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Stevenukd Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

ON BUSINESS

Dear Teachers,

1. She was an adulteress with another man while he's away on business.

- Is this natural?

Thanks very much to Teachers,

Stevenukd.
  

Top answer

Not particularly. Very few people would use the word "adulteress" these days. "She committed adultery while he was away on business" would be a natural, if formal, statement.

— Feebs11

  • Not particularly.
  • Very few people would use the word "adulteress" these days.
  • "She committed adultery while he was away on business" would be a natural, if formal, statement.
  • Usually it is not really necessary to qualify the statement with "another man" - that is an understood fact.
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3 Answers
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Not particularly. Very few people would use the word "adulteress" these days. "She committed adultery while he was away on business" would be a natural, if formal, statement. Usually it is not really necessary to qualify the statement with "another man" - that is an understood fact.
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I agree with all of Feeb's comments, but want to add this:

She was... while he is... -- you have a disconnect with the tenses. She was... while he was... or She is... while he is...
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Hi,

She was an adulteress with another man while he's away on business.

In your original sentence, it is not absolutely clear whether or not 'he' refers to 'another man' or to her husband.

Clive
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