Questions tagged [sentence-construction]
This tag is used for questions about the proper construction of sentences.
664
questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
3
votes
2answers
138 views
I wanted to do something but have forgotten
I wanted to do something but have forgotten.
Is this sentence valid? Can I use the past simple with the present perfect in this case?
As another example:
I have wanted to buy something but have ...
2
votes
1answer
36 views
The woman tries to dial again, but the phone is dead
Context: A burglar has cut the phone line of a house. Inside the house a woman was talking on a landline phone when the line was cut.
Then -
The woman tries to dial again, but the phone is dead.
Is ...
2
votes
2answers
21 views
Is this sentence grammatically correct “There are only 3 students signed for this course.”?
Or it should be " There are only 3 students who signed up for this course." ?
What about " There are some people talking in the room."
What topic of grammar should I read to ...
2
votes
1answer
44 views
Did you know you (can/could) follow us on our Twitter?
Did you know you could follow us on our Twitter?
Or
Did you know you can follow us on our Twitter?
2
votes
1answer
47 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
45 views
Is “It is + clause” correct?
I'd like to know if "It is + Clause" is correct:
It's that I don't want to talk to you anymore.
If it is not, would mind saying how I could rephrase that sentence?
2
votes
2answers
60 views
“in order to 'better' solve a problem” sounds uncommon, is something wrong?
This video is saying
in order to better
visualize the cost function J, I'm going to ...
with the same structure, we could make this sentence
in order to better solve a problem
sounds uncommon, is ...
2
votes
1answer
181 views
How do we use the word “since” with a question of “how many”?
What I want to ask, is if you have a sentence like:
He has bought his new car since 2015.
What will be the shape of that sentence if we begin it with "How many"? Which of these should it be?
...
2
votes
2answers
57 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
1answer
196 views
The word “Combined” at the beginning of the sentence
To assess the effects of ocean heat waves, researchers led by ecologist Daniel Smale of Great Britain's Marine Biological Association turned to 116 previously published academic studies. Combined, ...
2
votes
1answer
902 views
When doing / while doing
I am a little confused about using "when v-ing" and "while v-ing". When should I use "when v-ing" instead of "while v-ing" ?
1- Always keep some change with you. It’s useful when buying a
bus ...
2
votes
1answer
126 views
“That” and subject verb agreement
Painting involves a fixed perspective and a form of rational thinking that engages sight.
or
Painting involves a fixed perspective and a form of rational thinking that engage sight.
or
...
2
votes
1answer
92 views
How to describe following situation?
I and my friend came out from our class and were going to powder our noses. After reaching near to bathrooms, we found that doors of all bathrooms were closed, meaning that some students had already ...
2
votes
2answers
72 views
Using will and would to talk about future
a) Ok sir, I will send you that file tomorrow. (Definitely)
b) Ok Sir, I would send you that file tomorrow. (Probably)
In above sentences can we use Will interchangeably and imagine the meaning ...
2
votes
2answers
81 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
3answers
103 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
75 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
1k views
How to properly write down an enumeration? No consensus in the literature
I doubt what is a proper, and suitable for in an academic text, way to give an enumeration. I used Google to see how other people (mainly in papers) do it, but there is not a consensus.
The reason ...
2
votes
1answer
9k 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
2answers
340 views
“go to look for somebody in the place” vs “go to the place to look for somebody”
Given sentence:
Off they went to look for the astrologer in the forest.
Question:
Where did they go to look for the astrologer?
Possible answers:
They went to the forest to look for the ...
2
votes
1answer
97 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
33 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
519 views
All was happened due to his carelessness. All happened due to his carelessness
All was happened due to his carelessness.
All happened due to his carelessness.
Which one is correct and why? Is first one in Passive voice? Please define it.
asked Jul 24 '15 at 15:40
I don't know who I am.
2,53317 gold badges59 silver badges80 bronze badges
1
vote
2answers
33 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
20 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
17 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
17 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
0answers
12 views
Taking or having taken
The athelete has been accused of .......dope to boost his performance.
a. To have taken
b. Having been taken
c. taking
d. having taken
Which option is correct? I'm confused in C and D
1
vote
1answer
21 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
0answers
27 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
26 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
13 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
19 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
18 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
14 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
47 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
26 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
234 views
“I am happy (that or since) you are back”
The question is:
I am happy .... you are back.
a) while
b) that
c) however
d) since
I think both b and d are correct
I asked some of my friends and they told to choose option b but I think option d ...
1
vote
0answers
66 views
What is “shut” in “close the door shut”?
I have heard the sentence "close the door shut" a lot. However I am not sure about the function of "shut". Is it an adverb or an adjective here? How do I parse this sentence?
I am ...
1
vote
0answers
33 views
Play an essential role
I came across this sentence:
It is only when the faculty of smell is impaired for some reason that we begin to realise the essential role the sense of smell plays in our sense of well-being
If I am ...
1
vote
0answers
29 views
The meaning of the “for” in this sentence
I came across the following sentence ”students have a huge decision to make, for it is at this time that they must consider their options in regard to higher education.” What’s the meaning of the ”for ...
1
vote
1answer
23 views
Is this present perfect continuous sentence correct?
Is this correct?
“I have been walking in the park for 4 hours and have just returned home.”
Or should there be used past perfect continuous/ past simple?
1
vote
0answers
30 views
What is the sentence structure uses after “that”?
The first is the plethora of small businesses, from family-run corner shops and ice-cream parlours to hardware stores, that by and large are as scruffy as they were back then, eke out a meagre ...
1
vote
0answers
25 views
PRONOUND PLUS 'TO +VERB“ OR ”PREPOSITION +VERB-ING
I know it this sentence is wrong but i need an explanation.
RIGHT : I hope you would help me in letting him understand.
WRONG: I hope you would help me to let him understand.
RIGHT: Adults should ...
1
vote
0answers
30 views
“For what do you go to school?” or “What do you go to school for?”
What is the difference in the following two sentences?
For what do you go to school?
What do you go to school for?
1
vote
2answers
36 views
That you had told me about in that town
I made up a pretty interesting sentence which confuses me. The context is there are two people who met each other in some town and one of them told the other about a chiildren's play area where no ...
1
vote
2answers
61 views
Help me make this sentence less awkward?
I'm writing an essay and trying to determine an apt topic sentence for one of my paragraphs. However, it sounds awful and awkward:
"Through their diction, the authors further exemplify the ...
1
vote
0answers
16 views
Clauses after explain
I think the following sentence is wrong
It is difficult to explain why did Rajagopalachari resign from the congress in 1940.
Because after explain assertive form of a clause is used.
Therefore it ...
1
vote
0answers
27 views
How to write a LinkedIn connection request Note?
LinkedIn is a great way to network with all types of professionals: from recruiters to influencers and users that share common interests, it’s a great way to build connections.
For Example
Let's say I'...
1
vote
2answers
47 views
'bequeathed me' -or- 'bequeathed to me'
I'm unsure how to correctly construct the following sentence using the past tense of the word 'bequeath' and/or 'donate'.
It's what I wanted to do since I was 14, the year my math teacher
...
