This tag refers to how the grammar works — different grammatical usages and how they can be used or what they mean. These questions aren't about whether something is grammatical or not; such questions should use the tag grammaticality instead.
1
vote
1answer
11 views
Conventions for parenthetical inclusion of articles
Somewhat related: "A/An" preceding a parenthetical statement
When writing mathematics, one sometimes wants to write things like
x is not contained in (the closure of) the space Y.
The ...
2
votes
4answers
32 views
Correct use of will & would?
What would be the correct use of will & would in these sentences?
1) What will happen if I say to my boss that I will not come tomorrow?
2) What will happen if I would say to my boss that I will ...
5
votes
4answers
188 views
Can you say “are not we all?” instead of “aren't we all?”
Because "aren't" translates to "are not" I pose the question, can you use both interchangeably (in the context of "aren't we all?")? "Are not" sounds very grammatically incorrect in this situation.
...
1
vote
1answer
87 views
Present perfect continuous for finished actions
Since present perfect continuous is used to talk about an activity that has finished, but whose results are visible now, can I use it for an action like these two ones;
'I have been living in Los ...
0
votes
2answers
87 views
What can this sentence also mean?
Could anyone help me with this sentence, please?
I have lived here for three years (I still live here.)
I know that this sentence means that somebody still lives there, but
can this also mean that ...
1
vote
6answers
151 views
“Why do people read books?” — “Because people read books to get information.”
I work at a middle school in South Korea.
One of the questions on the recent 2nd grade mid-term exam was "Why do people read books?".
There are over 300 students in this year, so there were plenty ...
0
votes
1answer
73 views
“Is” with singular and plural nouns
I came across the sentence
My biggest grievance is grammar mistakes.
I'd be inclined to write it as
My biggest grievance is with grammar mistakes.
or
Grammar mistakes are my biggest ...
2
votes
4answers
155 views
+50
Present Perfect vs Present perfect continuous
Could you correct the comments in parentheses, please? Are they right?
I have lived in Los Angeles. (A completed action; the person does not live there anymore).
I have lived in Los Angeles ...
-1
votes
0answers
28 views
proper way to use a comma separating 3 (or more) words in a sentence [closed]
Possible Duplicate:
Should I put a comma before the last item in a list?
Proper English writing is not my strong point so I thought I'd post a question here.
Using the following as an ...
-1
votes
1answer
29 views
The use of CAME in a sentence [closed]
Possible Duplicate:
Question about interrogations in past tense
is it proper to say "When did you came back from your last outing"
5
votes
1answer
197 views
“Would you mind to do something?”
Is it correct to say "Would you mind to do something?". I've seen this usage in a few places, but it doesn't sound right to me. I would guess that it's proper to use "Would you mind doing something?" ...
-1
votes
0answers
41 views
UNTO - UPON - UP ON - UN TO [closed]
Are these prepositions correct?
Pleased get ONTO the train, because it will leave soon.
The two robbers couldn't get away when the security ON TO them.
My cat jumped UNTO the table and grabbed a ...
0
votes
0answers
8 views
“What you are talking/speaking about?” [closed]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the difference between “speaking” and “talking”?
Is it correct to say "What are you speaking about"? I cannot see the difference between ...
0
votes
3answers
43 views
Since he left, nobody cares/has cared?
I would like to say that since one of my colleagues left, nobody cares about our project anymore. Or nobody has cared?
EDIT: I want to say that nobody cares now and it started when X left.
0
votes
1answer
61 views
Pray as if he sees you vs. Pray as if he is seeing you
When we want to write or say about something general as in the following, which sentence makes more sense over the other? And what could be the differences?
When you pray to God, pray in a way as ...
5
votes
1answer
90 views
Question about “how many”
Why don't we use the auxiliary do in the following question:
How many people study there?
2
votes
2answers
66 views
What meaning of “get” is in the “get paid” phrase?
Get has a lot of meanings in English, but which one is used in phrase get paid? Get is often used for describing a change of state, similarly to become. But does get paid fall into this case? From ...
3
votes
4answers
96 views
Why is there omission of subject in sentences like “Thought you'd never ask.”
Another example is "Hope this helps."
"Thought you'd never ask." is the omission of "I thought you'd never ask."
"Hope this helps." is the omission of "I hope this helps."
In English grammar, ...
13
votes
8answers
503 views
Is there any difference between Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous?
I have studied "present perfect" and "present perfect continuous" for a week. I know forms, verb and helping verb I should use when I write them.
For me, they have nearly same definition because I ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
After you “are finished that”/“are finished with that”/“have finished that”, brush your teeth
I've been hearing constructs of the form, "are __ed that," which sound wrong to me. To my ear, the awkwardness would be dispelled if the word "are" was replaced with "have," or "with" inserted before ...
0
votes
2answers
67 views
How to combine “a book about X” with “people are interested in how X works”?
I would like to know how to correctly combine the sentence 1. with the sentence 2.
People are interested in how these algorithms work.
I am writing a book about algorithms... [here I need to ...
3
votes
1answer
62 views
Can “albeit” be used to reference something plural? [closed]
Possible Duplicate:
Definition of “albeit” and how it's different from “although” (if it is)
Why don’t other pronouns get to albe-themselves, à la albeit’s ...
1
vote
3answers
126 views
Question about interrogations in past tense
In regard to this answer, my question is similar but that answer is not clear. I want to know why we use base form of verb, e.g. 'go' to form the past tense instead of past form such as 'went'?
...
0
votes
2answers
132 views
“I have chosen,” “I choose,” or “I am choosing”?
In a week time I'm taking an exam. I want to know whether I can say 'I have chosen' or not. It is present perfect too.
The task is:
You would like to go on a party. Look at the picture and decide ...
0
votes
1answer
49 views
Is Did + second form correct in this sentence? [closed]
If I say, "How did she knew about it?" Would it be correct? If you use search engine for "did knew", you get hundred thousand results. Are they incorrect? I'm confused about this grammar structure.
-1
votes
2answers
104 views
Why are some words in English used in inverted order? [closed]
We see many words in English inverted. For example:
credit card
Can you
I have no idea
In this case, the credit card is not followed by the preposition "of". Why? Why can't we say ...
7
votes
3answers
169 views
Is it grammatically correct to use “baby” as a proper noun
A lot of baby books and products use the word baby as you would a proper noun.
For example "when lying baby down in the cot" instead of "when lying your baby down in the cot". Another example from a ...
2
votes
0answers
38 views
Using “whose” with non-animate nouns [closed]
Duplicate:
Is the word 'whose' referring to an inanimate object correct in this sentence?
Possessive connecting word for inanimate object
Usage of “whose” not referring to a person.
...
0
votes
0answers
27 views
Why do we use “to” before a verb? [closed]
Possible Duplicate:
Is “to” really part of the infinitive?
Why do we use “to” after “how”?
I'm studying English. I'm always trying to improve my English with the help of you ...
0
votes
0answers
15 views
Why can one use an object pronoun to answer a question in English? [closed]
Possible Duplicate:
Should I say “not I” or “not me”?
Considering the question Who would like a beer? one could answer either I would or me. The former answer has an ...
1
vote
2answers
148 views
“All right” vs. “alright” [closed]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it “alright” or “allright”?
Which is correct in English, "all right" or "alright"?
These expressions don't cause any problem in verbal ...
-1
votes
0answers
36 views
Asking question about position of a person in a list [closed]
Possible Duplicate:
How should I phrase a question that must be answered with an ordinal number (e.g., the third prime)?
How to ask a question to get a cardinal number answer
In my ...
-1
votes
4answers
171 views
“I run in the subway”
Is I run in the subway grammatical? Does it mean the action of running, done inside of a subway?
2
votes
3answers
101 views
With “amount” will you use singular or plural?
I have a doubt about this grammatical question:
"..large amount of data and the fact that IT will exponentially grow..."
"..large amount of data and the fact that THEY will exponentially grow..."
...
1
vote
1answer
93 views
Is it correct to combine multiple clauses into one sentence?
Is it correct to combine multiple clauses (sub sentences) into one?
For example, let us consider this sentence:
On managerial side, I am experienced in accounting software, have been working ...
-2
votes
1answer
91 views
Is this right: “When I was 5, I would eat 5 times, now I only eat 3 times”? [closed]
I had an argument with a friend today that this is not correct. But I couldn't prove it... Could I please have your advice, hopefully with the grammatical reference.
Thanks in advance.
4
votes
1answer
103 views
Auxiliary movement in AAVE
My question is inspired by the question of why "So do I". Usually I have no problem figuring out what to do for AAVE (African American Vernacular English), but in this case, I am confused, because ...
1
vote
4answers
103 views
Which mood is created with “everyone should visit”?
Which mood is created with the sentence, "Everyone should visit..." with the use of the auxiliary verb? I have decided already that it is not the imperative mood.
1
vote
2answers
78 views
“Did/would he eat something?” [closed]
Do both of the sentences have the same meaning?
Did he eat something?
Would he eat something?
I've heard would can also be used to refer to things that happened in the past.
2
votes
1answer
98 views
“I who has” vs “I who have.” [closed]
Possible Duplicate:
What rules make “Remember me, who am your friend” grammatical?
Am aware it is correct to say "I have written..." and "I am a doctor who has writen..."
I have, however, ...
1
vote
2answers
64 views
Rules for sentences containing lists of things
Is the following sentence grammatically correct?
"Symptoms of lactic acid build up in muscles include cramps, spasms,
fatigue and sensitivity."
Does "sensitivity" need to be qualified, as in ...
1
vote
2answers
93 views
“my best” vs “my level best”
Is there any difference between these two sentences? which one is correct while speaking ?
I will do my best.
Or
I will do my level best.
2
votes
4answers
126 views
“One-to-one” vs. “One-on-one”
I said : "Tomorrow will be our one-to-one meeting with Mr.XYZ."
My friend : "OK, one-on-one."
Which is correct ?
One-to-one
Or
One-on-one
1
vote
2answers
94 views
Meaning of “stop for something”
Q. Did the customers stop for narrow selection of food?
A. The customers stopped for wider selection of food.
Does it mean the customers just ignored or didn't shop for food?
1
vote
3answers
56 views
In golfing terms should Ambrose be upper or lower case?
Is the type of play named after someone and therefore upper case?
1
vote
2answers
55 views
When to use 'no good'; when to use 'not good'? [closed]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the difference between “no” and “not”?
there is a question always confusing me. Is it 'no good' or 'not good'? How do I use them? I guess ...
0
votes
2answers
34 views
How to “spread some words about” or “spread some word about”?
Sorry for the dumb question.
If I have couple of sentences that describe my idea, should I use the first or the second phrase or neither of them ;)
Any insight and grammar references are very ...
0
votes
2answers
70 views
would have and would in non conditional statements
Can we use both would have and would in non conditional past statements? For example:
Last year during the summer, I would go home on weekends. past habitual
Last year during the summer, I ...
3
votes
4answers
126 views
Why would he do this to me?
Do the following two statements convey the same meaning?
Why would he do this to me?
Why did he do this to me?
To me both of them seem to imply something in simple past.
1
vote
1answer
134 views
“Might have” vs “could have”
What is the difference between might have and could have?
He might have come. He might have studied.
He could have come. He could have studied.
How would you describe a possibility? For ...
