I want to talk to your dad. Please hand your cellphone to him.

[Naeem PTC]

Hi teachers,

1) I want to talk to your dad. Please hand your cellphone to him. Correct?

2) It seemed it was going to rain because there were many/a lot of clouds in the sky.

3) The plane was flying in the clouds. Correct?

4) Do not touch electricity tower/post or you will get an electric shock. Correct?

Many thanks in advance.

[bhaisahab]

Hi teachers,

1) I want to talk to your dad. Please hand your cellphone to him. Correct?

2) It seemed it was going to rain because there were many/a lot of clouds in the sky.

3) The plane was flying in the clouds. Correct?

4) Do not touch the electricity tower/post or you will get an electric shock. Correct?

Many thanks in advance.

They are fine with the small addition to #4.

[TheParser]

[QUOTE=Naeem PTC;839319]



3) The plane was flying in the clouds. Correct?

NOT A TEACHER


May I most respectfully suggest:

The airplane was flying through the clouds.

[buggles]

Hi teachers,

1) I want to talk to your dad. Please hand your mobile 'phone to him. Correct?

2) It seemed it was going to rain because there were many/a lot/lots of clouds in the sky.

3) The plane was flying in the clouds. Correct?

4) Do not touch electricity tower/post or you will get an electric shock. Correct?

Many thanks in advance.

I agree with the previous posters - I've just added a couple of things which you'll see in BrE.

buggles (not a teacher)

[5jj]

I'd be more likely to say 'pass' than 'hand' in #1, but 'hand' is fine.

[Barb_D]

There is no reason to use an apostrophe before phone. Perhaps that was done decades ago, we just write phone, not 'phone.

[emsr2d2]

I'd be more likely to say 'pass' than 'hand' in #1, but 'hand' is fine.

I would use either "pass" or "give" but, as you say, "hand" is fine.

[riquecohen]

While #1 is correct, does no one else find it impolite? Even though the speaker may be talking to a child, it seems to me somewhat curt.

[emsr2d2]

While #1 is correct, does no one else find it impolite? Even though the speaker may be talking to a child, it seems to me somewhat curt.

It doesn't sound impolite to me. It contains all the relevant information and the word "please". Is it the "I want to ..." part that you find curt?

[riquecohen]

It doesn't sound impolite to me. It contains all the relevant information and the word "please". Is it the "I want to ..." part that you find curt?

Yes, as well as the wording of the directive. How about "I'd like to talk to your dad. Would you please give him your phone?"