An online discussion forum

An online discussion forum

Learn how to write posts on an online forum.

Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and tips and do the exercises.

Preparation

Reading text

Katie20

Can you believe it? Someone in another group asked me to write some pages of their website in English and French. But they can't pay because 'I'm starting this business with no money.' He said he's a professional photographer and he can do some photos for me instead. Am I wrong to be angry?

Asher87

Nope! I’d be angry too

JayCee99

I can't help but here's the link to a friend's website. He is a French–English writer and translator www.franco-anglo-translations.com/About

Carla62

Er … asking people to work for free … not cool!

Asher87

^^^ This!

JayCee99

Oops! I thought you were looking for someone. Sorry for the misunderstanding smiley

Carla62

I can't pay my rent with photographs, sorry

Katie20

Exactly!

Mylo45

True, but professional photos cost a lot of money, especially if you're getting married. Sorry I don't speak French or I would do it cheeky

Katie20

Here's a link to his photography if anyone wants the job www.billsphoto.com/portfolio As you can see the website needs some work … wink

Carla62

@Mylo45 Maybe, but people always ask writers to work for free #PayMe

Katie20

Yep, if I need photos OK but I prefer to get paid with money

Tips

1. Writing in online forums is more like speaking.

2. You don’t have to put full stops (.) at the end of sentences.

3. Use ^^^ to show you’re talking about the post above yours.

4. Use @ and a person’s name to show clearly who you’re replying to.

5. You can use emojis.  cool

6. Stay calm and be polite. Some people get angry in online discussions but try to avoid that.

Task 1

Task 2

Task 3

Discussion

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Average: 5 (6 votes)
Profile picture for user amit_ck

Submitted by amit_ck on Thu, 26/12/2019 - 08:56

Permalink
*We were a bit disappointed with / by / in the hotel Which preposition is correct to use with disappointed there?

Hello amit_ck,

All of those prepositions can be used after disappointed and none of them would be incorrect.

I think disappointed in is most often used about people, and disappointed by for results. In my view, disappointed with is the best-sounding of the three in this context, though all are possible.

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Hi Peter, Thanks for your explanation, I didn't actually know such a vatiation followed by "disappointed". By the way, what about "dissapointed at" ?
Profile picture for user Kirk Moore

Submitted by Kirk Moore on Sat, 28/12/2019 - 14:49

In reply to by Rafaela1

Permalink

Hello Rafaela1

'at' is also used with 'disappointed' in some cases -- you can see one in this dictionary entry. Like Peter, I'd say 'about', 'in', 'by' and also 'with' are the most commonly used prepositions after it.

Hope this helps!

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Profile picture for user amit_ck

Submitted by amit_ck on Tue, 19/11/2019 - 08:00

Permalink
I am confused about "in the bed" and "on the bed" and "sleep in the bed" or "Sleep on the bed" could you please help me about these and give me some simply example.

Hello amit_ck

In general, we use 'on the bed' to talk about something that is on top of the bed, often not under the sheets. 'in bed' usually refers to being on the bed and under the sheets or blanket, and for someone who's staying there. For example, when a person has gone to bed to sleep, or when a person is sick and resting, we'd normally say they are 'in bed'. But if you leave your shirt on top of the bed, we'd say it's 'on the bed'.

Hope that helps.

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by Maksmatt on Sat, 16/11/2019 - 12:50

Permalink
I never joined a discussion in a forum. I like to see people in the eyes who I'm talking to.
Profile picture for user Rafaela1

Submitted by Rafaela1 on Sat, 02/11/2019 - 12:01

Permalink
About an online forum, not really. Becuase it's sometimes difficult for me to discuss with strangers wiithout non-verbal communication, which is given to misunderstandings. ˉ̞̭ ( ›◡ु‹ ) ˄̻ ̊

Submitted by Ola Jamal on Thu, 17/10/2019 - 19:56

Permalink
Hello, A portfolio is examples of your work "for" showing to other people. A translator is someone whose job is to change a text "into" a different language. Is it right if we use "to" instead of "for" and "into" in these sentences?
Profile picture for user Peter M.

Submitted by Peter M. on Fri, 18/10/2019 - 06:56

In reply to by Ola Jamal

Permalink

Hello Ola James,

You could not replace for with to in the first sentence. You could say ...to show to other people, but I think for is better here.

We generally use into rather than to after the verb 'translate', but I think to can be used in some dialects. Note that we say into when we are talking about a language, but to when we give the actual translation:

I translated the text into Polish.

I translated 'How are you?' to 'Jak się masz?'

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team