Can I say like that?

[iZicci]

"English in thought" means we should think as an English native does as possible.

We should learn how to ask&answer questions in English ways.
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Can I just say like that above?

Thanks!

 

[Abstract Idea]

----- Not an ESL teacher anymore -----

"English in thought" means we should think as an English native does as possible.

We should learn how to ask&answer questions in English ways.
——————————

Can I just say like that above?

Thanks!

That doesn't sound natural to me iZicci.
I would say:

"Thinking in English" means we should think in English. We should think in English as much as a native speaker does. We should think in English as much as possible. We should think in English as closer as a native speaker does as possible.
We should learn how to ask and answer questions in English.

Not a native speaker

 

[Abstract Idea]

----- I am not an ESL teacher anymore -----

Can I just say like that above?

Can I just say it like that above?

And the title of the thread: Can I say it like that?

 

[sarat_106]

----- Not an ESL teacher anymore -----



That doesn't sound natural to me iZicci.
I would say:

"Thinking in English" means we should think in English. We should think in English as much as a native speaker does. We should think in English as much as possible. We should think in English as closer as a native speaker does as possible.
We should learn how to ask and answer questions in English.

Not a native speaker

I agree with suggestion. Here is an alternative; When you have a thought, you have an idea or concept in the mind which you want to develop or expand in English. So it is more appropriate to say:
Developing/expanding thoughts in English

 

[iZicci]

Thank you two!
Thanks!

 

[BobK]

I agree with suggestion. ...

Really:-? - '...as closer...'? That expression is wrong.

b

 

[Abstract Idea]

We should think in English as closer as a native speaker does as possible.

Really:-? - '...as closer...'? That expression is wrong.

b

Hi BobK, thanks for your contribution.
I am sorry for my mistake. I am here to learn.

I guess I should have written:

We should think in English as closer to a native speaker's thinking as possible.

or the simpler

We should think in English just like a native speaker does.

Is is correct now? What else do you suggest?

 

[The Majesty]

----- Not an ESL teacher anymore -----



That doesn't sound natural to me iZicci.
I would say:

"Thinking in English" means we should think in English. We should think in English as much as a native speaker does. We should think in English as much as possible. We should think in English as closer as a native speaker does as possible.
We should learn how to ask and answer questions in English.

Not a native speaker

Well done sir

 

[tedtmc]

Learners of English tend to think in their native language first and have their thoughts translated to English. This explains the weird or unnatural sentences which are influenced by their native language. Native English speakers would also probably encounter the same problem when they learn other languages.

You should 'switch' your mind to thinking in the language first, so think English when you use English.

We should think in English as closer as close to a native speaker does as possible.

 

[BobK]

Hi BobK, thanks for your contribution.
I am sorry for my mistake. I am here to learn.

I guess I should have written:

We should think in English as closer to a native speaker's thinking as possible.

or the simpler

We should think in English just like a native speaker does.

Is is correct now? What else do you suggest?

Sorry - no. 'As closer' is always wrong. You can't use a comparative adjective after 'as' when 'as' is used to make a comparison ('as...as'). You can in cases like this: 'I've always thought of him as closer than a friend'. In that case, 'closer than a brother' is what you think of him as, so you can use whatever takes your fancy - however surreal! 'I have always thought of him as a teapot', for example. ;-)

But if something is 'as close as something', the word is just 'close'. In fact, I don't think the adjective really fits here; I'd say 'Our thinking should match a native speaker's thinking as closely as possible' (if that's what I thought...;-)

But I prefer your second version.

b

 

[Abstract Idea]

Sorry - no. 'As closer' is always wrong. You can't use a comparative adjective after 'as' when 'as' is used to make a comparison ('as...as'). You can in cases like this: 'I've always thought of him as closer than a friend'. In that case, 'closer than a brother' is what you think of him as, so you can use whatever takes your fancy - however surreal! 'I have always thought of him as a teapot', for example. ;-)

But if something is 'as close as something', the word is just 'close'. In fact, I don't think the adjective really fits here; I'd say 'Our thinking should match a native speaker's thinking as closely as possible' (if that's what I thought...;-)

But I prefer your second version.

b

Thanks again BobK.

If I write the sentences now substituting 'closer' by 'close' like these:

We should think in English as close as a native speaker does as possible.
We should think in English as close to the way a native speaker does as possible.
We should think in English as close to a native speaker's thinking as possible.

Are they grammatically correct?
(I know they may be weird, and I agree your suggestion is better, but I just would like to know whether they are correct.)

 

[BobK]

:up: Not strictly grammatical, because you're using an adj. phrase ('as close as...') to do the job of an adverb; but people would understand them.

b

 

[iZicci]

Sorry - no. 'As closer' is always wrong. You can't use a comparative adjective after 'as' when 'as' is used to make a comparison ('as...as'). You can in cases like this: 'I've always thought of him as closer than a friend'. In that case, 'closer than a brother' is what you think of him as, so you can use whatever takes your fancy - however surreal! 'I have always thought of him as a teapot', for example. ;-)

But if something is 'as close as something', the word is just 'close'. In fact, I don't think the adjective really fits here; I'd say 'Our thinking should match a native speaker's thinking as closely as possible' (if that's what I thought...;-)

But I prefer your second version.

b

Excuse me.
B, what's the second version you prefered?

 

[BobK]

Excuse me.
B, what's the second version you prefered?

'We should think in English just like a native speaker does.'

There used to be (in my schooldays) a popular prescription about using 'as' for a comparison of verbs and 'like' for a comparison of nouns - which would make it '...just as a...'. But I don't buy it, and nobody much uses it. ;-)


b