[Idiom] 25 years

[Will17]

Hello everyone!

I need some help,please! I've got a few questions:


1) Is there a difference between "in 25 years" and "in the next 25 years"?

For example: In 25 years, China will be a very rich country.

In the next 25 years, China will be a very rich country.


2) I try to speak English only/ only English. Which one is correct?

3) Do you ever receive emails in English? Is this sentence correct?

4) I've made a mistake at work. Is the use of "at" correct in this sentence?

5) What's the right order: The 5 first sentences or the first 5 sentences?

6) I'm not pregnant and I'm not trying to be. Is this sentence correct?

7) I need some more materials to learn English. Can "materials" be plural in this case?

Cheers:up:

W.

 

[Tdol]

1 Yes-
in 25 years = in 2035
in the next 25 years = at any time up to 2035

 

[Barb_D]

Hi Will17,


2) I try to speak English only/ only English. Which one is correct?

I'd prefer "only English" but no one will think it odd if you use "English only."


3) Do you ever receive emails in English? Is this sentence correct?

Yes, it's okay.

4) I've made a mistake at work. Is the use of "at" correct in this sentence?

Yes.

5) What's the right order: The 5 first sentences or the first 5 sentences?

The first five.

6) I'm not pregnant and I'm not trying to be. Is this sentence correct?


It is, but perhaps "nor am I trying to become pregnant" would be better. It's not the sort of thing you tell casual acquaintances.


7) I need some more materials to learn English. Can "materials" be plural in this case?

Yes, you are referring to different types. Books, handouts, tapes, etc.