Questions relating to the pattern of words in a sentence.
0
votes
0answers
56 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
votes
0answers
49 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
69 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?
...
-1
votes
0answers
24 views
Is there a term that addresses the use of optional / in the following sentence
In this sentence "I cannot overwrite/ride the method" is there a term that applies to the use of the optional "/" and in fact is it correct to denote the optional as such or are the full words ...
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 ...
-1
votes
1answer
130 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 ...
-6
votes
1answer
114 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.
4
votes
3answers
664 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.
0
votes
2answers
72 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
388 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
3answers
299 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 ...
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
140 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 ?
6
votes
6answers
681 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
votes
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 ...
1
vote
1answer
537 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
223 views
Does this sentence remain grammatically correct?
If I change this sentence
We could not communicate through the
phone.
to
Through the phone, we could not
communicate.
Does it still remain grammatically correct? Is it OK like that? ...
0
votes
0answers
77 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
202 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
421 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.
...
0
votes
1answer
745 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 ...
8
votes
2answers
7k views
Can a sentence starting with “While, …” be grammatically correct?
I have a colleague who often writes sentences in the form "While, [these circumstances would make X seem unlikely to be the case], [these other circumstances show that X is in fact the case].
For ...
12
votes
3answers
3k views
Is there an online sample sentence database or search engine?
Sometime, I am not sure if I use a specific word correctly. I would like to get some sample sentences to learn from.
So, is there a online sample sentence database/search engine?
2
votes
2answers
824 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
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 ...
-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.
21
votes
7answers
3k views
How do you handle “that that”? The double “that” problem
Have you ever had a case where you felt compelled to include strange things like a double that in a sentence? If so, then what did you do to resolve this?
For me, I never knew whether it was ...
0
votes
1answer
550 views
Better use of “that that” — or not [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How do you handle “that that”? The double “that” problem
I sometimes seem to write myself into using 2 thats in succession, as in:
"Now that ...
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
276 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?
3
votes
2answers
913 views
“Subject, verb, direct object, object complement” versus “subject, verb, indirect object, direct object”
Reading English Grammar (HarperCollins College Outline, published by HarperResource, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers) I found a chapter (Sentence Basics) that explains that in English there are ...
8
votes
5answers
764 views
“She left me for another woman” or “She left me for a woman”?
Assuming a male speaker is referring to an ex-partner, which of the following is more correct?
She left me for another woman
She left me for a woman
The phrase She left me for another ...
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 ...
2
votes
4answers
434 views
Asking somebody to select between two or more options
Assume we want to ask somebody to choose between two options. Each option is a phrase like "stay home" or "come with me". What is the correct form of asking such questions?
Do you want to stay ...
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 ...
-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.
5
votes
1answer
5k views
Starting a sentence with “rather”
I've sometimes heard people use rather for connecting two sentences where the second one sets counterexample to something negated in the first.
This is not a meaningful sentence. Rather, it's an ...
2
votes
4answers
341 views
How should this sentence structure be interpreted?
I'm playing an online game in which I came across a message in the form of a sentence of which the structure is new to me.
It read:
You do not have a hatchet which you have the level to use.
...
2
votes
4answers
775 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
332 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
379 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 ...
5
votes
1answer
744 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
141 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 ...
8
votes
4answers
2k views
Framing a question to which the answer is an ordinal number [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How should I phrase a question that must be answered with an ordinal number (e.g., the third prime)?
I am the third daughter of my parents.
How should a question ...
2
votes
1answer
658 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
103 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
306 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 ...
