In Nouns^x, Conversations^x, Numbers^x

Interesting question. I DON'T HAVE ANY absolute answers, but I HAVE SOME comments. I also HAVE NO absolute answer. First, we can say "There isn't any/a", but we cannot say "There is no any/a". "Any/a" can be used with countable nouns, but we can't with...

CalifJim wrote: For example, in ordinary conversation, I tend to treat "none of" as number transparent, but this is a big no-no for most (prescriptive) grammarians. So do I. If I remember correctly, the OED traces the plural usage back to OE. So we're not alone. MrP

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...

Swagatalakshmi wrote: OK - consulted couple of grammar books. "Participles" (verb+-ing or verb in past participle form) ALWAYS modify nouns. If you see a verb +-ing used as a stand-alone phrase (noun) which is not modifying anything, it must be a gerund. There is nothing called "adverbial...

You've made some very respectable guesses! (I'm convinced that there are no right answers to this question, by the way! ) The It's or It is or It was and the who are invariable in all versions of this formula. The controversy revolves around two other factors. Should the pronoun...

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...

In modern English, 'who' works as both a subject and an object. ++ http://pinker.wjh.harvard.edu/articles/media/1994_01_24_thenewrepublic.html The first story was a nonpartisan analysis of supposed pronoun case errors made by the two candidates in the 1992 US presidential election....

Just because we have object him/them does not mean that "the corresponding interrogative or relative pronoun", must be used. True. So true, particularly because of the "must". But in the context of a student question implicitly asking "What's all the fuss about 'who' and 'whom'?" I...

Hi, 1 Homework answer (2 parts) 2 I talk a little bit about this homework question 3 references from English language books (5 references) 1a Homework answer This sentence sounds OK: “By his own admission he said he could not do the job”. 1b Homework answer This next sentence includes...