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The sentence above looks like a question lacking an interrogation mark. The sentence: - Who let the cat out of the bag? is a main clause. "who let the cat out of the bag" can only be a dependent clause if it is, for example, an embedded question, a nominal relative, or a relative clause: - I want to know who let the cat out of the bag. (This is an embedded question.) - I know who let the cat out of the bag. (Nominal relative clause: I know the person who let the cat out of the bag.) - That's...Read More...

Hello, Please let me try to answer. I think it is (a). It is a cleft sentence.Read More...

Thank you, David, for your help. I got it.Read More...

In order to get it to flow better, Better Flow, I need to break out of the two-choice box you've given me (I don't like either choice) and choose a different verb: flee .Read More...

Oh, backshift. Thank you, David. AppleRead More...

Thank you, David. appleRead More...

Hi, Sharon, Since you are clear that you you don't wish the phrase to indicate that the serious belongs to the speakers, I agree with you that it makes more sense without the apostrophe. Even the plural (speakers) is unnecessary, though it is not incorrect. Traditionally, attributive nouns were used in the singular even with there was plural meaning. Now it is common to see both types. Thus, you could say: the library speaker series compare : the fairy tale series the superhero novel seriesRead More...

Hi, Azz, While none of the sentences is a disaster, all of them cry out to be repaired. If you changed "(in order) to repair the bus" to "for bus repairs," all would be well: (a'/c') We'll have a twenty-minute delay for bus repairs. (b'/d') There will be a twenty-minute delay for bus repairs.Read More...

Thank you, David. I also thought "onto" would have been better, but since it is in Oxford dictionary, I wasn't sure of myself. AppleRead More...

Hello, C.Y.Chang, and welcome to the Grammar Exchange! Only (a) is correct. The reason you shouldn't say "a hotel where you've visited" is that we speak of visiting something, not of visiting somewhere. "Visit" is a strongly transitive verb that generally requires a direct object. That is, while we can say, "I visited it", it sounds bad to say, " I visited there ." If you changed the verb to "stayed," you could use "where" after "hotel," because we can say, "I stayed there." (b1) Think of a...Read More...

Hi, Subhajit, Sentence (1) indicates that the flowers in the market are of one variety or type, and (2) that the flowers in the market are of many different varieties or types. If you mean simply to say that there are a bunch of diverse flowers in the market (where "variety of" functions as a mere quantifier), then you should say: (3) There are a variety of flowers in the market.Read More...

Hi, Kuen, You can use "to give" if you like. There's nothing wrong with it. I simply prefer the progressive there.Read More...

Hi, Favor, Please include your question in the opening post of a thread. Readers should not have to refer to the title of a thread to see the question that is being asked. As to the difference between "exciting" & "excited," please see the answer Gustavo gave you regarding the difference between "interesting" & "interested."Read More...

Hi, Azz, No, the sentence in blue does not work in that context. It means that, while drunk at the party, he couldn't remember something that happened earlier. Thus, the meaning is contradicted by the context. The sentence wants a perfect infinitive in the context you've presented: Ask him what he said to Jane at the party last night. -He won't be able to answer. He was too drunk to have remembered . Yes, Azz, it is. However, I'd prefer the following, which is equivalent in meaning: (a1) Her...Read More...

Hi, Apple, Yes, all four of those sentences are correct. Sentence (5) is correct, too. "Trust" does not need to be replaced with "believe." "Trust" does work in the sentence. It is a more emphatic version of this sentence: (5a) I cannot trust any of his success stories in business. Please note that "I cannot believe this research result" will tend to indicate excitement and would naturally end with an exclamation point: (4a) I cannot believe this research result! Wow. That is, (4) will not...Read More...

Hi, Apple, The only incorrect sentence in your example set is (1). "Like this" doesn't work there; however, if you changed "like" to "as," or omitted the phrase altogether, the sentence would be fine. You could also use "so beautiful a beach" instead. (1a) I have never seen such a beautiful beach as this. (1b) I have never seen such a beautiful beach. (1c) I have never seen so beautiful a beach. As to (4), though correct, it does have a different meaning. It means what it says, that this is...Read More...

Many thanks 🙏Read More...

Thank you so much, David! I understand. I'm so sorry for this delayed response.Read More...

Favor, I can't believe you don't remember that you asked and I answered exactly the same question only ten days ago! Please do me the favor of rereading that thread .Read More...

Thanks a lot, Gustavo. You made it clear.Read More...

Hello, Joanna, and welcome to the Grammar Exchange! A conditional sentence is a sentence formed by a main clause (what we call the "result") and a conditional clause (what we call the "condition"). Each of those clauses can contain a transitive or an intransitive verb. Only if the verb is transitive in both clauses can the whole sentence be turned into the passive voice, for example: - If they find him, they 'll punish him -> If he 's found , he 'll be punished . In your sentence, only...Read More...

Thanks alotRead More...

Ok. I see. Thank you, David. AppleRead More...

Hi, Subhajit: Sentence (1) is extremely awkward. I can't imagine any native speaker anywhere using the sentence. It wouldn't work at all without the apostrophe. That said, you should really use the second sentence instead.Read More...

Wonderful! I am so grateful to you, Mr David. Your responses are always excellent.Read More...