English grammar: direct objects

[Teacher2007]

In the sentence: The postman comes everyday at 8:00. Is there a direct object in this sentence and if not is it even possible to use the word "come" in a sentence that has a direct object in it?

Secondly, why is it possible to say both, everyday at 8:00 and at 8:00 everyday?

Lastly, why is it possible to say both "My family lives...and My family live..."? What happened to the subject-verb agreement rule here?

Thank you

You can reply here or at: daenglishteacher2007@yahoo.com

I think for the benefit of others who may have the same question you can reply to it here, but for any other grammar points or long answers you can use my email address.

[Teacher2007]

It does not apply to the question posted.

[Teacher2007]

I need any qualified person to reply to the question above as soon as possible. I have a class tomorrow that need this answer. Oh, and should that be "needs or need" are we looking at the word class as a group of students or a single class? I know classes MUST be "need", but what about class? Is there an option or is it an exception also to the subject-verb rule?

[Kitosdad]

Why don't you post your question in the "grammar" thread?

It will get a quicker response there.
_________________
Keep it simple ... Keep it interesting.

[Cerberus™]

[Teacher2007]

Thanks a lot for the answers. I did find the answer to one and was pretty sure of the answer of another, but I am very happy that you have confirmed two for me and answered the other for me. Thank you very much! Have a great day.

[Cerberus™]

I am glad that you found them helpful; and welcome to this forum!

[Teacher2007]

A student asked me how can someone use the present perfect in the case where it is contradicted by a following statement. The following example will hopefully clarify his confusion. The sentence said, "A woman had lived in 4 different countries within the last 10 years.", but immediately after this sentence it said that, "At the moment she was in another country other than these 4 mentioned." I tried to explain that she could have went to another country within in that final year of the 10 years mentioned and that is why the present perfect can and was used here.

Do you have a better way for me to explain this because he still seemed unconvinced and confused after I said this?

[Teacher2007]

What is the proper position of adverbs in a sentence? Is there flexibility in the placement of them? What is the wrong way and what is the right way and how can we be sure?

[Teacher2007]

What is the proper position of adjectives in a sentence and what is the wrong position?

[Teacher2007]

What is the proper place to put this word in a sentence like, "I can not drink alcohol."
Is it after the word "I"? I absolutely can not drink alcohol. Is there another place that it could possibly go, why or why not?

[Cerberus™]

You probably mean: this woman has lived in four different countries within the last ten years.
The present perfect is not only used for a situation that continues up until now; it can also be something that happened at an unspecified time in the past. You could search Google for "present perfect past simple": I'm sure you will find a page that explains the possible reasons for using the p.p..

The position of adverbs and adverbial constituents (like "in the morning", "if you like") is less restricted than that of other constituents, but there are some rules. You could search Google for "placement adverbs grammar" and see what you find.

You put "absolutely" in the right place; I'd say it is the only right place. But there certainly are sentences in which there is more than one right place.

[Teacher2007]

Yes, it was saying, she has lived in four different places. I believe that I know how to best explain it now, but I will also look up those other issues in question on google as you said for me to do. Thank you. By the way are you a teacher in a school or a professor in a college for English? I am not originally an English teacher, but because I am in a foreign country they insist that I teach them English because I am a native-speaker from the USA. Therefore, I am doing my best to help them and to teach them correctly.

[Cerberus™]

I do teach, though not English, usually. But it can be fun. It must be hard, explaining things that you have never been specifically trained to teach. I'm sure you'll do great.