0
KhoshtipMan Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

The characteristics of a sentence

I've heard that each sentence should be correct, meaningful and idiomatic.
Is it true? What does that idiomatic mean?
If so, could you say some examples and show how a sentence without being idiomatic can not be right?
  

Top answer

KhoshtipMan What does that idiomatic mean? A sentence that is idiomatic is a sentence that is said or written as a native speaker would say or write it. There are frequently many different grammatical ways of communicating a thought, but natives typically only choose one or two of them.

— CalifJim

  • KhoshtipMan What does that idiomatic mean?
  • A sentence that is idiomatic is a sentence that is said or written as a native speaker would say or write it.
  • There are frequently many different grammatical ways of communicating a thought, but natives typically only choose one or two of them.
  • Another way of saying "idiomatic" is to say "natural" or "what sounds natural to a native speaker".
  • KhoshtipMan show how a sentence without being idiomatic can not be right?
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

12 Answers
0
KhoshtipManWhat does that idiomatic mean?
A sentence that is idiomatic is a sentence that is said or written as a native speaker would say or write it. There are frequently many different grammatical ways of communicating a thought, but natives typically only choose one or two of them. Another way of saying "idiomatic" is to say "natural" or "what sounds nat
0
0
Idiomatic speech in certain English dialects can be ungrammatical with respect to standard English.

Examples:
I ain't got no respect for her.
She done gone.
0
0
You always have good examples of exceptions!
AlpheccaStarsI ain't got no respect for her.She done gone.
OK, but what do they mean please?
0
0
Thank you CJ. I got it. But why:
CalifJimI don't really understand what you're asking here.
?
0
0
AlpheccaStarsShe done gone.
Love done gone. Can you believe it?
0
0
KhoshtipManThank you CJ. I got it. But why:CalifJimI don't really understand what you're asking here.?
I didn't expect "not" when you wrote "can not be right".

CJ
0
0
By saying "show how a sentence without being idiomatic can not be right?", I meant that you show me a sentence which can not be right if it's not idiomatic.
0
0
KhoshtipManright
"Right" has different meanings:
1) Grammatically right / not right.
Right: The sun is 93 million miles from earth.
Not: The sun be million 93 miles from earth..
2) Factually correct / not correct.
Right: The sun is 93 million miles from earth.

Not: The sun is 93 million centimeters from earth.
3) Meaningf
0
0
KhoshtipManI meant that you show me a sentence which cannot be right if it's not idiomatic.
So that would be a sentence that is not idiomatic, and that fact alone means it's not right.

Hmm. It's curious that you even want to see such a sentence, but I think maybe sentences with incorrect usage might qualify. Even
0
0
AlpheccaStarsAll those sentences
Or the right ones?
0

Related Questions