Questions tagged [descriptive-grammar]
Descriptive grammar is a set of rules about language based on how it is actually used. In descriptive grammar there is no right or wrong language. It can be contrasted with prescriptive grammar, which is a set of rules based on how people, mostly writers of style books and grammar text books, think language should be used. See https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/descriptive-grammar .
274
questions
1
vote
4
answers
67
views
In need of the word or phrase describing studying or educating in a non-formal way or as a hobby
So when I was 14 years old I started an interest in psychology. I've been studying it (legitimate medical research articles, textbooks, clinical guides, etc vs googling) for almost 13 years at this ...
- 21
0
votes
1
answer
54
views
Stacked adjectives? [duplicate]
If I say adjectives in a row, where the first could apply to the second, such as "cute blonde girl" - does it imply that I think blonde is cute? If it doesn't, why not and how would this be ...
- 1
-2
votes
1
answer
85
views
People now say "back in 1985" or "way back in 1965" instead of just saying "in 1985" or "in 1965". Why this change?
Most native English speakers used to refer to a past time or date by saying something like "in 1936 this or that happened". Now people seem unable to refer to the past - however recent or ...
- 13
0
votes
0
answers
27
views
Square Feet versus Square Foot [duplicate]
The sentence is
The project would construct a 2000 square (foot/feet) kitchen.'
I put 'The project would construct a 2000 square feet kitchen.'
My senior reviewer changed feet to foot. Why?
If I ...
6
votes
1
answer
827
views
Is "don't" a particle of its own?
I noticed an oddity in the sentence Why don't you just do it?: Although I always thought of don't simply as of a short form of do not it seems to me as if this is not the case in this sentence. ...
- 417
1
vote
1
answer
79
views
What is the grammatical structure of {the + superlative substantive}?
Example 1: This was the deepest a submarine had ever dived.
Example 2: The longest a person can hold their breath for is...
I've looked at a couple grammar resources including "the Cambridge ...
- 13
0
votes
0
answers
147
views
Are they both correct? “He’s the tallest of the three” and “He’s the tallest among the three”
Are both of these correct?
He’s the tallest of the three.
He’s the tallest among the three.
My teacher said that I shouldn’t use “among” here. Is that related to the number of items in the ...
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
174
views
What part of speech is 'many' in "as many A's as B's"?
At first glance, it seems like the "many" in "There are as many A's as B's" is an adjective. However, we can't substitute an arbitrary adjective in this sentence. Compare:
"...
- 1,055
2
votes
1
answer
854
views
Grammatical class of 'we' when referring to a collective group vs each individual of a group
What's the grammatical class of "we" when referring to a group in its entirety versus when referring to each individual member of the group.
For example, if I said to my girlfriend:
We will ...
7
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Is "The heart wants what the heart wants" grammatical? If so, why?
Normally one would say (as Emily Dickinson did) "The heart wants what it wants." But consider these few examples from professional writers (screenwriters in this case).
"The heart ...
- 95
0
votes
1
answer
59
views
There's a double negative in this sentence? [duplicate]
sentence:
I'm living in los angeles now. I'm clean. legit
No you ain't never been clean. dude
is this part → "ain't never" is this a case of double negative?
i was in doubt because i see ...
- 45
-1
votes
2
answers
230
views
Draw a painting or paint a drawing? [closed]
'Paint a painting' or 'draw a drawing' sounds repetitive but 'paint a drawing' or 'draw a painting' sounds kinda weird, you don't actually use paint to draw, right?
And if I'm applying paint over ...
- 111
0
votes
0
answers
419
views
It's About Time you Knew or It's about time you know [duplicate]
Would like to know which version is proper:
It's about time you know
It's about time you knew
Some examples:
It's about time you know about a cancer diagnosis
It's about time you knew about a ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
42
views
Multiple adjectives but following reference is singular
Everyone was mostly Muslim or atheist, like my family.
What is the rule here, is the family Muslim or atheist? I know it's poorly written, I didn't write it and I can't ask the author. My gut ...
0
votes
2
answers
40
views
Is this sentence grammatically correct? Is there any way to condense the list (only use the preposition once)?
I am interested in knowing if this sentence is grammatically correct and if there is a way of preventing the repetition of “through” in the list.
Throughout the play, numerous characters evoke this ...
- 1