Questions tagged [sentence-construction]
This tag is used for questions about the proper construction of sentences.
666
questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
3
votes
3answers
40 views
Tense Usage in Personal Passive Voice Construction
Example Sentence:
They believed the bridge was constructed badly.
⇒ The bridge was believed to [be/have been] constructed badly.
Which should I use in this case, "to be" or "to have ...
2
votes
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. ...
2
votes
1answer
47 views
What is indirect form of: he said, "If I were you, I would protest."
What is indirect form of:
He said, "If I were you, I would protest."
I think the answer is:
If he had been I, he would have protested
Can it also be:
If he had been me instead of I
or ...
2
votes
2answers
98 views
"This computer is for you to attend lectures" instead of "*This computer is to attend lectures."
I learned that you use "for -ing" and not a 'to' infinitive when you want to say the purpose of a tool, but I am not so sure about it.
People told me I should say:
This computer is for you ...
2
votes
2answers
108 views
Do you use a definite article or zero article followed by a prepositional phrase
In the following two (similar) sentences the definite article is used in one, but not the other.
1 Capital letters are used for the names of people,places and languages.
2.Capital letters are used for ...
2
votes
2answers
75 views
How do I ask this question?
"Jack'll come tomorrow", she told Rose in the morning.
What does it mean if I ask "When did she tell Rose Jack would come?".
'Tomorrow' and 'the morning' are the two times in the first statement. ...
2
votes
2answers
103 views
"Could not but" in interrogative sentence
Is the following sentence grammatically correct to write in literature?
How could I not but close my eyes?
As "I could not but close my eyes" is a valid sentence, I felt like this one should also ...
2
votes
2answers
106 views
How to count consciousness?
I'm afraid I'm talking about my favourite topic, consciousness, wrong. Can you please check which of these cases of my trying to use the word on Reddit are correct?
"Quantum wave form collapses ...
2
votes
4answers
142 views
Is this a wrong sentence "Heidi Montag is probably more famous for the plastic surgery that she has had carried out than for her TV Career"?
This sentence is literally copied from an English textbook (Solutions 2nd Edition -Intermediate)
"Heidi Montag is probably more famous for the plastic surgery that she has had carried out than for ...
2
votes
1answer
88 views
Can a result clause come before a conditional clause when "if" is omitted?
Quote from here: http://www.englishbaby.com
If I were you, I would call her. --------> Were I you, I would call
her.
If I had known, I wouldn't have done it. ---------> Had I known, I
...
2
votes
1answer
103 views
'Twice as many cups' - did I say it right?
I was explaining a recipe to my girlfriend over SMS. I wanted to tell her that for each cup of rice she added to the recipe, she should pour in an additional cup of water, too.
I texted:-
You ...
2
votes
1answer
11k views
'immediately before', 'right before' and 'just before'
What is the difference (if any) between immediately before, right before and just before ?
What is the most suitable one to use in this sentence:
The paragraph ..... before the image.
2
votes
1answer
137 views
When are words like "that" and "the" unnecessary?
There are several cases where "the" and "that" are completely unnecessary for the understanding of a sentence. So, I want to know when they are unnecessary and why.
For instance, in “She told me that ...
2
votes
1answer
34 views
"What is the opposite word for X?" Is the sentence correct?
I always use:
What is the opposite of X ?
But today I came across:
What is the opposite word for X ?
Are the both grammatical?
Thank you.
2
votes
1answer
2k views
Sentence structure -"It..That"
There are 3 sentences that I'd like to know more deeply. The sentence structure that I'm trying to talk about is "is..that.." sentence pattern like "It is essential that we start ...
1
vote
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 ...
1
vote
0answers
21 views
How to write "from among these [items], we discuss..." correctly?
I'm struggling with the correct way to express myself here. Suppose I have a list of items in one sentence. In the next sentence, I want to express that I select some of these to talk about in detail. ...
1
vote
2answers
42 views
using it as a second subject
Is the following sentence correct? I think grammatically we should get rid of "it".
He was in a quandary about which selection from his extensive repertoire it would be feasible to perform ...
1
vote
0answers
23 views
Using imperative form as a Product Feature
I am preparing my RGB Keyboard Product's features. Is it okay to use imperative form? and Are the following sentences correct?
Change the colors from the app on the phone by connecting via Bluetooth.
...
1
vote
0answers
62 views
Plural or Singular form for fruit names
I have a question regarding fruit names. When writing about fruit, I'm confused about which form I should use – singular or plural. I'm not even sure if they are actually count nouns or mass nouns or ...
1
vote
0answers
27 views
"...but it looks an impossible task."
Firefighters are working hard to stop the fire, but it looks an
impossible task.
Hi. Is the emboldened part acceptable or will I need a few more words?
1
vote
0answers
18 views
How to frame a question using "At the earliest"?
Is the following question grammatically correct?
At the earliest, when do we need to provide feedback?
1
vote
0answers
36 views
A shorter way to indicate “living in luxury”
I hate......... I exercise moderation…It will be easy to forget your vision and purpose one you have fine clothes, fast horses and beautiful women. [In which case], you will be no better than a slave, ...
1
vote
2answers
35 views
Use of "would" to depict uncertain future
Consider the following scenario:
A clinical trial that was initiated in Jan 2021 is currently recruiting participants.
The estimated enrollment of the trial is 50 participants.
It is not always sure ...
1
vote
0answers
26 views
What is the correct sentence?
1)Is there any way to check whether my letter has been received?
2)Is there any way to check whether my letter was received?
3)Is there any way to check if my letter was received?
I sent a letter a ...
1
vote
0answers
29 views
Taking the conversation furher?
I want to tell the employees in my company that I don't want them to chat about some subjects at our work website. And also that I dont want them to go other platforms either to talk about this (like ...
1
vote
0answers
64 views
“Around here somewhere” or “Somewhere around here”
Imagine someone has lost something and he/she is anxiously looking for it everywhere. you as a witness of the whole story decide to cool them down. You are going to ask them not be worried just ...
1
vote
0answers
10 views
Can I use a non-defining and defining clause for the same noun?
I'm curious if I can use a non-defining and defining clause/phrase in a row for the same noun in a sentence.
For instance,
I sold the ring, an expensive one, that I bought a few years ago. (I intend ...
1
vote
0answers
26 views
is that correct to use "local residents" in the below sentence?
I'd like to say
they only provide their services to people in the same country that
their company is located.
Is that correct to use "local residents" instead of above sentence?
they only ...
1
vote
1answer
38 views
Which verbs are used with the conjuction "and" in my example sentence?
I have a sentence in my job descriptions as below:
Assess seriousness of each case, select external service providers (e.g. surveyors) to participate in investigation and achieve expected outcomes in ...
1
vote
0answers
69 views
I'm reading a book or I've been reading a book? Implying I started some days ago
I saw a similar question, but I'm not content with the answers, i.e. it's still unclear.
It looks like both options are appropriate here, since for present perfect continuous can be applied to an ...
1
vote
0answers
21 views
"I would make sure your future {will/would} be bright" - what is the difference?
What is the difference between these two sentences?
I would make sure your future will be bright.
I would make sure your future would be bright.
I understand that the first would signify conditions ...
1
vote
0answers
19 views
I didn't expect "verb"
How can I express the idea with accuracy in the situation: I had thought that something would be easy to do but the result literally exceeded my expectations.
Which sentence would be more accurate to ...
1
vote
0answers
35 views
Reported speech with two parts
When we turn direct reported speech into indirect reported speech, the rules are different depending on whether the speech is an imperative or a statement.
Direct: He told her "Turn right at the ...
1
vote
1answer
76 views
Can you say "the events of yesterday?"
While reading through my writing, I noticed that I wrote: "During the events of yesterday..." because it fit the narrative. The phrase, however, made me wonder whether it's correct. When I ...
1
vote
0answers
24 views
word usage - clear and understandable
Consider the scenario where I am explaining a math solution to a student.
Now to check if he understands it I could ask -
Is this clear
Is this understandable?
Are the above two sentences correct to ...
1
vote
2answers
46 views
As was he/As if he was
He's mingling around flirting with girls as was he James Bond.
He's mingling around flirting with girls as if he was James Bond.
Which one is correct? (if any of them)
1
vote
0answers
30 views
What's grammar of "the reasonable satisfaction of both parties " in the text?
Express terms are set out and stipulated expressly in the contract.
For example: The Seller will within a period of 6 months from the date
of delivery of Goods, where Goods which are proved to the ...
1
vote
0answers
18 views
What is "complemented" in this sentence?
In about half of the Sstates we find one or another type of
referendum for parliamentary laws, often complemented by a financial
referendum.
- Swiss Democracy by Wolf Linder
I want to know what does &...
1
vote
0answers
21 views
Which word? enforceability/enforceable/enforcement/enforcive/enforcing in nature?
Context: I'm trying to tell the reader that the guidelines are intended/designed to enforce previous rules. The new guidelines do not add new rules, just enforcing previous ones. How to I write this?:
...
1
vote
1answer
30 views
Usage of “net of”
everyone:
Do the following two sentences mean the same thing:
Your final take-home pay is $2,000 net of deduction of $150.
Your final take-home pay is $2,000, net of deduction of $150.
If not, ...
1
vote
3answers
55 views
leave again. Is it correct to add "again"?
Two men step into the room, look around, find nothing, and leave again.
Writing "again" sounds natural to me even though it's not like they have left the room one time before, but I'm not a ...
1
vote
0answers
31 views
At what tenses can I use the "to be going to" and "used to" constructions?
There are constructions like:
to be going to
used to
be used to
get used to
At what tenses can i use them?
For example
"to be going to" in past simple looks well: I was going to...
But "...
1
vote
0answers
27 views
How to invert "He was never silly." to emphasize the negative adverb?
What is the correct sentence if you want to make inversion for the following sentence to emphasize the negative adverb?
He was never silly.
Never was he silly.
This is recommended as correct form ...
1
vote
0answers
15 views
Does "felt" belong to "excluded" in this context?
It declared that it felt no longer represented in the Federal
Council, excluded the two serving federal councillors elected as SVP
members from its parliamentary group and declared ‘fundamental
...
1
vote
2answers
20 views
Is using "or" instead of "and" in this sentence a mistake?
Game theory shows that in a single game, self-interested actors defect
from cooperation when it offers them an extra profit. This risk is
considerably reduced if the same actors play many games. In ...
1
vote
0answers
21 views
does "never see your pockets empty anymore" make any sense?
We were talking about money in our English class and I said this:
learn programming and never see your pockets empty anymore
does it make any sense to you? is the sentence correct?
1
vote
0answers
15 views
spend time out of your busy routine
I was asked to talk about home made gifts, so I said the following:
When you spend time out of your busy routine on make a gift for someone, it makes them feel important."
I'm not sure if '...
1
vote
0answers
50 views
Best way to describe this: "There is only one of this bone in a human body."
For example there is only one nasal bone in a human body. While teaching bones in a human body to student before the skeleton model which sentence should I say by showing nasal bone? Or can I use both ...
1
vote
0answers
35 views
Is it correct and natural to say "establish policy according to which"?
Could you tell me if the following sentence sounds correct and natural?
We should establish a policy according to which people would be fined for throwing garbage in the street.
If it's not natural ...
