Wordwizard

> forgetory

Great stuff :-)
Thanks a lot, Phil.

Very appreciated, Phil.

The sentences are not mine:-)

How about:

4. He stood up and spoke very politely, as it was advisable for him.

What meaning is in effect here?

Thanks a lot.

1. He came forth and spoke very politely, as it was advisable for him to do. 2. He came forth and spoke very politely, as it was advisable for him to do so . 3. He came forth and spoke very politely, as it was advisable for him to do it. In which of these sentences, "as" can be read as "in the [same...

Well, thanks, everybody. Surely, "grassy knolls" have existed for ever in sweet nature:) I was interested more in figurative idiomatic usages. To some extent, the JFK-related meaning is a figurative one, IMO. You may want to look at the at the sexual meanings here . I, for one, wondered if Chaucer w...

c. I always have had such a bad morning. >> Always have I had such a bad morning Sentence c makes no sense in the inverted or uninverted form. I can't but applaud Phil on this. Tell those teachers to have a look at frequencies in published books at Google Books: http://books.google.com/ Searching f...

The following sentences are part of a curriculum taught at a secondary school one of my kids attends. a. I can do my homework. >> My homework can I do. b. I ate my sandwich. >> My sandwich did I eat. c. I always have had such a bad morning. >> Always have I had such a bad morning. d. I studied math...

The apartment was not ready, so she had no choice but to return to her sister's house where she [had been staying/was staying]. Personally I would choose "had been staying". 1. Would it be possible to use "was staying" in this context? 2. If so, what would be the meaning implied? Both are possible,...

1) After he had taken over the company, he realised that the company had been losing money for years. 2) After he had taken over the company, he realised that the company was losing money. I don't think I quite agree with Phil on these ones, insofar as the consequences caused by his realization are...

"Had been renovating" would probably suggest that the renovation was completed shortly before he sold the house and that the renovation had taken a significant amount of time. Alternatively, it may suggest that he had been renovating the house for some time, the renovation was not complete, but his...

Hello, everyone, I'd appreciate comments as to the origins and connotations of the "grassy knoll." I'm aware of both the JFK and the sexual/slang links, so I wonder how old is it? Was it "revived" after the JFK assassination? --- When Couric asked about rumors that a dispute with her former deputy, ...

If you are concerned about the use of the definite article, it is not true that the noun accompanied by it must always have been previously mentioned. CMOS (Chicago Manual of Style): -- 5.69 Definite article A definite article points to a definite object that (1) is so well understood that it does n...

Bobinwales wrote:I like 1 Jerry, but beer is not manufactured, it is brewed. But the sentiments are dead right.

Ah, yes.

Thank you.

Ah, beautiful.
Thanks, everybody, and esp Phil for your illuminating comparison.

Which alternative is correct, as you see it? 1. Beer was never made in that place. Far more than hops was needed before beer could have been manufactured there. 2. Beer was never made in that place. Far more than hops would have been needed before beer could be manufactured there. Thank you for your...