Tagged Questions
2
votes
2answers
199 views
Not only X but also Y are (is?)
At first glance, sentence 1 below seems more correct because there are two subjects. However, something seems more natural about sentence 2. Maybe there is something abbreviated, elliptical, or ...
2
votes
2answers
188 views
Verb + not = do not verb ? What is the gramatical explanation?
I have long been puzzled by the usage of 'verb + not'. For example, Kennedy said, "... my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." The Bible ...
0
votes
4answers
114 views
Is there a word for the total amount of time you weren't working in a day?
I can say that I plan to work 7 hours today, but how do I say I plan to "not work" for 2 hours?
"Be on a break/pause for 2 hours" or "Rest for 2 hours" doesn't work because I might take several ...
14
votes
4answers
798 views
How productive is the prefix “un-”?
Is it possible to use un- with new words such as sit, sleep, sad? I'm currently seeing many words (in programming) which use "un-" in the meaning of undoing something.
For example, is it possible to ...
3
votes
1answer
612 views
When should we use proximity rule in “either/or”, and “neither/nor”?
According to this link, if at least one of the nouns involved is plural then it should take the plural form of the verb. Otherwise, it should take the singular form of the verb. But in the last part ...
3
votes
2answers
529 views
“Allows not” vs. “does not allow”
Which should I use: allows not or does not allow?
Can I use both?
Are there verbs that does not allow the two forms?
3
votes
1answer
887 views
Is there a difference in meaning between “does not seem to” and “seems not to”?
Consider the following sentences:
Try not to be alarmed if a rule doesn’t seem to work for a specific sentence.
Try not to be alarmed if a rule seems not to work for a specific sentence.
...
8
votes
1answer
433 views
Is “It won't let me not.” grammatically correct?
I found myself saying the following sentence the other day:
I always fasten my seat belt because my car won't let me not — it starts beeping loudly.
If I were to use allow instead of let, I ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
“Seems to be not X” vs. “seems to not be X”
Which one of these two sentences is written correctly?
This test data seems to be not good.
This test data seems to not be good.
Better yet if you could explain as to why the correct ...
6
votes
3answers
4k views
What is the opposite of “enroll”?
Deenroll? Unenroll? I understand words like cancel and resign would work, but is there an appropriate antonym with "enroll" in it?
2
votes
4answers
655 views
What is the meaning of “ought not”?
Consider this example:
A few strong branches over water reach for what they ought not reach.
Which of the meanings comes closest to “ought not” in this sentence?
Is it “doesn't have to”, “should ...
2
votes
2answers
203 views
Is this correct grammar — “which feature in C/C++ don't you like?”
The question in question is this:
Which feature in C/C++ don't you like?
Just wanted to know if that is proper way of asking. Not sure if "don't you like" is the right way there.
5
votes
4answers
769 views
Contraction of “is not”
How exactly can you contract the phrase "is not"?
More specifically, what's the difference between the sentences, "The dog isn't running." and "The dog's not running."?
They both sound correct to ...
3
votes
6answers
554 views
Antonym of the verb “complete”
I have an action on a web form. It's a button whose action is to complete a case.
I need to name another button, and I want to use a verb that conveys the meaning of "undo the completion" of this ...
4
votes
8answers
689 views
Express an ability not to do something
How would I express my ability not to do something?
"I cannot dig" means that I definitely cannot dig. But how do I express my ability not to dig? The first thing that comes to my mind is "I am able ...
12
votes
8answers
1k views
The grammaticality of “that don't impress me much”
I'd like to know how the sentence "That don't impress me much" sounds to a native English speaker.
The phrase is the title of a song by Shania Twain, and to my eyes it contains a clear error. It is ...
15
votes
4answers
2k views
Isn't the word “uninstall” wrong?
I've never understood this. Why is the proper usage "uninstall"? You can't actually "unin" something at all and this isn't that case with most (all?) other use cases. Examples:
You make someone ...
