[General] best gift and important quality

[Silverobama]

My friend Rachel suggested that I should use some different topics for our English club (English club meeting).

Rachel: Maybe next time you can use some different topics?
Silver: Good idea. But I can't think of anyone. I actually didn't even prepare for the one tonight.
Rachel: I have two.
Silver: Okay, tell me.
Rachel: What is the best gift you have ever received? What do you think is the most important quality of a friend/partner?

Are the two topics suggested by Rachel natural?

My version: What's the best gift you've ever received? What are some important qualities of a friend/partner?

 

[jutfrank]

The first is fine. The second should be ... in a friend/partner.

Thanks for providing some good context.

Remember that anyone is only for people, so it should be any in the second line.

 

[jutfrank]

... or any.

That's what I meant to write. (In fact, I'll edit my post.) It goes with the plural topics in the previous line. Thanks.

 

[Silverobama]

The first is fine. The second should be ... in a friend/partner.

Thanks for providing some good context.

You're welcome. I'll try to make it better in future threads.

Remember that anyone is only for people, so it should be any in the second line.

I shouldn't have added my versions. In order to make sure that I understand you correctly. Would you please tell if the following sentences are what you meant?

1) What do you think is the most important quality in a friend/partner?
2) What are some important qualities in a friend/partner?

I just want to keep one of them. Which one do you prefer?

 

[jutfrank]

I don't prefer either one of them because they have quite different meanings. Are you asking people to offer just one quality or several? Does it matter that people try to rank these qualities in order of importance? Decide what exactly you want people to do, and then ask whichever question best elicits that.

 

[Silverobama]

I don't prefer either one of them because they have quite different meanings. Are you asking people to offer just one quality or several?

Several.

Does it matter that people try to rank these qualities in order of importance?

Yes.

Decide what exactly you want people to do, and then ask whichever question best elicits that.

May I have your version?

Much appreciated!

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

My friend Rachel suggested that I should use some different topics at our English club[STRIKE] (English club meeting)[/STRIKE].

Rachel: Maybe next time you can use some different topics?

Silver: Good idea. But I can't think of anything. I actually didn't even prepare for the one tonight.

Use anything, any, or one. Anyone is a person, not a topic.

Rachel: I have two.

Silver: Okay, tell me.

Rachel: What is the best gift you have ever received? What do you think is the most important quality in a friend or partner?

Are the two topics suggested by Rachel natural?

Almost. See the corrections.

My version: What's the best gift you've ever received? What are some important qualities in a friend or partner?

You're right, you've is more natural than you have. (You have isn't bad, though.)

There!

 

[jutfrank]

May I have your version?

You can do this yourself. This is a simple task, well within your capabilities. Form a question that asks the club members to do exactly what you want them to do.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

. . . I just want to keep one of them. Which one do you prefer?

They're both fine. As Jut says, one asks for the one most important quallty, the other asks for several.

Neither is better. They're just different. So decide which conversation you want to have, and have it. Either way, it will be a good discussion.

 

[emsr2d2]

You could ask "What qualities do you look for in a friend or partner?" Most people will naturally list the qualities in order of importance.

 

[Tdol]

I'm not sure that it sounds very natural. What do you look for in a partner? works better for me.