Questions tagged [syntax]
This tag is for questions regarding the rules for the formation of sentences.
461
questions
0
votes
1answer
19 views
Why do you use the word "into" in the next sentence?
1 the money or valuables that a player must hazard in order to buy "into" a gambling game or make a bet.
I think the word "in" would be more suitable as the word "into" ...
0
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0answers
33 views
Correct use of the phrase "[XXX], but not only"
In an essay, if someone did something for various reasons, some (but not all) of them being historic reasons, is the following sentence correct:
"For various reasons--historic, but not only--he ...
0
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0answers
21 views
"He concluded his speech with the words 'XXXX'": is "the words" mandatory?
Talking about a musician, for instance, the construction "He concluded his speech with the words 'and that's a great song'" seems common.
In the context of an essay, potential article, is &...
0
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0answers
16 views
Passive and active voices in a compound sentence
I am a little bit confused by the structure of the following sentence:
It is often argued that this is a positive development, whilst others disagree and think it will lead to adverse ramifications.
...
0
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2answers
56 views
Is "2021" an adverb or adjective?
In this sentence:
Here is the 2021 list.
Is "2021" an adverb answering where or adjective describing "list"?
0
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0answers
46 views
"As is not unusual with him": correct? Is the verb mandatory?
If we are describing a book written by John Doe, it seems like
"As is not unusual with John Doe, sentences are short."
is used far more than
"As not unusual with John Doe, sentences are ...
1
vote
0answers
24 views
Ellipsis: is "He was nice; the other two, less so" correct? How to punctuate?
It seems to me that I often hear syntactical structures similar to:
"He was nice; the other two, less so."
However, I am not sure what the correct way to punctuate would be.
0
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0answers
17 views
"some of them" + noun vs adjective
It seems to me that the following sentence is correct:
"There were many competitors, some of them very experienced."
Is the following sentence also correct?
"He loved many songs, some ...
0
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0answers
18 views
"The two others": same as "the other two"?
If there are three books, are the following sentences both correct? Equivalent? Roughly as commonly used?
1/ This book is better than the other two
2/ This book is better than the two others
0
votes
1answer
21 views
Which one of these sentences is correct/more idiomatic?
So, I'm not sure which one of these sentences is more grammatically correct.
The last one had just been sold before I got there.
The last one had been sold just before I got there.
I'm 99% sure both ...
0
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0answers
23 views
Is that statement correct? "Your schedule is final when there is without WL courses."
In my university registration system, I found this statement and I am concerned if it's a correct statement.
Your schedule is final when there is without WL courses.
I think it's not correct because ...
1
vote
1answer
24 views
Can "work experience" be plural?
When I have worked for multiple jobs, and I use "work experience," is it plural?
For example, my education and work experience make me a great candidate for the job.
0
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2answers
51 views
What does this BE mean in this sentence? [duplicate]
When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
I don't know why there's a be there, anyone can help me with that?
Does it have anything to do with the verb order? ...
1
vote
1answer
56 views
Is “The Tigris is the river we are investigating” grammatical?
I saw the following sentence in formal writing:
The Tigris is the river we are investigating.
(Please don't change the sentence to "We are investigating the Tigris river" or etc..)
...
1
vote
1answer
54 views
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing
As I understand it, the first phrase is common. I'm afraid, I don't understand why is necessary the second "for" here (in bold). I think "to" is necessary here because "good ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
Is it correct to say "how-many-day a tour was it"?
How-many-day a tour was it?
How many days was the tour?
How many days of tour were you on?
How-many-day tour of Cambridge were you on?
Are the above sentences grammatically correct?
I understand ...
0
votes
2answers
93 views
Is "on one's period" (menstruating) grammatically correct?
It's very common to hear women say "I'm on my period" or "I'm having my period".
Can somebody please confirm to me as to whether these two phrases are grammatically correct, and if ...
1
vote
0answers
35 views
Time expression immediately after the subject?
I read the following in NY Times today, but the part on Monday doesn't sound right to me? On the other hand it seems wrong to question NY Times.
The Biden administration on Monday is expected to ...
1
vote
0answers
33 views
How much time does it have to pass
Is 1 wrong? If so, why is it wrong? I think 2 is correct.
1 How much time does it have to pass before... something happens.
2 How much time has to pass before... something happens.
0
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0answers
23 views
Complex sentence without a dependent maker word?
To practice compound-complex sentences I write the following sentence:
Two young people meet, finding that they are clicking with each other, and then they get married.
I wonder if the first two ...
0
votes
2answers
84 views
A question about syntax
The houses visible above the walls were just burnt-out shells.
What is the syntax of this sentence?
Is there something omitted between "houses" and "visible"?
0
votes
1answer
16 views
In what situation we're allowed to put verb before a subject? [duplicate]
I read this in a novel:
'It's - it's true?' faltered Professor McGonagall.
Why it's is it not "Professor McGonagall faltered" (Subject + verb)
0
votes
1answer
27 views
What's the animal that has the most frequent matings per day? [closed]
For a purpose of a riddle, I'm looking for a way to ask about the quantity or length in the following context and I find it a bit confusing:
What's the animal that has the most frequent matings per ...
0
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0answers
32 views
"They will not give up on the bananas, until they'll be eaten by them or they will be spoiled."
I'm always confused whether I have to double the pronoun and auxiliary verb or not, in cases like in the following one:
"They will not give up on the bananas until they'll be eaten by them
or ...
0
votes
0answers
15 views
embodiment (in)
is "embodiment" or "embody" ever construed with "in"?
How is "in" used in this case? I would have expected a "by".
the embodiment of the poetic voice ...
2
votes
1answer
76 views
Omitting "to be": "I want left alone." versus "I want to be left alone."
I have been reading an internet serial for about a year, that is written by someone I believe to be a native or near-native English speaker (like myself), but I have noticed a recurring pattern of ...
0
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2answers
36 views
"He wants everyone back" - Is the word back an adverb
He wants everyone back.
Is "back" an adverb? It doesn't modify the verb so has thrown me off a little.
0
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3answers
46 views
how to parse " progress the enemy of a more modest open ended and sustainable effort"?
From The economist :
But its objectives were often self defeating: an exercise in making pursuit of dramatic, unachievable progress the enemy of a more modest open ended and sustainable effort.
How ...
1
vote
2answers
70 views
What is the difference between these two declarative content clauses?
The kids were told that 2 to the power of 3 is 8.
The kids were told that President Joe Biden would visit their school.
Both sentences use the same past tense in main clauses, but use different ...
0
votes
1answer
20 views
What role does the "that" clause play in a sentence?
It won't be any easier now that the pause in use of the Johnson&Johnson vaccine has sown fresh seeds of doubt. (From The Economist)
Which type of clause is the bold one?
I don't think it is the ...
asked Apr 30 at 23:58
HypnoticBuggyWraithVirileBevy
1,8751 gold badge9 silver badges25 bronze badges
0
votes
1answer
73 views
Can an English sentence exist without the subject?
In the bold sentence below, I can't find the subject, and I think it's not a inverted sentence. I don't know if it's right?
Particularly relevant to the present work is the recent paper of Verdun et ...
1
vote
3answers
67 views
What is the grammatical structure of “I woke up tired”?
I woke up tired.
I grew up rich.
Can someone explain the position and functions of the adjectives tired, rich, poor in these sentences? Aren't adjectives supposed to always precede or succeed a noun ...
1
vote
1answer
30 views
"returned as a different man" or " returned a different man"?
If he had fought in the First World War, he might have returned _____.
Is it correct to insert " as a different man" or " a different man"?
I suppose both are correct. "as a ...
1
vote
1answer
75 views
Is "but nonetheless" correct?
I've been seeing nonetheless used next to but. For example:
"... smaller but nonetheless important research programs." (From Merriam Webster).
There are possible risks, but nonetheless, we ...
2
votes
1answer
51 views
The more precisely - An Adverb Phrase? And its function?
I am reading Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer where I found the following sentence:
He spat into the fire, the more precisely to express his opinion of the child's parentage.
Is "the more ...
3
votes
1answer
104 views
“to find a friend to practice speaking with" or "finding a friend to practice speaking with"?
In the following conversation:
--- Did you have any problems in your English study?
--- Yes, _____ a friend to practice speaking with.
Is it correct to fill in the blank with "to find” Or "...
25
votes
4answers
7k views
Syntactical problem? Musk's tweet "I Am Become Meme, Destroyer Of Shorts"
Here is a quote from Elon Musk's tweet:
"I Am Become Meme, Destroyer Of Shorts"
I have never come across such an expression as "be+ become." As far as my syntax knowledge goes, V+...
0
votes
1answer
25 views
structure of ‘worth of’
1. Is “billions of dollars worth of satellites”(without apostrophe of dollars) grammatically incorrect?
In “billions of dollars’ worth of”
Syntactically right below?
[billions of dollars]’ worth of
•...
1
vote
2answers
52 views
Open-Ended Questions + coordination
In a sentence like "What did John eat and Mary prepare?", the auxiliary verb "did" is "shared" between both conjuncts.
My question is whether it is grammatical to use an ...
0
votes
2answers
99 views
How do you identify the grammatical construction of these sentences?
Robby is so perplexed not being told about the accident.
Maudy always gets nervous when talking to strangers.
Both sentences have a predicative adjective as a subject complement. My confusion is ...
32
votes
8answers
5k views
The grammar of "Stop Asian hate"
I have seen many people on the Internet from America sharing the sign “Stop Asian Hate”.
I know they mean “Stop hate against Asian people”, but why don't they say “Stop anti-Asian hate”?
I also see ...
0
votes
1answer
221 views
Is it correct to use continuous without the auxiliary verb "to be?"
I am working on a project, and I am faced with a sentence that I am unsure is correct. I can make it correct with proper punctuation, but it just made me curious to learn how to use such sentences ...
1
vote
1answer
32 views
How to use preposition "like" in a question?
Which one is correct: What was the weather like in Toronto?" or "What was the weather in Toronto like?"
-1
votes
1answer
30 views
Do not stop and stop not
What is the difference between these two versions?
Arise, awake, and stop not until the goal is reached.
Arise, awake, and do not stop until the goal is reached.
Which one is better?
0
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0answers
24 views
Is this sentence syntactically correct?
It's in your hands for that statement not to be true.
Are there any syntax errors with it? Can it be improved?
5
votes
2answers
929 views
How to understand "They were not looking at you funny"?
A quote from the movie The Guardians of the Galaxy vol 2:
They were not looking at you funny.
How to explain the syntactic construction of this sentence? Why does the speaker put funny at the end?
I ...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
"It...that" sentence structure
I have one question!.
It's obvious through the photographs the journalist brings back from the field that he shows the situation he witnessed.
It looks like weird! Do we need to start "He shows ...
0
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0answers
16 views
want (to V) or want to (V)?
want / to V
want to / V ?
If I say slowly "I want to speak English well."
Do I have to stop like: I want / to speak / English / well.
or Do I have to stop like: I want to / speak / English ...
1
vote
1answer
21 views
He is going to take after his father
He is going to take after his father.
"He is going" is a present progressive. As a non-native speaker, I came to put a question to look into the flow/image of meaning in a native speaker's ...
0
votes
1answer
46 views
Can "Don't be sad" start a sentence followed by a comma?
Example sentence:
Don't be sad, everything will turn out fine.
I've seen "Don't worry" used like this, so I think it's not ungrammatical. But part of me, sees "Don't be sad" as a ...
