SF很高兴的说. 好像挑出来一块儿小骨头 " agreed to not charge"? or "agreed not to charge"?
-thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$);
2012-2-11{90}(#7279823@0)
Grammatically it should be "agreed not to" . But "to not" is also widely used and acceptable.
-winterstorm(打酱油的);
2012-2-11(#7280092@0)
Not sure if I agree with your point of view. But I am certain that your point is well put.
-winterstorm(打酱油的);
2012-2-11(#7279880@0)
Didn't mean to be black/white. I realized a while ago that buyer's agent actually works for the seller. It's safer to sell to a buyer with an agent. I heard a buyer's agent downplaying many issues with a house, including an obvious basement leak.
-wincity(红卫兵);
2012-2-11(#7279990@0)
Still, selling privately is better in your examples: saving $18K after tax vs earning $20K before tax.
-majorhomedepot(马甲后的炮);
2012-2-11(#7279917@0)
I still regret that I didn't sell my house privately....
-fly_universe(飞越时空);
2012-2-11(#7279999@0)
Very possibly you only save seller agent's commission, which is only 0.75%. You're likely to get that much back, probably more, selling through an agent. I'd like to hear your story if otherwise.
-wincity(红卫兵);
2012-2-11(#7280017@0)
I did try to sell privately at the beginning and the potential buyers were not with any agents. I could have sold it if my husband didn't push me to sell through an agent.
-fly_universe(飞越时空);
2012-2-11(#7280083@0)
Maybe your husband read my article. If so, I apologize. But how could you be sure you'd get more money from a private sale?
-wincity(红卫兵);
2012-2-11(#7280090@0)
because my bottom line for the price was much lower than the market price. it turned out that the money I got was lower than my bottom line when eventually I asked an agent to sell.
-fly_universe(飞越时空);
2012-2-11(#7280114@0)
Interesting. But keep in mind that you can't trust a private buyer's words until the money is in your pocket. Many years ago when I was selling my house, my neighbor promised me he'd buy for a certain price. And he kept saying it.But he never did anything. I waited for him for 2 weeks and wasted precious time because it was getting close to winter. He didn't say anything even when I lowered my price much below what he promised in the beginning.
-wincity(红卫兵);
2012-2-11{221}(#7280150@0)
you got a bad neighbor......just kidding:-)
-fly_universe(飞越时空);
2012-2-11{15}(#7280171@0)
Don't be mad at me but I'm not convinced. How do you know your bottom line is below market? And you're saying your agent is an idiot?
-wincity(红卫兵);
2012-2-11(#7280168@0)
I did quite a bit research before I was trying to sell my house. The final sold price was higher than my bottom line. But the money I got after taking away the agent fees was lower than my bottom line.
-fly_universe(飞越时空);
2012-2-11(#7280198@0)
But you can't be sure you'd get your bottom line from a private buyer. From my experience, it's almost impossible.
-wincity(红卫兵);
2012-2-11(#7280211@0)
not to say it's wrong,however,I 'd prefer using mediocre instead of bad in"Most have really bad interfaces"just for the sake of some moderation
-oiseau(月舞飞天);
2012-2-11(#7280120@0)
"Had the seller sold to this person, he indeed would have saved the 2.25% commission"
Should be "Had the seller sold THE HOUSE (or it) to the person........". you missed the object
-winterstorm(打酱油的);
2012-2-11(#7280148@0)
"I know at least 2 houses which failed to sell privately and later sold through agents",, I would go with " I know at least 2 houses THAT failed to sell privately BUT were sold through agents later"
-winterstorm(打酱油的);
2012-2-11(#7280164@0)
Nice touch. Well done.
-ordinaryone(ok);
2012-2-11(#7280178@0)
" I knew a house was for private sale but I couldn't find it at any of the private sale web sites I know", the last word "know" should be "knew"
-winterstorm(打酱油的);
2012-2-11(#7280186@0)
"I once checked 100 sales on MLS, 95 of them had a buyer's agent", should be "95 of them had buyers' agents" plural form...
-winterstorm(打酱油的);
2012-2-11(#7280208@0)
Come on. Be a man :) Admit you're being defensive.
-ordinaryone(ok);
2012-2-11(#7280264@0)
There is no defence to this one "Had the seller sold to this person, " . This clause is also a sentence. You need an object in this sentence as "sell" is a transitive verb that needs an object. Period.
-winterstorm(打酱油的);
2012-2-11(#7280268@0)
Can't agree with you on this one. In my opinion, "wincity" is correct. For example, we do say "most families here own a car".
-ordinaryone(ok);
2012-2-11(#7280256@0)
what about" you probably save money..". versus "you COULD probably save money....? "I am not sure about this one but don't feel right with the first
-oiseau(月舞飞天);
2012-2-11(#7280282@0)
nothing wrong with that. but will sound better with could
-winterstorm(打酱油的);
2012-2-11(#7280325@0)
Thanks. Any plan to contribute some lines here to show us 老中 or 普通国移 some impeccable English? Haha...no offence,just curious
-oiseau(月舞飞天);
2012-2-11(#7280364@0)
Je suis plus interesse a remonter mon francais maintenant....:)
-winterstorm(打酱油的);
2012-2-11(#7280377@0)
je m'interesse plutot a ameliorer mon francais maintenant(les accents ne sont pas la car je suis avec mon IPad )
-oiseau(月舞飞天);
2012-2-11(#7280402@0)
Je n'ai pas les accents aussi..Merci pour le correction!
-winterstorm(打酱油的);
2012-2-11(#7280417@0)
"IMO, you probably save money through private sale but the saving is probably a lot less than you think. Is it worth the trouble and the risk of not selling your house in time?" There is no grammatical error in this one, butyou need to pay attention to the level of register of your words. It appears to me that you were writing a formal article. Short forms like "IMO" should be avoided in this case. Always use "in my opinion".
I would also use "much less" instead of "a lot less", which is of lower register.
-winterstorm(打酱油的);
2012-2-11{299}(#7280252@0)
比如 but the saving is probably a lot less than you think，你说该用thought，拿上面飞越MM作例子，她当时那样想，现在还是那样想，所以按理该说 than you have been thinking。不过我想很多人会用 think，简明的多。
-wincity(红卫兵);
2012-2-12(#7280682@0)
Agree. Scotia bank commercial : u r richer than u think. Same thing.
-winterstorm(打酱油的);
2012-2-12(#7280689@0)
官方正式名称好像是 Bank of Nova Scotia.
-thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$);
2012-2-12(#7280697@0)
A matter of choice, depends on how you look at it.
-nothanks(ciel);
2012-2-12(#7280721@0)
I see. It's debatable.
-thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$);
2012-2-12(#7280722@0)
First, I must admit that my English is nowhere better than LZ. But I am sorry to say that the article is dry and can hardly hold my attention.Its not so much about the grammar but more of the wording, the way it's presented. I find that is the main difference between them and us.
-woodypeony(skipper);
2012-2-12{139}(#7280726@0)
People with English as their mother language and us , English as our second language.
-woodypeony(skipper);
2012-2-12(#7280730@0)
I see. Do they not normally say "first language, mother tongue, native language or arterial language" ?
-thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$);
2012-2-12(#7280733@0)
Most of us including myself have no problems of expressing ourselves, stating facts and communicating with others but we lost our cool, sense of humour and the way of mastering words.
-woodypeony(skipper);
2012-2-12(#7280741@0)
What about the part you disagree?
-nothanks(ciel);
2012-2-12(#7280752@0)
There are at least some do have good command of the English language.
-thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$);
2012-2-12(#7280758@0)
"a command of the English."
-nothanks(ciel);
2012-2-12(#7280762@0)
Both are correct.
-thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$);
2012-2-12(#7280774@0)
In your case, you need an “a”, and “language” is totally redundant.
-nothanks(ciel);
2012-2-12(#7280779@0)
When using the phrase “the English Language” The and language cannot be omitted.
-thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$);
2012-2-12(#7280816@0)
If you are talking about language itself, then “the English language” is a must. Again, in your case, “language” is not necessary, or you could try to look at “a command of English” as a phrase.
-nothanks(ciel);
2012-2-12(#7280828@0)
The real problem with this sentence is that you missed a "that" after "some", which is not acceptable.
-winterstorm(打酱油的);
2012-2-12(#7280900@0)
"who" will do too. U needed either one of them there
-winterstorm(打酱油的);
2012-2-12(#7280907@0)
To juice it up would require a completely different writing style. For now, I think some real examples may help.
-nothanks(ciel);
2012-2-12(#7280749@0)
I am not him. Like all the other commentators, I don't know how to write, but I do know how to read.
-nothanks(ciel);
2012-2-12(#7280760@0)
You know how to write in English of course and you set the bar high for yourself.
-thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$);
2012-2-12(#7280771@0)
Why don't you post something?
-nothanks(ciel);
2012-2-12(#7280780@0)
I am still learning to be a good commentator now. When I feel more confident I shall do so then.
-thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$);
2012-2-12(#7280783@0)
I thought I was the only coward. Welcome to the board.
-nothanks(ciel);
2012-2-12(#7280794@0)
Here is an article I once read on similar topic.
-woodypeony(skipper);
2012-2-12(#7280792@0)
Points taken. But I don’t think the comparison is fair. There are also many college students who were born here don’t know how to write an essay.
-nothanks(ciel);
2012-2-12(#7280813@0)
You are absolutely right, I am just trying to make a point. One thing I learned during my English Study is that Grammar mistakes can be easily corrected. However, it takes a lot more to form a style and express effectively and engage the interest.
-woodypeony(skipper);
2012-2-12(#7280840@0)
Hi, it's always been a pleasure to see your posts. You won't be sued. On the contrary, they should award you for propagating this ad.Whoever wrote this(these) post(s), is (are), not necessarily, and most unlikely, the same person(s) who posted this (these) post(s) on rolia. (Just kidding, I know you won't be mad at me.)
-nothanks(ciel);
2012-2-12{190}(#7280955@0)
Not at all, I think I know who you’re. :-)
However I do believe he wrote these posts, as the posts consistently showed the same well-organized thought process, although sometimes I disagree with his opinions.
-slowdownforrose(放慢脚步);
2012-2-12(#7280980@0)
Even if a buyer looks outside MLS, he may... 应该用who来替代 HE .
-senecalion(senecalion);
2012-2-13(#7282419@0)
Okay -- an easy test -- implement all the recommended improvements (or dis-improvements:-) onto the original article, then ask yourself: does it make a substantially perceivable difference? My answer is: No.Congratulations, a weekend well wasted. :-)
-cca(不归的如来佛);
2012-2-13{43}(#7282528@0)
Finally we got a smart A :-) Congratulations!
-thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$);
2012-2-13(#7283684@0)