Question

Updated on 8 Aug 2021

lller

3 Aug 2021

Korean

English (US)
German

Question about English (US)

Hi, can you tell me if the following dialogue sounds natural, especially B’s part? 😅

A: Who live on the ground floor?
B: Well, in the units on the ground floor do Chinese people live.

Answers

theycallmekeke

3 Aug 2021

Featured answer

English (US)

@lller Well I guess you can use passive voice and say: "In the units on the ground floor live Chinese people." However, it doesn't sound natural to me as a native English speaker. I think active voice will sound more natural for that sentence.

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theycallmekeke

3 Aug 2021

English (US)

My correction would be:
A: Who lives on the ground floor?
B: Well, Chinese people live in the units on the ground floor.

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lller

3 Aug 2021

Korean

@theycallmekeke Thanks! But I am wondering if I can start the sentence with ‘in the units’ with the emphasis on it. Is that possible? :)

theycallmekeke

3 Aug 2021

English (US)

@lller Well I guess you can use passive voice and say: "In the units on the ground floor live Chinese people." However, it doesn't sound natural to me as a native English speaker. I think active voice will sound more natural for that sentence.

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lller

3 Aug 2021

Korean

@theycallmekeke Oh, thank you very much! I thougt so too, but while I was talking with some other people, at the moment I felt like it would be better to use passive voice with an emphasis ‘on the floor’. However, it really felt strange to me... So, that’s why I put up this post.

Is there any other way to use passive voice ? I mean, for example, could I say

“The units on the green floor are resided in by Chinese people.”

“The units on the green floor are occupied by Chinese people.”

“The units on the green floor are taken by Chinese people.”

theycallmekeke

3 Aug 2021

English (US)

@lller Ah I see what you mean. I would use the second option: “The units on the green floor are occupied by Chinese people.” That also sounds natural to me.

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lller

3 Aug 2021

Korean

@theycallmekeke Oh, I see. Actually, since the word occupy reminded me of soldiers, I was wondering if it was a possible option. 😅

theycallmekeke

3 Aug 2021

English (US)

@lller The word occupy has different meanings (in a way, you're right because one meaning can be related to the military haha).
But in your case, occupy means to "inhabit," or to "live in" a place. Therefore, it sounds natural to use occupy for the sentence you're trying to say.

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lller

3 Aug 2021

Korean

@theycallmekeke Ah, I see! Thank you very much again for your help!! 👍

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Hi, can you tell me if the following dialogue sounds natural, especially B’s part? 😅

A: Who live on the ground floor?
B: Well, in the units on the ground floor do Chinese people live.

Hi, can you tell me if the following dialogue sounds natural, especially B’s part? 😅A: Who live on the ground floor?B: Well, in the units on the ground floor do Chinese people live. See a translation

@lller Well I guess you can use passive voice and say: "In the units on the ground floor live Chinese people." However, it doesn't sound natural to me as a native English speaker. I think active voice will sound more natural for that sentence.

My correction would be:A: Who lives on the ground floor?B: Well, Chinese people live in the units on the ground floor.

@lller Well I guess you can use passive voice and say: "In the units on the ground floor live Chinese people." However, it doesn't sound natural to me as a native English speaker. I think active voice will sound more natural for that sentence.

@lller Ah I see what you mean. I would use the second option: “The units on the green floor are occupied by Chinese people.” That also sounds natural to me.

@lller The word occupy has different meanings (in a way, you're right because one meaning can be related to the military haha). But in your case, occupy means to "inhabit," or to "live in" a place. Therefore, it sounds natural to use occupy for the sentence you're trying to say.

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Hi, can you tell me if the following dialogue sounds natural, especially B’s part? 😅

A: Who live on the ground floor?
B: Well, in the units on the ground floor do Chinese people live.

My correction would be:
A: Who lives on the ground floor?
B: Well, Chinese people live in the units on the ground floor.

@lller The word occupy has different meanings (in a way, you're right because one meaning can be related to the military haha).
But in your case, occupy means to "inhabit," or to "live in" a place. Therefore, it sounds natural to use occupy for the sentence you're trying to say.