Could you help me to answer the following questions? Thanks!
1. Language proper does not consist of signs but of THOSE that have to be learnt and that are wholly conventional.
Question: Can I replace 'those' with 'these' in this sentence?

2. Since nearly two hundred years AGO, they have shown the world that political independence and national identity can be complete without sacrificing the enormous mutual advantages of a common language.
Question: Can I use 'For nearly two hundred years now' instead of 'Since nearly two hundred years AGO' in this sentence?
By the way, which one is correct, 'For nearly two hundred years NOW' or 'For nearly two hundred years AGO'? Is there any difference between 'now' and 'ago' in both adverbials of time ?

3. I knew that I had a facility with words and a power of facing unpleasant facts, and I felt that this created a sort of private world in which I could GET MY OWN BACK FOR my failure in everyday life.
Question: What's the meaning of 'get my own back for...'?

Question

Could you help me to answer the following questions? Thanks!
1. Language proper does not consist of signs but of THOSE that have to be learnt and that are wholly conventional.
Question: Can I replace 'those' with 'these' in this sentence?

2. Since nearly two hundred years AGO, they have shown the world that political independence and national identity can be complete without sacrificing the enormous mutual advantages of a common language.
Question: Can I use 'For nearly two hundred years now' instead of 'Since nearly two hundred years AGO' in this sentence?
By the way, which one is correct, 'For nearly two hundred years NOW' or 'For nearly two hundred years AGO'? Is there any difference between 'now' and 'ago' in both adverbials of time ?

3. I knew that I had a facility with words and a power of facing unpleasant facts, and I felt that this created a sort of private world in which I could GET MY OWN BACK FOR my failure in everyday life.
Question: What's the meaning of 'get my own back for...'?

Answer

Language proper does not consist of signs but of THOSE that have to be learnt and that are wholly conventional.

i don't understand this sentence. What does 'proper' mean here?
the 2nd part,, but of those that xxx and that xxx  doesn't sound like a sound sentence

Answer

1. No.

2. Yes, you can use "for nearly two hundred years now". You can't replace "now" with "ago". "Ago" means time gone - it's only in the past.

3. "Get my own back" means "take revenge".

Answers · 2

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