What's new

Auxiliaries 1

hirashin

Sempai
Donor
8 Apr 2004
2,720
63
63
Dear native English speakers,
would you check my sentences again?

1 You look pale. You should take a little rest.

2 You must take this medicine twice a day for a week.

3 May I take pictures here? Sorry, you can't.

4 You may be right.

5 That man must be very old. His hair is all white.

6 Tom can't be ill. I just saw him swimming.

7 You don't have to come here tomorrow.

8a You must not sleep in class.
8b You must not sleep during the class.

9 Maybe we should cancel today's picnic. It looks like rain.

10 Since he was born in 1930, he should remember World War Two.

11 You should study English and math harder.

12a You must be back by three.
12b You must come back by three.
12c You must return by three.

13a We don't have to get up early on Sundays.
13b We don't need to get up early on Sundays.
13c We need not get up early on Sundays.
13d We needn't get up early on Sundays.

14a She can't be busy today.
14b She cannot be busy today.
14c She must not be busy today.
14d She mustn't be busy today.

15a That woman may not be American.
15b That woman may not be an American.
15c That woman may not be an American person.

Thank you in advance.

Hirashin
 
The only one that seems odd at all is (1) I would say "You look pale. You should rest a little." instead. The original way it's stated seems a bit odd to me. The sentences that have words that can be contractions and aren't wouldn't be heard as often in spoken English. They're correct, but if a contraction can be used in English it usually is used. Also (13c) and (13d) both sound archaic.
 
I agree with OoTmaster's comments. "Take a rest" is fine but if I heard that I would think the person is from another region or country.

Also for #15, I would usually say "might not" instead of "may not."
 
Thank you for the help, OoTmaster and mdchachi.

13c and 13d may be in British English.

The only one that seems odd at all is (1) I would say "You look pale. You should rest a little." instead.

How about this? Does it sound odd, too?
You look pale. You should take a little break.

Also for #15, I would usually say "might not" instead of "may not."

Oh, really? Would "may" sound odd?
 
How about this? Does it sound odd, too?
You look pale. You should take a little break.

Oh, really? Would "may" sound odd?
Take a break sounds fine.

"May" doesn't doesn't sound odd. Just not something I would hear much here in US Midwest. In other regions it might (may) be more common.
 
Which would be used in the U.S.?

(1a) You should rest a little.
(1b) You should rest a while.
(1c) You should rest for a while.
(1d) You should rest a little while.
(1e) You should rest for a little while.

(2a) You should have a little break.
(2b) You should have a little rest.
(2c) You should take a little break.
(2d) You should take a little rest.
 
1 a-e are all fine in American English. I would prefer 2c or 2d, I think 2a and 2b would sound odd to me.
 
Back
Top Bottom