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Believer Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Spice up idiomatic expressions
I think I have asked whether it is appropriate or right to spice up verbs that go together(I think they are phrasal verbs) and I think it is Mr. M that said that usually it cannot be done (I think that is what he said.)
How about some typical idimatic expressions like these? Are they OK? Can I do it all the time?
from elementary school -- from first grade elementary shool
by bus -- by brand-new company bus
How about some typical idimatic expressions like these? Are they OK? Can I do it all the time?
from elementary school -- from first grade elementary shool
by bus -- by brand-new company bus
Top answer
Your first example ("from elementary school") is not an idiom. However, if you want to say "from first grade," adding "elementary school" after it makes it completely redundant. That doesn't make any sense.
- Your first example ("from elementary school") is not an idiom.
- However, if you want to say "from first grade," adding "elementary school" after it makes it completely redundant.
- That doesn't make any sense.
- Your second example is fine, but "by bus" is also not idiomatic.
- " Do you have any other examples you want to try?
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6 Answers
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Your first example ("from elementary school") is not an idiom. However, if you want to say "from first grade," adding "elementary school" after it makes it completely redundant. That doesn't make any sense.
Your second example is fine, but "by bus" is also not idiomatic. Also, I wouldn't put a hyphen in "brand new."
Do you have any other examples you want to try?
Your second example is fine, but "by bus" is also not idiomatic. Also, I wouldn't put a hyphen in "brand new."
Do you have any other examples you want to try?
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The same reason you don't hyphenate "very good."
Hyphenate when you have nouns that modify other nouns, or when you need to show that two words modifying go "together" and do not each modify the noun.
I am a red car fanatic means I am red, and that I like cars. I am a red-car fanatic means that I have a love of red cars. This is silly example, but the first I could
Hyphenate when you have nouns that modify other nouns, or when you need to show that two words modifying go "together" and do not each modify the noun.
I am a red car fanatic means I am red, and that I like cars. I am a red-car fanatic means that I have a love of red cars. This is silly example, but the first I could
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Grammar GeekThe same reason you don't hyphenate "very good."
Hyphenate when you have nouns that modify other nouns, or when you need to show that two words modifying go "together" and do not each modify the noun.
I am a red car fanatic means I am red, and that I like cars. I am a red-car fanatic means that I have a love of red cars. This is
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Unforunately, Google doesn't recognize hyphenation, so I couldn't see if the hyphenated uses were more likely to be BrE, which seems a good possibility.
I can only tell you that NOT using the hyphen is far more common in what I read (AmE) and 100% more common in what I write.
I can only tell you that NOT using the hyphen is far more common in what I read (AmE) and 100% more common in what I write.
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Thank you.
Can I spice up these phrases I found from my teenager friend's Collins/Cobuild English Learner's Dictionary?
1. I think the phrase is "in service."
phrase: If a machine or vehicle is in personal/private/community??? service, it is being used or is able to be used.
If it is out of regular/personal/community??? service
Can I spice up these phrases I found from my teenager friend's Collins/Cobuild English Learner's Dictionary?
1. I think the phrase is "in service."
phrase: If a machine or vehicle is in personal/private/community??? service, it is being used or is able to be used.
If it is out of regular/personal/community??? service
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