Questions tagged [word-order]
This tag is for questions about the correct order of words in a phrase or a sentence, or how changing the order affects the meaning.
1,205
questions
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Is the order of adjectives correct in "a new sleeveless blue woolen jumper"?
Is the order of adjectives in this sentence correct?
I've just bought a new sleeveless blue woolen jumper.
Which category (perhaps size, shape, or something else) is "sleeveless" in? How ...
0
votes
2
answers
64
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Are "a dog big eyed" and "big eyed dog" valid constructions in English? [closed]
a dog big eyed
big eyed dog
First: I would like to ask if 1 and 2 are the same in meaning?
Second: are they valid constructions?
and finally: is "eyed" an adjective?
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0
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18
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How to use "between" for percentages
I have a question regarding the below pie chart, can I say the following sentence regarding the least practiced activities by girls ? :
"Listening to music, gymnastics, netball and computer games ...
2
votes
2
answers
105
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Pass by him Vs pass him by
Is just the first one correct or are there both right?
After a few seconds, he opened his eyes and realized that the shark had passed by him / passed him by, completely ignoring him.
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0
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26
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How to use the phrase “in and of itself”?
What would be grammatically correct form between following english sentences?
X is in and of itself contradictory.
X in and of itself is contradictory.
I know “in and of itself” is a short form of “...
2
votes
2
answers
70
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I arrived when he had (already) left
Is it true that "I arrived when he had (already) left." is wrong?
It (supposedly) should be:
When I arrived he had (already) left.
Is it really a mistake which natives don't usually make ...
-1
votes
1
answer
22
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Which order is better? "My best friend, Jody, is my cousin." vs "My cousin Jody is my best friend." [closed]
My best friend, Jody, is my cousin.
My cousin Jody is my best friend.
Which one is better?
0
votes
1
answer
34
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What does the difference "a capsule preview" and "a capsule review "? [closed]
What does the difference "a capsule preview" and
"a capsule review "?
Can you give me an example sentence "a capsule preview" ?
Thankyou
5
votes
1
answer
1k
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Loud heavy/heavy loud metal band
I'm confused choosing between "heavy loud" and "loud heavy". Example:
They are a loud heavy metal band.
They are a heavy loud metal band.
Which one is correct, and why?
0
votes
1
answer
27
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If I meet him, I want to tell him [closed]
Can one use
a. If I meet him, I want to tell him how much he has influenced me.
instead of
b. I want to tell him how much he has influenced me if I meet him.
?
Many thanks.
2
votes
1
answer
31
views
Adverb attachment order
Why does
I worked hardly.
sound so wrong and
I hardly worked.
is the only correct (or at least idiomatic) expression.
Yet
I worked quickly.
is correct this time and
I quickly worked.
sounds ...
1
vote
1
answer
54
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To say "Lost paradise" or "paradise lost"? [closed]
I don't have any specific context to work with but a thought came to mind as an English learner I stated to imagine if there would be any difference in both:
1 "lost paradise"
2 "...
2
votes
1
answer
23
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Where should I put 'as well' in this kind of sentence?
Where should I put 'as well' in this kind of sentence?
What I want to say is that John has given a gift only to one person and not to the other people present. So, one who hasn't received a gift ...
0
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0
answers
25
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Which of the following is grammaticaly correct?
There are many sentences that confuse me and they are like these two:
Whatever may be the reason, they failed badly.
Whatever the reason may be, they failed badly.
Which one is grammatically correct ...
1
vote
1
answer
52
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Is the order of adjectives correct in "interactive web-based analytic application"?
I'm not sure I understand how to define the order of adjectives in a sentence in the practical case. My starting reference was Cambridge.
I am undecided about the order of adjectives in a sentence. ...
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3
answers
49
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"If extraversion is so much more beneficial ... than is introversion" - why not "than introversion is"?
I came across this sentence from a psychology article
If extraversion is so much more beneficial (at least superficially) than is introversion, then why isn't everyone an extravert?
If I were the ...
0
votes
2
answers
44
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"$15 for two beers seems a little excessive" or "two beers for $15 seems a little excessive"?
Which one is correct?
$15 for two beers seems a little excessive.
Two beers for $15 seems a little excessive.
The price is supposed to be excessive. It's too pricy.
0
votes
1
answer
33
views
What is the difference between "Is it not wrong? And Is not it wrong?" [closed]
Recently I hear it a lot in different movies and it is bothering me a lot so I'll be pleased if you guys answer me😃
1
vote
2
answers
59
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What is the grammatical structure: "The dog licked the dish clean."
The dog licked the dish clean.
Which rules of grammar does it follow?
Can I interpret the sentence like 'The dish got clean due to dog's licking of the dish' ?
0
votes
2
answers
67
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Meaning of a sentence based on the positioning of the word "using"
I have a question about the following sentence:
Designed and built APIs using Python and MySQL to support the development of microservices.
For you who are reading this sentence for the first time, ...
0
votes
1
answer
33
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Is that structure even grammatical?
Ive read the following relative clause:
... that control which recipient a message is sent to
If I look at
which recipient a message is sent to
"recipient" is the subject and "a ...
0
votes
1
answer
30
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Where do I place an adjunct in a sentence?
I know that I can place the adjuncts at the end of a sentence.
For an example:
He talks about the topic without knowing much about it.
But now I've seen a sentence that was:
He talks, without ...
0
votes
1
answer
30
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Which word is better here: 'case' or 'occasion'?
I want to say about some event/incident/opportunity (not crime) that happened in city/area.
For example, Manchester occasion or Florida occasion meaning some event/incident/opportunity that once ...
2
votes
2
answers
147
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Word order and focus ("this finding needs to be cautiously interpreted")
Although this finding needs to be cautiously interpreted, /.../
How does this sound to a native speaker? Would it make any difference if we change it to:
Although this finding needs to be ...
1
vote
1
answer
24
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How do I say: 'searching online' or 'online searching'?
Meaning someone was looking for information, not noun, but a verb.
You spent some time searching online yesterday
You spent some time online searching yesterday
Which one is correct? Also, can I just ...
0
votes
0
answers
26
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Is the form [What time is + noun-phrase] ungrammatical?
This question sprang to mind while I was learning Chinese using an app. To make it clear what sentence I tried to translate, it's:
你们上午几点喝茶?
The suggestion answer from the app is
What time in the ...
0
votes
2
answers
99
views
"A few years from now" / "in a few years"
A few years from now, he’ll probably be married.
He’ll probably be married in a few years.
The sentences in their meaning are completely the same, right?
Is it possible to swap them?
In a few years, ...
0
votes
1
answer
27
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The man there was very kind and said, (about "there")
I went to a house and asked for help. The man there was very kind and said, “Come in and keep warm.”
I have the mentioned sentences in the book. Is it normal to use "there" between "...
0
votes
1
answer
24
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In interrogative sentences the adverb should come before the auxiliary verb or after it?
In interrogative sentences, the adverb should come before the auxiliary verb or after it?
For example, my friend told me "I am confused with this issue".
and I pondered whether I have to say:...
3
votes
1
answer
42
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How to use “to store them” amounts of paper correctly in a sentence
This seems off to me and I am not sure how to correct it or if the pronoun is wrong for paper in this sentence:
You moved a large amount of paper from a space and intended to store them in a room ...
0
votes
1
answer
69
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What is the correct word to the song that kept telling me its okay or that keep telling is correct
Like something I've been listening for a year and want to express that the song was the one that keep me going and what should be the correct word for me to post with kept telling or keep telling what ...
1
vote
1
answer
12
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Adjectives in words order
World Health Organization(WHO), is translated as a international(world) organization for health. Monda Organizo pri Sano(eo) or Organisation mondiale de la santé(fr) and سازمان جهانی بهداشت(fa). But I ...
0
votes
1
answer
29
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pitch at too low?
Oxford Learners Dictionary has an example sentence under usage "pitch something (at something)"
The test was pitched at too low a level for the students.
I'm confused by the part of speech ...
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2
answers
37
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You are just bored with your job. / You just get bored with your job. (about "just")
You are just bored with your job.
You just get bored with your job.
I know that both sentences are correct, but why "just" changes its position in the sentences? How do you explain that we ...
0
votes
2
answers
94
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Does the meaning of a sentence change when I change the order of the adverbial (preposition) phrases in it
i always thought that when we have more than one adverbial phrase (two mostly)
They hold equal emphasis or modify the verb at the same level.
Is it correct, i thought it was correct.
Read the ...
0
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3
answers
22
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Which one is right about the use of "embed"
When I strongly believe in an idea, theory, ideology etc
Which one is right :
I am embeded in that idea / That idea is embeded in me
or Is there another sentence, which is more appropriate, being able ...
1
vote
2
answers
156
views
Always Almost vs Almost Always
Is there any difference between:
I always almost burn myself when I cook.
I almost always burn myself when I cook.
0
votes
1
answer
59
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"He speaks better Spanish than I do" or "He speaks Spanish better than I do"
Could you tell me the difference between these phrases if there is any?
He corrects me because he speaks Spanish better than I do.
He corrects me because he speaks better Spanish than I do.
I tried ...
0
votes
1
answer
41
views
"Not to go to X" or "To not go to X"?
Dad is looking for an excuse not to go to the wedding.
Dad is looking for an excuse to not go to the wedding.
I don't know whether or not they are correct. Both sentences are found in my language ...
1
vote
1
answer
31
views
Can I flip these words and keep the gist?
In the text:
"Clinical trials found the vaccine to work well, but the company has long struggled with manufacturing. Here’s the latest on the pandemic." (From New York Times)
Can I rewrite ...
1
vote
1
answer
51
views
Why these adjectives comes after the noun, is this case?
The Headline:
"ee the Read Like the Wind Newsletter
Our critic’s latest recommendations for books old and new include “Pigeon” and “The Odyssey.”
why "old" and "new" after ...
0
votes
1
answer
25
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"Two-key open mode" or "two open keys mode"?
Assume that we have an electrical circuit including two keys and a CPU. When the two keys are open the CPU switches to which of the following statements:
two-key open mode
Or
two open keys mode
...
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votes
2
answers
40
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Order of adjectives plus commas [closed]
What is the proper order and use of commas in this sentence and how strict is it? I feel this is correct, but want to hear from other native speakers since English is complicated and sometimes ...
1
vote
1
answer
28
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Lyrical word order swap
The Pretenders, from "Who's Who" lyrics:
It's like a modern work of art
Disturbing and lacking in heart
I'm a bit disturbed too: I'd automatically say "a work of modern art" since ...
0
votes
2
answers
19
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Questions about this expression
We will pray to God for our life together in thankful mind on Sunday night.
The words in a preposition phrase are arranged one after another above.
As I see them, the word 'night' is a head and the ...
0
votes
1
answer
19
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What's the correct order of the words "option" and "-d"?
I asked a technical question on another StackExchange website, and the title of the question is:
What does the option "-d" of the ... command do?
Someone helped me improve it like this:
...
0
votes
0
answers
23
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Is this sentence has an inversion or modifying of word-order?
I am reading an article Tbilisi on Wikipedia, there is a sentence that confuses with me.
It was in the former Viceroy of the Caucasus's palace where the
independence of three Transcaucasus nations – ...
8
votes
2
answers
3k
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Only then are you free?
Quote from an awesome TED talk (The prison of your mind given by Sean Stephenson):
When you love yourself, whether you're sleeping on a prison cot, or in a mansion, whether you have food in your ...
1
vote
1
answer
56
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Can ‘attribute A to B’ be used as ‘attribute to B A?’
The article I read uses ‘attribute A to B’, but it uses attribute A to B as attribute to B A. is this correct?
Also, here’s the article.
Delay is a necessary component of procrastination. This means ...
0
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2
answers
46
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Are these word orders correct or not and why? [closed]
I can't understand if they are correct or not.
1 Can you name the person whose picture this is?
2 Can you name the person whose is this picture?
3 Can you name the person whose picture is this?