Wordwizard

a. This is a terrible thing not to be able to see him. b. This is a bad blow to me not to be able to see him. Are these sentences correctly punctuated? Would you say that we need a comma before 'not'? The idea in (a) is that the terrible thing = not to be able to see him. The idea in (b) is that th...

This is an absolutely amazing reply! Thank you so much!

a. Four grains of this substance are enough. Five grains is too much. b. Four grains of this substance is enough. Five grains is too much. c. A bishop and a knight are stronger than a rook. d. A bishop and a knight is stronger than a rook. e. A bishop and knight are stronger than a rook. f. A bisho...

a. It is looking more impressive all the time. b. It is looking more and more impressive all the time. c. It looks more impressive all the time.​ d. It looks more and more impressive all the time .​ Are all the above sentences grammatically correct? Is there any difference in their meanings? Many t...

a. You have only three dollars. You won't be able to have a proper meal with such little money. a1. You have only three dollars. You won't be able to have a proper meal with that little money. a2. You have only three dollars. You won't be able to have a proper meal with so little money. b.You've sl...

a. What he had in his pocket was not real money. It was small money. It came from a board game probably.
b. What he had in his pocket was not real money. It was little money. It came from a board game probably.

Are both versions acceptable?

Many thanks.

a. How many girlfriends have you had? b. How many girlfriends did you have? c. How many girlfriends did you have before you got married? Let us say I'm talking to John, who is now married. I know that he is a faithful husband and the assumption is that John and his wife will live together till the ...

a. The other man you describe as tall and handsome was John. Does that mean there was at least another man you describe as tall and handsome? I think it does. I think if John was the only one you describe as tall and handsome we'd have b. The other man, whom you describe as tall and handsome, was J...

a. Under b. Below c. Beneath d. Underneath Which of these necessarily means directly under in such a way that a vertical line can connect the two objects? We do say 'below sea level', but not 'under sea level'. Could one say ' The city was below the hills ' ? Could one say: ' The city was spread ou...

a. I don't know a man who works in your office. Can't this sentence have two different meanings? 1. There is a man who works in your office whom I don't know. 2. It is not true that I know a man who works in your office. I don't know any man who works in your office. ===============================...

a. Not the whole regiment was informed of the plan. Only a few members. b. The whole regiment was not informed of the plan. Only a few members. c. Not the whole pack was stolen. Only two cigarettes. d. The whole pack was not stolen. Only two cigarettes. e. Not the whole building was damaged. Only t...

Thank you so much Tony. I made a mistake when typing (3). A while after posting the question, I came back, reread it, noticed the error and edited it. But it somehow came back again! I suppose I made a mistake when editing it or something. I re-edited it. It should be fine now. My apologies. Please ...

a. He wasn't a man respected but not feared any more.
b. He was no longer a man respected but not feared.

Do these mean

1. He was still respected but now he was feared as well.
2. He was no longer respected but he was now feared.
3. He was now feared but not respected.
?

Many thanks.

a. In the park, I saw a man sitting on a bench and a man running. I greeted the man running. b. In the park, I saw a man sitting on a bench and a man running. I greeted the running man. c. In the park, I greeted a man running. d. In the park, I greeted a running man. Which of the above sentences ar...

Can one say
a. A man and woman were in a coffee shop.
?

Does the sentence imply that they were together?

Does
b. A man and a woman were in a coffee shop,
imply that they were not together?


I think (a) implies they were together, but (b) doesn't imply they weren't.

Many thanks.