mvdberg112
Member
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2011
- Member Type
- English Teacher
- Native Language
- English
- Home Country
- UK
- Current Location
- Netherlands
How do I analyze the following two sentence:
1. I don’t suppose you've found it?
2. I do hope it has been found.
I got this far:
Question to ask if something has been found. The first is polite, but friendly and informal. The second is very polite and formal
Of course, I do know the verb tenses and all that; what I am looking for how I can know which level of formality this is. And in which situation to use. I have four sets of this.
So more specific:
* when do we use "I do hope..."?
* "I don't suppose" sounds also quite polite to me. However, me is told that it is informal. I do understand that the contraction is informal. But what about "I do not suppose..."
* I am consulting Swan "Practical English Usage" (and tried Murphy "English Grammar in Use", but that didn't talk about formality). I did not really find this construction (entry 436).
* Where can I find politeness/formality on the internet. Grammar, verb tenses are available everywhere; but politeness very little. (so basic etiquette is, like: please, could you..., would you mind..., thank you; the real common things)
Thank you!
S
1. I don’t suppose you've found it?
2. I do hope it has been found.
I got this far:
Question to ask if something has been found. The first is polite, but friendly and informal. The second is very polite and formal
Of course, I do know the verb tenses and all that; what I am looking for how I can know which level of formality this is. And in which situation to use. I have four sets of this.
So more specific:
* when do we use "I do hope..."?
* "I don't suppose" sounds also quite polite to me. However, me is told that it is informal. I do understand that the contraction is informal. But what about "I do not suppose..."
* I am consulting Swan "Practical English Usage" (and tried Murphy "English Grammar in Use", but that didn't talk about formality). I did not really find this construction (entry 436).
* Where can I find politeness/formality on the internet. Grammar, verb tenses are available everywhere; but politeness very little. (so basic etiquette is, like: please, could you..., would you mind..., thank you; the real common things)
Thank you!
S