If you haven’t sent it yet, I’d be pleased if you would do so as soon as possible. To make a precise reference to a previously mentioned action, use do so (NOT do that ): ‘I asked him politely to take his feet off the seat but he refused to do so.’ the 1
She is arriving on March the 25th.
She is arriving on March 25th. When you say the date, use ‘March the twenty-fifth’ or ‘the twenty-fifth of March’. When you write the date, use ‘March 25th’ or ‘25th March’ (WITHOUT the and of ). 2
Very few people can speak the English well in Japan.
Very few people can speak English well in Japan. speak/learn/know etc + name of a language (WITHOUT the ): ‘She speaks fluent German.’ ‘Do you know any Malay?’ ‘I’d like to learn Mandarin.’ Note that the + English/Japanese etc + language may be used when you talk about a language in terms of its history, structure, users etc: ‘The English language has evolved over many centuries.’ 3
I have just seen a new magazine about the computers.
I have just seen a new magazine about computers. Do not use the with the plural form of a countable noun when it is used in a general sense. Compare: ‘She likes cats.’ (= cats in general) The cats we saw in Venice looked very hungry.’ (= a particular group of cats) 4
A lot of people are afraid of the death.
A lot of people are afraid of death. Nowadays the pollution is a very serious problem.
