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"Question to anyone who speaks English !"

Yesterday was my English exam, and there was a question that I disagreed on with all the English teachers in the school, so in order to know the exact correct answer, the best thing to do is to ask British people (I am Egyptian by the way). This is the question:

Begin the following phrase with the word "Books", so that it would give the same meaning:
-People still read books.

My answer: Books are still being read by people.
The teachers' answer: Books are still read by people.

There are only 2 students in the school that wrote my answer: Me and my friend, and we're both the best English students in the school. And I mean the BEST, there is no one else in the school that can be compared to us. While on the other hand, all 3 English teachers in the school say that the correct answer is the other one, so ?

Memorandum! wrote:
> homosh wrote:
> Choose the correct answer:
> I bought some ...... for my washing machine.
> Choices: Detergent-Equipment.
>
> The teachers chose equipment.
>
> er...how is that even an English question?
> For a start, either could be correct....

Actually, the reason they chose equipment is because they never heard about the word detergent before, they told us that themselves.



> watches U.S movies and listens to U.S
> songs.
>
> because those are always full of impeccable English...

That's not the point. Picture it that way: If someone has never seen such famous movies, then what did he see ? what I meant is that they never watch movies in English.

Memorandum! wrote:
> because those are always full of impeccable English...

Yo yo, 'sup mofo? :-)

homosh wrote:
> Choose the correct answer:
> I bought some ...... for my washing machine.
> Choices: Detergent-Equipment.
>
> The teachers chose equipment.

er...how is that even an English question?
For a start, either could be correct....

> watches U.S movies and listens to U.S
> songs.

because those are always full of impeccable English...

homosh wrote:
> How about this question:
>
> Choose the correct answer:
> I bought some ...... for my washing machine.
> Choices: Detergent-Equipment.

Well actually, equipment can be correct too. Just because detergent is a more likely answer that doesn't make it more correct.

Jeez that's embarassing.

It's possible to refer to a person who has committed suicide as "a suicide" to describe what they are, but you cannot "commit a suicide".

Memorandum! wrote:
> Now I'm thinking that in your "hundreds of arguments" the
> teachers were probably right, but you refused to accept your own
> failings due to your arrogance.

How about this question:

Choose the correct answer:
I bought some ...... for my washing machine.
Choices: Detergent-Equipment.

The teachers chose equipment. And the same applies on the other arguments. Besides it wasn't just me, it was me and the only other person who plays video games, watches U.S movies and listens to U.S songs. Do you know that no one in our school has ever heard about Star Wars or The Matrix ? (Except me and my friend offcourse)

homosh wrote:
> Why ? The word suicide exists for a purpose, doesn't it ?

Yeah, killing oneself. Let's develop it a bit:

"I am going to a kill myself". Is basically what you said. It's just wrong. Accept it. We've all spoken English all our lives and (with certain exceptions) we can all speak/write/parse it correctly. So stop disagreeing with us, we're right.

homosh wrote:
> Why ? The word suicide exists for a purpose, doesn't it ?

Yes, it does. You still can't commit "a suicide" though.
I don't see what your point is.

homosh wrote:
> RastaBillySkank wrote:
> Sorry Homosh, it's wrong. Say it to yourself, it doesn't make sense.
> If you'd said murder then you'd be right, but you didn't.
>
> Why ? The word suicide exists for a purpose, doesn't it ?

yes, it is an act you commit unto yourself, hence you cannot commit "a suicde" but "commit suicide"