5
votes
"With" as a function word to specify an additional circumstance or condition
All four examples do not need the comma as the sentences begin with their independent clauses.
They mean the same with or without the commas.
From context, the sentences are clear, and there's no risk ...
- 18.9k
4
votes
Accepted
What does "at the run" mean?
We can use 'at' as a preposition to express a state or type of activity. To set off, 'at the run' or, alternatively, 'at a run', means to 'start off running'.
At preposition (CONDITION)
used to ...
- 74.3k
3
votes
Present continuous vs present perfect continuous to express annoyance
The book's explanation is confusing, or at least incomplete. Of course both usages "express anger, annoyance or irritation."
Perfect tenses usually talk about how the past matters to our ...
- 17.3k
3
votes
Accepted
If I was living purely on my state pension, I have to work
TV Presenter: Rob, you are just a couple of pounds over the threshold but it means you're going to lose out on hundreds in winter fuel allowance.
Rob: That's quite correct, that's if I was living ...
- 28.4k
2
votes
Clauses and Phrases
Loosely defined, a phrase is a group of words that can be replaced with one word of the same type.
"Our hard drive" is a noun phrase that can be replaced with a noun, e.g. the pronoun "...
- 1,014
2
votes
Accepted
"It has a four-person crew." vs "It has a crew of four."
I add to what @Kate Bunting said.
It is a double (or twin) room.
Edit
The second would sound better if phrased as It is a single-seater car.
The third would sound better if phrased as It is a three-...
- 18.9k
2
votes
Accepted
I'm just going to run it down this glass rod. | Why "...down...." instead of "....through"...?
The choice of down, through, down through and others often depends on physical context. Down the rod is perfectly normal in here; it indicates that the liquid ran downwards along the rod.
Note that a ...
- 7,660
2
votes
With night coming on, we started home
"with night coming on" refers to night coming on as an attendant circumstance.
To the extent that the circumstance attends the action expressed in a matrix clause, there is the possibility ...
- 132k
2
votes
Is "that" optional in "to the extent that"?
It is necessary in your second example. "To the extent it will break" could be understood as "how much it will break".
'That' makes it clear you are introducing a subordinate ...
- 108k
2
votes
omission of "being" & different versions of absolute construction
In the first three sentences, the phrase with being means 'because he was/because I am'. You can't omit being, only replace it with as.
In the second three, being doesn't have this meaning and is ...
- 59k
2
votes
"With" as a function word to specify an additional circumstance or condition
Pause punctuation
The comma (,), the colon (:), the semi colon(;), the parentheses (( and )), the em dash (—), and the ellipsis (…) all represent a pause in the flow of speech. Since writing is (or ...
- 1,336
2
votes
"With" as a function word to specify an additional circumstance or condition
Commas are used to mark the boundaries of some phrases and clauses. They are not linked to individual words.
Commas work like road signs. But just as a good driver doesn't need the road sign to drive ...
- 132k
2
votes
Accepted
Can ago be used with since?
The sentence "He has prepared for the Basic Competence Test since three years ago" is not grammatically correct.
"Since" is used to refer to a point in time when something started ...
- 598
1
vote
I'm just going to run it down this glass rod. | Why "...down...." instead of "....through"...?
... run it down the glass rod is right. He was using the surface of the glass rod, not the internal of a tube, to convey down the liquid.
... run it through the glass tube would be appropriate to ...
- 18.9k
1
vote
The correct preposition after the noun Punishment
OP has stated:
The preposition 'of' after the noun 'punishment' makes the following noun, the receiver of the punishment.
The phrase "punishment of" typically indicates the receiver of the ...
- 2,211
1
vote
Accepted
even if or no matter
Giving someone a penny is not much help, but better than no help. If you cannot afford two pennnies, you help even with a penny.
The second says it doesn’t matter whether you give one penny or two. ...
- 3,932
1
vote
even if or no matter
Help the needy even if you do it with a penny.
This sounds natural and clear.
Help the needy no matter if you do it with a penny.
This is understandable but slightly less common in phrasing.
Help ...
- 9,647
1
vote
even if or no matter
even if concedes that a penny is a very small bit of help (but every little bit helps).
no matter if concedes that it is not a cause for concern if you do it with a penny.
no matter whether ditto.
- 132k
1
vote
Is "that" optional in "to the extent that"?
Both are noun clauses introduced by "that". In the first sentence, the clause is an object (of the verb "check"). In the second sentence, the clause is a complement of a noun (&...
- 1,014
1
vote
What is the natural way to say "increment by 0.5"?
First, you can pronounce "0.5 kg" a number of ways:
half a kilogram
half a kilo
a half-kilo
zero point five kilograms
zero point five kay jee
etc.
As for the increments:
The scale is ...
- 13.2k
1
vote
The usage of 'the' in certain situations
In the case of "public agricultural policy" you are talking about a whole subject that encompasses all the instances of making policy as concerns agriculture, its principles, processes, ...
- 883
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