mmmmmmmmmmmmm,  not sure, will have to think a bit (it is saturday)

Hi Rawks - I know what you're saying, but I'm rubbish at explaining.    The word nature is good, but he's not constructed the sentence correctly I don't think.   For me it's not 'nature' that's wrong, it's the way he's said  'by' the nature of watching tv.   If he'd said something like "That's the nature of television.. it teaches you things" it would sound better.  We need the experts again I'm afraid, because I've no idea how you'd explain it.     I'm still impressed though.   Good luck!

*slurps coffee, engages brain cells*

You normally see the phrase - such-and such "is by it's nature..." meaning it is that way because of its inherent qualities. Saying simply "by nature of" doesn't really make sense when you think about whats being said .

I think he may have confused it with the phrase "by dint of"? The dictionary definition of that is  "by means of" which would fit exactly what he's trying to say.

I would say its wrong from a strict grammatical sense. However you would hear it all the time in conversation. I'm not sure !! Language doesn't always make perfect sense

Sounds like you're working hard at your course Rawky,  and you're enthusiastic about the job 

I would not be impressed by his use of that phrase.  I think Kaffy is on the right track but I think he is trying to use a fancy phrase when what he is really trying to say is.  "He knows a lot of things about different topics because he watches a lot of TV".  The more I look at the sentence he actually used the uglier it seems to me.  Well that's my twopennorth anyway.

hmmm, so could we say it was a good attempt at using different vocabulary? 

the whole sentence doesn't read well at all but if he is leaving it as is there is defo a 'the' missing in front of the word nature.. tbh tho I'd get him to rewrite the whole sentence..

but don't take my word for it I am crap at English Grammar 

Yes definitely.  

you could say that but also he is a tad Hilda Bakerish in his use of different vocabulary

Seriously tho ignore me I am talking rubbish ..dunno what I am doing in this thread. .tis like when I accidentally wandered into a crossword help thread and got completely stuck there not knowing what was going on and why I was there in the first place

Yeah, he misses articles (a, an and the) throughout the homework. He won't get the homework back or redo it, I just have to analyse it.

Good luck with that Rawky. . I can see errors sometimes but have no idea how to articulate what they are. .the use of words like the thingamybob and the whatchamacallit doesn't really cut it  . .I;d not even know what an article is when pertaining to grammar

I'm not sure what the criteria is for passing the course, Rawks.     It was a good word to be able to use in the right manner, he just didn't get the sentence construction right,not sure if he's supposed to be able to by now?.   That said, if I was in a foreign country I'd be miming, drawing things in the air, pointing and shouting a lot in English to make myself understood, so he's doing very well by my standards.     If he's going for a job as a writer in England then maybe he needs more work.

I'm no help am I?  Sorry.

you;re much more help than me Kaffy

still don;t know why I wandered in here unless it was the hope of learning something myself

think tis time for me to leave

No, you're all very helpful.  He's only at the school for a couple of weeks, he signed for a FREE language course just to help him develop his English.  He's not too bad with his writing, i've only spotted one spelling mistake, but i just need to comment about his use of vocab.

However much I look at it I still don't like his use of nature in this context.  If he wanted to phrase it a little differently he could say something like 'he knows a lot of things about different topics which could well be as a result of watching TV'.  It is grammatically correct but whether that would be an improvement I leave to your judgement.  I just don't think he is going to insert the word 'nature' in there with any success.

He's clearly intelligent and wants to learn so give him the feedback. Make it clear you are judging him on a higher level of competence. I agree it's a clumsy sentence and he should have used "the" but I dont think "by nature" was the best choice of adverb either.  

"By virtue of" would be correct, surely?  

Good suggestion Blizz

I'm hoping to win the Gold Tie award, for contributions to grammar, or sumfink. 

as a result of? 

Are you trying to nick my award?! 

'it's because he watches TV'.

I don't see the need to complicate it.

It's "By virtue of"!! 

*** kicks Soozy in the shins *** 

well the point is he needs to show his range of vocabulary.

I know but in this instance I don't see how it can be flowered unless he said something like - due to the amount of TV he watches.

I don't know really, illustrating an extensive vocabulary is one thing but to use words that 'don't really suit the purpose' is another. It's good to use more imaginative vocab but if a piece is littered with flowery words that aren't really useful/relevant then it somehow sounds all wrong. I guess it's all about knowing when and how to use certain words.

I'm babbling ...........i know what I mean but can't find the right words to explain and ENGLISH IS MY FIRST LANGUAGE .

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/by+virtue+of

by virtue of something

 

I'm voting for Blizz

How about '... and I think it is a natural result of...'? 

My work here is done. 

*smug certainty of trouncing Blousey for award* 

Not if it''s the gold tie 

I have noted your suggestion Blizzie..... so calm the feck down!!! 

I could use that.

Okay...I'm an illegal alien but...

Having read (and laughed) through all the posts I award the award to.......drum roll.......BLIZZIE!

Kaffy gets 2nd prize for 'by dint of.'

Give him a clip round the ear- tell him it's rubbish and try again.

*blushes and looks all coy*  Thank you, thank you all.... I want to thank my parents, my primary school teachers who drummed language into me, my neighbour who puts my dustbins out all time, but most of all..... I owe it all to Rosie.. this award really belongs to her.  Rosie '

  No, really, I'm not just being humble..it was Rosie who said 'by dint of'  

OMG, that's exactly what I was going to say...then I wondered if I was wrong!

Thank you Fluff, if only Rawky was as CLEVER AS YOU!  

*** pushes Kaffy off the stage and prepares to deliver speech ***  

*** notices Supes is waiting to dash onto stage to share prize ***  

Did you wonder if you were wrong after you saw that it was my answer?