I hoped to sell my used collection of past exam papers in mint condition to a second-hand bookstore in the afternoon yesterday. But they said we were sorry that we couldn't buy it because we had enough of it already. If we didn't have enough of it later, we could buy it. So, I got home holding my book a little earlier before my English class was about to start.
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Here are the corrections:
1. Original:
I hoped to sell my used collection of past exam papers in mint condition to a second-hand bookstore in the afternoon yesterday.
Corrected:
I hoped to sell my collection of used past exam papers in mint condition to a second-hand bookstore yesterday afternoon.
Explanation:
We usually say the time in the order "yesterday afternoon," not "in the afternoon yesterday." Also, “collection of used past exam papers” is a clearer order.
2. Original:
But they said we were sorry that we couldn't buy it because we had enough of it already.
Corrected:
But they said they were sorry and couldn’t buy it because they already had enough.
Explanation:
The people at the bookstore are “they,” not “we.” And “already had enough” sounds smoother than “had enough of it already.”
3. Original:
If we didn't have enough of it later, we could buy it.
Corrected:
They said that if they don’t have enough later, they might buy it.
Explanation:
Again, we should use “they,” not “we.” "Might buy it" sounds better for something that could happen in the future. And “don’t” is more natural when talking about the future in this kind of sentence.
4. Original:
So, I got home holding my book a little earlier before my English class was about to start.
Corrected:
So, I got home with my book a little before my English class was about to start.
Explanation:
We don’t need both “earlier” and “before” together—they mean the same thing. “With my book” is simpler and sounds more natural than “holding my book.”
Final Edited Text:
I hoped to sell my collection of used past exam papers in mint condition to a second-hand bookstore yesterday afternoon. But they said they were sorry and couldn’t buy it because they already had enough. They said that if they don’t have enough later, they might buy it. So, I got home with my book a little before my English class was about to start.
