:29:18 GMT
Yes, I like tangent's explanation.
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Post by Mari on Apr 10, 2024 6:59:25 GMT
Regarding the first example: what they teach in English grammar books is 2 general rules: 1) place before time and 2) time is generally at the very front when it is important when it happened and at the end when it is important that it happened. I think the answer booklet is based on rule 2, option 1. But in my experience the answer booklets are generally very rigid and boring.
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Post by tangent on Apr 10, 2024 11:17:56 GMT
Regarding the first example: what they teach in English grammar books... Would that be Dutch English grammar books in the 21st century or in the 21st century, British English books? Or would that be in English language books in the 21st century by foreign language publishers?
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Post by Mari on Apr 13, 2024 8:48:34 GMT
Published by either Oxford or Cambridge press. The only accepted grammar books in Dutch English course.
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