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

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: line against/along

Avangi — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:23:22 GMT

The prepositions are both fine and natural, but in AmE we'd add a third, so to speak. We use the expression (idiom) "line up" to form a line. I guess BrE is "que." I don't know if it can stand alone, or if it's "que up," or if I'm spelling it correctly.

I wonder if "up'" becomes an adverb in "line up."

Re: Hi. Could anyone proofread this for me?

Mister Micawber — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 13:59:48 GMT

You'd better start again on most of them. Here are some hints:

posesses -- spelling
talents -- number (should be singular)
the heart of the class -- word choice; your correction is OK, but 'the genius'
untroublesome, -- word choice; your correction is OK
in -- wrong preposition; your correction is correct.
. Ocassionally,-- spelling
deeds -- number
every -- wrong word
problems -- word choice
give you satisfaction. -- wrong phrase
diverting, -- wrong word
bothering -- wrong word
praises,-- number
fellowship.-- word choice

Re: Is American English lazy English?

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 16:02:27 GMT

"I much prefer the attitude of the British. They have enough respect for the language to use correct spelling, clear enunciation and to observe the correct use of prepositions and general grammar. On the other hand, some Americans seem to like reinventing the language as they go."

To use a British word, bollocks! Americans at least pronounce all the syllables in words like "territory" and "secretary". Most of them also pronounce the letter "r" in all positions, where standart British English no longer does. They speak at a slower pace than British English, and as a British English teacher, I am told by my foreign students invariably that they find American English easier to understand. Their pronunciation is closer to the London pronunciation of the early 17th century than modern British RP.

I do not understand what you mean by correct. Do you mean your personal use of English, and do you measure other people's English against this? You seem to me to be one of those, who has never studied linguistics or phonology, let alone grammar, but thinks they can sound off about language in some sort of authoritative way.

Re: right preposition - Why?

Clive — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 01:34:13 GMT

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum.

I've made some edits, including corrections to some of your spelling.

Clive

They argue that the stress encountered in our daily lives is not only only good for us, but essential to survival.

Apparently, research shows that people can create conditions of stress by doing exciting and risky sports, or by looking for challenges. Such people can cope much better with lifeÂ´s problems.

Activities of this type have been shown to create a lot of negative emotions. People may actually cry or feel extremely uncomfortable. However, there is a point at which they realise they have succeeded and know that it was a positive experience.

Re: in despite of

Clive — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 02:53:43 GMT

Hi,

You might like to look at a dictionary of etymology. eg

despite

1297, from O.Fr. despit, from L. despectus "a looking down on," from despicere (see despise). The preposition (1593) is short for in despite of (1292), a loan-translation of Fr. en despit de "in contempt of." Almost became despight during 16c. spelling reform.

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=despite&searchmode=none

spite (n.)

c.1300, shortened form of despit "malice" (see despite). Corresponding to M.Du. spijt, M.L.G. spyt, M.Swed. spit. Commonly spelled spight c.1575-1700. The verb is attested from c.1400. Phrase in spite of is recorded from c.1400.

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=spite&searchmode=none

Despite all this information, please note this. If you say 'In despite of . . . ' today, most people willl simply think that you are speaking poor English that sounds odd and unidiomatic.

Best wishes, Clive

Re: preposition questions.

Yoong Liat — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:29:38 GMT

Grammar Geek wrote:

Jabberwocky (sp?) from Lewis Carol.

5. Does one have to use the 's in that kind of situation: "The workers' money / The workers's money." Yes. The first is more than one worker, the second is one worker.

Barbara

I think you didn't take a proper look at the spelling of the word.

The second is one worker: The worker's money

Re: Proficiency alongside "poverty".

Cool Breeze — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 23:02:24 GMT

Hi Forbes

Thank you for your long reply. I do appreciate it. I would just like to say that I my opinion is based on the knowledge I have of the Germanic and Romance languages and it is of course very subjective. I fully understand that not everyone agrees with me and what I consider easy may be difficult for some others as I have already said. However, I have given my honest opinion and I don't think you or anybody else would want me to lie on this forum? I'll add some comments.

I thought that might be what you were getting at.

I think it is a mistake to equate complexity solely with the degree of inflectional morphology of a language. I agree. I was talking about morphology only. To my mind I made no mistake. I do know what is difficult about English.

I have never studied Finnish, but I would be willing to bet that at least one of the following is true:

1. that a language with at least 30 cases has a corresponding lack of prepositions

There are only about 15 cases in Finnish - I don't actually remember the exact number and didn't bother to check, but we always
have a different form for the plural and that explains the 30. It is true that Finnish has fewer prepositions than English. In my opinion the number of changes made to words and the number of inflections cause far more difficulties for nonnative learners than the number of English prepositions, though..

2. that word order is fairly free and is used to express different emphases Correct.

3. that the inflectional morphology, though complex, is regular Correct again. Someone has said that there are ten rules in English grammar and 10,000 exceptions and 10,000 rules in Finnish grammar and ten exceptions. That's not quite true, though.

4. that it is perhaps not quite so difficult to learn once you begin to get the hang of it That is a matter of opinion and dispute. Quite a few nonnatives have said it is very difficult. They say it is hopeless to try and master the grammar from books. There may or may not be some truth in this. The number of "rules" must seem endless to some and people say it's a better idea not to worry too much about all the inflections and changes in the middle of the words but just go where people talk and learn the grammatical complexities by ear.

I have to say that I have met one or two Finns and they do seem to relish the idea that Finnish is a "difficult" language. I have also met some "Swedish Finnish" (I am not sure what the correct term is) and they all tell me that they are bilingual in Swedish and Finnish. They will of course have been helped in acquiring Finnish because either they live in a bilingual community or started to learn the language at an early age (I am not sure how it works) so they would not have been prejudiced by any concept of "difficulty". I expect that your idea that Finnish is difficult is confirmed by the fact that you do not know many foreigners living in Finland who have mastered it. This will be because:

1. It is more difficult to learn any language when you are an adult That is true about all languages.

2. Someone who is working full time will not be able to devote more than an hour or two a week to learning the language That is true about all languages.

3. Everyone will find it more convenient to speak to foreigners in English and there is therefore little incentive for them to learn Finnish There is a lot of truth in this. However, there are lots of people who have come to Finland for good and want to learn the language.

4. You keep harping on about how difficult the language is and put them off! I have spoken to Brits in Finland who say the opposite. They say they get encouraged in their efforts to speak Finnish. I don't think we are any better or worse than other people in this respect.

(I live in Spain and all the above applies to expats.)

You think that English is "simple". I venture to suggest that this is because you started to learn it at an early age and were introduced to it gradually so that you did not perceive its difficulties; you acquired your mastery over a long period. Also, I suspect that Finns are "subjected" to English in a way that the English are not subjected to foreign languages. A lot can be learned without realising it.

No. I have perceived its difficulties all right. They are the spelling and the idioms and the exceptions, for me anyway. The grammar, as I understand it, and structure are the easiest of the languages I am familiar with. Mind you, I don't pretend to be perfect in English. Actually, I don't think I deserve the icon, or whatever is the right word, that says I have a good grasp of the language. I would say I have a good grasp of the grammar but my vocabulary isn't at all on a par with native speakers. My knowledge of idioms and colloquialisms could also be much better.

Consider the following:

There is no single way of negating verbs in English. I do not eat, but I must not. I do not have any eggs, but I have not got any eggs.

There is no single way of forming questions. Do you come here a lot? but Can I go out?

True. And a third way: Who came? What happened?

It is not always easy to know when to use the continuous form of the verb. Try and explain why you can say Are you having cakes for tea? but cannot go into a shop and say Are you having cakes?

The meaning of prepositional verbs is not always transparent. John has got it in for me.

English is a highly analytic language and meaning is often derived from context:

A. You keep complaining. Have you got it in for me?

B. I asked you to bring in the shopping. Have you got it in for me?

These are just a tiny example of the complexities of English and they have nothing to do with inflectional morphology.

I am familiar with these things and I admit I make mistakes using expressions and tenses. However, I was referring to the fact that English words have only a handful of forms and the fewer inflections there are the easier it is to learn them. Using them correctly is indeed another thing, I agree with you there. Other languages have their "difficulties" too. I admit that English is difficult, at least for me, in this respect. No language is easy in every respect, or if there is one, then it is impossible to express nuances in that language.

As I said in my previous post, what is easy for some may be difficult for others. My views are based solely on my experience and I certainly don't expect everybody to agree with me.

Cheers

Re: Some questions about preposition. Please help me!!!

Cool Breeze — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 22:17:56 GMT

a) I met him at the right moment.
b) biting (any dictionary will give you the rigth spelling)
c) I'll learn it some day / one day.
d) I explained it to them.
e) at the end of the day (But: He became happy in the end.)
f) I saw nice trees on my way out.
g) Any online dictionary gives you the correct spelling.
h) Both are right. The meaning isn't the same, of course.

CB

Re: please correct my essay. happy new year!(you would find it interesting)

nona the brit — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 10:24:40 GMT

Your answer to the second question is about 200 words too long. Cut it down and bring it back here afterwards. Watch your spelling as well, as you have several silly errors, such as beak for break and Whiteman for Whitman. You need to be able to proof read your own writing and not rely on us to pick up those sorts of daft errors.

I've made a few corrections for you *highlighted in red and pointed out some other problem areas for you by *highlighting in yellow. Your main problem areas are choosing the correct preposition and knowing when to use a determiner.

Pursuing graduate study in finance has not been a cursory decision for me. I still remember the serious expression on a famous financial professorâs face when he was lecturing on the reform of Chinese state banks in our university. It was this lecture that made me determine to develop my career in banking.

According to the protocol on the accession of China to the WTO, China completely opened its financial market to foreign banks in 2006. Facing competition from foreign bank groups, Chinese state banks are actively launching reforms to upgrade their management. However, because of the premature economic situation in China, those reforms involve various risks and difficulties, which directly affect the nationâs fate. As a youth, I feel a responsibility to contribute to the historic reforms. Thus I decided to take part in the Graduate Entrance Examination of the Finance department at Renmin University of Chinaâone of the best Finance departments in China. Paths are usually not easy for people who pursue their dreams. Although I attained satisfying scores in the examination, I finally failed due to the slim probability of admission, which is less than five percent of applicants. However, later experience of job-hunting led me to have a much more practical and specific realization toward my career choice.

Under the trend of opening up in banking, as domestic and foreign banks are competing for attractive market share in China, they are in urgent need of financial professionals who are both familiar with the domestic market and proficient in international bank operations. Nevertheless, my limited knowledge and experience in finance does not qualify me for job vacancies in banks.

I clearly understand that enhancing my academic background is the first step to focus my career in this field.

Specifically, because of the previous monopoly nature of banking backed by Chinese government, investment management is a weak point to most domestic commercial banks. In the face of equal competition with giant foreign counterparts, domestic banks lag far behind in investment skills and experiences. So I plan to focus on investment analysis during my study in MSF program of Whitman School of Management. After graduation, I will try to find a finance or risk analysis position in which I can gain broad version and accumulate practical experience in US. In about three years, I will return to my motherland as an investment expert. Then I will actively adapt myself to domestic environment and devote my passion to improve Chinese banksâ investment management level. As I know, there are few professional bankers in China, let alone women bankers. In the long-term, I have the ambition to be one of the women bankers, breaking through the men-dominated banking field.

The MSF program designed in Whitman School can benefit my career in three aspects, which can rarely be obtained from Finance graduate program of Chinese universities. Firstly, Whitmanâs MSF program emphasizes on providing students with the advanced skills in applied finance. In Whitman, I have the opportunity to absorb the cutting edge information introduced by the internationally recognized finance faculty in a country with the most developed financial market in the world. In contrast, graduate education of finance in China largely focuses on financial theories stemming from the West, and students seldom have practical knowledge about finance. Secondly, the program teaches the quantitative and analytical skills employed in the investment structuring, pricing, and risk management of financial instruments. Although Finance department of Chinese universities are beginning to cultivate studentsâ quantitative skills, qualitative analysis still occupies finance research. Moreover, a good command of English has been a must for a competitive financial professional. Study in Whitman can accelerate my oral and written abilities of business English, for I am often puzzled by the bottleneck of improvement in current circumstance.

I have heard the fame of Syracuse for quite a long time, and I believe that the honor of being admitted to Syracuse will be a lifetime fortune.