Search results for 'tag:Determiners' matching tag 'Determiners'

Re: Combine sentence with 'and'

grammar geek — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:02:35 GMT

I'd put a determiner before "Data" in any case. All data in systems X and Y has been updated. The pertinent data in systems X and Y has been updated. I agree that a, b and b are all equally correct, but I'd say a.

Re: Sentence analysis

gleb_chebrikoff — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:43:23 GMT

Greetings, Tina, Mister Micawber's answers are completely relevant, but let me make some additional remarks: 1. A time of prosperity and peace - is a noun phrase you analysed absolutely correctly. In general, noun phrases may have the following constituent parts: a) the head , around which the other constituents cluster. In your case, it is time ; b) the determinative , which includes - predeterminers , all items which precede any central determiner in a noun phrase, eg all, both, half (there are no predeterminers in your case); - central determiners , such as articles, this/that, some, etc. In your example, a is a central determiner; - postdeterminers , follow central determiners but precede premodifiers...

Re: Sentence analysis

mister micawber — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:37:57 GMT

First sentence: "A time of prosperity and peace"-- This is not a sentence; it is a noun phrase 'A time' is a noun phrase, where 'a' is the determiner and 'time' is the head. 'Of' is a preposition, so I think it's a prepositional phrase with a noun complement. -- OK, but notice that the prepositional phrase is post-modifying 'time', making the whole thing a larger noun phrase. In Delft ( Prep phrase) the econony (noun phrase) was thriving (verb phrase) and (conj) brought (verb) wealth (noun phrase) to town and country (prep phrase)-- OK

Sentence analysis

needgrammarhelp — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:03:42 GMT

I could really use some help with some sentences analysis. I am not sure at all if I am on the right track . First sentence: "A time of prosperity and peace" I did this analyse: A time is a noun phrase, where a is the determiner and time is the head. Of is a preposition, so I think it`s a prepositional phrase with a noun complement. Is this wrong? Another sentence is: "In delft, the economy was thriving and brought wealth to town and country" I did this: In delft ( Prep phrase) the econony (noun phrase) was thriving (verb phrase) and (conj) brought (verb) wealth (noun phrase) to town and country (prep phrase) Please let me know what is wrong. Thank you so...

Re: What is the meaning of what

gleb_chebrikoff — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:47:15 GMT

Dear friend, you'd better specify your question, as listing every possible meaning of 'what' will be of little help. Here are some of the most common meanings: 1. Interrogative pronoun - asking for information specifying something: What is your name?; - asking for repetition of something not heard or confirmation of something not understood: what? I can't hear you ; 2. Relative pronoun - the thing or things that (used in specifying something): what we need is a commitment ; 3. Interrogative determiner - asking for information specifying something: What time it is?; 4. Relative determiner - (referring to the whole of an amount) whatever: he had been robbed of what little money he had ; 5. Interrogative...

Re: A question on indirect speech.

gleb_chebrikoff — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:58:40 GMT

Greetings, Icadia, Direct speech: It's against the law in our state for her to drive until she has been seizure-free for six months. Indirect speech: 1. The provisions of the legislation have probably not changed by the time of reporting John's words, so there is no need to change is into was ; 2. If the indirect speech itself contains a subordinate clause (introduced by until... in your case), then the verb of that subordinate clause may be in the present tense because of the current validity even though both the main verb of the sentence and the superordinate verb are in the past: John said that it is against the law in our state for her to drive until she has been seizure-free for six months. (Please note that...

Re: With his left hand/With the left hand

califjim — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:02:55 GMT

Do native speakers strictly distinguish 1. from 2.? No. Not at all. For example, you might be saying that someone is left-handed by saying "He tosses a ball with his left hand". There's nothing about the determiner the (as opposed to his ) which signifies handedness. CJ

Re: English Gerunds

mister micawber — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:23:22 GMT

No; you cannot do that in English syntax. The gerund can only be preceded by a determiner.

Re: Adjectives

billj — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:58:33 GMT

I think the original post was referring to possessives in general, not just 'him'. Trad grams called my, your, his/her/its, our, your, their possessive adjectives . However, in many modern grammars they came to be called possessive pronouns, which strictly speaking is incorrect because they do not function as pronouns at all (they don't replace nouns or noun phrases and cannot occur independently), though he is a special case because it can act as both: his bike (poss adj), this bike is his (poss. pronoun). More recently, they've been reclassified as determiners in the noun phrase, which perhaps makes most sense of all. Personally, I like the term 'possessive determiner' , which sets them...

Re: Mainly question on putting adjectives in front of gerund

califjim — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:10:08 GMT

much absolutely cannot be used there. loud and great are not really idiomatic there, though with the addition of of , the use of loud is slightly less objectionable. The positioning of adjectives in front of gerund clauses is not often successful stylistically. In your place, I would avoid the practice. (The determiner is his , by the way.) CJ

Re: Mainly question on putting adjectives in front of gerund

jemaasjr — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:06:51 GMT

Hi. Is it correct to put adjectives like "loud" or "great" or what looks to be a determiner (not sure, though) like "much" in front of a gerund clause? eg, His much/loud/great playing the violin in the early evening has helped her to relax, for the most part. Much does not work well and I think the problem is you are using it to modify the -ing form in "playing." You could say, "Each evening his much played violin helped to relax her, for the most part." Easier would be, "His frequent playing of the violin.." Would this be correct? This is a little changed version of the above? His much/loud/great playing of the violin in the early evening has...

'the', 'a' or zero article with certain nouns?

sebayanpendam — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:56:38 GMT

Hi, I have some questions regarding determiners. Should there be 'the' or zero article for these nouns? Can you please explain why 'the' is or is not required before these nouns as marked below? 1.Although there is such a thing as (a/0) one-way communication, (a/0) communication can be perceived better as a two-way process in which there is an exchange and progression of thoughts, feelings or ideas (energy) towards a mutually accepted goal or direction (information). 2. (the/0) English language teaching is a widely-used teacher-centred term, as in (the/0) English language teaching divisions of large publishing houses, ELT training, etc. 3.(the/0) Language learning is not like the learning of science as we can not learn...

Possessive pronouns

anonymous — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:57:50 GMT

The A level Language textbook we use categorises 'my' 'your' 'his' 'her' 'our' and 'their' as possessive pronouns. I think they cannot be pronouns since they do not replace nouns. I have seen them referred to as both possessive adjectives and possessive determiners. I think possessive pronouns are 'mine' 'yours' 'his' 'hers' 'ours and 'theirs' which can indeed replace nouns (as in 'My house is small; hers is enormous') Does anyone have a view on this?

Re: Help

gleb_chebrikoff — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:01:52 GMT

Dear friend, Basically, any sentence consists of two parts. They are complete subject and complete predicate. Complete subject is the part of the sentence which names what is talked about, in your case, it is trains. The part which tells what is said about the complete subject is termed complete predicate - were slower a hundred years ago. This, as you can see, is rather inconvenient and general division. Every subject is built around some noun or pronoun (as well as some other word classes), which is the simple subject of the sentence. Since in your example trains has no modifiers or determiners, it is both a complete and simple subject. Likewise, complete predicate is formed around one verb group, in your case it's were. ...

Re: Disagreement between determiner and noun

doll — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:18:59 GMT

Is this student a native speaker of English? How old is he/she? How long has he/she been learning English?

Disagreement between determiner and noun

camelias — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:35:36 GMT

it has many kind of food i know that the error here is a disagreement between determiner and noun especially with regard to number... but i want to know why does a student do this error? and what could be the solution for such a problem? i need an exercise if u can! thanks in advance

Re: Sentence analysis

anonymous — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:14:30 GMT

May I try? (l) a siimple sentence. (2) it has a compound predicate. (3) the two predicates are connected by the coordinating conjunction "and"(4) predicate No. 1 = bought a box of colors. "box" is modified by "a" (an adjective); "a box" is modified by "of colors." "of" is preposition. "colors" is object of preposition.PS.: some university books call "a" a determiner. I'm using traditional names. (5) predicate No. 2 = copied a magazine lithograph of a Japanese painting of Fujiyama; a magazine...Fujiyama is object of "copied"; "of ...painting" modifies "llithograph"; "of Fujiyama" modifies "painting."

Re: Nouns

califjim — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:09:48 GMT

A noun is a word that refers to something in the real world -- a person, place, or thing. Often preceded by a determiner such as a, an, the, this, that, my, ... Give it a try, and we'll tell you how you did. CJ

Re: The

kimlrobles — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:05:33 GMT

#2 When you are writing a list, or a parallel construction, as long as every item in the list takes on the same determiner, in this case "the", there is no need to repeat the determiner again. The only reason you would repeat the determiner is if you wanted to emphasize each item in the list.

Disecting this Adjectival Group

zkyevolved — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:07:24 GMT

Hello, I need some help looking at this adjectival group.I really appreciate the help. That drink tastes worse in a paper cup. [worse ] That Drink = Nominal Group, Function = Subject. It's comprised of a Determiner and a Head Noun (That & Drink) Tastes = Verbal Group, Head Verb Now here is where I get into some trouble. I can see this part in two ways. 1) worse in a paper cup = an adjectival group, whose head is 'worse' and within it there is a prepositional group whose function is (either) a complement or a qualifier (can someone please double check that for me??? Thanks :D I can't decide :(). ALL this adjectival group has the function of a Subject Complement (complementing that drink). 2) Worse =...

Help disecting this sentence.

zkyevolved — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:15:10 GMT

Support for the party dropped 5 points in May. Support for the party = nominal group & subject. for the party = prepositional group. Does this group have a function (like how the nominal group is the subject) the party = a nominal group functioning as a complement, right? dropped = verbal group/verb 5 points = nominal group, 5 being a determiner and points being the head. in May = prepositional group. Once again, does this have a function? May = NominalG, as a complement. Is this an accurate representation? What functions can a prepositional group have? I'm very confused about this group. Thanks :)

Re: Yet another set of sentences I'm having doubts about...

fandorin — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 20:14:48 GMT

Humanity's peregrination through(out) the ages ? Through is the only choice here. Through is used in reference to a movement or passage that proceeds linearly; throughout to a movement or passage that proceeds spatially. In your example, there is no difference to me, but I might mistake. 2. Should there be a/the definite article in front of human kind ? If so, why? There are as many propagators of such theories as many different reasons for why the world should perish along with t he human kind . The human is the whole population on the Earth. You can omit "kind". I'd use "the" because of uniqueness of existence of such a kind. 3. Do we say the apocalypse and the judgment day or can we omit...

So-called

christanford — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 18:54:46 GMT

Hi, Schools getting more points in the tables for "hard" subjects, including maths, physics and languages, but fewer points for so-called "soft" subjects such as media studies. I usually expect to see an article or a determiner before "so-called". Is "the" not needed in front of "so called" in this sentence? Thanks in advance

Re: On yourself

mr wordy — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 02:36:27 GMT

A determiner such as "the", "your", "these" etc. would normally be used before "bags". In the examples I'll use "the". The usual form is "You must carry the bags yourself". You could say "by yourself" but normally the word "by" is not required. It suggests that the alternative is carrying them jointly with someone else (not just someone else carrying them). "You must carry the bags on your self" seems strange. The picture I get is of someone carrying the bags in some unusual way that involves strapping them tightly to their body, or something like that.

Re: Adverb or Adjective??

mr wordy — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:40:15 GMT

"We lost almost anything" doesn't make sense, so let's change it to "We lost almost everything". Here, "almost" is listed as an adjective: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/almost (this forum is not handling the URL properly; you'll need to type the closing square bracket). The example they give ("an almost failure") is not a usage I'm very familiar with though. I'm wondering whether "almost" in your example could be classed as a determiner or quantifier (similar to "many" in, say, "I bought many items"). I think that some dictionaries don't discriminate and just lump these in with adjectives.

Re: INFINITIVE VS GERUND

mister micawber — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:22:02 GMT

It is incorrect on several fronts. I suppose you mean: Education is one determiner of success in life.

Re: A part of

clive — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:41:19 GMT

Hi, Which one is correct: "Each organization stores a part of data" or "Each organization stores part of data" You can say either 'part of' or 'a part of'. 'A part of' seems a little more informal to me. Possibly more common is 'some of'. You can't say 'of data'. You need a determiner. eg "Each organization stores some of this/the data." Best wishes, Clive

Re: Sentence

mister micawber — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:56:02 GMT

Yes, there should be an article or other determiner before 'Danish'. Even the most professional publishers sometimes fail at proofreading.

Re: Speed dating

fandorin — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:25:28 GMT

Thank you, Barbara. Its is a possessive determiner, isn't it?

Re: Help me to arrange these words

mister micawber — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 08:12:51 GMT

I doubt that it can be done without a determiner for 'heart', at least, but I still can make nothing of it.

Different forms available?

anonymous — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 06:08:00 GMT

Hi. Can you hep? 1) What/Which/Where/How is this? - Used as a question word? 2) What/Which/Where/How do you...? - Used as a pronoun? 2) What/Which place has rooms to accommodate 100 people or more? Which one is yours? - Both used as determiners?

Re: Subject-verb agreement

fandorin — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:05:21 GMT

The number of of takes plural as usual When we are talking about amounts and quantities we usualyy use singular determiners, verbs and pronouns even if the noun is plural. Where is the five pounds I lent you? Twenty miles is a long way to walk. We've got only five litres of gas. - That's enough to get there. n #6, doesn't the subject refer to the quantity of houses as a whole? No, I guess we can treat them as numeration. ince I want to say that the number is 50, shouldn't the verb be 'was'. Don't mix up number and number of . Can you please tell me why we are treating 'houses' as the subject and not 'number'? The subject of the sentence is number of the houses .

Re: Subject-verb agreement

fandorin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:37:55 GMT

Care must be taken while using nouns linked with and . If nouns are treated as separate things, plural verb must take place. Tea and cofee are the most popular drinks. __ Sometimes, some expressions joined by and have singular determiners, verbs and pronouns. This happens when the two nouns used together and we think of them as a single idea. It happens so when the item is considered to be one single thing. This gin and tonic is not very strong, isn't it? The toast and marmalade is in the table. __ Sometimes both of them are possible. Two and two make/makes four. ___ If the subject of an sentence refers to quantity of something it should take singular verb. If the subject of an sentence refers to number ...

Re: Miners in Spain barricaded roads...

califjim — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:36:10 GMT

It occurs to me that making the nouns singular forces the use of an article. For example, "...chanted slogans" is okay but it has to be "..chanted a/the slogan." Similarly, in Mr. Tom's example "...barricaded roads" is okay but it has to be "...barricaded a/the road." Why? Not a clue. There is no "reason" for this. It's just an observed fact that a singular countable noun in English must be accompanied by a determiner. There is no semantic motivation for it, if that's what you're looking for. On the other hand, another way to see it is that the plural of a/an is the zero article: a road; roads . In this question of "roads" vs. "the roads", you're...

Re: Is "There is no another option." right?

califjim — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 07:51:02 GMT

no and another are mutually exclusive determiners. They can't both appear in front of the same noun. One or the other, but not both. CJ

Re: Try to save Vs Try Saving

clive — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:53:35 GMT

Hi, I was not able to find the error in this sentence: You must really make an effort; stop making excuses and try saving some money each month from wages this year. I see nothing wrong with . . . try saving . . . I do have two concerns about this sentence. One is the lack of parallelism. The part before the semi-colon is an indicative statement, but the part after it consists of two imperatives. This is not good style. My other concern is that it is very unnatural to write 'wages' here without a determiner, eg 'from your wages'. Again, poor style, in my opinion.