ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: not so new car

Tidus — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:21:42 GMT

Marius Hancu
Tidus:

I just wander why took but would watch

in terms of consistency

Was trying to keep it as close as possible to the original. If I was saying it, I would probably say "I always watched", but in this context "would watch" means the same thing and is something that people do say.

Re: not so new car

New2grammar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:40:23 GMT

Thanks for the explanation. It helps to understand what they mean rather than using them blindly. I see the picture now. Thanks a lot!!

Re: not so new car

Mister Micawber — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:26:09 GMT

.
They are prepositions of relative position. The potholes and bumps are under your car, so I suggest over. Through suggests enclosure and/or duration-- you might speed through a very large pothole, especially if it were full of water.

Re: not so new car

New2grammar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:15:57 GMT

Thank you so much, everyone. Just one question, what's the difference between speed through and speed over? I get some hits on Google for speed through.

Re: not so new car

Tidus — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:15:10 GMT

PS: When I said "this is better" I mean better than the original rather than better than the other replies

Re: not so new car

Marius Hancu — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:13:53 GMT

Tidus:

I just wander why took but would watch

in terms of consistency

Re: not so new car

Tidus — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:09:32 GMT

This is better:

When I had just bought my brand new car, I ~~would take~~ took good care of it. Whenever I took it out I would watch for bumps, and park in well-lit areas. Now that it's no longer perfect ~~from~~ and has scratches and dents, I speed ~~through~~ over bumps and potholes.

Re: not so new car

Mister Micawber — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:08:31 GMT

.

The past habitual 'would' is not so common now. I would write it this way:

Right after I bought my new car, I took good care of it. Whenever I took it out, I watched for bumps and parked in well-lit areas. Now that it's covered with scratches and dents, I speed over bumps and potholes.

Re: not so new car

Marius Hancu — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:08:22 GMT

Now that it's no longer free from scratches and dents

Now that it's no longer perfect, from scratches and dents,

not so new car

New2grammar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:48:11 GMT

When I just bought my brand new car, I would take good care of it. Whenever I took it out, I would watch for bumps and park in well-lit areas. Now that it's no longer perfect from scratches and dents, I speed through bumps and potholes.

Is the above correct and natural?
Thanks.