http://www.englishforums.com/English/EslGeneralEnglishGrammar-Questions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here. <font color=red>DO NOT post paragraphs and compositions here. Post them in our <a href="http://www.englishforums.com/English/EssayReportCompositionWriting/Forum9.htm"><b>Essay, Report and Composition Writing Forum</b></a>.</font>enXMOD (Build: 3614.32638)http://www.englishforums.com/English/WordOrder/hhcgh/post.htm#619749Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:34:02 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:619749Yankee0http://www.englishforums.com/English/WordOrder/hhcgh/post.htm#619749http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-619749.xmlHi Your first sentence is grammatically OK. In spoken English, however, you would normally use contractions: - I didn&#39;t know you&#39;d been in the hospital. I&#39;m really sorry I didn&#39;t visit you. I&#39;m not really sure what you mean in your second sentence -- i.e. I don&#39;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&#39;d suggest using &quot;tell them apart&quot; rather than &quot;distinguish them&quot; . . EDIT: Oops! Jim posted faster than I did.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WordOrder/hhcgh/post.htm#619738Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:34:02 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:619738CalifJim1http://www.englishforums.com/English/WordOrder/hhcgh/post.htm#619738http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-619738.xmlI 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&#39;t know you&#39;d been in the hospital. I&#39;m really sorry I didn&#39;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&#39;t know they were brothers, you&#39;d never be able to distinguish them. I&#39;m not sure what you&#39;re trying to say here. They are so different that you would never know they were brothers??? CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/WordOrder/hhcgh/post.htmMon, 23 Mar 2009 23:34:02 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:619725eagerness2http://www.englishforums.com/English/WordOrder/hhcgh/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-619725.xmlCan 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. &quot; I did not know you had been in the hospital. I am really sorry I did not visit you.&#39; 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.