Thursday, September 16, 2021

Recent Questions - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

Recent Questions - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

Use of pronoun for objects in the preceding sentence

Posted: 16 Sep 2021 10:48 AM PDT

everyone!

I am having some doubts regarding the use of pronouns. Please have a look at the following sentences.

1. I picked a pen from the dustbin yesterday. It writes very smoothly.

2. I picked a pen from the dustbin yesterday. It was full of plastic trash.

In the first sentence, I used the pronoun for the direct object (pen); however, in the second sentence, the pronoun was used for the indirect object (dustbin).

Are both sentences correct in the context of the use of pronouns? Or else, I should use the noun (pen; dustbin) instead of the pronoun.

Thanks!

A line in Leonard Cohen’s ‘Book of Mercy’

Posted: 16 Sep 2021 09:56 AM PDT

I am a little perplexed by a line in Leonard Cohen's 'Book of Mercy' (1984). It subverts what I understand good grammar to be. I will quote the opening of the piece, with the line in question bolded:

'Israel, and you who call yourself Israel, and the revolt that calls itself Israel, and every nation chosen to be a nation - none of these lands is yours, all of you are thieves of holiness, all of you at war with Mercy. Who will say it? Will America say, We have stolen it, or France step down? Will Russia confess, or Poland say, We have sinned? All bloated on their scraps of destiny, all swaggering in the immunity of superstition. Ishmael, who was saved in the wilderness, and given shade in the desert, and a deadly treasure under you: has Mercy made you wise? Will Ishmael declare, We are in debt forever? Therefore the lands belong to none of you, the borders do not hold...' etc.

What is Mr. Cohen doing in this sentence?

Is there a saying in English similar to Croatian "Mate-matematika, ljuta je k'o paprika!" (meaning "I don't like maths!")?

Posted: 16 Sep 2021 09:55 AM PDT

Is there a saying in English similar to Croatian "Mate-matematika, ljuta je k'o paprika!"? The Croatian phrase literally translates to "Ma-ma-maths, it is as hot as chili-pepper!" (that is, "I don't like maths!"), but it does not rhyme in English.

Who's the subject here? [closed]

Posted: 16 Sep 2021 09:46 AM PDT

Some with psychopathy hurt and damage complete strangers. Sadly, these unsuspecting people have no idea they are on the psychopath's radar. For instance, the driver, screaming obscenities at you, tailgating, and trying to get your attention because you didn't move your car the second the light turned green.

Corpus vs. corpse

Posted: 16 Sep 2021 08:31 AM PDT

I found this definition on Wikidiff:

"The difference between corpus and corpse is that corpus is the body while corpse is a dead body"

While in Collins and Merriam Webster I found this meaning for Corpus:

"The body of a person or animal, esp. when dead"

And at the end I don't find sentence examples using Corpus as dead body.

The meaning of "Reflect" in the following context?

Posted: 16 Sep 2021 08:29 AM PDT

I need help with the meaning of "to reflect" in the following context:

Block out time to reflect based on personal rhythms.

For some, this means answering emails and calls first thing in the morning and then having a two-hour block for deep-focus work. For others, it means doing creative work early on, followed by handling communications later in the day.

Should you capitalize fantasy creatures?

Posted: 16 Sep 2021 08:10 AM PDT

I am currently writing a novel with a mix of sci-fi and fantasy setting.

So my question is that, I have one creature that is a cosmic beast with a species name "crossiax." Should I capitalize it as "Crossiax" or just left it as "crossiax"? Since it's a species name, I read that I must keep it lowercase.
And one more, I named a sub-species of slime as "Pyro Slime," should I capitalize it? It's the same as when a wolf have a horn and have their own species name as "Lone Horn Wolf."
I read a few novels (light novels mostly) and find out that they are rather inconsistent. Sometimes capitalized, sometimes not. Like when a dragon was a rare subspecies of its kind and is a "Red Dragon" or something along that line.

Thank you in advance.

How to avoid of of of in the Appendix title

Posted: 16 Sep 2021 07:17 AM PDT

I am writing a book and I am supposed to write a title of an Appendix. The logic would go like this:

Summary of the models of probability of occurrence

But isn't it clumsy, to use so many of's in a title? Can it be done more elegantly in English?

Thought about this:

Summary of the occurrence probability models

But I'm not sure if it's correct, especially the "occurrence probability models" part.

Please let me know in your answer if your answer is based on your experience in this area (statistical modelling), or if it's based on knowledge of general English. This is important to me to consider as well, whether, in this area, I can say "occurrence probability models".

Present perfect with the adverb yesterday

Posted: 16 Sep 2021 05:24 AM PDT

I have a question about using the adverb yesterday with the present perfect.

While reading this book - "Grammar for English Language Teachers" (Martin Parrot), I came across this passage -"We occasionally choose to use the present perfect simple with expressions of finished time (I have seen him yesterday) because, despite the adverb yesterday, we feel that the event is within a present time period. However, it would be confusing to draw learners` attention to examples like this. Page – 248.

The same kind of interpretation is given in the Cambridge Grammar of the English Language by Geoffrey. K. Pullum and Rodney Huddleston.Page -144/145.

Past time adjuncts in experiential perfects - This use of the present perfect allows for the inclusion, under restrictive conditions, of a past time adjunct:

i.a. He has got up at five o`clock.

iia. We`ve already discussed it yesterday.

i.b. He got up at five o`clock.

iib. We discussed it yesterday.

In [ia] at five o'clock is a crucial part of the potentially recurrent situation: the issue is that of this getting up at this early hour; there is no reference to any specific occasion, as there is in the simple preterite [ib]. In [iia] the 'already' indicates that I`m concerned with the occurrence of the situation of our discussing it within a time-span up to now and cancels the normally excluding effect of 'yesterday' evident in [iib]. The implicature may be weaker: that the same kind of situation is still possible. Nixon has been impeached, for example, can still be acceptable even though Nixon has since died, given a context where the issue if the occurrence within the time-span of situations of the kind 'impeachment of a president'.

Is this usage of the present perfect grammatical? How often is it used and in what context? What other time adverbs can be used with this usage?

Here is another example of this usage:

enter image description here

The idiomatic way of saying stealing time

Posted: 16 Sep 2021 04:44 AM PDT

What is the idiomatic way of saying 'stealing time', if someone is so busy and he wants to work on something by sneaking to it?

Do I use "had wanted" in this sentence? [closed]

Posted: 16 Sep 2021 02:39 AM PDT

Ever since I was small I had wanted to study in a music academy so I decided enrol in one. Up to now I am still there.

Grammar questions regarding to The Giver [closed]

Posted: 16 Sep 2021 02:39 AM PDT

I've been reading Lois Lowry's The Giver recently, and have questions regarding the tenses from her book. I know that some sentences in literature, like The Giver, do not always follow strict grammar rules and do not need to follow them, but I'm still trying to understand the tense shifting about a certain scene:

Jonas grinned, remembering the morning that Asher had dashed into the classroom, late as usual, arriving breathlessly in the middle of the chanting of the morning anthem. When the class took their seats at the conclusion of the patriotic hymn, Asher remained standing to make his public apology as was required.

If something happened earlier or before, she should've used past perfect tense instead of past simple, right? So I think the paragraph would go like this:

Jonas grinned, remembering the morning that Asher had dashed into the classroom, late as usual, arriving breathlessly in the middle of the chanting of the morning anthem. When the class (took) had taken their seats at the conclusion of the patriotic hymn, Asher (remained) had remained standing to make his public apology as was required.

Can anyone clarify this for me?

omission of "that" at the front of a second object clause [closed]

Posted: 15 Sep 2021 10:26 PM PDT

Is it advisable to retain the boldfaced "that" in the following? Any pros and cons? Note that there are two object clauses associated with "promised."

Mary promised she would never forget Pete and that she would wait for him until he came back.

Which one is more correct, "White-eye Man" or “White-Eye Man”？

Posted: 15 Sep 2021 10:45 PM PDT

My son loves white-eyes, a kind of bird,very much. He wants name his storybook like spider man or iron man, so he decides to name it "white-eye man".

I am not quite sure which one is correct if it is placed in the title or in the context.

The machine is (worked-made ) by wind power? [closed]

Posted: 15 Sep 2021 10:11 PM PDT

I am not sure but i think that correct is to say that the machine is worked by wind power, what is your opinion ?

How do you write "think'd", a contraction of "think would"? [closed]

Posted: 15 Sep 2021 10:45 PM PDT

How do I write the contraction of "think would" in say "What do you think'd go best?"? This may be an Australian English thing in that it sounds normal to me, but I can't immediately find this usage on the internet.

Should I use definite or indefinite articles in appositive phrases listing someone’s accomplishments?

Posted: 15 Sep 2021 10:00 PM PDT

Not sure which is correct:

I interviewed Bob, a writer for Time Magazine, the winner of two Pulitzer Prizes, and the author of three books.

or

I interviewed Bob, a writer for Time Magazine, a winner of two Pulitzer Prizes, and an author of three books.

Multiple people have both won two Pulitzers and written three books, so I think a nonrestrictive indefinite article is correct, but "the" sounds right to my ears.

I am looking for a noun to suit a specific individual, who "Taught" my previously innocent daughter some very bad behaviors

Posted: 15 Sep 2021 09:57 PM PDT

We have a special needs adult daughter, in a shared living arrangement with roommates, who was ALWAYS kind, sweet, and very cooperative. We'd never heard any negative commentary regarding "Sally", prior to an unknown roommate arriving on the scene. "Daisy", a higher functioning girl, from an unfortunate background, easily charmed both of us, while possessing a measured, devious character, and being very persuasive, literally taught & modeled for Sally, that it wasn't necessary to do ANYTHING staff asked, including basic hygiene and chores. Before that time, we'd never received a hint of a problem. Since then, our Sally has increasingly been a "stinker" to her staff and caregivers. What is a good noun for such a person, who "demonstrates" for an innocent the "ways of the world"?

Does "vomit" refer to a single heave or an entire episode of vomiting?

Posted: 16 Sep 2021 07:05 AM PDT

For example, if somebody says "I vomitted four times yesterday" should I assume that they gave four heaves of vomit total, possibly only during a single trip to the bathroom, or should I assume that they went to the bathroom four separate times, possibly giving many heaves each time -- or if both usages are admissible, which is more common?

How should I use the word "Unironic?" [closed]

Posted: 15 Sep 2021 10:23 PM PDT

I feel like people use this word out of context, but I can't grasp how to use it in a sentence. Dictionaries say to use it like "sincerely". Does anyone know the answer to this?

Can I replace "to conquer" by "conquering" in this sentence?

Posted: 16 Sep 2021 06:01 AM PDT

The green, the result of men's toil to conquer nature, is wheat fields blown by the breeze into green waves.

"This is what I understand" or "This is how I understand it", etc

Posted: 16 Sep 2021 12:39 AM PDT

Which one of the following statements is correct or do all of them make sense?

  1. System A works independently and does not affect System B. This is what I understand.

  2. System A works independently and does not affect System B. This is how I understand it.

  3. System A works independently and does not affect System B. This is my understanding.

Present continuous and present simple

Posted: 16 Sep 2021 01:04 AM PDT

can I use present continuous and present simple in one sentence, like in my writings below?

1."There is no bird singing without a reason so don't tell me you cry for no cause."

2."The moments I don't think about you, I just think about why I'm not thinking about you"

"early in the morning" and " in the early morning"

Posted: 16 Sep 2021 03:03 AM PDT

Is there any difference between the two phrases ?

  1. There are numerous health benefits of drinking water on an empty stomach in the early morning.
  2. There are numerous health benefits of drinking water on an empty stomach early in the morning.

Is there any difference between "as before" and "as like before"?

Posted: 15 Sep 2021 10:19 PM PDT

Suppose, in an English language written exam, there is a question which asks to write a formal report comparing two maps (which are given in the question paper). (note: I have attached the maps here, please check).

Both the maps are for SAME island, showing past and present condition of the island. While writing the report, in the first paragraph I have written about what things were on the island in the past. I have written -

There were some trees on both sides of the island.

I also have written some other things in the first paragraph. In total 2-3 sentences in the first paragraph.

In the 2nd paragraph, I have written about all the things/improvements which can be seen from the present map of the island.

In the 2nd paragraph, I talked about the houses, pear [pier], swimming area, foothpath etc. After that I talked about trees like this -

The trees on the right portion are still there as before.

By "as before", I meant "as/like in the previous (past) map" .

Someone told me that, "as before" is WRONG. The correct usage is "as like before". --

The trees on the right portion are still there as like before.

I am not sure which one is correct?

enter image description here

What does "nine while nine" mean?

Posted: 16 Sep 2021 07:26 AM PDT

In "Nine While Nine" by The Sisters of Mercy there is this line:

Nine while nine and I'm waiting for the train...

What does "nine while nine" actually mean? I've never encountered anything similar in English apart from "nine to five" maybe. Perhaps these are related somehow?

Is it bad English to have two to's in a row?

Posted: 15 Sep 2021 11:41 PM PDT

For example how would one correct the sentence "what website should I go to to upload the photo?" or is it correct already?

English equivalent for a Portuguese saying on “bad company”

Posted: 15 Sep 2021 11:17 PM PDT

In Brazilian Portuguese, we have:

"The bird who goes around with a bat wakes up hanging upside down"

Original: "Passarinho que anda com morcego amanhece de cabeça pra baixo"

The literal meaning is that the bat is a bad company (the kind our mothers warn about) and the bird will wake up like a bat, hanging on a branch upside down.

I suspect this kind of humour is more prone to happen in the "New World" than in the old Europe, but maybe all English-speaking people share a similar expression. If not, which expression(s) could be globally understood?

English usage: Every vs all?

Posted: 16 Sep 2021 07:05 AM PDT

Today I was writing a simple message to be shown to the user whenever at least one field was not supplied.

Every/All fields must be supplied.

I'm in doubt about the usage of Every vs All, which one do you think is the most appropriate here ?

What word has the greatest morpheme to syllable ratio? [closed]

Posted: 16 Sep 2021 02:57 AM PDT

I am curious how tightly packed morphemes can be in English words. Do any of you happen to know which English word has the most morphemes per syllable, or know how to find out?

These are the best I've found so far:

fourths (3 morphemes, one syllable)

firsts, fifths, sixths, eighths, ninths (same)

And a similar question: which word has the fewest morphemes per syllable?

I haven't thought about this one as much, but this was the best I could think of off the top of my head:

anthropomorphism (3 morphemes, 6 syllables)
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