Questions tagged [sentence-construction]
This tag is used for questions about the proper construction of sentences.
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Is that idiomatic to say "I smell the old-school summer smell every time I go there"
The following sentence came to my mind once:
I smell the old-school summer smell every time I go there.
However, I'm not sure that it's idiomatic or not since the word "smell" is repeated ...
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On the path, through the path
When I use "path" in a sentence, I am used to adding on before it.
For instance,
The path on which I traveled...
Recently, I came across something like
The mountainous path through which ...
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Using would in a doubtful situation
I understand "would" is used when the situation is hypothetical. However, when the outcome is unknown and unsure but it is a possibility, should I use would or will is the right word?
#1 If ...
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Poetic construction - phrases placement
I am told by a friend that in English, words and phrases can be placed differently for added poetic expressions, rhythm and readability.
#1 How different has turned the promises of the lady who [...]!...
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"That" and its relevance
I have two different versions of a long sentence which uses "that" in them. They go as follows:
Version 1: To that guy from the desert where the sand dunes [...], her words [...]
Version 2:...
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There was x There is
In the two sentences below, is the use of "there was" (past tense) and "there is" (present tense) correct? Or should "there was" be used in both cases?
Let's face it: we ...
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What is the difference between exactly the same and the same?
I want them to have different meanings because two cakes are the same if both are chocolate cake and two cakes are exactly the same if not only both are chocolate cake but also the frostings are the ...
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Distant to be "were" in relative clause in "his trials and tribulations, which he claimed were his worst"
His trials and tribulations, which he claimed were his worst, would be more satisfactory if he actually took the time to organize his thoughts. Source
I rarely see this pattern as I more often ...
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Alone as an adverb or as an adjective
Alone, thought Bittering.
Does the word 'alone' describe Bittering as an adjective or his action of thinking as an adverb? Does the sentence mean that Bittering thought that he was alone or it means ...
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Can a question begin with 'but'?
Extract from The Lottery Ticket by Anton Chekhov:
"I forgot to look at the newspaper today." said Masha, as she was clearing the table. "Is the list of lottery numbers in it?" &...
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Correct place of adjectival clause
A few stars are known which are hardly bigger than the earth, but most of them are so large that hundreds of thousands of Earth's can be packed inside each and leave room to spare.
Usually, an ...
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Is it an Invention or Discovery
Since years ago, I was asking myself if someone made a good software program should we say that:
He invented a software program
or
He discovered a software program
It's strongly related to the ...
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Why is it written in an 'it is that' structure?
“It is that you come home from India on what is called the leave—what we can call en permission?”
(Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie)
Why is it written in an 'it is that' structure? It'...
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You are too… that you… vs you are too… so that vs you are too… to
I have a somewhat heated discussion with an acquaintance about the following meme and its grammar:
YOU ARE TOO INVESTED IN how u are perceived that u cannot fully enjoy
living!
He claims that it is ...
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Should I use "the" or "an" here after "every"?
Well, I edited an answer on the other site yesterday, and I wrote this line:
On the other hand, every object has a __proto__ property (equivalent to the internal [[Prototype]] property), which is the ...
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