Can you please re-phrase that?

I have noticed that when people speaking English as a Second Language (ESL) try to express something grammatically. They sometimes get tied up in knots.

Before 'spell checkers' and 'Google Search engines' I used to have a similar problem. I would think of a sentence containing a particular word, and then find I was completely unable to spell it.

So - I would 're-phrase' the sentence using a similar word, that I could spell.

To give a grammatical example:

>>>>>>> I'll come when I'm good and ready <<<<<<<<

You might reasonably think, that this sentence contains the co-ordinate 'and', and that 'good' and 'ready' can be swapped round.

>>>>> I'll come when I'm ready and good. <<<<<

However, that sentence does not work.

So, what you have to do, is go back, and think:

What am I trying to say?

Is there another way of saying it.

Clearly saying - I'll come when I'm ready and good. - does not work.

Is there any way of saying the same thing, a different way.

The example given is:

>>>>> I'll come when I'm completely ready. <<<<<<

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/internet-grammar/conjunct/conjunct.htm

Page 3 Conjunctions False Coordination

A more practical example:

>>> I punched him in the face <<<


Is the typical way that people will express themselves.

Another way of saying the same thing, in a slightly different way is..


>>> I hit him in the face <<<<


In Aberdeen Scotland, they might say....

>>>>>> I gave him a slap in the face <<<<


Below is from a previous Post.


Тhe other two are not technically wrong and may be used in special cases, but the standard set phrase is "in the face".

Google gives what according to my experience seems to me to be a reasonable estimate of the relative frequencies of use:

"I punched him in the face." 13 400 hits
"I punched him on the face." 235 hits
"I punched his face." 611 hits

"I slapped him" 4,640,000 results

"I hit him with a burrito" 170,000 results

"I hit her right between the eyes" 9,920,000 results

You might well ask, what is a burrito?