Questions relating to the pattern of words in a sentence.
0
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0answers
60 views
what word order is allowed in English sentences [closed]
I would like to receive comprehensive review of how to construct sentences (sentence patterns) in English language. Links to articles or books where this problem is discussed are appreciated.
0
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0answers
50 views
Can one ever be sure which lexical class, or part of speech, each word in a sentence belongs to? [closed]
What I mean by this is that, given a sentence, could one ever be absolutely certain which lexical class, or part of speech, each word in that sentence belongs to? Each word might be totally unknown, ...
2
votes
1answer
72 views
About inversion
Given the following sentence,
Nowhere on her title page or copyright page is there a suggestion that anyone but Walker wrote her story.
Can I invert it as follows without changing the meaning?
...
-5
votes
1answer
136 views
Please correct my grammatical mistakes, if any [closed]
we have done cams db setup.
After discussing with Mark we will do the pas db setup.
Please assist me correcting any grammatical mistakes.
-1
votes
1answer
143 views
How to avoid that “that that” that is so very awkward
In all seriousness, are there any common patterns or strategies people use to avoid having to write a sentence in which "that that" appears?
For example:
Evidential decision theory recommends ...
0
votes
2answers
75 views
Pre-clause, Post-clause
I have two possible sentences of the some situation and I am confused:
Realizing he did not belong there, he left the meeting early.
He left the meeting early, realizing he did not belong ...
0
votes
3answers
308 views
General rules for identifying conditional sentences?
I am trying to identify the subject and object in the following sentence:
Come to me, and I'll give you a fight you'll never forget
At first, it appeared as if whenever a conjunction appears ...
0
votes
1answer
80 views
Pattern: It is X that Y
I might be confused about the "it is X that Y " pattern:
1a That he is not the best player is a surprise.
1b It is a surprise that he is not the best player.
2a That he is not the best ...
4
votes
3answers
701 views
“I am going to attend” vs “I am attending”
Which of these two statements seems to be more appropriate?
I am attending a meeting tomorrow.
I am going to attend a meeting tomorrow.
I am quite not sure which one to use.
1
vote
3answers
134 views
The phrase 'give you me'
There was another sentence that I wasn't sure about: "Rather, O blessed one, give you me boldness to abide within the harmless laws of peace, avoiding strife and hatred and the violent fiends of ...
1
vote
2answers
141 views
What's another word for considered ?
I was always considered different ?
I have always been labeled as different ?
I have always been categorized as different ?
Is there a good word I can replace "considered" with ?
0
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0answers
51 views
Meaning of twenty testosterone-charged men [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Etymology of testosterone-charged men?
What is the exact meaning of the phrase “twenty testosterone-charged men”?
I’d have much preferred her place, as I didn’t want ...
6
votes
6answers
721 views
Grammar: “Just because A, doesn't mean B”
I hear this all the time, and often from writers, but it never sounds right. I found myself using it in something I was writing.
For example: "Just because I stopped eating doesn't mean I'm full." ...
0
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0answers
80 views
is there any online tool to improve words and improve sentence or formate mails [closed]
I checked on google I found some kind of formatter tools like i have this sentence how to improve it---
Hello manager name,
Please find my comments in Green color.
I am unsure where the calendar ...
1
vote
3answers
74 views
Should researchers be cited by name, or should only the work be cited? [closed]
I am currently editing an M.S. thesis. The author uses the following construction often:
"Nanot et al. have demonstrated the existence of negative conductivity in graphene [8]."
where reference [8] ...
1
vote
2answers
207 views
Is the construct “[subject] allows for [object] to [verb]” correct? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What’s the difference between ‘allow’ and ‘allow for’?
...or should it be "[subject] allows [object] to [verb]"?
I am asking specifically for sentences in the form ...
3
votes
2answers
397 views
When is “will” used in an “if” clause?
Given the following sentences that use will in the if clause (which is seldom with if-clauses and therefore, I'm not sure they all are even grammatical or not).
If you will/would kindly lend me ...
0
votes
1answer
432 views
Repetition of articles in a sentence
The following sentences use more than one adjective for a single noun.
She has a black and white cat.
It implies that the person involved here has only one cat which is black and white coloured.
...
1
vote
1answer
560 views
Causative verb using have/has
I can understand the causative form (quite less frequently, we simply say causal verb) with make and get but when used with have/has, it sometimes makes me think differently. Of course, I can ...
0
votes
1answer
769 views
Why is “being ” used in this sentence “it being a rainy day” as a present participle?
The following sentence is somewhat confusing.
It being a rainy day, we had to abandon (or simply say cancel) the match.
or
Being a rainy day, we had to abandon the match.
I think one of ...
-3
votes
2answers
198 views
sentence pattern clarification [closed]
I am really confused with indirect and direct object...
I am in need to find the sentence pattern for this sentence.
He showed kindness to his parents.
1
vote
0answers
30 views
The problem is is that [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“The thing is, is that…”
Does anyone know when or why people started saying things like
The problem is is that...
or
The thing is is that...
It's as if they ...
-1
votes
2answers
277 views
Object or Complement
The professor wants to retire.
Here 'to retire' is used as object or complement?
Also, in "The man gave Amy some good advice"
Is 'some good advice' an object or complement?
1
vote
1answer
108 views
“I have made an X to make an X” [closed]
I have found in a novel the sentence “I have made a call: to make a call.” The context is: the female main character is on the run and distressed, and to try and fix her problems she calls a former ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
Difference between 'taken back' and 'taken aback' [closed]
A sentence is written like this,
In this work of Pankaj Mishra, we are taken back to 18th century Europe where ...
In this work of Pankaj Mishra, we are taken aback to the 18th century Europe ...
2
votes
4answers
779 views
How can you use “either… or” twice in a sentence?
I want to be able to say something like:
There either needs to be X to do either Xa or Xb or there needs to be Y.
(edit: since from some answers it doesn't seen to be clear, I mean that that Xa ...
4
votes
2answers
346 views
Inversion in “Only when the virus introduces its nucleic acid into a cell does disease occur”
Given this sentence,
Disease occurs only when the virus introduces its nucleic acid into a cell.
Is the following inversion grammatical?
→ Only when the virus introduces its nucleic acid ...
2
votes
1answer
156 views
“Seeing the rain come on, we took shelter” — complex or simple sentence?
Seeing the rain come on, we took shelter.
This sentence looks like a complex sentence with a main and an independent clause. But the book says it is a simple sentence. Which is correct?
4
votes
1answer
386 views
Loudly is Complement or adverb/adjunct in the sentence The cat / scratched / loudly
Loudly is mentioned as Complement when it is actually an adverb or adjunct in the site, http://changingminds.org/techniques/language/syntax/clause_arrangement.htm . Is it right or wrong?
I have given ...
2
votes
2answers
838 views
How to avoid starting sentence with “And” and “But”? [closed]
A lot of times my sentences start with "And" and "But" and they tend to run long. I read a lot of news articles and blogs and have not seen many sentences starting with conjunctions, but I don't seem ...
1
vote
2answers
142 views
Correct way of using 'overtake'
My sentence:
My shop has overtaken his shop in business.
Will it be okay if I rewrite it as:
My shop has overtaken his shop's business.
?
Requst: Please consider re-titling the question ...
5
votes
1answer
760 views
Is 'I would rather…' without an infinitive immediately following it correct?
Consider:
I would rather the walls remain painted in a neutral tint.
Is this proper use of 'I would rather..', without an infinitive immediately following it?
EDIT This suggests that 'I would ...
2
votes
1answer
677 views
Would certainly have or certainly would have?
I have these confusions sometimes. Firstly, which among the following are grammatically correct to use in sentences-
She would certainly have loved that.
She would have certainly loved ...
0
votes
3answers
105 views
What are the references of the words in the paragraph?
While reading an article about persuasive games, I stumble upon this paragraph, which I do not understand the meaning of the sentences from the way they are structured.
The concept of authorship ...
0
votes
2answers
312 views
What meaning does the word “remaining” add to a sentence?
From a paragraph that I was reading about the inoculation theory had this sentence:
Those receiving a one-sided message showed almost no remaining
attitude change after they were exposed to ...
2
votes
2answers
144 views
'no telling' embedded in a sentence [closed]
I was wondering if 'spread out over no telling how many years' is syntactically correct (Please see the quote at the bottom). Through the help of another forum, I now know 'no telling how many years' ...
1
vote
3answers
4k views
Determining main verb of a sentence which match with subject + verb + to + verb pattern
If I have sentences
Member is allowed to change himself back
I want to go to school
He needs to stop
What are the predicate of these sentences? Are they allowed - want - need, or ...
-1
votes
1answer
515 views
Sentence Correction [closed]
What would be the best way to correct the part marked in bold.?
(5 choices are given)
According to a survey of graduating medical students conducted by the Association of American Medical Colleges, ...
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, ...
4
votes
3answers
354 views
If I write two phrasal verbs with difference prepositions consecutively, can I omit the first preposition?
Give or take away something from someone.
The problem in this sentence is that normally one would say "Give to" or "take away from" someone, but what should I write when I want to refer to both ...
2
votes
3answers
213 views
Are dependent subclauses allowed in the middle of sentences?
I have recently finished writing an academic thesis. During proofreading, my supervisor and I had quite a number of discussions related to the placement of dependent subclauses (I think that's the ...
-4
votes
1answer
215 views
Adj + Noun + Verb to be + Same Adj
Is this a natural grammar or some kind of joke/internet meme?
Cute girl is cute.
Poor child is poor.
Troll topic is troll.
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
220 views
Sentences excluding “being”
I am wondering about a certain type of sentence construction which seems to somehow exclude the word being. For example,
A native English speaker, he was well suited for the task.
Well versed ...
3
votes
2answers
343 views
What is the correct way to punctuate sentences that end with proper nouns who also contain punctuation? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How to handle a name that includes an exclamation point (or other punctuation)?
Pardon the example usage, but given a proper noun that contains punctuation (e.g., the ...
4
votes
2answers
828 views
Dissecting an English sentence using a pattern?
I am trying to make a script that can dissect an English sentence.
Problem is, I have no idea how to dissect an English when the words are not familiar. I know what the nouns, verbs, etc are, because ...
1
vote
1answer
457 views
What is the structure of “Long time passing”?
WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE
words and music by Pete Seeger
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the ...
1
vote
2answers
682 views
How should I understand “There is no way around the fact that …”?
The question is based on the following text:
Approaching crafts from the point of view of function, we can divide them into simple categories: containers, shelters, and supports. There is no way ...
1
vote
1answer
271 views
Volitional sentence vs. imperative sentence
What's the difference? Is a volitional sentence simply a weaker form of an imperative sentence?
2
votes
3answers
776 views
Is this sentence structure correct?
I'm trying to state in one sentence several things that are lacking.
There's no A, or B, or C.
What about
There's no A, no B, and no C.
Are these both grammatically correct? What's the ...
