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Vincent Teo Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Corrections (1)

There are some pharses that I'm not sure, please help me check them, thanks!!

(a) The dog chased a thief up a tree.

(b) Peter is afraid of heights.

(c) Some people like to watch others skydive.

(d) Everyone excels and does their best to better himself or herself.

(e) She has duties every afternoon in the school library.
  

Top answer

(a) The dog chased a thief up a tree. -- OK (b) Peter is afraid of heights. -- OK (c) Some people like to watch others skydive.

— Mr Wordy

  • (a) The dog chased a thief up a tree.
  • -- OK (b) Peter is afraid of heights.
  • -- OK (c) Some people like to watch others skydive.
  • -- OK (d) Everyone excels and does their best to better himself or herself.
  • -- Clumsy.
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3 Answers
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(a) The dog chased a thief up a tree. -- OK

(b) Peter is afraid of heights. -- OK

(c) Some people like to watch others skydive. -- OK

(d) Everyone excels and does their best to better himself or herself. -- Clumsy. "their ... himself or herself" is very awkward. The notion that "everyone excels" does not seem entirely consistent with the notion that everyone "does their
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Thanks, how do I make correction for (d)??
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Vincent Teo
Thanks, how do I make correction for (d)??


You could say:

"Everyone tries hard to better himself or herself." (Formally correct.)

"Everyone tries hard to better themselves." (OK in everyday English.)
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