[Grammar] Correct usage of 'from' and 'off'.

[mark1987]

Hello everyone,

I am a native English speaker. I have decided recently, after fending off many grammar questions from my international friends that is time to "relearn" English.

My dream is to eventually be at suitable standard to be able to teach English to speakers of other languages.

I have a grammar question if you do not mind. I am working in a call centre. In my script I am required to ask the customer 'if they would like to buy some tickets off/from us'. I am currently saying off, but I was recently corrected by one of my customers that this is incorrect and that I should be saying 'from us'.

Can a teacher on this forum confirm which form is correct?

Thank you.

 

[emsr2d2]

"From" is more formal and acceptable. "Off" is considered non-standard even though you'll hear it a lot from some native speakers. Stick to "from".

 

[5jj]

My dream is to eventually be at suitable standard to be able to teach English to speakers of other languages.

Respect!

It is a relief to come across somebody who doesn't assume that the mere fact that they happen to speak English gives them some sort of divine right to be a teacher of English.

I wish you the best of luck in achieving your dream. I hope that this forum can help you.

ps, A warm welcome to the forum.

 

[mark1987]

Thank you for your replies and positive support,it is appreciated.I am now conscientiously trying to break the habit of saying off instead of from.

 

[5jj]

Thank you for your replies and positive support,it is appreciated.I am now conscientiously trying to break the habit of saying off instead of from.

Good luck.

The part I have underlined is a run-on sentence. You have effectively two sentences separated only by a comma. You need to write:

Thank you for your replies and positive support. It is appreciated.
Or:
Thank you for your replies and positive support, which is appreciated.

Note also that we need to leave a space after punctuation marks.

 

[Rover_KE]

Additionally, you need inverted commas round 'off' and 'from'.

 

[mark1987]

Thank you. This is exactly the type of correction I need. I am sure it is now obvious why I feel the need to improve my English!