is it correct

[kankan]

1. I don't have a clear idea of/for my dream house.
2. If I had to choose between central heating and open fire, I'd prefet the second opportunity, because it created/creates some cosy atmosphere.
Can I write "some" in the second sentance?
3. I'd like to try living in many different houses and at many different places.
Can I write "in" houses and "at" places?
4. The most relaxing thing would be reading a book in front of the open fire while it was snowing outside.
In this sentance I'm using Second Conditional in the first part, but then in the second part, I have to use "was snowing" or "is snowing".

Thanks!

[Soup]

Hello kankan

1. I haven't made up my mind about my dream house.

2. If I had to choose between central heating and a fireplace, I'd choose the latter because it creates a cozy atmosphere.

3. I'd like to live in as many different houses and in as many different places as I could.

4. The most relaxing thing is reading a book, in front of the open fire, while it is snowing outside.

[Raymott]

Originally Posted by kankan

1. I don't have a clear idea of/for my dream house.
2. If I had to choose between central heating and open fire, I'd prefet the second opportunity, because it created/creates some cosy atmosphere.
Can I write "some" in the second sentance?
3. I'd like to try living in many different houses and at many different places.
Can I write "in" houses and "at" places?
4. The most relaxing thing would be reading a book in front of the open fire while it was snowing outside.
In this sentance I'm using Second Conditional in the first part, but then in the second part, I have to use "was snowing" or "is snowing".

Thanks!

Your sentence 4. using the conditional is correct. As usual, I don't know why Soup has changed it, since you obviously want to use the conditional here.

4. The most relaxing thing [that I could imagine] would be reading a book in front of an open fire while it was snowing outside.

Your sentence 1. is also good.

[Excalibur]

...while it is (it's) snowing outside.

kankan: Trust Soup

[Raymott]

Originally Posted by Excalibur

kankan: Trust Soup

That's generally good advice, David. But if you actually read over Soup's answer, you'll see that she has not even addressed kankan's question about sentence 4.

[Soup]

Originally Posted by Raymott

That's generally good advice, David. But if you actually read over Soup's answer, you'll see that she has not even addressed kankan's question about sentence 4.

There are many ways to express kankan's sentence 4; mine is just one. I recast it in the present tense because it expresses a fact, not a condition. The conditional sense is fine, yes, but not as expressive as the simple present. My apologies for not clearly stating the reason for the changes I made--I'll do better next time.

_______________
Excalibur, David L.

[kankan]

Thank you very much for your answers. They were very useful :)