Scarlett_Father's avatar
Scarlett_Father

Jan. 11, 2023

1
Life in the Ports (7)

It's now 2023 already. I look back to the year 1998, it seemed that the ports where I worked have made a preparation for the coming economic take-off in China in the near future. Thousands of people worked and lived there, and many cargo ships thronged the harbor. Frankly speaking, I didn't know what they have taken out of China, but only brought in a large amount of steel, rice, and cars made in japan...
China has always been like a bottomless pit that can melt everything.
The army was also involved in some economic activities during the period. For example, many container trucks from the army transported steel from the port to the factories. No any local authorities had the right to check them, they did not need to pay taxes. Army officers used their mobile phones; soldiers hid their pager-beeper in their pockets (their commander pretended not to see it). Quite a lot of them were finding their own ways to earn money.
Some soldiers who guarded the ship cared for us all the time. If we got a deal with a captain, they would charge some money. So we usually tried to hide our vehicle first, when we saw the soldiers leave, then quickly sent the products into the ship.

Corrections

Life in the Ports (7)

When I look back to the year 1998, it seemeds that the ports where I worked have made a preparationed for the coming economic take-off in China in the near future.

Since you're looking back at this moment, the sentence is present tense.

Thousands of people worked and lived there, and many cargo ships throngcrowded the harbor.

Frankly speaking, I didn't know what they have taken out of China, but I know that they only brought in a large amount of steel, rice, and cars made in japan ...

China has always been like a bottomless pit that can melt[ absorb | consume ] everything.

The army was also involved in some economic activities during the period.

For example, many container trucks from the army transported steel from the port to the factories.

No any local authorities had the right to check them, because they did not need to pay taxes.

Army officers used their mobile phones; soldiers hid their pager-beepers in their pockets (while their commanders pretended not to see ithem).

Quite a lot of them were finding their own ways to earn money.

Some soldiers who guarded the ship cared for us all the time.

If we got a deal with a captain, they would charge usome money.

So wWe therefore usually tried to hide our vehicle first, when we saw the soldiers leave, then we quickly sentcarried the products into the ship.

Feedback

よく書けています!面白そうですね。いい話だと思います。

Scarlett_Father's avatar
Scarlett_Father

Jan. 12, 2023

1

訂正をありがとうございます!

Life in the Ports (7)

It's now 2023 already.

I lookLooking back to / at the year 1998, it seemeds that the ports where I worked haved made a preparations for the coming economic take-off in China in the near future.

I assume you’re telling us how it seems to you now when you look back on the past, so I have applied present tense in my corrections.

Instead of “coming… in the near future” you could simply say “imminent”: “China’s imminent economic takeoff.”

Thousands of people worked and lived there, and many cargo ships thronged the harbor.

Frankly speaking, I didon't know what they have takentook out of China, but they only brought in a large amount of steel, rice, and cars made in jJapan...

China has always been like a bottomless pit that can melt (absorb?) everything.

I also wonder if you might mean “absorb.” “Melt” would require more explanation for me to understand.

The army was also involved in some economic activities during the period.

For example, many container trucks from the army transported steel from the port to the factories.

This would read more smoothly if you wrote “many army container trucks” instead of “many container trucks from the army,” since you have to use “from” again later in this sentence.

No any local authorities had the right to check them, and they did not need to pay taxes.

I’m not sure about the relationship between these two clauses. If there is a cause-and-effect relationship, then use “because” as knabenhaft suggested.

Army officers used their mobile phones; soldiers hid their pager-beepers in their pockets (their commanders pretended not to see ithem).

I’m not familiar with the term “pager-beeper”—I’ve only seen them called either “pagers” or “beepers.” I remember they were called “BB口” in Taiwan in the early ’90s. :-)

Quite a lot of them were finding their own ways to earn money.

Some soldiers who guarded the ships cared for us (watched us?) all the time.

“Cared for us” implies that they were concerned for your welfare and took good care of you, like a parent or the staff of a luxury hotel. Since you later say that you tried to hide from them, I think you mean they watched you.

If we got a deal with a captain, they would charge some money.

“Got a deal” seems OK to me. “Made a deal” would sound better, and “scored a deal” would sound cool.

SoTherefore we usually tried to hide our vehicle first, w. When we saw the soldiers leave, thenwe would quickly sentmove the products i/goods onto the ship.

We generally try to avoid beginning a sentence with “so.”

“Sent” does not mean “送”. “Sent” explicitly means that you did NOT carry or move the goods yourself, you asked or ordered someone else (such as a courier) to carry them for you.

We usually say “on board / onto / on” a ship, not “in.”

Feedback

I put quite a lot of effort correcting your sentences and adding comments. If you value this, I would appreciate it if you would respond to some of my comments and questions. Otherwise, I won’t bother anymore.

Scarlett_Father's avatar
Scarlett_Father

Jan. 12, 2023

1

Army officers used their mobile phones; soldiers hid their pager-beepers in their pockets (their commanders pretended not to see ithem).

Yes, we call it "BP机" or "BB机" in 1990s. In the late 90s in mainland of China, very rich people use mobile phones. I used a Pager.

JoeTofu's avatar
JoeTofu

Jan. 12, 2023

0

Yes, we call it "BP机" or "BB机" in 1990s. In the late 90s in mainland of China, very rich people use mobile phones. I used a Pager.

Interesting. I don't remember hearing "BB机" back then in Taiwan, just “BB口” (sometimes written as "BB call" but still pronounced “BB口”), but it was 30 ago so my memory might not be reliable. :-)

Scarlett_Father's avatar
Scarlett_Father

Jan. 12, 2023

1

Some soldiers who guarded the ships cared for us (watched us?) all the time.

Why do I use "care" here? I wanted to satire the soldiers. Because they care more about how much money we are going to earn than keeping laws.

JoeTofu's avatar
JoeTofu

Jan. 12, 2023

0

Why do I use "care" here? I wanted to satire the soldiers. Because they care more about how much money we are going to earn than keeping laws.

If you want to use sarcasm, put "cared" in quotes: Some soldiers who guarded the ships "cared" for us all the time.

Scarlett_Father's avatar
Scarlett_Father

Jan. 12, 2023

1

I'm sorry to have made you feel unhappy, maybe due to I didn't reply to one comment from the last entry. I know it will spend more time on giving a reason why made a correction, it is not an easy job and must have quite enough language knowledge. I meet many friendly English-speaking gentlemen and ladies on this site, you are one of the most valuable teachers in my mind. The most valuable words for me is not my writing but all the words from your corrections and comments.
Thanks for your straightforward! :-)

JoeTofu's avatar
JoeTofu

Jan. 12, 2023

0

If you want to use sarcasm, put "cared" in quotes: Some soldiers who guarded the ships "cared" for us all the time.

Actually “took care of us” would be better than “cared for us.”

And you’re welcome. :-)

I look back to the year 1998, i. It seemed that the ports where I worked haved made a preparations for the coming economic take-off in China in the near future.

"coming" and "near future" seem redundant

Thousands of people worked and lived there, and many cargo ships thronged the harbor.

or: the harbor thronged with cargo ships

Frankly speaking, I didn't know what they have takend exported out of China, but only brought in a. All I knew was that they had imported large amounts of steel, rice, and cars made in jJapan...

China has always been like a bottomless pit that can melt everything.

What are you trying to convey here :? (Although this is a new paragraph, how does this connect with what you are talking about?)

The army was also involved in some economic activities during theis period.

For example, many army container trucks from the army transported steel from the port to the factories.

No any local authoritiesy had the right to check them, and they did not need to pay taxes.

Army officers used their mobile phones; soldiers hid their pager-beepers in their pockets (their commander pretended not to see it).

Some soldiers who guarded those ships cared for us all the time.

I don't know if "care" is the right word here; may be "cared to do business with us" or "did business with us"

So weWe would usually triedy to hide our vehicle first, when we saw the soldiers leave, then quickly sentd the products into those ships.

*starting with "so" is fine casually*

Feedback

Great writing! Hope these corrections are helpful.

Scarlett_Father's avatar
Scarlett_Father

Jan. 12, 2023

1

Thank you so much for your corrections! :-)

I look back to the year 1998, when it seemed that the ports where I worked haved made a preparation for the coming economic take-off in China in the near future.

past perfect tense - actions begun and completed in the past, before something else (the rest of the story that you’re telling) took place

Frankly speaking, I didn't know what they haved taken out of China, but they only brought in a large amount of steel, rice, and cars made in japan...

Be mindful of tense agreement (simple past and past progressive), and make sure the subject is at the forefront when you start a new clause.

China has always been like a bottomless pit that can melt (or: absorb) everything.

I don’t quite know what you mean by “melt” here, but based on the idea of a bottomless pit, maybe absorb would be a more appropriate word for the simile you’re constructing.

The army was also involved in some economic activities during the period.

For example, many container trucks from the army transported steel from the port to the factories.

No any local authorities had the right to check them, because they did not need to pay taxes.

There’s a causal relationship here, so “because” is appropriate. Remember to use conjunctions to connect your clauses.

Army officers used their mobile phones; soldiers hid their pager-beepers in their pockets (their commander pretended not to see ithem).

pager is the official term, I believe. I assumed “it” referred to the multiple hidden pagers, so I changed it to “them” to account for multiple items.

Quite a lot of them were finding their own ways to earn money.

Some soldiers who guarded the ship cared for us all the time.

If we gotmade a deal with a captain, they would charge us some money.

“make a deal” is the expression.

Charge who? You, presumably.

So we usually tried to hide our vehicle first, when once we saw the soldiers leave, then quickly sent the products ionto the ship.

“Once” expresses the urgency better (in my opinion) and sounds a bit more natural.

Scarlett_Father's avatar
Scarlett_Father

Jan. 12, 2023

1

China has always been like a bottomless pit that can melt (or: absorb) everything.

I think the word "absorb" is right now.

Scarlett_Father's avatar
Scarlett_Father

Jan. 12, 2023

1

Thank you for your corrections and give some reasons! :-)

Life in the Ports (7)


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

It's now 2023 already.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

I look back to the year 1998, it seemed that the ports where I worked have made a preparation for the coming economic take-off in China in the near future.


I look back to the year 1998, when it seemed that the ports where I worked haved made a preparation for the coming economic take-off in China in the near future.

past perfect tense - actions begun and completed in the past, before something else (the rest of the story that you’re telling) took place

I look back to the year 1998, i. It seemed that the ports where I worked haved made a preparations for the coming economic take-off in China in the near future.

"coming" and "near future" seem redundant

I lookLooking back to / at the year 1998, it seemeds that the ports where I worked haved made a preparations for the coming economic take-off in China in the near future.

I assume you’re telling us how it seems to you now when you look back on the past, so I have applied present tense in my corrections. Instead of “coming… in the near future” you could simply say “imminent”: “China’s imminent economic takeoff.”

When I look back to the year 1998, it seemeds that the ports where I worked have made a preparationed for the coming economic take-off in China in the near future.

Since you're looking back at this moment, the sentence is present tense.

Thousands of people worked and lived there, and many cargo ships thronged the harbor.


Thousands of people worked and lived there, and many cargo ships thronged the harbor.

or: the harbor thronged with cargo ships

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

Thousands of people worked and lived there, and many cargo ships throngcrowded the harbor.

Frankly speaking, I didn't know what they have taken out of China, but only brought in a large amount of steel, rice, and cars made in japan...


Frankly speaking, I didn't know what they haved taken out of China, but they only brought in a large amount of steel, rice, and cars made in japan...

Be mindful of tense agreement (simple past and past progressive), and make sure the subject is at the forefront when you start a new clause.

Frankly speaking, I didn't know what they have takend exported out of China, but only brought in a. All I knew was that they had imported large amounts of steel, rice, and cars made in jJapan...

Frankly speaking, I didon't know what they have takentook out of China, but they only brought in a large amount of steel, rice, and cars made in jJapan...

Frankly speaking, I didn't know what they have taken out of China, but I know that they only brought in a large amount of steel, rice, and cars made in japan ...

China has always been like a bottomless pit that can melt everything.


China has always been like a bottomless pit that can melt (or: absorb) everything.

I don’t quite know what you mean by “melt” here, but based on the idea of a bottomless pit, maybe absorb would be a more appropriate word for the simile you’re constructing.

China has always been like a bottomless pit that can melt everything.

What are you trying to convey here :? (Although this is a new paragraph, how does this connect with what you are talking about?)

China has always been like a bottomless pit that can melt (absorb?) everything.

I also wonder if you might mean “absorb.” “Melt” would require more explanation for me to understand.

China has always been like a bottomless pit that can melt[ absorb | consume ] everything.

The army was also involved in some economic activities during the period.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

The army was also involved in some economic activities during theis period.

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

For example, many container trucks from the army transported steel from the port to the factories.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

For example, many army container trucks from the army transported steel from the port to the factories.

For example, many container trucks from the army transported steel from the port to the factories.

This would read more smoothly if you wrote “many army container trucks” instead of “many container trucks from the army,” since you have to use “from” again later in this sentence.

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

No any local authorities had the right to check them, they did not need to pay taxes.


No any local authorities had the right to check them, because they did not need to pay taxes.

There’s a causal relationship here, so “because” is appropriate. Remember to use conjunctions to connect your clauses.

No any local authoritiesy had the right to check them, and they did not need to pay taxes.

No any local authorities had the right to check them, and they did not need to pay taxes.

I’m not sure about the relationship between these two clauses. If there is a cause-and-effect relationship, then use “because” as knabenhaft suggested.

No any local authorities had the right to check them, because they did not need to pay taxes.

Army officers used their mobile phones; soldiers hid their pager-beeper in their pockets (their commander pretended not to see it).


Army officers used their mobile phones; soldiers hid their pager-beepers in their pockets (their commander pretended not to see ithem).

pager is the official term, I believe. I assumed “it” referred to the multiple hidden pagers, so I changed it to “them” to account for multiple items.

Army officers used their mobile phones; soldiers hid their pager-beepers in their pockets (their commander pretended not to see it).

Army officers used their mobile phones; soldiers hid their pager-beepers in their pockets (their commanders pretended not to see ithem).

I’m not familiar with the term “pager-beeper”—I’ve only seen them called either “pagers” or “beepers.” I remember they were called “BB口” in Taiwan in the early ’90s. :-)

Army officers used their mobile phones; soldiers hid their pager-beepers in their pockets (while their commanders pretended not to see ithem).

Quite a lot of them were finding their own ways to earn money.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

Some soldiers who guarded the ship cared for us all the time.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

Some soldiers who guarded those ships cared for us all the time.

I don't know if "care" is the right word here; may be "cared to do business with us" or "did business with us"

Some soldiers who guarded the ships cared for us (watched us?) all the time.

“Cared for us” implies that they were concerned for your welfare and took good care of you, like a parent or the staff of a luxury hotel. Since you later say that you tried to hide from them, I think you mean they watched you.

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

If we got a deal with a captain, they would charge some money.


If we gotmade a deal with a captain, they would charge us some money.

“make a deal” is the expression. Charge who? You, presumably.

If we got a deal with a captain, they would charge some money.

“Got a deal” seems OK to me. “Made a deal” would sound better, and “scored a deal” would sound cool.

If we got a deal with a captain, they would charge usome money.

So we usually tried to hide our vehicle first, when we saw the soldiers leave, then quickly sent the products into the ship.


So we usually tried to hide our vehicle first, when once we saw the soldiers leave, then quickly sent the products ionto the ship.

“Once” expresses the urgency better (in my opinion) and sounds a bit more natural.

So weWe would usually triedy to hide our vehicle first, when we saw the soldiers leave, then quickly sentd the products into those ships.

*starting with "so" is fine casually*

SoTherefore we usually tried to hide our vehicle first, w. When we saw the soldiers leave, thenwe would quickly sentmove the products i/goods onto the ship.

We generally try to avoid beginning a sentence with “so.” “Sent” does not mean “送”. “Sent” explicitly means that you did NOT carry or move the goods yourself, you asked or ordered someone else (such as a courier) to carry them for you. We usually say “on board / onto / on” a ship, not “in.”

So wWe therefore usually tried to hide our vehicle first, when we saw the soldiers leave, then we quickly sentcarried the products into the ship.

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