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Sentences... 1. One minute later she asked me: "Why did you come to Los Angeles?". I didn't know what to answer; I was embarrassed and tired. I answered: "For the success". She looked at me sideways, she was perplexed. She asked me: "What type of success do you want?" She seemed somehow anxious. I said:"I don't know".She looked at me with her lips half-opened, trying to figure out what to say. I said: ''I'm not really sure". 2. The Olympic games were established in 776 BC, in ancient Greece; since then, they have been celebrated regularly every four years. The days when the games took place were considered by the Greeks as feast days; historians tell us that in those days fights were suspended, if there was a war going on. 3. She is the best person I know. Not only is she always open to her friends but also ready to help people she doesn't know. Moreover, I've never heard her say something bad about someone. If there was more people like her, the world would be a better place. 4. Did I ever tell you how our story started? We known each other circa three years ago at the airport while we were waiting in line to check-in. We both had to go to New York for a course of training. Six months later returned to Italy and we decided to get married. Today we run a small bookstore in the historic centre of the town and our first baby will be born in a month. 5."You look worried. What happened?" - "It's very late and my daughter hasn't returned home yet. She doesn't answer her phone and the friends she usually goes out with say they haven't seen her". - "She could have gone to the cinema or clubbing with some new friends. If I was you, I wouldn't be worried; anyways, if you want, I can help you find her.

Corrections · 7

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Sentences... (Part Two)


4. Did I ever tell you how our story started? We acquainted with known** each other circa around three years ago at the airport while we were waiting in line to check-in. We both had to go to New York for a training course of training. Six months later#, we returned to Italy and we decided to get married. Today#, we run a small bookstore in the historic centre of the town and our first baby will be born / due  in a month. / and we are expecting our first baby in a month's time.

** It sounds a little odd to write "We known each other circa three years ago at the airport..." Firstly, "known" is a verb in the past participle form, and has to be paired with the word "have". Even so, "We have known each other three years ago..." sounds odd as it may mean that when you met each other three years ago at the airport, you already knew each other before that. Therefore, I took the liberty to change it to "We acquainted with each other...." 

"Circa" means an approximate date when something occurred and is used more for historical events and the year is provided. (Example:  Using carbon dating, experts have determined that the artifact dates back to circa 2000 BC.)

# When we start a sentence with an adverb (e.g adverb of time), we use a comma to separate the adverb from the rest of the sentence.

Example:  Today, I have a surprise for you. / Firstly, you must apply for the job. 


5.

"You look worried. What happened?"  "It's very late and my daughter hasn't returned home yet. She #didn't answer her phone and the friends she usually goes out with #said they #hadn't seen her."  "She could have gone to the cinema or clubbing with some new friends. If I were you, I wouldn't be worried.** Anyway, if you want, I can help you to find her.

# Although it is a present situation, you called her some time ago and she did not pick up her phone. You also talked to her friends some time ago and they replied you (said). 

As you are reporting what your daughter's friends said, it is a reported speech. 

Example: 

Her friends said, "We have not seen her." (Direct speech)

Her friend said that they had not (hadn't) seen her." (Reported speech)

** "Anyways" is the wrong and non-standard usage of the actual word "Anyway", which means "in any case".

Hope this helps.
Cheers, 
Lance

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Sentences... (Part One)

1. One minute later, she asked me,# "Why did you come to Los Angeles?". I didn't know how to answer; I was embarrassed and tired. I answered, "For the success." *She looked at me sideways, and she was perplexed. She asked me#, "What type of success do you want?" She seemed somehow anxious. I said#,"I don't know." She looked at me with her mouth half-opened, trying to figure out what to say. I said,# ''I'm not really sure."

* When we join two main clauses, not only do we need a comma, but a conjunction as well. (Example: I opened the door, I reached out for my phone. (Incorrect -- this is a run-on sentence that is poorly constructed) VS I opened the door, and I reached out for my phone. (Correct)

# We do see the use of colons in dialogues, albeit for writing dialogues in scripts. 

Example

Teacher: Why did you use a colon here? 

Students: Hmm... I don't know. I thought it looked cool.

Usually, we use a comma before the quotation mark to start a dialogue.


2. The Olympic games were established in 776 BC, in ancient Greece; since then, they have been celebrated regularly every four years. The days when the games took place were considered by the Greeks as feast days; historians tell us that if there was an ongoing war during the games, fighting would be suspended. in those days fights were suspended, if there was a war going on.

3. She is the best person I know. Not only is she always open to her friends but also ready to help people she doesn't know. Moreover, I've never heard her say ** anything something bad about anyone. If there was #were more people like her, the world would be a better place.

** "Anything" is used for making negative statements (In your sentence, she did not badmouth anybody, which is a negative statement).

# This sentence describes a hypothetical and imaginary situation. Therefore, we use the subjunctive mood. (Example: If there were...) 


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Sentences...

1. One minute later she asked me: "Why did you come to Los Angeles?". I didn't know what to answer; I was embarrassed and tired. I answered: "For success". She looked at me sideways, she was perplexed. She asked me: "What type of success do you want?" She seemed somehow anxious. I said: "I don't know". She looked at me with her lips half-open, trying to figure out what to say. I said: ''I'm not really sure".

2. The Olympic games were established in 776 BC, in Ancient Greece. Since then, they have been celebrated regularly every four years. The days when the games took place were considered by the Greeks as feast days. Hisorians tell us that on such days fights were suspended, if there was a war going on.

3. She is the best person I know. Not only is she always open to her friends but she is also ready to help people she doesn't know. Moreover, I've never heard her say anything bad about anybody. If there were more people like her, the world would be a better place.

4. Did I ever tell you how our story started? We met each other about three years ago at the airport while we were waiting in line to check-in. We both had to go to New York for a course of training. Six months later when we returned to Italy we decided to marry. Today we run a small bookstore in the historic centre of the town and our first baby will be born in a month.

5."You look worried. What happened?" - "It's very late and my daughter hasn't returned home. She doesn't answer her phone and the friends she usually goes out with say that they haven't seen her". - "She could have gone to the cinema or clubbing with some new friends. If I were/was you, I wouldn't worry. Anyway, if you want, I can help you find her.

Very well written!

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