Hello and welcome to my thread.
My English teacher has corrected a translation of mine, and while I don't doubt her abilities, I would like a second opinion.
The questions are as follows:
- "A lot of progress was made[...]" or "Much progress was made[...]" - which one is better?
- planter or plantation owner - which one is better?
- sugar mill or cane mill - which one is better?
- "[...] and it was difficult to identify the culprits." or "[...] and it was difficult to find the culprits." - which one is better?
- "Many died from the inhuman conditions on board the ships." or "Many died from the inhumane conditions on board the ships." - which one is better?
- "The survivors were sold like cattle to white planters at auctions, where men often were separated from their wives and children." or "The survivors were sold like cattle to white planters at auctions, where husbands often were separated from their wives and children." - which one is better?
What's the difference between saying 'often were' separated from their wives and children, and 'were often' separated from their wives and children? My teacher says that they are both correct, however, it looks better if you write "often were separated". So, in effect, the auxiliary verb lies next to the verb.
- The strongest men and women worked in the (is 'the' really needed here?) tobacco and cotton fields in the South and at sugar mills in the West Indies.
- "Only few – especially beautiful, young Negro girls – worked as house slaves [...]" or "Only a few – especially the beautiful, young Negro girls – worked as house slaves [...]" which one is better?
Thanks beforehand,
Ben.