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New2grammar Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
not so new car
When I just bought my brand new car, I would take good care of it. Whenever I took it out, I would watch for bumps and park in well-lit areas. Now that it's no longer perfect from scratches and dents, I speed through bumps and potholes.
Is the above correct and natural?
Thanks.
Is the above correct and natural?
Thanks.
Top answer
Now that it's no longer free from scratches and dents Now that it's no longer perfect , from scratches and dents ,
- Now that it's no longer free from scratches and dents Now that it's no longer perfect , from scratches and dents ,
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9 Answers
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Now that it's no longer free from scratches and dents
Now that it's no longer perfect, from scratches and dents,
Now that it's no longer perfect, from scratches and dents,
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The past habitual 'would' is not so common now. I would write it this way:
Right after I bought my new car, I took good care of it. Whenever I took it out, I watched for bumps and parked in well-lit areas. Now that it's covered with scratches and dents, I speed over bumps and potholes.
The past habitual 'would' is not so common now. I would write it this way:
Right after I bought my new car, I took good care of it. Whenever I took it out, I watched for bumps and parked in well-lit areas. Now that it's covered with scratches and dents, I speed over bumps and potholes.
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This is better:
When I had just bought my brand new car, Iwould take took good care of it. Whenever I took it out I would watch for bumps, and park in well-lit areas. Now that it's no longer perfect from and has scratches and dents, I speed through over bumps and potholes.
When I had just bought my brand new car, I
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Tidus:
I just wander why took but would watch
in terms of consistency
I just wander why took but would watch
in terms of consistency
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PS: When I said "this is better" I mean better than the original rather than better than the other replies 
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Thank you so much, everyone. Just one question, what's the difference between speed through and speed over? I get some hits on Google for speed through.
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They are prepositions of relative position. The potholes and bumps are under your car, so I suggest over. Through suggests enclosure and/or duration-- you might speed through a very large pothole, especially if it were full of water.
They are prepositions of relative position. The potholes and bumps are under your car, so I suggest over. Through suggests enclosure and/or duration-- you might speed through a very large pothole, especially if it were full of water.
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Thanks for the explanation. It helps to understand what they mean rather than using them blindly. I see the picture now. Thanks a lot!!
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Marius Hancu Tidus:
I just wander why took but would watch
in terms of consistency
Was trying to keep it as close as possible to the original. If I was saying it, I would probably say "I always watched", but in this context "would watch" means the same thing and is something that people do say.
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