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July 2020

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is this grammatically right?

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In this sentence, "The American Hospital Association on Friday appealed a decision upholding a Trump administration rule that requires hospitals disclose the rates they negotiate with insurance companies that aren’t made public." "... rule that requires hospitals disclose the rates they negotiate with insurance companies that aren’t made public." Is this the same as " ... rule that requires hospitals disclose the rates that they negotiate with insurance companies and the rates that aren’t...Read More...
Gustavo, Co-Moderator
Yes, it is correct to merely juxtapose two relative clauses, that is, avoiding the use of a linking conjunction. In your sentence, you need the second "that" (which is a relative pronoun) because it is the subject of "aren't made public." However, it should be noted that when there are two object relative clauses in a row, the first relative pronoun is usually omitted but the second one cannot be omitted, for example: - The rule requires that hospitals disclose the rates they negotiate with...Read More...
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Repitition of auxiliary verbs

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Classical guitar was not prestigious and was not often played in concert halls until Andres Segovia revived it in the mid-twentieth century, after he was won over by the sound despite the instrument's relative obscurity . This sentence is from: Guiter Among all the options, the above sentence was considered correct. Classical guitar was not prestigious and was not often played ..... was has been written twice. If the last " was " is omitted and written in the following way, it seems to me...Read More...
Nousher Ahmed
Sir, thanks for making this discussion easy. This topic is now clear to me.Read More...
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CLIA ridicule?

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Hi, From Meet the Focker film. Bernie Focker : Jack, tell me one smart thing the C.L.I.A. has done. I will give you the deed to her house. Jack Byrnes : The C.L.I.A.? Bernie Focker : Central Lack of Intelligence Agency. My understanding is that the ridicule lies in (lack of intelligence) which meant, in my opinion (lack of cleverness). In other words, the meaning intended for (intelligence) was changed from what it means in CIA to the meaning of (being smart). So it meant that the CIA lacks...Read More...
izzylovesyouall
Thanks a lot. The reason why I asked is that an Arabic I am reading now allocated a half a page discussing the part cited where the writer based his interpretation of that ridicule on the idea that the ridicule lie in the word (lack) which means to do little intelligence work. Unlike my interpretation. So I just wanted to check my understanding as what the writer's interpretation does not make sense to me.Read More...
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yet / since

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Ahmed left home at 10 pm, and we haven't seen him yet/since. Which is correct and why?Read More...
ahmed_btm
Hi, Muh, I see that both are grammatically acceptable . When you use 'yet', that means there is an expectation to see him (you are waiting and expect to see him). When you use 'since', you are just giving us information that he hasn't returned home since his leaving.Read More...
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Present perfect

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What is the right choice ? There aren't any buses because the drivers ( have been - have gone- went - had gone ) on strike.Read More...
ahmed_btm
Hi, Ahmed, There are two correct answers here: "have been" and "have gone" . 'Go on strike' means start a strike. 'Be on strike' means 'taking part in a strike'. I think the model answer will be 'have gone' here as 'have been' is mostly followed by 'for/since' in such examples.Read More...
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difference of meaning

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determine to / be dtermined to what’s the difference between them? and head for / be headed for? really wondering the difference.Read More...
ahmed_btm
Hi, Pattaya, ' Determine to do (sth)' is a verb meaning ' decide to do (sth)'. 'Be' determined to do (sth) is an adjective . It means you have a strong desire to do (sth) and won't let anything stop you. - We determined to leave at once. (LDOCE) - Ahab was determined to kill Moby Dick. - 'Head for' and 'be headed for' have the same meaning . - The ship was headed / heading for Canada.Read More...
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How to use "like"

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According to a recent poll, owning and living in a freestanding house on its own land is still a goal of a majority of young adults, like that of earlier generations. This sentence is from According to a recent poll... The way like is used here is not correct. If we want to use like instead of as , and we want to write it in a correct form, how can we rewrite it? Can we consider the following sentence correct? If not, why? Or what can be the right form? According to a recent poll, owning and...Read More...
Nousher Ahmed
Sir, though this post took you a lot of time, and you have put so much effort, I am now happy because I have got the point. I am really grateful to you for your being kind to me.Read More...
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accident on website

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There's a post that was meant to be deleted, but the account was deleted on kind of an accident, is it possible to have it deleted?Read More...
David, Moderator
Greetings, J8912—For your awareness, you can a delete post at this site only if you are signed into the account of the member whose post you wish to delete and that post is not the beginning post of a thread in which there are replies.Read More...
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What's with Indians and engineering.

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I was talking with an Indian about the fact that too many Indians take up engineering as a profession. I said: "What's with Indians and engineering." Does this expressions make sense? Does it mean that I'm surprised that too many Indians take up engineering as their profession?Read More...
Ashraful Haque
Thank you for your answers they were very helpful.Read More...
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Everything but the kitchen sink...

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Are these sentences sound grammatical and natural? If they aren't, how can I make them sound natural? 1. He made a plan including everything but the kitchen sink; however at the end of the day it came unsuccessful /it fell through. 2. I know that he brought everything but the kitchen sink. But he can't find that things which are needed right now.Read More...
Toaha
Wow! Thanks Gustavo 💖🤩Read More...
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cleft sentence with 'not A but B'

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Hi, everyone!! I have following underlined sentence in question; " I was only six years old, but I can still remember how my mother had been asking me for two hours to get ready . It was not the shower that made me disobey her words ; it was the lavender sweater which made me so itchy !" While I analyze the structure of above sentence is "it cleft one combined with not A but B", I guess various evaluations are possible as follows; 1. Since the emphasized part is a noun (= the shower) in the...Read More...
deepcosmos
Really appreciate your numerous replies tonight. Finally I feel I could sleep. Best RGDS,Read More...
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Specific passive voice structure

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Hi. I come across the following sentence structure often in my editing work. It *feels* wrong to me, but I haven't found any rules to validate my opinion that it's incorrect. "X is achieved by doing Y." Example: "This task can be completed by using a kitchen knife." The subject is implied but ambiguous. Are you aware of any rules about this type of structure? If it's correct and simply awkward, I can live with that.Read More...
Gustavo, Co-Moderator
Only now do I see your point. I think this would be indeed awkward: - This task can be completed by a kitchen knife being used.Read More...
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"it pays to have considered the pros and cons" -> Is this sentence grammatically correct?

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Hey guys. I read a sentence, which is " If these graduates elect to have a year between school and higher education, it pays to have considered the pros and cons.". I am a bit confused due to the grammar of the sentence "it pays to have considered the pros and cons". Why does this sentence have "have considered'', which is present perfect tense? I wonder if it is grammatically correct. If it is correct, can you guys explain it for me? Thanks for reading ^^ Have a nice day!Read More...
Ly Thanh
Thanks a lotRead More...
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If John meant they were married now,...

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During a conversation between A and B: A: John said, "They were married." B1: That's right . If John meant they were married now , he would have said , "they are married." I mean anybody would have said that . B2: That's right . If John meant they were married now , he would simply say , "they are married." I mean anybody would say that . Q1) What is the difference between B1 and B2? Q2) Are the conditional clauses in B1 and B2 both in present time ? Q3) Is B1 a mixed conditional sentence...Read More...
ahmed_btm
Hi, Language Learner, B1 is a mixed conditional (subordinate clause: 2nd conditional / main clause: 3rd conditional). The subordinate clause refers to the present, while the main clause refers to the past (counter-factual). - We don't know what Johan means. If he meant they were married now, he would have said (then / at the time of his speech) "..........". (But that isn't what he said.) B2 is a second conditional (counter-factual). The main clause in B2 refers to what is normal to be said...Read More...
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save

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Is this sentence correct ? He saved her life over his own .Read More...
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another group

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Are these sentences correct: 1) They tested the medication on a group of forty five people and are now going to test it on a new group of six hundred. 2) They tested the medication on a group of forty five people and are now going to test it on another group of six hundred. My problem is that when I hear 'a new group of six hundred' I tend to think that the old group also was a group of six hundred. That is not the case here. I think '1' and '2' work. Maybe technically we need a comma before...Read More...
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Is 'get' a linking verb or not?

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In our textbook, it said 'get' has three meanings: arrive, become, receive. Then there is a sentence in exercises: We are getting close to the town. So in this sentence, does 'get' mean become or arrive?Read More...
alexandra
Thank you very much, David! I was really confused about that. It is really kind of you to help me.Read More...
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Verb question?

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An ESL friend is asking me why the sentence, "The temperature can become close to 40 degrees Celsius here" is incorrect. The answer is " be " and I also think " get " works, but I'm not sure how to explain why become is wrong. Is it wrong? If so, why?Read More...
Gustavo, Co-Moderator
Coincidentally, another member asked a similar question today here , and I remembered your question, and my answer. I find David's definition very clear: although in "get close to" the meaning of "get" is similar to that of "become," it cannot be paraphrased by using "become" but "come to be."Read More...
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gerund

0 likes · 32 views
Is this sentence correct ? It is like having your wife ask you a lot of questions every night .Read More...
Gustavo, Co-Moderator
Yes, Ilko. If you provide more context, we can explain it better. In a contextual vacuum, that sentence says that something is similar to making your wife ask you a lot of questions every night . It is also possible to use "asking," in which case the sentence would mean that something is similar to the experience of having your wife asking you a lot of questions every night .Read More...
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As a man thinks, so is he

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Hi, From The Top Ten Distinctions Between Millionaires and The Middle Class by Keith Smith, PP 104, 105, 106. "Most middle-class people are unaware or unconscious of the questions they ask themselves on a regular basis. I observe this all the time in my conversations with middle-class people. It amazes me how I can control conversations by asking questions and how middle-class people move their trains of thought to wherever I want to lead them. I used to hate being around people who talked...Read More...
izzylovesyouall
Sorry for that and thanks a lot.Read More...
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