Sentence transformation 30/4

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Hela  #221394  Mon, 01 May 06 01:27 AM

Dear teachers,

Would you please correct my exercise?

1) Jack runs a small business. He started doing this five years ago.
a) Jack has run a small business since 2001.
b) Jack has been running a small business for 5 years.

2) Jan is living with Peter. This started in 1995.
a) Jan has been living with Peter since 1995.
b) Jan has been living with Peter for 11 years.

3) Sam is learning Turkish. He started 3 years ago.
a) Sam has been learning Turkish since 2003.
b) Sam has been learning Turkish for 3 years.  

4) We ought to paint the kitchen. The walls look very dirty.
    It is time we painted the kitchen.

5) They say he is the wealthiest man in town.
    He is said to be the wealthiest man in town.

6) Though he read a lot, his spelling remained appalling.
    However much he read, his spelling remained appalling.

7) The heat was such that I nearly fainted.
    It was so hot that I nearly fainted.

8) My sister hasn’t written for months. I really hope to hear from her soon.
    I am looking forward to hearing from her soon.

9) My holiday starts next week. I wish it started today.
a) I am really looking forward to the beginning of my holiday.
b) I am really looking forward to my next week’s holiday (?)

10) I have never eaten such a dish.
     It’s the first time I have eaten such a dish.

11) I would prefer you to leave me alone.
     I would rather you left me alone.

12) You ought to stop smoking.
      It’s time you stopped smoking.

13) That team hasn’t won a match for ages.
a)  It’s about time that team won a match.
b)  It’s ages since that team had won / won (?) a match.   

Thanks a lot!
Hela

  
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Clive  #221409  Mon, 01 May 06 02:44 AM

Hi Hela,

6) Though he read a lot, his spelling remained appalling.
    However much he read, his spelling remained appalling. The grammar is OK. Is is the logic sound? Does your version suggest that even if he had read 100 times more, his spelling would remain appalling?

9) My holiday starts next week. I wish it started today.
a) I am really looking forward to the beginning of my holiday. OK
b) I am really looking forward to my next week’s holiday (?) OK to me.

10) I have never eaten such a dish.  
     It’s the first time I have eaten such a dish. The original statement only implies that you are eating it now.

13) That team hasn’t won a match for ages.
a)  It’s about time that team won a match. No, I don't think the  original statement suggests that. Perhaps the team is still terrible today.
b)  It’s ages since that team  won a match.  

You did this exercise well. In 10 and 13, I'm being a bit picky with you.

Best wishes, Clive

  
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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
Hela  #221410  Mon, 01 May 06 02:53 AM

Hello Clive Big Smile [:D]

I'll try to think of better answers...

Kind regards

  
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