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 ...
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1answer
26 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 ...
1
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3answers
27 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. ...
3
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1answer
39 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
64 views
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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0answers
14 views
Using a hypothetical as a noun phrase
What is the grammatical break down of sentences such as "He looks like if John had no hair."?
"if John had no hair" would have to be a noun phrase, but it doesn't function as a one by itself, only ...
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0answers
12 views
State verb in present continous
I would like to ask is it possible to use verb advise in present continous? Because I think it is state verb, isn't it?
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2answers
50 views
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 ...
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0answers
16 views
Use having in past tense
Is the following sentence correct
"I definitely would have had some job. And I think it would have been having a decent one"
basically I want to say that looking back if I had chosen some other path ...
1
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1answer
12 views
Defining and Non defining Relative clauses
Is the following sentence a define or not defining relative clause. Since, when we remove the part enclosed in commas, the remaining part doesn't make sense, I think it is a defining relative clause ...
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2answers
45 views
Alternative to “less good at” [closed]
Is there an alternative, yet polite way of saying:
"For those less good at English"
I know it's technically correct but it doesn't sound right to me. The context is that we are offering a service ...
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votes
3answers
41 views
Pronoun: what does it refer to here?
In the following sentence, what does the pronoun it refer to?
A differs from B in that it is....
I read before that a pronoun refers to the closest name (B in that sentence); however, here it ...
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0answers
10 views
Will vs going to [duplicate]
I want to say the feeling of missing to my friend but i'm confused to say,i will miss you or i'm going to miss you
13
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1answer
2k views
He discovered that his father had a special box in the basement
He discovered that his father had a special box in the basement
I was told that I should not use "that" in the above sentence although it is grammatically correct to use it. Why I shouldn't use "that"...
1
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0answers
26 views
parts of speech of a word in a sentence
What is the part of speech of before in the following:
Long before anyone coined the term sci-fi?
I am wondering whether it is an adjective, an adverb, or a preposition?
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0answers
71 views
Using 'by + -ing' form in a sentence and it's difference without 'by'
I've come across several (scientific mostly) literature where the use of by+-ing was present.
However, every time I do, I just get the feeling that is redundant. (I actually once thought that it was ...
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0answers
332 views
Neither will I. / I won't, either. What is the difference?
If you hear the following conversation between A and B,
which line would you say, B1 or B2?
What is the difference?
What is the point of learning inversion as is used in line B1?
Thank you!
A) "I ...
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2answers
51 views
Is “Provincial Centre for Public Administration Services” correct phrase?
My little province in Vietnam has just established a center, which is meant to be a central place for all services provided by the local government that the provincial citizens can come and deal with ...
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0answers
46 views
Cohesion in English writing using antonyms
Can someone help me to understand how antonyms can be used effectively to achieve cohesion in English writing along with some simple examples? I have tried to search the relevant information a lot on ...
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2answers
486 views
of the highest quality vs high quality
Which sentence makes the most sense:
...produce the most sophisticated tool and of the highest quality to perform the job
or
...produce the most sophisticated and high quality tool to perform ...
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0answers
17 views
Omission of repeated components in the sentence
Is it correct to say:
"The A ratio is increased by 20%, and B ratio by 30%"?
I feel the omission grammatically correct and more natural in:
"The A ratio has increased by 20% and B ratio by 30%,"...
1
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0answers
37 views
What is the phrase called when a noun is either given an article or doesn't need one? [closed]
As I understand it, there are singular nouns such as cat and spaceship that need to be preceded with some kind of specifier like an article (a, an, the) or a possessive word (my, Jane's, etc.) or the ...
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votes
1answer
50 views
is “all” implied in a list?
If I have a list that begins with:
"Cars He Wants to Buy"
Is it implied that that list contains ALL the cars he wants to buy? Or is it implied that it is just some?
My thought was that an "all" is ...
2
votes
2answers
263 views
Why do we say “eat healthy” instead of “eat healthily”? [duplicate]
Why do we say "eat healthy" instead of "eat healthily", even though the latter is the only "correct" one, according to the comments in
"eat healthy" or "eat healthily"
What ...
1
vote
4answers
137 views
I am looking for a word that can be used to describe a person who can switch bodies with another human
Not to be confused with a person who can morph themselves into someone else or a creature by will, but someone who has an ability to body swap - without necessarily having control over it. I am ...
1
vote
2answers
48 views
When describing an action by two persons is it ever correct to name oneself first? [duplicate]
When describing an action by two persons and that action has a negative outcome or nature, is it correct to name oneself first? As in I and he played poorly.
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2answers
57 views
“you is” in place of “you are” [closed]
Recently I listened to this song "You is smart, you is important ..."
This is the link for this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H50llsHm3k
Can I say "you is" in place of "you are"?
Thanks ...
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1answer
105 views
Harry Potter grammar question
In the book Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 2, page 14, last paragrapgh appears 2 sentences like this, "They lets Dobby get on with it" and "Sometimes they reminds me to do extra ...
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1answer
43 views
Difference between “as” and “like”
Can anyone please tell me what the difference between as and like in the following sentence is. And which one is correct?
Here's the example:
None of the other students helped the old man across the ...
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0answers
14 views
Proper wording for health assistance
Is the following correct?
Psychological counselling, as well as support from a health assistance team during recovery.
We are unable to use the phrase medical assistance team.
1
vote
1answer
79 views
Multi-colorful or multi-colored? [closed]
Is multi-colorful a word? Or is the correct word multi-colored?
0
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1answer
273 views
“no one” vs “no one else”
Can anyone please tell me if I should use no one or no one else in the following sentence?
Here is the example:
John is a very good friend of mine. No one (else) likes me more than he does.
I think ...
0
votes
0answers
28 views
Different tenses in paragraph writing [duplicate]
I am trying to write a paragraph about Mahatma Gandhi Who died in 1948. Can you please tell me which tense I should choose?
My problem is that I can't decide present or past which tense I should ...
1
vote
1answer
67 views
The usage of “…that one might assume” [closed]
I have a question about the following sentence. In the (A) option, I'm aware that's a classical "as .... as you assume". But my main confusion is that (B) option seems really legit to me gramatically. ...
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2answers
93 views
Would a drinking straw, made out of natural straw, be called a 'straw straw'?
Significant efforts are afoot to reduce plastic waste and one way of doing so is to revert to using natural straws as drinking straws.
This example uses wheat straws but it doesn't matter which plant ...
1
vote
2answers
40 views
Term for noun phrase containing contrasting things
For a sentence along the lines of "There were celebrations and not-so-celebrations among the people." what would the correct term for a this phrase? I thought it may be a comparison or something along ...
3
votes
1answer
87 views
Are people now “watching a lot of phone”?
It used to be said of some people that they "watched a lot of television". In those days there was nothing else to watch, in that kind of way.
But how do I describe what is being done today ?
Are ...
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0answers
484 views
Tense in newspaper reporting
I have a grammar question. I have seen that in news paper reporting writers almost always use "past tense". Can you please tell me why?
Silliguri, November 15 : Another Mig fighter plane of the ...
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1answer
512 views
Is letting someone know you'll provide details “to follow” correct? [closed]
I was told it is incorrect to send a meeting invite and note "agenda to follow"
I cannot find any grammatically info on whether this is incorrect. Is it because I have to say "Agenda to follow shortly"...
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0answers
9 views
Usage of “any” regarding singular and plural nouns [duplicate]
Which of the following sentences is correct? Can anyone please tell me whether I should use Singular or plural nouns after "any" in the following context?
1- If any car is parked in the road, it will ...
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votes
1answer
366 views
Preposition At + Place and/or At + The + Place
I know that I can use this structure:
I AM + AT + THE + NAME OF THE PLACE + TYPE OF PLACE
For instance, I can say:
I'm at the Empire State Building
I'm at the Hilton Hotel
...
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0answers
34 views
Phrase type - considerably more humble than this
I'm preparing for my exams, and I found an example that I cant figure out. The task is to find the head of the phrase: "considerably more humble than this", and determine it's type.
Meaning is ...
0
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0answers
93 views
Can the word “vernacular” be used as a way to describe a visual scene set in everyday life?
Can the word "vernacular" be used as a way to describe a visual scene set in everyday life? For example: Thomas is a photographer best known for his fine art series of nostalgic Star Wars scenes set ...
0
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1answer
27 views
Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong
What is "to" doing there in front of "choose"? It's part of West Point's Cadet Prayer.
2
votes
1answer
46 views
Is the verb “went” necessary? [closed]
I wrote the following sentence at Wikipedia concerning Bob Wian who later founded the Big Boy restaurant chain:
His father's furniture business bankrupt, Wian washed dishes in the school cafeteria ...
9
votes
6answers
2k views
Word to describe an absorbing activity which causes one to fail to notice the passage of large amounts of time
The phrase, "Time flies when you're having fun," is often used when one has become absorbed in an activity and lost track of time. I'm looking for a word to describe something that has a tendency to ...
0
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2answers
743 views
Why does “no problems” go with plural verb? [closed]
It is a general rule in English that singular verb goes with singular noun.
However, I find it strange when in certain clauses like "there were no problems", the verb is plural.
In this case, does "...
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2answers
3k views
Is using a comma after 'or rather' necessary?
Is using a comma after 'or rather' necessary?
The sentence would be: "So begins the most intriguingly opening book I’ve ever read. Or rather, the only book that was gripping from the very start."
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2answers
304 views
Which one of the following sentences is correct? (scrambled text question) [closed]
Which one of the following sentences is correct?
a. I drive to german used an old blue car.
b. I drive an used old blue car to german.
c. I used an old blue car drive to german.
My English ...
0
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1answer
142 views
Meaning of “Twice Upon a Time” and its usage in a sentence
This is my first question on english.stackexchange.com/questions/ask. Could anyone tell me the meaning of "Twice Upon a Time"? It's the title of Doctor Who's Christmas special episode, the last of ...
1
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0answers
1k views
Difference between “after” and “since”
I have a question related to the usage of "Since" and "after". Actually I found these three sentences on news articles. And I have seen a large number results both in "news" and "Ngrams". Are all ...
