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

Re: committed to

Avangi — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:54:29 GMT

New2grammar
Cool Breeze
all prepositions require a gerund

CB, I'm a little surprised to hear this.

She came to see me. (Is see a gerund?)

In this sentence, "to see" is an infinitive. I have been arguing that in this case "to" is not a preposition and is therefore exempted from CB's rule.

Yankee has kindly advised me that while BrE sources call the "to" an "infinitive marker," AmE sources consider it to still be a preposition. My apologies to New2grammar.

This leaves us in the awkward position of not allowing the "bare infinitive" to follow it's marker, "to," which is of course absurd. Thanks for hanging in on this, New2!

Re: committed to

Avangi — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:05:11 GMT

New2grammar
She came to see me.

Oh, (sigh) what is "to"?

It looks like a preposition, and it walks like a preposition, and it quacks like a preposition, but, _______________

Grammar checker: which one is the best for prepositions?

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:43:10 GMT

Hello,

I would like to know if someone could help me to find a good preposition check for word or openoffice.

Most of my mistakes in English are related to bad prepositions.

ex. I am interested by politics..
Is there a grammar check which could correct this for: I am interested in politics.

Functional Grammar

Ritwik06 — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:26:51 GMT

I had a test on functional grammar today. I wish to know, if some of the exercises I did were correct or not.

Please let me know, if my answer is wrong.

Transformation:

1. I will not sign the contract under any circumstances.

Begin: Under no circumstnaces ... will I sign the contract.

2. You never know what is going to happen to you, do you?

Begin: One.. never knows what is going to happen to him/her, does one?

3. He complained to the police that his nighbours were noisy.

Begin: In his.. complaint to the police, he mentioned that his neighbours were noisy.

4. Although he aspired for public recognition he remained relatively unknown.

Begin: In spite... of aspiring for public recognition, he remained relatively unknown.

Prepositions:

1. I had to give up halfway through the race because I was so tired.

2. She tends to whistle as she goes through her household chores.

3. Are they still debating over the question?

4. I do not intend to debate with you.

5. would you please advise me on what kind of computer to buy?

6. I hope you will advise Mini over her legl rights.

7. the students are agitating against the rules.

8. Mala agitated for recognition of her talents.

Use the correct form of the word in bracket:

1. Two months from now, she will be taking her final examinations. (take)

2. The bird in the cage was released by us. (release)

3. You have been driving the whole day. Let me drive now. (drive)

4. If I had known you were ill, I would have come to see you. (know)

'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

Re: Numbers

26TMNTJG2PG — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 08:09:00 GMT

New2grammar
I have no problem with your version but my question was whether cut troops is OK.

Actually, for 'cut' to mean 'reduce', it needs to be followed by the preposition 'down'. To cut numbers (without the 'down') is still understandable but not to cut troops.

Re: grammar help!

RayH — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:28:37 GMT

I've answered pretty much all I have the patience for. You will probably get a better and more thorough discussion of your questions if you post one or two at a time and offer some reasons why you think some are in error or should use alternate phrasing.

(2) The most famous and celebrated American athlete in the 1990s was Michael Jordan. Jordan would epitomize of the successful black athlete; his acceptance the culmination of the long struggle for racial equality by African Americans in the sports arena.

Is the phrase âJordan would epitomize of theâ ok? As corrected.

(3) This mind-set has predictable consequences. A boxer doesnât avoid injuries so much as endure them.

Is preposition missing in âso much as endure them.â? Correct as written.

(5) One gets the impression that a veritable cottage industry of self-proclaimed training experts has arisen to offer their services to athletes.

Should it be âhave arisenâ? Correct as written.

(6) Salvino trained religiously for two hours a day over the course of some 40 years, and has the calluses to show for it.

Should it be religiously or rigorously? Correct as written but you could use "rigorously."

grammar help!

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:09:13 GMT

(1) Prior to 1964 when Clay converted to the Muslim religion and changed his name to Muhammad Ali, he seemed to fit comfortably enough within the context of establishment white values.

Is the phrase âof establishment white values.â ok? Please advise.

Is the phrase âJordan would epitomize of theâ ok? Please check.

(3) This mind-set has predictable consequences. A boxer doesnât avoid injuries so much as endure them.

Is preposition missing in âso much as endure them.â? Please clarify.

(4) Oriard notes that each year almost a quarter of the NFL veterans fail to make the team.

Is preposition missing in âto make the team.â Please clarify.

(5) One gets the impression that a veritable cottage industry of self-proclaimed training experts has arisen to offer their services to athletes.

Should it be âhave arisenâ? Please advise.

(6) Salvino trained religiously for two hours a day over the course of some 40 years, and has the calluses to show for it.

Should it be religiously or rigorously? Please check.

(7) One of the more notorious incidents occurred in 1951 when the young Mickey Mantleâs spikes caught on a rubber cover over a sprinkler fixture in Yankee Stadiumâs outfield, causing him to trip and tear ligaments in his knee.

Should it be âmost notorious incidentsâ? Please clarify.

(8) The current uses of technology to shape, protect, and repair the athleteâs body stands in stark contrast to the days of Red Pollard and Ty Cobb.

Should it be âstandâ? Please check.

(9) During a visit with my childrenâs maternal great grandfather, he reminisced from his Indiana nursing home bed how he had played football with the Olympic champion back in 1915 on Pine Villageâs semipro team.

Should it be âDuring a visit to myâ? Please check.

(10) I had to decide on which sports to include to represent the broad athletic experience.

Can âto representâ be changed to âin order to representâ? Please advise.

(11) The reader will learn more about father-son relationships through Earl Woodsâ dreams for his son and the regimen he created to develop his young prodigy than from a description of Tiger sinking a 30-foot putt

Should it be â30-feet puttâ? Please check.

(12) Moreover, athletes tend to block awareness of the pattern assumed by most all careers that depend on skilled performance: that there is an ascent, plateau, and descent.

Is the phrase âby most all careersâ ok? Please check.

(13) Success leads to prestige on the local, state, and regional levels: name and picture on the sports page and on the local television channel, maybe even mention in national publications like Sports Illustrated.

Should it be âmay be even mentionedâ? Please clarify.

(14) They may unaware of the coachâs plan to cut them from the team.

Should it be âThey may be unawareâ? Please check.

(15) He batted .237 with 18 home runs in 1968. He was used as a sometimes first baseman to spare his beat-up legs while the fans continued to pay their tribute, but it made him uneasy.

Should it be âHe was sometimes used as a first basemanâ? Please clarify.

(16) At age 60, he could be found most every day on the Southern California courts teaching and getting ready for the next tournament.

Is the phrase âhe could be found most every dayâ ok? Please check.

(17) Jackie Robinson retired at age 37 while he still was able to play competitively.

Should it be âwhile he was still able to playâ? Please check.

Re: should/would

Yoong Liat — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:16:13 GMT

Hi New2grammar

There are metered car parking spaces in St. Giles and in the surrounding streets. (This means that you should use âin â¦ the streetsâ, not âonâ.)

There were no cars around, and if there was a car in the streetâ¦ (Here again âinâ is used.)

What Iâve found points to the fact that in BrE, âin the street/sâ is usually used, whereas the Americans would say âon the streetsâ. In my opinion, you shouldnât be so analytical. Just remember which preposition to use in BrE and which should be used in AmE.

English is often not logical. Itâs like spelling. Why should âreceiveâ be spelled this way? Why should it not be spelled ârecieveâ? I donât think anyone can tell you the reason/s.

Best wishes.

Re: should/would

Yoong Liat — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:42:42 GMT

New2grammar
Thanks, Optilang. It's quite difficult to understand. I think American usage of preposition in these contexts is simpler. I think I have quite a good idea now.

I agree with you. The American versions are more logical and so easier to remember. However, it's advisable to know the differences in usage between American and British English. If you persevere, as I have done and am doing, you'll find that you have a better command of English.

Best wishes.