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 .
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Can 'where' introduce a specific manner without an antecedent?
I came across this sentence when reading Eclipse, where Sam (werewolf) was the leader of the pack: “ Sam approached Carlisle where he stood in the front, the huge pack right on his tail.”
I've known ...
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Why is the article "the" used with "population?" [closed]
Why do we need an article before "population?" Why is "the" the correct article to use in the following sentence?
The population is suffering.
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What is right? (English question)
I am a high school student studying English in Korea. I am asking this question because school changed the original text on the English test. So, I have some question and want to get your explanations....
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The doctor prescribed that the child must take/should take/take the medicine every 8 hours
Non-native here. The reason why this question confuses me is that this should be "took" based on what I have learnt in grammar classes. But that doesn't sound right. I am confused between ...
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Passive and active verbal adjective
guys. Hope you are all in greatest condition. I do know that a verb can serve as an adjective when it is placed before a noun and this verb is either a past participle or a present participle in this ...
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Why is the order "is not" instead of the more rationally intuitive "not is"?
He not is.
He is not.
Using the second method, you have to listen to the third word 100% of the time, instead of only when "not" is used.
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Is the phrase 'top-level' appropriate to describe data that makes general obeservations as opposed to more detailed ones?
I am trying to find an appropriate term to describe general data in the form of statistics or reports that give somebody a general overview on a topic. I am trying to distinguish this from very ...
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Should I use the word "might" to express someone's wish/hope in a past situation?
The dictionaries are very clear as to the use of "may" to express a wish or a hope - and one can easily infer that a sense of future is always implied in such use. For example: "May she ...
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'Such' in place of a demonstrative pronoun. Such a configuration or such configuration?
I read some explanations about the use of 'such' as a determiner, but I still could not figure this out. If, in scientific/formal writing, I want to use 'such' instead of 'this' to specify a ...
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Which one of the sentences is grammatically correct?
1: In their article published 10 years ago, they concluded that the ant was an amazing creature.
2: In their article published 10 years ago, they concluded that the ant is an amazing creature.
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First conditional sentences
Certain grammar websites describe type 1 conditional sentences as the ones in which the time is the present or future and the situation is real.
Examples given are:
If I have time, I'll finish that ...
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Grammar - for you / with you?
I am writing a letter and got stuck here:
Will that be alright for you? or Will that be alright with you?
Which one is the correct version?
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does an "issued" a threat become "rescinded/revoked" when acted upon?
In the sense of a direct threat like "If you do X, I will beat you", which is a threat with a promise that is clear. One would say a threat was "issued".
If something can be issued, it can be revoked/...
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Elided Compound or Simple sentence
In the example
"He gave Tom a cycle and Jack a bike"
Is this a simple sentence or an elided (stripping) compound sentence which can be expanded to “He gave Tom a cycle and he gave Jack a bike.” ...
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Combination of the present perfect and the simple past?
Is there a chance to combine these two tenses this way, I have checked with several sites, and I found out that it's seemingly some jobless old latino, definitely not Willis.
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