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Jack112 Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Owe
Scenario: We just got back from a trip. And my pal owes me $30 for going up there and the ride back is paid already.
Are both #1 and #2 correct? What do they mean?
1. The $30 you owe me is for the trip up there. (Present status? Or does mean it mean the trip hasn't started yet and he owes me $30? Is this sentence ambiguous?)
2. The $30 you owe me was for the trip up there. (At the time when it happened?)
3. You owe me $30 for drivng you up there. (This one is good?)
Thanks.
Are both #1 and #2 correct? What do they mean?
1. The $30 you owe me is for the trip up there. (Present status? Or does mean it mean the trip hasn't started yet and he owes me $30? Is this sentence ambiguous?)
2. The $30 you owe me was for the trip up there. (At the time when it happened?)
3. You owe me $30 for drivng you up there. (This one is good?)
Thanks.
Top answer
1) This is fine, the trip may be in the past but he still owes you the money in the present. 2) This is ok, well, you would hear it in speech, but I prefer 1 and 1 is probably grammatically better. 3) Good but with a different meaning to the others.
- 1) This is fine, the trip may be in the past but he still owes you the money in the present.
- 2) This is ok, well, you would hear it in speech, but I prefer 1 and 1 is probably grammatically better.
- 3) Good but with a different meaning to the others.
- This is a plain request for the money, whereas the others are explaining what the $30 was owed for, as if the other person is disputing exactly why they need to pay you the $30.
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1 Answers
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1) This is fine, the trip may be in the past but he still owes you the money in the present.
2) This is ok, well, you would hear it in speech, but I prefer 1 and 1 is probably grammatically better.
3) Good but with a different meaning to the others. This is a plain request for the money, whereas the others are explaining what the $30 was owed for, as if the other person is dispu
2) This is ok, well, you would hear it in speech, but I prefer 1 and 1 is probably grammatically better.
3) Good but with a different meaning to the others. This is a plain request for the money, whereas the others are explaining what the $30 was owed for, as if the other person is dispu
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