ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: Courts, award, custody, circumstance, tide, equally

Grammar Geek — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:06:57 GMT

An idiom meaning that he got there/did something/told a story before I did.

Re: Courts, award, custody, circumstance, tide, equally

Desireandlove — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:04:40 GMT

I see Clive has beaten me to the punch

Beaten me to the punch? What does that mean?

Re: Courts, award, custody, circumstance, tide, equally

Desireandlove — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:54:53 GMT

Yes, I did, but did not unsterdand well in the dictionary. Thanks for helping me, I appreciate your efforts.

Re: Courts, award, custody, circumstance, tide, equally

Grammar Geek — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:52:14 GMT

Hello D&L,

It would be easier to explain this if we had more context. Some of the words, like circumstances and equally, are common words not used idiomatically, so I don't know why they are causing you trouble.

The courts - custody is decided in the court, by the judge or other official.

Custody - who is determined to be repsonsible for a child (or the children) in a divorce. We use the phrase "custody is awarded to..." or "they were awarded joint custody"

Circumtances - You can use your dictionary for this. I don't know what the context is, so I don't know what the circumstances are.

"The tide is turning" - an idom to say things are changing

equally able - just as good at something as someone else - in this case, men are just as good at being parents as women

(I'm surpised when custody goes to any single parent these days - most courts award joint custody unless there is something seriously wrong with one parent.)

EDIT: Sorry to have been so slow. I see Clive has beaten me to the punch. However, since I'm divorced from my children's father, if you have specific questions about how this works, please let me know.

Re: Courts, award, custody, circumstance, tide, equally

Clive — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:47:24 GMT

Hi,

here's the sentence I do understand, but there are some words I need explanations on.

"They seemed really shocked that the courts legal institutions, presided over by a judge (did youlook in your dictionary? )

would award custody to the father give the father the right/responsibility to take care of and make decisions for the children (simply put, the children live with the father)

in those circumstances. in that situation

I think that maybe the tide is turning this phrase means that the course of events is starting to go in an opposite direction. The courts used to see mothers as better able to look after children, but now the courts are beginning to change their opinion.

and men are being seen as equally able to look after children." men's abilty to look after children is seen to be the same as women's ability to do that (did you look in your dictionary?)

Best wishes, Clive

Courts, award, custody, circumstance, tide, equally

Desireandlove — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:38:43 GMT

Hi again!

I maybe tend to ask a lot of questions which are simple for you guys, and there's a reason why I am asking you many questions. English is my third language and therefore it is hard to learn. I hope I someday will become better in English than I do now.

Anyway, here's the sentence I do understand, but there are some words I need explanations on.

"They seemed really shocked that the courts would award custody to the father in those circumstances. I think that maybe the tide is turning and men are being seen as equally able to look after children."

PS! You can just correcting my errors, this is the only way I can learn my errors and perhaps improve my English.