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Vincent Teo Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

corrections i

Can I say,

  

Top answer

(a) Last week was a public holiday; it was Susan’s twelfth birthday. (b) She was grateful to his mother for preparing a birthday party. -- He or she?

— Mister Micawber

  • (a) Last week was a public holiday; it was Susan’s twelfth birthday.
  • (b) She was grateful to his mother for preparing a birthday party.
  • -- He or she?
  • -- it just makes my job more difficult!
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8 Answers
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(a) Last week was a public holiday; it was Susan’s twelfth birthday.

(b) She was grateful to his mother for preparing a birthday party.

(c) He held a birthday party, and she invited many friends.-- He or she? Why are you mixing the pronouns, Vincent?-- it just makes my job more difficult!
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Mister Micawber(a) Last week was a public holiday; it was Susan’s twelfth birthday.
Shouldn't there be 'it' after 'last week'? Last week it was...
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No Ruslana
For example, you could say last week was good/bad week for me.
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Yes, but from grammatical point of view, I reckon, the sentence about the holiday is fine in both the formulations:

(1) It was a public holiday last week = Last week it was a public holiday.

(2) Last week was a public holiday.

The meanings of (1) and (2) are slightly different, though.

Thanks!
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I see the prop-it as purely optional. What difference do you see between your 1 and 2, Ruslana?

(You can tell me in the morning. It's time for me to turn in now.)
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My intuition tells me that (1) means that the holiday lasted during just one day of the week, and (2) implies that the holiday lasted during all the week. Does it make sense?
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(1) It was a public holiday last week = Last week it was a public holiday.
(2) Last week was a public holiday.

They both tell me that the holiday lasted a week ('it' = 'last week', if anything). I would expect 'there was a public holiday last week' if the holiday were less than a week in length-- and with 'there was', it could sti
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Thanks for the explanations, MM. I see it now.

Probably, if the holiday were on a single day, it would be easier to say "It was a holiday last Wednesday" or something like that.
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