|
|
#2 (permalink) Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:19 am Some |
|
|
This is a so-called partitive article and refers to a general amount or quantity as in: He has brought some food/biscuits for the meal. _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Passive Voice |
|
Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 9114 Location: UK
|
|
#3 (permalink) Wed Sep 21, 2005 12:52 pm First of all |
|
|
| I think there should be a comma after "first of all". |
|
huyen Guest
|
 |
#4 (permalink) Wed Sep 21, 2005 13:15 pm Comma |
|
|
Do you?
Alan _________________ English as a Foreign Language You can read my EFL story Phrasal Verbs/take |
|
Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 9114 Location: UK
|
 |
#5 (permalink) Thu Aug 31, 2006 21:22 pm Difference between which and what |
|
|
I know that British & American English differ in some uses of the comma, and perhaps BE now uses fewer commas than AE. In the quiz sentence quoted below, I'd add a comma after the introductory phrase "First of all," as another reader suggested. But the sentence can be understood without that comma. I find the main clause, however, very difficult to understand without any commas and without quotes or italics marking the phrase "to listen to."
First of all there was the verb to listen to what means in effect deliberately to hear something.
The impulse is to read it as "to listen to what means in effect...," making the error hard to spot. I read and reread the sentence and finally had to check the answer!
Interesting sentence, and a terrific web site
thanks Meredith |
|
Meredith New Member
Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 1 Location: South Carolina USA
|
 |
#6 (permalink) Fri Sep 01, 2006 0:24 am Difference between which and what |
|
|
| Meredith wrote: | I know that British & American English differ in some uses of the comma, and perhaps BE now uses fewer commas than AE. In the quiz sentence quoted below, I'd add a comma after the introductory phrase "First of all," as another reader suggested. But the sentence can be understood without that comma. I find the main clause, however, very difficult to understand without any commas and without quotes or italics marking the phrase "to listen to."
First of all there was the verb to listen to what means in effect deliberately to hear something.
The impulse is to read it as "to listen to what means in effect...," making the error hard to spot. I read and reread the sentence and finally had to check the answer!
Interesting sentence, and a terrific web site
thanks Meredith |
Hello Meredith and welcome to the site!
Being a ‘comma maniac’ of sorts myself, I read your post with interest. Not only commas (these tiny, but important, components of written language) are my weakness, I have a foible for all kinds of punctuation marks, in fact – they certainly can make all the difference.
Anyway, there seem to be the anti-commas and the pro-commas (as if there weren't enough causes for division in the world as it is )!
Already looking forward to reading you again. |
|
Conchita Language Coach

Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 2826 Location: Madrid, Spain
|
 |
#7 (permalink) Wed Jun 10, 2009 21:06 pm Difference between which and what |
|
|
| This sentence:,, First of all there was the verb to listen to which means in effect deliberately to hear something.'' has made me confused. Please write it in other, equivalent sentences/words. Thanks a lot! |
|
Saneta I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 11 Sep 2008 Posts: 208
|
 |
#8 (permalink) Thu Jun 11, 2009 14:01 pm Difference between which and what |
|
|
"I find your explanation confusing."
"I find myself confused by your explanation."
"Your explanation is causing me some confusion."
"The whole class found themselves confused by his explanation."
Hope that helps.
Kitos. _________________ Englishman living in Germany. |
|
Kitosdad I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Posts: 3760 Location: ESSEN, Germany, (but English.)
|
 |
#9 (permalink) Thu Jun 11, 2009 14:16 pm Difference between which and what |
|
|
| Kitosdad wrote: | "I find your explanation confusing."
"I find myself confused by your explanation."
"Your explanation is causing me some confusion."
"The whole class found themselves confused by his explanation."
Hope that helps.
Kitos. |
Very good Bill, but a rather strange explanation for this sentence:
,, First of all there was the verb to listen to which means in effect deliberately to hear something.'' _________________ No comment |
|
Shyone I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 21 Mar 2009 Posts: 466
|
 |
|
Kitosdad I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Posts: 3760 Location: ESSEN, Germany, (but English.)
|
 |
#11 (permalink) Thu Jun 11, 2009 17:20 pm Difference between which and what |
|
|
Saneta, If you had used a couple of comma's in your question...........................
First of all there was the verb," to listen to," which means in effect, deliberately to hear something.
Kitos. _________________ Englishman living in Germany. |
|
Kitosdad I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Posts: 3760 Location: ESSEN, Germany, (but English.)
|
 |
#12 (permalink) Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:09 am Difference between which and what |
|
|
| Thank You very much Kitosdad, now this sentense makes a sense to me! |
|
Saneta I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 11 Sep 2008 Posts: 208
|
 |
|
| Meaning of "bring off" | Why use "running against" in this sentence? |