January 2019

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Hello, Navi, All five of the sentences are pretty bad, to tell you the truth, though (5) is technically correct. The problem with (2) is that "put" wants to be "fit": (2a) This chair can fold to fit in the trunk of a car. I suppose the correctness of (1) is debatable. I don't like it, though. I suggest that its sentence-ending infinitival be changed to a passive "if"-clause: (1a) That letter needs to be read at least twice if information is to be extracted from it .Read More...

Hi, Azz, Yes, I agree with your comments about the sentences. I don't think we need to explore the philosophical differences between trying to please someone and trying to avoid displeasing him or her. Suffice it to say that (a) and (b) are fine, and (c) and (d) are undesirable for the reason you indicate. And even though split infinitives aren't bad in themselves, (e) is pretty ugly. I suggest fixing (c), (d), and (e) all in precisely the same way -- by eliminating the sentence boundary...Read More...

Both are grammatical, Ansonman, but only (1) makes sense.Read More...

Hi, Ansonman: Sentences (1) are (2) are OK. Please let me know if you are perplexed as to why they are correct. Sentence (3), however, does not work well. It would be better (though still not a wonderful sentence) if you used the progressive in the "while"-clause: "While I am working on my project in my bedroom . . . ." Also, I would prefer "makes" in the "if"-clause and "will" in the main clause of (3), but it is not incorrect to use "made" and "would."Read More...

Hi, Ansonman, No, "malign" is not being appropriately used in that sentence, and I think you understand why; otherwise you wouldn't have said that this is related to one of your previous threads. Why not use one of these sentences instead? You are complaining about your job. You are whining about your job. You are looking at the minuses of your job. (cf. "the pluses and minuses")Read More...

Hi, Freeguy: Yes, "can" does indicate a general possibility right there. The sentence means that when tourism is spoken of, it is possible that either domestic tourism or international tourism is being spoken of.Read More...

Hi there, do both not a and not any sound natural In the following context? Are they both grammatical? And if I use 'not a' in an exam, will I be marked down? Parliament elections in india are near. Today an opinion poll was held that says Abc party will win 250 seats, Xyz party will win 100 seats and others will not win a seat/any seats . As both mean others will win Zero seats so I think both forms are correct. Could you please explain?Read More...

Now I understand, David. Thank you very much for the detailed explanation.Read More...

Thank you so much David Does "end up" mean "finish" but it has a result too?Read More...

Thank you very much for your help, DocV.Read More...

You said "You haven't done this, and I'm not suggesting that you ever you ever will or should, but if you were going to do so, how would you do it?" but the question want or suggests us to do that we really should do that not if we were going to do. How can it be hypothetical? (I can't write better)Read More...

Yes, Mr. P. One of our members actually shared that text with me in e-mail after you asked your question. Please review our policy on the use of quotations . Whenever you quote something on this forum, you must show that you are quoting it (by using quotation marks or a quote box) and cite the source. You'll notice that the sentence you asked about is not identical to the sentence in the quotation. "And hated publicity" has been changed to "as he hated publicity." Is it possible that you or...Read More...

Thanks, everyone.Read More...

Hello, Navi, Navi meets Bon Jovi . That's what I thought upon reading your title. I do see your "living dead" interpretation for (2) and (4); however, that was not the first interpretation of those sentences which came to my mind. Indeed, I think all four sentences are "correct and make sense in a world in which there are no living dead." There are differences, though. I read (1) as saying that the list included thirty revolutionaries, regardless of whether they were living or dead; (2) as...Read More...

Thank you, David! The bet slip I am referring to is an online bet slip, so I thought it could be described as "settled". Thank you for your quick help!Read More...

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Thanks a lot.Read More...

Hi, Subhajit, Sentence (1), with "used to," means that swimming in the river was a habit you had as a child. Swimming in the river is something you did regularly as a child. Sentence (2), with "would," means that swimming in the river was something you occasionally did as a child, especially in a special circumstance -- e.g.: (2a) As a child I would swim in the river when the pool wasn't open.Read More...

Hi, Ansonman, Unfortunately, neither "praise" nor "compliment" works there. We praise and compliment other people and sometimes the things they produce, like sentences. However, we don't praise or compliment objects and other nonsentient entities, including jobs, which can neither be praised nor flattered. You could use "tout," "promote," "talk up," or "show off about": He is touting his job. / He is promoting his job. He is talking up his job. / He is talking his job up. He is showing off...Read More...

Hi, Ansonman, All of the sentences except (4) are OK. Sentence (1) and (3) are transforms of each other, just as a transform of (2) would be "To collect stamps is my hobby." Sentence (4) doesn't work because your hobby does not itself involve liking. It involves simply the doing of it. I recommend breaking (4) into two sentences: (4a) I like to collect stamps. It's my hobby. "It" in "It's my hobby" refers, of course, to the infinitive "to collect stamps," which again yields "To collect...Read More...

These are your threads about "any," Subhajit. All but two have responses, I believe. Please carefully review each one and let us know precisely how we have not already provided you with enough information to answer this new question: 8/29/17 https://.infopop.cc/topic/any-or-any-other 8/29/17 https://thegrammarexchange.inf...e-of-any-with-except 8/30/17 https://thegrammarexchange.inf...o-you-have-any-other 9/7/17 https://thegrammarexchange.inf...c/topic/usage-of-any 9/8/17...Read More...

These are your threads about "any," Subhajit. All but two have responses, I believe. Please carefully review each one and let us know precisely how we have not already provided you with enough information to answer this new question: 8/29/17 https://.infopop.cc/topic/any-or-any-other 8/29/17 https://thegrammarexchange.inf...e-of-any-with-except 8/30/17 https://thegrammarexchange.inf...o-you-have-any-other 9/7/17 https://thegrammarexchange.inf...c/topic/usage-of-any 9/8/17...Read More...

Thanks, David.Read More...