english

[Polyester]

Is the following sentence correct and natural?

Could you try to communicate with foreigner in English?

 

[Tarheel]

Is the following sentence correct and natural?

Could you try to communicate with foreigners in English?

Depending on what you're trying to say, Should probably works better there than Could.

 

[jutfrank]

Your sentence is not correct. We don't know what you're trying to say, or why.

 

[tedmc]

The sentence would be okay with a definite article before "foreigner".

 

[Tarheel]

The sentence would be okay with a definite article before "foreigner".

a foreigner?

 

[tedmc]

Could you try to communicate with the foreigner in English?

 

[Tarheel]

Hopefully, that particular foreigner knows English.

 

[emsr2d2]

Without context, it's impossible to say. Please explain the situation in more detail. At the moment, it could start with "Could/Should/Would/Did" and "foreigner/foreigners/a foreigner/the foreigner" are all possible.

 

[Polyester]

Hi emsr2d2,

Are you biting your tongue? You and Rover_KE, both are trying to stop me writing the great long sentences. These sentences are telling you and me, there are too many errors in my sentences. I have no idea how to write a good sentence. And both of you are trying to stop me doing that if i don't follow your instructions and both of you will band my account. Does it make any sense?

 

[Rover_KE]

Are you biting your tongue?

I have no idea how to write a good sentence.

Does it make any sense?

Those are perfectly good sentences — and they are short.

Nobody has mentioned banning you. What has been mentioned before is that the forum cannot provide a long-term course of free instruction in the language. You need to find a tutor in your own locality.

 

[Tarheel]

Polyester, what Ems said is exactly right. She isn't trying to make things harder for you. Instead, the opposite is true. She is trying to help.

Note that in the above text the sentences are seven, nine, five, and five words long. That is, I think, typical of my writing. Can I produce longer sentences? Of course, but I don't try to. I just say what I want to say.

I hope that helps.

 

[emsr2d2]

Hi emsr2d2,

Are you biting your tongue? You and Rover_KE (no comma here) [STRIKE]both[/STRIKE] are both trying to stop me writing [STRIKE]the[/STRIKE] great long sentences. These sentences [STRIKE]are telling you and me,[/STRIKE] tell us all that there are too many errors in my sentences. I have no idea how to write a good sentence. [STRIKE]And[/STRIKE] Both of you are trying to stop me doing that and you have said that if I don't follow your instructions [STRIKE]and both of[/STRIKE] you will [STRIKE]band[/STRIKE] ban my account.

Does [STRIKE]it[/STRIKE] that make any sense?

I don't know why you think I am biting my tongue. You will learn nothing if we just give you six or seven correct sentences. You won't understand what was wrong with the original and you won't learn how to write correct sentences yourself.
You can explain the situation without writing long sentences.

 

[Tarheel]

Are you biting your tongue?

Polyester, that's a good sentence, but it is used wrongly. Ems did not, I think, hold anything back. Instead, she said said what she meant to say.

Ems is the kindest person I know who I have never met. I'm sure she did not mean to give offense.

 

[Polyester]

Hi emsr2d2,

Each corrections received by me and I learned a lot from all of teacher's corrections here. I wanted to say "thank you".

 

[Tarheel]

Polyester, try:

I have learned a lot from the corrections to my posts and the advice I have received here. Thanks to all!
:up: