Bike— Part 1 Report

Suggestion: Answer in the past tense because the question is about your childhood: use “I had” and “I used.” Say that your father bought it for your birthday, and explain briefly what happened when it broke. Avoid repeating words such as “from” and use a clear sentence structure.

Example: Yes, I had a bike when I was a child. My dad bought it for my birthday, and I rode it for about two months. Unfortunately, it broke, so I couldn't use it anymore.

Suggestion: Give a direct answer using a natural phrase such as “I’d say they are.” Use “by bike” or “cycle to work,” rather than “commute with bike.” Complete your point about children, and add one specific detail or reason. Avoid restarting the sentence; pause briefly and continue with a complete thought.

Example: Yes, I’d say bikes are quite popular in my country. Some people cycle to work, especially in areas with less traffic, while others ride in the evening for exercise. Children also often use bikes to get around their neighbourhoods.

× I do have a bike when I was a child my dad bought it for me from from my birthday gift. Umm, I use it for about two months before it broke.

✓ I had a bike when I was a child. My dad bought it for me as a birthday gift. Umm, I used it for about two months before it broke.

The question asks about a past period, so use the simple past had instead of do have, and used instead of use. When describing a completed past experience, keep the verbs in the past tense unless the context calls for a different tense.

× I do have a bike when I was a child my dad bought it for me from from my birthday gift.

✓ I had a bike when I was a child. My dad bought it for me as a birthday gift.

Use as to show that the bike was given in the role of a birthday gift. From does not express this meaning. Check that the preposition matches the relationship you want to describe.

× I will say yes, people commute with bike to work and cycling in the evening.

✓ I will say yes. People commute by bike to work and cycle in the evening.

The standard expression for traveling using a bicycle is commute by bike, not commute with bike. Use by to describe the means of transportation.

× I will say yes, people commute with bike to work and cycling in the evening.

✓ I will say yes. People commute by bike to work and cycle in the evening.

The sentence coordinates two actions, so use parallel verb forms: commute and cycle. Do not combine the finite verb commute with the -ing form cycling in this structure. When joining actions with and, keep their grammatical forms parallel.

× Uh, most of the TR most of the, most of the children that were using bite they.

✓ Most of the children use bikes.

The original utterance is unfinished and includes a redundant they after the subject phrase most of the children that were using bikes. The correction gives the thought a complete subject and verb. In a complete sentence, avoid repeating the subject with they unless the sentence structure requires it.