June 2021

2 replies

Adding "blank states that" to an introductory phrase

Jacob B. 6/20/218:17 PM

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As I understand it, if I have an introductory phrase with *more* than 3 or 4 words, I have to put a comma after it. Now if I was to add "Jane states that" infront of such an introductory phrase, would I have to add a comma before the original introductory phrase? I feel like that would make the original introductory phrase unrestricted, which I don't want to do. Example A: "Jane states that, after her husband arrived home, he started yelling at her." Similarly, if I have an introductory...Read More...

Jacob B. 6/22/212:16 PM

Thank you!Read More...

Updated 6/22/212:16 PM

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2 replies

a half

Ahmed.A.A 6/21/219:51 AM

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Hi, Is it OK to say "a half chicken, a half sandwich, a half apple, a half pound, a half cup of tea,...Read More...

Ahmed.A.A 6/22/211:21 PM

Thanks DavidRead More...

Updated 6/22/211:21 PM

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1 reply

such that/so that

navi 6/22/215:00 AM

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Which is correct: 1) Poverty and unemployment have made things such that few people spend money on books. 2) Poverty and unemployment have made things so that few people spend money on books. Gratefully, NaviRead More...

David, Moderator 6/22/2112:20 PM

Hello, Navi, I wouldn't use either (1) or (2). I'd use a variation of (2), changing "things" to "it." 2a) Poverty and unemployment have made it so that few people spend money on books.Read More...

Updated 6/22/2112:20 PM

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2 replies

in between of

bear_bear 6/20/219:59 PM

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Do we say, The cat is in between of the two dogs. ThanksRead More...

David, Moderator 6/22/2112:03 PM

I agree with Gustavo's answer, but it is also OK to add "in": The cat is in between the two dogs. Usage of "in between" is common, natural, and idiomatic, but somewhat controversial. " In between of " is totally wrong.Read More...

Updated 6/22/2112:03 PM

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2 replies

word order

Ahmed Imam Attia 6/22/212:26 AM

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Hello. Could you help me? Which word order is correct? Why? - How (has the document - the document has) been stolen is the question that the police are trying to answer? Thank you.Read More...

David, Moderator 6/22/2111:52 AM

Another way to analyze the clause is as an embedded question. Embedded questions do not take subject-auxiliary inversion, as do root questions. The sentence can be transposed in a few different ways: (1a) How the document has been stolen is the question that the police are trying to answer. (1b) The question that the police are trying to answer is how the document has been stolen. (1c) The police are trying to answer the question (of) how the document has been stolen. (1d) The police are...Read More...

Updated 6/22/2111:52 AM

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1 reply

What is the meaning of this quote?

Manish 6/22/217:14 AM

0 likes · 76 views

I was just reading Gita quotes , but this one quote I couldn't understand exactly. Can anyone help me explain?Read More...

David, Moderator 6/22/2111:27 AM

Hello, Manish, and welcome to the Grammar Exchange. This is a forum where questions about English grammar are discussed. It is not our purpose to interpret religious scripture. Do you have a question about the grammar of the translated Gita quote? It was originally written in Sanskrit. For your information, I have deleted the link you included in your post. When I clicked on it, my computer went haywire and told me that it was infected with 5 viruses! If you post anything like that again,...Read More...

Updated 6/22/2111:27 AM

Last Reply By David, Moderator · First Unread Post

2 replies

Being

Former Member 6/21/218:37 PM

0 likes · 59 views

Everyone knows how fickle the weather is in England even in the summer, and in spite of four full games being wiped out in the 2019 World Cup, the ICC still decided to make England the venue for the inaugural WTC final. In the above sentence "being" means "were being". Am I right.Read More...

Former Member 6/22/216:56 AM

Dear Gustavo Sir, You are such a down to earth person. Thanks for your help alwaysRead More...

Updated 6/22/216:56 AM

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2 replies

"What better than"

Robby zhu 6/22/211:12 AM

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After spending some time looking at all the defensive gear on display at the wall, we decided it was time for some action and 1. what better than to ride on a piece of history! Biking on the Xian Wall Hi - How would you parse the bold part? Is that a variant of: 2. what better <way> than to ride on a piece of history! Thanks in advance.Read More...

Robby zhu 6/22/215:55 AM

Thank you, Gustavo.Read More...

Updated 6/22/215:55 AM

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4 replies

BEING

Former Member 6/20/2110:52 PM

0 likes · 53 views

1) What if the culprits had a speculation about the 3 lakh dowry being there? 2) There are less chances of it being a pre-planned murder. 3) There are chances of it being John. 4) After being taunted at school for years, a 15-year-old John went to his father with an application form. I assume we can replace "being" to "was " in the above three sentences and " "was taunted" in the 4th sentence.Read More...

Former Member 6/22/215:48 AM

Thank you for your time and effort. God bless you!Read More...

Updated 6/22/215:48 AM

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1 reply

Does it work? Does it sound naturally?

Varvara 6/21/214:49 PM

0 likes · 38 views

“Throughout the centuries, the fire has remained the closest human’s friend”Read More...

Gustavo, Co-Moderator 6/21/216:00 PM

Hello, Varvara, and welcome to the Grammar Exchange. Next time you ask a question here, please follow our Guidelines , mainly 2, 5 and 7, or it will remain unanswered. Thank you. Your sentence above is completely ungrammatical. Perhaps you want to say: - Throughout the centuries, fire has remained man's closest friend.Read More...

Updated 6/21/216:00 PM

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

1 reply

a given species

navi 6/21/212:48 PM

0 likes · 77 views

1) ‘Although a number of species are found in all five associations, a given species is dominant in only one or two.’ Source: https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/association Meaning 1.1 Ecology Click on 'More example sentences'. It seems that the first half of the sentence is saying that a number of species are common to all five associations, but what is meant by the second half? Shouldn't it be: A given species is at most dominant in only one or two? Gratefully, NaviRead More...

Gustavo, Co-Moderator 6/21/213:13 PM

Hi, Navi, I understand the sentence above to mean that, although certain species occur in all five forms or environments, there are only one or two where each species prevails. I haven't been able to find the context, but I suspect the sentence refers to plants (or animals). What the sentence says is that, for example, a tree can be found in all five types of forests, but will be the prevailing or dominant species in only one or two of them (in the rest of them, you will only find a few ...Read More...

Updated 6/21/213:13 PM

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

2 replies

much more

Ahmed.A.A 6/21/219:37 AM

0 likes · 45 views

Hi, is the following sentence OK? "I have much more homework than you." I think it is correct.Read More...

Ahmed.A.A 6/21/211:48 PM

Thanks AhmedRead More...

Updated 6/21/211:48 PM

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2 replies

many more

Ahmed.A.A 6/21/219:33 AM

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Hi, " I have ........more pens than you." a-much b-many c- a and b I think "much" is correct because "pens" is plural.Read More...

Ahmed.A.A 6/21/2111:19 AM

Oh sorry, I intended to use "many" , not "much". It is a mistake. Thanks Ahmed.Read More...

Updated 6/21/2111:19 AM

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

1 reply

Punctuation

Emad Ragheb 6/21/218:28 AM

0 likes · 54 views

Is this sentence punctuated correctly : Lean said, "What did you mean when you said," l will call you later."?“Read More...

ahmed_btm 6/21/2110:54 AM

Hi, Emad, No. This is called 'quotations within quotations'. In American English, double quotation marks are used for quotations and single quotation marks are used for quotations within quotations. In British English, single quotation marks are used for quotations and double quotation marks for quotations within quotations. Your example can be written in two ways: a) Lean said, "What did you mean when you said, 'I will call you later'?" (American style) b) Lean said, 'What did you mean when...Read More...

Updated 6/21/2110:54 AM

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2 replies

Emphasizing speech

Ahmed.A.A 6/20/212:57 PM

0 likes · 69 views

Hi, "What she did.........reports." a-was writing b-was write c-was to write d- was, she wrote I think all answers are OK, but (d) is informalRead More...

Ahmed.A.A 6/21/219:30 AM

Thanks AhmedRead More...

Updated 6/21/219:30 AM

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2 replies

Parts of speech

Emad Ragheb 6/18/211:16 AM

0 likes · 62 views

The canal is five netres deep. Is "five" an adjective here?Read More...

Emad Ragheb 6/21/218:21 AM

Thanks a lot Mr Ahmed.Read More...

Updated 6/21/218:21 AM

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1 reply

Must or Have to?

Omar Ahmed 6/20/214:39 PM

0 likes · 44 views

Choose the best answer : You ......................pass a driving test to drive a car in Egypt. a. mustn’t b. needn’t c. have to d. must I think the best answer is 'c' . Am I right?Read More...

ahmed_btm 6/21/217:33 AM

Hi, Omar, Yes, that's right. In British English, 'have to' is used to expresses an obligation imposed by a rule (external obligation).Read More...

Updated 6/21/217:33 AM

Last Reply By ahmed_btm · First Unread Post

2 replies

Invention or discovery

Ahmed.A.A 6/20/218:15 AM

0 likes · 47 views

Hi, Is it "the discovery of X-rays" or "the invention of X rays"?Read More...

Ahmed.A.A 6/20/212:53 PM

Thanks AhmedRead More...

Updated 6/20/212:53 PM

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

2 replies

causative structure

Ahmed.A.A 6/20/219:44 AM

0 likes · 42 views

Hi, "The teacher had the students write a compsition." This means: a- He gave them no choice b- He requested them to do that I think (a) is correct as Swan showed that "have" in causative case is used to give instructions and orders.Read More...

Ahmed.A.A 6/20/212:51 PM

Thanks DavidRead More...

Updated 6/20/212:51 PM

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2 replies

Articles

Ahmed.A.A 6/20/217:38 AM

0 likes · 42 views

Hi, "I have .....mobile phone that/which I use to call my friends." a- a b- the I think both answers are OK, Is there a difference if we use "that" or "which"?Read More...

Ahmed.A.A 6/20/212:46 PM

Thanks DavidRead More...

Updated 6/20/212:46 PM

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

2 replies

Which answer is correct?

M.Mamdouh 6/20/217:39 AM

0 likes · 55 views

The film was so good that ------------------ A) we are going to the cinema today B) it is sometimes good to watch it C) the spectators have seen it twice D) it had been watched by millions E) we were still under its influence two hours laterRead More...

David, Moderator 6/20/211:50 PM

I second Ahmed_btm's answer. Both (D) and (E) are correct.Read More...

Updated 6/20/211:50 PM

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0 replies

between

navi 6/19/212:30 PM

0 likes · 43 views

Are sentences '1' and '2' correct: 1) Between them, Harry and Jane have managed to create a nice family. Meaning: With their combined efforts, Harry and Jane have managed to create a nice family. 2) Between greed and lust for power, our managers have created a very unhealthy atmosphere in the company Meaning: The combined effect of our managers' greed and their lust for power has created a very unhealthy political atmosphere in the company. Gratefully, NaviRead More...

Posted 6/19/212:30 PM

1 reply

BEING

Former Member 6/18/218:55 PM

0 likes · 46 views

"Have you heard about bullets being found in his body?" I assume the meaning of "being" in the above sentence is "was ". Am I correct?Read More...

Gustavo, Co-Moderator 6/19/212:20 PM

Hi, Grammar Man, The sentence above can be paraphrased as follows: - Have you heard that bullets were found in his body? (The question above sounds a bit strange, and the active voice in the clause would sound more natural: - Have you heard that they found bullets in his body?)Read More...

Updated 6/19/212:20 PM

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

9 replies

BEING

Former Member 6/16/219:08 PM

0 likes · 118 views

Dear Sir "Last year, Abu Dhabi approved the rapid DPI test to screen for Covid-19 at its borders, with results being generated within five minutes." In the above sentence what is the meaning of "BEING" and why did it use here?Read More...

Gustavo, Co-Moderator 6/19/212:17 PM

"Being" is a non-finite or tenseless form of the verb. In the sentence above, it substitutes for the present, because the fact that the results of the test are ready in five minutes is a scientific truth, independent of the past approval of the test in Abu Dhabi.Read More...

Updated 6/19/212:17 PM

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

1 reply

ambiguous passive

Tito 6/19/2112:50 AM

0 likes · 34 views

i'd like to know if this passive strucutre with the verb suggest is correct or not : it's suggested to demolish the bridge . or it's suggested demolishing the bridge . demolishing the bridge is suggestedRead More...

Gustavo, Co-Moderator 6/19/212:08 PM

Hello, Tito, and welcome to the Grammar Exchange. No. You should say: - It is suggested that the bridge be demolished.Read More...

Updated 6/19/212:08 PM

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

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