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Rotter Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
The spat
The Ibero-American summit in Chile would have been just another meeting of heads of state had it not been for the spat between Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and the Spanish king.
The summit had received little coverage in the regional and Spanish media until the video of the argument was posted online and shown on television.
King Juan Carlos carried some responsibility for the affair, but it was Mr Chavez who set the ball in motion by calling the former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar a fascist.
Labelling a Spanish prime minister a fascist carries a serious undertone in Spain, considering the country's bloody civil war and General Franco's 36-year-long military rule that followed.
The row made headlines in Spain and most newspapers highlighted the fact that the king had told Mr Chavez to shut up.
The Latin American press followed the same line, except for the official Venezuela daily, Diario Vea, which ignored the incident, and an article in Juventud Rebelde by Cuban leader Fidel Castro defending his close friend and ally Hugo Chavez.
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I would like to paraphrase the first sentence of the above. I think the first sentence is written in advanced English.
The Ibero-American summit in Chile was just another meeting of heads of state if there was not a spat between Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and the Spanish king.
[ Did I alter the meaning of the first sentence by paraphrasing?]
There were many presidents and prime ministers and also the King of Spain. So it should be heads of states.
Am I wrong here?
The original says heads of state.
The summit had received little coverage in the regional and Spanish media until the video of the argument was posted online and shown on television.
King Juan Carlos carried some responsibility for the affair, but it was Mr Chavez who set the ball in motion by calling the former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar a fascist.
Labelling a Spanish prime minister a fascist carries a serious undertone in Spain, considering the country's bloody civil war and General Franco's 36-year-long military rule that followed.
The row made headlines in Spain and most newspapers highlighted the fact that the king had told Mr Chavez to shut up.
The Latin American press followed the same line, except for the official Venezuela daily, Diario Vea, which ignored the incident, and an article in Juventud Rebelde by Cuban leader Fidel Castro defending his close friend and ally Hugo Chavez.
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I would like to paraphrase the first sentence of the above. I think the first sentence is written in advanced English.
The Ibero-American summit in Chile was just another meeting of heads of state if there was not a spat between Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and the Spanish king.
[ Did I alter the meaning of the first sentence by paraphrasing?]
There were many presidents and prime ministers and also the King of Spain. So it should be heads of states.
Am I wrong here?
The original says heads of state.
Top answer
Hi, The Ibero-American summit in Chile would have been just another meeting of heads of state had it not been for the spat between Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and the Spanish king. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I would like to paraphrase the first sentence of the above. I think the first sentence is written in advanced English.
- Hi, The Ibero-American summit in Chile would have been just another meeting of heads of state had it not been for the spat between Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and the Spanish king.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I would like to paraphrase the first sentence of the above.
- I think the first sentence is written in advanced English.
- The Ibero-American summit in Chile was just another meeting of heads of state if there was not a spat between Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and the Spanish king.
- ] Yes, you did.
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4 Answers
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Hi,
The Ibero-American summit in Chile would have been just another meeting of heads of state had it not been for the spat between Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and the Spanish king.
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I would like to paraphrase the first sentence of the
The Ibero-American summit in Chile would have been just another meeting of heads of state had it not been for the spat between Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and the Spanish king.
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I would like to paraphrase the first sentence of the
00
Thanks Clive
I know in some countries you will find a head of state and head of a government.
The UK, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Spain, etc have two heads and one of them is a figurehead.
I can't fathom out the hypothetical meaning in the sentence in question. It has already taken place. There is nothing in the offing. However, my knowledge of English is limit
I know in some countries you will find a head of state and head of a government.
The UK, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Spain, etc have two heads and one of them is a figurehead.
I can't fathom out the hypothetical meaning in the sentence in question. It has already taken place. There is nothing in the offing. However, my knowledge of English is limit
00
You're wrong.
would have been ...had it not been ...
is hypothetical, related to the past.
Study it and then we talk
would have been ...had it not been ...
is hypothetical, related to the past.
Study it and then we talk
00
Hi,
I would have been a girl, if I hadn't been born a boy.
We're talking about a hypothetical event in the past.
I would have been a girl, if I hadn't been born a boy.
We're talking about a hypothetical event in the past.
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