Are these sentences correct.

[sondra]

Dear all,

I still have some questions about my translation. Because I doubt that I understood it right.

Can I say : "She was the lady of the house.(I should not have written mistress).
I know that the correct sentence is :"He saw a pretty woman through the window, standing by the fire-place. But can I say :"He saw a pretty woman, standing by the fire-place through the window."
Thank you.

[Gillnetter]

Originally Posted by sondra

Dear all,

I still have some questions about my translation. Because I doubt that I understood it right.

Can I say : "She was the lady of the house.(I should not have written mistress). She was the lady is fine. Mistress is acceptable but it was used more in the past. Mistress also has the meaning of a woman romantically involved with a married man.
I know that the correct sentence is :"He saw a pretty woman through the window, standing by the fire-place. But can I say :"He saw a pretty woman, standing by the fire-place through the window."
Thank you.

Through the window, he saw a pretty woman standing by the fireplace. I like this one the best.
He saw a pretty woman, through the window, standing by the fireplace.

[emsr2d2]

Originally Posted by sondra

I know that the correct sentence is :"He saw a pretty woman through the window, standing by the fire-place. But can I say :"He saw a pretty woman, standing by the fire-place through the window."

If you say "He saw a pretty woman, standing by the fireplace through the window", it sounds as if the fireplace is through the window, and that you're saying nothing about the location of "him".

I agree with the previous poster that "Through the window, he saw a pretty woman standing by the fireplace". This makes everyone's location clear.