Questions tagged [verbs]
This tag is for questions about verbs. Verbs are words that express an action, occurrence, or a state of being. Add this tag to single-word-requests if you are looking for a verb. Add the tag word-usage if you are asking about the usage of the verb.
250
questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
4
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2
answers
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Similar vs Similarly to
This is related to the following questions, 1, 2.
In many papers in mathematics, I often see the following constructions.
Similar to [1], we have that 2+ax = 3y.
Similar to Equation 2.3, we note that ...
3
votes
0
answers
321
views
Research on Verbs that Require/Prohibit Reflexive Pronoun
In Huddleston & Pullum (2002, p. 1483-1499), there are a significant number of rules on how to use the reflexive pronoun in English, especially the verb domain reflexive, which mandates, allows, ...
3
votes
3
answers
178
views
The verb "mark" with events in time
The 19th century was marked by the abolition of slavery.
The 19th century marked the abolition of slavery.
Which is correct?
The meaning is that the abolition of slavery was an important event in the ...
3
votes
0
answers
417
views
Verbs with interchanged subject and object
For some verbs we can find another (not necessarily unique) verb which has the same meaning except that it corresponds the subject and the object in the opposite direction. For example, if I say “our ...
3
votes
2
answers
74
views
Comma before a moved verb
I can't seem to find a definitive answer for this, and my colleague and I are disagreeing on it:
Your next obsession, found.
Your next obsession found.
It was an advertisement, as in something like ...
3
votes
2
answers
230
views
What is the proper tense for "listen" in this sentence?
I am trying to describe the following:
I listen to a particular podcast. By this I mean that I regularly listen to the podcast when episodes come out.
There was a guest on a particular episode of ...
2
votes
0
answers
54
views
Why should the past simple tense be used in this case?
In the following sentences, the past simple tense is used after the present perfect tense. Both sentences are connected with each other:
I have been hit by a baseball bat in the past. It felt awful!
...
2
votes
0
answers
90
views
Passive voice with ditransitive verb, which is the patient?
If I were to make the following constructions, how would I label the parts of the sentence using passive voice terminology? Alice seems to be the agent in both these constructions, but which is the ...
2
votes
0
answers
625
views
Can I use a dash to replace a repeating verb?
In my language (Bulgarian) you can use a dash to replace a verb that you have already used in the same sentence. For example:
The distance from London to Paris is 500km, from Paris to Munich —
850km, ...
2
votes
0
answers
42
views
Why use "Team" while voting?
While I'm surfing the online forum and social media about Godzilla VS Kong movie, I found lots of people said Team Godzilla & Team Kong to mean Support Godzilla & Support Kong.
I want to know ...
2
votes
0
answers
4k
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Difference between "come by" and "come to my office"
What is the difference between come by and come to with a destination?
Come by my office
Come to my office
Such a phrase might be used by a lecturer:
If you want my help, please come by (or to) my ...
2
votes
1
answer
67
views
Hear it used this way? - Complement or Modifier
While writing the following sentence I was curious whether the sentence was correct. But after checking COCA, I came to now that similar expressions are in use. The sentence I wrote is:
Have you ...
2
votes
0
answers
44
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case when "both ... and ..." is used with the single form of the verb
proofreadnow.com:
If the subject consists of two or more words that are connected by "and" or by "both...and", the subject is plural and requires a plural verb.
forum.wordreference.com:
What is ...
2
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Lead somewhere vs lead to somewhere
On one of the pages of "Oxford Word Skills", lead is used without any kind of preposition:
"A passage is a long, narrow way with walls on both sides that leads
somewhere..."
On the same page, it ...
2
votes
0
answers
116
views
When did the South start using the +es third person, present tense verb inflection in Middle English?
In Middle English the Northern speakers started using the +es inflection whilst the South continued to use the Old English form +eð/+eth. When did the South finally catch up with the North and use the ...
2
votes
0
answers
1k
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Are verbs "to run" as in "to run a business" and "to run" as in "to run a marathon" considered to be homonyms/homographs?
Or is there just a single verb "to run" that has different meanings and therefore it cannot be considered a homonym/homograph to itself?
2
votes
1
answer
10k
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Pre-booking vs booking?
I came across this work in my work, I am not sure which one to use for a screen menu in our application, "pre-booking" or "booking". This menu will allow users to book their work schedule in advance. ...
2
votes
0
answers
647
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Have vs Have been
If Jim had taken Sandra to a romantic film, she wouldn't have been
so frightened.
If I hadn't missed the train, I wouldn't have been late.
If she had known the address, she would have been able to ...
2
votes
0
answers
199
views
Antonym for "infix" ("outfix"?)
infix: implant or insert firmly in something, as in the particles of mercury will infix themselves in the structure of the other metal
How about the opposite? Is there something called outfix? I.e. ...
2
votes
0
answers
988
views
Ellipsis (Gapping) and Prepositions
A simple example of ellipsis is:
Peter likes to eat apples, and Mary oranges.
(Peter likes to eat apples, and Mary [likes to eat] oranges.)
Recently, I've been engaged in a debate about a ...
2
votes
3
answers
280
views
Tense to use with "has always been something that..."
I stumbled upon the following sentence on Huffington Post and noticed that it makes use of brings instead of brought.
Music has always been something that brings people together.
However, I also ...
2
votes
1
answer
814
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Verbs changing from gerund to infinitive
Some verbs such as advise, recommend, permit, allow, require, forbid are used in sentences either gerund or infinitive. For instance,
The plumber recommended buying a new water heater.
The plumber ...
2
votes
1
answer
234
views
Is the verb auxiliary in "I do"?
In the sentence "I do like mint ice cream" 'do' is an auxilliary verb. However, if you were responding with a "I do" in a wedding vows context, is 'do' auxilliary? It would be if you continued the ...
2
votes
1
answer
2k
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Tense when speaking of someone you knew in your past
Is it acceptable to use the past tense when talking about someone that is still alive but you no longer have any interaction with? "His name was Alex" I always correct myself and use present tense but ...
2
votes
1
answer
70
views
Verb forms in incomplete sentences (e.g. in phone settings)
I once had a discussion with some of my friends at school about something that is not really referred to by most grammar literature as it is about incomplete sentences/clauses. I'll give you some ...
1
vote
0
answers
30
views
Modifying a sentence object
In one study, for instance, bar codes were placed on bees, tracking their activities.
Is this correct? Or do we say...
In one study, for instance, bar codes were placed on bees to track their ...
1
vote
0
answers
136
views
Can verbs of perception have an adjective in the objective complement position?
I know as below.
[verbs of perception + object + bare infinitive / present participle / past participle]
But I found this sentence.
The note was heard loud.
Then can verbs of perception have an ...
1
vote
0
answers
276
views
Every cubic inch of air seems 'accounted' for: verb or adjective?
The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (Page 1440) has this subsection
Adjectival passives with the negative prefix un
We have noted that such examples as the following are unambiguously ...
1
vote
0
answers
56
views
What does 'attorney' mean in this passage from The Winter's Tale
In The Winter's Tale, it is written:
Cam. Sicilia cannot shew himselfe ouer-kind to Bohe-
mia: They were trayn'd together in their Child-hoods;
and there rooted betwixt them then such an affection,
...
1
vote
1
answer
82
views
Can "coincide" be use transitively?
The New York Times today has an unusual use of "coincide":
NYT
Looking at common-cold coronaviruses, some researchers have predicted that SARS-CoV-2 will become a seasonal winter infection ...
1
vote
1
answer
62
views
Can you omit the propositions "to", "as I", "as we" or "in order to" before a verb?
Here in Ghana, I've noticed a growing trend of people using phrases like:
"Come, join us celebrate the goodness of God."
or
"This is to enable GRIDco undertake the stringing of ...
1
vote
0
answers
61
views
Could "being" be omitted in "spend time (being) someone"?
I came across a sentence in Maugham's The Moon and Sixpence that I don't quite comprehend:
They may spend their whole lives aliens among their kindred, and remain aloof among the only scenes they ...
1
vote
0
answers
50
views
Word order in declarative statements
In these examples, why does the first sentence feel uncomfortable, compared to the second?
It's fascinating to use this camera to see how will be the back of my garden.
It's fascinating to use this ...
1
vote
0
answers
107
views
Use of ‘had’ in Indian English
Soon after she encountered the experience while proceeding to New Delhi, the Thoothukudi MP had tweeted, “Today at the airport a CISF officer asked me if I am an Indian, when I asked her to speak to ...
1
vote
0
answers
56
views
Irregular Verbs with Compound Predicates
Are both of these sentences acceptable?
We had manufactured it but gave it to someone else.
We had manufactured it but given it to someone else.
Is there a rule that says the past perfect must be ...
1
vote
0
answers
127
views
Infinitive Phrase or Verb Constituent
I refer to Doing Grammar by Max Morenberg as my default grammar reference.
Morenberg makes a distinction between infinitive phrases, which function as Noun Subjects & Objects (SC, NDO, etc), and ...
1
vote
0
answers
39
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I want to know about usage of 'make fun'
Here I want to mean that-- I enjoy(without mocking anyone).
Q.Then are these sentences correct?
I make fun.
I do fun.
I make it fun.
Q.Everywhere I see 'make fun of'. Can't I use 'make fun' without ...
1
vote
0
answers
922
views
The meaning of Let us not or Do not let us
As far as I know, the negatives of Let us are Let us not and Do not let us. And Let us has two different meaning: one is a suggestion and the other is an imperative. Then doesn't Let us not or Do not ...
1
vote
0
answers
44
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A word to say 'I work' but for leisure
I'm a Software Engineer and I like to spend my free time developing new software/ideas.
When people ask me what I've done this weekend, I typically reply 'I worked'.
'Work' is misleading here as it is ...
1
vote
0
answers
33
views
Should I use "meet" or "know" when referring to a fictional character?
My native language is Portuguese, but I can understand a lot of English, especially when reading or listening to something. However, sometimes, I get stuck on a few things when writing.
When referring ...
1
vote
0
answers
1k
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"There was/were my brother and two sisters?
"There was [or were?] my brother and two sisters, hugging and tears streaming."
I've come across a sentence while editing, and I don't know whether to use "was" or "were." The object of the "be"-verb ...
1
vote
0
answers
59
views
Using 2 verbs together
Can someone tell me if the sentences below are correct?
It allows you to bulk create sheets.
It allows you to bulk print sheets.
It allows you to bulk edit sheets.
When I write a sentence with "to ...
1
vote
0
answers
98
views
How to use / not use 'Always'?
Recently I was informed that 'Always' can be used with continuous verbs but only if it is used on situations with bad implications, such as teenagers are always causing trouble. But what about these ...
1
vote
0
answers
382
views
Word that means a "slow and painful transformation"
I'd like to describe a process of change that is both slow and painful for those involved using a verb or phrasal verb (heck, throw me an adjective if you have one, no complaints). Is there a word ...
1
vote
0
answers
41
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Subject Verb Agreement
In the email I received from IELTS notifying my results, I think the subject 'results' is not agreeing with the verb 'is' here. Can you please tell me if my understanding is correct.
The text I ...
1
vote
0
answers
90
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When do we use this construction? Auxiliary verb + subject + verb
I was trying to find some info about this construction but couldn't succeed, although I happen to encounter it here and there almost every day. So the construction is: auxiliary verb + subject + verb. ...
1
vote
0
answers
37
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Being sensitive vs To be sensitive
Being sensitive to others when taking part in a general discussion is a useful quality to have.
vs
To be sensitive to others when taking part in a general discussion is a useful quality to have.
I ...
1
vote
0
answers
393
views
cleft sentences with base form of the verb and infinitives
Are we supposed to use the base form of the verb in a cleft sentence or an infinitive? or a gerund? or maybe it's a matter of personal choice?
"What I really hate is _____ out."
a. go b. to go ...
1
vote
0
answers
368
views
Does "to tell apart" require "from" or "and"?
Which of the following sentences are incorrect and why? Is it okay to use "and" in these phrases? And should "apart" be moved to the end of the sentence?
How to tell apart a raven from a crow?
How to ...
1
vote
0
answers
40
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Using present perfect in recent past question?
The recent water crisis in Johannesburg ____ global attention.
A) gained
B) has gained
I think both of the answers are correct. Because it's talking about the recent past then has gained can be used....