Monday, June 7, 2021

Recent Questions - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

Recent Questions - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

The usage of "on the condition that"

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 10:47 AM PDT

I know that I can use the phrase 'on the condition that' with if clauses such as He agreed to work on Saturdays on condition that he was paid overtime. But I'm not sure if I can use this structure like, I would recommend it to all ages on the condition that they've watched the other two films of the series. I've used the word 'would' in the main clause but in the if clause I've used a present perfect tense. Would that be a correct usage? I also wonder whether I should use 'on the condition that' or 'on condition that. I'd be grateful if you could answer those questions above.

Different conjunctions in a series (blank, blank, and blank, but blank)

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 10:29 AM PDT

The example sentence is just an example meant to highlight my question, not something I've come across in writing. It's a bit rough, and I honestly don't know much about policy/bills/what have you, but it's the only way I could figure out how to convey my question.

The Senate passed something as a step toward approving The Plan, another plan, and providing money for local communities, small businesses, and families, but rejected sending COVID relief outside the country.

Because "but rejected..." can't stand on it's own, should it have a comma before it or not and why should/shouldn't it?

(Side question: should the series have semicolons as well? "The Senate passed something as a step toward approving The Plan; the president's other plan; and providing money for local communities, small businesses, and families, but rejected sending COVID relief outside the country.)

Lurching vs careening vs swerving

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 09:54 AM PDT

I'm hoping to be enlightened on the nuances between these three words: lurching, careening, and swerving.

I'm particularly confused about the distinction between lurching and careening. They're both used to describe vehicles that are driving in some dangerous configuration but that's where my imagination stops.

Difference in grammar and meaning? ‘The eclipse will have alarmed tribespeople.’ ‘The eclipse would have alarmed tribespeople.’ [closed]

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 08:26 AM PDT

Is there a difference in grammar and meaning between 'The eclipse will have alarmed tribespeople' and 'The eclipse would have alarmed tribespeople'?

Modifying a verb, clause, and sentence [closed]

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 07:09 AM PDT

Heads of a clause and a sentence are verbs. Doesn't it mean modifying a verb and modifying a clause and sentence are the same?

Position of 'only' [closed]

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 05:50 AM PDT

I have been confused about the position of 'only' for so long on account that what I have learned through the internet isn't in accordance with what I have on many occasions heard natives speak.

For example: 'I only ate a banana that day.

What I would understand by this sentence is ( I only ate the apple, not played with it, or anything but ate it)

Although, I have read several sentences with 'only' that could make this sentence interpreted as

( I ate nothing else that day but an apple, just an apple)

Another example: An extract from the Novel Jane Eyre extract from Jane Eyre

The underscored line: 'She was talking of you only this morning'

Again I would interpret this as:

'she' never talked of you ever but this morning only.

I think what's actually meant here is that 'she' talked of 'you' this recent morning because, in the book, it's already mentioned before that 'she' mentioned of 'you' a lot.

I would be grateful if someone could clarify the correct use of 'only'. Thank you

A word for "someone who deals with linguistics and language" [closed]

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 04:14 AM PDT

How do you call him? Not a teacher or a professor. For example, someone who deals with rocket science is a rocket scientist. Someone who deals with the library is a librarian.

Inverse relation of dependency

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 03:17 AM PDT

I am looking for a word that is the reverse of the dependant relation.

For example: If Bob financially/physically/.... depends on Alice, Bob is a dependant of Alice and Alice is a ..... of Bob.

Any input?

What does "below the line" mean?

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 06:51 AM PDT

I saw this in a university website.
A professor is "Below the Line" in his introduction on his bio page.

Bruno Olshausen
Below the Line, Professor

It sounds negative...but I'm sure it really means something else.

Here's the link

is this structure possible? (demand + something (or someone) + to infinite)

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 03:05 AM PDT

I think demand is used as case 1, case 2 or case 3.

case 1. demand + object ex) I demanded an explanation. (Cambridge Dictionary)

case 2. demand to infinite ex) I demand to see the manager. (Cambridge Dictionary)

case 3. demand + that clause ex) She demanded that he return the books he borrowed from her. (Cambridge Dictionary)

[Question]

These days, many cities and some countries impose a special tax on sugar. They demand drinks and foods that are high in sugar to have this additional tax.

I think that the structure (demand + sth + to infinite) is possible. but I can't find any reference. (even, some website posting indicates that such structure is false.)

the structure (demand + sth + to infinite) is impossible? If so, how can I understand the sentence structure?

What is the correct linguistic term for names that are statements?

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 03:36 AM PDT

What is the linguistic term for names, that are actually statements? examples for this type of names are ancient egyptian names such as Neferkare, meaning Perfect is the Ka of Ra, or Indigeneous American names, such as Sitting Bull.

Term for "place of death" [closed]

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 08:44 AM PDT

Similar to how "birthplace" is a one-word term for "place of birth," I am looking for a one-word term for "location where someone died."

I am considering "terminus" but I'm not sure how widely-used that word is to refer to this concept.

Meaning of "To be priced out of one's hometown" [closed]

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 01:16 AM PDT

What is the meaning of this sentence: "Most of them have been priced out of their hometown"?

Does it mean that "due to financial problems they can't afford to live in their hometown?"

Why "thine heart" but "thy whole heart"?

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 05:57 AM PDT

I have somehow picked up the use of the two different forms "thy/thine" from the KJV Bible, and I thought I knew the rule. Use thy before consonants and thine before vowels or before words starting with the sound [h].

There are plenty of instances of thine heart or thine hands in the KJV for example, and while doing a translation from Greek into KJV style English, I almost went along with thine whole heart, since whole, just like hand and heart, starts with the same sound. Right? Well, on second thought I just thought I'd check to see if I find any instances of it, and I was surprised to find:

If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light. KJV

I disagree with sites that say

** "Thy" and "thine" are archaic forms corresponding to "your" and "yours" respectively. Use "thy" where you would use "your" (but see note at end of answer) and "thine" where you would use "yours".

because it is very clear to me that thine can definitely mean both your and yours. One answer to this question from the ELU agrees with me, but it does not fully address the phonetic problem of words starting with the sound [h].

Does anyone know the rule? Is it actually a phonetic rule, or an orthographic one?

A specific word for the way leaves/petals carpet the ground?

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 01:38 AM PDT

I'm wondering if there's a specific word for the way leaves or petals carpet and scatter on the ground. I can think of all sorts of beautiful poetic ways to describe the way it sprinkles like confetti, but is there an unusual or old word for it? I like to think there is a word for it in German or Japanese.

edit: eg "The crimson petals from the cherry tree scattered the lawn."

"Please certify that I am not aware..."

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 03:05 AM PDT

I need to sign a document to clarify I am not aware of something. The negative statement on the document goes like this:

Please certify that I am not aware ...    [YES]         [NO]

So which one is correct? I was thinking either of them are meaningful.

  • Yes, I certify.
  • No, I'm not aware.

Note that it was "certify" instead of "clarify", and it's a pdf file of "Code of Business Conduct", so I have to check one of the options.

What is the name for 'curdling' of coffee by milk?

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 10:07 AM PDT

I can't drink black coffee (except on ice).

Unless I add milk to it so it thickens it is unpalatable to me. It resembles curdling but is some kind of suspension.

What is the word for such a thickening?

Example: I add milk to my coffee to make it a palatable suspension.

Thanks as ever

Two 'x's in "anti-vaxxer"

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 03:24 AM PDT

I have always found myself impulsively and automatically spelling "anti-vaxxer" with two 'x's, and a Google search indicates that most other media sources did the same; however, I can't think of any other words in English that contain two adjacent 'x's, and I also can't think of a good consistent rule that would explain why it seems that the 'x' should be doubled in this case.

The person who reads is a "reader", not a "readder". However if I were to make up a word "to zif", then "the person who zifs" would probably be a "ziffer". In that case, you need the extra 'f' to distinguish the sound from something that rhymes with "lifer". Maybe the reason for the double-'x' is then that "anti-vaxer" might be mispronounced as "anti-vaikser"?

Anyone understand what is going on here? Are there other words that have an unusual but customary consonant doubling like this?

Difference between dependent clause, comma splice, adverbial clause? [closed]

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 02:06 AM PDT

For example in this sentence: Brett reads a massive textbook, scribbling notes at his desk. The second park, scribbling notes at his desk, has to be some sort of dependent clause because it can't stand on it's own. But is it valid or do you need some sort of conjunction, like replacing the comma with "while" or something similar?

Someone said a phrase like this might be considered an adverbial clause or something similar but I'm not familiar with them. I feel like the sentence format is common, but is it correct? Thanks!

Does hold (v.) indicate a press when the subject is a button?

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 07:07 AM PDT

If I want my reader to press a button continuously for five seconds, then release the button, can I write "Hold the button for five seconds"; or, must I be more explicit and write "Press and hold the button for five seconds".

My argument for "hold the button for five seconds" is that in the context that I am using the term. It would be impossible for the reader to carry the button in their hand, it would also be reasonable to assume that the reader would not need to detain or embrace the button.

If you read "hold the button for five seconds" are you pressing the button or are you hovering your hand over the button?

A verb phrase “[verb] up” meaning someone is easily buying whatever he sees on TV

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 01:04 AM PDT

I came across this phrase "[verb] up" twice on The Guardian Reader's comments section when readers were talking about someone tends to not raise much objection to whatever the person is told or believes whatever crap showing on TV. Readers there used the verb phrase to describe such people. I tried very hard for two days to recall what exactly the verb was but to no avail. Any idea what this verb phrase might be? Thanks.

Analyzing 'genitive/accusative + V-ing phrase (gerund-participle phrase)' as different constructions

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 01:32 AM PDT

(1) I regretted [his leaving the firm].

(2) I regretted [him leaving the firm].

(3) I regretted [leaving the firm].

(4) He didn't bother [giving me a copy].

Regarding the above sentences The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (Page 1190) has this to say:

If (1) and (2) are analysed as quite different constructions, with only (2) a clause, then which of the constructions would (3) belong to?

This problem would be particularly difficult to resolve with those gerund-participials where it is not possible to include an NP before the verb, as in (4). We avoid these problems by treating the optionality of the initial NP as simply a matter of the optionality of subjects in non-finite clauses.

Here, CGEL is basically arguing that the bracketed construction in (1) is no less a non-finite clause (with his as its subject) than that in (2) is (with him as its subject).

So, CGEL is basing this argument on the presumption that the bracketed portion in (2) is a non-finite clause. But I wonder why that has to be the case.

PROBLEM of CGEL's APPROACH

CGEL's approach cannot explain the potential semantic difference between (1) and (2), as explained in Merriam-Webster Dictionary of English Usage (as quoted in this Language Log):

The accusative pronoun is used when it is meant to be emphasized.

Because CGEL's approach analyzes (1) and (2) as the same construction only with some difference in register (formal vs. informal), I think it fails to accommodate the semantic difference shown above.

SUGGESTED APPROACH

What if we considered the verb 'regret' as taking two complements in (2), one being him and the other being leaving the firm, where the former is construed as the semantic--but not syntactic--subject of the latter?

In this approach, him in (2) would be a raised object of the verb 'regret', whereas the verb 'regret' in (1) would be analyzed as taking only one complement, a non-finite clause shown in the bracketed portion.

Then, (1) and (2) would be "analysed as quite different constructions".

This way, there would be no "problem" analyzing (3) or (4).

More importantly, the suggested analysis treats (1) and (2) as different constructions, thereby possibly accommodating the semantic difference quoted in the Language Log (shown above).

QUESTION

I'd like to know what others think of this suggested approach vis-à-vis CGEL's, and if any existing grammar employs something like the suggested approach.

"Each other" - singular or plural in this sentence

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 02:03 AM PDT

In this sentence, should the last word be "life" or " lives"?

(Imagine two children brought up by the wrong parents to make this sentence make sense!)

They had had each other's life/lives.

Many thanks for a definitive answer!

Draw my attention (from something) to something

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 02:40 AM PDT

"A beautiful woman always draws my attention".

"While I was chatting at Laura's party, a beautiful guy suddenly drew my attention".

«Now I wish to draw your attention to what has attracted my attention most». (Enigmas of Psychical Research)

But can I say, e.g., "my research in social psychology has drawn my attention to the relevance of theoretical physics for behavioral sciences"?

What it should be conveyed in the last phrase is the idea that you were doing something – studying social psychology – and that brought you to do something else which, externally, seemed quite different from the first activity. The attention, as it were, strayed from the first topic to the second one and that was due to the first topic's inner feature. I would not conceive 'attract the attention' as a valid alternative, for it lacks that compelling and coercive element 'draw' seems to imply.

Is it two or three ellipsis when using it with a question mark?

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 09:39 AM PDT

When using ellipsis with a question mark, how would it be written?

Would it be written as this:

"So are you going to close the door..?"

Or would it by written as this:

"So are you going to close the door...?"

My first example shows two of the ellipsis, while my other examples shows three. Which is correct?

Dinner at mine or yours?

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 02:48 AM PDT

I have noticed in British TV shows the common usage of 'mine' or 'yours' being used to mean 'my place' and 'your place' respectively. I spent a year in Britain in the early 1980s and I don't recall hearing this usage then. When did it appear? Is it only a British or English thing? What brought it to mind was when I heard it in Foyle's War which is set in the early 1950s. A possible anachronism?

Word that means "more accepting of other cultures"?

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 10:03 AM PDT

Is there a word that means "more accepting of other cultures" that has a tone appropriate for use as a mild counter to "xenophobic"? Essentially a mild opposite of "xenophobic".

Example: "This organization outwardly claims to want to be more _____, but its actions lately have shown an unsettling xenophobic trend."

position of "only"

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 06:45 AM PDT

Which sentence is correct?

  • (A) Mosquito larvae can only be seen through a microscope.
  • (B) Mosquito larvae can be only seen through a microscope.
  • (C) Mosquito larvae can be seen only through a microscope.

What is prefacing paragraphs with "first," "further," and "also" called?

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 04:33 AM PDT

When I write longer posts, I tend to split my points up into paragraphs, then, for some reason, add "first," "secondly," "further," "also," "keep in mind," and so forth in front of them.

I'm not sure why I do it, or where I picked it up, and I notice that not everyone demonstrates this behavior.

  • What is the correct way to refer to these words when used to preface a paragraph?
  • Is this a common writing style, odd, formal, or something else?
  • In terms of conveying information, does this make it easier to read and comprehend the points, is it merely fluff, or (worse) distracting?

Here are a few examples.
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