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 #17 (permalink) Tue Sep 09, 2008 1:49 am Molly's Playground |
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As for a + noun + is + prep. + the + noun, how do these grab (a key word here) you?
1 A DRUG IS ON THE MARKET 3
2 A MOVIE IS IN THE WORKS 3
3 A COPY IS IN THE ARCHIVES 2
Find the contexts and extensions here:
americancorpus.org
Copy and paste this into the search box there: . a [nn*] is [i*] the [n*] *
NB I originally posted many sentences. It seems that most of them have been edited out. Don't know why. |
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Molly
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| #18 (permalink) Tue Sep 09, 2008 1:55 am Molly's Playground |
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I quite like these:
A nor'easter is on the way.
There is a nor'easter on the way
How about you, teachers?
And these:
A stocking is over the driver 's head.
There is a stocking over the driver's head.
Not a smidgen of TEFLese there, right?
And from my memory of quite a few ESL textbook writers:
A fool is at the helm.
There is a fool at the helm. |
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Molly
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| #19 (permalink) Tue Sep 09, 2008 5:47 am Molly's Playground |
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| Molly wrote: |
As for a + noun + is + prep. + the + noun, how do these grab (a key word here) you?
1 A DRUG IS ON THE MARKET 3
2 A MOVIE IS IN THE WORKS 3
3 A COPY IS IN THE ARCHIVES 2
Find the contexts and extensions here:
americancorpus.org
Copy and paste this into the search box there: . a [nn*] is [i*] the [n*] *
NB I originally posted many sentences. It seems that most of them have been edited out. Don't know why. |
Molly,
Off topic: you seem to quote these quite often. Forgive me but I have no clue on what they are supposed to do? I just don't get it. Thanks |
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 Diverhank
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| #20 (permalink) Tue Sep 09, 2008 8:25 am Molly's Playground |
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| Quote: |
| Off topic: you seem to quote these quite often. |
I seem to quote what, D? |
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Molly
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| #21 (permalink) Tue Sep 09, 2008 13:26 pm Molly's Playground |
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Hi Molly
In COCA (the American corpus):
The total number of search results using your a [nn*] is [i*] the [n*] * is 105.
The total number of search results for there is a [nn*][i*] the [n*] * is 228.
Those results also don't surprise me. Both structures are in use and the "there is" structure is more common.
I must say, Molly, I find it quite odd that anyone (i.e. you) who would defend an obvious typo as an example of intentional and "normal" usage would also complain that the two sentences posted by sitifan are somehow not acceptable and exist only in the minds of English teachers. :?
.
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Yankee
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| #22 (permalink) Tue Sep 09, 2008 15:15 pm Molly's Playground |
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| Quote: |
| I must say, Molly, I find it quite odd that anyone (i.e. you) who would defend an obvious typo as an example of intentional and "normal" usage would also complain that the two sentences posted by sitifan are somehow not acceptable and exist only in the minds of English teachers. |
Hey, who said they're not acceptable? Lots of non-natives end up using such sentences. :wink:
| Quote: |
The total number of search results using your a [nn*] is [i*] the [n*] * is 105.
The total number of search results for there is a [nn*][i*] the [n*] * is 228. |
That would be 105 and 228 times per million words. Not sure what your point is.
Note that I posted these:
. a [nn*] is [i*] the [n*] *
. there is a [nn*] [i*] the [n*] *
Which are a little different to the ones you posted. |
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Molly
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| #23 (permalink) Tue Sep 09, 2008 15:34 pm Molly's Playground |
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| Molly wrote: |
Note that I posted these:
. a [nn*] is [i*] the [n*] *
. there is a [nn*] [i*] the [n*] *
Which are a little different to the ones you posted. |
You posted "these"? To be more precise, you didn't post the second one at all, did you? ;)
.
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Yankee
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| #24 (permalink) Tue Sep 09, 2008 15:38 pm Molly's Playground |
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| Molly wrote: |
| Hey, who said they're not acceptable? Lots of non-natives end up using such sentences. :wink: |
Your 'non-natives' use a lot of uncommon but nevertheless innovative structures.
And here we are -- surprisesurflippingsurprise -- 'non-natives' outnumber 'natives' and should therefore be entitled to use 'such' :lol:
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| #25 (permalink) Tue Sep 09, 2008 15:58 pm Molly's Playground |
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| Quote: |
| And here we are -- surprisesurflippingsurprise -- 'non-natives' outnumber 'natives' and should therefore be entitled to use 'such' |
I've never prevented anyone using the word "such", have you?
Don't call me Shirley. :wink: |
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Molly
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Ralf
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| #27 (permalink) Tue Sep 09, 2008 16:47 pm Molly's Playground |
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| Molly wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Off topic: you seem to quote these quite often. |
I seem to quote what, D? |
The hundreds of sentences you got out of that "Corpus" thing. To me, it's a waste of time (maybe because I have no idea what it's supposed to do for me). Thanks |
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Diverhank
I'm here quite often ;-)
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Posts: 364
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| #28 (permalink) Tue Sep 09, 2008 20:29 pm Molly's Playground |
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| diverhank wrote: |
| The hundreds of sentences you got out of that "Corpus" thing. To me, it's a waste of time (maybe because I have no idea what it's supposed to do for me). Thanks |
Are you a native speaker? If so, you may not have need for the BNC and COCA. |
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Molly
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| #29 (permalink) Tue Sep 09, 2008 21:19 pm Molly's Playground |
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| Quote: |
Real language is only used when you are emotionally involved. You have to be anxious or amused or whatever.
M Lewis |
Somehow, and I apologise for this, I just can't see any student being emotionally involved when saying "There is a pencil on the desk". Native teachers do seem to get exicted by the item though. :wink: |
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Molly
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Ralf
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| Is there any value in learning lists of words from vocabulary books? | What's your average speaking rate (WPM)? |
