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Questions tagged [syntactic-analysis]

Parsing or syntactic analysis is the process of analysing a string of symbols, conforming to the rules of a formal grammar.

Parsing or syntactic analysis is the process of analysing a string of symbols, either in natural language or in computer languages, conforming to the rules of a formal grammar. The term parsing comes from Latin pars (orationis), meaning part (of speech).

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What does "hold my sake" mean?

What does "hold my sake" mean? I see it sometimes in internet memes but I don't know what it means.
Devil man
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I have no money to buy a bed [with]

BACKGROUND In this question, it was asked why it sounds better to omit 'with' in I have no money to buy a bed (with). whereas 'with' sounds right in I have no ball to play soccer with. Indeed, the 'with' feels redundant at best in I have no…
JK2
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'Instead of' vs 'In stead of'

Is the following sentence valid? They did this in stead of that. What is the correct usage of the phrase instead of?
John Bupit
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How do I properly use [sic] for a phrase? Or do I use it at all?

The actual sentence I am quoting is: Company A will provide regular communications to Company B on the status of level of effort in comparison the projected monthly amounts contained in our contract. Obviously there is a word missing. This is…
Greg
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"To buy a bed with" vs "to play a ball with"

I got into a discussion with a friend and we're trying to figure out why we omit with when we say I have no money to buy a bed [with] when, grammatically, it's the same as I have no ball to play soccer with. In this case, having with is correct,…
Pamela
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"It would be a better idea to" VS "A better idea would be to"

I'm contemplating these two sentences: I think it would be a better idea to show you my works. I think a better idea would be to show you my works. as answers to a question "Can you tell me something about your art?" How are they…
IGO
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Why does "complex sentence" vs "compound sentence" matter?

This question asks about (teaching) the distinction between complex and compound sentences. I have managed to read really quite widely in linguistics for more than fifty years without ever as far as I can recall encountering this distinction. To me…
Colin Fine
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English generator algorithms

This may be an odd question for this site, but tonight I've been enjoying myself by creating a small script that produces (is supposed to produce) sample sentences that resemble English, while being total gibberish. The idea came from reading a…
TLP
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Restrictions on including TO BE in "the only one [to be] X"

This English Language Learners question prompted me to wonder about... Q1: Why was John annoyed? A1: Because he was the only one [to be] refused entry to the pub. Q2: Why was only John refused entry? A2: Because he was the only one [to be?]…
FumbleFingers
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What sentence part is "visitors" in "I'm not allowed visitors"?

At the moment I'm a bit baffled. What sentence part is "visitors" in "I'm not allowed visitors"? I would not call it an object or a subject complement as "to be allowed" is no linking verb. The only idea I have is to say the sentence is elliptic and…
rogermue
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Is "to" missing in the following phrase: "civil liberties be damned"?

I am currently reading a column by Thomas L. Friedman titled "We're always still Americans," published on December 11, 2014 in International New York Times. If there had been another 9/11 after the first 9/11, many Americans would have told the…
N.R. in Seoul
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What does a restrictive ‘as’ clause modify?

We discussed socialism as allowed by law. A learner on ELL asked whether it is “socialism or the discussion itself” which is allowed by law. I responded that the phrase could only be understood as involving “legally allowed discussion” if “set off…
StoneyB on hiatus
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Sentence structure of second amendment

Wikipedia mentions two versions. As passed by the Congress and preserved in the National Archives: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be …
ba_ul
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'Although' paired with 'yet' in a sentence?

It is common to see 'although' used in the beginning of the sentence, but is it paired with any other word like 'yet'? We were discussing error correction in class today; my professor explained that while it is alright to use just although, there is…
Kuchiki Byakuya
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In English what's the difference between forward and toward

I would like to know which sentence is correct, regarding the difference between the usage of forward and toward. Should I write: I'm looking forward to September. Or, I'm looking toward September? Thank you.
Beverly Daros
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