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Peaceblinkfriend Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

"...contructed first before...fully understand harder and more sentences."

I wonder if the word 'before' is redundant here? It sounds okay to my ears but then I reconginse that they both mean the same thing, right? Moreover, if you were me, how would you say it? The coloured part sounds a bit unnatural.

You need to know how simple sentences are contructed first before you could fully understand harder and more complex sentences.

Thank you in advance. Emotion: smile

Best wishes,

PBF
  

Top answer

I don't sense anything odd about the highlighted words. But I find you using 'To my ears" in the plural form most of the time while the native speakers tend to use the singular form "To my ear". And I'm curious to know which is correct.

— New2grammar

  • I don't sense anything odd about the highlighted words.
  • But I find you using 'To my ears" in the plural form most of the time while the native speakers tend to use the singular form "To my ear".
  • And I'm curious to know which is correct.
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12 Answers
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I don't sense anything odd about the highlighted words. But I find you using 'To my ears" in the plural form most of the time while the native speakers tend to use the singular form "To my ear". And I'm curious to know which is correct.
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Hi PBF

To my way of thinking, the word 'first' can be used for emphasis, but it is not necessary to the sentence.

You need to know how simple sentences are contructed before you can fully understand harder and more complex sentences.

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I wonder if the word 'before' is redundant here? It sounds okay to my ears but then I reconginse ...

recognise
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Thank you for your replies, Yoong Liat, Yankee and New2grammar. Emotion: smile

Again, this shows you how bad I am at spelling, Yoong Liat
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PeaceblinkfriendThank you for your replies, Yoong Liat, Yankee and New2grammar. Emotion: smile

Again, this show
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Yoong Liat
PeaceblinkfriendThank you for your replies, Yoong Liat, Yankee and New2grammar.
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need ... before ... can (Present point of view)
needed ... before ... could (Past point of view)

In taking that course last year, I [found out / realized / discovered] that you needed to know simple sentences before you could understand complex sentences.

CJ
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That thank for telling me the difference between them, Calif Jim. But I still don't understand when to use which. I mean what do you mean by 'present point of view' and 'past point of view'?

In addition, which one should I use here?

Thank you again.

Best wishes,

PBF
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You need to know how simple sentences are contructed first before you could fully understand harder and more complex sentences.
PBF

It should be 'constructed'.
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'present point of view' and 'past point of view' ... In addition, which one should I use here?
I was pointing out that you had a sentence split between two periods of time. The first part (You need ...) is in the present tense, and the second part (before you could ...) is in the past tense. You have to be consistent. Either put the first
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