Questions tagged [grammaticality]

Grammaticality refers to whether something obeys the rules of English grammar.

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What is the grammatical name and function of 'who were cleaning windscreen'

My name is Moses A student A lover of English language
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The Usage of "Would"

"The mission control experts cannot tell if the space junk is going to hit the space station or not, but they are sure that a collision would knock a hole in the hull and cause all air inside it ...
Erkut Ünlü's user avatar
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2 answers
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Worth as a predicate adjective?

I saw the first time 'worth' acting as a predicate adjective here: I do it because it makes me happy. And I now know that I deserve happiness. I deserve love, rest and time for myself. Because I am ...
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"The Turnover Rent shall be the amount OF which 9% of the Sales Turnover exceeds the Basic Rent"

The Turnover Rent shall be the amount of [emphasis added] which 9% of the Sales Turnover exceeds the Basic Rent. This sentence (from a retail lease) feels wrong, because this similar sentence ...
user726n98e09t's user avatar
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2 answers
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Is it correct to say "If you're interested, which I'm sure you are..."?

For example, suppose I'm mailing someone a concert ticket if they are interested in going, and I'm sure they are interested, can I say If you're interested, which I'm sure you are, I can mail the ...
fdls2011's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
158 views

Why it should be 'estimated', instead of 'is estimated'?

The hurricane caused damage ......... at $300 million. What I have chosen: is estimated The answer should have been: estimated Is estimated adjective, what type of adjective, or what parts of speech ...
Han's user avatar
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What is the grammar of the conditional "If students are having difficulties..., early detection can help"?

I read an essay, and one of the sentences is like this. If students are having difficulties with basic skills like reading, writing and mathematics, early detection can help educators to remediate ...
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Omission of "in" in the sentence?

He announced that the mission would be implemented in all districts. Is it necessary to use in? Is the sentence still grammatically correct, when in is omitted?
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I don't understand use of "you" in "away support you were amazing"

Fun game, good performance from the boys and away support you were amazing. I saw this sentence on Son HeungMin's instagram. As far as I understand meaning of this sentence "good performance&...
B2n's user avatar
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Are both grammatically correct: "Our type of child…" OR "A child of our type…"

This is from a text on parenting the children with hyperactivity and attention deficiency disorders. Parenting "Our type of child may respond more positively to praise than negative feedback&...
yunus's user avatar
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Are "I like when" and "I like it when" both grammatically correct, and if so, are they synonymous?

Example: Why don't airlines like when one intentionally misses a flight to save money? Why don't airlines like it when one intentionally misses a flight to save money? Are they both grammatically ...
Franck Dernoncourt's user avatar
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Suffix -dom and -ness

Is there any difference between those suffixes (-dom and -ness) when both of them can be applied to a word? Example: richness (uncountable) The state or quality of being rich; wealthiness, wealth, ...
Learning English's user avatar
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Is "slightly ajar" a tautology?

I was reading the novel Verity, and I came across the phrase "slightly ajar door". I didn't know what ajar meant and I looked it up to find it means (of a door) slightly open. I wonder if &...
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Should I use "since" or "from" in sentence "they receive their religious education right since/from when they were kids"? [duplicate]

"They receive their religious education right from when they were kids" Should I use "since" instead of "from"? Should it be "when they are/were kids"? How can ...
mahisc94's user avatar
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3 answers
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Why was 'Having seen that it is about to rain...' not the correct answer?

In the example sentence, I initially interpreted the sentence structure as 'We have seen that is about to rain.' However, the correct answer was 'seeing,' with the appropriate context being 'We see ...
Han's user avatar
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Proficiency in vs proficiency at - Which should be used in the provided sentence?

His skills include proficiency in using various programming languages. His skills include proficiency at using various programming languages. A post on Quora suggests the latter sentence is more ...
Soumya Ghosh's user avatar
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Context for "There are only two men in the world of golf can play like that."

Sentence (1) below is grammatically/semantically correct. Sentences like (1) are traditionally explained by deletion of a nominative case relative pronoun. However, in my view, sentences like (1) are ...
GWisdom's user avatar
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When to capitalize Western? [closed]

Do I need to capitalize the word western when used to describe societies, such the phrase: "non-Western" societies?
None's user avatar
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Is "policy maker" one word or two?

Is it correct to write "policy maker" in two words? It is unclear to me whether it should be written as: policy maker or policymaker or policy-maker.
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Is it grammatically correct to say "it is itself something"?

Just read a sentence from a book: It is itself an emitter. That "itself" reads weird to me. I wonder if it is grammatically correct? And what's the difference with "it is an emitter.&...
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Can somebody explain to me how to use the word 'origin' in a sentence? Are my eight sentences grammatically correct?

I found the following sentences in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English at the word origin 1: A new theory to explain the origins of the universe. Most coughs are viral in origin. The word ...
Marios Athanasiou's user avatar
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I get better at guitar, I get better at playing the guitar or I get better at playing guitar

Which of these sentences is correct in British english? I get better at guitar I get better at playing the guitar I get better at playing guitar And if all of them are correct, Which one is the most ...
Andony Anaya Barrios's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
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Can I say "I'm doing this first than you"?

I don't think you can be first than someone, but I was thinking like some sort of competition. Would this be considered: The one that done it before you do?
Traduções Angelicais's user avatar
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1 answer
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How's "except such as those (conventions) that" ungrammatical? Why?

In this earlier post, I added to a sentence as follows. 1.1. All the ordinary conventions of a Roman marriage were carried out, except such as [THOSE (CONVENTIONS) THAT] were purely pagan. Then Kate ...
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Combining different constructions with the same coordinator, is it possible?

I hope you're having a good time. -"Delivery of the sale item sold shall consist of the placement of such item in the possession of the purchaser or that he can take possession of and enjoy them ...
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No Antecedent in a Relative Clause

Is this sentence grammatical? : More and more research is surfacing that shows us the benefits of the thousands of colorful “phytochemicals” (phyto=plant) that exist in foods. If it is, why? I can'...
gourmet's user avatar
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3 answers
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I ___(to read) your book. It's fantastic. I'll finish it tonight

I have passed the English grammar test. I'm B1 and can't complain about that. But I have a major questions about verb tenses anyway. I ______ your book. It's fantastic. I'll finish it tonight. have ...
Phaenomenon Sanctus's user avatar
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1 answer
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Verb number in relative clause appertaining to compound predicates

I have a sentence with a compound predicate, which I wish to modify with a relative clause. According to traditional American English grammar, should the verb in the relative clause be plural or ...
A. R.'s user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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Home or house, which one is grammatically correct?

I have been trying to see him at his house / home. I guess, since house is building we must say house, while using the word "home" is not correct there, right?
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1 vote
2 answers
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Correct usage of as well as and the usage of pronoun with as well as

Which sentence is grammatical? 1) He as well as I were invited to the party. 2) He as well as me was invited to the party. Almost all books seem to suggest that the verb should agree with the first of ...
Modern English's user avatar
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Is it correct to say "ice creams were considered to be a special meal" or "ice creams were considered to have been a special meal"

Which one is grammatically correct, were considered to be or were considered to have been? Ice creams were considered to be a special meal.
Chilambe 's user avatar
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"They've grown so much" vs "They've 'been' grown so much"?

In this sentences the difference is the been. I've been seen this two ways to write this same thing. In the translater, the two ways is right. Why? "They've grown so much" vs "They've '...
Erick Luz's user avatar
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10 votes
9 answers
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Why is the passive "are described" not grammatically correct in this sentence?

A student wants to use "are described" (because it's passive) in the blank space although the correct answer is "described". How can I explain the grammar of why it is incorrect? ...
Anna's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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Why, if ever, is it wrong to say "I hope it's not much of a trouble/hassle on your part"?

I read on one grammar website that the quoted sentence above was wrong, but the forum didn't provide any reason as to why that was so. One person on that website just said that a more acceptable ...
rfg_2578's user avatar
-2 votes
1 answer
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Our Daughters name

My daughters name is Iyzrayella (eyes-ray-ella) now my husband and I are wondering if we are grammatically correct in the way we spelled her name.
Kyla Wallace's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
102 views

Semantically vague sentence (I think?)

I spotted it in a junk shop in Bridport, a roll-top desk. The man said it was early nineteenth century, and oak. I think the author can use "be+of" here, but why only "be"???
Sam's user avatar
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to be assassinated or assassinated?

Can I use "assassinated" instead of "to be assassinated" in this sentence: "John F.Kennedy was the last US president to be assassinated"?
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The difference in meaning between "I would…if I could" and "I will…if I can"

I would go on vacation if I could get the time off (use in the past)? I will go on vacation if I can get the time off (use in future and present)?
Lucy 's user avatar
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Is this a kind of call or not? --meaning in context--

Following is a poem by Thomas Hardy. There are sentences 'Simple shepherds all' three times. I think these sentences are a kind of call towards shepherds. However, one of my friends who is a literary ...
Japanese English teacher's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
73 views

Definite article before the name of a region

If I want to write the name of a region like "(the) Middle East" or "(the) Northern Africa", do I have to put the definite article in front of that? Is there a general rule? Thank ...
Haldot's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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"Pick me up and bring me" vs "carry me" vs other form

Let's say my child wants me to pick him up and carry him to his room, what should he say? What a native English speaker would say in this situation? "Daddy pick me up and bring me to my room&...
Marco Demaio's user avatar
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2 answers
30 views

Is the word about in this sentence being used as a noun?

I introduced myself in my new job today and I was told to use this phrase to wrap up my presentation "That about covers who I am" What I can understand from this phrase is the "about&...
Quique's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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What are the correctness and use cases for two subjects for the same verb?

This is found in Bob Dylan's line: The Times They Are a-Changin’ I would like to have an educated view on three aspects: It seems to be an artistic license, an incorrect form of Times are changing. ...
mins's user avatar
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Tag question for the structure : too adj to V-inf

As I know, if the sentence is negative, the tag is positive and If the sentence is positive, the tag is negative. For this case : You aren't too busy to talk, .....? In my textbook, the answer key is ...
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1 answer
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"I will live in Glasgow for one to two years" [closed]

I know usually "to" is used with "from" as in “From Monday to Wednesday I was in.” But could you please tell me if I could use "to" with "for" as in "I ...
Bilal Zafar's user avatar
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0 answers
43 views

Strange intuition about split infinitives

I recently encountered a sentence in a story that has got me to thinking: He at least had class enough not to leer. The sentence as-is seems fine, although I would usually use a word order of "...
SoronelHaetir's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
101 views

"A man is standing outside/on the outside of my house"

"A man is standing outside of my house" or "A man is standing on the outside of my house"? "I will paint outside of my house" or "I will paint on the outside of my ...
Bilal Zafar's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
45 views

Double "Could have"? Is it possible?

This doesn't fit into the rules of Conditional sentences, but is it possible to say so? Here is the sentence: I could have told you this if I could have known before.
Olga Bakster's user avatar
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0 answers
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"change you want to make in the world"

I'm pretty sure one should say "make changes", instead of "do changes". But is such a phrase grammatical? "Focus on the change you want to make in the world" I think ...
flen's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
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Is it correct to write `in order` + `verb-ing`?

I know that using in order to is the correct way to say something like bellow: We have to clean the room as soon as possible in order to provide the best service. But, can we replace the to verb-1/...
Maulana Adam Sahid's user avatar

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