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Gaw Kai Muh Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Vocabulary Question
Actually I needed to attend a meeting yesterday and the people who attended the meeting are in hospital.I feel I had successfully averted a tragedy.Is this paragraph fine?
Top answer
I'd personally try to emphasize the fact that you actually did not attend the meeting, for instance: Actually, I was planning to attend a meeting yesterday and/but if I had, I would now be in hospital with all those who actually did. Also, the word AVERT doesn't work here, for it means: to prevent, and the whole event was not prevented by your absence. Therefore, avoid or, better still, escape would be much more suitable: Looks like I've escaped a tragedy!
- I'd personally try to emphasize the fact that you actually did not attend the meeting, for instance: Actually, I was planning to attend a meeting yesterday and/but if I had, I would now be in hospital with all those who actually did.
- Also, the word AVERT doesn't work here, for it means: to prevent, and the whole event was not prevented by your absence.
- Therefore, avoid or, better still, escape would be much more suitable: Looks like I've escaped a tragedy!
- (you are now alive, the people who showed up are now in hospital, thus present perfect in my opinion)
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4 Answers
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I'd personally try to emphasize the fact that you actually did not attend the meeting, for instance:
Actually, I was planning to attend a meeting yesterday and/but if I had, I would now be in hospital with all those who actually did.
Also, the word AVERT doesn't work here, for it means: to prevent, and the whole event was not prevented by your absence. Therefore, avoid or,
Actually, I was planning to attend a meeting yesterday and/but if I had, I would now be in hospital with all those who actually did.
Also, the word AVERT doesn't work here, for it means: to prevent, and the whole event was not prevented by your absence. Therefore, avoid or,
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'I averted a tragedy by stopping the consumption of alcohol as a doctor told me that my liver was not seriously damaged nevertheless it was damaged'. Is this sentence fine?
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It is fine in that I understand what you meant, but it could be phrased better:
"I averted the tragedy by stopping further consumption of alcohol - as it turned out, my liver was already damaged at that point. Fortunately, however, the damage wasn't serious."
"I averted the tragedy by stopping further consumption of alcohol - as it turned out, my liver was already damaged at that point. Fortunately, however, the damage wasn't serious."
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