syntax?
Question for all you English nerds out there.
In the first year textbook, there is this exchange between the new teacher and a student.
Aki: Are you from America, Ms. King?
King: No, I'm not. I'm from Canada.
Aki: Oh, are you?
King: Yes. From Toronto.
The part I have a question about is the "Oh, are you?" line. It has never, ever sat well with me. My first instinct is that I would say "Oh, you are?" but I think I've been in Japan too long because lately Aki's line is starting to sound ok to me. It's supposed to show the kids that you can cut off parts of a previous sentence (in this case 'from Canada') and still be understood, but I hate this book and I hate that it wasn't actually made by native English speakers. ...At least, it better not have, what with some of the wonky things it's got in there.
What say you, flist?
In the first year textbook, there is this exchange between the new teacher and a student.
Aki: Are you from America, Ms. King?
King: No, I'm not. I'm from Canada.
Aki: Oh, are you?
King: Yes. From Toronto.
The part I have a question about is the "Oh, are you?" line. It has never, ever sat well with me. My first instinct is that I would say "Oh, you are?" but I think I've been in Japan too long because lately Aki's line is starting to sound ok to me. It's supposed to show the kids that you can cut off parts of a previous sentence (in this case 'from Canada') and still be understood, but I hate this book and I hate that it wasn't actually made by native English speakers. ...At least, it better not have, what with some of the wonky things it's got in there.
What say you, flist?