Questions regarding the rules for the formation of sentences
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3answers
1k views
+500
“He does more than (is) necessary.”
Can someone diagram the sentences
He does more than necessary.
He does more than is necessary.
please? (Say, using an X-bar tree.)
Also, there seems to be a secondary clause in the sentences (or ...
1
vote
1answer
135 views
Is it correct to start a sentence with “with” in English?
Is it correct to use with at the beginning of a sentence?
Here's an example sentence:
With the development of the economy, living standards improved.
To my eyes this looks unnatural; I would ...
5
votes
5answers
743 views
“Wake up Joe” or “Wake Joe up”?
Are they synonymous, or not?
Looking at wake up as a phrasal verb it seems that the more correct way is "I will wake up Joe" rather than "I will wake Joe up", but the second rolls better off my ...
1
vote
1answer
72 views
Syntax tree of a sentence
How would you draw the syntax tree of the sentence below?
She arrived at quarter past two
My doubts are especially about at quarter past two.
1
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3answers
4k views
The correct syntax for “I/We remain” at the end of the letter
I want to sign off a letter with the following:
Letter text.
We remain,
Sincerely yours,
Mr Person
Head of Accounting
Is this correct usage? Isn’t this like having 2 ...
37
votes
11answers
1k views
Central Pennsylvanian English speakers: what are the limitations on the “needs washed” construction?
In the Central Pennsylvania dialect of English (and possibly elsewhere), the following construction is possible:
This car needs washed. (=needs to be washed)
The room needs cleaned. (=needs ...
1
vote
2answers
58 views
Can a dependent clause undergo inversion in English?
The grammars I've seen state that dependent clauses never undergo inversion. This agrees with sentences like
Tell me where he is.
But how sentences like
Tell me, where is he?
should be ...
5
votes
1answer
870 views
Symbol, punctuation, or abbreviation that indicates a “paraphrase”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the proper use of [square brackets] in quotes?
This question is born of practical necessity - one that I encountered while quoting a reference in "another" Stack ...
11
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4answers
519 views
How much not better than average is enough?
This is adapted from a silly conversation I had about a baseball player. It set me wondering how to describe this sort of wordplay linguistically.
HIM: Do we leave Jay in center?
HER: He's ...
7
votes
3answers
284 views
Whoever had the lice, they're dead now
This sentence is from South Park. There was a lice problem in the school and the children demand that their teacher Mrs. Garrison tell them who exactly had the lice. She says that it's not important ...
7
votes
6answers
956 views
Using -ed vs. -ing in the “needs washed” construction
I'm from Central Pennsylvania, and apparently, we have a strange language construct in this area. I was recently talking about how "my car needs washed" to a friend from NJ, and she told me that my ...
0
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1answer
72 views
Who would say “letters of love” as opposed to “love letters”?
From what part of the world would a person refer to love letters as letters of love?
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1answer
99 views
Need we use “sums” in sentences whenever they describe the sum of plural objects? [duplicate]
Need we use sums in the case that the sentence describes the sum of plural objects?
For example, “100 centimeters sums to one meter” versus “100 centimeters sum to one meter”.
They both seem make ...
22
votes
4answers
1k views
How do the rules of English inform understanding of one of our language's most disputed sentences?
Yes, historical context is important, but forget it for a moment. Taken at face value, what does the text mean?
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right ...
1
vote
2answers
737 views
Not so much as [something] as [something else]
Consider the sentence:
"She sees him not so much as her uncle as her friend."
Is this sentence correct? I feel something is missing, or perhaps I am disturbed by the extra 'as'. Compare with:
...
5
votes
4answers
6k views
Should an adverb go before or after a verb?
For example:
The word rarely turns up outside of those contexts.
The word turns up rarely outside of those contexts.
Which one is correct and why?
2
votes
1answer
142 views
Non verbal predicates in English
Is a non-verbal predicate a synonymous term for "nominal predicate"? And moreover, do non-verbal predicates only appear with linking verbs or can also appear in other types of constructions?
I ...
3
votes
2answers
192 views
“to further assist [you]” — Split infinitive or fixed VP?
From a descriptive standpoint (and the problem that English has at least two words in an infinitive), I understand why the split infinitive is becoming more acceptable, but is there any other excuse ...
2
votes
3answers
136 views
should one invert syntax for the verb “do” in a comparison?
Which sounds better:
When Canadians do initiate conversations, they tend to be more reserved than Americans do.
When Canadians do initiate conversations, they tend to be more reserved than do ...
0
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3answers
97 views
“Recommend considering upgrading” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“I have been keeping ignoring you.”
The following sentence sounds odd to me, however I cannot think of any rules that would make its syntax incorrect:
"I would ...
0
votes
1answer
700 views
If “latter” comes first, and “former” comes second, what comes third? Or fourth? [closed]
If we had an hour long discussion, and discussed 5 topics: A, B, C, D and E in order, to the extent that we are talking about "E" right now, if "D" is the latter, and "C" is the former, what is "B" to ...
0
votes
2answers
231 views
Antecedents of indefinite pronouns
Consider the sentence, "Most of the apples are fresh." Is it incorrect to say that apples is the antecedent of the indefinite pronoun most?
13
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9answers
814 views
What rules make “Remember me, who am your friend” grammatical?
An acquaintance recalled this specific example from an English textbook, but it is jarring to my native ear. Is this an example of prescriptive grammarians gone wild?
7
votes
2answers
299 views
Longer than a word — smaller than a sentence
What would you call a linguistic construct that is just big enough to convey a meaning within a context, longer than a word but not having the length and proper form of a complete sentence? Like, for ...
19
votes
5answers
2k views
Is there some rule against ending a sentence with the contraction “it's”?
I heard this lyric in a song the other day and it just sounded so wrong that I assumed it must be incorrect grammar, but I can't find any specific prohibition that applies.
That's what it's.
...
3
votes
4answers
214 views
Analysing clause elements and their function
I have a problem analysing this sentence from the point of finite/nonfinite clauses, clause elements and their functions:
He does not want to destroy his parents' dream of him achieving a ...
1
vote
3answers
292 views
Use of prepositions in strings of conjunctions
When one wants to list various cases/classes/categories/types of objects in a string of conjunctions, is it preferable (or even mandatory) to keep on using (the same) preposition in front of each one ...
1
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7answers
864 views
What is the difference between “I earn $500 each month” and “I earn $500 per month”?
What is the difference between these two sentences?
I earn $500 each month
I earn $500 per month
1
vote
1answer
98 views
Is this 'as' a conjunction?
I guess ‘as’ is a conjunction. If then, is as-clause an adjective clause that modifies ‘Muggle money’?
There was a train to London in five minutes' time. Hagrid, who didn't understand 'Muggle ...
3
votes
2answers
273 views
Irregular plurals. Leathermans or Leathermen?
Which plural do you use for a word that should have a regular plural but ends with a word that has its own irregular one? The example that made me ask was "leatherman" (the multitool) but there are ...
1
vote
2answers
164 views
Is this the structure of verb + object + adverbial phrase? [closed]
In ‘point new Gryffindors in the right direction ‘, is this the structure of verb + indirect object + direct object, or verb + object + adverbial phrase? As a Korean, I’m easier to accept the former ...
3
votes
3answers
179 views
Sentence with two not-so-related parts
Quite a lot of articles in Wikipedia, especially about people, have sentences like this one:
Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first ...
1
vote
2answers
756 views
Are the tense and syntax in this sentence correct? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Future tense usage: “When you see it …”
When he will arrive, he will call you.
Please let me know if the tense and syntax in this sentence are ...
0
votes
1answer
99 views
Is this an absolute phrase?
In the following example, is more full picture a kind of absolute phrase?
He has given us a lot, more full picture of dinosaurs of the East Coast.
5
votes
1answer
75 views
When to put a verb ahead of its doer?
I have read this at the Science.com, and it's in the second line of the last paragraph.
A bow and arrow or an atlatl allows users to attack prey—and enemies—from a safer
distance than does an ...
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votes
1answer
92 views
Is 'their way' having the function of adverbial phrase?
It was a nice feeling, sitting there with Ron, eating their way through all Harry’s pasties, cakes, and candies (the sandwiches lay forgotten).
In this sentence, what's the meaning of 'their ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Is there a term for using a word twice in a row, but in a grammatically-appropriate way?
For example: "I could tell he had had a great time at the circus."
If you're not repeating the word for emphasis, is there a term for the sequential usage, other than "coincidence"?
2
votes
1answer
351 views
Proper usage/origin of the generic phrase “[action phrase] does not a [noun] make” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Why is “xxxx doth not a yyyy make” considered valid English?
I occasionally come across a sentence formulated in a manner similar to the following:
...
5
votes
5answers
466 views
What is going on in this sentence?
I was helping my brother study for the SAT, and we came across this sentence:
While it was different from all the other classes he had taken, Eric was unhappy with his psychology class.
The ...
0
votes
1answer
767 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 ...
2
votes
2answers
281 views
Reason for Subject-Verb Inversion: Only in cases where A is B, shall the Company do X [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Sentences using: [something] + have + they
subject-auxiliary inversions not associated with questions
In the following, why does subject-verb inversion occur? Is it ...
2
votes
0answers
217 views
Syntax, contrastive analysis [closed]
Could anyone help me with this question? What are the main types of contrast involved in contrastive analysis of syntax? Give examples.
I tried to find answer, but unfortunately I find nothing.
1
vote
1answer
195 views
What's the difference between - and — in a phrase? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When should I use an em-dash, an en-dash, and a hyphen?
When do I put a - in a sentence? Is it a more powerful comma? With a bigger pause?
-2
votes
2answers
319 views
“What is that?” vs “What is it?” [closed]
When describing my product (actually a computer system) in a presentation, what way is best (most understandable or natural) for writing the heading of the introductory slide, where “XYZ” stands for ...
2
votes
0answers
258 views
Why do BBC News use so many 'quotes' in headlines [closed]
I have noticed a that the BBC News website seems to use quotes in their headlines in places where I can see no reason to do so. Take the following story:
Julius Malema: South Africa issues 'arrest ...
3
votes
6answers
2k views
Russian speakers and “I feel myself to be …”
I was told that it is a typical mistake for Russian speakers to say I feel myself badly instead of I feel ill.
I wonder to what extent such constructs sound wrong to native speakers?
I feel ...
1
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3answers
1k views
The Coordination/Conjunction Constituency Test
We've been covering constituency tests in my syntax class and whenever it comes to doing the Coordination (also know as conjunction) test, it isn't making sense to me. I'm just not sure how it proves ...
0
votes
3answers
303 views
What type of clause is this?
Can anyone say what type of clause this is — noun, adjective or adverbial?
I am glad that you have passed the test.
Some people say that it is a noun clause. But I am not sure.
What is the ...
5
votes
2answers
432 views
Is “choose from one of four options” wrong?
I need backup in pressing my case that the phrase “choose from one of four options” is grammatically incorrect. Is there some resource that can prove my case, that the incorrect phrase should be ...
2
votes
1answer
468 views
Adverb position in perfect tenses [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Are there any rules on the positioning adverbs should take in a sentence?
My question concerns the adverb position in perfect tenses. For example look at these ...
