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Old 30-Jun-2003, 15:08
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Default I have some questions..

Hello teacher.
Would you answer my questions ?
Q1. What is the difference between sentence A and B ?
1-1-A)They were both fast asleep in their cots.
1-1-B)They both were fast asleep in their cots.

1-2-A)No BANK could ever pay off its creditors.
1-2-B)No BANKS could ever pay off its creditors.

Q2. Can I change the sentence A into B ? And if A can be changed into B, each sentence has the same meanings?
A) I tapped him on THE shoulder. (I found this in my dictionary.)
B) I tapped him on HIS shoulder.

Thanks!
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Old 30-Jun-2003, 19:48
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Default Re: I have some questions..

Quote:
1-1-A)They were both fast asleep in their cots.
1-1-B)They both were fast asleep in their cots.
They both mean the same thing.

Quote:
1-2-A)No BANK could ever pay off its creditors.
1-2-B)No BANKS could ever pay off its creditors.
The second one is grammatically incorrect. It should be: "No banks could ever pay off their creditors."

Quote:
Q2. Can I change the sentence A into B ? And if A can be changed into B, each sentence has the same meanings?
A) I tapped him on THE shoulder. (I found this in my dictionary.)
B) I tapped him on HIS shoulder.
The two sentences mean the same thing.

8)
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Old 01-Jul-2003, 22:04
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Default

1-1-A)They were both fast asleep in their cots.
1-1-B)They both were fast asleep in their cots.

I'd say that they're could be a small difference- in the second, by moving the position of 'both, you could imply a degree of surprise that the two and not one were alseep.
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Old 02-Jul-2003, 00:04
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tdol
1-1-A)They were both fast asleep in their cots.
1-1-B)They both were fast asleep in their cots.

I'd say that they're could be a small difference- in the second, by moving the position of 'both, you could imply a degree of surprise that the two and not one were alseep.
Maybe so, but context would make more difference.

When I went into their bedroom I was surprised at what I saw. They were both fast asleep in their cots.

I went into the bedroom to see why they were so quiet. They both were fast asleep in their cots.

8)
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Old 02-Jul-2003, 22:38
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Definitely.
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