English Language Learners Stack Exchange
English Language Learners Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [grammar-myths]

For explanations of correct Standard English that contradict widely-taught (but incorrect) "grammar rules".

Some widely taught "grammar rules" are incorrect -- they do not provide good guidance for correctly speaking or writing in Standard English.

This tag is not meant for grammar rules that correctly distinguish between Standard English and non-standard dialects of English.

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Indirect Object using BeVerbs and Possessives

Please Tell me which one among each question is correct. Thank you A. Who do you think is the best actor in Hollywood? B. Who do you think the best actor is in Hollywood? Also, A. Which phone do you think is yours? B. Which phone do you think…
user18954
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Is "an independent clause" the same as "a sentence?"

Knowing that the clause is a group of words that contain mainly a subject and a tense , and it may be dependent or independent, what is the difference between the latter and a sentence.? This doubt is due to the fact that the author of a textbook,…
lalynacar.
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Why do some native speakers started to say "weapons stocks" and similar things?

As far as I know, in English, there is no number agreement when two nouns are used and the first one acts as a sort of adjective, just the last one goes in plural. For example I think that phrase in particular should be "weapon stocks" not "weapons…
Quique
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Would a native speaker ever say 'haven't not done sth'?

In an English subtitle translated from other language, I saw such a sentence: I haven't not thought about that a little. What the speaker actually meant was 'I have thought about that.'(Can I use an emphatic 'do' between 'I' and 'have'?) I know…
Michael
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Is it grammatically correct to put "more" instead of "more of" immediately before a predicative noun in this sentence?

I came across this sentence and I'm not sure if it is grammatically correct. Are the dinosaurs of Jurassic World more fact or fiction? The word "fact" and "fiction" are nouns. I'd use "more of" instead of "more" and I would say "a fact" and "a…
dennylv
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Using the word, 'friendship' in a sentence

Is it correct to say, I have been in a friendship I'm in a friendship because I've always read and heard - I'm friends with or I have been friends with Please explain Also, if it's correct to say, I'm in a relationship then why does I'm in a…
Sonia Azavedo
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Interpretation of a sentence taken from REUTERS

He remained one of the world's most revered public figures, combining celebrity sparkle with an unwavering message of freedom, respect and human rights. I find it really difficult to understand "combining celebrity sparkle". Does combining modify…
Modern English
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Is it true that questions in English cannot end on a preposition?

Is it true that questions in English cannot end on a preposition? Somebody told me that, but the more I continue on my English tour the more I run into suspicions here. Are such questions like: Where did she run to? What did he look at? really…
brilliant
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