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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > What do you think of this sentence?
What do you think of this sentence?
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douglas
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What do you think of this sentence?
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Good Morning (Evening)!
I am working on some adverb exercises and developed a sentence that doesn �t quite sit right with me. Iwould love to have your opinions on it (especially on the adverbs/adverbial phrases/clauses):
To ensure it arrives on time for planting, the farmer always orders his seed from the same supplier each year in July and February.
I look forward to your responses.
Douglas |
13 Oct 2010
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verybouncyperson
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Hi Douglas,
I think the sentence works well, but I would change "on time" to "in time".
T :)
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13 Oct 2010
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arkel
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I agree with verybouncyperson. In time sounds better, otherwise it �s fine
Rosemary:)
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13 Oct 2010
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Zora
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Both ways sound OK to me. "In time" would mean just that "in time for planting season"... BUT if you are a farmer (like my dad is/was) you �d know that in today �s world, most farmers hire people to plant large fields instead of buying the machinery themselves. Therefore, "on time" could also be correct because a date or time is set aside for this... 
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13 Oct 2010
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douglas
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I think "in time" does work better.
How about the:
"each year in July and February."
what would you say to:
"in July and February of each year"
Personally, I know I would use both, but I teach my students that the more specific one usually comes first. but we are actually talking about frequency versus time here which would make the first one right--but I know I use both and don �t feel the second is wrong. Opinions?
Douglas |
13 Oct 2010
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Errie
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This is very funny. I was teaching almost the same sentence last week. Almost because the only different thing were the months.
� � It �s always cold each year in December and January � �
� �it �s always cold in December and January of each year � �.
I told my students that I would use both but like you �ve already said.....it �s better to be more specific. We talked it over and they �ve chosen the second one as fully understandable and more specific.
And no, the second one is not wrong at all.
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13 Oct 2010
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yanogator
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Hi, Douglas,
When I read your sentence originally, I was slightly bothered by the sound of "each year in July and February". It definitely isn �t wrong, but my ear agrees with you that "in July and February of each year" sounds a little better.
Bruce |
13 Oct 2010
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mish.cz
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Hi, Douglas,�
although I am not a native speaker and thus am unfortunately pretty far from distinguishing such subtle semantic nuances, the way you put the sentence at the beginning of the thread sounded somehow awkward to me and I mean in that particular place you are interested in, i.e. in its final part. So I would personally transform it into "in July and February of each year" (though I �d probably made a mistake with the "of" preposition� |
13 Oct 2010
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blunderbuster
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...each July and February and always from the same supplier.
;o)
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13 Oct 2010
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JudyHalevi
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I think it sounds right as is except for the small mistake of seeds, not seed. I hope he is not using his seed for planting. 
hugs
Judy |
13 Oct 2010
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ldthemagicman
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"To ensure it arrives on time for planting, the farmer always orders his seed from the same supplier each year in July and February".
I would write:
"The farmer always orders his seed from the same supplier each year in July and February, so as to ensure that it arrives in time for planting". ( �Seed � suggests to me a general �seed order �; whereas �seeds � suggests �individual varieties of seeds �. �On time � suggests �to be punctual �; whereas �in time � suggests �at a suitable time �).
Of course, I am British and speak British English, so that �s why my wording possibly sounds a little different.
Best Wishes.
Les |
13 Oct 2010
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