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grammar/phrase

English translation: passable but could be improved

10:07 Jun 20, 2018
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Poetry & Literature
English term or phrase: grammar/phrase
she couldn't help her poor English full of grammatical mistakes from having a humorous effect.

the narrator is telling us the story of a Yugoslav who joined his family. I would like to know what you feel about this sentence.

I don't know why but it sounds odd to me. Many thanks!!
Lakasa Stnorden
Local time: 02:28
Selected answer:passable but could be improved
Explanation:
"she couldn't help her poor English full of grammatical mistakes from having a humorous effect." is not itself full of grammatical mistakes, but would be improved by commas:
"she couldn't help her poor English, full of grammatical mistakes, from having a humorous effect."
Or shorter and simpler: "She could not prevent her poor English, full of grammatical mistakes, having a humorous effect"
Selected response from:

Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:28
Grading comment
Many thanks, jack!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +6passable but could be improved
Jack Doughty


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
passable but could be improved


Explanation:
"she couldn't help her poor English full of grammatical mistakes from having a humorous effect." is not itself full of grammatical mistakes, but would be improved by commas:
"she couldn't help her poor English, full of grammatical mistakes, from having a humorous effect."
Or shorter and simpler: "She could not prevent her poor English, full of grammatical mistakes, having a humorous effect"

Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:28
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 518
Grading comment
Many thanks, jack!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Claire Nolan: Your first suggestion (adding 2 commas) is good. In your second reformulation, I would add a "from" before "having". Is this a U.S./U.K. English difference?
21 mins
  -> I believe it is, yes. I would not myself put "from" after prevent. Thank you anyway.
agree  B D Finch: Or: She couldn't help the humorous effect of her poor English, full of grammatical mistakes. I also suggest that "help" shouldn't take "from", but "prevent" can but needn't take "from".//Had second thoughts about "prevent" taking "from": see amendment.
57 mins
  -> Thank you. See reply to Claire.
agree  philgoddard: Prevent from.
2 hrs
  -> Thank you. That's the third "prevent from" but it still sounds wrong to my British ears.
agree  Robert Forstag
3 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  MarinaM
4 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Yvonne Gallagher: I don't agree it's "passable" without the commas. And another vote for using "from". But whole sentence remains awkward.
23 hrs
  -> Thank you. Yes, I agree (with "awkward", not with "from").
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