In Nouns^x, Conversations^x, Expressions^x

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...

These are my perceptions. "I haven't a" is used in certain expressions such as "I haven't a clue" or "I haven't a care in the world" (probably this is the same in the US?), but it is not natural with arbitrary nouns. For example, almost no one...

I know that this repeats much of what was said above by others, but with complex topics sometimes just reading the same information with many different phrasings helps a little. I bought it at Target. Here Target refers to the entire company, regardless of which particular store the purchase...

Kekel, are you considering HELP and AID as nouns or verbs? As verbs, they are used differently -- you help someone do something, but you aid someone in doing something. I think "help" is much more common in conversation -- "Could you help me open this jar?" "Thanks for all your help -- I...

Hi T You may hear expressions like a little alterations in informal conversation but in correct English your sentence should be: It didn't fit me at first, so I had a few alteration s made. If the alterations were so insignificant as to hardly deserve a mention, you could say: I had some small...

-- Do you want cookies or chocolates? -- The latter. Yes. It's acceptable. However, the former and the latter are usually reserved for expository writing, in an essay, for example, and they are not used in everyday conversation very much. Used in everyday conversation, these...

Arggghhh! I've created a monster! This is a box of tools that was left here by American soldiers. (the box was left) This is a box of tools that were left here by American soldiers. (the tools were left) Exactly! This has nothing to do with number transparency. You know, I don't...

Hello W3.com It's been long since we talked last. How did you enjoy Xmas holidays? As for the question, I'd like to believe that you posted it not to kid poor Japanese learners of English like me. As you know, we Japanese use many English-born words in daily conversation without knowing all the...

The so-called object pronouns are actually acceptable in the "predicate nominative" position according to many modern grammarians. Some say that it has been only the tendency of English grammarians throughout the centuries to create rules for English in imitation Latin grammar that has led to...

CalifJim wrote: You are compounding the problem here, however, by using "number of" together with "there is/are", which, at least in relaxed style, can almost always be "there is" no matter what the grammatical number of the following expression. So, "there is" can be used, but not in very...