After working for several years, we scrimped and saved

[Hale Chen]

Hi, everyone. Please see the following sentence I read in an article.

After working for several years, we scrimped and saved to build a 3-storey house in the county capital, and life got better.

Is there any problem with the bold part in grammar or meaning? Thanks in advance.

 

[DonnyB]

Which part of it specifically do you want to ask us about, please: I'm afraid we can't check or comment on the whole thing.

 

[Hale Chen]

Which part of it specifically do you want to ask us about, please: I'm afraid we can't check or comment on the whole thing.

oh, sorry, i will try to let you know what i want to ask. As for the bold part, the source text means literally that during several years of work, we had scrimped and saved, and finally we built a 3-storey house in the county capital.

So, does the original translation express the meaning of the source text, is it OK in grammar? Thanks

 

[SwissPete]

The way the sentence reads, we worked for several years, then we scrimped ...

 

[Hale Chen]

The way the sentence reads, we worked for several years, then we scrimped ...

So according to the source text, should I change the original sentence to this: After working for several years, we had scrimped and saved to build a 3-storey house in the county capital, and life got better.

 

[heypresto]

No. This still has the problem that SwissPete pointed out. If you scrimped and saved while you were working, you can't start the sentence with 'after working'.

 

[Hale Chen]

No. This still has the problem that SwissPete pointed out. If you scrimped and saved while you were working, you can't start the sentence with 'after working'.

Thanks to @heypresto. So, based on the source text, will you give some suggestions on the original sentence?

 

[SwissPete]

Try this:

After working and scrimping for several years, we had saved (enough) to build a 3-storey house in the county capital, and life got better.​

 

[Hale Chen]

After working and scrimping for several years, we had saved (enough) to build a 3-storey house in the county capital, and life got better.

Many thanks, @SwissPete.