A complex sentence is a combination of an independent and a dependent clause.
30
votes
7answers
16k views
Are there rules about using “that” to join two clauses?
He will understand that I was not joking.
He will understand I was not joking.
Which of the sentences is correct? Are there any specific rules about the use of "that" in the sentences I ...
9
votes
3answers
992 views
The sentence with the most prepositions at its end — does it really work?
What did you bring that book that I don't want to be read to from out of about 'Down Under' up for?
I was wondering whether this sentence is actually correct and if it is, whether someone could ...
6
votes
2answers
344 views
Is the use of dependent clauses undesirable? (in scientific writing)
I tend to use dependent clauses frequently in scientific writing. This is especially true when discussing a problem-solving process where the result from one step leads into the next. Here's a ...
5
votes
2answers
101 views
Is “a topic about which I could talk for hours” correct?
I'm a little bit confused whether the following sentence is correct or not.
It is a subject about which I could talk for hours.
As far as I'm concerned with English grammar it should be correct ...
4
votes
8answers
370 views
Nested parentheticals — restructuring for clarity
It's widely known that the name "JavaScript" is trademarked by Oracle (formerly a trademark of Sun, formerly a trademark of Netscape).
What was formerly a trademark of Netscape?
Sun?
Oracle?
...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
How to properly write sentence with double words
I commonly come across sentences where I have to write the same word twice such as,
This is what I've been looking for for a long time.
and in these cases I just try to rewrite the sentence to ...
4
votes
2answers
106 views
Which is better: “how important something is” or “the importance of something” as the subject position? [closed]
Phrases can sometimes be paraphrased into clauses. For example, the importance of something can be paraphrased as how important something is.
It seems that the clause version is used mainly as the ...
2
votes
2answers
144 views
How should I parse a sentence that’s broken up with a dash?
What is the correct "parsing" of this sentence:
Futuristic but not out of time — like an artifact from the 1960’s, someone trying to imagine what 2013 would be like.
I came to two ...
2
votes
2answers
76 views
“something that the author is praised for not permitting”?
The sentence is from the Official Guide for the GRE General test:
Here, we must determine what word should indicate something that the author is praised for not permitting.
I can not fully ...
2
votes
1answer
112 views
Is this sentence a run-on sentence?
The milk having soured, Martha drank her coffee black.
Is this sentence a run-on sentence, or is it an (grammatically) acceptable sentence?
1
vote
2answers
371 views
Use of the word “that” in formal tone, technical writing
I need help settling a disagreement. I have read many posts about the word "that" — probably too many, since I have gotten myself confused! In this first example, there are two subordinate clauses, ...
1
vote
3answers
283 views
Parsing a complex sentence
The following sentence is from here. It’s too long, and I don’t fully understand it. Can anyone help me parse it?
Simple examples are likely to have far more overhead than the work
done making ...
1
vote
2answers
258 views
Isn’t the expression, "I'm not inclined to be a supporter of Newt Gingrich's having served under him for four years” confusing?
I found the following line in today’s (December 4) Time magazine article titled, Coburn Speaks Up:
“On "Fox News Sunday," Sooner State Sen. tells Chris Wallace he would have trouble supporting ...
1
vote
2answers
1k views
Use of the word “that”: [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Are there rules about using “that” to join two clauses?
In the following, does the word "that" belong?
"He said that we should go fishing."
0
votes
1answer
235 views
Meaning of 'full reality to change'
Therefore, classic ontology denies any full reality to change, which is conceived as only accidental and not essential
In the above sentence, which is the object(or complement) of the 'deny'? ...
0
votes
2answers
218 views
How do I know when to eliminate the word “that” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Are there rules about using “that” to join two clauses?
I see the word "that" used very frequently in newspaper articles. It usually is used after the word ...
-1
votes
2answers
44 views
Post Question To
If Craig wrote a question on an online forum and the question was intended for Larry:
Craig posted a question to Larry.
Should the part "to Larry" modify "a question", or "posted"? In ...
