Search results for 'tag:Constructions tag:Nouns' matching tags 'Constructions' and 'Nouns'

Re: not / neither / nor

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:09:37 GMT

When looking up tricky constructions or words, one can often go to the dictionary to view its proper usage. For example, www.dictionary.com shows this definition and usage note for nor:

1. (used in negative phrases, esp. after neither, to introduce the second member in a series, or any subsequent member): Neither he nor I will be there. They won't wait for you, nor for me, nor for anybody.
2. (used to continue the force of a negative, as not, no, never, etc., occurring in a preceding clause): He left and I never saw him again, nor did I regret it.

So,

"Usage Note: When using neither in a balanced construction that negates two parts of a sentence, nor (not or) must be used in the second clause: She is neither able nor (not or) willing to go. Similarly, when negating the second of two negative independent clauses, nor (not or) must be used: He cannot find anyone now, nor does he expect to find anyone in the future; Jane will never compromise with Bill, nor will Bill compromise with Jane. Note that in these constructions, nor causes an inversion of the auxiliary verb and the subject (does he ... will Bill ...). However, when a verb is negated by not or never, and is followed by a verb phrase that is also to be negated (but not an entire clause), either or or nor can be used: He will not permit the change, or (or nor) even consider it. In noun phrases of the type no this or that, or is actually more common than nor: He has no experience or interest (less frequently nor interest) in chemistry. Or is also more common than nor when such a noun phrase, adjective phrase, or adverb phrase is introduced by not: He is not a philosopher or a statesman. They were not rich or happy. "

So, or is more common than nor, but nor is still acceptable (even if it sounds weird).
It further becomes clear that not...nor is acceptable when you look at the definition of neither, which is a conjunction for not either.

Re: "any"-defining

Fandorin — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:18:36 GMT

Kooyeen

You can do that too, but it is not common, it's only used sometimes for emphasis. It's easy to build odd sentences that way, so I personally prefer to avoid using it that way, as a learner. When talking about one thing, using the article "a" (or "an") is the common way to say it...
Do you have a sister? Is there a hospital near here? I don't have a sister, you must be mistaking me for someone else...

I didn't consider uncountable nouns because they are not usually used in the plural, so they weren't part of our problem. I didn't consider idioms or exceptions either... I can think of a couple of them right now:
Is there any reason why you are not allowed to do that?
There isn't any way to find out the truth, I'm afraid.

The singular seems to be the idiomatic choice in those cases.

Yes, it's odd way not to use "a". Indeed, "any=some" implies itself plural noun to be used. So the difference in translation some of constructions in English seems to be slightly smoothed between two meanings you mentioned above. At least it's so in my language.

all adjective questions

Anonymous — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:15:55 GMT

1. Would say this is natural in terms of grammar. I think I asked a similar question before and I think Mr. M said something like the construction like "a yellow and red pen" first brings up a notion of one pen with two different colors.

They are divided over a spiritual and literal interpretation of these lessons.

2. Sometimes, I am not too sure if it is correct to use a plural form a noun as an adjective. I have seen it used as such but not so sure.

making an executive/officer (officers?) duties list

3. I am not sure sometimes whether the word that ends in "-ing" (or possibly the one that ends in "-ed") is a participle or an adjective. If is an adjective like the word "finished" as in "He is finished," then I feel you don't need to hyphenate as in "a long-finished task" Do you have a tip?

an envelope stuffing event

Re: Noun clause or Adejctive clause

CalifJim — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:41:54 GMT

Raen
the "Pete who" sentence could either be Adjective or Appositive clause as it is so in some cases stated by the website he/she supplied.

The only reference to this sort of construction in that website said that there were differences in interpretation among various grammarians -- or something to that effect.

In the analytic system that I've been using for years, a relative clause like a "who is" clause cannot be labeled an appositive.

Use whatever classification system your teacher prefers.

Re: nominative and objective pronouns.......confusing!

Huevos — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:31:44 GMT

Avangi
But "Than" is not.

I wasn't using the "after-preposition rule" to support this construction. Use here is open to opinion. "She is taller than I" is presciptivist, whereas "she is taller than me" is the overwelming choice of the language's native speakers. The question is how deep rooted does a use have to become before conservative prescriptivists accept it as part of the language.

By the way which version is your King James of choice?

Re: nominative and objective pronouns.......confusing!

Huevos — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:58:34 GMT

Avangi
What might the implied verb be?

Avangi, I don't want to get into that with this sentence. For the reason why, read my point to Raen below. "Like" is a preposition so follows that rule.

But to give you an idea what I mean about implied verb...

She is taller than me.
She is taller than I am.

Some people say "She is taller than I" but my recommendation is to leave that construction for the pretentious and supercilious, (maybe I'm just too much of an Alfred P. Doolittle to use it).

Raen
So it's always "between you and me" no matter where this expression sits in a sentence?

"Between" is a preposition. Pronouns that follow prepositions are always in the accusative case, not nominative. It's a rule, not a matter of opinion. Here are some examples that wrongly use the nominative.

He wrote a book about she.

The girl passed between he and I.

The bullet passed through he.

The waiter spilt orange juice on she.

Everyone caught the train except I.

Their father ordered the meal for they.

Re: it's probably wrong, but ...

Avangi — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 02:42:49 GMT

(We have rooms / a room.)

What would be the objection? That "there" cannot be object of the preposition because its not a noun? I think "in there" and "out there" are common constructions in all the romance languages. Sorry I don't know what it's called. - A.

Edit. Maybe I'm wrong about that. Maybe other languages are more like "there within" and "there without." "In" and "out" are probably adverbs. Edit. edit. Yes, my dictionary lists "in" as an adverb. I'm thinking, "Throw out the garbage," "Take in the washing from the line."

Re: nominative and objective pronouns.......confusing!

Huevos — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:05:16 GMT

Anonymous
You make errors even as you discuss errors!
1. You link singular "someone" with plural "they";
2. Childrens' is wrong;
3. "than me" should be "than I"!

Scary.

George

Argumentum ad hominem!

Go and read some Causer or Shakespeare. This construction is over 500 years old. Although many 19th century grammars shunned it, almost all 21st century models have embraced it once again.
Just a typo. No need for a personal attack. What's the big deal anyway, it wasn't the subject of the discussion.
To the conserative prescriptivist yes, but for the majority of English speakers that 19th construction has fallen from favour.

Re: singular / plural

Anonymous — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:52:44 GMT

This is an example of a grammar issue that is made difficult because frequent usage of the "a lot" construction in informal conversation makes it tricky to say what is correct based on how it "sounds." Whether the nouns are countable/uncountable or singular/plural is beside the point; as they are part of a prepositional phrase, they are really only serving as part of a modifier. "Lot" is the noun to be concerned with.

You wouldn't say, "There were a group of children at the playground." "Group" implies many children, but the noun itself is singular. It *would* be correct to say, "There were several groups of children at the playground," however. The expression "a lot" works similarly.

Re: Questions on sentences

Clive — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:03:20 GMT

Hi,
1. Is the underlined part a noun? It's a noun phrase, ie a phrase that gives more information about the noun 'people'.
Is there possibly an ellipted 'to' at work? Yes, you could say 'to make people proud . . . '
What she has done is make people proud of who (whom??) they are. Say 'who'.

2. Can we have an adjective act as a noun? Please see the underlined part
If there should be someone reading this who realize ... that this wonderful of contracts has not been made ... This sentence as written is not grammatical. Did you type it correctly?

3. Is this construction valid and correct? Yes. It's quite literary in style.
Is the word 'power' the subject here? Yes.
To every poor slave of self who really desires it, is given the power to respond in obedience to our Lord ...

Best wishes, Clive