Search results for 'tag:Grammar tag:Literature' matching tags 'Grammar' and 'Literature'

Free English grammar and pronuciation books

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:50:21 GMT

He guys if you have time you can download for free at

http://www.englishgrammarliterature.blogspot.com/

Re: Questions to all English Teachers

insolence_6 — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:52:58 GMT

Well in my limited experience, I have found that using literature pieces as a spring board is particularly effective. For example you can discuss a short story and use the characters and situations in your grammar example. Or have them correct the grammar of poem, since poems have a lot of overlooked errors due to poetic license. Hope this will help.

Dailygrammar online

Raen — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:13:07 GMT

Does anyone else know this website that teaches English grammar?

Is this a well-respected and widely-known source/authority of English grammar?

What is the website or material/literature/book, if there's any, that most English teachers/experts regard as the authority of English grammar?

Thanks

Raen

Re: ..why do I have vs ..why I have

CalifJim — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:25:41 GMT

Yoong Liat
it would be nice to hear what the other native speakers have to say on this.

According to Radford (Transformational Grammar):

Direct speech: "Will I get a degree?" John wondered.

Indirect speech: John wondered whether he would get a degree.

Semi-indirect speech: John wondered would he get a degree.

(Semi-indirect speech is so called because it shares features of both direct and indirect speech: the inversion of direct speech and the backshifting of indirect speech, for example.)

Personally, I find that semi-indirect speech is used most often in three situations:

1. In extremely informal conversation.

2. As a literary device, often to portray the inner thoughts and feelings of a character.

3. By ESL learners who have no intention of being either extremely informal nor of contributing to English literature, but who are aiming for indirect speech and missing.

Semi-indirect speech (with its subject-verb inversion) has nothing whatever to do with the emphasis provided by do-support uninverted:

Semi-indirect: John is wondering does Susan like to dance.

Indirect with emphasis: John is wondering if Susan does like to dance.

Semi-indirect: You may wonder why do I have two cars.

Indirect with emphasis: You may wonder why I do have two cars.

Re: Am I right?

CalifJim — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:16:20 GMT

wholegrain
from what reference book you learned that "but" has no meaning in the given context

Personally, I learned it from observation, not from a reference book. I am a native speaker, and I have read quite a few books over the years, and so I don't need to consult a reference book to understand the meaning or usage of this formulation any more than I need a reference book to understand hundreds of others.

I'm sorry, but I don't have a reference book to recommend that might contain information about this construction. It would have to be something of a historical nature, because this pattern so rarely occurs in modern English that the most of the more recent books probably don't even discuss it.

Later edit:

Take a look at Curme's English Grammar of 1925. There you will find a little discussion of but, but that, and but what as less common and older substitutes for that in contexts such as those we have been discussing. Note that nearly a hundred years ago (1925) a grammarian was already saying that these substitutes for that were falling into disuse. Here is one of his examples:

"It could not be doubted that (or now less commonly but, but that, or but what) his life would be aimed at."

And another: "I do not doubt, or Who doubts that, or now less commonly but, or but that, or but what, he will win."

_____

It appears to me that some of the typical historical uses of but that are those which occur after the negation or interrogation of the verbs doubt or deny or wonder.

Note also that neither Curme, nor any others I know of, say that but means only or merely or except or anything else in these patterns. but that is treated as a single unit -- a compound conjunction. You certainly don't find patterns like the following in the literature: I don't doubt [only / merely] that he will win. If you did, it would support the claim that but means only or merely. But I think it will be hard to find examples like that.

I need your help!

Gadget Hackwrench — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:29:45 GMT

Hi! I wrote text for conference prasentation. Could you please check grammar in it? Is it clear? I know it is big. But may be it is possible to check it just in general?

Results

Our results afford extend knowledge about feeding of coral fishes.

Many harpacticoids, freeliving larvae of parasitic Isopoda (family Dajidae), y-larvae of Facetotecta (adults presumably also parasitic), larvae of Gastropoda and Bivalvia, isopods from family Gnathidae, larvae of Polychaeta (family Spionidae) were found in the diet of Dascyllus reticulatus and Chromis caeruleus. Our results differ much from what was found out before. The list of objects found in the intestine of these two species is now expanded.

For Dascyllus and Chromis almost all of found categories of objects are shared. On the whole their feeding preferences are quite similar.

There are very few investigations dedicated to members of genus Gobiodon. In previous investigations only the biggest groups of crustaceans were identified in the diet of this fish. Our data can help to know more about the feed composition of Gobiodon quinquestrigatus. 12 groups of food items have been found in the diet of this species, mainly they were presented by Copepoda, Foraminifera and Nematoda.

Also in all examined specimens of Gobiodon quinquestrigatus cnidocysts of the corals in very big amount have been found.

Such data hasnât been presented in literature before.

On frequency of occurrence for Dascyllus reticulatus and Chromis caeruleus some identical groups of Copepoda are allocated: Calanoida, Cyclopoida,Harpacticoida, family of Copepoda associated with coral.

Symbiotic copepods Siponostomatoida, Poecilostomatoida with very high frequency have been found for Chromis caeruleus.

Moreover both species often have freeliving larvae of parasitic Isopoda from family Dajidae.

There is slightly different picture for Gobiodon quinquestrigatus. In 100% of the cases were found only coralâs cnidocysts. The other groups occur less frequently. Harpacticoida, Calanoida, Siphonostomatoida dominated.

Main conclusions

1. The list of feeding objects of three dominant coral fish species, associated with coral genus Acropora, Chromis caeruleus, Dascyllus reticulatus, Gobiodon quinquestrigatus is presented.

2. Freeliving crustaceans, symbiotic crustaceans, and crustaceans form the basis of diet of Chromis caeruleus and Dascyllus reticulatus.

3. It was registered for the first time that cryptic species Gobiodon quinquestrigatus feed mainly on mucus of the host coral.

4. Larvae and adults of symbiotic crustaceans (y-cypris of parasitic Facetotecta, larvae of parasitic Isopods family Dajidae, adults of parasitic Copepoda) in the diet of all investigated specimens were found. The hypothesis about possibility of grazing coral parasites by coral fishes was validated.

Material and methods

The material was collected in 2005-2007 in the Southern Vietnam (Nhatchang Bay).

In 2005 colony of Acropora sp. was selected, all big animals were taken from it.

In 2007 4 colonies of Acropora hyacynthus were selected, 3 fish species were taken from it: Dascyllus reticulatus, Chromis caeruleus, Gobiodon quinquestrigatus.

Totally were investigated: colony Acropora sp.; 4 colonies Acropora hyacynthus; 50 fishes: 30 specimens Dascyllus retuculatus, 11 specimens Chromis caeruleus, 9 specimens Gobiodon quinquestrigatus.

Digestive tract was removed from every fish specimen. From content of both stomach and intestine of these fishes preparation in glycerin were made.

Fish fixed in 70% alcohol. In addition, during studying content of digestive tract, 3035 digital photos were made.

For each group of dietary objects tables of numerical abundance of objects and frequency of occurrence were made. Only comparable size objects were used in tables of estimation of numerical abundance.

Help with essay via e-mail, english is my 2nd language

anabel_swe — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 09:22:29 GMT

Hi, I really need help with two essays that I have written. The subject is english literature. English is not my first language so they are written in quite simple english. I'm concerned about the fact having my essays being out on the internet, therefore I don't want to post them here, but I am in desperate need of help. If someone feels like they want to help me by correct grammar and spelling errors and eventually improve my formulations, please send me an e-mail at "anabel_gonzales_89@hotmail.com". I would be eternally grateful to you! And who knows, if you feel like learning swedish someday (um probably not gonna happen but anyway^^) then I will be able to help you! =) Best regards Anabel

check grammar

Anonymous — Sun, 18 May 2008 09:32:40 GMT

I need your help to check my grammar for my english literature homework, i'm kinda confuse in using the right grammar. These are about science :

Vortex Tornado

When two different wind systems crashed, it formed Vortex Tornado. The sign was the vortex had a big mass of air and ran fast.

Doubled-shadow

The smaller the angle between mirrors formed, the more shadows will formed also.

Human & Electric

The amount of flow of current based on our body (the more moist our skin is, the higher flow of current would be).

Blow up the candle!

Even the candle put behind the bottle and blown up in front of the bottle, the candle will be still extinguished because the air passed through the side of bottle and hit the candle.

Combustion needs oxygen

- When a candle closed by a bottle, in process of time it will be extinguished because of no oxygen

- When a water poured below the candle, it will still extinguished because no oxygen. Water consists of oxygen, not producing oxygen, while candle canât absorb water. Then the water inside the bottle will raise because its characteristic that follow the shape of the room.

Elasticity

Balloon consists of 2 parts, the dark area and light area. Balloon can be made like a skewer by *** from the dark area, because the dark area is more elastic.

Thanks for your help!!!

Re: 'Adjective Phrases' can function as subject

Marius Hancu — Wed, 14 May 2008 23:36:26 GMT

While grammar definitely has its importance, I'd like to see more ESL teachers present the English-language literature as one of the best modalities for improving's one ability in English. Discussing recent or less recent fiction or poetry in class is in my opinion one of the best ways for doing that. Too much time is spent in learning correct patterns. That can be done much better in context by discussing literature.

The same is valid for the posters here. Not many present quotes from the literature for clarification (Cadzao is one of the good examples), most of the postings are about structure and patterns. OK, this is the grammar forum, but still ...

Re: matter: who or that?

shaved — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:59:45 GMT

the 'who is only for people, that is only for things' rule is pedantic and trite

that's usage with people dates back centuries in literature of all kinds

prescriptive grammar =/= proper use of the language