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Latest post Fri, Aug 8 2008 7:22 PM by CalifJim. 6 replies.
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Seraphin  +  552268 Thu, 07 Aug 08 08:51 PM
Are these two expressions interchangeable ? Or if in fact one is correct, the other incorrect.
(a) I wonder if there is a possibility that I can borrow some money from you.
(b) I wonder if it is a possibility that I can borrow some money from you.
Seraphin
Joined on Sat, Feb 9 2008
Full Member 151
Diamondrg, 1 yr 92 days ago
I bet my money on b) being wrong.
Related discussions
Seraphin, 1 yr 92 days ago
will see if I can claim your bet :) 
(unless you are a native speaker, then I could concede )
Yoong Liat, 1 yr 92 days ago

(a) is correct.

Seraphin, 1 yr 92 days ago
sorry for bringing this back onto the top of the list.
Any native speaker cares for a comment? Thanks
Clive  +  552614 Fri, 08 Aug 08 06:50 PM
Hi,
Define 'wrong', please. (;)) Wink

I wouldn't say B is incorrect grammar, but it sounds odd, awkward and unnatural.

Clive
Clive
Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004
Canada
Veteran Member 29,304
El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo
CalifJim  +  552632 Fri, 08 Aug 08 07:22 PM
Seraphin
“Are these two expressions interchangeable ?”
No.  You need one of these:

I wonder if I can borrow some money from you.

I wonder if it would be possible to borrow some money from you.

I wonder if it would be possible for me to borrow some money from you.

I wonder if there's any possibility that I might borrow some money from you.

I wonder if there's any possibility that I could borrow some money from you.

I wonder if there's any possibility of my borrowing some money from you. 

Note:  possible to ...; possible for ... to ...; possibility that ... might/could ...; possibility of ... -ing ...

CJ 
CalifJim
Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004
California
Veteran Member 22,129
"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche
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