0
BW2/3 Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

DNA

The public thought they were really well informed about their health and update cutting edge saving device, yet 20 percent of them do not even know about DNA and its use.

Is this sentence OK?

Thank you
  

Top answer

Hi, The public thought they were really well informed about their health and update cutting edge saving device, yet 20 percent of them do not even know about DNA and its use. Is this sentence OK? No.

  • Hi, The public thought they were really well informed about their health and update cutting edge saving device, yet 20 percent of them do not even know about DNA and its use.
  • Is this sentence OK?
  • No.
  • I have no idea about the meaning of the phrase in italics.
  • You need to say it in a simpler and clearer way.
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.

9 Answers
0
Hi,

The public thought they were really well informed about their health and update cutting edge saving device, yet 20 percent of them do not even know about DNA and its use.

Is this sentence OK? No. I have no idea about the meaning of the phrase in italics. You need to say it in a simpler and clearer way. In add
0
Thank you Clive,

How is about my new revision sentence?

The public thought they were really well informed about their health and cutting edge medical technology, yet 20 percent of them did not even know what is DNA.
0
Hi,

The public thought they were really well informed about their health and cutting edge medical technology, yet 20 percent of them did not even know what DNA is.

Clive
0
Why is this statement written in the past? Does it mean that the public no longer thinks that way?

If what you wrote is always true, at least from the perspective of the public, their attitude and perception won’t change in the future, you should write the statement in the present.

The public think
0
Hi,

I was thinking that perhaps his context made that clear. eg the previous sentence might have been 'Health information was not widely available in the 1990's.'

It's not always necessary to put everything into one sentence.

best wishes, Clive
0
In that case, the sentence should be:

the public thought they were really well informed about their health and cutting edge medical technology, yet 20 percent of them did not even know what DNA was.
0
Hi,

'Was' is certainly correct. However, the Simple Present can be used for eternal truths and scientific facts, eg the Sun rises in the East.

I think that, in practice, it also depends on how distant in the past the time that you are speaking of seems to you.

Best wishes, Clive
0
The simple present can be used to describe what is permanent or scientific fact, and that’s correct. However, what we know about DNA will change with time as science progresses. Therefore, the public did not know what DNA was if the whole context of the sentence was already placed in the past. On the other hand, as far as DNA is concerned, i
0
I'm surprised that only 20% of the public don't know what DNA is.

MrP

Related Questions