Questions tagged [syntax]
This tag is for questions regarding the rules for the formation of sentences.
361
questions
0
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1answer
15 views
What does “not the less so" mean in this very complicated sentence?
I am extremely puzzled by the use and meaning of "not the less so" in this sentence. Does "so" refer to "resigned"? Could anyone help me with it please? Many thanks!
The context is that Collins' ...
0
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2answers
21 views
Using 3rd person “s” with relative pronouns
My question is about adding S to the third person in questions starting by WH or any other type of word not only by do or does.
for instance, which of the following sentences are correct?
Is there ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
Need clarity regarding Third-person-singular conjugation in a sentence
I am having troubles understanding whether I should add an "S" at the end of a verb or not.
The sentence is: "We are a human company that, through design and engineering, develop automation solutions....
0
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1answer
31 views
Position of which and what at the rear of sentences
I have four sentences below, showing the different locations of “what, which” in a sentence.
What is the right of innocent passage, and in which part of the oceans does it apply?
What is the ...
2
votes
1answer
50 views
Complex WH-questions: grammaticality and long-distance movement
The more I'm reading about syntax, the more I'm starting to doubt my ability to judge the grammaticality of English sentences correctly... so I need some help with that. I'm a non-native speaker of ...
0
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0answers
20 views
interjection: Fool that I am!
How do you analyze the following phrase? What kind of movement or other operation is involved?
Fool that I am!
I'd appreciate your help.
0
votes
1answer
27 views
Combine five sentences into one
There is nothing better than strolling in the park, seeing playing kids and hearing birds’ chirping.
Is this sentence grammatically, syntactically meaningful sentence?
I want to say that, I stroll ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
What clause elements has this sentence? (That doesn't sound like him.)
I've been struggling to analyse this sentence in terms of its clause elements.
"That doesn't sound like him."
What I mean by the clause elements are the following: verb, subject, object, subject ...
0
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0answers
20 views
Mathematics equation
Two fives make (or makes) ten.
Two fives are ten.
What's the matter here? When we use the verb "make" both singular and plural are possible to use and when we use the verb "are", only singular ...
0
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0answers
29 views
About “The comparative, the comparative” expression
In my school days, I was taught the English sentence structure, "The comparative + Subject + Verb, the comparative + Subject + Verb."
In a certain software help document, I saw a sentence, "The lower ...
0
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1answer
61 views
Sentences without subjects and objects
I believe that a sentence in English must have a subject. (It does not necessarily have an object as for intransitive verbs.) A sentence without a subject is also possible as in an imperative sentence....
2
votes
1answer
39 views
Man, it's not easy to decide
I'd love to hear your opinions. Please tell me which one is correct or incorrect.
the original sentence:
You all must have played this game at least once.
You don't have to take specific context into ...
1
vote
1answer
34 views
How can you parse the syntax of the sentence?
The sentence I need to parse:
"Had" is the Past Tense of the verb to "have".
I can see that "Had" is the subject. But what part of the sentence is the predicate?
Am I right thinking that "Past" ...
0
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0answers
18 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
53 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
136 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
votes
0answers
36 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
152 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
59 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
76 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
56 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
53 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
42 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
48 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
33 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
159 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
143 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
76 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
45 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
55 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
...
0
votes
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
50 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
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0answers
51 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
330 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
55 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
62 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
31 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
43 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
28 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
42 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
14 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
24 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
48 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
55 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
159 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
28 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
27 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?
