0
Taka Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

As if

Does these sentences sound natural as English? If they do, which is better?

Reading is as if you allowed the author to live in you.
Reading is as if you were allowing the author to live in you.
  

Top answer

Both sentences are grammatical, from a purely technical point of view, and understandable - what you're trying to say is clear. But they don't sound quite right to native ears. The phrase, "the author to live in you," is especially unusual-sounding - this type of imagery is typically not used in English.

— Anonymous

  • Both sentences are grammatical, from a purely technical point of view, and understandable - what you're trying to say is clear.
  • But they don't sound quite right to native ears.
  • The phrase, "the author to live in you," is especially unusual-sounding - this type of imagery is typically not used in English.
  • You'd more likely hear something like: A book should come alive when you read it.
  • A good author's words will come alive when you read them.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

3 Answers
0
Both sentences are grammatical, from a purely technical point of view, and understandable - what you're trying to say is clear. But they don't sound quite right to native ears. The phrase, "the author to live in you," is especially unusual-sounding - this type of imagery is typically not used in English. You'd more likely hear something like:

A book should come alive when you read it.
0
0
Anon is right; the sentences are grammatically possible, but not native speech.

Reading is like living with the author.
Reading is like inviting the author to live with you.
Reading is like inviting the spirit of the author to live within you.
0
0
Good. Actually, even to my non-native ear, they didn't sound right, so I asked the question.

Thank you!
0

Related Questions