they took us to several places including the malls, museums and a free tour

[Hay]

I ran into a story translated by a non-native English speaker and I think there's something wrong with the words in bold. I can't decide, though. Am I correct?
"According to the programme of the holiday, they took us to several places including the malls, museums and a free tour.... But the worst thing is that the weather was rainy..... It was really a wonderful holiday after a hard school year. "

 

[Barque]

they took us to several places including the malls,

If he had already referred to the malls, "the" is correct.

But the worst thing is that the weather was rainy

If he's talking about the weather at that time, he needs to use "was".

after a hard school year.

This sounds all right.

 

[Hay]

If he had already referred to the malls, "the" is correct.


If he's talking about the weather at that time, he needs to use "was".


This sounds all right.

 

[Hay]

So if the word" malls" wasn't mentioned before, would it be correct to omit "the"? Is that what you mean?
Should we put comma before "including"?
Many thanks

 

[Barque]

So if the word" malls" wasn't mentioned before, would it be correct to omit "the"? Is that what you mean?

Yes.

Should we put in a comma before "including"?

No.

According to the programme of the holiday,

This is unnatural phrasing by the way. It can either be dropped or the sentence can be reworded to say "The programme included visits to various places including malls and museums and a free tour of ..."

 

[5jj]

Should we put a comma before "including"?

I would.

 

[Hay]

Yes.
No.

This is unnatural phrasing by the way. It can either be dropped or the sentence can be reworded to say "The programme included visits to various places including malls and museums and a free tour of ..."

Does it sound natural to end the sentence like this".... and a free tour. " without using "of" after "tour".
Thanks again

 

[emsr2d2]

Does it sound natural to end the sentence like this with "... and a free tour", without using "of" after "tour"?
Thanks again

Note my changes above. You can't end the sentence with "and a free tour of." That's not grammatical. You have to end with either "and a free tour" or "and a free tour of [place/area]".

Don't thank us in advance for anything. Thank us after we help you, by adding the "Thanks" icon to any post you find helpful. It saves time for everyone.

 

[Tarheel]

Perhaps:

One bad thing was the weather. It rained all day.

If it was the only bad thing worth mentioning, then why say it was the worst thing?

 

[emsr2d2]

I ran into came across a story translated by a non-native English speaker and I think there's something wrong with the words in bold. I can't decide, though. Am I correct?
"According to the programme of the holiday, they took us to several places including the malls, museums and a free tour, but the worst thing is that the weather was rainy. It was really a wonderful holiday after a hard school year. "

Note my corrections above. If you transcribed it exactly as you found it, the writer made errors by using those four dots - there are only three in an ellipsis, and an ellipsis wasn't appropriate in either position.

 

[Barque]

and a free tour. "

I assumed you meant a free tour of some place and the name of the place had been replaced with those dots.

I wouldn't just end it with "and a free tour". I'd specify what the free tour was of.

 

[Hay]

Perhaps:

One bad thing was the weather. It rained all day.

If it was the only bad thing worth mentioning, then why say it was the worst thing?

The sentences before this says, " Last year I went on a holiday to Cairo in Egypt. I went with my family....... The best thing about the holiday was that we visited a variety places, old and modern, but the worst thing is the weather was rainy."
If there are some mistakes could you please point them out?

 

[tedmc]

I see no reason to use the ellipsises. I think they spoil the writing.

 

[emsr2d2]

I see no reason to use the ellipsises ellipses. I think they spoil the writing.

@Hay If and when you need to use an ellipsis (only when it's appropriate), remember that it consists of only three dots with a space either end.

 

[Tarheel]

I wouldn't use "worst" unless I was comparing that thing to other bad things. In fact, in conversation you might hear somebody talk about his troubles and at some point day, "Oh, but you haven't heard the worst of it yet."

I wouldn't use "worst" to talk about one bad thing that wasn't all that bad. (Having to put up with rain is pretty far down the list of bad things that can happen to you.)

 

[Tarheel]

The sentences before this says, " Last year I went on a holiday to Cairo in Egypt. I went with my family....... The best thing about the holiday was that we visited a variety places, old and modern, but the worst thing is the weather was rainy."
If there are some mistakes could you please point them out?

I just realized that I didn't read that completely before. If you are comparing the best thing that happened to the worst thing that happened then it sort of makes sense.

If you got to visit several places it was a good day.

I would say: some old and some new, OR some modern and some ancient.