Claunika
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are or are there?
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Dear colleagues, I �ve found in a teacher �s book the question "What rooms are in your house?"And I wonder why that question isn`t "What rooms are there in your house?" Is one more correct or natural than the other? Are they used more in one or other variety of English? May be native English speakers could help me? Thanks in advance for your help, Claudia |
9 May 2012
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dafodil
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What rooms are there in your house? It seems to me that this answer is correct, because the verb is (there to be) and not ( to be). |
9 May 2012
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diddy2703
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Grammatically, I think both are correct, the first one just seems weird to us because it would imply some rooms are in the house, and others elsewhere... "What rooms are in your house? And in your building?.. "
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9 May 2012
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Zora
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As a native, we do say "what rooms are in your house?" The "there" is understood, implied so we often omit it.
for example:
What things are in the box? - same as What things are there in the box?
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9 May 2012
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yanogator
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Actually, there �s a little difference between the two, Linda.
"What things are in the box?" emphasizes the location of the things.
"What things are there in the box?" emphasizes the existence of the things.
Bruce |
9 May 2012
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Maruan Aziz
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Dear everyone.
Could you help me with those sentences?I mean English natives
can we use the reflexive pronouns with verbs like �shave and dress �, can we say:
He shaved himself.
he dressed himself.
Maruan
thanks from Morocco |
9 May 2012
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dafodil
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We do not use a reflexive pronoun after verbs which describe things people usually do for themselves but some reflexive pronouns can be used to give emphasis. For example, He dressed himself in spite of his injuries. She�s old enough to wash herself. |
9 May 2012
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dafodil
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Thanks Bruce for your explanation! ...are in the box... (the location); are there in the box (the existence), dafodil |
9 May 2012
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dafodil
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I would like to say (He is unable to shave himself). |
9 May 2012
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Claunika
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Dear colleagues, thanks so much for your answers. They �ve really clarified the issue. I �m grateful. Do let me know if you need some info about Argentina. |
10 May 2012
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