EMB - Fórum de Discussões

I agree with your book. Try "He's not in any condition to drive because he's drunk." Or "He is in no condition to drive because he is drunk." In informal American English you could use "shape" instead of "condition". Condition/shape often refers to physical, mental, or emotional states. "With his broken leg, he is in no shape to walk to the store now." "She is very upset and in no condition to talk to the press right now."

I heard something like "Nao temos condicoes para comprar uma casa agora." We would not use "conditions" or "condition" (or "shape") but rather say something like "We cannot buy a house right now" or "We cannot afford to buy a house at the moment." In other words, the entire sentence structure would be different.

Autor:	Dale/CR
E-mail:	dale_thomas2004@yahoo.com.br
Data:	26/MAR/2009 4:42 PM
Assunto:	He can't drive because he's drunk


Mensagem:	Is it appropriate to say in English he doesn't have any conditions to drive because he's drunk? The book I use to teach says it's an interference from Portuguese into English, is that so? I agree with your book. Try "He's not in any condition to drive because he's drunk." Or "He is in no condition to drive because he is drunk." In informal American English you could use "shape" instead of "condition". Condition/shape often refers to physical, mental, or emotional states. "With his broken leg, he is in no shape to walk to the store now." "She is very upset and in no condition to talk to the press right now." I heard something like "Nao temos condicoes para comprar uma casa agora." We would not use "conditions" or "condition" (or "shape") but rather say something like "We cannot buy a house right now" or "We cannot afford to buy a house at the moment." In other words, the entire sentence structure would be different.