Could you please correct the sentence.?

Question

Could you please correct the following sentence?

'Cultural exchange between two countries has its source far into the past, and the stream has grown long to the present.'

'Two countries has a long history in cultural exchange' is what I'd like to say. Though I am not a native English speaker and have a difficulty in making a correct sentence, I'd like make it literary.

Please help me.

Answer 1

You almost have it, it is only slightly awkward. And for a non-native speaker/writer, you handle a difficult idea very well.
is this two particular countries? It sounds like you are thinking of specific countries. If that is the case, it might sound a little smoother like this:
'These two countries have benefited from cultural exchanges for many years (that have enriched them both.) The source can be traced far into the past, and now has reached the present like a wide stream (that will buoy up our friendship as it flows into the future.) "
I put some words in parentheses that seem very much a part of your idea, embodied in it, but may or may not make your thesis stronger, if i have not overstepped what you were trying to say. If you decide to use them, or a similar wording of your own, they do not need the parenthesis.
By the way if you decide to go with original construction "'Cultural exchange between two countries has" which is just fine, ignore the answerer who said it should be have. Agreement must be with the subject which is cultural exchange, a singular word. Of two countries is a prepositional phrase, describing exchange. your grammar is impeccable.

Answer 2

'Cultural exchange between the two countries extends far into the past, and it has continued unbroken to the present day. '

Some points to note:
|- Proper use of the definite article (the) and indefinite articles (a/an) is subtle.
Notice the difference:
--> "between two countries" = "between any two countries, nonspecifically"
--> "between _the_ two countries" = "between the particular two countries being discussed"

|- Prepositions are also subtle. (Sorry!)
"In" suggests location or situation.
"Into" often suggests transition, and is most commonly associated with verbs of movement or change.
Compare:
--> "I have _in_ mind".
--> "The thought rushed _into_ my head."

|- In modern English, the word "source" rarely refers to a _river's_ source unless explicitly stated. Therefore, when this sentence's second clause has a reference to "the stream", a reader wonders, "No stream was previously mentioned; why does the writer now refer 'the stream'?"

|- I find it slightly odd to read, "the stream has grown long". I can see a stream becoming/extending/continuing long, and I can see a stream growing into a flood/sanctuary/route/dump/inspiration, but the only types of things that I would say have "grown long" are items like hair, grass, or fingernails.


Regarding what you'd like to say, there are several errors:
|- Two countries HAVE
|- THE two countries have
|- long history OF

Answer 3

The source of cultural exchange between two countries goes far into the past

Answer 4

Two countries have a long history of cultural exchange.

Answer 5

'Cultural exchange between two countries has its roots far into the past, and the stream has grown long to the present.'

Answer 6

Cultural echange between countries HAVE its source into the past and the stream has grown long INTO the present.

Two countries HAVE a long history in cultural exchanges

Check this out? Please? A MULE MUSEUM!

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Amvd3Vbewcq4NRJkOd2px9bsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071030223731AAk6YzO

Answer 7

Sprouting in ancient times, inter-country cultural exchange will continue its growth far into the future.