Questions tagged [grammar]
This tag is for questions about morphology and syntax, the two elements of grammar. DO NOT USE THIS TAG IF YOUR QUESTION IS ABOUT WHETHER SOMETHING SPECIFIC IS GRAMMATICAL. For such cases use the 'grammaticality' tag. Also do not use this for punctuation or spelling (orthography); those are not about grammar, and they have their own tags.
14,223 questions
3
votes
2
answers
438
views
I believe [person] [thing]
I'm a German native speaker.
In German, you can say:
I believe him (the source) his story (the material).
I don't believe her (source) anything (material).
Using direct and indirect objects.
Now, ...
- 1,537
9
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Unexpected "would" that doesn't feel right in this context
From 'All Creatures, Great and Small' by James Herriot:
“They [pigs] belted out through the yard door at full gallop.”
“The yard door was open then?”
“Too true it was. I would just choose this one ...
- 193
-1
votes
0
answers
33
views
In APA style, is “i.e.” always needed to express “that is” in a parenthetical material, or can it be omitted sometimes?
It can be unclear when “i.e.” needs to be used in parenthetical material in an APA style paper and when it can be left out. For example, does the parenthetical material in the examples below require “...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
51
views
Do you place quotations marks around a term after the word “call” in APA style?
The 7th edition of the APA Style manual says to use quotation marks “to refer to a letter, word, phrase, or sentence as a linguistic example or as itself” (p. 157). Here are examples from APA: https://...
- 1
3
votes
1
answer
61
views
The grammar and semantics of "eat our way to ours" in a specific context
I encountered an unusual grammatical construction while watching a scene from Scooby-Doo! first frights (video link for context).
The character Shaggy says:
"With Scoob and my sweet dance moves ...
- 39
1
vote
2
answers
176
views
Why is "[sic]" used in this article? [closed]
While reading an recent news article, I came across this:
He was a true & loyal [sic] partner, ...
Why is "[sic]" included? Everything seems proper.
They're quoting from a press ...
- 129
1
vote
0
answers
79
views
Is this sentence correct? "I should have bought a car by the end of this year." [closed]
Is this sentence grammatical:
I should have bought a car by the end of this year.
I suspect that this sentence is not correct or grammatical, since, as I understand it, modals + have + past ...
- 21
0
votes
0
answers
38
views
I have a character that can talk to walls and I need help with capitalization [duplicate]
I am writing a story where the main character can talk to walls. In this story, all walls have one large consciousness, and this being has no name, so it is simply called the Walls. My problem is ...
1
vote
1
answer
85
views
What part of speech are the last words of "all at once", "gone at last", "good at first", etc?
All three words (once, last, first) can be defined as adverbs, adjectives, or nouns with similar definitions for each part of speech for the respective words.
I'm trying to figure out if those words ...
- 41
-1
votes
0
answers
12
views
Had carried or had been carrying [duplicate]
It is not clear to me why I can't use "had been carrying" and "carried in this sentence."
It is a standalone sentence and there is no context.
"She took a bottle from the bag ...
- 163
1
vote
2
answers
114
views
What Part of Speech is "on/out/in" in Phrases Without an Object?
For example:
From here on out, these will be the rules.
From the city on down to every neighborhood and street, everyone is worried about by this plan.
There is a chair out back.
- 41
-1
votes
1
answer
98
views
Is the second part of this sentence inconsistent with the "though" at the beginning? [closed]
Example sentence:
Though his team wants him to continue playing, football star Dan Hamilton is going to be 40 on his next birthday; he will retire.
Do you agree that this sentence is incorrect ...
- 119
1
vote
1
answer
113
views
What does the "that" function in this sentence?
Everyone. what do you think of the bold lettering "that"? Is it a conjunction that can be an alternative to "and"? Is there some examples?
Thanks in advance.
English was derived ...
- 135
2
votes
1
answer
548
views
Can “as much” mean “that much”?
An online article from CNBC says:
Gold enters correction territory as global investors stop worrying as much about China tensions, Fed independence, AI bubble.
To me “as much” in the above sentence ...
- 5,826
12
votes
8
answers
3k
views
How do I explain that the last "it" isn't needed in this sentence?
The following sentences were written by a middle school student:
Many places around the world serve Indian food; it tastes spicy. So, it takes some getting used to it.
I know that the last "it&...
- 119