r/EnglishGrammar

I’m studying English in Japan, but there’s a question I just can’t seem to understand.

Choose the most appropriate answer to fill in the blank.

Evelyn: I think I saw Raphael last night at the library.
Mateo : That can't be right. He ( ) to Paraguay.

1 has been
2 has gone
3 had been
4 had gone

I thought 4 was the correct answer, but the answer key says 2.I thought this question was ambiguous because there isn’t enough context, and that either answer could be possible.
Could you explain why 4 is incorrect?

Please help me settle a debate- is it one or two words if there there is a space between a compound noun?

I was teaching a class related to adverbs and adjectives and we know that an adverb describes and action and an adjective describes a noun, place, people, etc.

But the following sentence came up in my exercise and i couldn’t understand it:

When i told him the truth, he was QUIET/QUIETLY.

I know that the right answer is QUIET but i can’t seem to know how to explain to my student that even though WAS is a verb you have to use quiet.

Can someone help me understand it and explain please

When did that become a thing? Or do people just type out each word as their thoughts produce them?

1. Maw

2. Dour

Wondering if these are well known, without looking them up. And not meaning Mother for Maw.

Would be helpful if you could include your age range, like Teens, 20s, 30s, etc. Thank You!

Update: Wow never expected so many replies. Thank you everyone, some very interesting answers from a group of obviously well-read people. I wonder if I had posted this in a general info sub if these would be as well known.

Hello Grammarians,

I was wondering if you could clear something up for me.

Why do we use the word foot in one of these sentences, but feet in the other:

1.) “That is a 23-foot building.”
2.) “That building is 23 feet tall.”

I would sincerely appreciate any and all help :)

[supprimé]

1. I have a key to open the gate, but it doesn't work.

2. I was given a key to open the gate, but it doesn't work.

3. I found a key to open the gate, but it doesn't work.

Are these sentences correct?

Are they logical?

Gratefully,

Navi

Hello everyone! I'm a peruvian girl who is studying english, more especific advance english, can some one help me identify noun clauses vs a phrase?? Grammar isn't my strong point in english btw

So, APR is a borrowing term that stands for "annual percentage rate" of a loan.

When asking about its definition, would "what is APR?" still be grammatically correct? (I know "what is an APR" makes sense too)

If roads have video cameras on them, what should the signs say to notify the public?

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Estou com dúvida em relação ao emprego do “JUST” nas frases. Vi que ele tem vários significados. Poderiam me dar alguma dica de como posso usar o “JUST”? Obrigada !

1. I had read three books by Faulkner that she didn't know about.

2. I had read three books by Faulkner, but she didn't know about it.

3. I had read three books by Faulkner, but she didn't know about that.

4. I had read three books by Faulkner, but she didn't know that I had read them.

5. I had read three books by Faulkner that she didn't know I had read.

Which are correct?

Which can mean:

a) She didn't know that I had read three books by Faulkner.

and which can mean:

b) She didn't know that I had read three specific books by Faulkner. Maybe I had read other books by Faulkner and she knew about that.

Gratefully,

Navi

1. That song is unlistenable. It is terrible.

2. That song is unlistenable to. It is terrible.

Which is correct?

Gratefully,

Navi

1. This is a photo of me and my classmates. I don't like to be in the same photo with some of them, but the others are fine.

2. This is a photo of me and my classmates. I don't like to be seen with some of them, but the others are fine.

3. I don't like to play chess with some of my friends. They are too competitive. The other ones are fine.

Are these sentences correct?

Gratefully,

Navi

I assume this train has left the station, but there are so many people now who say "return back" when "return" by itself is quite adequate (given that it means to go back.)

I often hear this on TV - the source of most misuses and distortions of the English language. 50 years from now, I predict, most people will be speaking a kind of pidgin English with hugely reduced vocabularies and the grammar of six-year olds. Fortunately I won't be around.

[removed]

I am or I’m? 🇬🇧🇺🇸

Both are correct.

“I’m” is very common in everyday conversation.

#LearnEnglish #EnglishA1 #EnglishTips #EnglishGrammar #LanguageFromZero

Maybe a stupid question, but I feel like I haven't noticed much consistency-- where do I place commas in a continuous street address? There's a lot of literature online about street addresses in line break format because of USPS standards, but I'm more so thinking of how to write out addresses in sentences, applications, etc.

What would be correct out of these options?

1. 1010 Maple Ave Apt 515 Lewes, DE 19958
2. 1010 Maple Ave, Apt 515 Lewes, DE 19958
3. 1010 Maple Ave, Apt 515, Lewes, DE 19958
4. 1010 Maple Ave Apt 515, Lewes, DE 19958

I don't usually put a comma between Apt/Unit/Ste numbers and the city, or a comma between the street name and Apt/Unit/Ste, but I will often use one or the other inconsistently. Are there standards for this, and are they dependent on context or preference?