Questions tagged [construction]
A construction is an established 'template' for combining words.
89
questions
13
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Usage of phrase like "The friend of mine"
Referring to a friend like: "the friend of mine" is a common way.
But what about referring to something else, like car, fork or plant i.e. the something of mine? Is there any restriction of using ...
user20
10
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Does the construction "should + of + past participle" exist?
There was someone on Facebook who commented like this:
Next time she should of flushed the toilet.
At first, I thought he had misspelled "should have", then I was thinking that it's not ...
- 4,980
10
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is the "the ... the ..." construction governed by some grammatical rule?
a) The more I study, the less I learn.
b) More I study, less I learn.
Could we rewrite the sentence shown under the letter a) in the form shown under the letter b) without breaking any grammatical ...
user114
7
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Does "The Vampire Diaries" mean "the diaries of the vampire"?
Not sure how many people have heard of the book series / television series by this name, but can somebody explain the grammar behind the name "The Vampire Diaries"? Does it mean "the ...
- 249
7
votes
1
answer
423
views
Why are lakes called "Lake Soandso" but seas are called "Soandso Sea"?
I am an English teacher for Brazilians. I was explaining the Great Lakes, and after that I mentioned the sea in Europe and noticed that the names were in a reversed order:
Which of the great lakes ...
- 71
5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
"Not only from [...] but also from [...]"
Students can acquire knowledge not only from educational institutions, but also from many other ways.
In the above sentence, is from following "but also" needed, or can it be removed as in the ...
- 2,506
5
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Strange structure of "is in a shambles"
When I said "is in a shambles", a native speaker of American English corrected me, saying it should be "is in shambles." And it makes sense, because in my case you have a (represents singularity), and ...
- 7,206
5
votes
1
answer
136
views
What is the name of this construction?
I've got an excerpt from a book here and I want to know what kind of grammatical construction this is:
He set off for the stairs with the others trailing after him.
I want to research it, but I ...
superfranky
5
votes
4
answers
3k
views
In what degree/to what degree
I was doing a chapter in my grammar and there I found the following sentences
This mango is very sweet
In this sentence, very shows in what degree the mango is sweet.
What my confusion is
We ...
user93387
5
votes
1
answer
9k
views
Did not! - Did too!
I often hear the "Did not! - Did too!" in TV series and films.
I know perfectly well what it means but why is it the word "too"?
As best as we know "too" stands instead of "indeed/so" and ...
- 24.9k
4
votes
1
answer
159
views
The pattern - be +adjective+ as + to verb
All these sentences have this pattern "be +adjective+ as + to verb"
I was told that these are correct:
1 How could you be so stupid as to think that would work?
2 My headache was not so bad ...
- 4,122
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Is 'also' necessary in "not only... but also..." structures?
The car not only is economical but also feels good to drive.
I identified with Rowan Atkinson not only as an actor but also as a person.
Yes, both sentences, as they stand, are perfectly acceptable ...
user114
4
votes
1
answer
732
views
for-if-construction
I don't understand the meaning of "For if" that I've found in different contexts:
For if I could see this radiance, might it not reach....
For if we don't find, The next little girl, I tell you we ...
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Is it correct to say "Data are transferred" [duplicate]
I am a bit confused. When multiple data (plural) transfer takes place, which would be the correct expression:
a. "data are transferred"
b. "data is transferred"
Or both expressions are correct?
...
- 31
3
votes
3
answers
153
views
"Services marketing" vs "marketing services"
I surfed the internet and found both terms, but I couldn’t figure out which one is more suitable in the following context:
Consider that company A persuades company C to buy some product from company ...
- 11.4k
3
votes
2
answers
98
views
Is "a 30 percent representation of either gender" correct?
If I'm putting together a work group, where at least 30 percent of the members should be female and at least 30 percent should be male, would it be correct to say
The group should have a 30 percent ...
- 1,702
2
votes
2
answers
482
views
Why does "get gerund" work with some verbs but not with all?
I have noticed that "get gerund" works with some verbs:
I have to get going.
I have to get working on it.
He got thinking about it.
These are not correct
He got cleaning the house.
He got ...
- 4,122
2
votes
1
answer
135
views
Is the expression 'the hours worked by employees' natural?
In the page of 'timekeeper' in thefreedictionary, one of the explanations goes as follows.
One who keeps records of the hours worked by employees.
The expression 'the hours worked by employees' ...
- 3,388
2
votes
2
answers
31k
views
It is worth trying vs it deserves a try
Let’s imagine two constructions:
It is worth trying, and
It deserves a try
Checking on google Ngram Viewer I found out that both are valid English.
In my language, there are no the exact equivalents ...
- 11.4k
2
votes
2
answers
7k
views
How to use the phase "as opposed to"? [closed]
As the title states, in what circumstance should i use "as opposed to"?
Can i use "vice versa" in some context instead?
- 21
2
votes
3
answers
3k
views
"I like to be loved" vs. "I like being loved"
I like to be loved.
I like being loved.
What is the difference between them?
- 2,587
2
votes
1
answer
68
views
The construction of "drink them gone"
The following is from the song "no can left behind":
How 'bout a 12-pack packed
Just between us
We're gonna drink 'em all
gone
Y'all this is some serious stuff
I am wondering about the ...
- 1,477
2
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Which is better: "tasked with doing" or "tasked to do"?
As the heading says: Which is the better alternative – tasked with doing or tasked to do? Or are they equally good, but used in different contexts? In that case, what's the difference between them?
...
- 506
2
votes
1
answer
87
views
Be revenged on someone
I don't understand this construction of revenge as a verb (example from google dictionary):
"I'll be revenged on the whole pack of you"
And also given in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary ...
2
votes
1
answer
593
views
ten dollars' worth of + something
Am I correct that this "10 dollars' worth of" works differently depending on what type of noun follows it:
I bought 10 dollars' worth of vases. - CORRECT (plural)
I bought 10 dollars' worth ...
- 4,122
2
votes
3
answers
2k
views
"I am safe" vs. "He is safe"
(A) I am safe.
(B) He is safe.
How do I distinguish the meanings above in sentences with the verb "to report"? For example:
"I reported him to be safe."
Who is safe?
- 39
1
vote
2
answers
979
views
"As for to" in comparison to "as for" or "as to"
I often ask myself: if the preposition can be placed before the verb and not after it, will the construction "as for to" be grammatically correct in comparison to "as for" or "as to"?
As for to where ...
- 24.9k
1
vote
2
answers
60
views
the + adjective + of + something
I've came across the sizzling of [something] and I've found out sizzling is an adjective. However, I can't understand the construction the [adj] of [sth]. All I know is the construction the [adj] as ...
- 43
1
vote
1
answer
27
views
Is this construction <go someone something that clause> grammatically permissible? [closed]
I'll go you three dollars that the horse is going to win the race.
I made this sentence myself.
My gut is telling me there's no problem in grammar and in this case "go" can be meant for "bet" or "...
- 2,516
1
vote
1
answer
1k
views
No sooner - than construction
No sooner had I spoken than I wished I kept my mouth shut.
How is it explained that "than" is used alone and without any other words and why "than" in the first place?
As a side question, how to use ...
- 24.9k
1
vote
4
answers
8k
views
Is there a word for "the state of deserving something", such, as, say, "deservance"?
Italian has a word called "merito", which describes the state which a person may attain in reaching a state of deserving something. Unfortunately, bilingual dictionaries tend to do a poor job of ...
1
vote
2
answers
222
views
I am wondering what"the simple cast off items" means
Take metal cans, for instance, and imagine them in any number of uses, functional or purely as an art form. Can your eyes and mind see the potential metal case, bird feeder, or other object in the ...
- 5,777
1
vote
1
answer
53
views
Is "ingratiate someone" idiomatic?
All major dictionaries provide the usage of the verb "ingratiate" as "ingratiate oneself with people". However, I just came across this line:
Since the outset of last season, Curry has cut down on ...
- 18.8k
1
vote
1
answer
27
views
How to provide technical as well as colloquial, or non-technical, adjective
How do I best insert a synonym for a technical adjective?
For example, in the title of the question,
How to provide technical as well as colloquial, or non-technical, adjective
I gave the ...
- 358
1
vote
1
answer
268
views
how to describe the three stages of before making policy, policy draft release and policy implementation?
I want to classify the process of creating a policy into three stages:
Step 1: public begins to talk about an agenda, which attracts the government's attention.
Step 2: the government releases a ...
- 11
1
vote
3
answers
1k
views
When to use infinitive and when to use present participle of a same word?
When to use infinitive and when to use present participle of a same word?
I like to play cricket.
To play cricket is fun.
I love playing cricket.
1
vote
3
answers
176
views
The use of "NP + for someone doing sth"
Peter Quill: She betrayed Ronan. He's coming back for her. And when he does, that's
when you... ( Quill makes a gesture of slicing his own throat )
Drax: Why would I put my finger on his throat?...
- 7,005
1
vote
0
answers
4k
views
“What is its name” vs “What is the name of it”
Let’s say a friend of mine is listening to a song, and I heard the song while he is listening to it; and I wonder what the song is called. Can I use these sentences interchangeably to ask him the name ...
- 1,214
0
votes
2
answers
90
views
Use of need in "He needed all the help he could get...)
Peter needed all the help he could get from James and Sirius.
This construction seems odd.
I usually hear "he got all the help he needed".
But here it is opposite.
What does it exactly mean?...
- 51
0
votes
5
answers
115
views
Why is "sally is a sandwich" grammatical? [closed]
I have this sentence:
the president thought that sally is a sandwich.
It's supposed to be grammatically correct.
But isn't that mean that this sentence is also grammatically correct:
sally is a ...
- 7
0
votes
2
answers
103
views
Is "It is necessary for them for me to be at the function tomorrow." correct?
It is necessary for them for Jake to be at the function tomorrow.
Is the above sentence correct if I want to say that "for them it is very important for Jake to be present at the function ...
- 141
0
votes
1
answer
35
views
Construction of clarifying phrases
I am wondering what is the most idiomatic way to add clarification after a sentence that might not be completely clear.
Does the second part of the following examples sound idiomatic or is there a ...
- 1,477
0
votes
1
answer
50
views
Is this construction valid "since what age is it allowed to do something"?
Is this construction correct?
Since what age is it allowed to drive?
Since what age was she allowed to work there?
- 4,122
0
votes
1
answer
37
views
Grammatical structure of this sentence
As with most things, what happens in the US winds its way over to the UK. Including, it turns out, racist tropes. In my day job as a writer on a national newspaper, I sat next to someone who would ...
- 3,421
0
votes
1
answer
18
views
Mentioning another negative action
I can speak English as well as Chris can. CLEAR.
What if we both can't?
I can't speak English as well as Chris can't. (wrong)
I can't speak English and neither can Chris. (maybe correct)
But I want ...
- 4,122
0
votes
1
answer
47
views
"In a surprised way" or "In wonder" or
I ran for her and put my hand on her shoulder and called Sarah (my wife's name), but immediately, I found out that I had mistaken another woman for my wife! When the woman turned around I said: "...
- 14.3k
0
votes
1
answer
21
views
Which of these?
I am going to share three responsibilities of our class monitor.
I am going to share the three responsibilities of our class monitor.
Which of the two above conveys a message that "there are ...
- 141
0
votes
3
answers
651
views
Used to have or had?
What is the difference between:
I didn't use to have a phone
AND
I didn't have a phone
Maybe the first option is not correct at all? I will be grateful for explanation :).
0
votes
1
answer
495
views
Negative tag-questions
I have a question regarding the question-tag. I hear that the negative question-tag can be made out of the following construction: helping verb + subject + not?
I have a meeting every day, don't I/...
- 181
0
votes
1
answer
1k
views
"4 hours each session" or "each session will last for 4 hours"
Which one is clearer and grammatically correct?
The course will commence on December 2 every Mondays and Wednesday, 4 hours each session, for 4 weeks
The course will be scheduled every Mondays ...
- 1