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Ronctlsmile Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Does writing sound native?
I wrote a reply to a job agent two months ago and I explained to her I couldn't do the test she asked me to do** . Here is the details of my writing:
Thanks a lot for giving the test and the job opportunity with CCCCC. I am afraid I can't make it by Monday morning because I didn't expect a test since you said to me that there were five days period before the actual process has gone underway and also I will be away tomorrow til next Monday evening because of a conference meeting which I have enrolled in a month ago. I wonder if it would be ok to ask for the extension of the deadline of the test. I look forward to hearing from you.
It doesn't sound so english. Can someone tell how to change it? My idea is that I have two reasons to explain why I can't do the test. Somhow when I put the reasons together, the whole sentences look so clumsy***.
p.s.
**Am I right to use "and" to link the two sentences up? Does it sound native english to you guys?
*** I wonder the tenses I have used in this topic is correct. When I say "My idea is that I have two reasons to explain why I can't do the test. Somhow when I put the reasons together, the whole sentences look so clumsy. " My guts feeling tells me it will be fine to use present sense but I think past tense may be correct because the letter I wrote happened in the past. Am I right on this?
Thanks a lot for giving the test and the job opportunity with CCCCC. I am afraid I can't make it by Monday morning because I didn't expect a test since you said to me that there were five days period before the actual process has gone underway and also I will be away tomorrow til next Monday evening because of a conference meeting which I have enrolled in a month ago. I wonder if it would be ok to ask for the extension of the deadline of the test. I look forward to hearing from you.
It doesn't sound so english. Can someone tell how to change it? My idea is that I have two reasons to explain why I can't do the test. Somhow when I put the reasons together, the whole sentences look so clumsy***.
p.s.
**Am I right to use "and" to link the two sentences up? Does it sound native english to you guys?
*** I wonder the tenses I have used in this topic is correct. When I say "My idea is that I have two reasons to explain why I can't do the test. Somhow when I put the reasons together, the whole sentences look so clumsy. " My guts feeling tells me it will be fine to use present sense but I think past tense may be correct because the letter I wrote happened in the past. Am I right on this?
Top answer
The problem is that you have written a run-on sentence. If you write shorter sentences, one idea per sentence, you will be fine. Here is an example: -------- Thanks a lot for the job opportunity with CCCCC.
- The problem is that you have written a run-on sentence.
- If you write shorter sentences, one idea per sentence, you will be fine.
- Here is an example: -------- Thanks a lot for the job opportunity with CCCCC.
- I know you are giving the test next Monday, but I cannot make that date or earlier due to a prior engagement.
- There must have been some misunderstanding; I expected that the test would be given at least five days after my initial acceptance.
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1 Answers
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The problem is that you have written a run-on sentence. If you write shorter sentences, one idea per sentence, you will be fine. Here is an example:
--------
Thanks a lot for the job opportunity with CCCCC. I know you are giving the test next Monday, but I cannot make that date or earlier due to a prior engagement. There must have been some misunderstanding; I expected that the
--------
Thanks a lot for the job opportunity with CCCCC. I know you are giving the test next Monday, but I cannot make that date or earlier due to a prior engagement. There must have been some misunderstanding; I expected that the
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