Quick Question
I'm not sure how I should end this sentence:
"We weren't expecting to have any client before... (posting/ we post/ we posted/ we've posted) the advertisement on the web."
Considering I haven't posted it yet.
Search from various English teachers...
Corrections · 2
1
Hi Gabriel.
Well, it depends on what you are trying to state, as all your proposed sentences are grammatically correct, but each conveys a slightly different meaning, particularly as to tense. Regardless, given your statement that you have not, in fact, actually posted the advertisement yet, getting clients will be a future act. Thus, I feel it better to use “will not be” (won’t be) or, “shall not be,” as both relate to the future tense, instead of using “weren’t,” which relates to the past. Of course, use “are not” (aren’t) for the present tense.
By using “We weren’t expecting...,” you create the inference that what you were not expecting has already happened, As examples:
We weren’t expecting it to rain (but it did!), so that is why we did not take umbrellas and got soaked.
We weren’t expecting to arrive so late (but our flight was delayed), so we apologize for making you wait.
We weren't expecting to have any clients (but one actually walked in) before we posted the advertisement on the web.
That’s my “two cents” worth as a native speaker, but others are free to disagree. I hope that this helps you, Jonathan.
0
Quick Question
I'm not sure how I should end this sentence:
"We weren't expecting to have any clients before... (posting/ we post/ we posted/ we've posted) the advertisement on the web."
Considering I haven't posted it yet.
Either one of these will work :)
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