Questions tagged [descriptive-grammar]
Descriptive grammar is a set of rules about language based on how it is actually used. In descriptive grammar there is no right or wrong language. It can be contrasted with prescriptive grammar, which is a set of rules based on how people, mostly writers of style books and grammar text books, think language should be used. See https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/descriptive-grammar .
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Using commas in description of the speaking person and his sentence
The problem I am struggling with is; should I put a comma after the 'she sighed' when I am describing HOW the person said something or reacted. I wanted to avoid number 3 unless it's the only correct ...
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2answers
124 views
Can “in order to keep” be used in place of “allowing”?
A quote from a Wikipedia article is as follows:
An alternative approach commonly used in spacecraft is to divert surplus PV power into a resistive load, allowing the panel to operate continuously ...
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2answers
87 views
Is there a difference between “started to go” and “started going”? [duplicate]
Is there a meaning difference between started to go and started going in this example sentence?
"...", he said and started to go/going away.
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1answer
44 views
Capitalizing the beginning of the expression we use in the middle of a sentence/using quotation mark for expression
Should we capitalize the beginning of the expression we use in the middle of a sentence? Shall we use quotation mark for expression?
Which one is correct regarding punctuation?
To conclude, as the ...
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20 views
do we say “analyze across or between gender”?
I am not sure whether to say "we are analyzing patterns across gender" or "between gender"
In this context, would we say between if there are 2 and across if there are more than 2?
Thank you.
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52 views
Can “either […] or […]” represent an inclusive “and”?
I'm revisiting an opinion by Supreme Court Justice Jackson. He set out three zones of the US president's authority. I wonder if I understand the underlying grammar correctly. My native language is ...
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1answer
511 views
“Thought on” vs. “Thought about” vs. “Thought of”
I googled the exact phrase "He thought on" in quotes and get back mostly quotes from the Bible or old texts.
Does it sound antiquated to say, "He thought on his cat, how he would chase mice..." vs. "...
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1answer
104 views
Follow vs Follow after
Is the expression "follow after", e.g; "He followed after her", grammatically incorrect or an awkward phrasing?
I use the phrase "follow after" to put an emphasis on the action, it also gives me a ...
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1answer
123 views
Using commas and pronouns correctly in “Not only because, but also” construct
Firstly, I know that there are plenty of questions concerning "not only, but also" construct on StackExchange. However, none of them could give me an explanation for what I am trying to figure out...
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1answer
2k views
In the next year vs. For the next year vs. Over the next year
I want to know the differences among these three:
In the next year
For the next year
Over the next year
Thanks in advance 😊
2
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1answer
318 views
“will be finally” or “will finally be”?
What I know is that adverbs are positioned between "be" verb and passive verb, but I can find many examples of both sentences:
"will be finally deleted" OR "will finally be deleted"?
"have ...
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2answers
119 views
Acclamation vs. acclaim as nouns: When to use one or the other?
Back when life was simpler, the words “acclamation” and “acclaim” behaved within precise heterogeneous bounds. The first acted publicly as a noun and the second as a verb. I was naive, oblivious to “...
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1answer
68 views
An English Descriptive Word for Two Words
I'm currently after a synonym for "middle-aged". However, I'm needing the word to be appropriate to describe a non-living thing.
Middle-aged is more or less associated with animals and humans, not ...
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1answer
63 views
Which of these sentences is grammatically correct? [closed]
Upon learning about the incident, the agency launched an internal investigation to accurately determine the impacted customers.
Upon learning the incident, the agency launched an internal ...
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1answer
83 views
if you would have told me to move I would have moved
I was standing I gave this answer this answer . is this a correct way
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2answers
53 views
Does “Verb to be” imply something?
This is.... blah blah. They shocked and angered, when the people sought to deprive them.
compare to this
This is.... blah blah. They are shocked and angered, when the people sought to deprive them....
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1answer
88 views
Using the plural form of proprietary for software
I came across this sentence in an article.
There is a balance of proprietary and open sources in the market.
Should it be either of the following instead?
There is a balance of ...
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1answer
46 views
Meaning of sentence in Frankenstein
In Frankenstein, Chapter 15
I cherished hope, it is true, but it vanished when I beheld my person reflected in water or my shadow in the moonshine, even as that frail
image and that inconstant ...
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1answer
72 views
In spoken language, if a name is used to substitute the pronoun I, which is the correct verb to use as the first person?
For example I am Aunt Jalene talking to a kid.
Instead of saying
I try to cook
I said
Aunt Jalene (I as the first person) tries/try to cook.
Should it be try or tries?
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2answers
61 views
Transform or Transforms?
Is this sentence grammatically correct?
"It can melt away anger and transforms your bad mood into a good mood."
I am confused between transform and transforms.
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1answer
102 views
Which preposition is correct with “settling”? The complete sentence is given below
This is the complete question which I came across during a competitive exam.
Eager to control the South Atlantic, the British Navy had tasked Admiral Byron ________ (with/for) settling an island off ...
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1answer
553 views
Right a wrong & wrong a right [closed]
You can say "right a wrong" & "righting wrongs"
But can you say "wrong a right or "wronging rights"
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1answer
210 views
Might be OR Might have been [closed]
The sentence:
Had the doctor been more careful, my cousin might still have been alive.
In this construction, the two fragments of the sentence are more parallel with their use of been. Had he ...
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4answers
685 views
what does a native speaker say when he wanted to leave his work? [closed]
If someone, who is a medical doctor says that he's leaving his current company, I mean the hospital that he works for, is that something that a native speaker would say?
I'm leaving my hospital?
What ...
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0answers
24 views
Addressing two cities in the same country
Should I use "In 1347, the port cities of Messina and Genoa, Italy..." or "In 1347, the port cities of Messina, Italy and Genoa, Italy..."? just want to know if one is grammatically incorrect.
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1answer
51 views
Grammar of past events
How is it grammatically correct to say "Did you hear what I just said?"?. Is it also possible to say something as "Did you hear what i say?"?. I mean, that direct following the past simple grammar ...
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1answer
112 views
Conjunctions, coordinators
I really know that for the levels of studying English language, we had always said that "for" is a coordinator. However, I would like to know what for serves in this sentence
For God so loved the ...
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2answers
67 views
Explain the difference between the following 2 sentences [closed]
They always eat in front of the TV in the living room.
They're always eating in front of the TV in the living room.
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4answers
119 views
Earliest I've been to work
I am supposed to clock in at 8 am every day to work. I was late today, just like every day, but today I was only late by 5 minutes, less than every other time. Is saying "earliest I've been to work" ...
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1answer
34 views
Which is correct work or worked?
Which sentence is correct:
It would be a good idea if you work hard.
It would be a good idea if you worked hard.
Thanks in advance for help
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0answers
33 views
Gendered nouns without real gender - examples and origins? [duplicate]
Why is it Mother Earth and not Father Earth?
Why is a ship a she and not a he?
Can you give more examples of similar phenomena?
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1answer
32 views
Finites in a conditional sentence
In the sentence below. How many finites are there?
'Interviewers ask respondents if they have been the victim of a crime in the past 12 months; if they have, respondents provide information about ...
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1answer
25 views
I named my company Higher Standard Service, is this proper english? [closed]
So i named my company Higher Standard Service because our company motto is to provide a higher standard "of" service. I want to be sure that by leaving out the "of" in the company name i don not sound ...
2
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3answers
92 views
Since 'few' is used for countable nouns and 'less' is for uncountable nouns
Since 'few' is used for countable things and 'Less' is for uncountable things then why do we say;
I have less than 2 days/months/years.
?
Yes, time is an uncountable concept but we sure can count ...
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3answers
324 views
Learning to end sentences with “hence”. Examples?
I dabble in creative writing here and there. Wordsmiths like Tolkien and Lovecraft are a pleasure to read for their sheer skill in sentence structure and plethora of words.
I'm now attempting to ...
2
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1answer
73 views
Avoiding use of double negatives
I teach an ESL Class for Spanish speakers. I've taught them the rules regarding "double negatives". Today, I had them translate the Spanish equivalent of "It isn't that he doesn't understand me." ...
2
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1answer
228 views
how to attribute a singular property to a plural noun?
Please consider the following examples:
The size/sizes of the planets is/are written here.
The door/doors of a 100 houses is/are 100Kg.
Men's nose/noses is/are bigger than that/those of women.
Which ...
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2answers
105 views
Is “The cat paws in the water to get the fish” a grammatically correct sentence? [closed]
Is this sentence, "The cat paws in the water to get the fish" grammatically correct?
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0answers
45 views
How can I describe a conjunction that ends a sentence (so, and, or, but …)?
Recently I (American English speaker / academic / raised in Appalachian and Southern dialect household) noticed myself falling into a conversational pattern with coworkers where I would end a spoken ...
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1answer
31 views
Clarity on the definition of the word “predict” [closed]
When someone says "I look forward to your predictable path" and "please continue down your very tired and predictable path" and "your arguments are right out of a playbook", what's the meaning of '...
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1answer
31 views
Type of usage in these examples? Clauses/fragments
Peter senses his father's danger and tries to reach him,
but is forced to watch helplessley as his father is driven away.
Her father struggles with complex emotions about the child he raised as his ...
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0answers
120 views
“fresh and relaxed”
I have to identify the syntax used in these two sentences and explain.
A. After a short vacation in Japan, Mr Chang appeared in my office, fresh and relaxed.
B. After a short vacation in Japan, Mr ...
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2answers
46 views
Degrees of comparison - “is the” vs. “is more”
Can we say "John is the stiffest of Rachel and Mark.",
OR
"John is more stiffer than Rachel and Mark."?
Which one is better?
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2answers
82 views
How do we grammatically describe 'thing'
There's a thing I'd like to ask, it's something you might know.
When we say "bring me that thing over there" or "it's with my things", how do we grammatically classify this use of thing in English? ...
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2answers
4k views
Take an umbrella in case it may rain?
Take an umbrella in case it may rain. can anybody tell me why this statement was wrong?
and the right one is
Take an umbrella in case it rains.
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1answer
68 views
What do you call someone who is ungrateful, only sees things negatively and never acknowledges you
I am a team player and like to contribute.
When asked to take on a task. I always say yes and I never get a thank you. He never provides all the details to what he wants and then asks why I didn’t ...
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3answers
74 views
“Some of the [superlative adjective] I've ever been” — another way to phrase this?
I can't seem to find a non-awkward way of expressing this sort of sentiment: suppose you want to tell a friend about some time you were really, really cold, but it wasn't the coldest you've ever been. ...
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1answer
46 views
Is there a term for using “or” to introduce something like an appositive?
Recently someone was trying to explain to me that "or" can have a non-disjunctive function, and this came to mind as a possible example but I can't figure out the terminology to describe it. I know ...
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1answer
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In a world of descriptivist dictionaries, how is linguistic relativism avoided in discussions?
“If you wish to converse with me, define your terms.”
—Voltaire
During discussions and debates, especially those of a more academic or technical nature, it is important to establish agreed upon ...
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2answers
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We are a group of people who/which/that..?
Which of these three is correct?
We are a group of people who meet..
We are a group of people which meets..
We are a group of people that meets..
This is different from the case when "People" is the ...
