Questions tagged [sentence-construction]
This tag is used for questions about the proper construction of sentences.
5,168
questions
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13 views
"When you become something" conditional
I'm having trouble choosing the correct conditional in sentences that could be both about a general principle (0th conditional) or a possible future (1st conditional). Would these sentences be correct ...
2
votes
1answer
68 views
The one is wrong is/are you
Help me to fix this sentence because it doesn't sound good to me:
The one is wrong is you!
I believe there is redundancy in that sentence, but I can't explain. Probably the "is"? A part of ...
1
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1answer
17 views
Can we use that/those of before a possessive?
I wonder whether these sentences are correct or not:
My fingers are smaller than those of my brother's.
You can borrow my note or that of Sandy's.
I don't know, but the second just sounds awkward. ...
2
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2answers
45 views
similarity or difference between on and in
Last week my friend asked me if I found the information that he asked me to find. And I said yes. He asked how did I find about it. I said i found the information in my computer, and he said that, I ...
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1answer
30 views
long title without verb
As a non-native English speaker I know that English requires verbs in every sentence, but I don't know if it is the case for the long title (a title of a subsection in academic article).
Example for ...
2
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1answer
38 views
Why can we say "in a day/in a week/in a month", but not "in a night" and instead "overnight"?
You can't learn English overnight.
You can't learn English in one night.
I know that "in one night" may not sound idiomatic, so I should say "overnight" to sound natural.
I often ...
0
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1answer
22 views
"reason not to understand each other"
Our parents are much older than us, but that’s not the reason not to understand each other.
Does that sentence sound good?
[I know it also is possible also to say: "... but that’s no reason not ...
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2answers
35 views
Correct wording for quiz questions
I am developing a geography quiz game but am unsure about the wording of some quiz questions:
To which geographical region do these countries belong?
(here I am not sure if I should use "to"...
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1answer
23 views
would/wouldn't have wanted
10 days ago my friend and I went to a restaurant and my friend paid for the meal.
10 days later my mom tells me off for letting my poor friend do so: "you shouldn't have let him pay!"
...
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1answer
27 views
Possessive Case with a Name and a Pronoun
How do I change, for example, "the party/wedding/relationship/... of John and I" into the possessive case (possessive using 's)?
My train of thought goes a little something like this:
The ...
2
votes
1answer
18 views
Position of "Either/Of" in a sentence with different types of verbs
In either ... or structure, if the two verbs are of the same type, it's easy to figure out the position of "either" and "or", for example.
On Sunday evenings, I either work out or ...
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0answers
30 views
There are/were far too many things which happened before
There were far too many things which happened before.
There are far too many things which happened before.
Could you tell me, please, those sentences sound natural?
Is it possible to use "there ...
0
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1answer
29 views
"have too much to do" vs "have to do too much"
I have too much to do here. ["too" = very]
I have to do here too much. ["too" = more than "I want"]
As I understand it, these sentences have the different meaning. The ...
2
votes
1answer
21 views
Sentence Construction with put up
So yesterday I was driving my friend back to his home and he wasn't sure where we were. So I asked him
"put up your address on Google maps"
Now I am wondering if the sentence above is ...
0
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1answer
23 views
"She is at the end stage with cancer" or "She is at the last stage of cancer"
"She is at the end stage with cancer"
"She is at the last stage of cancer".
I can't be sure if "the end stage with cancer" is idiomatic or not. I would say ".....the ...
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0answers
15 views
About a sentence structure
Last year, some 41,354 Americans received a transplanted organ, more than half of them receiving kidneys, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, a nonprofit that coordinates the nation’s ...
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0answers
18 views
Rewriting a thesis statement, not sure about the world use of "rich" and "ecology" [closed]
By examining the writings of these two fervid writers, and detaching them from anthropocentric views, we may discover rich information that benefits our contemporary research and interdisciplinary ...
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2answers
29 views
Is this a valid alternative to say that someone hasn't been somewhere or done something?
In the phrase below may I say:
It's easy for you who have spent your whole life not in a filthy hovel, as I have, to think that the world is a wonderful place.
as an alternative to
It's easy for ...
2
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0answers
33 views
"have drunk enough already" / "have already drunk enough"
You have drunk enough already.
You have already drunk enough.
As I know it, the commonest place for "already" is after "have". But in this case, there is the opposite situation. ...
1
vote
2answers
86 views
Why does this sentence use "which" without a comma before it (instead of ", which"), and what's the difference? [closed]
I'm trying to understand this sentence. I have set the "which" in bold:
If you start a container which creates a new volume, as above, and the container has files or directories in the ...
3
votes
1answer
24 views
The temperature will increase "during" or "throughout" the night?
If I want to tell someone that the temperature is going to increase over the period of night, how can I say that?
The temperature will increase during the night.
or
The temperature will increase ...
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1answer
16 views
Meaning of "the availability of vaccines **to** deep-seated logistical problems"
In much of the developed world, vaccine orders are soaring into the billions of doses, coronavirus cases are easing and economies are poised to roar back to life. In many less developed nations, ...
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0answers
24 views
Specific question construction (couldn’t find anything on Google)
How do I ask why a person does not want a certain thing ?
If why don’t you is more like a suggestion, and why you don’t wanna…be together, as far as I know, is grammatically incorrect, what’s the ...
0
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1answer
11 views
Does "any" change to "some" in reported speech?
This sentence appeared in a reported speech exercise assigned to me.
"Are there any oranges in the fridge?", she asked her mom.
This is the exercise's key — it changed "any" to &...
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0answers
35 views
How to ask someone to complete a sentence, like on a test or exercise?
“I know that I’m good at singing.”
“I know that ________.”
I want to make someone form the first sentence by adding a clause to the second one.
In this situation, can I say, “Write that you’re good ...
1
vote
1answer
18 views
When you are free or whenever you're free
Is it better to say in a professional email:
we can schedule a call when you are free
Or
We can schedule a call whenever you are free
What's the difference?
0
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2answers
59 views
About sentence structure
The technology, often so prescient it borders on creepy, has made Chinese counterparts very profitable too.China Tech: Those Who Control The Algorithms Control The Future
I've never seen a sentence ...
0
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1answer
31 views
Sentence construction Do vs does
Could someone please let me know if do POC (proof of concept) is correct or should I use does in the below sentence? Does sound correct to me but according to language rules, should use a singular ...
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2answers
40 views
"You had a book published.". Does this sentence mean: 1-You got a book published. (causative) 2-You have got a book which was published
You had a book published.
I get confused to figure out whether the sentence is in a causative structure(have something done) or a relative clause structure where relative pronon was omitted, because ...
0
votes
3answers
35 views
everyone is talking about [it] now
She is mad about the latest iPhone model, everyone is talking about [it] now.
Could you explain, please, there is a need to add "it" in the end of the sentence, or not, if "it" ...
1
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0answers
20 views
Correct usage of only
I read this rule somewhere:
Only can be used before a verb though it may put emphasis on a noun used later in the sentence
Is it true? For example, is this sentence correct?
Although he only earns ...
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0answers
33 views
Is the word "models" appropriate here? Is "more" valid after "and"?
I will call him for advice what models of the appliances are cheaper, more convenient and reliable.
Is the word "models" appropriate here, or do I need to choose some other word?
Is "...
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1answer
28 views
Inversion with "to not have"?
I came across this quote and was intrigued by its grammar: "The soul would have no rainbow, had the eyes no tears"
At first glance, "had the eyes no tears" this seems like a type ...
0
votes
1answer
21 views
What is the best way to clarify a sentence with multiple connectors like And in a horizontal list?
In the example below, the sentence appears confusing because of its length and the double use of the connector "and".
The study of oral health examines the causes of oral diseases and the ...
1
vote
2answers
24 views
Is "One of them being tourist attractions" a complete sentence?
What the title says. Consider this example:
"There are a lot to visit when going sightseeing. One of them being tourist attractions."
Is "One of them being tourist attractions." a ...
1
vote
1answer
54 views
why "that that"? [closed]
Do industrial researchers have souls?In his work The Scientific Life: a Moral History of a Late Modern Vocation, historian and sociologist of science Steven Shapin questions two widely accepted ...
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1answer
50 views
Is there any difference: "I had an accident." and "I have been in an accident."
I had an accident.
I have been in an accident.
Although the first sentence seems more common, today I have come across the second sentence and got suprised.
I checked online and saw it frequently used ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
Sentences beginning with “Not only”
1, He not only studied hard, but also joined many extracurricular activities.
2, Not only did he study hard, but he also joined many extracurricular activities.
I was taught that sentence 2 has a ...
2
votes
2answers
47 views
Is this sentence correct - "He broke into a chuckle as he heard it"?
The person chuckles when he hears something - a joke or a funny anecdote.
Is the sentence in the question correct for such a setting or is there a better way to frame it? My main concern is the "...
2
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1answer
29 views
Unlike the TV, students can use a computer for a variety of functions
I found this title sentence in a book. However, I worry that grammatically speaking, it may be comparing TV and students, because "students" is the subject.
In order to eliminate any ...
10
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4answers
2k views
Is it acceptable to omit "about" in this sentence? "I love everything (about) math."
I have two sentences:
I love everything about math.
I love everything math.
I am pretty confident based on the phrase's usage that the first sentence is grammatically correct.
Is it acceptable to ...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
Connecting two sentences with comma and without a connector
In the below sentence, why there was comma without a connector or transition? What rule allows separation of two sentences with comma and without connector?
Is this phrase (the fulfillment of ...
5
votes
2answers
65 views
I'd rather you hadn't
I’d rather do something
I’d rather not do something
I’d rather not have done something
I’d rather you did something
I’d rather you did not do something
I’d rather you had not done something
When ...
0
votes
1answer
29 views
A singular noun that is modified by a plural expression
Can you tell me which one is modified and which one that modifies
A good knowledge of three languages is needed for the job
Someone gave this example when she told me that when I have a singular ...
1
vote
1answer
22 views
Understand the structure "something to be"
I found a sentence in the song Donna Donna that I am not sure to understand correctly.
It is "Stop complaining said the farmer, who told you a calf to be?".
I am not sure I understand ...
0
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1answer
38 views
Subject in the middle of sentence. What grammar is it?
What kind of grammar is used in this sentence?
In school, while actively interacting with other students, children actually are practicing how to communicate with others.
Particularly my question is ...
-1
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1answer
26 views
not only to, but also +ing
is the following rule true?
This not only can be helpful to apply for a refund but also applying for a free ticket.
0
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1answer
28 views
Is the following sentence correct and easy to read?
Is this sentence correct and easy to read?
Whether speculating on commodities is a lucrative business venture or
not is something that should be considered.
Does it need punctuation?
Whether ...
1
vote
1answer
28 views
Is "while" used correctly to connect to ideas?
I want to say that sustainable agriculture can:
fix the problem of hunger
preserves natural resources
at the same time. Does the following sentence mean the same?
Only sustainable agriculture and ...
0
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0answers
25 views
"Good luck" prepositions
Related: Preposition - 'Good luck' with indirect and direct objects
I'm a native english speaker, but I cannot for the life of me figure out the rules in this sentence structure. The question ...
