Search results for 'tag:Grammar tag:English grammar' matching tags 'Grammar' and 'English grammar'

"...be misleading to print them in lists which are intended to encourage compositon."

Peaceblinkfriend — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:40:18 GMT

A few words fit the pattern well but are only found it very restricted combinations, or collocations. 'Piping' goes with 'voice', and 'gangling' goes with 'youth' or 'boy'. Since grammar mostly deals with generalities, we feel that it could be misleading to print them in lists which are intended to encourage compositon.
(Quoted from the introduction of Collins COBUILD English Grammar )

Is 'composition' referring to a piece of writing here?

If that is the case, how then would it be misleading to include words that have exclusive usages in lists?

Thank you

PBF

"...a kind of preface, "commenting" on the other clause, which contains..."

Peaceblinkfriend — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:52:26 GMT

The reporting clause becomes a kind of preface, commenting on the other clause, which contains the main message. (Quoted from the introduction of Collins COBUILD English Grammar )

How would you pronounce the word 'commenting' here? Would you put the stress on the first syllable, 'commenting' or the second, 'commenting'?

Thank you for your help.

PBF

'For example, although it is true to say that the noun group is the structure we choose for "the things" we want to talk about, it is not the only one.'

Peaceblinkfriend — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:35:18 GMT

For example, although it is true to say that the noun group is the structure we choose for the things we want to talk about, it is not the only one. Sometimes we want to talk about an event or an idea that is not easy to express in a noun group. Instead we can use a clause as the subject of another clause. e.g All I want is a holiday. (Quoted from the introduction of Collins COBUILD English Grammar )

I don't quite understand what it means by 'the things we want to talk about'. What is being referred to by 'the things'? For all it's worth, according to the glossary included in the grammar, a noun group is a group of words which acts as the subject, complement, or object of a clause, or as the object of a preposition. Also called nominal group or noun phrase.

Thank you

PBF

They are going to be playing tennis in the afternoon/They will be playing tennis in the afternoon.

Jesusengland — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:49:58 GMT

Hello.
I can't understand the difference in meaning between "be going to be doing" and "will be doing" in the future continuous. What is it? I have read in an english grammar book that there is a little difference between them, but I don't know what it is.

- They are going to be playing tennis in the afternoon.
- They will be playing tennis in the afternoon.

Thanks.

Re: Functional English

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:01:21 GMT

functional english means to have a tough skills to present your idea infront of business management.. simply its mean business english grammar.

Re: Phrase

Cute572 — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:18:51 GMT

Hello Mr Carlito,

I guess u are unfamilar with the forum usage. Ask your question with new Post heading in the ESL General English Grammar Questions forum.

Take care!

Re: Need an advise!

Cool Breeze — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:16:34 GMT

Hi Cute

Judging from your posts you have a very scanty knowledge of English. In my opinion you are trying to accomplish too much at a time. It takes time just to learn the basics of English grammar. You should get somebody to teach you these basics. You can of course ask questions here but in many cases it is impossible to give short answers to some questions, especially if that means dealing at length with problematic issues that are clearly beyond your grasp of English.

Cheers, CB

Re: none of these gadgets matter/matters

CalifJim — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 02:17:40 GMT

If there's no power, none of these gadgets matters.

The rule is that none always takes the singular verb.

However, the rule is more often broken than observed, so this rule is usually used only in formal contexts (such as English grammar exams), and the proximity rule mentioned earlier in this thread is more often used by real people in real conversations.

Re: A doubt in English Grammar (Tense)!!

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 11:39:00 GMT

Thanks for the comment..
Yes, I have copied the question correct from a question paper for 7th STD students.
I am finding it difficult to come to an answer for this too,.

Re: A doubt in English Grammar (Tense)!!

Mr Wordy — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 10:38:02 GMT

No choice of tense will make this "sentence" correct. You can't end a sentence with "by the time": something else needs to follow, and the answer will depend on what that is. Are you sure you've copied the question correctly?