Sentence help

Question

Say I attach 5 articles and I am asking a friend for his opinion about choosing two articles. Is the below sentence correct?

How about choosing two of the articles attached?

Or should it be "from" instead of "of"?

How about choosing two from the articles attached?

Which sentence is correct?

Clive · Accepted Answer

Of is more common. but from is not wrong.

A lot of English learners get into the habit of forming a lot of their questions with How about . . .
It's better for your English to make questions like
eg Will you please choose . . .
eg Would you like to choose . . .
Or just say
eg Please choose . . .

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks a lot for your help teacher.

CliveOf is more common. but from is not wrong.

I thought for some reason that “of” sounded wrong because it sounds like there are only two attached articles rather than 5. With “from” it makes it clear that there are other articles attached to choose from. Is it just me or do you agree what I said?

What about if I said “choose two of/from the five articles attached”. Are both possible and is “of” more common in this case as well?

CliveA lot of English learners get into the habit of forming a lot of their questions with How about . . .It's better for your English to make questions like eg Will you please choose . . .eg Would you like to choose . . .Or just sayeg Please choose . . .

Thanks for your advice. I just thought that “How about” sounded more like I am asking for that person’s general opinion about the articles attached rather than directly asking them to choose the articles in which they may not be of any relevance! What do you think in that case, as I am not sure if we are even going to elect any of them?

Clive · Answer

I thought for some reason that “of” sounded wrong because it sounds like there are only two attached articles rather than 5. With “from” it makes it clear that there are other articles attached to choose from. Is it just me or do you agree what I said?

choose two of/from the means there are more than two.

What about if I said “choose two of/fromthe five articles attached”. Are both possible and is “of” more common in this case as well? Yes

CliveA lot of English learners get into the habit of forming a lot of their questions with How about . . .It's better for your English to make questions like eg Will you please choose . . .eg Would you like to choose . . .Or just sayeg Please choose . . .

Thanks for your advice. I just thought that “How about” sounded more like I am asking for that person’s general opinion about the articles attached rather than directly asking them to choose the articles in which they may not be of any relevance! What do you think in that case, as I am not sure if we are even going to select any of them?

How about choosing two . . . This sounds like you are asking me if I want to choose two . . . It does not sound like you are asking me my opinion about the articles.

It's a poor and unclear question.

Anonymous · Answer

Clivehat I said? choose two of/from the means there are more than two. What about if I said “choose two of/fromthe five articles attached”. Are both possible and is “of” more common in this case as well? Yes

Great. Thanks for your clarification and confirmation regarding that, teacher. I feel comfortable about that topic now!

Clive How about choosing two . . . This sounds like you are asking me if I want to choose two . . . It does not sound like you are asking me my opinion about the articles. It's a poor and unclear question.

Got it. That was what I thought. I think would have to rephrase to make it clear that I am asking for their opinion about the articles. Maybe something like“What do you think of the articles attached for next week’s discussion, as I would like two discuss two articles?"

Would that be better/clearer?

Clive · Answer

Yes, better.

[ “What do you think of the articles attached for next week’s discussion, as I would like to ~~two~~ discuss two articles?" ]

Anonymous · Answer

CliveYes, better.[ “What do you think of the articles attached for next week’s discussion, as I would like to two discuss two articles?" ]

Thanks a lot teacher. I am glad I was right, and I can’t thank you enough for all of your help!

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