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Seagull Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
if they have no water
Could you please evaluate each of the following five sentences depending on whether it is natural or not? --
(A) People may die in 24 hours if they have no water.
(B) People may die in 24 house if they do not have some water.
(C) People may die in 24 hours if they do not have any water.
(D) People may die in 24 hours unless they have some water.
(E) People may die in 24 hours unless they have any water.
(A) People may die in 24 hours if they have no water.
(B) People may die in 24 house if they do not have some water.
(C) People may die in 24 hours if they do not have any water.
(D) People may die in 24 hours unless they have some water.
(E) People may die in 24 hours unless they have any water.
Top answer
None of them is natural. Not only "in 24 hours" ambiguous, it is also not factual! Try, Most people can survive without water for up to five days.
- None of them is natural.
- Not only "in 24 hours" ambiguous, it is also not factual!
- Try, Most people can survive without water for up to five days.
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10 Answers
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None of them is natural. Not only "in 24 hours" ambiguous, it is also not factual!
Try, Most people can survive without water for up to five days.
Try, Most people can survive without water for up to five days.
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Aside from the factual issues, it'd be better to use 'within' rather than 'in' and E is certainly not correct.
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With regard to the final clause
if they have no water. OK
if they do not have some water. Not great, but possible.
if they do not have any water. OK.
unless they have some water. Possible.
unless they have any water.
if they have no water. OK
if they do not have some water. Not great, but possible.
if they do not have any water. OK.
unless they have some water. Possible.
unless they have any water.
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Thank you very much indeed, CalifJim.
I find it difficult to use "some" and "any" correctly, especially in a conditional clause.
I find it difficult to use "some" and "any" correctly, especially in a conditional clause.
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seagullThank you very much indeed, CalifJim. I find it difficult to use "some" and "any" correctly, especially in a conditional clause.I'm not surprised. Those are tricky.
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