a nurse is delicate

Question

I have 4 questions.1 Is the sentence correct? 2 How would a native speaker say it? 3 Is delicate the correct word? 4 What is the opposite of delicate in this sentence?As a nurse you have to be delicate in the way you treat wounds. You don't want to hurt the patient.

Doctor D · Accepted Answer

The sentence is fine and I would have no trouble saying it that way. If you wanted to be briefer, I would say:

As a nurse, you need to treat wounds delicately. You don't want to hurt the patient.

You also could use "gently" or "carefully." I think "carefully" would be the more common choice.

The opposite of "delicate" would be "rough" or "crude"--depending on what quality you want to stress.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi DoctorD,

Would I be able to ask you some questions I'm looking for natural sounding sentences. I've tried my best to correct. If that's okay with you.
I've read this somewhere, but is it correct and make sense?

I've hidden his number under a girlfriend of mine's name so that my husband thinks I'm texting her when it's actually a boy I'm texting.

I am trying to correct this but don't understand it. Do you?

I only work 6 months out of the year, so the money I make the rest of the year keeps me through the months I don't work.

I think this is correct. What are your thoughts?

If you want something done, who better to do it than yourself. At least you'll do it the way you want it done.

I think the first sentence is perfect, but the second is awkward. Using base isn't the right choice.

Where can the root of the Turkish language be traced back to? The base of the Turkish language is Arabic.

Do you know 'the price is right' They ask you to guess the price. How would they ask this?

If you guess the price of the car within plus or minus 1000 dollars, you win it. If the price of the car is 25,670, you have to guess within 25,170 and 26,170 to win.

I think I heard this in a movie. I must have misheard.

It's another 30 minutes before she is drained her blood. We need to put pressure on the wound or else she will die.

In European countries, I've stated that cab drivers drive nice cars. I asked a cab driver. This is what he said. It was in Belgium. This is the gist of it. Would you rephrase?

You can't become a cab driving just any car. There is a minimum car requirement to become a cab. Have you ever seen an old car a cab. There are only good cars.

I'm not convinced that one should use 'looks like'. What do you think?

The first movie really looks like the sequel. It was basically the same movie.

What do you think of ' My mother is the same way' or 'My mother is the same'?

I hate horror movies. My mother is the same way. She hates them too.

This is heard in the transporter the movie. What do you think of the grammar?

You were on a beach where no witnesses saw you swim. That's convenient. You don't have an alibi.

A girl friend saying this to a boyfriend. Is it correct?

Things don't ever seem to go as I want them with you.

I've never heard 'come to expectation'. Have you?

Did the 2012 Tour come up to your expectations?

I'm sure about 'as if' in this context. Would it be okay for you?

You want to throw my favorite teddy bear away. It's as if I threw out your favorite toy, how would you like that?

I am wondering if the tenses in bold are correct and whether you can say 'go through'?

If the navigation system says she arrives to destination in 30 minutes and she is saying to me that it says she arrives in 20, she's lying. Maybe she is going to go through the business district to get to our house to avoid traffic or show knows of a short cut that the navigation doesn't know about.

Thank you and happy new year

Doctor D · Answer

There's a lot here, so I will try to cover it briefly. Here are my suggestions:

1) I've read this somewhere, but is it correct and make sense?
I've hidden his number under a girlfriend of mine's name so that my husband thinks I'm texting her when it's actually a boy I'm texting.
[I see what is being said, but that is not how I would say it. Also I would break up the long sentence.
I've concealed his identity by using the name of a girlfriend of mine for his number. So my husband thinks I'm texting her when actually I'm texting a boy.]

2) I am trying to correct this but don't understand it. Do you?
I only work 6 months out of the year, so the money I make the rest of the year keeps me through the months I don't work.
[No. This is muddled.
I only work six months out of the year but I still make enough money to maintain me through the months that I don't work.]

3) I think this is correct. What are your thoughts?
If you want something done, who better to do it than yourself. At least you'll do it the way you want it done.
[It's fine, but add the question mark. ...than yourself?]

4) I think the first sentence is perfect, but the second is awkward. Using base isn't the right choice.
Where can the root of the Turkish language be traced back to? The base of the Turkish language is Arabic.
[The first sentence works, although you could be briefer: What is the root of the Turkish language? For the second sentence, I would say something like: Turkish is based upon the Arabic language. Or: Turkish is basically an Arabic language.]

5) Do you know 'the price is right' They ask you to guess the price. How would they ask this?
If you guess the price of the car within plus or minus 1000 dollars, you win it. If the price of the car is 25,670, you have to guess within 25,170 and 26,170 to win.
[To win the car, your guess must be within a thousand dollars of the actual price. If the car costs $25,670, your guess must be between $24,670 and $26,670.
Note: if you want to use your numbers, you must say plus or minus $500.]

6) I think I heard this in a movie. I must have misheard.
It's another 30 minutes before she is drained her blood. We need to put pressure on the wound or else she will die.
[Perhaps they were trying to say: She has another 30 minutes before she is drained of blood.]

7) In European countries, I've stated that cab drivers drive nice cars. I asked a cab driver. This is what he said. It was in Belgium. This is the gist of it. Would you rephrase?
You can't become a cab driving just any car. There is a minimum car requirement to become a cab. Have you ever seen an old car a cab. There are only good cars.
[Maybe something like: You can't use just any car for a cab. There is a minimum requirement before your car can serve as a cab. Have you ever seen a cab that is old. Cabs are always good cars.]

8) I'm not convinced that one should use 'looks like'. What do you think?
The first movie really looks like the sequel. It was basically the same movie.
["Looks like" is not the main problem. A sequel follows the original, so I don't see how the first can look like the second. The second movie looks like the first. But looks aren't everything: The sequel duplicates the look and the plot of the original. It is basically the same movie.]

9) What do you think of ' My mother is the same way' or 'My mother is the same'?
[I would say: My mother acts the same way. Or: My mother is just the same.]
I hate horror movies. My mother is the same way. She hates them too.
[In this case: My mother feels the same way. Parallel what the comparison is to.]

10) This is heard in the transporter the movie. What do you think of the grammar?
You were on a beach where no witnesses saw you swim. That's convenient. You don't have an alibi.
[The grammar is fine.]

11) A girl friend saying this to a boyfriend. Is it correct?
Things don't ever seem to go as I want them to with you.

[Okay with the additional word.]

12) I've never heard 'come to expectation'. Have you?
Did the 2012 Tour come up to your expectations?
[Yes, a common phrase, but it's come up to your expectations.]

13) I'm sure about 'as if' in this context. Would it be okay for you?
You want to throw my favorite teddy bear away. It's as if I threw out your favorite toy, how would you like that?
[It's okay, but replace the comma (with a dash or a colon)]

14) I am wondering if the tenses in bold are correct and whether you can say 'go through'?
If the navigation system says she arrives to destination in 30 minutes and she is saying to me that it says she arrives in 20, she's lying. Maybe she is going to go through the business district to get to our house to avoid traffic or ~~show~~ [she] knows of a short cut that the navigation doesn't know about.
[Go through is fine. I would change "she arrives" to the future because it is talking about future events:
If the navigation systems says that she will arrive at her destination in 30 minutes and she is saying to me that it says she will arrive in 20...]

I hope that's all...

Anonymous · Answer

I'm playing a video game on computer. This has to do with it, so if it is weird, it's okay. I just want to know the grammar and vocabulary. If you have time, because you have help greatly. I will stop asking questions. Thank you in advance DoctorD.

If I can sell it to you for expensive, I'll sell it. I'm not going to sell it to you for cheap.

I sell my products at the most expensive price I can. [sims video game, you can't sell the product for more than a set amount]

If you sell it to me for as cheap as possible, I'll buy it. [sims video game, you can't sell the product for less than a set amount]

I have a farm. People order thing from me. I am missing one product in/for each order so I can't ship them out yet.

The crop that's ready the fastest is wheat which is why I make a lot of wheat.

The chicken pounced on the found like they hadn't eaten in a long time.

It's amazing how the chickens have trouble digesting the food.

The food gets more expensive every time you buy a pack as you go. The fist pack was $20 then $30, $40 and so on.

The best thing to ask your farmer to buy is the most expensive things that are half off the first 24h.

----

I am wondering what could/can be better. This or that.

I need to find where she is. [It seems wrong because I'd either say “ I need to find her” or I need to know where she is”]

How much overdraft do you have? How big an overdraft are you allowed? How much is your account overdrawn [by]?

You don't get to see a whole lot of your favorite actress in the movie. She has a small part.

Thank you for all you've done.

Mister Micawber · Answer

Anonymous I will stop asking questions.

I doubt it!

Doctor D · Answer

One last time. Here are my suggestions.

If I can sell it to you for expensive, I'll sell it. I'm not going to sell it to you for cheap.
I sell my products at the most expensive price I can. [sims video game, you can't sell the product for more than a set amount]
If you sell it to me for as cheap as possible, I'll buy it. [sims video game, you can't sell the product for less than a set amount]
For the 3 sentences above, I would say:
If I can sell it to you at a good price, I'll sell it. I'm not going to sell it to you for nothing.
I sell my products at the best price I can get.
If you sell it to me as cheaply as possible, I'll buy it.

I have a farm. People order thing from me. I am missing one product in/for each order so I can't ship them out yet.
I have a farm and people order things from me. However, I am short one item on each order, so I can't ship yet.

The crop that's ready the fastest is wheat which is why I make a lot of wheat.
Unclear: Do you mean sells fastest or grows fastest?
The crop that sells out the fastest is wheat, which is why I grow a lot of wheat.
Or: The fastest growing crop is wheat, which is why I have a lot of wheat.

The chicken pounced on the found [ground? feed?] like they hadn't eaten in a long time. {Okay with spelling correction}

It's amazing how the chickens have trouble digesting the food.
It's amazing that the chickens have trouble digesting the food. [The fact is amazing, not the how]

The food gets more expensive every time you buy a pack as you go. The fist pack was $20 then $30, $40 and so on.
"As you go" makes this unclear. What period of time is being covered?
The food gets more expensive each time you buy a pack. The first pack was $20, then $30, then $40, and so on.

The best thing to ask your farmer to buy is the most expensive things that are half off the first 24h.
More words to clarify the sense: The best thing to do is to ask your farmer to buy the most expensive items during the first 24 hours when they are half off.

----

I am wondering what could/can be better. This or that.
I am wondering what could be better: this or that. (Could because you are wondering about what might be in the future.)

I need to find where she is. [It seems wrong because I'd either say “ I need to find her” or I need to know where she is”]
Yes, either of your other wordings. But these are two different needs. You need either her or her location. Clear?

How much overdraft do you have? How big an overdraft are you allowed? How much is your account overdrawn [by]?
Either of the two other wordings. Again, two different meanings. Either how much your bank allows you to be overdrawn or how much your account is overdrawn right now in fact.

You don't get to see a whole lot of your favorite actress in the movie. She has a small part.
A little informal, but okay.

Anonymous · Answer

Can I keep my wording and put ON. Is that unnatural?
I have a farm. People order thing from me. I am missing one product ON each order

The crop that sells out the fastest is wheat. This is what I meant. Is this better? The crop that sells best is wheat.

How much overdraft do you have? How big an overdraft are you allowed? How much is your account overdrawn [by]?
Either of the two other wordings. Again, two different meanings. Either how much your bank allows you to be overdrawn or how much your account is overdrawn right now in fact.

I don't understand which 2 examples of mine are correct? How big an overdraft are you allowed? How much is your account overdrawn [by]? Is/should BY to be inserted?

I need to find where she is. [It seems wrong because I'd either say “ I need to find her” or I need to know where she is”]
Yes, either of your other wordings. But these are two different needs. You need either her or her location. Clear? YES CLEAR but Can I add [at] : I need to know where she is AT

like in the below.

I know where everything is at. If you are looking for something in the house, I know where it is at.

You said above "As you go" makes this unclear. Is this also unclear?

I take the raisins out as I see them/as I go. I don't take them out before I start eating. (taking raisins out of a dish)

To finish off the thread, can you tell me which is incorrect?

She is prettier as she gets older.
She is prettier the older she gets.
The older she gets the prettier she gets.

ps: Is it correct to write : To finish off the thread, can you tell me which is incorrect?

Thank you so much for all.

I need to write this for an argumentative paper. I'm having a difficult time forming the correct question.

1]What percentage of children living with parents who smoke become smokers as compared to the percentage of children living with non smoking parents become smoker? Compare the 2 numbers and you'll see that having non smoking parents makes a big difference.

2]X hasn't been around long enough to allow people to compile statistics of such nature.

3]Are the first 2 sentence correct, and mean what I'm trying to say? The rest is there to help you understand what I am trying to say the first 2 sentences.

She compares things that have nothing to do with each other. Don't compare things that can't be compared. She says kids with parents who smoke are more likely to smoke just like kids who live with same *** couples are more likely to be attracted by the same ***.

Thank you and have a nice day

Thread closed

Doctor D · Answer

Can I keep my wording and put ON. Is that unnatural?
I have a farm. People order thing from me. I am missing one product ON each order
A better choice would be "from"--"I am missing one product from each order."

The crop that sells out the fastest is wheat. This is what I meant. Is this better? The crop that sells best is wheat.
Yes, that's fine. Or you could just say: The crop that sells out the fastest is wheat. Best and fastest may not be the same.

How much overdraft do you have? How big an overdraft are you allowed? How much is your account overdrawn [by]?
Either of the two other wordings. Again, two different meanings. Either how much your bank allows you to be overdrawn or how much your account is overdrawn right now in fact.
I don't understand which 2 examples of mine are correct? How big an overdraft are you allowed? How much is your account overdrawn [by]? Is/should BY to be inserted?
Again, both of those sentences ["How big an overdraft..." and "How much is..."] are worded correctly, but they mean different things. "By" is optional, but I would include it.

I need to find where she is. [It seems wrong because I'd either say “ I need to find her” or I need to know where she is”]
Yes, either of your other wordings. But these are two different needs. You need either her or her location. Clear? YES CLEAR but Can I add [at] : I need to know where she is AT
like in the below.
Again, both of those sentences ["I need to find her" and "I need to know where she is"] are correctly worded, but they mean different things.

I know where everything is at. If you are looking for something in the house, I know where it is at.
You said above "As you go" makes this unclear. Is this also unclear?
This is okay, but drop the ending "at." It is unneeded.

I take the raisins out as I see them/as I go. I don't take them out before I start eating. (taking raisins out of a dish)
"As I go" is not bad, but it is better to be more direct, more accurate: "I take the raisins out as I eat. I don't take them out before I start eating."

To finish off the thread, can you tell me which is incorrect?
She is prettier as she gets older.
She is prettier the older she gets.
The older she gets, the prettier she gets. [This one is correct. You don't want to say someone is something when you are talking about their changing over time. Also: add the comma.]

ps: Is it correct to write : To finish off the thread,
can you tell me which is incorrect?

Thank you so much for all.

I need to write this for an argumentative paper. I'm having a difficult time forming the correct question.

1]What percentage of children living with parents who smoke also become smokers as compared to the percentage of children living with non-smoking parents who become smokers? Compare the two numbers and you'll see that having non-smoking parents makes a big difference. [A few small changes to set up parallel wording. Also, spell out numbers from one to ten.]

2] X hasn't been around long enough to allow people to compile statistics of such a nature.
Okay, but I would probably say: X hasn't been around long enough for people to be able to compile those sorts of statistics.

3]Are the first 2 sentence correct, and mean what I'm trying to say? The rest is there to help you understand what I am trying to say the first 2 sentences.

She compares things that have nothing to do with each other. Don't compare things that can't be compared. She says kids with parents who smoke are more likely to smoke just ~~like~~ [as] kids who live with same *** couples are more likely to be attracted by the same ***.
I would replace the second sentence with "Don't compare things which are unrelated." (If you can compare something then you cannot say it can't be compared. You need a different term.)

Happy Days.

Anonymous · Answer

No new material, just quick follow up if that is ok, I understand if it is not.

IS is wrong. OK, is 2 still wrong. I think so.

She GETS prettier as she gets older.
She GETS prettier the older she gets.
The older she gets, the prettier she gets. [This one is correct. You don't want to say someone is something when you are talking about their changing over time. Also: add the comma.]

Is this better?

1]What percentage of children living with parents who smoke also become smokers as compared to ~~the percentage of children~~ THOSE living with non-smoking parents who become smokers? Compare the two numbers and you'll see that having non-smoking parents makes a big difference. [A few small changes to set up parallel wording. Also, spell out numbers from one to ten.]

Is this the same as "Don't compare things which are unrelated."

She compares things that have nothing to do with each other.

you said cheaply but what about for most expensive or maximum or highest price?

What product can I sell for most expensive? I'll invest in that.
I'm going to buy a product that I can sell at the maximum/highest price.

Bye Doctor D

Doctor D · Answer

IS is wrong. OK, is 2 still wrong. I think so.

She GETS prettier as she gets older.
She GETS prettier the older she gets.
The older she gets, the prettier she gets. [This one is correct. You don't want to say someone is something when you are talking about their changing over time. Also: add the comma.]
Yes, get can works. #1 is fine. The problem with #2 is the structure of the sentence.

Is this better?

1]What percentage of children living with parents who smoke also become smokers as compared to ~~the percentage of children~~ THOSE living with non-smoking parents who become smokers? Compare the two numbers and you'll see that having non-smoking parents makes a big difference.

[If you are going to delete the second "percentage" then you should also delete "who become smokers."
What percentage of children living with parents who smoke also become smokers as compared to those living with non-smoking parents?"]

Is this the same as "Don't compare things which are unrelated."
She compares things that have nothing to do with each other.

you said cheaply but what about for most expensive or maximum or highest price?

What product can I sell for most expensive? I'll invest in that. [No. Bad grammar.]
I'm going to buy a product that I can sell at the maximum/highest price.
What product can I sell at the highest possible price? I'm going to buy a product that I can sell at the highest price possible. Or: the maximum price allowed/permitted.
I say "possible" or "permitted" because you are not just talking about a good price, but a price which has a maximum set by another.

a nurse is delicate

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