0
Tenacious Learner Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Would you correct this short conversation
Hi teachers,
Boss: The company that we work for has reduced hourly wages by 20%.
Worker: Wow!
Which one is better?
Boss: I could assume half of that.
Boss: I could assume half of that reduction.
Worker: Thanks a lot.
Thanks in advance.
Boss: The company that we work for has reduced hourly wages by 20%.
Worker: Wow!
Which one is better?
Boss: I could assume half of that.
Boss: I could assume half of that reduction.
Worker: Thanks a lot.
Thanks in advance.
Top answer
I'm afraid I don't know what you want to say. 'Assume' is definitely not the right word.
- I'm afraid I don't know what you want to say.
- 'Assume' is definitely not the right word.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
11 Answers
0
I'm afraid I don't know what you want to say. 'Assume' is definitely not the right word.
00
fivejedjonI'm afraid I don't know what you want to say. 'Assume' is definitely not the right word.Hi,
Really? Would it be better to say:
Boss: I could take as my own half of it.
Boss: I could cover half of it.
TL
00
Hi,
I mean that the boss is not going to pass that 20% to the worker, just the 10%.
TL
I mean that the boss is not going to pass that 20% to the worker, just the 10%.
TL
00
Tenacious LearnerBoss: I could take as my own half of it.Hello, TL.
Boss: I could cover half of it.
I can't understand the first one
00
SurferI can't understand the first one . The second one seems fine, although I would have prefered to use can instead of could there.Hi Surfer,
Thanks as always.
Yes, the first one is wrong! There are two possibilities:
a) I could cover half of that.
b) I could absorb half of that.
TL
00
I am still unsure about what is going on, TL. Is the boss saying that he will personally (from his own pocket) give the worker an amount equal to half the money the worker loses as a result of the pay cut?
00
fivejedjon Is the boss saying that he will personally (from his own pocket) give the worker an amount equal to half the money the worker loses as a result of the pay cut?Hi fivejedjon,
Yes, that's it!
TL
00
That's a pretty unusual situation - especially as the boss is presumably having his pay reduced by 20%. I suppose he'd say something like "You'll lose only 10%; I'll pay you the other 10% myself".
00
fivejedjonThat's a pretty unusual situation - especially as the boss is presumably having his pay reduced by 20%. I suppose he'd say something like "You'll lose only 10%; I'll pay you the other 10% myself".Hi,
Thanks a lot you for your help.
TL
00
Tenacious LearnerYes, the first one is wrong! There are two possibilities:Hello, TL.
a) I could cover half of that.
b) I could absorb half of that.
You might want to consider replacing can for could there, as the dialogue between the two is not about a possibility, but is rather addressing a reality - the
0
Related Questions