One of my dear students is having trouble with the difference between stop to do something and stop doing something. I used to use that Talking Heads film title to pound it into people (oh, you pound people too?? Nasty laughs.) But Lady Gaga is more up to date, and her “Telephone” is hot. No, [...]
I hate renovating, and try to avoid it every year. So both of these options are nothing I’d look forward to. But they might be necessary. Which one uses correct grammar?
If we were to renovate our flat, I’d have to take a week off.
If we would renovate our flat, I’d have to take [...]
You watch an old film on TV for the first time. Afterwards, what do you say?
“This is the first time I see this film.” You use the present tense because it’s true now.
“This is the first time I saw this film.” You use the past tense because the film is over.
“This is the first time [...]
Further in my collection of posts you won’t find in a coursebook, and nastiness we could do without (if it weren’t funny): I’ve just finished writing a quiz on using future tenses, and have saved the most sexually incorrect joke I could find for you.
“You’re ugly.”
“And you’re drunk.”
“Yes, but in the morning I ________ (be) [...]
“The boat is very simple. It’s a 90 foot x 90 foot platform, trimaran, with three hulls, with a magic wing, close to 200 feet high.”
Read “90 by 90“, “90 times 90” or “90 to 90“?
In 1851, a boat named America won the 100 Guinea Cup in a race around the Isle of Wight. The [...]
What do you say when you call out a warning? An essential phrase, don’t you think?
Now, Lily Munster (Yvonne DeCarlo) sings the southern traditional “He’s Gone Away”, which uses another phrasal verb, “look _____!”, which is completely useless outside the realm of songs like this one, and “Dixie”:
He’s Gone Away
traditional
He’s gone away
For to stay [...]
Is this ‘good’ or ‘bad’ English? Do you use it? If so, where and when and how? Do you think it’s ok if others use it?
McDonalds. Ad. On my blog. I know. Sorry. But hey.
I defended a traditional point of view here. Don’t miss Mike’s comment.
Loading ...
Created by Philip Norton