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Musicgold Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Are these sentences natural? Sept 25

Hi,

Are the following sentences natural to a native ear?



1. If you saw that, you would turn into a stone.



2. Did you see Paul go from here? ( I wanted to say if the person say Paul pass by from there)



3. Since when did the pain start?

Thanks,

MG.
  

Top answer

1. If you saw that, you would turn to stone. 2.

— Mister Micawber

  • 1.
  • If you saw that, you would turn to stone.
  • 2.
  • Did you see Paul pass by here ?
  • 3.
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5 Answers
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1. If you saw that, you would turn to stone.

2. Did you see Paul pass by here?

3. When did the pain start? ('Since when' initiates an exclamatory utterance: Since when did you start smoking?! I thought you hated smokers.)
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Thanks MM.

Mister Micawber('Since when' initiates an exclamatory utterance: Since when did you start smoking?! I thought you hated smokers.)
Such bits and pieces are really important to sound native. Thanks.
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One follow up question, if you don't mind.

Mister Micawber1. If you saw that, you would turn to stone.
I thought 'into' was more appropriate than 'to', because the action implied a physical change. Does that make sense?

Also, won't 'turn to' be mistaken for actually turning towards something.

Thanks.
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It is idiomatic, a fixed phrase, Musicgold: 'to turn to stone'.
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