Search results for 'tag:British English tag:Constructions' matching tags 'British English' and 'Constructions'

Re: Adjective

Goodman — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:08:07 GMT

Hi Tanit,
I guess it can be both depending on the construction....
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/likely

likely

Adjective

1. tending or inclined: likely to win

2. probable: the likely effects of the tunnel

3. appropriate for a purpose or activity: a likely candidate

Adverb

1. probably or presumably

2. not likely Informal definitely not [Old Norse lÄ«kligr]

USAGE: Likely as an adverb is preceded by another, intensifying adverb, as in it will very likely rain or it will most likely rain. Its use without an intensifier, as in it will likely rain, is regarded as unacceptable by most users of British English, though it is common in colloquial US English.

Re: has got vs has

nona the brit — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:56:39 GMT

In British English 'has got' can be used as an alternative to 'has' so the meaning is a straightforward 'he is in possession of a gun'. I think US English avoids the use of the 'have got' construction.

Re: how far off ?

Avangi — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:59:13 GMT

Monalisatuan
As far as I know ,HOW FAR OFF FINISHING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS HOUSE ARE WE ? is quite natural in British English .

Hi Monalisatuan,

Could you give us other common versions? Do you accept the original? HOW FAR OFF FINISHING BUILDING THIS HOUSE ARE YOU?

Thanks, - A.

Re: how far off ?

Monalisatuan — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 14:55:53 GMT

Hi all,

As far as I know ,HOW FAR OFF FINISHING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS HOUSE ARE WE ? is quite natural in British English .

Kind regards

Re: Poll: British English vs American English

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 09:22:04 GMT

It may be useful to think about the next variety of English that is improving and spreading very fast. I am talking about English as an official language used in the European Union. Most of EU documents are being published in English but I feel that this English slightly differs from the British (and even more from the American) English. Lots of foreign words and phrases have been added to the classical English, mostly from Latin and French - like acquis communitaire and many others. On the other hand this form of English uses simplier construction of sentences. This form is so called "EUnglish". I think it is fine - it is becoming a wide-European official language and people can really communicate everywhere. When you try to communicate in classical British ("Royal") English people often say "Don't talk like Shakespeare".
Nevertheless I really like the British English and consider it as the only real English. The other forms are just "communication languages".

Re: In the garden is/are a cat, a dog, and a rabit.

Yoong Liat — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 06:43:27 GMT

Hi Teo

I hope the following will be helpful.

In BrE, it should be There is a cat and a dog.

Below is the information extracted from two books on English usage. The first book is on British English usage, the second on American English usage.

'The Right Word at the Right Time' states as follows:

There is an apple and pears for dessert.

There are apples and a pear for dessert.

'Merriam-Webster 'Guide to English Usage' states as follows:

When a compound subject follows the verb and the first element is singular, the verb may be either singular or plural.

There is a lake and several small streams.

There are a dog and a few cats in the house.

The singular construction is more common. Still, some writers insist on formal agreement and use a plural verb: There were an apartment house and a parking lot at the end of the block.

Best regards

Re: Comma after i.e. and/or eg.?

milky — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 00:15:39 GMT

JaCKo__007 wrote:

A coma question!

I've found that American based writers use commas after 'i.e.', but what of it in British English and does it then apply to eg. as well?

Does a comma go after i.e. or e.g.?

Both abbreviations i.e. and e.g. are preceded by a mark of punctuation, usually a comma. In American English, both are generally followed by a comma, though not in British English, and are not italicized. E.g. may also be followed by a colon, depending on the construction. In British English, the term is often written as eg with the periods omitted.

Re: it/ them

Bokeh — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 10:54:19 GMT

Nona The Brit wrote:
In British English nouns such as 'team' can be treated as either plural or singular.

Nona, I think this is more a question of your ear being accustomed to this type of construction rather than it being good grammar. To me, also a British native, it is unacceptable.

Nona The Brit wrote:
Wonderland Park's gardening team will offer you special growing tips. As above, the emphasis is now on who will be receiving the tips. If you come along you can get this advice. This encourages the individual receiving the invitation to attend, makes it more personal. This is how you would phrase it to make the advertising/invitations more effective.

I disagree! Every pronoun requires an antecedent and the antecedent "Fun Club members" relates to the pronoun "them", not "you". Also,this notion forces the concept that every reader must be one of the "Fun Club members".

Re: Sentence Construction Question

Goodman — Thu, 24 May 2007 20:22:54 GMT

Temico wrote:
"I met with an accident" is typical British English and it means, "I was INVOLVED in an accident."

Well, this is new to me. Typically, in the context of "accident", we, in the US, would say something like:

So and so was involved in an accident, or got into an automobile accident ....

Met with an accident sounds a little odd to me. However, I can see how it may be ok if it is used in a special context. i.e. John was visiting London and as he was departing the plane, he was met with an accident in which he slippepd and fell, causing him to twist his ankle. Even in this context, I still have to ponder if "met" is the right choice of word. Perhaps....Greeted with.

Re: Past Present Future tense of the word drag

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 17:38:51 GMT

[edit] Verb

drug

(US) Simple past tense and past participle of drag. You look like someone drug you behind a horse for half a mile.

[edit] Usage notes

In British English, this is incorrect; the correct past tense of drag is dragged.

Random House says that "drug" is "nonstandard" as the past tense of drag. Merriam-Webster once ruled that "drug" in this construction was "illiterate" but have since upgraded it to "dialect". The lexicographers of New World, American Heritage, and Oxford make no mention of this word.

Search results for 'tag:British English tag:Constructions' matching tags 'British English' and 'Constructions'

Re: Adjective

Re: has got vs has

Re: how far off ?

Re: how far off ?

Re: Poll: British English vs American English

Re: In the garden is/are a cat, a dog, and a rabit.

Re: Comma after i.e. and/or eg.?

Does a comma go after i.e. or e.g.?

Re: it/ them

Re: Sentence Construction Question

Re: Past Present Future tense of the word drag

[edit] Verb

[edit] Usage notes

[edit] References