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Hi,
Are the following sentences natural to a native ear?
1. How old must be that guy?
2. You don't want to leave it too late.
3. Now I would like to call Julia to say a few words. ( should I use ‘call upon’ ‘call on’ or just ‘call’?)
Thanks,
MG.
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musicgold wrote:Hi,
Are the following sentences natural to a native ear?
1. How old must be that guy?
2. You don't want to leave it too late.
3. Now I would like to call Julia to say a few words. ( should I use ‘call upon’ ‘call on’ or just ‘call’?)
Hi MG Try this; 1 How old is that guy? or Do you know that guy's age? 2 You don't want to wait too long to do that. 3. I would like to call Julia to talk to her. This implies that you will call her on the telephone. Or I would like to see Julia to talk to her. This implies that you plan to see her. I hope this helped you.
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Hi!
I think I read your first sentence slightly differently than redgriffin did.
"How old is that guy? or Do you know that guy's age?" - these are just simple questions, and are right if that is what you meant. However, your sentence, "How old must be that guy?", implies (to me) that the guy is really old, and you are expressing surprise that someone could be that old.
In that case, it would sound more natural as "(Wow!) How old must that guy be?" (the 'Wow!' is optional.)
2. You don't want to leave it too late. - this sounds fine to me and is a commonly-used phrase in British Emglish.
3. Now I would like to call Julia to say a few words. As redgriffin says, 'to call' would mean on the phone, 'to see' or 'to go and see' would be used otherwise. 'Upon' is very rarely used now, and sounds old-fashioned or very formal. Also, I normally would say 'for a chat' or 'for a few words' rather than 'to say a few words'.
'Now I'd like to call Julia for a chat' or 'Now I'd like to see Julia to talk to her' or 'Now I'd like to call Julia for a few words' are probably the most 'natural' to me.
Though lovers be lost, love shall not, and Death shall have no dominion. - Dylan Thomas
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And I read your sentences a little differently again. I agree with Dragon above, but its the third sentence?
I thought you were inviting Julia to speak (at a meeting? a party? a presentation?) in which case you're on the right track and would use either 'call upon' or 'call on' viz:- "And now, I would like to call upon Julia to say a few words."
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As another native British English speaker, I agree with DragOnspeaker.
I would just add that I would use No.3 if I was at a formal meeting, or making a presentation, where I wanted Julia to make a contribution.
Then I would then use the formal, " Now I would like to call upon(or on) Julia to say a few words."
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I posted at the same time as Romany. I see we are in agreement!
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Would you please explain what 'You don't want to leave it too late.' means?
Modest doubt is called the beacon of the wise.
William Shakespeare
Ravindra
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Ravindra asked:Quote:Would you please explain what 'You don't want to leave it too late.' means? It is actually used as a polite way of telling someone "Don't delay!" or "Do not be late!" Many British people have a slight dislike of ordering anyone to do things (or being ordered!), so orders are sometimes phrased as a "reminder" that the person wants to do the action.
Though lovers be lost, love shall not, and Death shall have no dominion. - Dylan Thomas
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I think in AE, we would be more apt to say "I don't want to leave it (till)(until) too late.
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Oh.Just seen Ruth's post. So I guess that means that to leave something too late is a purely BE expression, then? I hadn't realised.
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Romany wrote:Quote:Oh.Just seen Ruth's post. So I guess that means that to leave something too late is a purely BE expression, then? I hadn't realised. I guess so, as both American contributors seem to want to change the phrasing. 
Though lovers be lost, love shall not, and Death shall have no dominion. - Dylan Thomas
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I do not know about Americans, but I have to say that phrase exactly as written to my husband all the time. "You don't want to leave it too late ." (I believe it is called 'nagging').  lol
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A third American would also change it. I've never heard it said as "leave". It's always "don't wait (until it's) too late." or "I don't want to wait (until it's) too late." So it must be BE. And Hope1, my wife would say you spelled that word wrongly. It should be "nudging"... 
A great many people will think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices. ~ William James ~
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FounDit , Thank your wife. I will tell my husband what it is called!  I must be more BE than I realized! Edit: He laughed.
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HO HO HO
Though lovers be lost, love shall not, and Death shall have no dominion. - Dylan Thomas
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Thanks folks.
An explanation with respect to #3. I said it in a meeting. I introduced a team and then I wanted the team leader, Julia, to say a few words about their assignment. How would you say it given the context?
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Romany wrote:And I read your sentences a little differently again. I agree with Dragon above, but its the third sentence?
I thought you were inviting Julia to speak (at a meeting? a party? a presentation?) in which case you're on the right track and would use either 'call upon' or 'call on' viz:- "And now, I would like to call upon Julia to say a few words." This is how.
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