January 2021

Thanks, David, for endorsing that usage.Read More...

Hi, Azz, As you know, we can also use full inversion in this case: c. Buried in the cave were the bones of dogs. d. Buried in the cave were bones of dogs. I think (a) and (c) refer to the discovery of the skeletons, that is, the complete bone structures, or to bones of dogs already mentioned in the context (e.g. the bones of dogs we were looking for). Instead, (b) and (d) refer to the discovery of separate, perhaps incomplete bones.Read More...

I can't really think of one... it was just something I was wondering about. It probably isn't really something I'll run into. Thank you.Read More...

Yes, that is what I guessed it is~!!! However I am not sure because I am not native. You have clearly pointed out it. In conclusion, the under sentences shown in Korean dictionaries are wrong! definitely wrong!!! 1) I would go abroad but that I am poor. 2) But that I saw it, I could not have believed it. Because there is no negation in each main clause. Okay got it. I may as well take "but" meaning as two main meanings. 1. But - its own meanings as stated in many English dictionaries. 2. Except.Read More...

That will not be necessary. I have already told him how you should proceed. We don't say "enter to the office" but " enter the office ." "Come into the office" is correct. The restriction with "into" only applies to the verb "enter." I told you that when "advise" is used to mean "recommend" there should be a modal indicating advisability within the "that"-clause. In the sentence above, "advise" means "inform," so the modal is not necessary.Read More...

Happy New Year everyone! Thank you both David and Gustavo for the wonderful job you have done throughout the years! What you have done and are doing is just incredible! Wishing everyone health and happiness, AzzRead More...

Noted, thanks Gustavo for your understanding. Many thanks!Read More...

Hi, Tony, No. You should only use "the" if the noun in the genitive case, that is, the noun corresponding to the one who makes the complaints and recommendations, takes an article, for example: - the customer's complaints and recommendations ⇒ the complaints and recommendations of the customerRead More...

Hi, Cristi, "Period start date" and "period end date" are correct phrases in English, if that is what you meant to ask. There, "start" and "end" are nouns, not verbs. "Patient name" is correct, especially for a heading. In context, we will tend to use the genitive case, i.e. patient 's name. We can use two nouns together, where the first one modifies the second one: commencement date = date of commencement / shoe size = size of shoes.Read More...

Hi, Ilko, This idiom seems to be equivalent to "be nothing like" (which is much more usual) and can be used to refer to people: From LDOCE : nothing like British English not at all But she's nothing like her character in real-life . From Collins Dictionary : nothing like (in American English) not at all like; completely different from Luckily, these guys were nothing like the self-important rugs at university. Globe and Mail ( 2003 ) I don't know why each dictionary refers to the same...Read More...

Hello, Foteini—I agree with Ahmed_btm. This is a controversial topic and one that very few grammar books address, but most of the few that do take the position that we are to follow the proximity principle in this type of case. The verb following existential "there" (used as the grammatical subject of a finite clause) should agree with the first member of the compound logical subject. As a native speaker, I know that this is what sounds better. There are two bedrooms and a bathroom on the...Read More...

I think "this" and "these" work well in these cases.Read More...

ThanksRead More...

Thank you. I understand.Read More...

Hello, Ahmed and Ahmed—You've provided some very good responses here, Ahmed_btm. Thank you. I'd like to clarify why I am a strong proponent of using sentences like (4) rather than sentences like (3) with "the matter." While that recommendation might seem to be an exception to the rule that we don't use subject–auxiliary inversion in embedded questions, in reality it is not. "The matter," in this idiomatic usage, is an NP that never functions as subject. "What's the matter ?" may be...Read More...

Hello, ldguir4833, and welcome to the Grammar Exchange. "If you cannot answer all of the questions" means "if you leave any of the questions unanswered." Therefore, you are supposed to answer all of the questions.Read More...

Hi, Ilko, I think you need to use a cleft sentence there: - It is when he called me that I found out that he was in trouble.Read More...

Hi, David - sincerely appreciate your usual, clear clarifications!! Thanks and Best RGDS,Read More...

Hi, Ahmed—It would be better if you presented, not just the exercise or test question, but your reasoning. Please see our Guidelines page. "Done" doesn't work here if the meaning of "done" is supposed to be "played." You can use "tried hockey" to mean "played hockey," but not "done."Read More...

Hello, Emad—I read your example as two separate sentences rather than one, and thus I find your example to be incorrectly punctuated. I read the "if only" clause as an exclamation, and I think it also needs "would." If only it would snow tomorrow! We would go skiing.Read More...

Hello, tropicalpalmtree, and welcome to the Grammar Exchange. There is nothing to prevent you grammatically from saying "Paint: Key" with the meaning that you intend, though I think many people may find it confusing.Read More...

Interesting topic. While I certainly recognize this idiomatic informal usage of "serious," and can't condemn it, I'd probably use "a seriously good car" instead.Read More...

I'm afraid I have to take back what I said about "turn," which does seem to be used similarly. For a story or a novel to be made into a movie simply sounded like the most natural choice to me. From McMillan Dictionary: It all seems to come down to frequency of occurrence:Read More...

Thank you very much, David and Ahmed.Read More...

The verb "remember" is indeed a complex one (to tell the truth, I hadn't thought of this until I saw Robby zhu's sentence!). Based on your Cobra Kai example , David, isn't the passive form possible at least in (1) and (3) below?: 1. I remember him fighting (for a certain cause /at a certain place / in a certain manner). 1.a. He is remembered fighting (for a certain cause /at a certain place / in a certain manner). 2. I remember him (being) aggressive. 3. I remember him as (being) an...Read More...