Questions tagged [syntax]
This tag is for questions regarding the rules for the formation of sentences.
350
questions
0
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0answers
13 views
Elliptical structured confusing English
1.She believed to have been killed in somewhere in frontline
For me it should be written in like "She is believed 'who' have been killed in somewhere in frontline"
After the peace treaty ...
0
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0answers
17 views
Which of the following is correct and what is the difference in meaning among them?
Could someone please help me with the following sentences? Which ones are correct and why and what is the difference in meaning among them?
1) I'm amazed how can he be so insensitive?
2) I'm amazed ...
4
votes
1answer
51 views
Use of “that” or “the” with the title “option A”
Context: I volunteer with a student who is taking the CELPIP exam in Canada. In this exam they give a survey with two options (option A and option B). The student has to choose an option and say why ...
1
vote
1answer
107 views
“write using a black pen” Is the usage correct?
Hi.
I have a question regarding the following two sentences:
A: Please write using a black pen when providing further information under this section.
B: Please review the document using the latest ...
0
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0answers
32 views
Constituency tests — is a phrase like this a constituent?
When we have a sentence with a strange syntactic position, how do we know if a phrase is a constituent?
For example,
"The two shortest of the books"
Is [of the books] a constituent?
I tried ...
0
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0answers
58 views
Specifier, adjunct, or complement? how to know? syntax
How can I know if an embedded clause is a Specifier, an adjunct, or a complement?
For example, in a sentence like:
One notion that nobody has mentioned yet was proposed during the conference.
Can ...
0
votes
1answer
16 views
“4 hours each session” or “each session will last for 4 hours”
Which one is clearer and grammatically correct?
The course will commence on December 2 every Mondays and Wednesday, 4 hours each session, for 4 weeks
The course will be scheduled every Mondays ...
0
votes
2answers
67 views
He left her a widow
He left her a widow.
I think this sentence is ambiguous.
The possible meanings are:
1. He died and she became a widow.
2. He kept a widow in her care.
Could you please analyze the sentences and ...
1
vote
2answers
44 views
You must have mended your shoes
Your shoes are shining:
You must have mended your shoes.
You must have your shoes mended.
This was the question given in an examination.
Most students and some teachers found the ...
0
votes
2answers
51 views
Not all language tests are of the same kind
Not all language tests are of the same kind.
All language tests are not of the same kind
I think both the sentences mean the same thing though they are syntactically different.
What is the part ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
Identifying parts of a sentence
I just answered a question on stack overflow : https://stackoverflow.com/questions/57920126/how-to-make-sense-of-this-scala-stacktrace/57920452#57920452
In my answer, I used the terms "subject verb ...
1
vote
2answers
42 views
John could drive the car
John could drive the car.
The car could be driven by John
The second sentence is the passive form of the first sentence.
But I have read in a book for teaching methodology that the two sentences ...
1
vote
2answers
20 views
Is 'pair of dress' more correct than 'dress'? [closed]
Is 'pair of dress' more correct than 'dress'?
Is it syntactically correct if I say 'I donated 20 pairs of dresses'?
2
votes
2answers
99 views
Is a subject required for a grammatically correct sentence?
In particular I'm interested in the sentence:
Meet with friends and family.
It is a sentence in the 'interests and hobbies' section of a resume, so it can be deduced who the subject is. Is the ...
2
votes
1answer
53 views
The Passive Auxillary
The company is being taxed
The company has been taxed
The company has been being taxed
These are three examples listed in a book on syntax.
In the first one, the book suggests that "is" is ...
2
votes
1answer
60 views
Using singular vs. plural objects in a prepositional phrase
What are the grammatical differences between:
He's good at driving cars.
and:
He's good at driving a car.
Are there any differences in correctness or meaning, or times when you should use one ...
2
votes
1answer
30 views
How to use “there is” after “there is no reason for”?
Consider the sentence:
There is nothing after the credits.
How do I add that after "There is no reason for"?
There is no reason for there being anything after the credits.
There is no ...
1
vote
0answers
36 views
Shouldn’t “if pleasure be happiness” be written “if pleasure would be happiness”?
Why is there a simple form “be” after the subject in the following sentence? Isn't it that it should be like 'if pleasure would be happiness'?
My courtiers called me the Happy Prince, and happy
...
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0answers
8 views
Sentence structure in interrogative sentences
Which of the following sentence structure is correct?
(1)Do you know where I can find some shoes?
(2) Do you know where can I find some shoes?
0
votes
1answer
45 views
Help understanding the structure of this sentence (Typical orienting reactions include *the following the arteries* to the brain…)
Typical orienting reactions include the following the arteries to the brain grow wider allowing more blood to reach it, the heart slows down and arteries to the large muscles become narrower so as to ...
0
votes
1answer
48 views
I feel a line of an article somewhat strange gramatically
I am currently reading this article, which has the below line,
The outcome also reflects the seismic effect the U.K.'s decision three years ago to leave the 28-nation EU has had on the country's ...
0
votes
0answers
35 views
Syntax operations. What are the operations involved in the pair here?
What are the syntactic operations are involved in the following pair?
IT was:
she talked with him via email?
IT became:
With whom did she talk via email? syntax
My book shows that ...
2
votes
1answer
325 views
In syntax, why cannot we say things like “he took walked at the park”? but can say “he took a walk at the park”?
In syntax, why cannot we say things like
"he took walked at the park"?
but can say things like
"he took a walk at the park"?
0
votes
2answers
23 views
wash the dishes ; a phrase?
I don't know either the following constructions are a phrase or a clause?
1) wash the dishes
2) do the laundry
3) take out the garbage
In my opinion, they are all phrases or verb phrases ...
0
votes
1answer
29 views
Is over here/ over there preposition?
I wonder if my knowledge is right regarding the following phrases being prepositions:
i) over here
ii) over there
Both having the same construction= over (preposition) + here/there (adverb)
...
-1
votes
1answer
30 views
Syntax of a clause in Wikipedia's entry on “Irish Bulls”
What's the syntax of the clause in bold?
Extensive use of Irish bulls are made of by American Jewish humorists,
from the period when large numbers of recent Jewish immigrants from
Germany or ...
2
votes
1answer
39 views
What does “to shout over” mean, particularly as it has been used in a particular passage I’ve read with curious sytnax?
I don’t understand the meaning of shout over as it has been used
in the following passage
from Patricia Highsmith’s novel, The Talented Mr. Ripley:
A well-dressed Italian greeted ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
A question regarding the verb — would like+ to-infinitive
I appreciate if someone can help me in clarifying my doubt.
I(subj) + would (modal verb)+ like(verb) + to eat (main verb (to-infinitive))+ rice (obj)
Are the classes correct?
Thanks!
0
votes
1answer
39 views
The subject in “How much information is created daily?”
How much information is created daily?
If the subject is only implied in this sentence, why do we need the auxiliary verb (is) in this sentence?
0
votes
1answer
13 views
Which sentence structure is correct/better and why? Please explain
I have applied for admission to post-graduation course at a few universities.
I have applied at a few universities for admission in post-graduation course.
0
votes
1answer
22 views
Is it correct that we use “be” instead of “do” after “would”?
for example in the following sentence she can not do any useful thing.
She wouldn’t be any help, would she?
Is it true that we can not use "do" after "would"?
0
votes
1answer
41 views
Grammar of the Openings in Fairy Tales [duplicate]
Which is better in terms of grammar and why, I wonder?
Once upon a time lived King and Queen...
Once upon a time there lived King and Queen...
0
votes
1answer
16 views
to watch me play - what rules are here
Here is an excerpt from The Art of Learning:
More and more fans came to my tournaments to watch me play and get autographs.
My questions is should not it be:
either More and more fans came to my ...
3
votes
2answers
50 views
Not repeating the negation for the second clause
On world building meta I came across this sentence:
Now I truly believe that those that ask in this manner are not actually lazy and just expect us to do their work for them.
How is this sentence ...
0
votes
2answers
29 views
Syntax of “There they all were, talking about homework and Quidditch and who knew what other rubbish”
Hermione ripped open the newspaper and began to read the report inside while Harry looked around the Great Hall. He could not understand why his fellow students were not looking scared or at least ...
4
votes
1answer
156 views
The meaning of the “at the of”
In the following article by The Telegraph:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2387900/New-man-at-the-of-IMG.html
I stumbled upon the following phrase (in the title of the article):
"New man at the of ...
1
vote
1answer
23 views
Subject complement or prepositonal object
In this sentence:
" This is an adventure to me"
/an adventure to me/ is the subject complement.
I'd like to know the function of " to me" . Is it a post modifier of " adventure"? Or is it a prep. ...
1
vote
1answer
26 views
What structure is that - “They are getting more and more applicants wanting to join them”
In this structure:
"They are getting more and more applicants wanting to join them".
What is that? Is it the participle? Is it the "get sb doing" clause?
0
votes
2answers
65 views
The grammar of “be buried”
What is the grammar of "be buried" in the following sentences?:
The graves have all been found under the houses, right under the
floors. And it may be this burial custom that explains why the ...
0
votes
1answer
68 views
The relation between direct and indirect speech
‘Mary, I want to take you out to dinner,’ he had lied, to break the
frost.
I would like to know what is the syntactic relation between the direct and indirect speech - whether there is any kind of ...
0
votes
1answer
398 views
What is name of structure Being + v3
I went to the hospital and I saw a patient being treated last night.
What kind of sentence it is being treated in the above sentence.
2
votes
2answers
40 views
Have got usage question
Consider this:
We have got to go back
- Luke Skywalker in Star Wars V
I don't think it is actually present perfect usage but certainly used like that syntactically. It is more like simple ...
0
votes
0answers
40 views
How can I formulate this sentences correctly?
How can I formulate this sentences correct?
Singular
We do have an employee which is call John Doe.
We do have an employee which is called John Doe.
Plural
We do have employees, ...
0
votes
0answers
37 views
What sentence pattern is this?
I like living in the country.
Is it Subject - Verb - Object - Adverbial of place OR Subject - Verb - Object - Postmodification of living realized by a prepositional phrase?
Thanks.
4
votes
2answers
62 views
The grammar of “struck dumb, sprouting feelers” in this sentence
Harry was pointing the wand directly at Dudley's heart. Harry could feel fourteen years’ hatred of Dudley pounding in his veins—what wouldn't he give to strike now, to jinx Dudley so thoroughly he'd ...
1
vote
3answers
77 views
What clause element is this please?
When she got into the car at five, ready for the fifteen-mile drive across London, it wouldn't start.
What does this stretch of language represent? Is it an adverbial?
1
vote
2answers
51 views
Can somebody explain the grammar of this sentence?
"Looking at the first and second stages of the process, there are three ways of collecting data."
I saw this sentence in an IELTS diagram report but im not sure of the grammar.
Do we have a reduced ...
4
votes
2answers
481 views
How to understand “…you like it the shape it is”
Fred and George looked at each other. Then Fred said abruptly, “I've told you before, Ron, keep your nose out if you like it the shape it is. Can't see why you would, but -”
I don't know how to ...
1
vote
1answer
21 views
Structure of “need something back”
What is the structure of the following sentence?
I need my history book back.
What is the grammatical role of the word "back"?
1
vote
1answer
39 views
What is the grammatical role of the word “either” in the following sentence?
What is the grammatical role of "either" in the following sentence:
Nevertheless, a goal is seldom destroyed by a delay, so don't destroy
your positive attitude, either.
