The tap was on and the water was wasting. Correct?

[Naeem PTC]

Hi teachers,

1) The tap was on and the water was wasting. Correct?

2) I need a snooker stick with three joints. Correct?

3) I can make myself understood in English. Correct?

Many thanks in advance.

[SoothingDave]

1. No. Water was being wasted. Or "We were wasting water."

2. Normally we would speak of how many pieces the stick has. A 3 joint stick would have 4 pieces. Is that what you meant? I am only familiar with American pool sticks. The finer ones are 2 piece.

3. This is OK.

[konungursvia]

In snooker, the cue is seldom or never referred to as a stick. Also, as a player, there are only cues with one, two or three segments, with zero, one or two joints (other than extensions for long shots).

Also, for 1), I think it's acceptable, though not very natural in today's English.