I'll get it/Let me open the door

Winwin2011 · Dec 8, 2011

The following sentences are copied from an English book written by non-native:-

1. I'll get it (correct) Let me open the door (incorrect)
2. I'll get it (correct) Let me pick up the phone (incorrect)
3.The door won't close (correct) I can't close the door (incorrect)
4. The drawer won't open (correct) I can't open the door (incorrect)
5.I won't be back until five (correct). I will be back at five (incorrect)
6. I'll be here tomorrow (correct) I'll come here tomorrow (incorrect)

Do you agree?

Thank you.

bhaisahab · Dec 8, 2011

Winwin2011 said:
The following sentences are copied from an English book written by non-native:-

1. I'll get it (correct) Let me open the door (incorrect)
2. I'll get it (correct) Let me pick up the phone (incorrect)
3.The door won't close (correct) I can't close the door (incorrect)
4. The drawer won't open (correct) I can't open the door (incorrect)
5.I won't be back until five (correct). I will be back at five (incorrect)
6. I'll be here tomorrow (correct) I'll come here tomorrow (incorrect)

Do you agree?

Thank you.

They are all correct in the proper context.

billmcd · Dec 8, 2011

Winwin2011 said:
The following sentences are copied from an English book written by non-native:-

1. I'll get it (correct) Let me open the door (incorrect)
2. I'll get it (correct) Let me pick up the phone (incorrect)
3.The door won't close (correct) I can't close the door (incorrect)
4. The drawer won't open (correct) I can't open the door (incorrect)
5.I won't be back until five (correct). I will be back at five (incorrect)
6. I'll be here tomorrow (correct) I'll come here tomorrow (incorrect)

Do you agree?

Thank you.

I'd like to know the title of the book and the name of the author.

Winwin2011 · Dec 9, 2011

billmcd said:
I'd like to know the title of the book and the name of the author.

The title of the book is in Chinese, something like "Speak correct English and the author is a Taiwanese in Chinese name. Do you think the book is great?

1. Let me open the door (incorrect)
2. Let me pick up the phone (incorrect)
3. I can't close the door (incorrect)
4. I can't open the door (incorrect)
5.II will be back at five (incorrect)
6 I'll come here tomorrow (incorrect)

As a native English speaker, do you think they are natural? Would native speakers speak in these ways?

Barb_D · Dec 9, 2011

Noen of the ones the author shows as incorrect are incorrect.

2 and 6 are not completely natural, but they are not inccorect. The others are all completely natural things native speaker say all the time.

Tdol · Dec 9, 2011

I agree with Barb- they're not incorrect, just not what we generally say. If someone used Let me open the door, I wouldn't think it was wrong if the doorbell rang, but wouldn't say it myself. There are plenty of situations where it would be fine- if you saw someone with shopping and needed to get past to open the door for them, it would make perfect sense to use something like that.

waflob · Dec 9, 2011

For each example (correct and incorrect), I can think of a context where it would make sense, even if it's not always the obvious choice.

For example, the door is sticking and needs to be lifted a bit and given a somewhat harder push in order to close it. I don't know this and am having difficulty. I could well say to another person "I can't close the door".

Context is important.

billmcd · Dec 9, 2011

Winwin2011 said:
The title of the book is in Chinese, something like "Speak correct English and the author is a Taiwanese in Chinese name. Do you think the book is great?

No, not if it contains examples such as the ones you posted.

1. Let me open the door (incorrect)
2. Let me pick up the phone (incorrect)
3. I can't close the door (incorrect)
4. I can't open the door (incorrect)
5.II will be back at five (incorrect)
6 I'll come here tomorrow (incorrect)

As a native English speaker, do you think they are natural? Would native speakers speak in these ways?

b.

I'll get it/Let me open the door

Winwin2011

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