u/universalthere

Hello The Odyssey enthusiasts,

I was wondering if anyone could help me out with a question regarding Robert Fagles’ translation of The Odyssey. In book 1, page 3 of the online pdf, I wanted to know if “Atrides” was a term used to refer to Agamemnon. I was also wondering who the term “war lord” was referencing. I’d really appreciate any and all help!

The quote reads thus: “Look at Aegisthus now… above and beyond his share he stole Atrides’ wife, he murdered the warlord coming home from Troy though he knew it meant his total ruin.”

Hello Grammarians,

I was wondering if anyone could help me out! I’m trying to figure out exactly why a sentence like “Under the large tree was a goose” would not require a comma, but something like “Near the pond at the bottom of the hill, the goose slept” would.

(Also, if I’m wrong about commas being needed or not needed in either sentence, please let me know!)

Would the first sentence not require a comma because “Under the large tree” is a prepositional phrase? Does that have something to do with it?

I’d really appreciate any and all insights!

Thank you!

Hello Grammarians,

I was wondering if any of you could help me out.

What would be the predicates in the following dependent clauses:

1.) Because it was raining.
2.) When the bell rang.

I’d really appreciate any and all insights you could provide! Thank you!

Hello Grammarians,

I was wondering if you all could help me with my understanding of prepositions and adverbs.

I’m struggling to understand why certain words qualify as prepositions or adverbs in the following sentences.

Sentence 1:
Before recitals, I like to practice playing my tuba.

Before = preposition of time

Sentence 2:
Jim arrived late for the recital.

Late = adverb

Why is late an adverb, but before a preposition?

I’d really appreciate any explanations that you all could provide!

Hello Grammarians,

I was wondering if anyone could illuminate the real meaning of “could” in the following sentence:

“No one could believe that the sky was actually falling.”

It’s my understanding that “could” conveys some degree of possibility. However, this particular phrase “could believe” almost feels colloquial to the point where I wonder if “could” means very much, or if it’s just a thing people say.

I’d really appreciate any insights that you could offer!

Hello Grammarians,

I was wondering if anyone could help me out!

Could someone please explain why “except” works as a preposition in the following sentence?

“I listen to all music except country and pop.”

I believe that except is a preposition in that it demonstrates a relationship between either

“Listen” and “country and pop”

OR

“Music” and “country and pop”

(I could be wrong about both.)

I’d really appreciate any and all insights you could provide!

Hello Grammarians,

I was wondering if anyone could help me out!

Could you please identify the conjunctions in the following sentence:

“The lion’s roar was so deafening that we could not hear the birds chirping nor the hyenas laughing during the day.”

I’m torn on whether not/nor would be a correlative conjunction. I’d really appreciate whatever help/insights you could provide.

Thank you!

In the following sentence, would “after” be considered an adverb?

The sentence:
Our dog is so playful after he sleeps.

I’d really appreciate any and all insights!! Thank you!!!

Hello teachers,

I was wondering if anyone could help me out!

Has anyone taught The Odyssey before? If so, would you be able to provide any materials or pointers?

I’d really appreciate any help!

Thanks!

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if you could answer a couple of questions I have regarding compound nouns.

Is “hardware store” a compound noun?

Is “Smallville police” a compound noun?

I’d really appreciate any answers/explanation you could provide!

Thank you!

It is my understanding that the articles, “an,” “a,” and, “the” are determiners, while “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” are demonstrative adjectives.

Is there really any difference between determiners and demonstrative adjectives? If there is, please let me know!

I’d really appreciate any insights you could offer!

Hello educators,

I was wondering if someone could help me out!

A friend of mine is applying for a teaching position, and the application asks them for both a “University Letter of Request” and a “Cover Letter.”

Does anyone know what an “University Letter of Request” is?

I’d really appreciate any insights!

Hello Grammarians,

I was wondering if I could get a bit of help on something.

How many prepositions are in the following sentence?

“Katie went for a run around the park.”

Do both for and around qualify as prepositions in this sentence?

Any and all insights would be very much appreciated!

Hello educators,

I was wondering if you could help me out! Does anyone know of any PD opportunities for Illinois teachers?

I’d really appreciate any advice/suggestions.

Thanks!

If possible, could anyone identify the verb phrase of the following sentence, and explain why what you pointed out IS the verb phrase?

The sentence:

“Nothing ruins your day more than getting a bad review.”

What what who no no no no

Are the various forms of to be (is, are, am, etc.) always linking verbs?

I would be grateful for any and all answers! Thanks!

(Sorry if I chose the wrong flair. I didn’t know how to categorize this.)