Bike— Part 1 Report

Suggestion: Answer directly in the past tense: use “I didn’t have” instead of “I haven’t,” and “when I was” instead of “when I were.” Also, say “ride a bike” rather than “ride bike.” Your reason is relevant, but you could add one specific detail about why you never learned, using a linking word such as “because” or “so.”

Example: No, I didn’t have a bike when I was a child because I never learned how to ride one. My parents were worried that I might get hurt, so they didn’t buy me a bike.

Suggestion: Your main idea and reason are clear, but use the comparative form “more popular,” not “most popular,” and say “cars are more popular than bikes.” Avoid using “because” and “so” together in the same sentence; use one linking structure. Add a specific detail, such as traffic conditions or the availability of bike lanes, to make your answer more developed.

Example: I don’t think bikes are very popular in my country because most people live in large cities. Cars are more popular than bikes, mainly because they are more convenient for commuting and there aren’t enough safe bike lanes.

× No, I haven't a bike when I were a child 'cause I can't ride a bike.

✓ No, I didn't have a bike when I was a child 'cause I couldn't ride a bike.

The question asks about a past situation, so the past-tense form did not have is needed instead of haven't. The verb be must also be in the past tense: was, not were, because the subject is I. In addition, couldn't is the past form of the modal verb can and agrees with the past context.

× No, I haven't a bike when I were a child 'cause I can't ride a bike.

✓ No, I didn't have a bike when I was a child 'cause I couldn't ride a bike.

The modal verb can expresses present ability, but the student is describing ability in childhood. Therefore, the past modal could is required, and its negative form is couldn't.

× I didn't learn how to ride bike.

✓ I didn't learn how to ride a bike.

Bike is a singular countable noun, so it needs an article. Use the indefinite article a when referring to a bike in a general way.

× I don't think so because we have a big city so there are cars most popular than bikes.

✓ I don't think so because we have a big city, so cars are more popular than bikes.

The sentence compares two things, cars and bikes, so the comparative form more popular is required. Most popular is a superlative form used when comparing one item with a larger group.

× I don't think so because we have a big city so there are cars most popular than bikes.

✓ I don't think so because we have a big city, so cars are more popular than bikes.

The phrase there are cars most popular than bikes is not correctly structured. The comparison needs the subject cars followed by the verb are and the comparative adjective more popular. Commas also help separate the two connected clauses.