How can I make a question?

yucheng wrote:

> The first : "Which the best regular exercise have some doctors suggested one can take?"

The first is not grammatical. A possible answer could should read:

"What regular exercise have some doctors have suggested is the best one can take?".

You need to get your word order right.

I think 'which' is better when you need to require selection from two or more choices which are mentioned. An example: "Which is best - swimming, walking or jogging?"

>The second: "Which exercise have some doctors suggested one can take?"

This does not completely capture the meaning of the original sentence. It is the best exercise we want to know about.

However, we could reduce redundancy. We know that exercise is 'taken'. We could just ask, "What do some doctors say is the best regular exercise?".

In real life there could be a variety of factually correct answers to that question. Some doctors will suggest that one form of exercise is best, and others will suggest another, but if your English language exercise requires you to use that sentence, then so be it.

> My question is that which question is right, the first or the second.

They are not questions, they are answers.

"My question ... the first or the second" is a question, though, and needs to have a question mark (?) at the end.

How about "What is the best regular exercise that doctors have recommended?"

Surely that question is asking: "Out of all the kinds of exercise that doctors have recommended, what is best?"

The original sentence, from which Yucheng is asked to create a question, is "Some doctors have suggested that the best regular exercise one can take is brisk walking".

Suppose you had to compose a question to print after a passage containing that sentence, to test a student's comprehension.

I would suggest something like, "What have some doctors suggested is the best form of regular exercise?"

If I saw that question 'blind', that is, i had not read the original sentence set, I might answer it in various ways. The trouble is, in real life, I expect many doctors have recommended various kinds of exercise, such as swimming or aerobics. No two people are alike. The best exercise for obese people might not be ideal for people with a heart condition or a back problem. I think the sentence which he or she was given is a clumsy one and fatally lacking in real-world authenticity.

Dear contrex,
Thanks for your explanation.
Would you mind showing me the websites in which they teach the way how to pronounce fractions?

http://www.arcytech.org/java/integers/fractions.html

http://forum.wordreference.com/archive/index.php/t-258342.html

I expect you know that the top or first number is called the "numerator" and the second or lower number is called the "denominator".

There is no fixed rule, and many experts disagree. In general, small or common fractions are often spoken thus

1/2 = one half or "a half" or just "half"

1/3 = one third or "a third"
2/3 = two thirds

1/4 = a "quarter" (UK) or "one fourth" (mainly USA)
3/4 = three quarters (UK) (or "three fourths" in USA)

"a quarter" is a coin in the USA

So you see that apart from the special fractions 1/2 (and 1/4 in the UK), the denominators are spoken of as if they were ordinal numbers.

1/5 = one fifth
3/5 = three fifths

1/6 = one sixth

3/16 = three sixteenths
1/100 = one hundredth

But note:

1/N = "one over N"

(although people do say "to the Nth (pronounced enth) degree")

x/y = "x over y"

(a+b+c)/x = "a plus b plus c all over x"

and so on. When the numbers get big and/or long, like 104/3692, you will have choices. For example you can say:-

"one hundred and four three thousand six hundred and ninety seconds"

(This is cumbersome)

or

"a hundred and four over three thousand six hundred and ninety-two"

or just say the figures in the numerator & denominator:

"one-oh-four over three six nine two" (best in my opinion)

You can unamiguously say any fraction this way, if the denominator is under 10 or over 100, although it might sound odd to a native speaker when you mean a common fraction such as 1/2 or 1/4.

Dear contrex,
Your fraction lesson is very wonderful. From what you told me, I can easily pronounce fractions. I'm a beginer in learning English.
Well another thing I would like you to help me. I have just written a letter asking for the scholarship. If you don't mind, please take a look at my essay and tell me whether I am right or wrong in grammar and style.

This is my letter
Dear Sir or Madam,

I would be grateful for the attention of your company to students. My name is Yu Cheng. I'm a new student of fuculty of economic- national university of ho chi minh city. Today I m writing this to performance the happiness of mine when I hear about good intention and I also share my dream with you. As you know, I'm a new student, so I have many difficulties in the living as well as in studying. In my opinion, to become a good student, besides good at speciality, we must improve some other skills- especially in english and computer- two things which are very important to access to modern world. Therefore, I have been trying my best to improve my english skill although I did not have a good condition to learn before,when I lived in my hometown. Thus, your scholarship will provide me not only with an opportunity to take part in the course of english and computer but also make me more confident when I step in live. At last thank you again for your consideration.
I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Yucheng, in general your letter is just right if you are applying for an English scholarship. You don't want to seem too experienced!

spelling - faculty. "Fuculty" sounds rude in English!!!

Thank you very much, Contrex.
Once again I would like to ask you for your advice

I have three sentences
The first : The most expensive hotels are the most comfortable.
The second: The most expensive hotels are more comfortable.
The third: More expensive hotels are more comfortable.
My question is: Which one is right or all of the sentences are right?

and "Have you got any cheaper carpet than this?"
I rewrite the sentence above "Is this the cheapest carpet you have got?"
Is this sentence OK? Can you explain it to me? Can we rewrite like this 'Is this the most expensive carpet you have got?'

They are all correct.



Both sentences are correct. They both seek the same information. If the carpet being discussed is the cheapest, the answer to the first sentence will be "no", and the answer to the second sentence will be "yes"



Not really, since "most expensive" means the opposite of "cheapest". You could rewrite it "Is this the least expensive carpet you have got?"

A final point. The word "got" in your sentences is conversational and colloquial and is not needed. Many grammar scholars frown upon its use. It is very bad in written English.

All those sentences should really be rewritten as follows:-

"Have you any cheaper carpet than this?"

(or - "Do you have any cheaper carpet than this?")

"Is this the cheapest carpet you have?"
"Is this the least expensive carpet you have?"

Thank you very much.

Dear Contrex,

I have some questions. Pls help me

The first
Kinds of films or Kinds of film, which one is right or both are correct?
The second
Morning exercises or morning exercise, which one is right or both are correct?
The third
'The station was nearer than I thought'. I rewrite it
--> The station wasn't as near as I thought
--> The station wasn't as far as I thought
Which one is right?

Hello Yucheng.



This is complex, and there are differing opinions, but here is a simplified summary:

If the idea is of one sort, you'd use, "kind of idea." If they are of more than one sort, you'd use, "kinds of ideas."

single idea

It's a thriller - not my favourite kind of film.

multiple idea

Thriller, romance, musical, biographical - all these kinds of films are made in Hollywood.



Again it depends. The word "exercise" can have a specific meaning and also a general meaning.

(1) specific

Something done or performed as a means of practice or training - exercises for the piano, physical exercises, language exercises.

Physical exercises may be organised, and may take place in a gymnasium. Here is an imaginary series of exercises: Scissor jumps, running on the spot, weight lifting, pressups, situps.

(2) general

Bodily or mental exertion, esp. for the sake of training or improvement of health - Walking is good exercise.

It is good for your health to take some exercise.

That man is fat. I bet he doesn't take any exercise!

So both those examples could be right.



The station wasn't as far as I thought.

You have changed 'the station was' into its opposite, 'the station wasn't [=was not]', so you must also change the adjective 'near' (of which 'nearer' is the comparative form) into its opposite 'far'.

Best wishes from

Contrex

Thank you very much
If I use ''morning exercises'' with the meaning ''Bodily or mental exertion, esp. for the sake of training or improvement of health'' in the sentence "Morning exercises make me feel better"
Is this sentence correct?

No that is the opposite to what I wrote. Read it again. I am talking about some exercise not some exercises!

Unfortunately for students of English, an exercise and some exercise have similar, related meanings and identical spellings!

These are both correct:

(1)

Morning exercises make me feel better.

(Note exercises are plural. This means you do exercises in the gym or at home like on an exercise video). Chairman Mao made everybody do morning exercises I think.

(2)

Morning exercise makes me feel better.

This is any (generic) exercise which is not specified. It could be exercises (!), swimming, walking, jogging etc.

However I have a question about your sentence "... makes me feel better". Why do you write "better"? Better than what? Were you feeling ill? Did you drink too much last night? Maybe you meant "make me feel good (or well)".

Thank you, Contrex
From what you explained I have understood and found out I have had a mistake in making the sentence. I should make the sentence as you say. "Morning exercises makes me feel good/ healthy/ well"

Hello Contrex!
I have just learned about the conditional sentences and I have a quiz.
Rewrite the following sentences, using conditional sentences
1. I'm not hungry, so I don't eat anything
2. The library is closing now, so we'll have to leave before finishing our research
From the first I have two answers
a. If I am hungry, I will eat something
b. If I were hungry, I would eat something
From the second I have this answer
a. If the library weren't closing now, we wouldn't have to leave before finishing our research.
b. If the library isn't closing, we won't have to leave before finishing our research.
My question is in each sentence which answer is right or both are correct?
Thanks.

Hello Yucheng.

Your sentences using the conditional:-

1. If I were hungry, I would eat something.

2. If the library weren't closing now, we wouldn't have to leave before finishing our research.

The other sentences are grammatically OK, but they do not answer the question, since they do not use the conditional.