0
Zygis Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Mixed tenses exercise
I was doing some mixed tenses grammar exercises from the book "A Practical English Grammar Exercises 2" And there was such a part of a conversation:
Tom:.....I speak to Ann, please?
Ann: Ann (speak).
I think that it should be that way:
Tom: Could/Can I speak to Ann, please? <--------1
Ann: Ann is speaking. <---------2
But the answers:
Tom: Could I speak to Ann, please?
Ann: Ann speaking.
So please, could you explain me these two things? Why it isn't appropriate to use 'can' in the first sentence and why we can't use 'is' in the second sentence? And maybe someone could fix the mistakes I did in this message?
Thank you
Tom:.....I speak to Ann, please?
Ann: Ann (speak).
I think that it should be that way:
Tom: Could/Can I speak to Ann, please? <--------1
Ann: Ann is speaking. <---------2
But the answers:
Tom: Could I speak to Ann, please?
Ann: Ann speaking.
So please, could you explain me these two things? Why it isn't appropriate to use 'can' in the first sentence and why we can't use 'is' in the second sentence? And maybe someone could fix the mistakes I did in this message?
Thank you
Top answer
Welcome to English Forums, Zygis. Why it isn't appropriate to use 'can' in the first sentence -- 'Can' is OK, but it is less polite than 'could'. why we can't use 'is' in the second sentence?
- Welcome to English Forums, Zygis.
- Why it isn't appropriate to use 'can' in the first sentence -- 'Can' is OK, but it is less polite than 'could'.
- why we can't use 'is' in the second sentence?
- -- Her response is a semi-fixed phrase.
- Here are the possible options: Ann speaking / This is Ann speaking / This is she.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
3 Answers
0
Welcome to English Forums, Zygis.
Why it isn't appropriate to use 'can' in the first sentence-- 'Can' is OK, but it is less polite than 'could'.
why we can't use 'is' in the second sentence?-- Her response is a semi-fixed phrase. Here are the possible options: Ann speaking / This is Ann speaking / This is she.
Why it isn't appropriate to use 'can' in the first sentence-- 'Can' is OK, but it is less polite than 'could'.
why we can't use 'is' in the second sentence?-- Her response is a semi-fixed phrase. Here are the possible options: Ann speaking / This is Ann speaking / This is she.
00
Thank you for helping me
I was surfing the google for 'semi-fixed phrases' and I didn't get many useful results. So I wann
I was surfing the google for 'semi-fixed phrases' and I didn't get many useful results. So I wann
00
No rules, unfortunately. Fixed phrases, semi-fixed phrases,idioms, etc, are items you have to learn/memorize. They are vocabulary.
0
Related Questions