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Thread: bare hands

  1. #1
    namloan is offline Member
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    Default bare hands

    A. Last night I saw my aunt knocking out a gang of thugs with her bare hands within 15 seconds.
    B. Would you still keep the intention of proposing to your girlfriend if you found out she was the current owner of a massage parlor?

    Are these sentences natural to say in a conversation?

    Thank you so much

  2. #2
    tedtmc is offline Key Member
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    Default Re: bare hands

    Quote Originally Posted by namloan View Post
    A. Last night I saw my aunt knocking out a gang of thugs with her bare hands within 15 seconds.
    B. Would you still keep the intention of proposing to your girlfriend if you found out she was the current owner of a massage parlor?

    Are these sentences natural to say in a conversation?

    Thank you so much
    not a teacher

    No, they are not natural. The words used (in bold) are not appropriate.

    Suggestions:
    A. single-handedly
    B. consider

  3. #3
    Barb_D's Avatar
    Barb_D is offline Moderator
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    Default Re: bare hands

    "With her bare hands" is fine.

    I can't say they sound like normal conversation, but I don't have any aunts trained in martial arts, nor do I know anyone whose fiancee own's a massage parlor.
    bhaisahab and 5jj like this.
    I'm not a teacher, but I write for a living. Please don't ask me about 2nd conditionals, but I'm a safe bet for what reads well in (American) English.

  4. #4
    5jj's Avatar
    5jj
    5jj is online now Moderator
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    Default Re: bare hands

    Quote Originally Posted by Barb_D View Post
    ... nor do I know anyone whose fiancee own's a massage parlor.
    pssst - typo. "owns".
    Barb_D likes this.
    Context is always important; labelling is rarely important.


  5. #5
    waflob is offline Member
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    Default Re: bare hands

    Sentence A looks fine to me.
    I would change sentence B to read

    Would you still propose to your girlfriend if you found out (that) she was the owner of a massage parlor?

  6. #6
    Tdol is online now Editor, UsingEnglish.com
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    Default Re: bare hands

    In (under) 15 seconds sounds better to me that within 15 seconds.

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