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Sentence structures: How flexible?

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Latest post Thu, May 29 2008 2:30 AM by CalifJim. 6 replies.
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EagerSeeker  +  519762 Tue, 27 May 08 09:05 PM

Hi everybody!

I have been wondering lately how flexibly I can speak English. 

Can I separate "was" and "..ing" like I have done in the option a and b and still mean the same thing like in the option c (was watching)?

Which one is the recommended way to form sentences? Or all of them?

a) I was in the movies yesterday watching the newest Indiana Jones.

b) I was in the movies yesterday and watching the newest Indiana Jones.

c) I was watching the newest Indiana Jones in the movies yesterday.

 

Thanks

 

 

 
EagerSeeker
Joined on Tue, May 27 2008
Finland
Junior Member 55
optilang  +  519766 Tue, 27 May 08 09:12 PM
a) I was in the movies yesterday watching the newest Indiana Jones. 

 c) I was watching the newest Indiana Jones in the movies yesterday.

 

These two seem ok to me, but I would say I was at  the movies/ at the cinema ...........  watching the latest Indiana Jones film
optilang
Joined on Tue, May 13 2008
Poland
Senior Member 2,521
OptiNative British English Speaker Wherever I may roam, I'm still a Londoner.
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EagerSeeker  +  519784 Tue, 27 May 08 10:03 PM

Thanks for advice!

I forgot the difference between at and in when the context is different (I guess you can use in when saying "I've always wanted to work in the movies").

But I didn't understand the difference between the newest and the latest. Don't they mean the same thing? Can you explain, please?

 

 

 

 

 
EagerSeeker
,
Goodman  +  519788 Tue, 27 May 08 10:07 PM
EagerSeeker
“

Hi everybody!

I have been wondering lately how flexibly I can speak English. 

Can I separate "was" and "..ing" like I have done in the option a and b and still mean the same thing like in the option c (was watching)?

Which one is the recommended way to form sentences? Or all of them?


Thanks




”

EagerSeeker

a) I was (at)  the movies yesterday for the newest Indiana Jones. (sequel). 
It'd be more natural to word it this way for the intended meaning: I went to the theater to see the newest Indiana Jones sequel.
                                                                          Or
b) I was (at the theater) in the movies yesterday and watching to see the newest Indiana Jones sequel.

c) I was watching the newest Indiana Jones in the movies (theater) yesterday. -#3 is a combination of A and B; it's not very fluent in my opinion
Goodman
Joined on Mon, Nov 7 2005
Senior Member 3,816
The name says it all!
Clive  +  519893 Wed, 28 May 08 05:30 AM

Hi guys,

In casual, everyday speech, you don't need to add the word 'sequel'. Smile

Best wishes, Clive

 
Clive
Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004
Canada
Veteran Member 29,650
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
EagerSeeker  +  520215 Wed, 28 May 08 10:18 PM

Goodman
“

a) I was (at)  the movies yesterday for the newest Indiana Jones. (sequel). 
It'd be more natural to word it this way for the intended meaning: I went to the theater to see the newest Indiana Jones sequel.
                                                                          Or
b) I was (at the theater) in the movies yesterday and watching to see the newest Indiana Jones sequel.

c) I was watching the newest Indiana Jones in the movies (theater) yesterday. -#3 is a combination of A and B; it's not very fluent in my opinion

”

Hey, nice to see other alternatives. But are you suggesting that I should avoid using the "watching" and rather use the "for" and "to see"?

In my country (Finland) I would like to think a little bit differently and use the following sentences (though I understand your suggestions very well):

a) I was at the movies yesterday watching the newest Indiana Jones.

b) I was watching the newest Indiana Jones at the movies yesterday.

But are we now talking about idiomatic English?, In other words, the a and b are not idiomatic English but it is not a big deal?
EagerSeeker
CalifJim  +  520267 Thu, 29 May 08 02:30 AM
Which one is the recommended way to form sentences? Or all of them?

a) I was at the movies yesterday watching the newest Indiana Jones. Yes.

b) I was at the movies yesterday and watching the newest Indiana Jones. No. You can't connect two different usages of was with and.  (was where and was doing.)  You have to repeat the auxiliary was.  b) is like saying "She went away in a Cadillac and a bad mood."  Smile

c) I was watching the newest Indiana Jones at the movies yesterday. Yes.

_______ 

But note that a) does not have the verb phrase was watching.  It's two separate clauses, the second a participial construction.  The verb phrase of a clause cannot be separated by phrases like at the movies yesterday.

-- Where were you yesterday?

-- I was at the movies yesterday. 

-- What were you doing there?

-- Watching the newest Indiana Jones.

Thus:  I was at the movies yesterday.  ||   (I was) watching the newest Indiana Jones (there).

In c) the emphasis is different:

What were you doing yesterday?

I was watching the newest Indiana Jones at the movies (yesterday). 

a) is essentially about where you were.  What you were doing is incidental added information.  c) is essentially about what you were doing.  Where you were is incidental added information.

CJ 
CalifJim
Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004
California
Veteran Member 22,447
"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche
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