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Help with English

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Help with English

Jeff Corey said:


Is the proper response to that, "My room or yours?"?
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His.
 
Puppycow said:
I had slight doubts about this too. While the meaning does seem slightly different, I was unable to think of a common way of saying "delicate in health." Perhaps "with a weak constitution"? The concept exists, but it just doesn't seem to be something people use much anymore. Maybe "with a weak immune system"?
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That's hard. "Weak immune system" generally implies AIDS or maybe Lupus.

"Sickly" is accurate but a bit archaic.

{b}It depends on the context. The Japanese translation in the original says "I want to have..." meaning it is intended to be a request. I think this pattern existed in the past, but has mostly fallen into disuse.[/b]
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That settles it. The translation would be extremely rude. The best non-rude example I can think of would be "I wish someone would clean up this room."
 
Thank you all for the additional replies.
I never mentioned my own age, I am 33.

Terry asked about "can" and "may." I too learned in grammar school that you must use "may" when asking for permission and "can" when discussing whether something is possible or not. However, if you start from the position that actual English is what native speakers actually use (now, not 30 years ago), and listen to how most native speakers use these words, you will find that the two are essentially interchangeable, but perhaps "can" is more common.
 
epepke said:


That's hard. "Weak immune system" generally implies AIDS or maybe Lupus.

"Sickly" is accurate but a bit archaic.
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The thought occured to me too. I think that with more people learning at least a little about modern concepts of health and medicine, that certain quaint concepts have simply been replaced. For example I think that half a century ago that the maker of a nutritional supplement might have advertised it as "beneficial for those delicate in health" or something like that, whereas nowadays they might say that it "boosts your immune system." Also, it just doesn't seem fashionable to attribute a "weak immune system" to a person themselves, but rather to point to outside causes like stress, lack of sleep, or the like. A "compromised immune system" would probably imply AIDS to me, but "weak immune system" seems a little too vague to assume the same thing.
 
I've got a few more examples from the same book that I'll post now. If anyone has the time and inclination, feedback would be appreciated.

p.28
140. Choose such friends as will benefit you, they say.
Choose friends that will benefit you, they say.

p.30
152. I am afraid that I shall not be free till the examination is over.
I am afraid that I won't (will not) be free til the exam is over.

p.32
162. It is advisable for a man or woman to acquire an accomplishment.
It is advisable for both men and women to acquire a skill.

p.34
165. I make it a rule to read the newspaper every day lest I should fall behind the times.
I make it a rule to read the newspaper every day so that I don't fall behind the times.
or
I make it a rule to read the newspaper every day in order to stay current.

173. It is desirable (to be desired) that atomic energy should be used for peaceful purposes.
It is desirable that atomic energy be used for peaceful purposes.

174. It is regrettable that few people should walk today because of the development of traffic facilities.
It is regrettable that few people walk anymore because of the development of modern transportation.

p.36
177. I think it is a great pity that he should have died so young.
I think it is tragic (a great pity) that he died so young.
 
Puppycow said:
I've got a few more examples from the same book that I'll post now. If anyone has the time and inclination, feedback would be appreciated.

p.28
140. Choose such friends as will benefit you, they say.
Choose friends that will benefit you, they say.
number 1

p.30
152. I am afraid that I shall not be free till the examination is over.
I am afraid that I won't (will not) be free til the exam is over.
number 2

p.32
162. It is advisable for a man or woman to acquire an accomplishment.
It is advisable for both men and women to acquire a skill.
number 2

p.34
165. I make it a rule to read the newspaper every day lest I should fall behind the times.
I make it a rule to read the newspaper every day so that I don't fall behind the times.
or
I make it a rule to read the newspaper every day in order to stay current.
number 2

173. It is desirable (to be desired) that atomic energy should be used for peaceful purposes.
It is desirable that atomic energy be used for peaceful purposes.
number 1

174. It is regrettable that few people should walk today because of the development of traffic facilities.
It is regrettable that few people walk anymore because of the development of modern transportation.
number 2

p.36
177. I think it is a great pity that he should have died so young.
I think it is tragic (a great pity) that he died so young.
number 1

Some of these are quite archaic, but none the less I find them more elegant. The English language is more than just a straight forward means of communication. It has subtle nuances and meanings. It can be used for everyday parlance or for high drama. Otherwise we couldn't have the monthly language award!
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Some of these are quite archaic, but none the less I find them more elegant. The English language is more than just a straight forward means of communication. It has subtle nuances and meanings. It can be used for everyday parlance or for high drama. Otherwise we couldn't have the monthly language award!
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Thank you for the fast response. I agree that sometimes the older way of saying things is more elegant, but my purpose is for teaching to the Japanese the most useful and common grammatical patterns in modern usage. I translate and edit translations for a living, and I have seen, for example, a Japanese translator who took the same pattern from the sentence "choose such friends as will benefit you, they say" and then overused it, neglecting the much more common "that" formation. For example "Today I purchased such a mobile telephone as has a digital camera installed in it" when "Today I purchased a mobile telephone that has a digital camera installed in it" would serve. That translation took a long time to edit so that it would sound natural.
 
I go with the second version in every case this time.
As an aside I was thinking about skill -v- accomplishment and came across this(my bold):

Accomplishment
4. Anything that completes, finishes off, or completely equips.
a. Formerly including bodily equipment, accoutrement;
b. now, a faculty or quality that completes or perfects a person for society---that adds delicacy of taste and elegance of manners to accuracy of knowledge and correctness of thought. As such faculties, besides accomplishing or perfecting their possessor, are usually also accomplished or attained by study and practice, as in sense 3, the common modern use of the word combines the two senses in that of _an ornamental attainment or acquirement,' i.e. some study accomplished which accomplishes the student.

So skill would seem to be fine although it's not a usage I'm familiar with.
 
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