They are monologues. Can both (a) and (b) follow (1) and (2)?
I am sorry to ask you similar questions over again. My questions were not suitable enough. I hope everyone is patient and kind enough to answer my question. Thank you for understanding.

(1) Although she did her best, she failed.
(a) She is such a smart girl. I can't believe it!
(b) Actually, she got sick and had a fever on the examination day. Without the problem, she would have passed it.

(2) Although she failed, she did her best.
(a) She is such a smart girl. I can't believe it!
(b) Actually, she got sick and had a fever on the examination day. Without the problem, she would have passed it.

Question

They are monologues. Can both (a) and (b) follow (1) and (2)?
I am sorry to ask you similar questions over again. My questions were not suitable enough. I hope everyone is patient and kind enough to answer my question. Thank you for understanding.

(1) Although she did her best, she failed. 
(a) She is such a smart girl. I can't believe it!
(b) Actually, she got sick and had a fever on the examination day. Without the problem, she would have passed it. 

(2) Although she failed, she did her best.
(a) She is such a smart girl. I can't believe it!
(b) Actually, she got sick and had a fever on the examination day. Without the problem, she would have passed it.

Answer

Thank you all for answering the question. ^^

Answer

#1 is correct. 
#2 is weird . It sounds like she is saying: "I can't believe she tried her best."

Answer

Both (1) and (2) are grammatically correct, so (a) and (b) can follow either one. 
(1) is more common usage. 
In such sentences, the listener's attention is directed to the second clause. In (1), the important point is that she failed. In (2), the speaker is emphasizing her effort; this construction might be used if you were trying to get sympathy for her.

Actually, I'd call them dialogues, as (1) and (b) appear to be spoken by one person, and (a) by another person.

Answers · 3

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