eagerness  +  619725 Wed, 24 Dec 08 02:29 AM Can you please tell me if the below sentence is grammaticaly correct? This is what I said to a friend of mine after he had been released from the hospital. " I did not know you had been in the hospital. I am really sorry I did not visit you.'  This sentence has just occured to me, which is something I have been wanting to ask but I keep forgeting. If you did not know that they were brothers, you would never be able to distinguish them. I am still new to English, so I desperately need help clarifying some of parts of English language. Thank you so much for your time and help.   eagerness Joined on Tue, Jul 1 2008 New Member 39 Relationships, Sentences, Countries, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Friendships, Friends, Apologies, Languages

	CalifJim  +  619738 Wed, 24 Dec 08 02:49 AM I did not know you had been in the hospital. I am really sorry I did not visit you” Fine.  But in normal conversations, native speakers use contractions.  The following is much more natural: I didn't know you'd been in the hospital.  I'm really sorry I didn't visit you. ______ If you did not know that they were brothers, you would never be able to distinguish them.” Yes, but again, contractions are needed to create a natural effect. If you didn't know they were brothers, you'd never be able to distinguish them. I'm not sure what you're trying to say here. They are so different that you would never know they were brothers??? CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,128 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Spelling, Contractions, Speaking, Chat, Friendships, Conversational, Apologies

	Yankee  +  619749 Wed, 24 Dec 08 02:58 AM Hi Your first sentence is grammatically OK.  In spoken English, however, you would normally use contractions: - I didn't know you'd been in the hospital. I'm really sorry I didn't visit you. I'm not really sure what you mean in your second sentence -- i.e. I don't really understand the connection between the first half and the second half.  However, if your point is that the two brothers look very much alike, then I'd suggest using "tell them apart" rather than "distinguish them". . EDIT: Oops!  Jim posted faster than I did. Yankee Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006 Connecticut, USA Veteran Member 6,409 Amy "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain Spelling, Contractions, Sentences, Countries, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Apologies, Languages