Constructing multiple clauses

Question

I was looking for help settling an argument with a fellow student. Apart from the poor choice of words and idioms, is the following phrase grammatically correct?

I've been quite apprehensive in asking this, kind of been playing the waiting game, but this is the last straw.

And to follow it up, are all the following ways to construct a sentence permitted, or are some right, wrong or preferred?

- I've been quite apprehensive in asking this
- I've kind of been playing the waiting game
but this is the last straw

I
- have been quite apprehensive in asking this
- have kind of been playing the waiting game
but this is the last straw

I've
- been quite apprehensive in asking this
- kind of been playing the waiting game
but this is the last straw

GPY · Accepted Answer

I would say "quite apprehensive about asking this".

This is an informal conversational sentence. As such, it does not have to conform to quite the same standards of structure as would be the case in formal written English. All your variants seem OK to me, except for the penultimate one ("I have ... have ..."), which seems a bit unusual.

There is, however, the question of how they should best be punctuated when written down.

Anonymous · Answer

thanks
If I may, could I ask you a question? I don't know whether to insert a word in a phrase or not.
Thanks

GPY · Answer

AnonymousIf I may, could I ask you a question? I don't know whether to insert a word in a phrase or not.

I don't understand what you are asking. "insert a word in a phrase" could mean anything.

Anonymous · Answer

These are the words I don't know whether to insert.

He won very little [in relation to/compared] to what he could have won.

Should I insert compared or drop it and use than?
The more points he has compared to you the more money he will get

The more points he has in relation to you the more money he will get.

The more points he has than you the more money he will get.

Is compared or relation correct in the context?

In relation to/compared to the money he has, his financial problems are just as big as hers. she might not have a lot of money but his financial problems are in proportion to his salary.

How would you phrase that in one sentence? Would you keep 'for'?

I under-budgeted the time and arrived late for my first day of school.
I under-budgeted for time and arrived late for my first day of school.

The only reason I'm not late walking out my door for the meeting is because I overbudgeted for time.
The only reason I'm not late walking out my door for the meeting is because I overbudgeted the time.

In the following link, at 35:26, overbudget for time is used, could you tell me what you think, if you would have said that.

http://www.tvids.net/watch35/Gossip-Girl/season-01-episode-01-Pilot

Thank you

GPY · Answer

For various previous threads discussing "compared to" versus "in relation to", search these forums for compared in relation or similar, or search Google for further discussion. My opinion is that, when a direct comparison is intended, "compared to" (or "in comparison to") is normally preferable.

"The more points he has than you..." looks wrong to me.

The sentences would benefit from a comma before the second "the more".

AnonymousIn relation to/compared to the money he has, his financial problems are just as big as hers. she might not have a lot of money but his financial problems are in proportion to his salary.How would you phrase that in one sentence?

"relative to" or "in relation to" are suitable here (this is not a direct comparison). However, I don't grasp the overall logic of what you are trying to say. You seem to be implying that (i) he has a bigger income; (ii) in absolute terms his financial problems are not as big as hers; (iii) in relative terms his financial problems are as big as hers. Those three things do not seem to be consistent.

AnonymousI under-budgeted the time and arrived late for my first day of school.I under-budgeted for time and arrived late for my first day of school. The only reason I'm not late walking out my door for the meeting is because I overbudgeted for time.The only reason I'm not late walking out my door for the meeting is because I overbudgeted the time

Both "the time" and "for time" seem acceptable to me.

"walking out my door" is casual conversational and doesn't look great in written English. "walking out of my door" reads better.

AnonymousIn the following link, at 35:26, overbudget for time is used, could you tell me what you think, if you would have said that.

I think that's OK. Personally, the term "overbudget" probably would not have come readily to my mind.

Anonymous · Answer

I read your answer, but I am not sure how you would write the following:

1He won very little [in relation to/compared] to what he could have won.

2The more points he has compared to you the more money he will get
The more points he has in relation to you the more money he will get.
The more points he has than you the more money he will get.

Is compared or relation correct in the context? I changed it, Is it better now and how would you phrase it please?

3 In relation to/compared to the money he has, his financial problems are just as big as hers. she might not have a lot of money but her financial problems are in proportion to her salary.

In the link I had posted, the person uses 'overbudget for time' Would you keep the 'for' or leave it out?

I under-budgeted the time and arrived late for my first day of school.
I under-budgeted for time and arrived late for my first day of school.

I over-budgeted the time and arrived early for my first day of school.
I over-budgeted for time and arrived early for my first day of school.

Thanks

Anonymous · Answer

Hi GPY;

May I get your thought on the above please?

Thank in advance

GPY · Answer

1He won very little [in relation to/compared] to what he could have won.
I think I would use "compared to" or, preferably in careful writing, "in comparison to".

2The more points he has compared to you the more money he will get
The more points he has in relation to you the more money he will get.
The more points he has than you the more money he will get.
Is compared or relation correct in the context? I changed it, Is it better now and how would you phrase it please?
Same as (1). Could do with a comma after "you".

3 In relation to/compared to the money he has, his financial problems are just as big as hers.
"In relation to" or "Relative to".

she might not have a lot of money but her financial problems are in proportion to her salary.
"in proportion to" seems OK to me.

In the link I had posted, the person uses 'overbudget for time' Would you keep the 'for' or leave it out?
I under-budgeted the time and arrived late for my first day of school.
I under-budgeted for time and arrived late for my first day of school.
I over-budgeted the time and arrived early for my first day of school.
I over-budgeted for time and arrived early for my first day of school.
On the basis that one normally budgets "for" something, I prefer "for".

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks I understand, but in 2
Is this also possible?

The more points he has than you the more money he will get
or would you choose this?
The more points he has compared to you the more money he will get

I take it this is grammatically sound but does it convey a real thought?
In relation to the money he has, his financial problems are just as big as hers.

What do you think of : She might not have a lot of money but her financial problems are proportional to her salary.

Thanks

Constructing multiple clauses

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