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:Chinas top legislature starts bimonthly session
美国赌城掀“枪支婚礼”风潮
2013美国人民选择奖完整获奖名单:《饥饿游戏》成最大赢家
国内英语资讯:Xi exchanges messages with Lao leader on bus accident of Chinese tourists
体坛英语资讯:PSG beat Sydney FC 3-0 in Suzhou
体坛英语资讯:Sharapova, V. Williams awarded Cincinnati Open wildcards
国际英语资讯:U.S. state secretary visits Ottawa before G7 summit
做好时间管理,提高工作效率
外媒曝光贾斯汀比伯吸食大麻照片
研究:双语人士大脑反应速度更快
国内英语资讯:Premier Li calls for enhancing cooperation with ROK, Japan
伪心理学:从星座到手掌
谁说你做不到:赶走内心里那些消极的声音
不逼自己一把 你不知道自己到底有多强大
国际英语资讯:High time to take on protectionist measures by some developed countries: Indian minister
走下神坛的天之骄子?
又到期末考试季 淘宝论文代写忙
奇葩歌剧版《江南Style》走红:严肃点不许笑!
体坛英语资讯:Chinas Wang Yafan loses at Washington Open first round
全球最贵房产十出炉 香港天价别墅上榜
印度某村禁止女孩穿牛仔裤以免被强奸
女王发诏书:威廉王子若生女将获公主头衔
西伯利亚戒毒新招:打屁股
英国女子患癌症 花光积蓄全家旅游后意外痊愈
蔡康永:写给未知恋人的爱情短信
驾照考试更严苛,抱怨连连
美企业研制专供狗狗饮用的啤酒
梅西荣获2017金球奖 四连冠成历史第一人
国际英语资讯:Death toll of West Nile virus rises to 10 in Greece
最忠诚喵星人:意大利猫咪每天给去世主人扫墓
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |