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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Some grammar problems - thanks for help
Dear Sir,
Thank you very much for your help in addressing my queries below.
1. The English teacher of my son studying at Pirmary 2 taught the class to make a sentence, "He works in the office." I learnt from the Internet that we usually use "at the office" instead of "in the office" unless we want to emphasize the enclosed space (the office) but not the specific location. I got confused. Can I interpret that "He works in the office" implies "anywhere inside the office" and "... at the office" means "particular location in the office (e.g., particular department) ?
2. When I read one of the article on the newspaper, I was confused by the tenses adopted by the reporter. Is it appropriate to use more than one type of tense in one sentence when reporting the news? Can I use the alternate as marked in brackets below ? Thanks for your help again.
(>>> The following was extracted from the newspaper)
Commissioner of Police Chan King-shing says ( said that ?) there was an error of judgment in the operation against illegal road racing on Central Bypass early yesterday morning. He has ( remove 'has'?) apologised to drivers and car owners affected by Police actions.
Speaking to reporters at noon today, Mr Chan said Police are now (would be ?) conducting a thorough investigation into the incident and will (would ?) review their operations and procedures.
Condemning people engaged in illegal road racing, the commissioner said their irresponsible acts are (were/ would be ?) hazardous to (the ?) public safety.
Thanks & Regards,
Tim
Thank you very much for your help in addressing my queries below.
1. The English teacher of my son studying at Pirmary 2 taught the class to make a sentence, "He works in the office." I learnt from the Internet that we usually use "at the office" instead of "in the office" unless we want to emphasize the enclosed space (the office) but not the specific location. I got confused. Can I interpret that "He works in the office" implies "anywhere inside the office" and "... at the office" means "particular location in the office (e.g., particular department) ?
2. When I read one of the article on the newspaper, I was confused by the tenses adopted by the reporter. Is it appropriate to use more than one type of tense in one sentence when reporting the news? Can I use the alternate as marked in brackets below ? Thanks for your help again.
(>>> The following was extracted from the newspaper)
Commissioner of Police Chan King-shing says ( said that ?) there was an error of judgment in the operation against illegal road racing on Central Bypass early yesterday morning. He has ( remove 'has'?) apologised to drivers and car owners affected by Police actions.
Speaking to reporters at noon today, Mr Chan said Police are now (would be ?) conducting a thorough investigation into the incident and will (would ?) review their operations and procedures.
Condemning people engaged in illegal road racing, the commissioner said their irresponsible acts are (were/ would be ?) hazardous to (the ?) public safety.
Thanks & Regards,
Tim
Top answer
Anonymous Can I interpret that "He works in the office" implies "anywhere inside the office" and "... , particular department) ? To me, "at the office" feels more like "office" is perceived as a geographical location, probably distant from where the speaker is located.
- Anonymous Can I interpret that "He works in the office" implies "anywhere inside the office" and "...
- , particular department) ?
- To me, "at the office" feels more like "office" is perceived as a geographical location, probably distant from where the speaker is located.
- "in the office" sounds more like "office" is a room or functional unit.
- ) there was an error of judgment in the operation against illegal road racing on Central Bypass early yesterday morning.
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4 Answers
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AnonymousCan I interpret that "He works in the office" implies "anywhere inside the office" and "... at the office" means "particular location in the office (e.g., particular department) ?To me, "at the office" feels more like "office" is perceived as a geographical location, probably distant from where the speaker is located. "in the office" sounds more like
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Mr. Wordy,
Thanks for your fruitful advice.
During the exam of composition for secondary students, I remembered that i always describeD the history or story using past tense because I was not confident about the use of any tenses other than 'past tense' for describing the things which had happened. When I read the story book, the content was described in past tense.
Thanks for your fruitful advice.
During the exam of composition for secondary students, I remembered that i always describeD the history or story using past tense because I was not confident about the use of any tenses other than 'past tense' for describing the things which had happened. When I read the story book, the content was described in past tense.
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Most stories and narratives, whether fictional accounts or accounts of real past events, are written in the past tense. There is, however, a style called the "historical present" in which past events are described in the present tense. It supposedly makes the events described seem more vivid, but I personally find it tiresome in anything other than very small doses. In compositions, I recommend a
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Dear Mr. Wordy,
Thank you very much for your help.
Thanks & Regards,
Tim
Thank you very much for your help.
Thanks & Regards,
Tim
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