Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 28
Like Tree17Likes

Thread: Word "problem"

  1. #1
    Bassim is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Serbo-Croatian
      • Home Country:
      • Bosnia Herzegovina
      • Current Location:
      • Sweden
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Posts
    400

    Default Word "problem"

    I am wondering is this correct English?

    The problem with disruptive pupils is more widespread than believed.
    Problems, which haunted him for years, had now disappeared.
    The problem of youth gangs is still remained unsolved.
    The problem with high inflation has been top of the agenda of the president.

  2. #2
    tedtmc is offline Key Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Interested in Language
      • Native Language:
      • Chinese
      • Home Country:
      • Malaysia
      • Current Location:
      • Malaysia
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Posts
    2,069

    Default Re: Word "problem"

    Quote Originally Posted by Bassim View Post
    I am (was) wondering is this whether this is correct English?

    The problem with disruptive pupils is more widespread than believed.
    Problems, which haunted him for years, had have now disappeared.
    The problem of youth gangs is (delete) ]still remained unsolved.
    The problem with high inflation has been at the top of the agenda of the president.

    not a teacher

  3. #3
    Bassim is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Serbo-Croatian
      • Home Country:
      • Bosnia Herzegovina
      • Current Location:
      • Sweden
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Posts
    400
    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: Word "problem"

    tedtmc

    I simply do not understand why do you bother to help people when you are not a native English speaker. You simply create more problem for people who really want to learn a proper English.

  4. #4
    tedtmc is offline Key Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Interested in Language
      • Native Language:
      • Chinese
      • Home Country:
      • Malaysia
      • Current Location:
      • Malaysia
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Posts
    2,069

    Default Re: Word "problem"

    Quote Originally Posted by Bassim View Post
    tedtmc

    I simply do not understand why do you bother to help people when you are not a native English speaker. You simply create more problem for people who really want to learn a proper English.
    Bassim
    It doesn't say in this forum that only native English speakers are allowed to post. I have stated that I am not an English teacher. You are not obliged to accept what I have posted.

    Which part of my corrections do you not agree with?
    mara_ce likes this.

  5. #5
    Bassim is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Serbo-Croatian
      • Home Country:
      • Bosnia Herzegovina
      • Current Location:
      • Sweden
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Posts
    400
    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: Word "problem"

    tedtmc

    I am so tired of some people on this forum who apparently have a limited knowledge of English language and try to help others.I really do not need such kind of help.
    So please do not correct my post in the future and let some native English speaker help me.

  6. #6
    5jj's Avatar
    5jj
    5jj is offline Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • Czech Republic
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    16,959
    Teacher

    Default Re: Word "problem"

    Quote Originally Posted by Bassim View Post
    tedtmc

    I simply do not understand why do you bother to help people when you are not a native English speaker. You simply create more problem for people who really want to learn a proper English.
    Bassim, that is rather a dismissive message to somebody who has tried to assist you. We get some extremely helpful answers from non-native speakers in this forum. As tetdmc wrote, you don't have to accept these answers.

    The problem with disruptive pupils is more widespread than believed.
    Problems, which haunted him for years, had have now disappeared.
    Some people would be happy with the original, though the past perfect would then be more natural in both clauses. We can also have a defining clause with no commas.
    The problem of youth gangs is (delete) still remained unsolved.
    The problem with high inflation has been at the top of the agenda of the president.
    Some people would not use 'at'; some of these would omit the definite article.
    bhaisahab likes this.

  7. #7
    Raymott's Avatar
    Raymott is offline VIP Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Academic
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • Australia
      • Current Location:
      • Australia
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Posts
    14,596
    Teacher

    Default Re: Word "problem"

    Quote Originally Posted by fivejedjon View Post
    Problems, which haunted him for years, had have now disappeared.
    Some people would be happy with the original, though the past perfect would then be more natural in both clauses. We can also have a defining clause with no commas.
    I think this sentence is almost certainly not supposed to have commas - ie. the most likely meaning mandates no commas.
    Also, I'd ask whether the meaning is supposed to be, "Problems which had haunted him for years now disappeared."

    Of course, there will always be a problem with saying that a certain sentence is "correct" when it is grammatical but you have a strong suspicion that it's not what the student wants to say.
    5jj likes this.

  8. #8
    Bassim is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Serbo-Croatian
      • Home Country:
      • Bosnia Herzegovina
      • Current Location:
      • Sweden
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Posts
    400
    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: Word "problem"

    fivejedjon
    Thank you for you answer.
    As for non-native speakers trying to help me, I have to tell you that I have had some very bad experiences in my life and also on this forum with people who believe that they speak proper English, but in reality they do not have a feeling for the language. Some of them corrected my mistakes and made just a mess.
    For some people the English is just a tool to make their professional career and earn more money. But for me the language is a sacred thing.

  9. #9
    Bassim is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Serbo-Croatian
      • Home Country:
      • Bosnia Herzegovina
      • Current Location:
      • Sweden
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Posts
    400
    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: Word "problem"

    Raymott

    You are right. I wanted to say "Problems which had haunted him for years now disappeared."
    Raymott likes this.

  10. #10
    Raymott's Avatar
    Raymott is offline VIP Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Academic
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • Australia
      • Current Location:
      • Australia
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Posts
    14,596
    Teacher

    Default Re: Word "problem"

    Quote Originally Posted by Bassim View Post
    fivejedjon
    Thank you for you answer.
    As for non-native speakers trying to help me, I have to tell you that I have had some very bad experiences in my life and also on this forum with people who believe that they speak proper English, but in reality they do not have a feeling for the language. Some of them corrected my mistakes and made just a mess.
    By the same token, ted's corrections were perfectly correct. I'm sure we've all had bad experiences on this forum. Being told that your answers are unwanted would probably count as one.
    Some non-native speakers do give good answers. If they are wrong, they will generally be corrected. It's true that we have occasional members who persist in giving wrong answers, but they tend to be weeded out. Not all of them are non-natives either.

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Problem: the word "ease"
    By redgiant in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 19-Oct-2008, 10:41
  2. Replies: 1
    Last Post: 25-Oct-2007, 18:34
  3. problem with the use of word "such"
    By spaceniuzai in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 11-Jul-2007, 16:32
  4. "PREPOSITIONAL PROBLEM" and "SUSPENSION POINTS"
    By Jesule in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 30-Apr-2006, 15:29
  5. Replies: 1
    Last Post: 24-Nov-2004, 07:24

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0