0
Duongmy Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Did I write correctly? If not, please help me! :) (the problem with condition clause)
In my essay, I gave an example about whether people should change themselves or not, and finally I came to the following conclusion (the conclusion is originated from a conversation between me and my friend):
One day I said to my best friend, who succeeded greatly in everything she had done: "Mary, I wish I were you!". And do you know what her answer was? Well, she replied: "If you wished you were me, and everybody also wished he or she were somebody else rather than himself or herself, then the world would be really boring."
I'm not sure whether I write correctly the bold sentence. I think this sentence is a supposition, and I don't know how to apply the rule of condition clause into the sentence. Again, I hope I can get a clear analysis and explanation from you teachers. Thank you very much!
One day I said to my best friend, who succeeded greatly in everything she had done: "Mary, I wish I were you!". And do you know what her answer was? Well, she replied: "If you wished you were me, and everybody also wished he or she were somebody else rather than himself or herself, then the world would be really boring."
I'm not sure whether I write correctly the bold sentence. I think this sentence is a supposition, and I don't know how to apply the rule of condition clause into the sentence. Again, I hope I can get a clear analysis and explanation from you teachers. Thank you very much!
Top answer
Hi, and welcome to English Forums. Your sentence is fine from the conditional point of view. If everyone wanted to be me, the world would be boring.
- Hi, and welcome to English Forums.
- Your sentence is fine from the conditional point of view.
- If everyone wanted to be me, the world would be boring.
- However, your sentence is a bit long, and the insistence of the "he or she" and "himself or herself" to avoid the "if everyone wished they were someone else" makes it awkward.
- I also don't think you need to have the "rather than himself or herself" part - that's implied.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
1 Answers
0
Hi, and welcome to English Forums.
Your sentence is fine from the conditional point of view. If everyone wanted to be me, the world would be boring.
However, your sentence is a bit long, and the insistence of the "he or she" and "himself or herself" to avoid the "if everyone wished they were someone else" makes it awkward. I also don't think you need to have the "rather than hi
Your sentence is fine from the conditional point of view. If everyone wanted to be me, the world would be boring.
However, your sentence is a bit long, and the insistence of the "he or she" and "himself or herself" to avoid the "if everyone wished they were someone else" makes it awkward. I also don't think you need to have the "rather than hi
0
Related Questions