ida2
 
  1  
Reply Sun 11 Jan, 2015 11:23 am
Hi, everybody Smile
Here is the rest of the story...

I returned home with another tracheostomy tube which seemed to be likely a permanent guest for my trachea! At first, I was frustrated, but I didn’t let the feeling last for long. I had got rid of the respirator and was able to breathe on my own; this was the most important thing.

Now, I could do physiotherapy which was so important to help me retrieve some abilities. Therefore, I seriously began to do physiotherapy. After a while, I could move my left arm a bit while the rest of my body was still moveless; I could not even sit.

After seven months of living in the capital, we decided to return to our city. This time, instead of taking an ambulance, we flew to home. There, I resumed immediately doing physiotherapy. I was doing physiotherapy every day for about 3 to five hours, apart from weekends.

Gradually, the movement of my left arm was getting better. I could move it up and down, bent it inwardly but not outwardly, and I could hardly reach my hand to my nose and scratched it. However, my wrist and fingers didn’t move at all.

I also began to try to sit. When I was sitting, my blood pressure was fallen and I fainted. Even if I could tolerate the sitting position, I couldn’t breathe comfortably and was not able to swallow even a sip of water; my circulatory system and all the inside organs of my body had got used to horizontal position. However, after a few months, I was able to sit and eat or drink normally in that position. But I couldn’t sit by myself; I was supported by fastening a string around me and the bed as well as putting two pillows at the two side of me.

Since I had returned to home, despite I was making progress, I became depressed. It seemed I had just understood what had really happened to me. I was angry with God. I inwardly quarreled with Him, struggled with myself, and fought with all the circumstances. I completely felt helpless…

To be continued...

Dear teacher,
I’ve used several semicolons in this episode. Did I use them correctly?
McTag
 
  1  
Reply Sun 11 Jan, 2015 11:27 am
@ida2,

Are you sure it's "tracheostomy"? Looks wrong to me, but I haven't checked.
FBM
 
  1  
Reply Sun 11 Jan, 2015 07:10 pm
@ida2,
ida2 wrote:

Hi, my dear teacher. I am back. Sorry for the delay.
Thank you for your all favors Smile
Yes, I knew the principle partly, but just about “conjunctive adverbs, such as however, therefore, nevertheless, etc.”
But now, with your explanations, I’ve learned it much better Smile
Thank you for everything.
And one question… so far, I’ve seen anywhere I have put a “such” before an adjective, you changed it into “so”; like this one: “my trachea was so damaged that they were not able to repair it.”
Then, where and how can I use a “such”?



Hi, Ida! "such" is an adjective that means "of that kind" or "of a type that is about to be mentioned." It's not used to indicate a degree or level. like "so" does. I'll give some examples:

That coffee was so good that I drank two cups. I've never had such coffee before.

One of my students wrote such a good essay that I used it as a model composition. It was so good that I gave the student and A+.

the test was so easy...it was such an easy test

it was so weakened that...it was such a weakened one that/it was in such a weakened state that...

I hope that helps! Please let me know if I need to clarify it further. Smile
FBM
 
  1  
Reply Sun 11 Jan, 2015 07:14 pm
@McTag,
I looked it up before. The two possibilities are "tracheostomy" and "tracheotomy." There's a slight technical difference, but in real life both are used synonymously.
0 Replies
 
FBM
 
  1  
Reply Sun 11 Jan, 2015 07:57 pm
@ida2,
ida2 wrote:

Hi, everybody Smile
Here is the rest of the story...

I returned home with another tracheostomy tube which seemed to be likely a permanent guest for my trachea! At first, I was frustrated, but I didn’t let the feeling last for long. I had got rid of the respirator and was able to breathe on my own; this was the most important thing.

Now, I could do physiotherapy which was so important to help me retrieve some abilities. Therefore, I seriously began to do physiotherapy. After a while, I could move my left arm a bit while the rest of my body was still moveless; I could not even sit.

After seven months of living in the capital, we decided to return to our city. This time, instead of taking an ambulance, we flew to home. There, I resumed immediately doing physiotherapy. I was doing physiotherapy every day for about 3 to five hours, apart from weekends.

Gradually, the movement of my left arm was getting better. I could move it up and down, bent it inwardly but not outwardly, and I could hardly reach my hand to my nose and scratched it. However, my wrist and fingers didn’t move at all.

I also began to try to sit. When I was sitting, my blood pressure was fallen and I fainted. Even if I could tolerate the sitting position, I couldn’t breathe comfortably and was not able to swallow even a sip of water; my circulatory system and all the inside organs of my body had got used to horizontal position. However, after a few months, I was able to sit and eat or drink normally in that position. But I couldn’t sit by myself; I was supported by fastening a string around me and the bed as well as putting two pillows at the two side of me.

Since I had returned to home, despite I was making progress, I became depressed. It seemed I had just understood what had really happened to me. I was angry with God. I inwardly quarreled with Him, struggled with myself, and fought with all the circumstances. I completely felt helpless…

To be continued...

Dear teacher,
I’ve used several semicolons in this episode. Did I use them correctly?



I returned home with another tracheostomy tube, which seemed to be likely a permanent guest for my trachea! At first, I was frustrated, but I didn’t let the feeling last for long. I had got rid of the respirator and was able to breathe on my own; this was the most important thing.

Now, I could do physiotherapy, which was so important to help me retrieve some abilities. Therefore, I [...] began to do it intensely. After a while, I could move my left arm a bit, though the rest of my body was still motionless; I could not even sit up/upright).

After seven months of living in the capital, we decided to return to our city. This time, instead of taking an ambulance, we flew [...] home. There, I immediately resumed doing physiotherapy. I was doing it every day for about 3 to five hours, apart from weekends.

Gradually, the movement of my left arm was getting better. I could move it up and down and flex it, but not extend it, and I could just reach my hand to my nose and scratch[...] it. However, my wrist and fingers didn’t move at all.

I also began to try to sit up. However, when I tried sitting, my blood pressure fell and I fainted. Even if I could tolerate the sitting position, I couldn’t breathe comfortably and was not able to swallow even a sip of water; my circulatory system and all my internal organs [...] had got used to the horizontal position. However, after a few months, I was able to sit and eat or drink normally in that position. But I couldn’t sit by myself; I was supported by [...] a cord around me and the bed, as well as [...] two pillows on each side of me.

Since I had returned [...] home, despite [...] making progress, I had become depressed. It seemed I had just understood what had really happened to me. I was angry with God. I inwardly quarreled with Him, struggled with myself, and fought [against] all the circumstances. I felt completely helpless…

...

I’ve used several semicolons in this episode. Did I use them correctly?

Perfectly! Excellent work! Just keep in mind that, as a matter of style, they're used sparingly. Using them more than a couple of times per written page of text becomes distracting to the reader.

I would like to focus on when to use a comma before "which" (or any other relative pronoun) and when not to. Consider the following examples:

a) She gave me the key, which opened her jewelry box.
b) She gave me the key which opened her jewelry box.

In a), the information after "which" is non-essential. In b), the information is essential.

Also, notice where I inserted pronouns instead of repeating a word. For example, in the second paragraph, you originally wrote "physiotheraphy" twice. When the word appears twice or more times close together, it's more comfortable and concise to use a pronoun. We have to be careful, though, that the reference to the antecedent (the original noun) is clear. If there are other nouns between the antecedent and the pronoun, it's easy to confuse the reader. If other nouns appear after the original noun, it's usually better to repeat the original noun for clarity.

Finally, I want to talk about going/arriving "to" home
. It's a very common problem among my students, also. The problem is that there are some words in English that play more than one role in different contexts. In this case, "home" can either be a noun or an adverb of location. When the sentence indicates movement in a direction or towards a destination, "home" becomes an adverb of location.

As a result, we can say, "That is my home," (noun) but we have to say, "I'm going home" (adverb of location). We can't say "to home." This works with leaving or arriving home, also. I found a Youtube video that I sometimes show to my students who have this problem:


ida2
 
  1  
Reply Thu 15 Jan, 2015 08:31 am
@McTag,
Hi, my dear reader. My doctors call it “tracheostomy”, but in dictionary it is called “tracheotomy”
However, I’ve found the following explanation on the internet Smile
Tracheostomy (tray-key-OS-tuh-me) is a surgically created hole through the front of your neck and into your windpipe (trachea). The term for the surgical procedure to create this opening is tracheotomy.
0 Replies
 
ida2
 
  1  
Reply Thu 15 Jan, 2015 08:36 am
@FBM,
Thank you my dear teacher.
Can I say, after “such” comes “noun OR adj + noun”, but after “so” comes just “adj”?
Besides, I’ve used “so, such”, “comma with a non-essential relative clause”, and more “semicolons” in the next episode. Did I use them correctly?
(I admit I’ve used semicolons to excess! Wink but just for practicing.)
And thank you for the point about “home”. I thought the rule is just for the verb “go” plus “home” Smile

FBM
 
  1  
Reply Thu 15 Jan, 2015 08:42 am
@ida2,
ida2 wrote:

Thank you my dear teacher.
Can I say, after “such” comes “noun OR adj + noun”, but after “so” comes just “adj”?


I think that's right, but I'll do some checking for exceptions. English is so full of exceptions... Wink

Quote:
Besides, I’ve used “so, such”, “comma with a non-essential relative clause”, and more “semicolons” in the next episode. Did I use them correctly?


As far as I can tell, yes, you have! Very Happy

Quote:
(I admit I’ve used semicolons to excess! Wink but just for practicing.)


Practice makes perfect. As long as you're aware that they're usually used sparingly...

Quote:
And thank you for the point about “home”. I thought the rule is just for the verb “go” plus “home” Smile


I hope it was helpful... Smile
0 Replies
 
ida2
 
  1  
Reply Thu 15 Jan, 2015 08:44 am
@FBM,
I fought with God as much intensely as I was doing physiotherapy; as if it was not about health, I just wanted to defeat Him by getting better. In fact, I wanted to tell Him, “I am renovating what You have destroyed.”

Because my accident had happened when I was a university first-year-student, I blamed God for excluding me from education. Therefore, now I could sit up, I began to study; just for battling with Him. I had to choose a field which required noting but mental ability; a pair of eyes and a brain were my only tools to study. In this situation, I had only one choice; English Language.

Although I had no hope to study academically someday, I began to improve my English knowledge; nothing mattered apart from defeating God.

My father bought me some self-training books and my mother helped me to read them. She turned the pages of the books, when I wanted, and wrote down the important points in a notebook for me.

Although I began to study with the motivation for battling God, it made me feel better and even peace with Him! Now, I felt I was doing something useful in my life, therefore I decided to continue studying purposely. I could see even if I couldn’t study English academically, I would be able to improve my English to the extent I would somehow manage to work as a translator.

Meanwhile, one time I had gone to the hospital for annual changing my Tracheostomy tube, after the doctor did a bronchoscopy, he said the situation of my trachea was apparently a bit better.

Almost a week later, my Orthopedist came to visit me, because of a problem with my left leg; it was hurt during a physiotherapy session.

When my orthopedist heard about the thoracic specialist’s diagnosis, he somehow persuaded me to come to the capital and consult with experienced doctors.

In my opinion, traveling to the capital was impossible! It would be definitely so hard that was practically impossible. On the other hand, the thoracic specialist’s diagnosis was not absolute, and they might not do anything for me in the capital. I couldn’t bear such a hardship while the result was not certain.

However, at the orthopedist’s insistence, I was convinced to try my luck…
ida2
 
  1  
Reply Thu 15 Jan, 2015 11:38 pm
I fought with God as much intensely as I was doing physiotherapy; as if it was not about health, I just wanted to defeat Him by getting better. In fact, I wanted to tell Him, “I am renovating what You have destroyed.”

Because my accident had happened when I was a university first-year-student, I blamed God for excluding me from education. Therefore, now I could sit up, I began to study; just for battling with Him. I had to choose a field which required noting but mental ability; a pair of eyes and a brain were my only tools to study. In this situation, I had only one choice; English Language.

Although I had no hope to study academically someday, I began to improve my English knowledge; nothing mattered apart from defeating God.

My father bought me some self-training books and my mother helped me to read them. She turned the pages of the books, when I wanted, and wrote down the important points in a notebook for me.

Although I began to study with the motivation for battling God, it made me feel better and even peace with Him! Now, I felt I was doing something useful in my life, therefore I decided to continue studying purposely. I could see even if I couldn’t study English academically, I would be able to improve my English to the extent I would somehow manage to work as a translator.

Meanwhile, one time I had gone to the hospital for annual changing my Tracheostomy tube, after the doctor did a bronchoscopy, he said the situation of my trachea was apparently a bit better.

Almost a week later, my Orthopedist came to visit me, because of a problem with my left leg; it was hurt during a physiotherapy session.

When my orthopedist heard about the thoracic specialist’s diagnosis, he somehow persuaded me to come to the capital and consult with experienced doctors.

In my opinion, traveling to the capital was impossible! It would be definitely so hard that was practically impossible. On the other hand, the thoracic specialist’s diagnosis was not absolute, and they might not do anything for me in the capital. I couldn’t bear such a hardship while the result was not certain.

However, at the orthopedist’s insistence, I was convinced to try my luck…
0 Replies
 
ossobuco
 
  1  
Reply Thu 15 Jan, 2015 11:45 pm
Signing in with intent to read (tired now).
0 Replies
 
FBM
 
  1  
Reply Fri 16 Jan, 2015 12:04 am
@ida2,
ida2 wrote:

I fought with God as much intensely as I was doing physiotherapy; as if it was not about health, I just wanted to defeat Him by getting better. In fact, I wanted to tell Him, “I am renovating what You have destroyed.”

Because my accident had happened when I was a university first-year-student, I blamed God for excluding me from education. Therefore, now I could sit up, I began to study; just for battling with Him. I had to choose a field which required noting but mental ability; a pair of eyes and a brain were my only tools to study. In this situation, I had only one choice; English Language.

Although I had no hope to study academically someday, I began to improve my English knowledge; nothing mattered apart from defeating God.

My father bought me some self-training books and my mother helped me to read them. She turned the pages of the books, when I wanted, and wrote down the important points in a notebook for me.

Although I began to study with the motivation for battling God, it made me feel better and even peace with Him! Now, I felt I was doing something useful in my life, therefore I decided to continue studying purposely. I could see even if I couldn’t study English academically, I would be able to improve my English to the extent I would somehow manage to work as a translator.

Meanwhile, one time I had gone to the hospital for annual changing my Tracheostomy tube, after the doctor did a bronchoscopy, he said the situation of my trachea was apparently a bit better.

Almost a week later, my Orthopedist came to visit me, because of a problem with my left leg; it was hurt during a physiotherapy session.

When my orthopedist heard about the thoracic specialist’s diagnosis, he somehow persuaded me to come to the capital and consult with experienced doctors.

In my opinion, traveling to the capital was impossible! It would be definitely so hard that was practically impossible. On the other hand, the thoracic specialist’s diagnosis was not absolute, and they might not do anything for me in the capital. I couldn’t bear such a hardship while the result was not certain.

However, at the orthopedist’s insistence, I was convinced to try my luck…



I fought with God as [...] intensely as I did physiotherapy; as if it was not about health. I just wanted to defeat Him by getting better. In fact, I wanted to tell Him, “I am renovating what You have destroyed.”

Because my accident had happened when I was a first-year university student, I blamed God for excluding me from education. Therefore, now that I could sit up, I began to study[] just to do battle with Him. I had to choose a field which required noting but mental ability; a pair of eyes and a brain were my only tools to study. In this situation, I had only one choice: English language.

Although I had no hope to study academically someday, I began to improve my English knowledge; nothing mattered apart from defeating God.

My father bought me some self-training books, and my mother helped me [...] read them. She turned the pages when I wanted [no commas] and wrote down the important points in a notebook for me.

Although I began to study with the motivation to battle God, it made me feel better and even at peace with Him! Now, I felt I was doing something useful in my life; therefore, I decided to continue studying purposefully. I could see that even if I couldn’t study English academically, I would be able to improve my English to the extent that I would somehow manage to work as a translator.

Meanwhile, once when I went to the hospital for an annual tracheostomy tube change, after the doctor did a bronchoscopy, he said my trachea's condition was apparently a bit better.

Almost a week later, my orthopedist came to visit me[] because of a problem with my left leg; it had been hurt during a physiotherapy session.

When my orthopedist heard about the thoracic specialist’s diagnosis, he somehow persuaded me to come to the capital and consult with experienced doctors.

In my opinion, traveling to the capital was impossible! It would definitely be so hard as to be practically impossible. Moreover, the thoracic specialist’s diagnosis was not absolute, and they might not do anything for me in the capital. I couldn’t bear such a hardship while the result was not certain.

However, at the orthopedist’s insistence, I was convinced to try my luck…


Well done again, Ida! I know you're using the semi-colon for practice; just keep in mind not to do it so often if you're writing for any other reason.

You'll see above that I replaced one of your semi-colons with a colon. To introduce a list, even if it's just one thing, choose a colon. "I hate only one food: bell peppers." or "We hired three people today: Mr. Jones, Ms. Smith and Ms. Thomas." After a colon, you should have a subordinate clause, but after a semi-colon you should have an independent clause.

I should mention one other thing about semi-colons. If you're going to connect two independent clauses with a semi-colon and follow the semi-colon with a transition, you should use a comma after the transition. I underlined the example from your writing.

Glad to see you back writing! I'll look at the next installment later tonight...
0 Replies
 
ida2
 
  1  
Reply Wed 21 Jan, 2015 12:11 am
At last, I was convinced to go to the capital. It was a challenging trip. Because of my respiratory problem, the Airline Company didn’t allow me to fly. They wanted their reliable physician examined me and confirmed that I could bear flying. Even if their physician gave us permission to fly, a nurse must accompany me during the flight. All this process lasted for a couple of weeks. However, getting permission from the hospital was so easy, because the doctor knew me before.

Ultimately, the appointed day came. Although I was supposed to be accompanied by an experienced nurse, I was worried about flying. I thought I would have serious respiratory problem in such a height. But fortunately, everything went very well and I arrived at the hospital completely healthy.

Next day, the doctor took me to the operating room for a bronchoscopy. He examined my trachea carefully and found that it wasn’t in a better condition. After operation, he came to my room in the ward and spoke to me and my parents. We were not pleased with what we were hearing, but the doctor had a suggestion for us!

He offered me to put a new kind of tube into my trachea instead of a tracheostomy tube. He explained that the new tube, called T-tube, had three branches, one of them was placed into the top section of trachea. In this way, air could flow through the larynx, and vocal cords would vibrate; consequently, it was possible to speak. Besides, with a T-tube I could breathe through my nose; with a tracheostomy tube I could just breathe directly through the tube, therefore the inhalation air was so dry.

What a suggestion he was offering to me! I would able to speak after five years.

I was worried about this new experience, though I couldn’t ignore the ability to speak. Therefore, I accepted to try the new tube.

The doctor informed me that I might not bear the T-tube, hence I should not be so hopeful. He advised me to consider the following operation just as trying my luck; otherwise, I might be disappointed.

Two days later, I was taken to the operating room again and after I came around, I found myself in my room with a new feeling. I was breathing through my nose. What a pleasant feeling! It seemed I could bear the tube easily.

The doctor kept me hospitalized for more three days to make sure I wouldn’t have any problem. However, I couldn’t speak yet. Just some ambiguous voices were heard from the bottom of my larynx. Yet it was natural; I had not used my vocal cords for almost five years and in fact, they were asleep. It took time to wake them gradually.

Then, I was released from the hospital and got back home. As the doctor had predicted, I would able to speak after a couple of months. However, because of the problem with my spinal cord, my diaphragm and respiratory system were so weak; as a result, I couldn’t speak normally. In the same breathe, I could express just three words and with a very low voice. Though, it was better than nothing.

After all, the ability to speak provided me with a wonderful chance!

A question:
Can I say, “I couldn’t withdraw from ability to speak.” Instead of “I couldn’t ignore the ability to speak.”
FBM
 
  1  
Reply Wed 21 Jan, 2015 12:32 am
@ida2,
ida2 wrote:

At last, I was convinced to go to the capital. It was a challenging trip. Because of my respiratory problem, the Airline Company didn’t allow me to fly. They wanted their reliable physician examined me and confirmed that I could bear flying. Even if their physician gave us permission to fly, a nurse must accompany me during the flight. All this process lasted for a couple of weeks. However, getting permission from the hospital was so easy, because the doctor knew me before.

Ultimately, the appointed day came. Although I was supposed to be accompanied by an experienced nurse, I was worried about flying. I thought I would have serious respiratory problem in such a height. But fortunately, everything went very well and I arrived at the hospital completely healthy.

Next day, the doctor took me to the operating room for a bronchoscopy. He examined my trachea carefully and found that it wasn’t in a better condition. After operation, he came to my room in the ward and spoke to me and my parents. We were not pleased with what we were hearing, but the doctor had a suggestion for us!

He offered me to put a new kind of tube into my trachea instead of a tracheostomy tube. He explained that the new tube, called T-tube, had three branches, one of them was placed into the top section of trachea. In this way, air could flow through the larynx, and vocal cords would vibrate; consequently, it was possible to speak. Besides, with a T-tube I could breathe through my nose; with a tracheostomy tube I could just breathe directly through the tube, therefore the inhalation air was so dry.

What a suggestion he was offering to me! I would able to speak after five years.

I was worried about this new experience, though I couldn’t ignore the ability to speak. Therefore, I accepted to try the new tube.

The doctor informed me that I might not bear the T-tube, hence I should not be so hopeful. He advised me to consider the following operation just as trying my luck; otherwise, I might be disappointed.

Two days later, I was taken to the operating room again and after I came around, I found myself in my room with a new feeling. I was breathing through my nose. What a pleasant feeling! It seemed I could bear the tube easily.

The doctor kept me hospitalized for more three days to make sure I wouldn’t have any problem. However, I couldn’t speak yet. Just some ambiguous voices were heard from the bottom of my larynx. Yet it was natural; I had not used my vocal cords for almost five years and in fact, they were asleep. It took time to wake them gradually.

Then, I was released from the hospital and got back home. As the doctor had predicted, I would able to speak after a couple of months. However, because of the problem with my spinal cord, my diaphragm and respiratory system were so weak; as a result, I couldn’t speak normally. In the same breathe, I could express just three words and with a very low voice. Though, it was better than nothing.

After all, the ability to speak provided me with a wonderful chance!

A question:
Can I say, “I couldn’t withdraw from ability to speak.” Instead of “I couldn’t ignore the ability to speak.”




At last, I was convinced to go to the capital. It was a challenging trip. Because of my respiratory problem, the airline company didn’t allow me to fly. They wanted their reliable physician to examine me and confirm[...] that I could bear flying. Even if their physician had given us permission to fly, a nurse would have had to accompany me during the flight. All this process lasted for a couple of weeks. However, getting permission from the hospital was so easy, because the doctor knew me from before.

Ultimately, the appointed day came. Although I was supposed to be accompanied by an experienced nurse, I was worried about flying. I thought I would have serious respiratory problems at such a height. But fortunately, everything went very well and I arrived at the hospital completely healthy.

The next day, the doctor took me to the operating room for a bronchoscopy. He examined my trachea carefully and found that it wasn’t [...] better [...]. After the operation, he came to my room in the ward and spoke to me and my parents. We were not pleased with what we were hearing, but the doctor had a suggestion for us!

He offered me to put a new kind of tube into my trachea instead of a tracheostomy tube. He explained that the new tube, called aT-tube, had three branches, one of which was placed into the top section of trachea. In this way, air could flow through the larynx, and vocal cords would vibrate; consequently, it was possible to speak. Besides, with a T-tube I could breathe through my nose; with a tracheostomy tube I could just breathe directly through the tube. Therefore, the inhaled air was so dry.

What a suggestion he was offering to me! I would able to speak after five years.

I was worried about this new experience, though I couldn’t ignore the ability to speak. Therefore, I accepted to try the new tube.

The doctor informed me that I might not bear the T-tube, hence I should not be so hopeful. He advised me to consider the upcoming operation as just [...] trying my luck; otherwise, I might be disappointed.

Two days later, I was taken to the operating room again and after I came around, I found myself in my room with a new feeling. I was breathing through my nose. What a pleasant feeling! It seemed I could bear the tube easily.

The doctor kept me hospitalized for more three days to make sure I wouldn’t have any problem. However, I couldn’t speak yet. Just some ambiguous noises were heard from the bottom of my larynx. Yet it was natural; I had not used my vocal cords for almost five years and in fact, they were asleep. It took time to wake them up gradually.

Then, I was released from the hospital and got back home. As the doctor had predicted, I would able to speak after a couple of months. However, because of the problem with my spinal cord, my diaphragm and respiratory system were so weak; as a result, I couldn’t speak normally. In the same breath[.], I could express just three words and with a very low voice. Even so, it was better than nothing.

After all, the ability to speak provided me with a wonderful chance!

A question:
Can I say, “I couldn’t withdraw from ability to speak.” Instead of “I couldn’t ignore the ability to speak.”


First of all, I should compliment you again on your excellent work! Very Happy

The way you wrote it above (in the paragraph) isn't 100% perfectly fluent, but it is nevertheless quite acceptable. I would say something like, 'I couldn't pass up the chance to speak again' or 'I couldn't ignore the importance of being able to speak again.'

Also, in the first paragraph I changed a couple of verbs to make the past perfect. Here is a pretty good explanation of it: http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/pastperfect.html

The last thing I would suggest is to brush up on the subjunctive mood. It's particularly tricky to use it correctly in the past tense: http://grammarist.com/grammar/subjunctive-mood/ (scroll down to where they discuss it in the past tense).

Ida, in addition to your writing skills, your story itself is very interesting to me. I always look forward to your next installment. Smile


ida2
 
  1  
Reply Sun 25 Jan, 2015 12:03 am
@FBM,
My dear teacher,
I'd like you to know that you have helped me so much. I am now more confident. In fact, I have learned from you more than any of my teachers.
thank you for everything Smile
.................
I used "any of" above... Can you please guide me about using "some, any, each, every & some of, any of, each of, every of"?
Thanks.
ida2
 
  1  
Reply Sun 25 Jan, 2015 12:05 am
As you have read in previous episodes, I had begun studying English by myself. Though, I had no hope to continue my education academically, because there were two obstacles: I was not able to leave home, and I couldn’t speak.

First of all, I should be able to leave home to attend university. But it was almost impossible. It was difficult to move me regularly from my high bed into the wheelchair. Generally, a paralyzed person is heavier than their real weight; moreover, I had a respiratory tube which it was likely to be pulled out of my trachea with any incorrect move. Also, I was dependent in a suction pump which removed the accumulated Phlegm in my lung through the tube.

The other thing which excluded me from academic education was inability to speak. Especially in English, speaking was a major part which could not be ignored. Therefore, now I was able to speak, in fact one of the barriers was vanished; it could even say the most important one.

As a result, my parents and I decided to do anything to get permission from my former university for distance learning. Although my former university didn’t have distance learning programs, they accepted our request, provided the higher education organization in the capital would accept as well.

It seemed that the rays of hope were getting revealed, so we were intent on giving their approval. It was a real challenge; we must persuade them that I could study without attending the classes. They should be convinced that I would learn the subjects at the same extent that other students learned in the classroom.

To achieve this aim, we made a team! My father was in charge of going regularly to the capital, meeting the officials, and discussing with them. In fact, the paperwork was vested to him (oh, poor daddy! Smile )

On the other hand, my mother and I tried to improve my English knowledge; in order to show that I could be better than any other student.

During the two years, my father travelled to the capital altogether 24 times; on average 2 times a month! I also learned a lot of English with the help of my mother who turned the pages, wrote down the points, turned on and off CD player, and so on. She had devoted herself to me.

Ultimately after two years, my father succeeded in convincing the Director General of Higher Education that I could study just through visual Communications with teachers and students.

Although he was hesitant, he decided to give me a chance; however, he laid me down a condition…
roger
 
  1  
Reply Sun 25 Jan, 2015 12:08 am
@ida2,
I don't see a single flaw in what you have written here.
FBM
 
  1  
Reply Sun 25 Jan, 2015 12:45 am
@ida2,
ida2 wrote:

My dear teacher,
I'd like you to know that you have helped me so much. I am now more confident. In fact, I have learned from you more than any of my teachers.
thank you for everything Smile
.................
I used "any of" above... Can you please guide me about using "some, any, each, every & some of, any of, each of, every of"?
Thanks.


I'm very glad to hear that, Ida! Very Happy Your progress is obvious to me, but I think it's more due to you being such a good learner.

The words you asked about are determiners (and quantifiers). I think it might be best to give you "some" (an indefinite number or amount) examples of each:

some/some of: (indefinite)
I would like some coffee. I would like some more time. Some people have all the luck. Would you like to buy some apples? I saw some of those shoes yesterday. Some of my students didn't do their homework. I want some of that pie. Why do some of you always make the same mistakes?

any/any of: (indefinite)
I don't want any coffee. I'll take any (one) of those green ones. Some people just don't have any luck. Did you buy any apples? I didn't see any of those shoes yesterday.

each/each of: (include all members as individuals)
Give each (one) of them a cup of coffee. Each (one) of my students asked for more time. The apples cost one dollar each. She gave her sisters one present each.

every/every one of: (same as "each" in meaning, but the syntax is somewhat different)
Give every one of them a cup of coffee. I'll take every green one you have. Every time I play cards, I get lucky. Did you buy every apple they had? I liked every pair of shoes I saw yesterday.


I hope I didn't skip any. Anyway, please feel free to ask for more specifics about any of these. Smile
0 Replies
 
FBM
 
  1  
Reply Sun 25 Jan, 2015 01:00 am
@ida2,
ida2 wrote:

As you have read in previous episodes, I had begun studying English by myself. Though, I had no hope to continue my education academically, because there were two obstacles: I was not able to leave home, and I couldn’t speak.

First of all, I should be able to leave home to attend university. But it was almost impossible. It was difficult to move me regularly from my high bed into the wheelchair. Generally, a paralyzed person is heavier than their real weight; moreover, I had a respiratory tube which it was likely to be pulled out of my trachea with any incorrect move. Also, I was dependent in a suction pump which removed the accumulated Phlegm in my lung through the tube.

The other thing which excluded me from academic education was inability to speak. Especially in English, speaking was a major part which could not be ignored. Therefore, now I was able to speak, in fact one of the barriers was vanished; it could even say the most important one.

As a result, my parents and I decided to do anything to get permission from my former university for distance learning. Although my former university didn’t have distance learning programs, they accepted our request, provided the higher education organization in the capital would accept as well.

It seemed that the rays of hope were getting revealed, so we were intent on giving their approval. It was a real challenge; we must persuade them that I could study without attending the classes. They should be convinced that I would learn the subjects at the same extent that other students learned in the classroom.

To achieve this aim, we made a team! My father was in charge of going regularly to the capital, meeting the officials, and discussing with them. In fact, the paperwork was vested to him (oh, poor daddy! Smile )

On the other hand, my mother and I tried to improve my English knowledge; in order to show that I could be better than any other student.

During the two years, my father travelled to the capital altogether 24 times; on average 2 times a month! I also learned a lot of English with the help of my mother who turned the pages, wrote down the points, turned on and off CD player, and so on. She had devoted herself to me.

Ultimately after two years, my father succeeded in convincing the Director General of Higher Education that I could study just through visual Communications with teachers and students.

Although he was hesitant, he decided to give me a chance; however, he laid me down a condition…



As you have read in previous episodes, I had begun studying English by myself. However, I had no hope to continue my education academically, because there were two obstacles: I was not able to leave home, and I couldn’t speak.

First of all, I would have had to be able to leave home to attend university. But it was almost impossible. It was difficult to move me regularly from my high bed into the wheelchair. Generally, a paralyzed person is heavier than their real weight; moreover, I had a respiratory tube which [...] was likely to be pulled out of my trachea with any incorrect move. Also, I was dependent on a suction pump which removed the accumulated phlegm in my lung through the tube.

The other thing which excluded me from an academic education was my inability to speak. Especially in English, speaking was a major part which could not be ignored. Therefore, now that I was able to speak, in fact one of the barriers had vanished; I could even say the most important one.

As a result, my parents and I decided to do anything to get permission from my former university for distance learning. Although my former university didn’t have distance learning programs, they accepted our request, provided the higher education organization in the capital would accept it as well.

It seemed that the rays of hope were getting revealed, so we were intent on getting their approval. It was a real challenge; we must persuade them that I could study without attending the classes. They should be convinced that I would learn the subjects to the same extent that other students learned in the classroom.

To achieve this aim, we made a team! My father was in charge of going regularly to the capital, meeting the officials, and discussing things with them. In fact, the paperwork was vested to him (oh, poor daddy! Smile )

On the other hand, my mother and I tried to improve my English knowledge [...] in order to show that I could be better than any other student.

During [...] two years, my father travelled to the capital altogether 24 times; on average two times a month! I also learned a lot of English with the help of my mother who turned the pages, wrote down the points, turned on and off the CD player, and so on. She had devoted herself to me.

Ultimately, after two years, my father succeeded in convincing the Director General of Higher Education that I could study just through visual communications with teachers and students.

Although he was hesitant, he decided to give me a chance; however, he laid me down a condition…

This was nearly flawless, Ida! Outstanding work! Very Happy
0 Replies
 
ida2
 
  1  
Reply Wed 28 Jan, 2015 11:49 pm
@roger,
Thank you my dear reader Smile
0 Replies
 
 

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