Grammar problem with teacher

[Gość: Dante]

Hello
My teacher says that WORK will be the correct grammer word in this exercise:
"Antarctica is an inhospitable place. There are no towns or cities. In fact
nobody lives there permanently, except for a new scientists. They .......
(work) on special bases, studying the climate and ecosystem.
What do you say? I think it will be working of present continuous usage.

[Gość: cm]

The teacher is correct.

[Gość: m]

I would agree with your teacher.

[Gość: ad]

so would I

[Gość: cc]

1 - what do you mean by 'no towns or cities'?
2 - I'd put a comma after 'In fact'
3 - you can't put 'a' in front of a plural (a new scientists)
4 - they work IN bases, unless they work on the problem of establishing special
bases
5 - put 'the' in front of your 'ecosystem'

BUT
You might be right with the Present Continuous
IF
you were going to say 'the new scientists' (mentioned somewhere earlier), who
are currently working there

[Gość: Insect]

Your teacher is right

[etbl]

ad 3)...a few scientists... - it seems to be a spelling mistake

[zegar4]

Gość portalu: cc napisał(a):

> 1 - what do you mean by 'no towns or cities'?

When you see a typo, say so. Don't put on an act.

> 4 - they work IN bases, unless they work on the problem of establishing
special bases

No. You can work on an island, on a farm, on a reserve....You don't have to
work on setting them up to work on them.
You can work in a base and on a base.

> 5 - put 'the' in front of your 'ecosystem'

Not required; he could, but he doesn’t have to. Don't fix what isn't broken.

> BUT
> You might be right with the Present Continuous
> IF
> you were going to say 'the new scientists' (mentioned somewhere earlier), who
> are currently working there.

"Permanently" prefers "they work" to "they are working."

[Gość: cc]

> > 1 - what do you mean by 'no towns or cities'?
> When you see a typo, say so. Don't put on an act.
Any relevance here?

maybe you can say ON a base - i've never seen it that way, but i imagine it
could be right, though. can you provide any sources on that?

i guess the issue is getting the message across - and avoid unnecessary
ambiguity. work on has more than one meaning, that's my point.

the ecosystem, well - you can leave out THE and it's still clear

the 'permanently' does not necessarily connect with the new or few scientists.

[Gość: wacko jacko]

> 5 - put 'the' in front of your 'ecosystem'

I diagree. The is not needed there.

[Gość: Dante]

thank you.

Correct !

[Gość: correct]