An adverb is a word that modifies an adjective, adverb, preposition, phrase, or sentence, expressing some relation of place, time, circumstance, causality, manner, or degree.
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Speak Slower or Speak Slowlier?
AFAIK the correct grammar for "speak slow" is "speak slowly" (slowly being an adverb). Please correct me if I am mistaken.
But in daily life I have not heard anyone saying "Speak slowlier".
I think ...
0
votes
3answers
550 views
Use “underway” or “under way” as an adverb?
Is it proper to use underway as an adverb? Or should under way be used?
Merriam-Webster defines underway as an adjective and under way as an adverb.
The Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & ...
14
votes
3answers
630 views
“You just can't” vs. “you can't just ”
I'm a bit confused about this. Which expression is correct?
You can't just do that.
or
You just can't do that.
I'm trying to say:
You can't just bash an ideology because of what ...
1
vote
2answers
287 views
Is the phrase “then too” incorrect?
I was told by a school teacher that it was incorrect. I've seen it in articles coming from reputable sources. The general meaning would be similar to the word 'yet', but I can't find any place to ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
the difference between “really” and “very”
Is the statement below true about the difference between really and very when really means “very” in the example “It’s very/really hot in the summer”?
“Really” shows more involvement, even ...
4
votes
5answers
301 views
Which adverb implies supreme confidence, falling just shy of arrogance?
When he participated in debates and round table discussions, Christopher Hitchens spoke with supreme confidence.
I'd like to replace with supreme confidence with an adverb that implies supreme ...
3
votes
3answers
471 views
Usage of “already” and “yet”
I want to know the difference between already and yet in this example:
I was surprised that they had __ to decide what to do.
My answer on this question was already and my
teacher marked it as ...
4
votes
3answers
275 views
“Absolute” or “absolutely”?
This question is related to programming, but this seemed a better place to post it than Stack Overflow.
To style HTML pages, we frequently deal with positioning, and two common values for the CSS ...
3
votes
4answers
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Get hold of, get ahold of, get a hold of
Under what circumstances would you prefer one of the below over others?
a) Get hold of,
b) Get ahold of,
c) Get a hold of
33
votes
6answers
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What exactly is an “adverb”?
From comments to “Weekdays” used as an adverb", I learn that The Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary says "open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.", shows the word weekdays is an adverb.
It seems to me ...
5
votes
4answers
296 views
“Weekdays” used as an adverb
I found a sentence in Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary:
open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The bookstore opens weekdays from 9 p.m. to 6 p.m. .
How do we understand the structure of ...
0
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3answers
495 views
Is “now” grammatical in “Have you now spoken to him?”?
Have you now spoken to him?
I really heard that from someone.
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4answers
2k views
“Without success” vs. “unsuccessfully”
Is the phrase below correct?
I have tried to contact the customer without success.
Isn't it "I have tried to contact the customer unsuccessfully"?
2
votes
3answers
203 views
“Mostest” vs. “most” [closed]
What is the difference between mostest and most?
Can they be used interchangeably?
8
votes
2answers
271 views
Why “buy things secondhand,“ not “buy secondhand things”?
I saw the word ‘secondhand’ come after ‘things’ in the lead copy of July 17 Time magazine’s article, titled “10 Things You Should Be Buying Used”, as follows.
Buying things secondhand can save a ...
3
votes
3answers
880 views
“I remember the day where” vs. “I remember the day when”
What is the difference between "I remember the day where..." and "I remember the day when..."?
I think both are used in both written and spoken English. Can we say that "when" makes more sense when ...
4
votes
2answers
268 views
Is “ultimated” a word?
Is "ultimated" a valid word?
For example:
Range requests were originally proposed by Ari Luotonen and John Franks, using an extension to the URL syntax instead of a separate header field. ...
5
votes
1answer
140 views
“along” in “the wolf passed something along to me”
Here is a quote by Jack Nicolson from the movie "Wolf":
Since it happened I feel as though the wolf passed something along to me.
I wonder why is along needed in that sentence? What difference ...
5
votes
1answer
132 views
Placement of “just” in “we just need minified and concatenated files” [closed]
I was talking to my client. I wanted to convey that "we need the minified type of files and the concatenated type of files; nothing other than that". I quickly wrote this:
we just need minified ...
5
votes
2answers
755 views
“Above”/“below” before/after a noun
I have seen sentences similar to the following:
(1) See the reference above.
(2) See the reference below.
And,
(3) See the above reference.
But not,
(4) See the below reference.
...
4
votes
4answers
208 views
Which is more common - 'the most' or 'most'?
A thing I have never had the time to look more closely into. But I find both variants:
What I love most is ...
or
What I love the most is ...
I think the more common form is 'the most', ...
14
votes
3answers
439 views
How do you tell if synonyms of “almost” default to meaning “less than”?
Having just had a chat with Em1, I noticed that some words or phrases that mean almost will mean less than when used alone, and other synonyms will mean greater than.
For example, nearly and close to ...
5
votes
3answers
358 views
Can adverbs be also direct objects?
"The irate customer asked for the chef."
The irate customer asked something. (Noun phrase?)
Since you can fill in something in place of 'for the chef,' does that mean it is a direct object and an ...
0
votes
3answers
256 views
Anyone and everyone - correct usage?
I'm just wondering whether both sentences would be correct:
I look into the eyes of anyone who looks at me.
I look into the eyes of everyone who looks at me.
Would it be correct to ...
1
vote
4answers
2k views
Real quick question [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Can “real” be used as an adverb to describe an adjective?
Let me just ask you something real quick. Is my previous sentence wrong? Must the real part be "really"?
Some ...
-4
votes
1answer
241 views
What's the difference between “technically” and “technologically”? [closed]
What's the difference between technically and technologically? Can you give example sentences which clearly show the difference?
3
votes
3answers
425 views
Is “leisurely” still acceptable as an adverb?
I am used to seeing "leisurely" as an adjective exclusively, as in "walking at a leisurely pace." But today I read it used as an adverb in a New York Times review of "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Killer." ...
0
votes
2answers
599 views
“Would rather [infinitive1] than [infinitive2]” vs. “would rather that [subjunctive]”"
I am aware of sentences like
Beth would rather study at the library than go to parties.
There is another type of using rather that:
She would rather that the plane leave early in the ...
2
votes
4answers
196 views
'too' vs. 'so' in the subjunctive?
A colleague of mine just asked me about the sentence:
If the book were not so expensive, I would buy it.
She wanted to know why too was not a worthy substitute. I explained to her about the ...
0
votes
3answers
333 views
“Still” versus “Yet”
In the following sentence, is using of yet correct?
Inserts settlement in a duty that needs it, in the most suitable yet available place.
It seems to me that I must use still instead of yet but ...
0
votes
1answer
124 views
“have to be moved” or “must be moved” or “must move”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“I have to” vs. “I must”
Which of these is correct?
The camera have to be moved sideways instead of rotate to track the scene.
or
The ...
2
votes
6answers
334 views
“Sure I am not” — is that valid English?
Consider this conversation:
— Iceland has more than 200 rainy days per year.
— Are you sure?
— No, I am not sure.
Is it valid or wrong English to say,
— No, sure I am not.
...in the ...
0
votes
4answers
377 views
Adverb form of “sustainable”
I'm translating a sentence to English, and want to use the phrase:
All material is produced sustainably.
But my spell-check doesn't like the word sustainably, so I looked it up, and have found ...
4
votes
5answers
3k views
When to use “generally”, “usually”, or “normally”
Generally speaking what are the usually accepted usage scenarios for the above mentioned words in a normally occurring English vernacular?
In short, what are the rules/guidelines for using generally, ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
“Unequivocably” vs. “unequivocally”
I was interested in the following sentence which appeared in a news article titled “SCIENCE WATCH; PROGRESS IN AIDS DISPUTE” in The New York Times (March 10, 1987).
Dr. Robert Gallo at the cancer ...
3
votes
2answers
360 views
Is this correct: “Of [something] I have but none”?
This might be a pretty weird question, given that I'm using awkward grammar. Take into account that I'm trying to play with the language.
The question is, would the following be correct?
Of milk ...
1
vote
2answers
193 views
Should I say “domesticable” or “domesticatable”?
What should I say better, "domesticable" or "domesticatable"?
1
vote
2answers
2k views
“Feel like at home”
Feel like at home.
Is it correct or must it be "feel at home"?
It is in a Euro 2012 commercial, however some experts say it's not correct.
1
vote
3answers
195 views
Is “even” a choice in this sentence?
I would appreciate your help.
He is not strong at all. He would not even lift me.
I would like to express that he would not even lift me, let alone heavier stuff.
1
vote
3answers
232 views
Adjective & Adverbial forms of “Conspiracy” [closed]
I tried looking up its synonyms (plot, scheme) and then their adjectives, but they didn't quite cut it. Any word that can be used as its adjective and adverb?
The place that I would like to use it ...
1
vote
1answer
1k views
Position of 'also'
What is the correct position of the word 'also'?
I would like to also talk about ...
I would also like to talk about ...
4
votes
1answer
5k views
“By now” vs “now”
The case is closed by now.
The case is closed now.
What exactly is the difference between the two?
2
votes
1answer
419 views
The position of 'last' in sentences
My post on another site has prompted me to ask this question. What is the rule of using 'last' in a sentence?
For instance:
When did you revise this rule last?
When did you last revise this ...
2
votes
2answers
11k views
Is 'but rather' considered grammatically correct?
Is this comment that I made here grammatically correct?
In Latin, when a group of males and females is combined, the neutral plural form is not used, but rather the masculine is.
4
votes
3answers
378 views
Is it wrong to use “never” for a specific time period?
I usually come late to the daily scrum meetings (but I do compensate, by working late!). For the last 6 working days, I have been coming on time, or even slightly earlier.
At lunch, I told my ...
0
votes
0answers
294 views
What does the expression “supply ex-VAT” mean? [closed]
I have the sentence:
if there is no fixed carriage charge shown at checkout, or if you wish
us to supply ex-VAT, please don't use [well known payment system] for
payment.
1
vote
2answers
458 views
Is it grammatically correct to add “anyway” at the end of this sentence? [closed]
This is a sentence from a short story I'm writing:
"It's all the same to me, because when it comes to our deepest fears
and insecurities, we are all alone."
I'm not very sure if this is more ...
0
votes
4answers
208 views
Is “relatively big compared to” redundant?
If I say something like
He is big compared to the other guy.
He is relatively big compared to the other guy.
is the adverb relatively wrong because of redundancy?
14
votes
5answers
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“Eventually” vs. “finally”
What is the difference between finally and eventually?
He eventually escaped and made his way back to England.
He finally escaped and made his way back to England.
13
votes
3answers
1k views
“A bit” vs. “a little bit” vs. “a little”
Is there a difference between a bit, a little bit and a little in the following context?
He is a little bit angry.
He is a little angry.
He is a bit angry.
Or do these sentences mean the ...
