emar
it might be of help to you if + past , is this a correct pattern? What I intend to say is Even though I have not much experience in doing craftwork , I thought it might be of help to you if I learnt a little and helped you finished your work. Does it mekae sense' Other attempts: I thought it might help you me learning... / I wanted to help you and I learnt .../ Thank you very much
2016년 3월 2일 오후 10:40
답변 · 5
1
To be clear, "I haven't much experience" is perfectly fine, and in fact it's a very common pattern in conversation *outside the US*: - I haven't the foggiest notion - We haven't much money - I haven't the time - You haven't any idea == You have no idea As Tricia says, in US English we tend to negate the verb instead of the adjective: - We don't have much money - I don't have the time - You don't have any idea == You have no idea ... but both constructions are grammatically correct. I hope this helps. ¡Saludos!
2016년 3월 2일
1
Yes, it makes perfect sense, and the grammar is impeccable (you're obviously studying non-US English). - Even though I don't have much experience ... <= more conversational Variations on the theme: - I thought it might help if I learned / learnt a little ... - I wanted to help you, so I learnt / learned ... - I thought my learning a little might help you ... (<= possessive pronoun before a gerund)
2016년 3월 2일
It should be 'help you finish your work', but otherwise your first sentence is fine. It's also quite normal for someone in a European country to be studying 'non-US English' !
2016년 3월 3일
I agree with John, the sentence structure you are using is British. Here in the U.S. we would say, "Even though I do not have much experience in doing craftwork, I thought it might be of help to you if I learned a little and helped you finish your work." The only technical mistake that you made in the first try is that you used the past tense of "finish" and it should be the present tense.
2016년 3월 3일
"Even though I DO NOT have much experience in doing craftwork , I thought it might be of help to you if I learnt a little and helped you finished your work." The negation (do not) comes before the verb. Other than that, I think it is well-constructed. To correct the other attempts: I thought it might help you me learning...-> I though I might help you if I learned.../ Learning these skills, I could help you I wanted to help you and I learnt ...-> I wanted to help you by learning...
2016년 3월 2일
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