By Verbs, Analogies

Hello anon, I'm not sure why you chose to stand on your soapbox about the declining state of English on a post that was almost two years old, but you are mistaken. Regarding dive:http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dive - usage Dive, which was originally a weak verb, developed a past...

I'm not an expert on grammar or linguistics, but here are my thoughts as an ordinary native user of English. I hope I got all the grammatical terminology correct! I think that all verbs -- transitive or intransitive -- are able to form present perfect sentences: "He has died",...

First,. let me say that I agree usage-wise Nona and you. I also think that the mother-example is a good one - but it's not a perfect one. It's a good one, because it demonstrates the difference between the time of action and the time of speaking. Noun references are routinely rooted in...

Hello, I'm sorry I have more than one question today, and I will post them all here because I'm supposed to hand this part in on Sunday. Help me explain what's in red please: A) The implications 1 for parents and educational policy makers is to realize that intense intellectual input and...

Schetin, I am still trying to dial to the right frequency so that we can communicate. I am afraid I have failed because I realize we are not talking in the same wave length. I find your pattern of thought difficult to understand. I once heard this analogy "there is only a thin line between a...

Hi Stomach... Belly1. I would like to go now.- After would like the infinitive is normally used.2. I like to swim/swimming.- After like both the infinitive and the gerund are used. After the analogy of No. 1, many usage experts say the infinitive should be used to refer to a single specific...

You make of confusion, which is made by many, of linking the mood used (subjunctive or indicative) to the form of the verb, not to the meaning of the sentence. As your sentence indicates unreality, it is in the subjunctive mood (informal speech, I'd say). Unfortunately, only few grammars...

"Grammar and exercises are only requirements of the syllabus, not of learning a language. Did you learn the grammar of your mother-tongue when you were acquiring it? Most of you may still not know the grammar of your mother-tongue but you speak it effortlessly." If grammar means identifying...

You should not contend by analogy; unfortunately, English frequently fails to work by that process. We would indeed not use 'goodly' here, but:"After the copulative verb feel, the adjective badly in reference to physical or emotional states is also used and is standard, although bad is more...

Hello, I have a question concerning the use of the past participle 'brung'. I was wondering what the origin and use of this form is. I could think of several possibilities: - analogy (like children would make) with verbs like ring (-rang-rung). - dialectic forms. I.e. used regional. If so...