MSGID: 1:153/716.0 ff3e36d6   
   REPLY: 2:5064/54.1315 5fe780f7   
   CHRS: IBMPC 2   
   Hi, Denis!  Recently you wrote in a message to All:   
      
   DM>  I did thaw a prime steak   
      
      
             The original version said   
   ML>  We'd done a bit of fussing [...] so it was agreed   
   ML>  we'd [...].   
      
             The first "we'd" is a contraction of "WE HAD" while the second is a   
   contraction of "WE WOULD".  In informal usage both are correct.   
      
             Native speakers use "did" as an auxiliary verb in questions... e.g.   
   "Did you thaw the meat?"  In declarative sentences, however, constructions of   
   the sort you're attempting seem to be limited to dialectical usage.   
      
      
      
   DM>  Also, as he hirself pointed out, his finances are   
   DM>  such that I can buy any meat in the store pretty   
   DM>  much whenever we want it, which of course means   
   DM>  that special occasions are every day, a bit of   
   DM>  monotony as she wants steak after steak   
      
      
             While I understand your efforts to change the pronouns here to suit   
   another individual, they need a bit of fine-tuning.   
      
      
      
             The original version said   
   ML>  Also, as she herself pointed out,   
      
             That's correct, but if one is referring to a male it's usual to say   
   "HE HIMSELF".  From what the author has said there's no doubt in my mind that   
   Lilli is female.  I reckon Andrew is male unless you indicate otherwise.  :-)   
      
      
      
   ML>  her finances are such that we can buy any meat in   
   ML>  the store pretty much whenever we want it,   
      
      
             You got the gender change there...   
      
      
      
   ML>  which of course means that special occasions are every   
   ML>  day, a bit of monotony as she wants steak after steak,   
      
      
             ... but you missed it here.  By changing "we" to "I" in one part of   
   the sentence but not another you also seem to be implying that you shop alone   
   for groceries, even if your friend is paying for some or all of them....  :-)   
      
      
      
      
   --- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+   
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