"Either understand it or not" in my sentences

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Rachel Adams

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Hello.

"Why people like art?" is also a question for English students.

I tried to express the same idea and wrote several possibilities, because I am confused by "or not" and "don't". Could you please correct them?

1. "I don't know how it happens. It happens by itself. You like it or not, you either understand or not."

2. "I don't know how it happens. It happens by itself. You like it or you don't like it. You either understand it or you don't understand it."

3. "I don't know how it happens. It happens by itself. You either like it or not, understand it or not."
 

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"Why people like art?" is also a question for English students.
The sentence fragment above is not a question.

Rachel, this is a small point, but I spend a little time deleting your salutation ('Hello.") each time I quote one of your posts. I know it feels like a polite gesture, but I'd prefer it if you omitted salutations and just said what you needed. Thanks!
 

emsr2d2

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... I spend a little time deleting your salutation ('Hello.") each time I quote one of your posts.

I do the same thing. I would also be grateful if you would just go straight in with your question in future posts. Thanks.
 

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Try:

"Why do people like art?" is a question for English students.

I am not sure why you have to have the answers if it's a question for the students.
 

Rachel Adams

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I do the same thing. I would also be grateful if you would just go straight in with your question in future posts. Thanks.

OK. I will. Next time. I thought it would not be polite to omit it.
 

Rachel Adams

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Try:

"Why do people like art?" is a question for English students.

I am not sure why you have to have the answers if it's a question for the students.

Because I am also a learner.
 

Rachel Adams

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The sentence fragment above is not a question.

Maybe I wrote incorrectly. It should be "Why do people like art?" I am really confused by the constructions in my possibilities.
 
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Tarheel

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Bob: Why do you like art?
Jane: For me it's about beauty. It's about admiring something created by human hands--something that can't be found in nature.

Start over, and keep it simple.
 

Rachel Adams

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Bob: Why do you like art?
Jane: For me it's about beauty. It's about admiring something created by human hands--something that can't be found in nature.

Start over, and keep it simple.

I will rephrase it now.
 

Rachel Adams

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Bob: Why do you like art?
Jane: For me it's about beauty. It's about admiring something created by human hands--something that can't be found in nature.

Start over, and keep it simple.



1. "I don't know how it happens. It happens by itself. You like it or not, you either understand "*it* or not." I added *it*.

2. "I don't know how it happens. It happens by itself. You like it or you don't like it. You either understand it or you don't understand it." In my opinion, it is not wrong.

3. "I don't know how it happens. It happens by itself. You either like it or not, understand it or not." I can't rephrase this one because I am not sure if "or not" can be used in this way.
 

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I am afraid I don't understand. You don't know how what happens?

Suppose I am your teacher.

Tarheel: Rachel, do you like art?
Rachel: Yes, I do.
Tarheel: What do you like about it?
Rachel:

(Did you know that the Eiffel Tower was supposed to be a temporary structure? Now it's an icon. It's become a symbol of Paris, France. (A million pictures have been taken of it.))
 
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emsr2d2

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Sam: Why do you like art?
Helen: I don't know how it happens. It happens by itself. You like it or you don't like it. You either understand it or you don't understand it.

Rachel, if you read that dialogue in a book or an article, would you consider that Helen had really answered the question in a clear, understandable way?
 

Rachel Adams

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Sam: Why do you like art?
Helen: I don't know how it happens. It happens by itself. You like it or you don't like it. You either understand it or you don't understand it.

Rachel, if you read that dialogue in a book or an article, would you consider that Helen had really answered the question in a clear, understandable way?


No, I don't think so.
 
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Charlie Bernstein

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1. "I don't know why. It happens by itself. You either like it or you don't. You either understand it or you don't."

2. "I don't know why. It happens by itself. You either like it or you don't like it. You either understand it or you don't understand it." In my opinion, it is right.

3. "I don't know why. It happens by itself. You either like it or you don't. You either understand it or you don't." I can't rephrase this one because I am not sure if "or not" can be used in this way.

I wouldn't. Either you do like it or you don't like it.
That's how I'd say it.
 

Rachel Adams

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That's how I'd say it.

Thank you very much. Do these sound natural?

1 "You either like it or not, you either understand it or not."

2. "You (removed "either") like it or you don't like it. You either understand it or you don't understand it."

3. "You either like it or not, understand it or not."
 

Charlie Bernstein

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Thank you very much. Do these sound natural?

1 "You either like it or you don't, you either understand it or you don't."

2. "You (removed "either") like it or you don't like it. You either understand it or you don't understand it."

3. "You either like it or you don't, understand it or don't."
It's the same as what I said above. "You either understand it or not" isn't terrible, but I think using don't is more natural and logical in those sentences.
 
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