March 2022

3 replies

used to, would

Ahmed Imam Attia 3/25/229:14 AM

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Hello. Could you please help me choose the correct answer? - I don't stay up late any longer. This means ( I used to stay up late. - I would stay up late.) Thank you.Read More...

ahmed_btm 8/5/229:22 AM

The only mistake I see here is the usage of the period after 'holiday'. - I used to go on holiday with my parents when I was a child. When I was on holiday, I would always get up late.Read More...

Updated 8/5/229:22 AM

Last Reply By ahmed_btm · First Unread Post

3 replies

used to do, would do

Ahmed Imam Attia 3/29/228:32 AM

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Could you please help me choose the correct choice? Why? - In the past, people (would visit - visited - used to visit) a person on his or her birthday and give them valuable presents. It's still a habit. Thank you.Read More...

Gustavo, Co-Moderator 4/4/226:30 PM

"Typical behavior" is how you expect somebody to behave under certain circumstances.Read More...

Updated 4/4/226:30 PM

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4 replies

Adverbs of Frequency

Boroj Nouri 3/31/223:45 PM

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Hello I came across this question, and I can’t understand the reason for choosing the model answer. Doctors...... work on weekends. A- always B- often C- never As far as I'm concerned, the sentence does not require a certain adverb, at least grammatically speaking. However, the answer key says (B- often) is the correct choice. Is there a reason for it being the answer?Read More...

David, Moderator 4/1/2211:28 AM

Hi, Boroj—The sentence "Doctors often work on weekends" does not express anything about how many doctors you will find at the hospital if you go there. The sentence is about the work habits of doctors. They often work on the weekends. They don't always do so. Sometimes they do other things.Read More...

Updated 4/1/2211:28 AM

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7 replies

Why does "as well as" seem to work much better than "and" here?

Andrew Van Wagner 3/29/229:57 PM

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I can't think of any logical reason for this: Over 9000—or about 60%—of southern hamlets were destroyed. And 25 million acres of farmland were destroyed as well as 12 million acres of forest. If you replace "as well as" with "and", it should work just as well, but it doesn't for some odd reason; any idea why?Read More...

David, Moderator 3/31/2211:32 PM

Nice analysis, Gustavo. I'd go so far as to say that this ability of "as well as" to link two subjects is possible whenever the verb phrase has the auxiliary verb "BE"—passive, progressive, or copulative—"BE" being optional here: Five men were seen, as well as (were) three women. Five men were running, as well as (were) three women. Five men were European, as well as (were) three women.Read More...

Updated 3/31/2211:32 PM

Last Reply By David, Moderator · First Unread Post

1 reply

Would visit or Used to visit? Can we use either of them to speak about habit in the past which still exists?

Abdelhakam Ayoup 3/31/224:04 AM

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جيم الصف الثالث الثانوى In the past , people .... a person on his or her birthday and give them valuable presents . It is still a habit . Would visit Visited visit used to visitRead More...

ayman 3/31/223:51 PM

You can find the answer here: https://thegrammarexchange.inf...8#692773705195550628Read More...

Updated 3/31/223:51 PM

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1 reply

restrictive?

navi 3/31/223:05 PM

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Their presence, in the eastern region known as Donbas that is home to Russia-backed separatist groups, raises concerns, given the group’s history. Source: What is the Wagner Group? (yahoo.com) Shouldn't it be ... the eastern region known as Donbas, which is home to Russia-backed separatist groups,... I am pretty sure the non-restrictive clause is correct here. I am not sure the restrictive clause is incorrect. Gratefully, NaviRead More...

David, Moderator 3/31/223:32 PM

Hello, Navi—You are certainly right that the relative clause ("that is home to Russia-backed separatist groups") can be correctly represented as a nonrestrictive postmodifier of "Donbas," provided "that" is changed to "which" and a comma is added after "Donbas." Can the restrictive relative clause be regarded as correct, too, without the unwanted implication that there is more than one eastern region known as Donbas? I think that it can. We can suppose the "known as Donbas" phrase to be...Read More...

Updated 3/31/223:32 PM

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1 reply

Past simple or past perfect tense?

Basant Al-Sayed 3/30/224:34 AM

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London ................ ( damag) badly by fires several times before 1666, when much of the city .............. (destroy)Read More...

ahmed_btm 3/31/222:35 PM

Hi, Basant Al-Sayed, You haven't been kind enough to tell us the source of your question. However, I will give you my take. I think there is no need to use the past perfect here. The past simple sounds more natural to use. - London was badly damaged by fires several times before 1666, when much of the city was destroyed .Read More...

Updated 3/31/222:35 PM

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6 replies

What verb tense is this sentence?

OverlyCurious 3/31/228:41 AM

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He would lose his job if he were identified. Hello everyone, I am trying to identity what tense this sentence is. I was thinking this sentence could be PAST TENSE because of the "were identified part". Could this sentence have more than one tense? Thank you in advance!Read More...

OverlyCurious 3/31/221:48 PM

Got it! Thank you Gustavo for your response. It is truly helpful!Read More...

Updated 3/31/221:48 PM

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0 replies

Analysis of language coordination

Modric 3/31/221:02 PM

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A temperature of 200 °C was selected for the experiments based on the dual reasoning of both having relatively short reaction times, enabled by high temperature, to generate dolomite at favorable time scales for lab experimental work to test the catalytic impact of zinc, and , because this temperature falls within the temperature range at which Mississippi-Valley type zinc-lead ore deposits are formed. This sentence is from a paper published in Nature Communications. As far as I know, The...Read More...

Posted 3/31/221:02 PM

1 reply

Have to/ need to

Salma Mohammad 3/31/228:17 AM

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We might....change our plans and go to another place Have to or need to I couldn't find any difference between both of them as they both show that we might be obliged to do something. So I want to know if both can work in this sentence Thanks in advanceRead More...

Gustavo, Co-Moderator 3/31/2212:30 PM

Hi, Salma, Both "have to" and "need to" can work there, with no difference in meaning.Read More...

Updated 3/31/2212:30 PM

Last Reply By Gustavo, Co-Moderator · First Unread Post

1 reply

Meaning of should

David Toklikishvili 3/31/225:55 AM

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"Because I wanted to see it. Because I felt that I should like to look at it again." From Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens https://victorianweb.org/art/illustration/eytinge/86.html What is the meaning of should in this sentence? ThanksRead More...

Gustavo, Co-Moderator 3/31/2210:19 AM

Hello, David, It is the same as "would" but exclusively used with the first person. I find it to be different from the previous "should": which I find to mean "would have to."Read More...

Updated 3/31/2210:19 AM

Last Reply By Gustavo, Co-Moderator · First Unread Post

2 replies

Used to & was used to

Ahmed.A.A 3/30/227:18 AM

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Hi, is there a difference in meaning between ''used to'' and ''was/were used to''? When I was younger, I ........a bike. Now I drive a car. a- used to ride b- was used to ridingRead More...

Ahmed.A.A 3/31/2212:40 AM

Thanks a lot AhmedRead More...

Updated 3/31/2212:40 AM

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2 replies

Would

Ahmed.A.A 3/30/221:39 AM

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Hi, Can ''would'' be used in questions and negative when refering to a past repeated habit like in the following sentence? ''When you were young, would you study hard?''Read More...

Ahmed.A.A 3/30/227:13 AM

Thanks a lot AhmedRead More...

Updated 3/30/227:13 AM

Last Reply By Ahmed.A.A · First Unread Post

3 replies

Used to or would

Salma Mohammad 3/29/223:33 PM

0 likes · 47 views

For years, they....go on holiday to the Rockies, but then it became very fashionable and, hence, expensive Would/ used to / both At first I had chosen both, but I got confused when I found out that the answer key chose would only. So I want to know if both work here, and if not, so why? Thanks in advanceRead More...

ahmed_btm 3/30/221:28 AM

I don't think so, but mostly 'used to' is not used with a specific period of time. - For two years, they used to go on holiday to the Rockies. (It doesn't sound natural). The past simple is perfect here.Read More...

Updated 3/30/221:28 AM

Last Reply By ahmed_btm · First Unread Post

4 replies

On

Ahmed.A.A 3/27/2212:59 AM

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Hi, can we use ''on'' to express present tense? a- On/When seeing a lion, I feel frightened. b- On/When seeing the lion, I felt frightened.Read More...

Ahmed.A.A 3/29/2211:51 PM

Thanks a lot GustavoRead More...

Updated 3/29/2211:51 PM

Last Reply By Ahmed.A.A · First Unread Post

4 replies

how to understand "criticism of"

Modric 3/28/224:54 AM

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Hi, everyone, I learned something about using the preposition "of" the arrival of the police (= they arrive) criticism of the police (= they are criticized) I have a question about the second phrase. Why is "criticism of the police = they are criticized", NOT "criticism of the police = police criticized someone"? and Can I say "criticism to the police" or"criticism from the police"? thanks a lot!!Read More...

Modric 3/29/227:38 PM

Hi, @ Gustavo I got it! thank you so much!Read More...

Updated 3/29/227:38 PM

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1 reply

Investigate vs find out

Boroj Nouri 3/29/223:27 PM

0 likes · 54 views

Hello again! So I was thinking about the difference between find out and investigate. I know that investigate is more formal than find out, but I was wondering if there were other semantic differences? I tried to use both of them in context, but I'm still unsure whether or not to use them interchangeably. 1(A schoolgirl talking to her classmate) A: Did you see my jacket? I can't seem to find it, and I've looked everywhere! B: I don't know, girl. Maybe someone stole it? A: You think so? Then...Read More...

Gustavo, Co-Moderator 3/29/226:43 PM

Hi, Boroj Nouri, Finding out is more like discovering, and therefore the result of investigating. In your sentence: "find out" is clearly "discover." "Investigate" is used to refer to the process whereby somebody tries to find something out. A good phrasal is "look into" but, unlike "investigate," it is always transitive: You can say: We're sending some officers to look into the matter.Read More...

Updated 3/29/226:43 PM

Last Reply By Gustavo, Co-Moderator · First Unread Post

2 replies

Can you help me regarding the shades of meaning here?

Andrew Van Wagner 3/28/226:14 PM

0 likes · 33 views

See this: So the US had “Americanized” the war—the US had taken over responsibility for fighting instead of leaving that to the AVRN. And the US military had been strongly warning against “Americanization” for a decade. I had (1) "had been strongly warning", but I could go with (2) "had strongly warned". I feel like (1) might be preferable, but I wonder what exactly the difference in meaning is and why (1) might convey a more desirable meaning in this case. Thanks so much! I greatly...Read More...

Andrew Van Wagner 3/29/225:03 PM

Thank you for this excellent advice! This is very useful and helpful! I greatly appreciate! )Read More...

Updated 3/29/225:03 PM

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2 replies

Nice to meet you

Tony C 3/28/225:59 PM

0 likes · 31 views

Assuming someone just introduced you to someone by email, but there is no face to face meeting. Can i say " Nice to meet you", if not, what is the best way to replace this? Should I say, it is great to know you instead?Read More...

Tony C 3/29/223:20 PM

Thanks so much Gustavo, impressive.Read More...

Updated 3/29/223:20 PM

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2 replies

Reported Speech

Izzat Hannah 3/27/222:26 PM

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When I teach my students about "Reported Speech", I need to give them a reason why we report. So,why do we report? ThanksRead More...

David, Moderator 3/29/222:50 PM

Hi, Izzat Hannah—To add just a little bit to Gustavo's excellent explanation, I'd like to say that the topic of reported speech applies not only to indirectly reported speech but also to directly reported speech, that is, to quotations. I would imagine that the need to report the speech of others, directly or indirectly, arises cross-linguistically. No matter what language one speaks, one occasionally wishes to know or to report what someone else said. The topic of reported speech also...Read More...

Updated 3/29/222:50 PM

Last Reply By David, Moderator · First Unread Post

2 replies

valid findings

deepcosmos 3/28/225:32 AM

0 likes · 60 views

Hello, everyone, “ Conflicts between the goals of science and the need to protect the rights and welfare of human research participants result in the central ethical tension of clinical research. The statement “Bad science is bad ethics” is true. Putting humans at risk if the study design does not permit a reasonable expectation of valid findings is never ethical. Even a study that presents no risk presents at least an inconvenience to participants and is in that sense disrespectful .“ How...Read More...

deepcosmos 3/29/222:03 PM

Thank you for your support as always.Read More...

Updated 3/29/222:03 PM

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1 reply

used to, would

Ahmed Imam Attia 3/29/228:26 AM

0 likes · 43 views

Could you please help me choose the correct answer? Explain, please. - When I was young, as soon as I heard a voice, I (used to imitate - would imitate) it. Thank you.Read More...

Gustavo, Co-Moderator 3/29/221:03 PM

Hi, Ahmed, You should use "would imitate" there to indicate repetition or insistence: every time you heard a voice, you would imitate it. "Would" is better than "used to" to describe a typical behavior in the past.Read More...

Updated 3/29/221:03 PM

Last Reply By Gustavo, Co-Moderator · First Unread Post

2 replies

I would appreciate it if...

apple 3/27/224:48 AM

0 likes · 60 views

Hello, In the following sentence both "it" and "if" are obligatory, right? I would appreciate it if you could give me more information about it. AppleRead More...

apple 3/27/229:06 PM

Thank you, David. I always appreciate your support. AppleRead More...

Updated 3/27/229:06 PM

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2 replies

step up

erinD 3/26/229:07 PM

0 likes · 44 views

Hi, everyone, is it proper to say "step up the living standards"? What's the difference between "step up" and "boost"? Thanks.Read More...

erinD 3/27/228:52 PM

Thank you so much. Your explanation is much more clear than what I get from the dictionary.Read More...

Updated 3/27/228:52 PM

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1 reply

Taped off ? Taped from ?

Bluegrass 3/27/225:06 AM

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Hello everyone. Just get a question when I am practicing listening from a tape. And the tape just played a sentence "The area was taped off to keep people out". So, I wonder if I can say the sentence in another way like: "The area was taped from people coming in?" Thank you.Read More...

David, Moderator 3/27/222:00 PM

Hello, Bluegrass, and welcome to the Grammar Exchange. The sentence "The area was taped off to keep people out" works. The sentence " The area was taped from people coming in " does not work. But you can say: "The area was taped off to keep people from coming in."Read More...

Updated 3/27/222:00 PM

Last Reply By David, Moderator · First Unread Post

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