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April 2021

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in which VS of where

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Learning Leadership: The Five Fundamentals of Becoming an Exemplary Leader - James M. Kouzes, Barry Z. Posner - Hi, I have a confusing sentence showing ' the usage of relative nouns '. The preposition, 'of ', in the following sentence is necessary? or Can I replace ' of where ' with in which ? Growth is always at the edges, just outside the boundaries of where you are right now.Read More...
GBLSU
Thanks a lot, totally understoodRead More...
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New3 replies

Some and any

0 likes · 114 views
Some is used for positive sentence and any is used for negative and interrogative sentence. e.g. I have some books, I do not have any books, did you have any books? However, we use "any" in some of the positive sentences. Please shed some light. Example: You have not provided any explanations why you banged the door this morning.Read More...
Gustavo, Co-Moderator
In the sentence above "gains" is plural, so you should say: - Any gains that I made are subject to tax. "Any" can be used in the affirmative to indicate "all, if there is/if there are (any)." The condition is easier to understand in the future: - Any gains (that) I make will be subject to tax. The sentence above means: I'm not sure if will make any gains, but, if I do, all of them will be subject to tax.Read More...
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New3 replies

Use comma before the conjunction of "But"

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I believe if you use a conjunction e.g. "but", there is no need to put a comma before but. Can you let me know in what circumstances, we can put a comma (,) before but. Thanking you in advance.Read More...
David, Moderator
Hi, Cristi—You mean to ask, "Can you give me an example of when to use a comma before 'but'? Without "of," your question asks me to give you an example at a certain time, namely, when we need to a comma for some word. And you don't mean "for"; you mean "before." The comma doesn't substitute for "but." I have actually already given you an example of when to use a comma before "but," in the very sentence I used to give you the general rule. Do you know what an independent clause is? It is a...Read More...
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New7 replies

For your endorsement

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Enclosed herewith the student’s progress report for your endorsement. Is the above sentence grammatical?Read More...
Gustavo, Co-Moderator
A. I don't know if I have to use that means or that's mean . B. That means that you don't know the difference between the verb "mean" ( means in the third person singular) and the adjective "mean." A. John will not post again until he learns the difference between "that means" and "that's mean." B. That's mean . You cannot forbid him to post just because he makes a mistake!Read More...
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New1 reply

When is 'the' necessary?

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In the following 2 examples, students need to rewrite a sentence with 'Every' using 'All' without changing its meaning. Example 1 Every box must be shifted to the storeroom. 1) All boxes must be shifted to the storeroom. 2) All the boxes must be shifted to the storeroom. Example 2 Every button in this box is colourful. 1) All buttons in this box are colourful. 2) All the buttons in this box are colourful. Is sentence 1 or 2 more similar in meaning than the other, or more correct than the...Read More...
David, Moderator
Hi, Shiwei—Outside of context, "every box" and "all boxes" refers to all/every box that exists in the universe. "Every one of the boxes" and "all the boxes," by contrast, refers to all of the members of a subset of boxes, namely, the boxes in a particular context of discourse. Since, in real life, it would be abnormal for a person to think that the speaker wanted all the boxes in the universe (rather than the salient boxes in the context) to be transferred to the storeroom, "all boxes" and...Read More...
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New1 reply

who has an elderly relative

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1) Any person with an elderly relative in Los Angeles should know about this program. 2) Any person who has an elderly relative in Los Angeles should know about this program. 3) Any person with an elderly relative living in Los Angeles should know about this program. 4) Any person who has an elderly relative living in Los Angeles should know about this program. I think the logical interpretation is that the elderly relative is in Los Angeles and "the person" might or might not be. One...Read More...
David, Moderator
Hello, Navi—Yes, it is possible to interpret those sentences in such a way that "the person is in LA and the relative is not." That is the interpretation on which "with/who has an elderly relative" and "in LA/living in LA" function as separate modifiers of "person" and on which the modifier order can be reversed—e.g.: 1') Any person in Los Angeles with an elderly relative should know about this program. 2') Any person in Los Angeles who has an elderly relative should know about this program.Read More...
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New2 replies

Among the first to arrive~

0 likes · 92 views
Hello, everyone, Sometimes we see the unusual usage of preposition ‘among’ as per following sentences; 1. Among the first to arrive was the mayor. 2. Among the many ways in which she is propagating ideas about positive change for our planet is through the work of her foundation, Mission Blue, whose objective is to protect and restore the ocean through the creation of “Hope Spots” - designated areas of extreme importance to the ocean’s overall well-being. While I understand such a usage...Read More...
deepcosmos
Hello, Gustavo, Tonight you've thrown many things valuable for me to learn. And about numbering, I won't forget. Really appreciate. RGDSRead More...
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Copies of documents

0 likes · 60 views
(a) In the box, there are copies of documents you need to apply for a permanent residency. Versus (b) In the box, there are documents you need to apply for a permanent residency. Q1: Is the difference between a and b is as follows: a. It infers the documents are not original b. It infers they could be copy or original documents Q2: Why cant we just say in the box, there are copy of documents you need to apply for a permanent residency.Read More...
Gustavo, Co-Moderator
Hi, Tony, Please notice that people make inferences, so you cannot say " It infers ..." You should say "It implies ..." Your inference is correct: (a) implies that the documents are copies, and (b) implies that the documents can be copies or originals. You can say: - There is a copy of the documents ... OR - There are copies of (the) documents ... "The" is used with "documents" if those are ALL the documents you need. No article will be required if those are SOME of the documents you need.Read More...
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New1 reply

is evident in versus in evidenced by

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Do the two sentences below have the same meaning? If not, what are the differences? My decline in mental health is evident in the disclosure/letter wrote by my doctor. My decline in mental health is evidenced by the disclosure/letter wrote by my doctor.Read More...
Gustavo, Co-Moderator
Hi, Tony, You need the past participle "written" above. "Wrote" is wrong. The two sentences are similar and correct, but I find them semantically objectionable, because they sound as if the speaker's mental health decline is reflected by the letter, and the letter does not show that. I think it would be more accurate to say: - The disclosure/letter written by my doctor provides evidence of my decline in mental health. or, in more formal language: - My decline in mental health is attested by...Read More...
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New9 replies

Conjunctions with which the past perfect tense is associated

0 likes · 207 views
I am unsure of the effect of using the past perfect tense with when, as soon as or until, e.g. 1. When the cheering had died down, the P.M. began his speech. 2. As soon as approval of the plans had been given, the work went ahead. 3. It was not until I had read your letter that I understood the true state of affairs. I am used to having the tense in the temporal clause being the same as the main clause. Could someone explain this usage? Thanks.Read More...
Gustavo, Co-Moderator
With "after," the sequence is clear and the past perfect is unnecessary.Read More...
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Postpone

0 likes · 99 views
So, If I have a piano lesson this afternoon at 3p.m and I want to ask the teacher if we can change de time to 5p.m or to the next day, what do I say? "Can we postpone our lesson to tomorrow/to 5p.m?" Is it too formal? And is this right? "change the time?" Thank you very much.Read More...
Brunacontro
Simpler than I thought. I appreciate the help!Read More...
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New4 replies

Using extremely with verbs

0 likes · 210 views
Hello, I recently heard someone say: I extremely enjoy walking. From my research, I found that this adverb is more commonly used to modify adjectives and not verbs.(no reason was given). I was wondering if there is a technical or grammatical reason why this is the case since I know that other adverbs like really and thoroughhly would fit in the example sentence I gave above. Thank you as always.Read More...
Mrchuffie
Thanks for your additional comment. I appreciate it extremely. This is such a helpful site.Read More...
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New4 replies

All was, every was or each was

0 likes · 132 views
She bought a lot of grocery. All was at a suitable price. She bought a lot of grocery. Every was at a suitable price. She bought a lot of grocery. Each was at a suitable price. Which sentence is correct and why ?Read More...
Egyptian 20
Thanks a lot,I am trying to do my best here, this sentence is written in that way in the book so I wanted to make sure.Read More...
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New2 replies

When the phone [was ringing / rang]

0 likes · 1,142 views
Hello, everyone, In the sentence, “ When the phone [was ringing / rang], she was writing a letter to her best friend .", 1. which tense is more suitable? I assume that among the simple past is better than the past continuous, since the past continuous indicates that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter, temporal action in the simple past. 2. if ‘ rang ’ is suitable, can the simple past be replaced with the past continuous one in case of ‘ while ’...Read More...
deepcosmos
Hi, Gustavo, Appreciate this opinion and your usual support.Read More...
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New1 reply

up

0 likes · 70 views
Is this sentence correct ? My contract is up next week .Read More...
Gustavo, Co-Moderator
Hi, Ilko, That means that your contract will expire next week. The adverbial particle "up" meaning "over" is usually used in the expression Time's up. I don't hear "up" with "contract" a lot. I have heard: - My lease is up next week and I have to move out. (A lease is a contract, but unlike the noun "contract" the noun "lease" implies a duration, i.e. the period of time you are allowed to stay in the place you have rented.)Read More...
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Seeking loan or sought loan

0 likes · 122 views
Which one is correct "seeking loan" or "sought loan"? e.g. He has got no issue in servicing his seeking/sought loan amount.Read More...
Gustavo, Co-Moderator
Hi, Tony, "To service a loan" means "to repay a loan." "To seek a loan" means to "ask for a loan." I just don't understand how you can combine those two concepts. Perhaps you want to say: - He has no issue with servicing the loan he sought. However, "the loan he sought" is an unusual collocation. We would normally say: - He has no issue with servicing his loan. Once you seek and are granted a loan, that is your loan. Having sought it in the past is taken for granted.Read More...
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New1 reply

That the

0 likes · 97 views
Hello. Is the following sentence correct? I can't understand it. How can I divide it into 2 simple sentences? "That the rate of educated women has doubled since 1970s is related to their education." Thank you.Read More...
Gustavo, Co-Moderator
Hi, Ahmed, The sentence above does not make much sense to me. It sounds like a circular sentence. It is like saying: - That the rate of successful companies has doubled is related to their success. "That the ..." can be paraphrased as "the fact that the ..." Here follows a better sentence than the one you provided: - That the rate of educated women has doubled since the 1970s is due / can be attributed to the promotion of gender equality policies. "That" is used to introduce a noun clause...Read More...
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'One' vs 'the one'

0 likes · 142 views
Could anyone please tell me the difference between one and the one ? 1- He is one who committed many crimes. 2- He is the one who committed many crimes. 3- He is one who killed two people. 4- He is the one who killed two people.Read More...
Gustavo, Co-Moderator
Hi, Subhajit, Sentences (1) and (3) sound odd, because "one" is similar to "somebody." It'd be different with a partitive: - He is one of those that committed many crimes. (There are others who committed only one or just a few.) - He is one of the inmates that killed two people. (Others killed only one or more than two.)Read More...
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New1 reply

had been - was

0 likes · 111 views
Hello. Which one is correct? Why? - I asked her how old (she was - she had been) when she started working in the cinema. Thank you.Read More...
ahmed_btm
Hi, Ahmed, I see that time backshift isn't necessary here and that 'she was' sounds more natural. Maybe 'had been' is grammatically correct, but it doesn't sound as natural as 'was'. See David's and Gustavo's comments on a similar question here: https://thegrammarexchange.inf...c/reported-speech-40Read More...
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