I'm not a native speaker. To improve my language skills I sometimes write stories in English (just for the fun of it.)
Are the following passages correct?
1) "Law became stricter," he explained, "and it became more and more difficult to work with shell companies. Today the group is no longer that powerful, but powerful enough to get us in serious trouble. The problem, however, isn't what they did back then," he pointed out, "because most of the offenses—except the murder of your father—are statute-barred."
Note: My beta reader didn't seem to know the term "time-barred." I rephrased the sentence, but I'm still not sure whether it's correct. In case the term "statute-barred"(or "time-barred") is wrong: you steal something, and years later it's proven. Nevertheless, there won't be filed charges against you because the case is no longer of any interest. Only for murder you can be convicted any time of your life.
2) The truck was an old, dented, rusty pickup that didn't even have seatbelts. D. looked at it in disbelief, especially after he had seen the almost new SUV in the back of the farm.
"After you." He opened the door on the driver's side, gesturing for R. to get in.
"They are watching us," R. hissed. "Now they probably think we are like an old couple that not even separate in order to use the toilet."
"Well, we don’t separate in order to use the toilet," D. retorted, pushing R. forward.
Luckily, it was easy to get in as the pickup was equipped with one long seat in the front instead of two separated seats.
Context: My characters are chained together, which make it impossible for them to get in the car separately.
"On" or "at the driver’s side"? I'm not sure about "like an old couple that not even...," and about the last sentence.
About the old couple--I was thinking about girls, best friends, who go everywhere together, even to the restroom. I don't know whether this is common in the US. In case it is, could you say something like, "Now they probably think we are best buddies who even use the toilet together"?
Thanks in advance.
Are the following passages correct?
1) "Law became stricter," he explained, "and it became more and more difficult to work with shell companies. Today the group is no longer that powerful, but powerful enough to get us in serious trouble. The problem, however, isn't what they did back then," he pointed out, "because most of the offenses—except the murder of your father—are statute-barred."
Note: My beta reader didn't seem to know the term "time-barred." I rephrased the sentence, but I'm still not sure whether it's correct. In case the term "statute-barred"(or "time-barred") is wrong: you steal something, and years later it's proven. Nevertheless, there won't be filed charges against you because the case is no longer of any interest. Only for murder you can be convicted any time of your life.
2) The truck was an old, dented, rusty pickup that didn't even have seatbelts. D. looked at it in disbelief, especially after he had seen the almost new SUV in the back of the farm.
"After you." He opened the door on the driver's side, gesturing for R. to get in.
"They are watching us," R. hissed. "Now they probably think we are like an old couple that not even separate in order to use the toilet."
"Well, we don’t separate in order to use the toilet," D. retorted, pushing R. forward.
Luckily, it was easy to get in as the pickup was equipped with one long seat in the front instead of two separated seats.
Context: My characters are chained together, which make it impossible for them to get in the car separately.
"On" or "at the driver’s side"? I'm not sure about "like an old couple that not even...," and about the last sentence.
About the old couple--I was thinking about girls, best friends, who go everywhere together, even to the restroom. I don't know whether this is common in the US. In case it is, could you say something like, "Now they probably think we are best buddies who even use the toilet together"?
Thanks in advance.
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