Forums » ESL, Rules of English Grammar, Help and Games » ESL General English Grammar Questions » I wish I could speak English as fast as I speak Japanese.

I wish I could speak English as fast as I speak Japanese.
   Share on Facebook  
Liveinjapan  #477615  Sat, 16 Feb 08 05:30 PM

I wish I could speak English as fast as I speak Japanese.

I wish I could speak English as fast as I can speak Japanese.

Are they correct?

Can can be omitted?

Is there any other word can be omitted?

Thanks
LiJ
  
Top 75 Contributor
Joined on Sun, Feb 4 2007
Osaka, Japan
Contributing Member (1,593)
Please feel free to correct any words I wrote.LiJ
Philip  #477642  Sat, 16 Feb 08 07:00 PM

Liveinjapan

I wish I could speak English as fast as I speak Japanese.

I wish I could speak English as fast as I can speak Japanese.

Are they correct?

Can can be omitted?

Is there any other word can be omitted?

Thanks
LiJ

"Can" may be omitted.  You could also say "as fast as Japanese", and you would be fully understood.  It isn't very good form, however.
  
Top 25 Contributor
Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005
USA Pacific Northwest (Seattle)
Veteran Member (6,181)
ModeratorProficient Speaker
At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen
Clive  #477648  Sat, 16 Feb 08 07:08 PM

Hi,

I wish I could speak English as fast as I speak Japanese.

I wish I could speak English as fast as I can speak Japanese.

Are they correct? Yes.

Can can be omitted? Yes.

Is there any other word can be omitted? You could say it this way.

I wish I could speak English as fast as I can Japanese. Some people might put a comma before 'Japanese'.

I wish I could speak English as fast as Japanese. However, as you start to leave a lot of words out, you have to be careful that other interpretations are not possible. The context will normally makes the meaning clear.

Best wishes, Clive
  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004
Canada
Veteran Member (21,168)
ModeratorTeachers
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
,
Liveinjapan  #477781  Sun, 17 Feb 08 03:46 AM

Thanks, Philip and Clive.

Got it!
  
Peaceblinkfriend  #477785  Sun, 17 Feb 08 03:56 AM
You could also say 'I wish I could speak English fluently' and 'I 'd like to speak English fluently'. I suppose they both express the same sort of idea as your sentences do without sounding too wordy. 

 

PBF 
  
Top 75 Contributor
Joined on Wed, May 9 2007
Australia
Contributing Member (1,570)
Liveinjapan  #477816  Sun, 17 Feb 08 05:11 AM

Thanks, Peace. Smile

I think I could also say: I'd like to speak English more fluently.
  
Anonymous  #503073  Sun, 20 Apr 08 08:52 PM
Clive I think you have made a grammatical error in your answer. You've said

"The context will normally makes the meaning clear."

in stead of

"The context will normally make the meaning clear."

Am I right? English is not my native language, therefore I'm just asking.

Regards, Chris
  
,
Clive  #503079  Sun, 20 Apr 08 09:12 PM

Hi,

Yes, I mistyped. Sorry.

Clive
  
AddThis Feed Button RSS Feed: ESL General English Grammar Questions
© 2008 MediaCET Ltd.
Terms and Conditions & Terms of Service