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This is the beginning of my paragraph: "I was the kid who thought his chances of becoming a marine biologist were somehow aided by family trips to the beach and studying books."

My first question: Should it be "were" or "would be?" I'm leaning towards "would be."

I want the next sentence to be something like this: "I don't think they were" or "I doubt very much that/if they were"

Or: "If they were, they obviously weren't by much."

But all of those options are obviously very clunky and sound horrible.

The last sentence should be something along the lines of: "But I nonetheless/nevertheless/synonym still have all that information in my head."

I feel like the "nevertheless" spot might be out of place or used wrong or something?

Thank you. I wanted this to be 1 post because I know ahead of time I'd just have another question afterwards. Thank you.

BarbaraPA · Accepted Answer

It would be helpful if you actually wrote the paragraph you wanted help with.

Anonymous · Answer

And example of this might be the following:

I was a kid who thought his chances of becoming a marine biologist were somehow aided by family trips to the beach and reading books on marine life. But now, as I near entrance to college, I'm not so sure about this. I now know that marine biology involves much more than just trips tot he beach and reading about sea life. You need to study biology, chemistry, calculus, computer programming, zoology, biochemistry, physics, and other subjects, and this is just at the undergraduate level. Then a PhD. would be required for formal work in the field of marine biology. That's much more complicated than the carefree time I spent as a child, on the beach and reading books on sea creatures, and I'm not sure if I would want to go through all of that. Nevertheless, I still have fond memories about the marine life I used to see in the tide pools when I visited the beach as a child, and the pictures of marine life in the books I read still are vivid in my mind. These will remain with me regardless of the path I choose to take in college.

BarbaraPA · Answer

That is so strange - when I opened this thread, the entire post consisted of "kk" - there was no text.

ByoungSuh · Answer

Wow, thanks for that, sir. That's awesome you tried to help me so much! But I basically only need the 3 sentences. I don't know if that actually qualifies as a paragraph, but it's all I need. If you see this (or anyone else does) I'd appreciate further help.

ByoungSuh · Answer

I copy and pasted it from something since it was long. It doesn't let you do that for some reason. So I just typed anything then went to edit it. Now that you see it, can you help me? Thanks.

ByoungSuh · Answer

Can anybody help me?

Fivejedjon · Answer

ByoungSuhThis is the beginning of my paragraph: "I was the kid who thought his chances of becoming a marine biologist were somehow aided by family trips to the beach and studying books." My first question: Should it be "were" or "would be?" I'm leaning towards "would be."

I'd say 'a kid' rather than 'the kid'. I'd probably write 'would somehow be'.

ByoungSuhI want the next sentence to be something like this: "I don't think they were" or "I doubt very much that/if they were" Or: "If they were, they obviously weren't by much."But all of those options are obviously very clunky and sound horrible.

They all sound fine to me.

ByoungSuhThe last sentence should be something along the lines of: "But I nonetheless/nevertheless/synonym still have all that information in my head." I feel like the "nevertheless" spot might be out of place or used wrong or something?

You don't need both But and nonetheless or nevertheless.

ByoungSuh · Answer

Are you sure it's not "would have been?"

I.e.: "I was the kid who thought his chances of becoming a marine biologist would have been somehow aided by family trips to the beach and studying books."

Because if it's between "would have been" and "would be," then at that point it's not a personal preference thing. It's a rule, right?

And then if so, would you then change it to "… would have somehow been?"

And if you would change it at that point, then why?

Fivejedjon · Answer

ByoungSuhBecause if it's between "would have been" and "would be," then at that point it's not a personal preference thing. It's a rule, right?

It's nothing to do with preference.

I was a kid who thought his chances of becoming a marine biologist were somehow aided by family trips to the beach and reading books on marine life.

What you say depends on what the situation was and what you were actually thinking at the time.

Situation: You had gone on trips.
Your thoughts:
1: "My chances of becoming a marine biologist have been aided ..."
2. "My chances of becoming a marine biologist are being aided ..."
3. "My chances of becoming a marine biologist are aided ..."
4. "My chances of becoming a marine biologist will be aided ..."

Your reported thoughts:
1: I though my chances of becoming a marine biologist had been aided ...
2. I though my chances of becoming a marine biologist were being aided ..."
3. I thought my chances of becoming a marine biologist were aided ..."
4. I thought my chances of becoming a marine biologist have would be aided ..."

Situation: You had not gone on trips.
Only versions #4 work

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