[title]Family quotes[/title] [description]Welcome to our family quotes section! Here you'll find some of the funniest (and wisest) quotes on the subject of family life![/description]
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Latest post Tue, Aug 11 2009 2:25 PM by Clive. 5 replies.
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Snappy  +  855893 Mon, 10 Aug 09 06:55 PM
Does this conversation sound natural?

A: Can you tell me how to restart this machine?
B: Sure. It's easy. Open the top cover and press a small green button that is located on the back of the top cover.

Should it be "press the small green button" instead of "press a small green button" because there is only one small green button on the back of the top cover?

B did not know the existence of the small green button until A told B. Therefore, I'm wondering if either "press a small green button" or "press the small green button" will do in this case.

Joined on Tue, Mar 24 2009
Kobe, Japan
Full Member 209
Clive  +  856028 Mon, 10 Aug 09 08:58 PM
Hi,

Does this conversation sound natural? No, it doesn't. Here's the natural version.

 

A: Can you tell me how to restart this machine, please?
B: Sure. It's easy. Just press this button.

 

Clive

 

 

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004
Canada
Veteran Member 29,672
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
Snappy  +  856061 Mon, 10 Aug 09 09:22 PM
Clive
Hi,


Does this conversation sound natural? No, it doesn't. Here's the natural version.

 

A: Can you tell me how to restart this machine, please?
B: Sure. It's easy. Just press this button.

 

Clive




Thanks.  Please guess when they talk to each other over the phone. The point of my question is "press the green button" or "press a green button."

Clive  +  856077 Mon, 10 Aug 09 09:36 PM
Hi,

Please guess when they talk to each other over the phone. OK, but you didn't say that.

On the phone, you wouldn't usually begin by simply speaking of 'this machine'. 

 

(Begin by saying things like 'Hi B, this is A. I'm having trouble with the photo-copier.)

A: Can you tell me how to restart it, please?
B: Sure. It's easy. Open the top cover. Do you see the small green button on the back of the cover?

A: Yes, I do.

B: Just press it/that.

 

Should it be "press the small green button" instead of "press a small green button" because there is only one small green button on the back of the top cover? Yes.

 

Clive

 

 

Snappy  +  856827 Tue, 11 Aug 09 09:12 AM
Thanks.


English grammar books published in Japan explains:
"This is the doll that he made yesterday," suggests that he made only one doll yesterday.
"This is a doll that he made yesterday," suggests that he made more than one doll yesterday.


Nevertheless, can I use "This is a doll that he made yesterday" in the following cases?
1. I do not know how many dolls he made yesterday (he might have made one doll or more than one doll).
2. It does not look like a doll (because he is clumsy and the person I am talking to said, "What's this waste cloth?" In this case, it does not matter how many dolls he made yesterday.)

Clive  +  857125 Tue, 11 Aug 09 02:25 PM

Hi again,

English grammar books published in Japan explains:
"This is the doll that he made yesterday," suggests that he made only one doll yesterday. Yes.

 It also suggests that the listener is already aware that a doll was made.

 

You might like to consider these examples.

example 1.

I don't know you make dolls.

You walk into the room and say 'This is a doll that I made yesterday'.

I say 'Oh, how nice'.

 

example 2.

I  don't know you make dolls.

You walk into the room and say 'This is the doll that I made yesterday'.

I say 'What doll? What are you talking about?'


"This is a doll that he made yesterday," suggests that he made more than one doll yesterday. I'd say it depends on the context.


Nevertheless, can I use "This is a doll that he made yesterday" in the following cases?
1. I do not know how many dolls he made yesterday (he might have made one doll or more than one doll). Yes
2. It does not look like a doll (because he is clumsy and the person I am talking to said, "What's this waste cloth?" In this case, it does not matter how many dolls he made yesterday.) Yes

 

Clive


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