Thread: grammar
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Old 11-Dec-2003, 08:45
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Default Re: grammar

Quote:
Originally Posted by jiang
I posted two questions a few days ago but it seems they didn't reach you. Now I am going to post them again.

I came across two multiple choice sentences. Two of the choices are confusing and the other two are totally wrong. I'd like to discuss the two confusing ones.

1. They will have it finished in__________.
a. three quarters of an hour. b. three quarters of an hour's time
The key is 'b' but I think 'a' sounds more comfortable while 'b' sounds weird. But since English is my foreign language I'd like to know what you native speakers think of it.

2. _______ of the two books holds the opinion that the danger of nuclear war is increasing.
a. Either b. Neither
The correct anwser is b while I think a is also correct . Am I right?

I, too, had answered the questions some time ago; but, for the sake of learning, I'll post answers once again. :D

1a. is incorrect. Although, three quarters of an hour is spoken and written in English, its true form is 1b. Speakers omit the -'s time part, so 1b. is the better choice.

2a. is incorrect. Either refers to one or the other, not both. The statment calls for the meaning both, so Neither is the better choice.

Sometimes, there isn't a wrong answer, per se, just a better answer.

:D
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