Questions tagged [word-order]
This tag is for questions about the correct order of words in a phrase, or a sentence.
1,243
questions
-1
votes
1
answer
38
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Using "though" instead of "but" in "Not only ... but also ..." [closed]
Is it possible to use "though" instead of "but" in the "Not only ... but also ..." construction?
For example, instead of
Not only is it interesting, but it can also be ...
1
vote
2
answers
85
views
Why is the adjectival order "noble eightfold path" on the one hand yet "octadic patrician way" on the other?
I'm a native English speaker. As I understand, English grammar rules specify a particular ordering of types of adjectives.
In Buddhism, there is a "noble eightfold path". That is, a path, ...
2
votes
1
answer
64
views
Greatest extent possible vs Greatest possible extent [adjective position]
I know the following sentences basically mean the same thing:
We need to reduce pollution to the greatest extent possible.
We need to reduce pollution to the greatest possible extent.
so my ...
0
votes
3
answers
159
views
Is it grammatically correct to say "I dislike people who don't "think important" their birthdays or anyone else's?
My main question is if "think important" is correct or if it would have to be worded differently like "think it is important" or "think of importance"
0
votes
1
answer
73
views
If you say "who with/who for/who by/who from," do you also say "what with/what for/what by/what from?"
I know that "Who with?", "Who for?", "Who by?", "Who from?", "Who to?", and other "Who + preposition" sentences are colloquially very common ...
2
votes
2
answers
121
views
Which word should come first in a noun phrase, the ordinal adjective or the numeral? [duplicate]
Should one say
'the first 13 colonies on the planet Pelaton'
or
'the 13 first colonies on the planet Pelaton'?
-1
votes
2
answers
31
views
Is it correct to put in brackets the professional title after the proper noun instead of putting the professional role before the proper noun? [closed]
“M'hemed Housseine Fantar (Archeologist) described”, or “the archaeologist M'Hemed Housseine Fantar described”?
2
votes
1
answer
59
views
Subject placement in not only ... but also construction
This is an example taken from cambridge dictionary article not only ... but also:
Not only did she forget my birthday, but she also didn’t even
apologise for forgetting it.
In their example, the ...
1
vote
0
answers
42
views
Is "say they" correct? [duplicate]
English is not my first language.
The text below is a translation of the Quran by Ahmed Ali :
And when it is said unto them, "Follow ye what God hath sent down", say they, "Nay! Follow ...
3
votes
0
answers
63
views
Why does the sequence of some types of adjectives differ?
I was reading a book, and a character calls another character "a gangly, little human". Now, if I were to use another adjective instead of little, say, tiny, I would have to say "a tiny,...
2
votes
1
answer
77
views
Why does "other" need a specific position in a sentence?
Take the sentence:
In the background we can see other three people who are watching the film.
I think it's wrong and it would be right to say:
In the background we can see three other people who ...
3
votes
2
answers
204
views
'I know what is freedom / freedom is'. <-- Word order in WH-questions
My understanding is that in a wh- subordinate clause, we must use statement word order (subject then verb) rather than question word order (verb then subject):
Correct: I know what freedom is.
Wrong:...
1
vote
0
answers
37
views
Word order for "What we can do as <noun>" [closed]
Which is better:
What can we do as doctors to improve health?
What can we do to improve health as doctors?
I think #1 is better because it's clearer that doctors is referring to we.
0
votes
0
answers
35
views
Meaning of 'To Marx are due X and Y' [duplicate]
This question is about the emphasized sentence in the following paragraph from Proposed Roads to Freedom by Bertrand Russell:
Socialism as a power in Europe may be said to begin with Marx. It is true ...
1
vote
1
answer
92
views
What other types of words have free word order?
What types of words allow the speaker to choose where they want to use it? I can only think of adverbs, where it is acceptable to say "we moved slowly" or "we slowly moved." Are ...