use? conservation?

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Polyester

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Our department has been actively organising water conservation activities to encourage members of the public to establish good water use habits.


Two issues as follow:

1. Can't I change the word "conservation", I want to use "conserve" in above sentence. Is it ok?

2. Can I use "using" in the end of "use" instead of it?
 
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Raymott

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1) No, you can't. 'Conservation' is a noun acting as an adjective. A verb can't do that.
2) It doesn't sound quite natural. I'd use 'usage'.
 

Rover_KE

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Polyester, where did you find the sentence you are asking about?

Please use Edit Post to delete those ridiculous smileys, followed by Save.

You have nothing to be shocked about.
 

Charlie Bernstein

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:shock: Our department has been actively organising water conservation activities to encourage members of the public to establish good water use habits.


:shock: Two issues as follow:

:shock: 1. Can I change the word "conservation"? I want to use "conserve" in the above sentence. Is it okay? No, not to "conserve." You'd need to replace it with another adjective, not a verb. For instance, you could say "water-conserving activities."

:shock: 2. Can I use "using" instead of "use"? No. Again, you'd be replacing an adjective with a verb.

What are the round yellow faces for?
 

Rover_KE

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I asked him to delete his 'shocked' smileys but as he hasn't done so I'll do it myself.
 

GoesStation

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Polyester, where did you find the sentence you are asking about?

Please use Edit Post to delete those ridiculous smileys, followed by Save.

You have nothing to be shocked about.

I have a hunch Polyester used some hand-made bullet-characters, using : - and o. Put those together and you get a shocked-face emoticon.
 
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