Tagged Questions
7
votes
3answers
243 views
“Have” vs. “Is” + Verb
The phrases have expired and is expired are in practice more or less identical. Formally, of course, they are different in that the former uses expired as a verb with have as its auxiliary, whereas ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
Don't remember vs. can't remember
Could you tell me which is proper in English:
I don't remember.
I can't remember.
And if both are possible and good English, what is the difference?
3
votes
3answers
146 views
Usage of “do” in “why do I want to do something”
Phrase:
Maybe you'll ask why do I want to lift my keyboard off my desk.
Question:
Microsoft Word says that I should remove the "do". Why is that? I think the "do" should stay there.
5
votes
4answers
1k views
Differences between Verb + to be + adjectives and Verb + adjective
If you have a more illustrative title, feel free to change it. I searched but I couldn't find one.
This may be an easy and trivial question; if so, I am sorry.
What are the differences between ...
20
votes
7answers
3k views
Is “must” ever grammatical as a past tense verb?
I have seen uses of must that appear to be in the simple past tense. Sometimes these seem grammatical, but sometimes not. Examples that help illustrate my confusion:
He knew he must go to New York ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
Is it considered proper English to say “You best be…” or “You'd best…”?
Often, I hear people say something like this:
You best be going.
Or:
You'd best sweep the floor before you leave.
Essentially, you'd best/you best be just means you should. Is it ...
7
votes
2answers
430 views
“I need it to lift 2 tons this time.” “I don't know if it *could* do.” Why do some people use “do” like this?
Sometimes, instead of saying "could/can" or "would/will" (the two most common I've heard), some people say "could/can do" or "would/will do".
Instead of:
I don't know if it can.
I sometimes ...
0
votes
3answers
334 views
Seconds has/have passed
Which is proper?
The method will be fired after the specified duration of seconds has passed.
OR
The method will be fired after the specified duration of seconds have passed.
2
votes
3answers
2k views
What's the difference between be verbs and auxiliary verbs?
I assume all be verbs are auxiliary verbs; is this correct?
5
votes
3answers
2k views
needn't = don't need to?
Are these two sentences equivalent?
You needn't pay at once.
You don't need to pay at once.
If yes, which one would you recommend? Is it an US/GB thing?
2
votes
2answers
406 views
“How can X be” vs. “how does X can be”
I have a Spanish friend, who wrote the following sentence:
"How does foo, bar, baz can be compared?"
I corrected it to read:
"How can foo, bar, baz be compared?"
Other than the obvious, he ...
2
votes
3answers
851 views
Correct usage of the verb “do”
Is it correct to use the word "do" twice in a row? For instance; "I do do that" or would you say "I do that"? "You do do that" or "You do that"?
Which is correct, or are they both correct?
6
votes
6answers
4k views
“I'm done” or “I've done”
When someone asks whether you have completed a task e.g. shopping, dinner. What should be your answer?
I am done.
or
I have done.
To me, the former sentence's formation, Sub + VBe+ Past ...
5
votes
2answers
447 views
When can “have” be used without “got”?
I read this article and now I'm confused when got can be omitted when using have.
Could this be explained in plain English without technical terms?
Is there a different usage in past tense?
13
votes
2answers
1k views
“did shoot” vs “shot”
This morning I read this sentence (see story):
On July 24th and again on July 29th,
Egyptian police did shoot dead unarmed
African migrants attempting to cross
that border.
Why "did shoot" ...
