[Grammar] let alone / leave alone

[vpkannan]

Hi,




Can you speak English properly first, let alone Russian?




Is the above usage of 'let alone Russian' correct?




Thanks.

 

[Raymott]

No it isn't.

 

[vpkannan]

I hope you can understand the idea of my sentence. Please tell me how the idea can be expressed correctly.

 

[tzfujimino]

Could you tell us what you're trying to say without using "let alone/leave alone"?

 

[GoesStation]

Can you speak English properly first, let alone Russian?

That would be fine in one context I can think of. Jack is discussing Russian grammar. His interlocutor notices some careless usages in Jack's English. He uses that sentence to goad Jack into improving his English before tackling Russian.

 

[vpkannan]

I want to tell somebody that he/she cannot speak even English properly and he/she need not try to speak Russian at all at this stage.

Besides, is it possible to use 'let alone' in a question?

 

[GoesStation]

Your sentence is fine in that context.

 

[Rover_KE]

'leave alone' has no place in this thread.

 

[GoesStation]

I have to agree. My previous post was incorrect.

 

[vpkannan]

Can I finally come to the conclusion that 'let alone' cannot be used in questions naturally, but only in negative sentences?