[etni] fw: peculiar grammar-- here's a letter I sent to Ha'aretz
- From: "Ask" <ask@xxxxxxxx>
- To: <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 10 Sep 2006 10:16:51 +0200
From: Batya - shilohmuse@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: peculiar grammar-- here's a letter I sent to Ha'aretz
...I teach English in an Israeli high school, and I'll now be able to use
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3301667,00.html
as a "perfect example" of how incorrect verb usage
changes the meaning of the text.
Why did your writer (or translator) write "The speakers were to
include... " which means/implies, "The speakers were supposed to
include, but didn't..." instead of having your verb in Past Simple,
"The speakers included...?"
The grammar for a news article is Past Simple, unless you're
"setting a scene" when something interrupts, like:
"Everyone was waiting for a strong message, when suddenly they heard..."
Past Progressive sets the scene.
Batya Medad
Shiloh, Israel
shilohmuse@xxxxxxxxx
Batya
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/
http://samizdatblogfree.blogspot.com/
http://me-ander.blogspot.com/
http://shilohpics.blogspot.com/
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