> Hello, riverkid.
Thanks for the detailed reply. What I need to do is keep working...
My problems are that some of the questions pop up in my mind are sometimes into details, like preposition, articles and so on... I think I know the general rules for those, there are always exceptions. Also, it is not always easy to explain why this one is correct whereas the other one is not correct. I need to build a very solid foundation, don't I?
If you don't mind my asking, I would like to ask you the following questions.
1) I go to my office by my car
I go to my office by car
I go to my office in my car.
To me, all of those sound correct. However, one of my friends told me
'I looked them up in the dictionary and it gave me the last two examples. how would you know the first example is correct?'
I didn't know what to answer that question. It sounds correct to me...
Hi Erihime,
The first one sounds correct to you because you're translating from your own language so of course, it sounds natural. But this only shows you the problem with direct translations. Virtually every Japanese student I've ever heard says that, "by my car". It must be in the JHS or SHS textbooks.
2) Mrs. Hilary Clinton is a Sanate of New York
Mrs. Hillary Clinton is a Senator from New York.
Mrs. Hilary Clinton is the Senator from New York.
Mrs. Hilary Clinton is the Senator from New York.
Are both of them correct?
Now they are. 
By using 'a', does the first sentence imply she is one of 2 senators from New York?
It may or it may not, depending on the circumstances.
Or if I use 'the', does that mean she is the only [one] senator representing the state of New York?
It may or it may not, depending on the circumstances.
3) The server in our office went down yesterday.
Can we replace 'in' with 'at' ?
Yes.
If we are using serveral servers, should 'that' be 'a'?
I don't see a 'that' in your sentence, Eri.
4) 'I will be happy if you become happy with my gift. I will be upset if you become angry with me if I don't give you any gift?'
Does this sentence make sense? I hope it does. Am I using too many 'if's?
If you are to rewrite this, how would you do
it?
"I'll be happy if you're happy with my gift. I'll be upset if you're angry with me if/because I don't give you any gift?'
Questions are pouring over me continuously. All I can do is ask around, right?
Absolutely! Ask away. That's what this site is for, that and to make Tdol a rich man.
Thanks a million!
I am so grateful I have found this community.
erihime with a huge grin!