http://www.englishforums.com/search/pro.htm?q=user%3aDiamondrg&o=DateDescendingSearch results for 'user:Diamondrg'en-USXMOD (Build: 3616.28671)http://www.englishforums.com/English/While/gppxp/post.htm#579437Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:37:53 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:579437diamondrgHi, Grammar Geek. If it were the simple past instead of the present perfect, you would not doubt whether the bad time is over, but as it is the present perfect, you can't be sure, right? I mean the present perfect does not ncecessarily indicate that the condition still holds. Is that right?http://www.englishforums.com/English/While/gppxp/post.htmThu, 23 Oct 2008 16:31:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:579409diamondrgWe 've had a pretty bad time while you were away. In fact, we very nearly split up this time. (Collins Advanced Dictionary) Is this sentence correct? I want to attract your attention especially to the underlined parts.http://www.englishforums.com/English/AsIf/gpchk/post.htmSat, 11 Oct 2008 19:31:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:575528diamondrg1) She treats them as if they are her parents. 2) She treats them as if they were her parents. 3) She treats them as if they had been her parents. a) She treated them as if they were her parents. b) She treated them as if they had been her parents. Well, I think only in 1 and 2 we are sure that they are her parents, but I wonder whether a can have the combined meaning of 1 and 2, that is, "they are her parents, or they are not her parents, or we do not know whether they are her parents or not.) In the others either we do not know whether they are her parents or not or we think they are not her parents, but we do not think they are her parents. Then, what is the difference between 2 and 3 and a and b? Thanks.http://www.englishforums.com/English/BestWaysLearnIrregular-Verbs/gxpvz/post.htm#575433Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:47:33 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:575433diamondrgYou can take advantage of the similarities in teaching irregular verbs. bend - bent build - built lend - lent send - sent spend - spent sell -sold tell - told .. You can find a complete list in some grammars. For example, in A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Get/gxlxn/post.htm#573349Sun, 05 Oct 2008 09:22:30 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:573349diamondrgThank you, Jim. What do you think of the passive version? The importance of the problem got to be realized by Jim. or The importance of the problem came to be realized by Jim.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Get/gxlxn/post.htmSun, 05 Oct 2008 08:29:29 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:573338diamondrgSam got to realize the importance of the problem. Is this sentence correct? If yes, what does "got to" add to the meaning of this sentence?http://www.englishforums.com/English/BecomesSerious/glvjj/post.htm#556490Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:06:26 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:556490diamondrgSusan loves to paint. She becomes serious while painting her art. I don't think "paint" and "art" collocate. I would use produce / create a work of arthttp://www.englishforums.com/English/GerundOrInfinitive/2/lbzw/Post.htm#553128Sun, 10 Aug 2008 08:35:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:553128diamondrg1. 'To play games is a fun way of improving your memory skills.' (wrong)-- Here, the second one is 'wrong' and sounds so, because of the lack of parallelism, which the first sentence exhibits: 'playing' - 'improving'. 2. 'To shoplift is considered a serious crime.' (right) Mister Micawber Hi, As I do not think the parallelism has anything to do with the infinitive being wrong in 1 as CalifJim also pointed out, I think it would be helpful to cast some light on why 1 is wrong and 2 correct? Any comment is welcome.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TakenCaredTakenCareOf/bjqwh/post.htm#552528Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:13:36 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:552528diamondrgHey, anon. A little test: Which one is correct? a) take care of b) take cared of I am anxiously waiting for your answer.http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentPerfectAmericans/gkgpp/post.htm#552422Fri, 08 Aug 2008 07:40:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:552422diamondrgHi, YSchneider . I am not a native speaker and this is indeed a tough grammar point for non-native speakers. Here is an extract from CGEL*: Did you lock the front door? in a domestic situation where it is known that the front door is locked at bedtime every night. In that case, is more or less equivalent to Did you lock the front door at bedtime? (Incidentally, in , "the" in "the front door" is another case of situational definiteness; cfS.Uff.) -- The ATTITUDINAL PAST, used with verbs expressing volition or mental state, reflects the tentative attitude of the speaker, rather than past time. In the following pairs, both the present and past tenses refer to a present state of mind, but the latter is...http://www.englishforums.com/English/2QuestionsDifficult/gkgqb/post.htm#552280Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:27:29 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:552280diamondrgHe is very rich, having many investments abroad. He is very rich because / since he has many investments abroad.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhoEverWhoseEverEverEverEverEver/2/gkzcx/Post.htm#552173Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:35:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:552173diamondrgHi, again. I wonder whether the non-inversioned versions of these sentences work the same way as their inversioned counterparts. Could you tell us which ones are correct and which wrong? Thanks. How / however we conceptualize things has a lot to do with what we feel. What we feel has a lot to do with how / however we conceptualize things. How / however you do the job is not important to him. It is not important to him how / however you do the job. How / However you look at it, it’s going to cost a lot. It's going to cost a lot how / however you look at it. Whoever planted the bomb showed a total disregard for the safety of the public. Whoever / whomever you ask, the answer is always the same. The answer is always the same...http://www.englishforums.com/English/LookForwardToSee/2/gkzpz/Post.htm#552074Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:31:28 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:552074diamondrgHi, Koyeen. Can you look at post #551967 (the second one in this thread)? I thought one could get that "look forward to" requires V + ing from the explanation I gave. I gave the general guidelines there. I did not mention the original poster's sentence. I do not see why you insist on this.http://www.englishforums.com/English/LookForwardToSee/gkzpz/post.htm#552036Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:22:28 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:552036diamondrgHi, Kooyeen You are right. I forgot to mention "look forward to see..." is wrong. The correct form is "look forward to seeing..."http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhoEverWhoseEverEverEverEverEver/gkzcx/post.htm#551995Thu, 07 Aug 2008 10:14:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:551995diamondrgHi, Mr Wordy. Wherever / where they went they were closely followed by security men. Is the sentence below correct, with or without comma after men? They were closely followed by security men(,) wherever / where they went.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheNovelCriticallyAcclaimed/gkznh/post.htm#551986Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:49:02 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:551986diamondrgmerrily / perfectly acclaimed does not sound natural to me. critically / highly / universally / widely acclaimed sound fine.http://www.englishforums.com/English/LookForwardToSee/gkzpz/post.htm#551983Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:33:26 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:551983diamondrg"look forward to see ing* how ..." is not wrong. It means that someone wants to learn about something very much. Your last sentence does not sound natural to my non-native ear. * editedhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/UntilTurnedSymptomsSurface/gkzxh/post.htm#551969Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:55:51 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:551969diamondrgThese are the natural ones: Not until she turned 14 did the symptoms surface. It was not until she turned 14 that the symptoms surface d .http://www.englishforums.com/English/LookForwardToSee/gkzpz/post.htm#551967Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:45:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:551967diamondrgWhat do you want to learn about it? Its meaning : to feel pleased and excited about something that is going to happen You can use it with simple present or present continuous without change in meaning. After "look forward to" you can use a noun or a verb, depending on the meaning you want to convey. If you use a verb, as "to" is a preposition, you should use -ing form of the verb as in the example below. I 'm really looking forward to my holiday. I look forward to hear ing from you.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhoeverVsWhomever/2/bhlgj/Post.htm#551821Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:34:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:551821diamondrg3. Who do you dislike? I dislike him . 4. Whom dislikes him? Aren't they right, MrP? :)http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhoEverWhoseEverEverEverEverEver/gkzcx/post.htm#551816Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:24:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:551816diamondrgHi, Mr Wordy and thank you. If 13 is corect, then 11 must be correct too with "where". Isn't that right?http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhoEverWhoseEverEverEverEverEver/gkzcx/post.htmWed, 06 Aug 2008 19:42:09 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:551749diamondrgI wonder whether these sentences are possible in the subject position. Which ones are correct and which wrong? However we conceptualize things has a lot to do with what we feel. However you do the job is not important to him. However you look at it, it’s going to cost a lot. How we conceptualize things has a lot to do with what we feel. How you do the job is not important to him. How you look at it, it’s going to cost a lot. -- Who(m)ever planted the bomb showed a total disregard for the safety of the public. Who(m)ever you ask, the answer is always the same. Who(m) planted the bomb showed a total disregard for the safety of the public. Who(m) you ask, the answer is always the same. --- Wherever they went were closely...http://www.englishforums.com/English/GoingToChurch/gkrml/post.htm#551673Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:44:12 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:551673diamondrgHi, Clive. Some grammars say "go to the school / church" is used if you go to such places for some other purpose. So "They go to church every Sunday" means "They go there to pray.", but "They go to the church every Sunday." means "They go there not to pray, but for some other purpose". Do you agree with this?http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowHowever/gkcxv/post.htm#551256Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:22:51 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:551256diamondrgIs it my imagination or have we not seen you in a while? Hi, Barbara. Yes, you are right. I have not written for a long time. I hope I will from now on. Hi, Mister Micawber. Yes, I have asked this question in a few forums. I hope you do not mind.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowHowever/gkcxv/post.htmTue, 05 Aug 2008 10:01:54 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:551076diamondrgHi, Is how and however interchangeable when used to introduce a clause that is the subject, object, or complement of another clause? How we conceptualize things has a lot to do with what we feel. (Collins) Is it correct to say However we conceptualize things has a lot to do with what we feel. ? My opinion would be in the negative. What is your opinion?http://www.englishforums.com/English/RelativePronoun/gjphz/post.htmFri, 01 Aug 2008 20:01:38 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:549802diamondrgMy new school is near enough __ I want to live. A) where B) of where C) to where D) on which E) in which Hi, I am stuck between A and C. Which is correct and why? Thank you.http://www.englishforums.com/English/UsefulToOrUsefulFor/gjkmv/post.htm#548533Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:44:28 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:548533diamondrgOn structural level, there is some difference. useful for doing sth useful to do sth useful for / to sb-sth On semantic level, I see no difference. The slow cooker is very useful for people who go out all day... The drug will be useful to hundreds of thousands of infected people. That basket would be useful for picnics.http://www.englishforums.com/English/SpeakSpeakWell/gjkxg/post.htm#548530Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:24:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:548530diamondrgBoth are correct. He spoke very good English and appeared pleased to see us, and we soon felt quite at home... Luckily for me, he spoke very good English. Collins DiamondWed, 30 Jul 2008 08:16:52 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:548524diamondrgUploaded on Wednesday, July 30, 2008Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:16:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:548523diamondrgUploaded on Wednesday, July 30, 2008Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:15:29 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:548522diamondrgUploaded on Wednesday, July 30, 2008http://www.englishforums.com/English/NounClause/gjhpx/post.htmMon, 28 Jul 2008 20:57:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:547635diamondrg__ he is a very rich man doen't provide him a(n)__ before the judge. A)The fact/advantage B)That/advantage Does the word "fact" require "that" all the time? Is A wrong?http://www.englishforums.com/English/By/gbmmc/post.htmMon, 05 May 2008 09:35:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:509713diamondrgBy the early 20th century the local ceramic industry of Kütahya ---- more or less to an end, but now the city -- the focus of a revival of this skilled art. A) had come / is B) would have come / was C) would have come / is D) was coming / has become E) was coming / is A is correct, but do you think B, C, D and E make sense in the context of the sentence given, too?http://www.englishforums.com/English/Tense/gblbr/post.htm#509262Sun, 04 May 2008 08:41:18 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:509262diamondrgI see. According to the Article in 1991 they would be banned in 1993 and 1996 but in retrospect they weren't. The sentences in my post mean it, right?http://www.englishforums.com/English/Would/gblbx/post.htm#509254Sun, 04 May 2008 08:31:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:509254diamondrgbut the banning is not hypotetical, is it? It is their plan. 1. I would go on a picnic tomorrow. 2. I will go on a picnic tomorrow. What is the difference? Why would one use 1 if he/she were to do so?http://www.englishforums.com/English/Tense/gblbr/post.htmSun, 04 May 2008 07:57:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:509235diamondrgCommon fungicides -- for the puzzlingly high levels of DDT still found in some soils, even in regions where this potent insecticide -- decades ago. A) are blamed / would have been banned B) could be to blame / was banned C) might be blamed / would be banned The answer is B, but how can one eliminate A and C? And do you think there is something wrong in the sentence, that is, what does this potent insecticide refer to? What do these sentences from NYTimes mean? Asbestos would have been banned from those products in 1993, and additional uses would have been ruled out in 1996. Do they mean "Asbestos was banned in 1993 .. additional uses were ruled out in 1996"? herehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/XIsTheElementOfY/grnrn/post.htmThu, 24 Apr 2008 15:05:51 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:504896diamondrgIf we say "X is the element of fiction", it means, "Fiction has only one element, and that element is X". Do you agree with this?http://www.englishforums.com/English/TransitiveIntransitive/zqnzp/post.htmSun, 13 Apr 2008 08:39:14 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:500070diamondrgIs there a way to understand whether a verb can be used transitively or intransitively. For example eat can be used both transitively and intransitively. - He hasn't eaten yet. - He ate a hamburger. Longman dictionary says the verb "conquer" is both transitive and intransitive. Can you give an example of its intranstive use? Is a transitive verb also an intransitive one?http://www.englishforums.com/English/Ago/zqjkv/post.htmThu, 10 Apr 2008 13:09:35 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:498988diamondrgLittle is kn o w n of early Finnish histor y , but it ---- that the ancestors of the modern Finns ---- in Finl an d a b o ut 9,00 0 yea r s a go . . A) is thou g ht / arrived B) is thought / w e r e arri v ing C) is thought / w o u ld h a ve arrived D) is thought / must have arrived . Is each of them correct?http://www.englishforums.com/English/Before/zqjbz/post.htmThu, 10 Apr 2008 07:14:42 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:498836diamondrgBefore I read Freud, I -- dreams were of so much significance. A) haven't thought B) wouldn't think C) didn't think D) don't think E) wouldn't have thought On a standard test, which one do you think would be wiser to choose, C or E? (actually this question appeared on a standard test)http://www.englishforums.com/English/Would/2/zqzgv/Post.htm#498220Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:17:42 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:498220diamondrgYes, the question is from a standard test, but it's not a big deal. Actually it's a good question but I changed it so that I can learn the subtle difference in my mind. The original question is below and the answer is, without doubt, B. Orphan elephants need -- the same companionship as they -- from their mothers in the wild. A) to have given / had received B) to be given / would have received C) having given / will be receiving D) to have been given / would receive E) being given / are receivinghttp://www.englishforums.com/English/If/zqzhx/post.htmMon, 07 Apr 2008 20:01:54 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:497791diamondrgIf there were a fire I know what I..do, but I'm not sure what I..do. a) should/would b) can/must c) will/have to d) need to/must e) could/am supposed to Is there only one correct answer or more than one?http://www.englishforums.com/English/Would/zqzgv/post.htm#497789Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:57:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:497789diamondrgHi,Clive. So "need to have done" is not a correct structure in general? Should we use "need to do" instead? Thanks.http://www.englishforums.com/English/By/zqzzr/post.htmMon, 07 Apr 2008 16:35:31 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:497743diamondrgExperts ---- that by 2010, robots ---- for many of the elderly people in the world. A) believe / will have been caring B) believe / will be caring C) believe / will come Are all OK? B seems to be the best one to me, but I am not sure about the others. (By the way, I'm using Opera and I cannot use features such as bold, italic, underlined writing and "enter" key. Is there anything that can be done?)http://www.englishforums.com/English/When/zqdvq/post.htm#497338Sun, 06 Apr 2008 18:03:33 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:497338diamondrgHi, Clive. Does this sentence have only one interpretation? "He will read a book." a) He will read it completely. What about this? b) He will begin to read it.http://www.englishforums.com/English/AtThePhoneMeaningNextToIt/zpqml/post.htm#497106Sun, 06 Apr 2008 10:19:42 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:497106diamondrgA w o m a n f r o m D e nma rk ha s r e cent l y mo v ed -- the flat -- mi n e . A) into / ne x t to B) t o / a t Is B colloquially correct?http://www.englishforums.com/English/DuringRecentYears/bqnhk/post.htm#496839Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:11:45 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:496839diamondrgE and F seem to work. I think "during recent years" can be used with both present perfect and simple past. Would "might have become" be correct if it was one of the choices? (I think, yes. :))http://www.englishforums.com/English/DuringRecentYears/bqnhk/post.htm#496796Sat, 05 Apr 2008 11:17:36 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:496796diamondrgDuring recent years, many people -- interested in Turkish music. A) might become B) are becoming C) had become D) would become E) have become F) became Which ones are correct?http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowLongSinceWhen/zgzxj/post.htm#448790Sun, 02 Dec 2007 10:30:37 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:448790diamondrgRuslana wrote: Diamondrg wrote: 1. How long have you been brushing you r teeth? What would be your choice to match them, Diamondrg? Hi, Isn't 'What would your choice be ..." syntactically more correct?http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowLongSinceWhen/zgzxj/post.htm#448788Sun, 02 Dec 2007 10:28:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:448788diamondrgThank you, Mr Micawber.