21 on "Or alternately, he could" 238 on "Or alternatively, he could" [seems more popular http://books.google.com/books?q=%22Or+alternatively%2C+he+could%22&btnG=Search+Books

GB hits: 74 on "after a long thought" 233 on "after thinking for a long time" [more popular Also, I consider a long thought wrong . It's not just one thought that's involved, it's a multitude of them, a process .

The circle/domain of belonging is not the same in the two examples ( family for the 2nd) and you still haven't guessed the right one for the first case. So, go on.

Owing to his dreaming of buying a Gameboy Owing to his dreaming of/about a Gameboy [less clear Owing to his desire to buy a GameBoy

No, the current status is not unambiguously defined in present perfect situations. This commentary by Phil White in another forum may help: -- Phil White wrote: The present perfect here appears to be problematic (to me): I've wanted to

> Does it mean that I finally found it after searching for a long time? Not necessarily, but it could. What is shows is that the alternative showed up with much less effort and a bit of chance.

>If the requirements were correct, there would have been less defects Many would frown/object at the above. Use: If the requirements had been correct, there would have been less defects. PAST CONDITION leads (if satisfied) to PAST

> It would be hard if not actually senseless to specify a target at which all violin concertos are aiming, and in relation to which one could say that concerto A got nearer to the target than concerto B. The rough meaning is that: It is

"If the requirements had been given correctly, there would have been less defects". [past in the conclusion, contrary to the fact, there WERE NOT less defects "If the requirements had been given correctly, there would be less

>I remember reading somewhere that "been" must no be used more than once in these type of sentences(like what Huevos has used). Please correct me if I am wrong. I thinks this is wrong. See: --------- Remaking the World: The