Some Grammar Questions!

Question

Hello folks/everyone!I'd like to ask you some grammar questions; All I can do is to call the police. According to the quiz it says it's correct. However I think it should be ' All I can do is call the police.' Would you mind explaining me ' all I.... is to + verb / is + verb / is + verb ing ' Never have I seen such a beautiful girl. I've just learnt that it's the another way of saying ' I have never seen such a beautiful girl'. To me, as a non-native speaker, it looks somewhat weird.( First sentence). If it is, true are there any other expressions which have the same meaning with these sentences. She is a most energetic woman. Well again, it says this is correct. Meaning of this sentence is ' She is a very energetic woman' says the site. But I'm really confused because as far as I know we should use She is the most energetic woman. The correction I wrote down is slightly different from first one, right? Also can I say ' I am a wisest man'? Does it mean ' I am a very wise man'? Sorry for long post. Also I'd like to know how many mistakes I have made.Thank you!

USF · Accepted Answer

You just can use one of them: 1) to + infinitive or 2) gerund
is to call the police is good English. (sorry natives that I spoke like you

)

NugsoIf it is, true are there any other expressions which have the same meaning with these sentences.

If it is , true, are there any other expressions which have the same meaning with these sentences.

It is common in English that when adverbs come at the first of a sentence you can (or have to, I am not sure) bring the verb before subject.
Like these:
So do I.
So am I.

Nugsowhich have the same meaning with these sentences.

I didn't understand this part

NugsoShe is a most energetic woman.

It is slightly formal, and means "very"
It was a most beautiful morning.

Nugsonon-native speaker

you are native in one language, at least.
non-native English speaker

Nugso · Answer

youzouNugsowhich have the same meaning with these sentences.I didn't understand this part

Aha! I should have said as these sentences, maybe?

And also I felt like I had to type ' non-native speaker' just because I was asking a question which is about English that has nothing to do with my first language.

Thanks.

USF · Answer

Yes "as" is correct.

USF · Answer

P.S. "Never have I ever" is sort of drinking game. That tell stories about what they haven't done and have done.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Never_have_I_ever
That means it is good English.

CalifJim · Answer

NugsoAll I can do is to call the police. According to the quiz it says it's correct. However I think it should be ' All I can do is call the police.'

When you're matching "do" in expressions like "all I can do", the "to" is optional in front of the corresponding verb that comes later. It's correct with or without "to".

All I can do is call the police. OR All I can do is to call the police.
All I have to do is dial this number. OR All I have to do is to dial this number.
If I were you, all I would do is add some salt. OR If I were you, all I would do is to add some salt.

NugsoNever have I seen such a beautiful girl. ... another way of saying ' I have never seen such a beautiful girl'.

That's correct. The more basic sentence is I have never seen such a beautiful girl. It contains the negation never. In such cases you can put the negative part at the beginning and invert the subject and verb.

I have never seen such a beautiful girl. (Correct)
Never I have seen such a beautiful girl. (Not correct. Just the first step in transforming the sentence.)
Never have I seen such a beautiful girl. (Correct)

NugsoAlso can I say ' I am a wisest man'? Does it mean ' I am a very wise man'?

No. It only works with "a most". You have to use those two words.

I am a most wise man. ~ I am a very wise man.

CJ

Nugso · Answer

Thank you both! How about ' All I ..... is  verb + ing', CJ?

USF · Answer

Hi dear CJ,
So you mean only when we use "do" to match a performing or intention to perform, "to" is optional? How so? Do you have any analysis about the reason( I know language is language, but only if you had some more explanation)? Which one is more formal?

CalifJim · Answer

NugsoThank you both! How about ' All I ..... is verb + ing', CJ?

The only time the later verb has -ing is if you use 'doing' in that all-clause. You can't use 'to' in that case.

All I am doing is whistling a tune.

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

youzouyou mean only when we use "do"

"do" is the only English verb that can represent any other verb of action, so the rule can only apply to "do".

What are you doing? I'm singing. I'm dancing. I'm reading. I'm eating.

So,

What I am doing is singing. / All I am doing is singing. / The only thing I'm doing is singing.
What you are doing is dancing. / All you are doing is dancing / ...
What she is doing is reading. / ...
What he is doing is eating. / ...

When 'doing' occurs in the subject part (what I am doing, all you are doing, etc.), the -ing form has to match it in the predicate part (is singing, is reading, etc.)

In all other cases (no 'doing', just 'do' or 'does' or 'did' in the subject part), the infinitive (with or without 'to') is used. The form with 'to' might be considered slightly more formal.

All Jack did was turn off the light. / All Jack did was to turn off the light.
What we do in that case is lock the door. / What we do in that case is to lock the door.
The only thing they could do is take him to the hospital. / The only thing they could do is to take him to the hospital.

CJ

USF · Answer

Thanks, CJ. You always were very helpful.

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