Bike— Part 1 Report

Suggestion: Answer the question directly using the past tense: “Yes, I had a bike.” Avoid repetition and hesitations such as “he, he” and “to, to.” Correct the grammar in “my father bring” and “he gave” by saying “my father brought” and use the natural phrase “ride a bike” instead of “drive a bike.” Organize the response with a clear reason and supporting detail, using a linking word such as “because” or “as a result.”

Example: Yes, I had a bike when I was a child. My father got an old one from his boss and taught me how to ride it. I was very grateful because it allowed me to travel around the neighborhood independently.

Suggestion: Start with a grammatically complete answer: “Yes, bikes are quite popular in my country.” Use the plural form “bikes” and the natural expression “a means of transportation” instead of “one of the transportation.” Clarify the example because “my father drove a bike” is unnatural; say “my father took me to school on his bike” or “my father rode a bike.” Explain how this example shows that bikes are commonly used, and avoid the unclear phrase “That’s our service.”

Example: Yes, bikes are quite popular in my country, especially for short journeys and going to school. When I was in Grade 1, my father used to take me to school on his bike because it was our main form of transportation. They are still common because they are affordable and convenient.

× Yes, I have a bike.

✓ Yes, I had a bike.

The question asks about a situation in the past, so use the past-tense form had instead of the present-tense form have.

× I remember my father bring a bike from his boss.

✓ I remember my father brought a bike from his boss.

The action of bringing the bike happened in the past. The past-tense form brought is required instead of the base form bring.

× And then, umm, thankful because my father was helping me and teaching me to drive a bike.

✓ And then, umm, I was thankful because my father was helping me and teaching me to drive a bike.

Thankful is an adjective and cannot function as the main verb by itself. Add the subject I and the verb was to form a complete sentence.

× That's the time I learned how.

✓ That was when I learned how.

The speaker is referring to a past time, so use was instead of the present-tense form is.

× Yes, of course, bike is one of the transportation we use especially when we go to the school.

✓ Yes, of course, bikes are one of the forms of transportation we use, especially when we go to school.

When speaking about bikes in general, use the plural noun bikes. Also, after one of the, use a plural noun, such as forms.

× Yes, of course, bike is one of the transportation we use especially when we go to the school.

✓ Yes, of course, bikes are one of the forms of transportation we use, especially when we go to school.

When go to school means attending school as a regular activity, the definite article the is not normally used. Say go to school, not go to the school.

× That's our service and that's the only transportation he used.

✓ That was our service, and that was the only transportation he used.

The answer describes transportation used in the past, so the past-tense form was is more appropriate than the present-tense form is.