Snapped by camera deal

• Do Hong Kong shopkeepers have a good reputation?

• What would you do if you thought you’d been cheated out of $4,000.

81. I decided on a suitable model, price at $2,600. But once82. the deal was made and had paid for by credit card,83. I was shown the superior model, clearly of better84. quality. This item was almost four times expensive -$9,625.

• 81. Someone else gave it this price.

• I decided on a suitable model, (which was) price at $2,600…

• Replace “price” with …• priced

81. I decided on a suitable model, price at $2,600. But once82. the deal was made and had paid for by credit card,83. I was shown the superior model, clearly of better84. quality. This item was almost four times expensive -$9,625.

• 82.• Did the deal pay by credit card?• Passive voice• … and had been paid for by credit card, ...

81. I decided on a suitable model, price at $2,600. But once82. the deal was made and had paid for by credit card,83. I was shown the superior model, clearly of better84. quality. This item was almost four times expensive-$9,625.

• 83.• Do you think this is the only superior model in the

world?• This is the first time we mention this superior

model.• Replace “the” with …• a

81. I decided on a suitable model, price at $2,600. But once82. the deal was made and had paid for by credit card,83. I was shown the superior model, clearly of better84. quality. This item was almost four times expensive-$9,625.

• 84.• What word is missing in this structure: “four times

expensive”?• Four times as/more expensive

85. I had not intended buy this more expensive camera,86. but because it was so much better, I eventually did.

• 85.

• Just as you would say “I wanted to buy”,you should say ...

• I had not intended to buy ...

85. I had not intended buy this more expensive camera,86. but because it was so much better, I eventually did.

• 86.

• Correct.

87. However, after I left the store, I saw in another shop88. the exact similar model for $5,505. I could not believe this!89. I returned back to the first store, but they said it was ‘their’90. price and they are not accept returns.

• 87.

• Correct.

87. However, after I left the store, I saw in another shop88. the exact similar model for $5,505. I could not believe this!89. I returned back to the first store, but they said it was ‘their’90. price and they are not accept returns.

• 88.

• “Similar” means almost the same.

• The word “exact” tells us that the models were more than similar.

• Use “the” for “same”, but “a” for “similar”.

• Replace “similar” with …

• same

87. However, after I left the store, I saw in another shop88. the exact similar model for $5,505. I could not believe this!89. I returned back to the first store, but they said it was ‘their’90. price and they are not accept returns.

• Return = go back

• You can correct this two ways.

• Replace “returned” with …

• went

• Or delete …

• back

87. However, after I left the store, I saw in another shop88. the exact similar model for $5,505. I could not believe this!89. I returned back to the first store, but they said it was ‘their’90. price and they are not accept returns.

• The only way to use the verb to be (are) and a verb in the active voice is in the present continuous.

• They claim this is their usual policy, so you cannot say “they are not accepting returns”.

• Replace “are” with …

• could/would/did/do

91. I upset not only because I was overcharged more92. than $4,000 (which are a lot of money for anyone),93. but also because these unscrupulous sales seem94. to lack of integrity in dealing with their customers.

• 91.

• “Upset” is being used as an adjective here.

• What verb is missing between “I” and “upset”?

• am/was/feel/became

91. I upset not only because I was overcharged more92. than $4,000 (which are a lot of money for anyone),93. but also because these unscrupulous sales seem94. to lack of integrity in dealing with their customers.

• Is money countable?

• Replace “are” with …

• is

91. I upset not only because I was overcharged more92. than $4,000 (which are a lot of money for anyone),93. but also because these unscrupulous sales seem94. to lack of integrity in dealing with their customers.

• Some HK students refer to people who sell things as “sales”, but this is incorrect.

• Replace “sales” with …

• salespeople/salesmen/saleswomen/ shopkeepers/sales assistants

91. I upset not only because I was overcharged more92. than $4,000 (which are a lot of money for anyone),93. but also because these unscrupulous sales seem94. to lack of integrity in dealing with their customers.

• Lack (verb) = He lacks integrity.

• Lack (noun) = There is a lack of integrity among HK salespeople.

• Is “lack” a noun or a verb here?

• Delete …

• of

95. I am told this is a common practice in Hong Kong. I am suggest96. that tourists be warned of these practices when they arrive at the97. airport. I also think that the government should be require98. stores to accepts return within three days purchase.

• 95.

• The only way to use the verb to be (am) and a verb in the active voice is in the present continuous.

• “I am suggesting” wouldn’t be appropriate.

• Delete …

• “am”.

95. I am told this is a common practice in Hong Kong. I am suggest96. that tourists be warned of these practices when they arrive at the97. airport. I also think that the government should be require98. stores to accepts return within three days purchase.

• 96.

• Correct.

95. I am told this is a common practice in Hong Kong. I am suggest96. that tourists be warned of these practices when they arrive at the97. airport. I also think that the government should be require98. stores to accepts return within three days purchase.

• 97.• Who should require stores to accept returns?• The government should, so we need the

active voice.• Delete …• be

95. I am told this is a common practice in Hong Kong. I am suggest96. that tourists be warned of these practices when they arrive at the97. airport. I also think that the government should be require98. stores to accept returns within three days purchase.• 98.

• You may or may not be familiar with the following structure: within (number + noun) of (noun).

• Ex.: You will receive a reply within 3 days of your interview.

• … within three days of purchase.