When I answer a reader question over English, I try not to say much. Instead I choose to trust the reader to find out the answers by themselves. This attitude of non-interference, thank you very much, often works.
Here, for example, is a little to-and-fro with Shirlie (who always seems to have another question ready for me the minute I have answered the last one):
Xin: Thanks for writing. Please hit this link (omitted) for reply in detail.
Shirlie: Thank you very much…. But I'm sorry I have to bother you again. This time I'm really confused by some explanation about a 20-minute walk and a 20 minutes' walk. I think they are both right. But some said they are not. Here I copied the original question for you:
3. Every morning Mr. Smith takes a ______ to his office.
A.20 minutes' walk B.20 minute's walk
C.20-minutes walk D.20-minute walk
The answer is A. But others say the answer is D. I think both are right. Some said they chose D because A needn't an article. Is that right? I don't think they are right. What's your opinion?
Xin: Never mind my opinion (it's not a matter of opinion, is it?), the answer is D. Have a good day.
Shirlie: Thanks, but I'm still wondering why A is not right? Even some books say "a 20 minutes' walk" is right.
Xin: May I challenge you to produce the book?
Shirlie: Thank you for your patience. I'm the last one who wants you to be bothered by silly grammatical questions, which drive me crazy sometimes and I'm trying to escape from them. I'm sorry I can not present you the book because the book is not available now, but the website is available. You would say it's stupid to believe in the websites, yap, sometimes it is true. The book won't be available until next week when I go home. So I will make everything clear at that time. The website is here (omitted).
Xin: I'll skip the website in anticipation of the book. Yes, I "would say it's stupid to believe in websites", but I wouldn't say "yap".
These days, one can't even believe in books (which is why I asked you to kindly produce it in the first place), not to mention websites.
Shirlie: I returned home and found out what the book told their readers is: 20 minutes' walk; a 20-minute walk; they are both right. Sorry to have bothered you because of my poor memory.
Xin: Now that you've produced the book, you may look at it this way: If "a 20 minutes' walk" is as good as "a 20-minute walk", "20-minute" as adjective would not have been invented.
To cure from this book, read other books.
Shirlie: Haa, to look at a thing in a different way can be so interesting. Your suggestion is good and I will try it with other problems. Still I have a question: Can "still" modify "others"? Like in this sentence: There are some robots working in factories, others working in the hospitals, ____ (still others/ the others) working in the schools.
Xin: "Still I have a question", as though I didn't know... Now, can "still" modify "others"? Apparently yes. Here, "still" is not a modifier, though. It's an adverb.
An easy example: Some readers ask questions. Others don't. Some ask one question and leave me alone. Some others ask two or more questions but all of them at once. Still others, such as Shirlie, prefer to ask one question after another.
In fact, I'm sure Shirlie has still another one up her sleeve right now, ready to release the moment she reads this.
Got to run...
国内英语资讯:Chinese Vice Premier stresses safety of venue construction for Beijing 2022
国际英语资讯:Feature: South Africa seeks greater tourism growth through BRICS summit
日本公司赚钱有奇招 出租腋窝当广告位
Family Rules 家风家训
体坛英语资讯:Unified table tennis team of S.Korea, DPRK wins 1st victory in preliminary of intl event
This Is Me 这就是我
体坛英语资讯:Organizers: No new venues for Beijing 2022 newly added seven events
《真实的人类》翻拍中国版!女主角是戚薇!
国内英语资讯:Senior Chinese official meets British foreign secretary
《破产姐妹》主演大婚,女神终于找到了白马王子
About the Future 关于未来
国内英语资讯:Premier Li stresses improving full-cycle vaccine monitoring system
塔利班称上周与美国高官会谈
比伯海莉大婚在即?双方都见牧师了!
日本与欧盟签自贸协议 承诺取消99%关税
国内英语资讯:China allocates 140 bln yuan to help needy groups
体坛英语资讯:Feature: Football passion overwhelms politics in Damascus in World Cup final
体坛英语资讯:Marathons, walking race at Tokyo 2020 to start in early morning to avoid heat
国内英语资讯:Government vows to promote fair and quality education
国际英语资讯:Trump says ready to meet with Iranian president without preconditions
国际英语资讯:Delays continue at Munich airport after security breach
今年中国学生海外游学规模将达100万人次
国际英语资讯:Russia criticizes U.S. refusal to partake in Syrian talks in Sochi
国内英语资讯:Xinhua discusses media innovation cooperation with Israel
全国多地相继出台催二孩政策
Offer the Seat to Others 让座
津巴布韦选民参加穆加贝辞职后首次总统大选
国内英语资讯:Top legislature to inspect TCM law enforcement
还有这种美事?只要起床就能赚钱的APP
The Story of Love 爱的故事
| 不限 |
| 英语教案 |
| 英语课件 |
| 英语试题 |
| 不限 |
| 不限 |
| 上册 |
| 下册 |
| 不限 |