Recent content by taked4700

Hi, 1. It's always a risk starting up a new business. 2. It's always a risk to start up a new business. Do both sound natural? Thanks in advance.

Hi, Ken wrote that book. He was jailed for exact that reason. Do you say 'for exact that reason' to mean 'for exactly that reason'? Thank in advance.

Hi, 1. I surmounted my difficulty. 2. I surmounted my difficulties. I know 2 is idiomatic. But is there any contest that makes 1 idiomatic? Thanks in advance.

Hi, I think that "Tips/information on business customs in different countries were/was very useful." is idiomatic. How about "Tips/information for business customs in different countries were/was very useful."? Thanks in advance.

Hi, Which preposition works most naturally? What fruit grows on/from/in this tree? Thanks in advance.

Hi, 1. If you dial a/the wrong number, apologize first. 2. Yesterday I dialed a/the wrong number to the office, so I couldn't talk to the boss. I guess 1 would take 'a wrong number' but 2 takes 'the wrong number'. Am I right? And one more thing: is it grammatically wrong to say "If you dial...

Hi, We missed our train because we were waiting on a/the wrong platform. Which is idiomatic? Thanks in advance.

Hi, They beat him into confessing himself guilty. Is this idiomatic? Thanks in advance. Edit; This sentence would be more natural with accepting himself guilty, not confessing himself guilty.

Hi, she slapped him into accepting the proposal. I've just come across this sentence when surfing the net. Is this idiomatic? Thanks in advance.

Hi, "He told a/the lie that he studied English very hard." I guess that "He told that he studied English very hard. But it was a lie." would be much more idiomatic. I wonder if "He told a/the lie that he studied English very hard." is grammatical or not. Thanks in advance.

Hi, 1. This is the most suitable book for learning English. 2. This is the book most suitable for learning English. Which do you think is more idiomatic? I guess 1 would be more idiomatic. But I wonder if 2 is idiomatic or not. Thanks in advance.

Hi, "The budget plan was turned down by a mere three votes." Is this idiomatic? Thanks in advance.

Hi, One of my dictionaries says that "How much do I owe to you?" is not idiomatic. But I guess that "How much do I owe to the creditors?" would be idiomatic. What do you think about this? Thanks in advance.

Hi, They have forbidden that students play chess in the library since last week. Is this idiomatic? Thanks in advance.

Hi, 1. People believe the police to have arrested some politicians. 2. People believe some politicians to have been arrested. 3. People think the police to have arrested some politicians. 4. People think some politicians to have been arrested. 5. I consider the police to have arrested some...