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Jiajiahairui Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Why it is "they"?
hey guys,
I am studying "English Grammar in Use" for advanced learners. I saw a question like this:
"My car's in the garage today. They XXX new brakes"
XXX is a gap. The word here is fit.
the final answer is " are fitting"
why is it not it because the subject in the first sentecne is "my car"
"were fitting" ok?
Can someone explain to me about this choice please?
Henry
I am studying "English Grammar in Use" for advanced learners. I saw a question like this:
"My car's in the garage today. They XXX new brakes"
XXX is a gap. The word here is fit.
the final answer is " are fitting"
why is it not it because the subject in the first sentecne is "my car"
"were fitting" ok?
Can someone explain to me about this choice please?
Henry
Top answer
"They" refers to the employees at the garage. They are the people who "are fitting" the new brakes to your car. It's in the present tense because you have already said that your car is in the garage today .
- "They" refers to the employees at the garage.
- They are the people who "are fitting" the new brakes to your car.
- It's in the present tense because you have already said that your car is in the garage today .
- Therefore, the work is probably being carried out now .
- My car was in the garage yesterday .
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5 Answers
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"They" refers to the employees at the garage. They are the people who "are fitting" the new brakes to your car.
It's in the present tense because you have already said that your car is in the garage today. Therefore, the work is probably being carried out now.
My car was in the garage yesterday. They were fitting new brakes.
It's in the present tense because you have already said that your car is in the garage today. Therefore, the work is probably being carried out now.
My car was in the garage yesterday. They were fitting new brakes.
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"my car" canot be the subject of "are fitting". The car does not fit its own brakes. "they" refers to the people at the garage who are doing the fitting.
"My car's (= car is) in the garage today. They are fitting new brakes."
"My car was in the garage yesterday / last week / etc. They were fitting new brakes."
"My car's (= car is) in the garage today. They are fitting new brakes."
"My car was in the garage yesterday / last week / etc. They were fitting new brakes."
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Thanks emsr2d2,
Tha't tricky! I thought of "they" as the four tyres, but it does not look right. "the four types are fitting new brakes". Do you think "the four tyres were fitted with new brakes" is right?
Henry
Tha't tricky! I thought of "they" as the four tyres, but it does not look right. "the four types are fitting new brakes". Do you think "the four tyres were fitted with new brakes" is right?
Henry
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Although you can say "the/all four tyres were fitted with new brakes", I think I would be more inclined to use "I had to have new brakes fitted to all four wheels/tyres".
Note - I'm not particularly car-minded, so I have no idea if you fit brakes to tyres or to wheels!
Note - I'm not particularly car-minded, so I have no idea if you fit brakes to tyres or to wheels!
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