June 2022

3 replies

The need to use "One" and "Two"

Tony C 6/14/224:16 AM

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Q1: Do I need yo use "One" and "two" in the following context? There are two types of vacinnes: One is Pfizer which is...... and Two/the other one is Sinovac which is..... Q2: Is it more appropriate to use two or the other in the above sentence?Read More...

Gustavo, Co-Moderator 6/15/226:36 AM

Yes, that's correct. Note, however, that semicolons can also be used to separate independent clauses, especially when they are not too long.Read More...

Updated 6/15/226:36 AM

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

3 replies

"how long is it since" vs. "how long ago"

Mori 6/14/2212:36 AM

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Is there a difference in meaning between the following sentences:Read More...

Mori 6/14/229:14 PM

Thanks for the answer! 🙏🌹 I can't press the like button (yet). 😞Read More...

Updated 6/14/229:14 PM

Last Reply By Mori · First Unread Post

2 replies

also done by modifying the gene

deepcosmos 6/14/224:26 AM

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Hello, everyone, “In a study at Princeton University in 1992, research scientists looked at two different groups of mice. One group was made intellectually superior by modifying the gene for the glutamate receptor. Glutamate is a brain chemical that is necessary in learning. The other group was genetically manipulated to be intellectually inferior, also done by modifying the gene for the glutamate receptor . . . . ” I understand the underlined part could be paraphrased into; [The other group...Read More...

deepcosmos 6/14/221:41 PM

Hi, Gustavo, long time, no talk. Really glad to be advised from you.Read More...

Updated 6/14/221:41 PM

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1 reply

request, order

Ahmed Imam Attia 6/14/2211:26 AM

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Hello. Could you please help me know the correct answer? Why? - Mother asked me to tidy my room. This shows (request - order). Thank you.Read More...

ahmed_btm 6/14/2211:45 AM

Hi, Ahmed Imam Attia, Mostly, I would go with an order because it is my mom who speaks. Both options are possible depending on the original speech. - Mother: "Could you tidy your room, please?" - Mother: "Tidy your room, please."Read More...

Updated 6/14/2211:45 AM

Last Reply By ahmed_btm · First Unread Post

2 replies

No wonder

Melody 6/14/223:57 AM

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1. No wonder why we want to eat everything! 2. No wonder we want to eat everything! Which one is grammatically correct? Thanks!Read More...

Melody 6/14/225:30 AM

Thanks!Read More...

Updated 6/14/225:30 AM

Last Reply By Melody · First Unread Post

2 replies

agreement

Melody 6/14/223:56 AM

0 likes · 28 views

Which is better? 1. We should be more mindful of the effects advertisement have on our decision making, whether we are a seller or a buyer. 2.We should be more mindful of the effects advertisement have on our decision making, whether we are the sellers or buyers. Thanks!Read More...

Melody 6/14/225:28 AM

Thanks a lot!Read More...

Updated 6/14/225:28 AM

Last Reply By Melody · First Unread Post

1 reply

I went to Europe on a trip.

mika 6/13/2210:52 PM

0 likes · 36 views

Hello. I have a minor question. "I went to Europe on a trip." Is it a wrong sentence? Why? Thank you for your response! MikaRead More...

Gustavo, Co-Moderator 6/14/225:09 AM

Hi, Mika, In the right context, the sentence can be correct, for example: A. What did you do last winter? B. I went to Europe on a trip/on a trip to Europe. Without the question, one would expect a past adverbial to justify the use or complete the sense of the past simple tense: I went on a trip to Europe last winter .Read More...

Updated 6/14/225:09 AM

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

6 replies

I have eaten cookies since 10 a.m.

apple 6/9/229:19 PM

0 likes · 135 views

Hello, Is this sentence correct? Does the sentence imply the"eating" happened continuously from 10;00am to now? I have eaten cookies since 10 a.m. AppleRead More...

apple 6/13/228:55 PM

Thank you, David. So, except for those that can usually not be used in progressive, such as know, like, understand, etc, most of the popular regular such as read, write, eat, carry different sense of meanings when used in the present perfect simple and the present perfect progressive. I have read this article three times since last night. I have been reading this article since last night. Can the verb “sleep” mean the same in the following tenses, the present perfect simple and the present...Read More...

Updated 6/13/228:55 PM

Last Reply By apple · First Unread Post

2 replies

Interaction....on

rachard11 6/13/2211:04 AM

0 likes · 37 views

Is it grammatically correct to say "I study the interaction between factor A and factor B on outcome C?" Or do I have to explicitly mention the effects of the interaction, such as "I study the interactive effect of factor A and factor B on outcome C?"Read More...

rachard11 6/13/227:00 PM

Yes, I think you are right. Thank you for your input.Read More...

Updated 6/13/227:00 PM

Last Reply By rachard11 · First Unread Post

2 replies

will be paved, will have been paved

Ahmed Imam Attia 6/13/229:53 AM

0 likes · 29 views

Hello. Could you please help me choose? I think both answers are ok, right? - By the end of next year, the road to my town (will be paved - will have been paved). Thank you.Read More...

Gustavo, Co-Moderator 6/13/223:43 PM

I agree and would like to add that, while "will be paved" can be understood as a copula with an adjective (will be in a paved condition), "will have been paved" can only be understood as the passive form of the future perfect indicating a future action to be completed before a future date (the end of next year).Read More...

Updated 6/13/223:43 PM

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

7 replies

To have / To + infinitive

Tony C 6/10/2210:14 PM

0 likes · 110 views

In the sentence below, is it grammatically correct or I should omit the “have”? And also, do I need to use “both” so it becomes I hope you both are well. Thank you for reaching out and it was lovely to have met up with you and your wife at Jack's wedding and I hope you are well.Read More...

Gustavo, Co-Moderator 6/13/224:48 AM

What David objected to was the unnecessary repetition of "and" to join those sentences, which reveals a poor writing style.Read More...

Updated 6/13/224:48 AM

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

3 replies

What is your business?

Tony C 6/10/2210:54 PM

0 likes · 49 views

Do all of the sentences below have the same meaning? 1. What business do you operate? 2. What business are you operating? 3. What business are you in? 4. What is the nature of your business?Read More...

Gustavo, Co-Moderator 6/13/224:45 AM

You could ask your potential client: Could you please describe the nature of your business?Read More...

Updated 6/13/224:45 AM

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

4 replies

suggest/recommend

Ahmed.A.A 6/8/224:10 PM

0 likes · 61 views

Hi, the following two sentences are from a school book: 1-"My friends recommend that I .....that mobile.'' a- don't buy b-not to buy I agree that (a) is correct, but why, in the following sentence, (informs) is incorrect? What is the difference between the two sentences? 2-''I suggest that Adel......his father about the man he saw.'' a- informs b- inform I know that the second sentence has been explained here recently, but I want a simpler explanation. Thanks in advance.Read More...

Ahmed.A.A 6/13/223:35 AM

Thanks a lot DavidRead More...

Updated 6/13/223:35 AM

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

2 replies

Grammar

Ayman Ibrahim 6/12/225:28 AM

0 likes · 40 views

Choose the correct answerRead More...

Ayman Ibrahim 6/13/222:07 AM

ThanksRead More...

Updated 6/13/222:07 AM

Last Reply By Ayman Ibrahim · First Unread Post

0 replies

in order to cheer me up

azz 6/13/2212:02 AM

0 likes · 26 views

a. He told me things in order to cheer me up. It seems to me that native speakers find that sentence correct. I have a problem with it. Not all 'things' make cheer me up. Only some do. You have to define 'things'. That sentence does not define 'things'. Consider: b. He gave me books to cheer me up. I think that sentence is ambiguous. It could mean c. He gave me books that would cheer me up . (particular books that had the ability to cheer me up) or d. He gave me books in order to cheer me...Read More...

Posted 6/13/2212:02 AM

0 replies

Quantifiers vs Quantifying Adj

Su's 6/12/229:45 PM

0 likes · 26 views

Can anyone help me to distinguish the function and meaning of Quantifiers and Quantifying Adj? From my textbook's point of view: a) Quantifiers (Q): some, any, no, neither, either, another, enough, each b) Quantifying Adjectives/ Indefinite Quantifiers (QA): a few/little, much, many, a lot of, lots of, ... As the name reveals, I can understand why the adj in (b) is called QA. However, why some of the members of (a) are not definite (such as "some", "any") but still being called quantifiers?Read More...

Posted 6/12/229:45 PM

1 reply

Choose the right answer

Mr Ali salama 6/12/222:52 PM

0 likes · 38 views

The old man realised that he should retire and went back to his village youth........ Ireland.(semicolon_dash_hyphen _colon). What is the correct punctuation marksRead More...

ahmed_btm 6/12/224:06 PM

Hi, Mr. Ali Salama, and welcome to the Grammar Exchange, In this case, an em-dash is more common than a colon. It is more dramatic and conveys a sense of anticipation. Here, it gives a special flavor to the place. It is not an ordinary place or like any other place. It is special. For more information about 'Using a dash instead of a colon', see here: https://blog.wordvice.com/when...micolons-and-dashes/Read More...

Updated 6/12/224:06 PM

Last Reply By ahmed_btm · First Unread Post

1 reply

Only a little or only little

Dr Ahmed 6/12/221:56 PM

0 likes · 670 views

Hi, Grammar Exchange members! Don't worry; only ............. coffee was spilt on the carpet. a. little b. a little Some grammarians, as I read, say that we should avoid using (a little) with (only) However, I see that (little) can work in such a context. What do you think?Read More...

ahmed_btm 6/12/222:57 PM

Hi, Dr Ahmed, I am afraid I don't agree. ' Only little ' can be used when 'little' is used adjectively '. - Only little children can ...... 'Only/Just a little' is used when 'little' is a determiner. - Don't worry. Only a little coffee was spilt on the carpet. From 'English Grammar In Use', page 147: "We say only a little ( not only little ) and only a few ( not only few )" - Hurry! We only have a little time . (= some, but not much time)Hurry! We only have a little time. (= some, but not...Read More...

Updated 6/12/222:57 PM

Last Reply By ahmed_btm · First Unread Post

4 replies

another 'where' question

navi 6/11/224:27 AM

0 likes · 65 views

1) Unless you're Jim Carey or Robin Williams and you have that funny gene, where everything you do is funny. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrWkA1SC_8c From: 13:28 to 13:37 Is '1' grammatical? Is it idiomatic? This is one of those 'where's I have asked about. It doesn't seem to make sense grammatically, but you understand what she means. She's speaking naturally and casually, and speaks pretty well, I'd say. I think this usage is new and very informal, but it is out there. What do...Read More...

billj 6/12/2212:02 AM

I think it's preferable to say that "where" has a prepositional meaning , typically locative or directional, rather than saying that it contains a preposition. Interestingly, the elementary dictionary Wiktionary gets it right: https://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/whereRead More...

Updated 6/12/2212:02 AM

Last Reply By billj · First Unread Post

2 replies

let go with

ken 6/11/2212:17 AM

0 likes · 49 views

In an explanation of "let go", The Free Dictionary took an example as this: >The trapped wolf let go with a bone-chilling howl. In this sentence "go" is used as an intransitive verb. But we have a song , >I'm a cat, I go meow meow meow 10 Minutes Here, "go" is a transitive. Can we say without "with" such as, >The trapped wolf let go a bone-chilling howl. If not, the reason is that "howl" is a normal noun, not an onomatopoeic one? Thanks a lot.Read More...

ken 6/11/228:04 PM

Thanks, Gustavo, So,　 >The trapped wolf let go a bone-chilling howl. is also a correct sentence. Am I right? The reason I wrote > "go" is used as an intransitive verb. is that in Japan (at least in the far away past), grammarians and English teachers tend to treat any phrasal verbs ending with prepositions as intransitive (they are called "notionally transitive"). I completely agree >the phrasal verb "let go" or "let go with" is transitive I am very happy to know this is the...Read More...

Updated 6/11/228:04 PM

Last Reply By ken · First Unread Post

1 reply

Ambiguity in comparative construction

Robby zhu 6/10/226:30 PM

0 likes · 36 views

Hi, I want to know if the following construction is ambiguous: 1. the whole NP is clearly plural, not singular, as it would be if xxx were the determiner. Because it seems to me that I could understand it to mean either 2 or 3: 2. it would be plural if xxx were the determiner. 3. it would be singular if xxx were the determiner. The original version of this sentence is. 1a. the whole NP is clearly plural, not singular, as it would be if a were the determiner. ( CGEL, p. 385 )Read More...

Gustavo, Co-Moderator 6/11/223:44 PM

Hi, Robby zhu, I don't find the sentence to be ambiguous because of the contrast between the present "is" and the conditional "would be." According to the sentence, the NP is plural and would be singular (which is not the case) if "a" were the determiner.Read More...

Updated 6/11/223:44 PM

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

2 replies

had an accident

azz 6/9/223:48 PM

0 likes · 35 views

a. We had an accident in our street last night. Does that imply that we were actually involved in the accident, or could it mean that there was an accident in our street last night and we were somehow affected by it (maybe we were awakened by the noise, or distracted by it, or saddened by the whole thing, or maybe even we were happy because finally something out of the ordinary had happened in our lives!)? Many thanksRead More...

David, Moderator 6/11/221:04 PM

Hi, Azz—I agree with Ahmed that both meanings are possible. It is context that would decide between the two readings. The preposition "in" doesn't work well there. The sentence should be: "We had an accident on our street last night." With "in our street," there is a different meaning. "We had an accident in our street last night" could mean we didn't make it home to use the bathroom!Read More...

Updated 6/11/221:04 PM

Last Reply By David, Moderator · First Unread Post

1 reply

when do you use "have" ?

nagy 6/10/224:54 PM

0 likes · 45 views

I read a following sentence, " Some items have been stacked on a cart " I think " Some items is stacked on a cart " has the same meanig . What's the difference ??? By the way, I should understand how to use "have"Read More...

Gustavo, Co-Moderator 6/11/228:01 AM

Hi, Nagy, This is a sentence in the present perfect and in the passive voice. You use "have" because "items" is plural. It refers to the action of stacking: - Somebody has stacked some items on a cart -> Some items have been stacked on a cart. That sentence is not grammatical. You should use "are" because "items," as I said, is plural: - Some items are stacked on a cart. This refers not to the action of stacking but to the state of being stacked. "Stacked" there is like an adjective. -...Read More...

Updated 6/11/228:01 AM

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

1 reply

Agreement

Melody 6/11/222:57 AM

0 likes · 39 views

Which of the following is grammatically correct? 1. How does advertising and the media affect my food choices? 2. How do advertising and the media affect my food choices? Thanks!Read More...

ahmed_btm 6/11/223:53 AM

Hi, Melody, That depends on how you see 'advertising and the media'. Do you see them as one unit or two separate items?Read More...

Updated 6/11/223:53 AM

Last Reply By ahmed_btm · First Unread Post

4 replies

tense

Melody 6/10/224:11 PM

0 likes · 35 views

Is the following sentence grammatically correct? He heard that a dark character will destroy all the toys.Read More...

Melody 6/11/221:55 AM

Thanks so much!Read More...

Updated 6/11/221:55 AM

Last Reply By Melody · First Unread Post

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