I have some questions..

[Anonymous]

Hello teacher.
Would you answer my questions ?
Q1. What is the difference between sentence A and B ?
1-1-A)They were both fast asleep in their cots.
1-1-B)They both were fast asleep in their cots.

1-2-A)No BANK could ever pay off its creditors.
1-2-B)No BANKS could ever pay off its creditors.

Q2. Can I change the sentence A into B ? And if A can be changed into B, each sentence has the same meanings?
A) I tapped him on THE shoulder. (I found this in my dictionary.)
B) I tapped him on HIS shoulder.

Thanks!

 

[RonBee]

1-1-A)They were both fast asleep in their cots.
1-1-B)They both were fast asleep in their cots.

They both mean the same thing.

1-2-A)No BANK could ever pay off its creditors.
1-2-B)No BANKS could ever pay off its creditors.

The second one is grammatically incorrect. It should be: "No banks could ever pay off their creditors."

Q2. Can I change the sentence A into B ? And if A can be changed into B, each sentence has the same meanings?
A) I tapped him on THE shoulder. (I found this in my dictionary.)
B) I tapped him on HIS shoulder.

The two sentences mean the same thing.

8)

 

[Tdol]

1-1-A)They were both fast asleep in their cots.
1-1-B)They both were fast asleep in their cots.

I'd say that they're could be a small difference- in the second, by moving the position of 'both, you could imply a degree of surprise that the two and not one were alseep. ;-)

 

[RonBee]

1-1-A)They were both fast asleep in their cots.
1-1-B)They both were fast asleep in their cots.

I'd say that they're could be a small difference- in the second, by moving the position of 'both, you could imply a degree of surprise that the two and not one were alseep. ;-)

Maybe so, but context would make more difference.

When I went into their bedroom I was surprised at what I saw. They were both fast asleep in their cots.

I went into the bedroom to see why they were so quiet. They both were fast asleep in their cots.

8)

 

[Tdol]

Definitely. ;-)