Need help with an English sentence

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Fonql - 26 Jan 2004 11:34 GMT

Hi all, I just started studying for teacher English (British English)
and I am from the Netherlands. I am doing an assignment making
sentences from predefined words.
Please have a look at one of my sentences:

The court sentenced the driver to paying hospitals fees and four
months of community punishment, helping elderly people at a sheltered
accommodation, despite his solicitor's effort to reduce the sentence.

Now I have two questions.

1. Is it community punishment? or is it community service? I simply
don't know the use in British.
2. Is it his solicitor's effort or efforts, or could both be correct.

Any help is appreciated and other suggestions are welcome.

Thanks in advance,

Remi van Loenen

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Mike987 - 26 Jan 2004 18:40 GMT

>The court sentenced the driver to paying hospitals fees and four
>months of community punishment, helping elderly people at a sheltered
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>1. Is it community punishment? or is it community service? I simply
>don't know the use in British.

British English would use the phrase "a four month community order".

"Community service" is what good people do to help the community - not
criminals.

And "community punishment" doesn't sound right at all.

>2. Is it his solicitor's effort or efforts, or could both be correct.

Both are correct, but "efforts" would be more natural.

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Adrian Bailey - 26 Jan 2004 19:19 GMT

> >The court sentenced the driver to paying hospitals fees and four
> >months of community punishment, helping elderly people at a sheltered
> >accommodation, despite his solicitor's effort to reduce the sentence.

"The court ordered the driver to pay ____'s hospital fees..."

> >1. Is it community punishment? or is it community service? I simply
> >don't know the use in British.
>
> British English would use the phrase "a four month community order".

"...and sentenced him to a four-month Community Punishment Order"

> "Community service" is what good people do to help the community - not
> criminals.
>
> And "community punishment" doesn't sound right at all.

A quick check on Google will show you that they're called CPOs.

Adrian

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Fonql - 27 Jan 2004 11:37 GMT

Thank you both for your help,

much appreciated,

Remi

> > >The court sentenced the driver to paying hospitals fees and four
> > >months of community punishment, helping elderly people at a sheltered
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> Adrian

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Discussion Groups / ESL Teaching / January 2004

Need help with an English sentence