A pronoun is a word that can function by itself as a noun phrase.
2
votes
3answers
96 views
How do I make correct referencing?
I often have problems with article words referencing to its correct referent. In the following statement for example:
The touching scenes in the film leaves the audience a heavy feeling,
...
3
votes
2answers
336 views
Whatever/everything/anything..how to find out?
I am desperate because I just cannot find the way how to know which one is correct.
E.g.:
Do whatever/everything/anything you like.
Do your best whatever/everything/anything you do.
Stop doing ...
0
votes
1answer
275 views
Can I use “any” in this example?
I know "any" is used only in plural (questions or negation) or for uncountable nouns OR if it expresses "whichever"/"every.
But what about this?
Is there any document describing that? //can I use it? ...
0
votes
2answers
484 views
Is “So far as concerns something” the same as “So far as something is concerned”?
The following excerpt is from an article of Harry Frankfurt who is a professor from Princeton University:
Especially by pretentious word or deed: There are two points to notice here. First, Black ...
1
vote
2answers
174 views
How should I understand this “that” clause?
The following sentence is from an article of Harry Frankfurt who is a professor from Princeton University:
It must be part of the point of saying that humbug is "short of lying," that while it has ...
0
votes
4answers
4k views
“By whom?” vs. “Who by?” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What's the rule for using “who” or “whom”?
With who vs. With whom
Are “by whom?” and “who by?” perfect equivalents?
I have the feeling ...
8
votes
2answers
449 views
Do you use he/she or it to refer to ghost?
If I have a sentence:
There are many stories which have been told about a ghost that haunted this castle.
Strangely, ... (the ghost) has never appeared in front of my face for 10 years.
I ...
3
votes
1answer
4k views
“People who” vs “people which” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Should I use 'that' 'which' or 'who' in this sentence?
Should I use "who" or "which"? I'm leaning to "who", but I'm not sure...
If you're not ...
4
votes
1answer
216 views
Am I using “that” too often? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Are there rules about using “that” to join two clauses?
"That" is a very difficult word for me. I keep feeling compelled to add it in just about any sentence ...
1
vote
1answer
312 views
That vs Which when talking about a subject [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When is it appropriate to use 'that' as opposed to 'which'?
This is actually the title of a question I just asked a minute ago ::- ). While writing it, I ...
6
votes
5answers
1k views
Is it appropriate to refer to a person of unknown sex by “it”?
I would like to treat a user as a non-gender noun and refer to it with the gender-neutral pronoun, it. E.g.,
The user defines two variables, x and y. It then multiplies each variable by a prime ...
5
votes
1answer
105 views
Is this use of whomever correct?
I take pride in my ability to deliver a warm and friendly welcome to whomever I meet.
My reasoning is that I am doing the meeting and the object is merely being met, hence whomever.
1
vote
1answer
329 views
Usage of “its” and “their” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is a company always plural, or are small companies singular?
Is “staff” plural?
When a political candidate gets an endorsement from a newspaper, the ...
3
votes
3answers
213 views
What does “them” refer to here?
Please consider the following sentence.
I summarize these topics in the conclusions, with hopes that others
will research them further.
Does “them” refer to the “topics,” or does it refer to ...
1
vote
2answers
304 views
'We care for us' or 'We care about us'?
'We care for us'
or
'We care about us'?
What sentence is actually right? Maybe both sentences are good?
1
vote
2answers
1k views
“Myself” vs. “by myself”
I get confused with the following. Any explanation would be greatly appreciated.
I can't do it myself.
I can't do it by myself.
4
votes
6answers
210 views
Help reworking a sentence to make it less ambigious
Are there any rules governing what the "which" refers to in a sentence like this:
Every five minutes, the Node.js application posts a JSON document to
my CouchDB instance which looks like:
...
2
votes
3answers
3k views
1st or 3rd person in CV/résumé? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it normal in English to talk about oneself in the third person in these cases?
I’m currently preparing my CV in English. I’m not a native English speaker, and I ...
5
votes
3answers
265 views
Does this sentence require the pronoun 'they'?
I have the following sentence:
There were several dominoes—some so precariously placed that I'd
swear should have toppled over.
I believe it's correct, but when read quickly or out loud, ...
0
votes
3answers
270 views
Is the use of “who” correct in this sentence?
"The Turk is chess engine who can interact with user interfaces
which support Winboard protocol at the moment"
I feel that which can be used instead of who but I'm not sure. If that's not ...
3
votes
2answers
310 views
“It is having time to think that makes me depressed” - grammatical function of “that”?
It is having time to think that makes me depressed.
In this sentence, what is the grammatical function of the word that?
Thank you for your help!
-2
votes
2answers
1k views
“It” vs. “this” [closed]
If I am sharing a (specific, identified) status update, which would be the most appropriate way of informing people that I will be sharing it:
I am sharing it.
or
I am sharing this.
In ...
3
votes
3answers
286 views
Can “whose” refer to a first-person subject in the third person?
This question came from a friend. It is from a college entrance exam for non-native English speakers.
Link the following sentences with "whose":
I was a small kid. My classmates laughed at ...
2
votes
3answers
337 views
Can the feminine pronouns be gender-neutral? [closed]
I know this sounds weird but I've been noticing a lot of texts on the Internet like this one:
"Any citizen is concerned with her well-being ...". The word in question is "her". To me it seems like in ...
6
votes
1answer
1k views
What possessive pronouns do have an apostrophe?
I was explaining it's vs. its to someone the other day, and I said "None of the pronouns (his, hers, theirs, yours, its, whose, ...) has an apostrophe." Later I got to wondering whether that was ...
4
votes
2answers
232 views
What do ‘it’ ‘on’ ‘off’ mean in “it’ll be on with the old Invisibility Cloak and off to find out what he’s –“
I have trouble understanding the bold part.
Harry has a magical map by which he can see where others are. He is looking at the map and paying attention to his enemy schoolboy, Malfoy.
”Well, I’m ...
1
vote
4answers
940 views
Using “any” with positive sentence [closed]
Everyone can do it.
Nobody can do it.
The both sentences are very clear. I understand what they mean.
Anyone can do it
But I feel a little confused about this sentence. What does it mean?
...
3
votes
2answers
141 views
“This paper” vs “That paper” in an abstract
I'm writing an absctract for a paper.
In Portuguese we write esse trabalho (that paper) to indicate that the paper is near the person that we are adressing.
We use este trabalho (this paper) to ...
7
votes
2answers
3k views
“that” or “this”
I know a trivial difference of "that" and "this" uses. Such as the difference between "this chair" and "that chair".
But I don't understand one case. When one person is coming into a room and another ...
0
votes
2answers
1k views
Use of “it” and “its” for people and animals
Can I use it and its for people?
Example:
The fear is the essential attribute of a human nature. It figures a crucial role in its survival.
where its means human's.
Can I use it and its for ...
6
votes
2answers
3k views
“Me and my wife” or “my wife and me”
Which is correct: me and my wife or my wife and me? The sentence in which this is used is
Ms. Smith informed me and my wife that she was afraid of being accosted.
8
votes
3answers
779 views
“You know more about this than me/I” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
I can run faster than _. (1) him (2) he?
Which is correct?
You know more about this than me.
You know more about this than I.
The second sounds unnatural, but ...
13
votes
6answers
2k views
Sentence Construction: “Just Because … Does Not Mean”
I've already found an entry on this here.
However, it does not solve my problem:
I just read an entry on "cross platform" from Wikipedia, in which it was written:
Just because a particular ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
Somebody/someone gets/get *
Which is correct: "Somebody gets punished" or "Somebody get punished?" I have the same question with respect to "Someone gets" and "Someone get." Is there a rule which applies to this kind of ...
4
votes
4answers
211 views
One - does common English usage equate that to “you” (2nd person) or “he/she” (3rd person)?
I am proof reading an academic paper on computer programming and am trying to ensure pronouns conform. This is an example sentence:
Accordingly, one considers some entry fees in his strategic ...
4
votes
2answers
212 views
Why do we use “its” for possessive? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Why doesn't “its” have an apostrophe?
Generally, there is an apostrophe when someone possesses something:
That's Gerald's cat.
Gerald's cat is ...
2
votes
1answer
132 views
Combination of similar pronouns (indefinite)
Are there any significant differences in meaning or usage between "everyone" and "everybody", or "anybody" and "anyone"?
As far as I know, there are some grammatical points involving
"everyone" and ...
2
votes
4answers
204 views
“Whoever able”?
A friend of mine wrote
Whoever able to understand these few words [...] may draw my attention.
First, I told him to write "Anyone who is able to understand [...]", but he said he wants to keep ...
6
votes
1answer
526 views
Why do we say “of mine/of his” instead of “of me/of him”?
He's a friend of mine.
That's a car of his.
Why do we use the possessive when the meaning would be the same while not using it (e.g. a friend of me and a car of him)? I thought maybe it is ...
1
vote
3answers
5k views
“It was great seeing you.” “You too.” Why not “Me too”?
In response to "It was great seeing you," why do people say "you, too" instead of "me, too?"
2
votes
3answers
606 views
Is the singular “they” acceptable in formal writing? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is there a correct gender-neutral, singular pronoun (“his” versus “her” versus “their”)?
I am linking to this post for reference.
...
1
vote
1answer
83 views
Is Anyone/ Who is used together?
The course is for anyone who is interested in learning about computers.
Is there an error in the above sentence formation?
Or can we just say:
The course is for anyone interested in learning ...
5
votes
2answers
609 views
Is “you and I” the subject in this sentence?
I know that "you and I" should be used when it's the subject of a sentence, and "you and me" when it's a complement. But I'm not sure about the following phrase:
We are very good pals, you and I.
...
6
votes
3answers
996 views
“…as you and I am” versus “…as you and I are”
Which is the correct usage to end the following sentence?
[person] is not as [adjective] as you and I [am/are].
I'd also like to see some good fill-in-the-blanks.
10
votes
2answers
757 views
When referring to a specific war (or other named event), should the word “war” be capitalized when it appears alone?
The Cold War instilled a fear of nuclear war in the public; additionally, the [war] was responsible for an extreme anti-Communist sentiment that lingers to this day.
Should the bracketed instance ...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
Proper way to handle plurals with “whose”
I came up (re)phrasing a question like this :
What's so special about directories whose name begins with a dot?
But now, I'm wondering whether this is correct handling of plurals or not. Should ...
1
vote
2answers
142 views
Can ‘them’ be used for ‘their’ in front of a noun?
I’m having a difficulty understanding “could they just have that for them unreachable pleasure” in the following sentence. If them means their, my questions will be solved. I’ll take it like this: if ...
1
vote
2answers
436 views
Which one can be named or acknowledged as the elder brother (sister) between twins who was born earlier and later in UK and America?
There is the following sentence in Jeffery Archer’s detective story False Impression:
Arabella was so wise and sensible. If only her beloved twin had been born a few minutes earlier rather than a ...
3
votes
1answer
98 views
When saying “nominations are in”, what does “in” mean?
What does in mean in the following sentence?
MTV Europe Music Awards nominations are in and Lady Gaga leads
It feels like "announced", but does it refer to "in the news" or something? Where does ...
9
votes
2answers
449 views
Whence the “it” in “I like it here”?
What is the origin of the use of the object (it) in the following sentences, and what is its purpose?
I like it here!
and
Did you like it there?
In essence, the things we are saying we ...
