A new book* is being released with the tagline If you knew how your love story ends, would you dare to begin? I’m a native British English speaker, the author is, and I presume whoever wrote that is as well. It isn’t a construction I’m familiar with. I’ve tried substituting other verbs in, and haven’t … Read more
Please compare two sentences. Which version is correct? 1)”This place is an opportunity to take a rest in THE uniqueness OF THE local nature where you can feel Russian hospitality.” 2)”You will have an opportunity to take a rest in the uniqueness of the local nature enjoying Russian hospitality. (Can I write “where you can … Read more
Sometimes people compare degree of something (an intent/feeling/etc) by giving completely unrelated example (by using “same way as” or “like”). Is something like “The boy wants that bicycle like a fish needs water” considered okay? Or I should always keep same verb: “The boy needs that bicycle like a fish needs water”? Answer The construction … Read more
After work at the store that day, I took a detour. After finishing work at the store that day, I took a detour. After finishing working at the store that day, I took a detour. Are the three grammatical/natural-sounding? Why or why not? Answer Here are my opinions: After work at the store that day, … Read more
I’m having trouble wording this sentence: Several groundbreaking clinical and social science breakthroughs were made with the help of … Social science as a noun can’t modify breakthroughs. Is there an alternative? Answer Can you please explain what exactly you mean by “Social science” in this context? Does it, for example relate to, say, a … Read more
Most of the text below is the same as what I already posted in SE law; but I’m looking for what the language might mean, regardless of the various legal aspects (i.e., the Michigan Supreme Court has already provided their interpretation.) The second paragraph of Article IX, Section 9 of the Michigan Constitution says, in … Read more
Example: Did you hire that clown of a teacher? and Did you hire that clownish teacher? Or My idiotic friend and My idiot of a friend? Answer The two variants of each example you give are more or less synonyms, but the structures with of a are more informal and convey more about the person … Read more
A British patriotic song titled "Heart of Oak" has two versions that are widely sung. The chorus in the first version goes like this: Heart of oak are our ships, Heart of oak are our men, We always are ready, steady boys, steady, To charge and to conquer again and again. The chorus in the … Read more
Definition of the " leave" :to make or allow sb/sth to remain in a particular condition, place, etc. Leave the window open. (verb + object+ adjective) I Left the headlights on. ( verb + object + preposition) Don’t leave the water running. (verb + object + verb-ing) He left the children to sleep in class. … Read more
See this all the time. Doing it right now. Leaving out the “I am” piece of the sentence. Does this have a name? Answer This is an example of pro drop (short for pronoun dropping). Some languages, like Spanish, pretty much mandate it. Such languages are called pro-drop languages. In English, most grammarians would probably … Read more
