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Hello teachers,(Is the order of tenses correct here, please? I'd heartily welcome any improved version of the sentence.)- I didn't really think that I would fall in love with you one day. Maybe, because I hadn't talked to you much before I became friends with you. - The dreams that we have with our eyes closed never come true. (or should I say "never turn into reality", please?)- I like everything of yours.(Is "yours" correct here, please? Would you please tell me when we use "your" and when we use "yours" in the construction with"of" as in my example?)Thank you.

GPY · Accepted Answer

(Is the order of tenses correct here, please? I'd heartily welcome any improved version of the sentence.) - I didn't really think that I would fall in love with you one day. Maybe, because I hadn't talked to you much before I became friends with you.
The tenses are all OK. The first sentence is fine. The second sentence doesn't need a comma after "Maybe", but actually I would change it to "Maybe that's because ..." for clarity.

- The dreams that we have with our eyes closed never come true. (or should I say "never turn into reality", please?)
Both are OK but "never come true" is more expected ("come true" is very common in association with dreams).

- I like everything of yours.
(Is "yours" correct here, please? Would you please tell me when we use "your" and when we use "yours" in the construction with"of" as in my example?)
"yours" is correct. "of your" is not possible unless "your" modifies a noun following (e.g. "I like the colour of your eyes").

By the way, you are aware that "Laborious" has negative connotations, right?

Laborious · Answer

Thank you very much, GPY, for your really helpful replies.

GPYBy the way, you are aware that "Laborious" has negative connotations, right?

No. I am not aware of that yet. Please tell me what "negative connotations" you are pointing to.

Thank you once again, GPY.

GPY · Answer

"laborious" has connotations of slow, heavy, difficult and not very enjoyable to do or not done with any style or fluency.

Grammarfreak · Answer

This is the more logical and natural approach toward your sentences:
I never thought that I would ever fall in love with you. Maybe I hadn't talked to you much before I became friends with
you.
The dreams in our sleep will never come true.

I like everything about you.

GPY · Answer

grammarfreakThis is the more logical and natural approach toward your sentences: I never thought that I would ever fall in love with you. Maybe I hadn't talked to you much before I became friends withyou.The dreams in our sleep will never come true. I like everything about you.

I don't see any reason to object to I didn't really think that I would fall in love with you one day, and in your version the connection between the two sentences is less clear. I don't see any reason to object to The dreams that we have with our eyes closed never come true either. "I like everything about you" and "I like everything of yours" mean two different things.

Laborious · Answer

Thanks to you once again GPY, for the information about the "negative connotations". It was really something I wasn't aware of.

GPY "I like everything about you" and "I like everything of yours" mean two different things.

Actually, I wanted to say that I like everything [the way she looks (her physique/figure) and [her nature, behaviour, way of talking etc.] of her. So in that context, would it be appropriate to say "I like everything of yours", please?

Thank you.

GPY · Answer

LaboriousActually, I wanted to say that I like everything [the way she looks (her physique/figure) and [her nature, behaviour, way of talking etc.] of her. So in that context, would it be appropriate to say "I like everything of yours", please?

No, not really. "I like everything of yours" is talking about things owned, or maybe about works produced (e.g. a writer or an artist). In your case "I like everything about you" is probably correct.

Grammarfreak · Answer

GPYI don't see any reason to object to I didn't really think that I would fall in love with you one day, and in your version the connection between the two sentences is less clear. I don't see any reason to object to The dreams that we have with our eyes closed never come true either. "I like everything about you" and "I like everything of yours" mean two different things.

Ok, I can appreciate the reactions here. I didn't have any objection with regards to the OP sentences. That said, I did feel that they sounded a bit stiff from the idiomatic perspective, particularly " I like everything of yours". If you say that to a lady, I can't imagine her reaction. If the intended sentence was about the things she owns, then wouldn't it be more natural to say "I like everything that you own..."
The dreams that we have with our eyes closed never come true - Honestly, would any native speaker in this collocation, even though is is grammatically correct ? I see sometimes learners posted awkward sentences and the meaning wasn't immediately clear, they are open to interpretations. I understand some volunteers are trying to maintain the original wording while making correction. However, the end result is debatable. But, that's just my opinion
There are basic two types of dreams we normally refer to when we engage in a conversation; the dream that occurs while we are asleep, and the wishful kind that people fantasize without making an effort or try to work hard to fulfill it. This was the premise I was going with.

GPY · Answer

grammarfreakThe dreams that we have with our eyes closed never come true - Honestly, would any native speaker in this collocation, even though is is grammatically correct ? I see sometimes learners posted awkward sentences and the meaning wasn't immediately clear, they are open to interpretations. I understand some volunteers are trying to maintain the original wording while making correction. However, the end result is debatable. But, that's just my opinion

I have to completely disagree with you on this one I'm afraid. "The dreams that we have with our eyes closed never come true" is a good sentence in my opinion. I don't find it awkward at all. In fact, I find it quite poetic.

Grammarfreak · Answer

GPY"The dreams that we have with our eyes closed never come true"

We are all entitled to our opinions. I personally find it "stiff" for the lack of a better word, however, I agree that it is a grammatical sentence.

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