About "Proper English"?

[Tumbo]

Hi folks.

I myself see nothing wrong with this sentance.

"I am trying to solve why the clouds are so dark"

To me, this is as proper English grammar, as it can be.
But I got one stubern person why tryes to proove me wrong.

So, can anybody help here.
Thank you

 

[PanterroR]

Maybe he wants you to say: I'm trying to find out as why the clouds are so dark"

In any case, i think MikeJ will help you better with that.

 

[Centurion]

The problem with the sentence is the use of why and solve. The purpose of sentence need to be redefined, what do you want to do, solve the darkness of the clouds or find out why they are so dark?

 

[Tumbo]

The problem with the sentence is the use of why and solve. The purpose of sentence need to be redefined, what do you want to do, solve the darkness of the clouds or find out why they are so dark?

"clouds are so dark" was just an example.

It's if you can say "..trying to solve why..."

Examples:

"...I'm trying to solve why my computer is running so slow.."

 

[BMW///MPower]

I think you should say "I am trying to find out why my computer is so slow" in that case. Solve is only used for things like "I will solve this equation on my exam". You can solve a question or a problem but not why the clouds are dark.

So "trying to solve why..." is not proper english as far as I know (but then again I'm not an expert).

 

[PanterroR]

Yep, the problem is in word solve which in this context cannot be used...

 

[Centurion]

It's if you can say "..trying to solve why..."

No you can't.

Why = You want to investigate the cause of the problem.

Solve = You want to find a solution to the problem, and in the process you'll find out the cause as well.

So using both words in that specific manner makes the sentence ambiguous. It's best to only use either words unless you want to rephrase it into a longer sentence.

 

[Yperion]

Ι agree with the others.

You solve a problem or a mathematical equation.

Instead of solve you should use "find out" , or "understand" or something like that.

 

[Tarek]

Interesting topic...i actually learned a new thing

 

[MikeJ]

Hi folks.

I myself see nothing wrong with this sentance.

"I am trying to solve why the clouds are so dark"

To me, this is as proper English grammar, as it can be.
But I got one stubern person why tryes to proove me wrong.

So, can anybody help here.
Thank you

You can use a dependent clause as the object of solve, which means that the sentence in bold is grammatically correct, if unusual.

 

[Tumbo]

You can use a dependent clause as the object of solve, which means that the sentence in bold is grammatically correct, if unusual.

That is also what I thought
Thank you MikeJ.

 

[chonkoa]

Hi folks.

I myself see nothing wrong with this sentance.

"I am trying to solve why the clouds are so dark"

To me, this is as proper English grammar, as it can be.
But I got one stubern person why tryes to proove me wrong.

So, can anybody help here.
Thank you

I think if you replace the "solve" with "ascertain" in that sentence, it might perhaps be less contentious.

 

[klier]

Ι agree with the others.

You solve a problem or a mathematical equation.

Instead of solve you should use "find out" , or "understand" or something like that.

Yeah, that's about right I guess.

Edit; Mike is right too, since there is nothing wrong with your sentence Audiholic....I just think what Yannis said would make it look better.

 

[coolraoul]

I would've said "find out", solve sounds weird for me in that sentence.
I did not knew the word ascertain. Guess it means "solve" or "find out" but more precisely, when do you use this word?

BTW, if any of you find errors in what I write, feel free to correct. English is not my first language, and I'm always happy to learn.

In fact I'm a zero in grammar, I write (and speak) English only by feeling, so maybe I'm all wrong and you're struggling to understand what I write...

 

[BMW///MPower]

Writing or speaking english by feeling is a really good way, and you don't seem to make that much mistakes or errors.
Ad about the above sentence, it will probably be grammatically correct, but it doesnt feel right you know.
Also, saying something like 'I was milking my table today' is prefect in terms of grammar, but makes no sense at all....
But we all knew immediatelly what you meant so that's the most important thing right?

 

[Tumbo]

Edit; Mike is right too, since there is nothing wrong with your sentence Audiholic....I just think what Yannis said would make it look better.

The question was, is it right gramaticly, or not. That's the only thing I wanted to back-up.
Cause myself am totally sure that it's 100% gramaticly correct.
Yes, there are other ways of saying so, but if you write this on a english test, you will not fail in other words.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

I would've said "find out", solve sounds weird for me in that sentence.
I did not knew the word ascertain. Guess it means "solve" or "find out" but more precisely, when do you use this word?

BTW, if any of you find errors in what I write, feel free to correct. English is not my first language, and I'm always happy to learn.

In fact I'm a zero in grammar, I write (and speak) English only by feeling, so maybe I'm all wrong and you're struggling to understand what I write...

You're English is great Raoul. The only thing I've noticed is that you sometime use the word 'finition' in place of 'finish.'

Now if only I could remember all the German I once knew.

 

[siko]

I suspect this could be more porper...

"I am trying to solve as to why the clouds are so dark"

 

[Mr Robert]

I think most agree that there is nothing grammatically wrong with the sentence, but the use of solve is a bit unusual. I would never write that in a test.

 

[EnI]

Yep ...

Indeed. This sentence is rather strange.


Either:

I'm trying to find out why the clouds are so dark.

I'm trying to solve the mystery of very dark clouds.


You can use any other adjective instead of "very" eg. "too", "extremely", "unusually" etc.