form and whatever

[jiang]

Dear teachers,

I have two questions to ask:

No.1
The most common _________ of selling today may be simply finding a job.
a. form b. way
The key is 'a'. I don't know why 'b' isn't correct. I am trying to explain it:
'a' means something 'character'. 'b' emphasizes 'manner'. Is that right?

No.2
________ position you are applying for, you have to know how to sell yourself and your ideas.

a. Whatever b. Whichever
The key is 'a'. I think the difference is 'a' means the type of position while 'b' means 'there are several positions and you can choose any one among them'. So I think both are correct. Is that right?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you in advance.

Jiang

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by jiang

Dear teachers,

I have two questions to ask:

No.1
The most common _________ of selling today may be simply finding a job.
a. form b. way
The key is 'a'. I don't know why 'b' isn't correct. I am trying to explain it:
'a' means something 'character'. 'b' emphasizes 'manner'. Is that right?

No.2
________ position you are applying for, you have to know how to sell yourself and your ideas.

a. Whatever b. Whichever
The key is 'a'. I think the difference is 'a' means the type of position while 'b' means 'there are several positions and you can choose any one among them'. So I think both are correct. Is that right?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you in advance.

Jiang

I have to tell you that I am not fond of either answer for #1. It is a strange sentence either way.

I would use A in #2 if this was a discussion about jobs in general. I would use B if there was a list of known jobs you were choosing from.

[jiang]

Dear Mike,

I didn't expect you are still working. It's almost midnight in the United States. It must be our questions that keep you so late. Thank you very much for
your help.

I understand No.2 now.
As for No.1 there are actually four choices but I think the other two are definitely wrong. They are 'pattern' and 'shape'. So I sent you the other two. If you think it is a strange sentence it must be a bad one. Such kind of exercises always confuse me and actually prevent me from learning good English.

Best wishes,

Jiang

Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

I have to tell you that I am not fond of either answer for #1. It is a strange sentence either way.

I would use A in #2 if this was a discussion about jobs in general. I would use B if there was a list of known jobs you were choosing from.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by jiang

Dear Mike,

I didn't expect you are still working. It's almost midnight in the United States. It must be our questions that keep you so late. Thank you very much for
your help.

I understand No.2 now.
As for No.1 there are actually four choices but I think the other two are definitely wrong. They are 'pattern' and 'shape'. So I sent you the other two. If you think it is a strange sentence it must be a bad one. Such kind of exercises always confuse me and actually prevent me from learning good English.

Best wishes,

Jiang

I don't like those either. I believe that the sentence is trying to say that no matter what type of career you intend to have, you must first "sell yourself" to an employer. I don't consider that a form/way/pattern/shape of selling, however.

[jiang]

Dear Mike,

Thank you very much for your further explanation. Now I see.

Jiang

Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

I don't like those either. I believe that the sentence is trying to say that no matter what type of career you intend to have, you must first "sell yourself" to an employer. I don't consider that a form/way/pattern/shape of selling, however.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by jiang

Dear Mike,

Thank you very much for your further explanation. Now I see.

Jiang

You're very welcome. If you're happy, I'm happy.

[jiang]

The context is this:

The most common _______ of selling today may be simply finding a job. Even firefighters have to go through a series of in-depth interviews in which they are probed on why they should be selected over hundreds of other candidates applying for the same position.

Jiang

Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

I don't like those either. I believe that the sentence is trying to say that no matter what type of career you intend to have, you must first "sell yourself" to an employer. I don't consider that a form/way/pattern/shape of selling, however.