large-scale project vs large-scaled project
I’m often quite confused when to use the’-ed” with such words. Is there fundamentally, any difference between “large-scale project” and “large-scaled project”?
Cheers Eva
8 comments • Posted in Grammar
Me vs. I
They have provided no evidence of contacting either Joseph or I.
Did I use “I” correctly?
39 comments • Posted in Grammar
Squirting participle?
A friend and I were discussing the most funnily named facets of grammar when I brought up the trio of hanging, dangling and squirting participles. When he inquired about the meaning of the third I realised it had escaped me. Neither of us have been able to find a definition in the following period and I suspect it may be obsolete. Can anybody set me straight in regard to the meaning and/or existance of such a term?
P.S Whilst this may be a bit off topic, any other contenders for ‘funniest part of grammar’ would be welcome too!
3 comments • Posted in Grammar
Plural form of anonymous
My friends and I were debating one day, and none of us could come up with a good answer:
What is the plural form of anonymous? Is there a plural form of anonymous?
Any help would be well appreciated.
33 comments • Posted in Grammar
Obj of Prep + Gerund
In another language forum in which I regularly participate, the following debate ensued:
I am envious of his getting rich. I am envious of him getting rich.
American English speakers argue that the second construction (him getting rich) is impossible, given the fact that if the noun object were NOT a gerund, the construction would not make sense.
For example:
I am envious of his success. I am envious of him success.
Our BE friend argued that “him getting rich” was indeed correct because the gerund construction compliments the direct object pronoun.
Anyone care to chime in?
10 comments • Posted in Grammar
‘S (apostrophe+S) versus OF
Consider the example: There’s a teacher that has two groups and basically he always teaches both groups the same thing. One day he asks his students, “Can you give me one example of a car that has sirens?” In one group a student answers, “A policeman’s car has sirens.” In the other group he gets this answer, “The car of a policeman has sirens.” My question is: Is there a possible difference in meaning between both answers? I think they are perfect equivalent, but my English professor says that when you use “apostrophe + S” you always establish a relationship of possession and when you use “OF” it doesn’t necessarily happen. She also says that there’s always a difference in meaning, though it’s not always a striking one. She just didn’t explain what her explanation meant, that is, she didn’t give any example using this explanation in a context. She gave some examples such as: * a woman’s scent * the scent of a woman And tried to explain this possible difference without giving a sentence (context) in which they occur. Again, my question is, is there a difference between these two structures: * The car of a policeman has sirens. * A policeman’s car has sirens. Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance, Marcelo
14 comments • Posted in Grammar
Uncountable nouns
Which one is correct? 1. Honey and milk are my favorite. or 2. Honey and milk is my favorite. My answer is number 1, but my friend said no.2 because both nouns are uncountable.
7 comments • Posted in Grammar
Data
Data was handled... Data were handled...
I have forgotten the proper verb conjucation with “Data” vs “Datum”
8 comments • Posted in Grammar
Everyday
I am having a dispute with a colleague about the use of the word ‘Everyday’. Can you please clarify for me if the word has been used correctly in the following example:
Everyday over 50,000 pupils miss a day of school without permission and an estimated 7.5 million school days are missed each year through truancy.
8 comments • Posted in Grammar
“my tire flattened”
Hi All. Take a look at this if you will:
“And my tire flattened as I was riding it to work this morning. The leak was slow enough that I could limp to work by pumping it up along the way (not recommended procedure, but tolerable for very short distances.)”
Do you, or have you ever, used the expression (my/the tire flattened)?
It expresses an inchoative (bridging or transitional ) event. It focuses on the transition between “tyre is not flat” to “tyre is flat”. But would you, have you ever, or do you, use it?
Other examples:
I liked him within a minute.
The weather changed.
The car rolled down the hill.
My situation changed this morning.
Stevie is ripping his script up. (causative-inchoative)
9 comments • Posted in Grammar
Computer mouses or computer mice?
Normally, the plural of mouse is mice when you are referring to those real rodents. However, in the case of a “mouse” used for the computer, can you still use the plural form “mice”, “computer mice” if you are referring to lots of computer mouse? “Computer mouses” i guess is not proper. What do you think?
107 comments • Posted in Grammar
Complete Sentence
In a compelte sentence, you need a Subject and a Predicate. But what about the sentences that are, “Okay.”, “Yes/No/Maybe”, “Hello.” etc. Are they considered a Complete Sentence or thought?
75 comments • Posted in Grammar
verb + off of
I often come across this construction:
verb + ‘off’ + ‘of’ + object
I’ve never really heard it in spoken English and wonder if you can say the same without ‘of’.
Just one example here from EFL Geek:
... just to get it OFF OF my hands since I wasn’t using it anymore.
5 comments • Posted in Grammar
Fill it or full it
I’m no English expert so this one is probably obvious to all of you. In some places in the Caribbean, the people do not “fill” up a gas tank. They “full” it. As in “Full up my gas tank”. I’m not sure if this is wrong. It’s like saying in the imperative, “Make my gas tank full!” Well, is it wrong?
Actually there are a few idioms in the Caribbean like this. “How comes you doesn’t call?” I’m not sure about the “comes” in that sentence.
8 comments • Posted in Grammar
Farther/Further?
When should I use “farther” as opposed to “further”? ex. I went farther down the road than I expected. I went further down the road than I expected.
13 comments • Posted in Grammar
off the mark
Is ‘off the mark’ a proper english?
“My earlier calculation on the number of slides is off the mark. I have just added on department of building & the current total is 97. I still haven’t receive department of Real Estate which would be another 17 slides. The total will be around 120 slides.”
4 comments • Posted in Grammar
That
Is there any reason for the “that” in the following sentence?
I thought that the day was warm. vs. I thought the day was warm.
8 comments • Posted in Grammar
The double “to”
It comes up every now and then and really looks crazy if you dont work around it in some way.
“Home Depot is the store I go to to buy screws”
Is that sentence just completely wrong or completely normal and just looks funny?
20 comments • Posted in Grammar
at anytime...or anytime
Is the usage of “at anytime” in a sentence has the same connotation as “anytime”?
“You can remove any user from your chat environment at anytime”
“You can remove any user from your chat environment anytime.”
6 comments • Posted in Grammar
