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Danny154 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
A few short questions
Which, if any, is incorrect (or less good, in your opinion, for any reason):
1.
A. The clock is still broken.
B. The clock is broken still.
2.
A. She is as sharp as ever.
B. She is sharp as ever.
3.
A. A man with a frightening demeanor.
B. A man of a frightening demeanor.
4.
A. The sound of trains passing by has been the background of much of my life.
B. The sound of trains passing by has been a background for much of my life.
5.
A. I was away on the night of the murder.
B. I was away the night of the murder.
6.
A. I don't shy away from public attention.
B: I don't shy from public attention.
Also,
7. In conservative cultures, a young woman is wedded to \ with a certain man regardless of her feelings.
Thank you!
1.
A. The clock is still broken.
B. The clock is broken still.
2.
A. She is as sharp as ever.
B. She is sharp as ever.
3.
A. A man with a frightening demeanor.
B. A man of a frightening demeanor.
4.
A. The sound of trains passing by has been the background of much of my life.
B. The sound of trains passing by has been a background for much of my life.
5.
A. I was away on the night of the murder.
B. I was away the night of the murder.
6.
A. I don't shy away from public attention.
B: I don't shy from public attention.
Also,
7. In conservative cultures, a young woman is wedded to \ with a certain man regardless of her feelings.
Thank you!
Top answer
1A: Correct. 1B: Less good 2A: Correct. 2B: Less good 3A: Correct.
- 1A: Correct.
- 1B: Less good 2A: Correct.
- 2B: Less good 3A: Correct.
- 3B: Less good, probably incorrect 4A: Much less good.
- 4B: Correct.
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7 Answers
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1A: Correct. 1B: Less good
2A: Correct. 2B: Less good
3A: Correct. 3B: Less good, probably incorrect
4A: Much less good. 4B: Correct.
5A: Correct. 5B: Less good
6A: Correct. 6B: Much less good
7: "In conservative cultures, a young woman is wedded TO a certain man regardless of her feelings" is correct, but a native English speaker would say: "In conservative
2A: Correct. 2B: Less good
3A: Correct. 3B: Less good, probably incorrect
4A: Much less good. 4B: Correct.
5A: Correct. 5B: Less good
6A: Correct. 6B: Much less good
7: "In conservative cultures, a young woman is wedded TO a certain man regardless of her feelings" is correct, but a native English speaker would say: "In conservative
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Thank you.
How critically inferior is 2B to 2A ("broken still" vs. "still broken")?
If the text is a bit dramatic or poetic, and if "broken still" gives it better rhythm, might it not be preferable?
How critically inferior is 2B to 2A ("broken still" vs. "still broken")?
If the text is a bit dramatic or poetic, and if "broken still" gives it better rhythm, might it not be preferable?
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A. “The clock is still broken” would definitely be used by a native English speaker and is 100% correct.
B. “The clock is broken still” is about 80% correct, but is perfectly understandable. Certainly, this phrase could used in a poetic context (particularly to assist rhyming), but not in a dramatic context, in my opinion.
B. “The clock is broken still” is about 80% correct, but is perfectly understandable. Certainly, this phrase could used in a poetic context (particularly to assist rhyming), but not in a dramatic context, in my opinion.
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ArchieWW1A: Correct. 1B: Less goodI agree.
ArchieWW2A: Correct. 2B: Less goodI think 2B is fine.
ArchieWW3A: Correct. 3B: Less good, probably incorrectI think 3A is acceptable and 3B is unnatural. For me, the most natural would be 'A man of frightening demeanor'.
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Thank you.
So just to make sure - "A man of frightening demeanor" is correct and natural?
So just to make sure - "A man of frightening demeanor" is correct and natural?
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Danny154So just to make sure - "A man of frightening demeanor" is correct and natural?Correct grammatically, and natural in a poem or as a literary flourish, but hardly the kind of thing we'd say to describe our boss or assistant principal.
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