Messages

1

You Asked Me This Question / to being

« on: October 23, 2011, 05:44:09 PM »

Hi, Joe,

I'm having problem reconciling these two phrases: "to harvest knowledge" and "to being educated." If I understand correctly, "to harvest" is an infinitive, and "to being" is a gerund. Can you use them in one sentence? Is it being consistent?

Here is the original text:
Last but not least I wish to say that the purpose of university is to harvest knowledge and to being educated, so it is obvious that everyone can find a reason for attending university.

Thank you.

2

You Asked Me This Question / What do you think of the next two sentences?

« on: January 26, 2011, 10:30:52 PM »

Thank you Joe for your last reply. I have two more sentences for you to look at. Are these two grammatically correct?

Lenin had lived in Europe for three years at time of the workers' uprising in czarist Russia. He was then hurriedly ushered into the motherland by his followers to lead the October Revolution. (1)

I had lived in Africa when as a boy, but that was ages ago and I have not the remotest remembrance of what life was like then. (2)

3

You Asked Me This Question / simple past vs. past perfect

« on: January 24, 2011, 04:14:19 PM »

Hi, Joe,

As I know, past perfect form is used when you describe two past events in different time order. Can I use past perfect to describe a single past event? On the other hand, can I use simple past form on the following sentence: "I lived in the US for three years" providing I no longer live in the US afterwards. I'm having problems defining the difference of these two forms.

I'll wait for your answers. Thanks.

4

You Asked Me This Question / all over town vs. all over the town

« on: January 22, 2011, 10:58:00 AM »

Hi, Joe,

I'm having problem defining these two phrases. Are they the same or different?

Thanks for your help.

5

You Asked Me This Question / Re: among them was

« on: December 30, 2010, 06:47:17 AM »

Thank you Joe for your prompt and clear explanations! It makes a lot of sense now.

6

You Asked Me This Question / among them was

« on: December 29, 2010, 07:00:07 PM »

Hi, Joe,

I am not sure the following sentence, "A great many people came that day to express their solicitude, among them was the wise man." is correct. The reason I think it may be wrong is that the "among them" phrase is supposed to indicate "A great many people" not "solicitude".

Therefore, I think the following sentences "A great many people came that day to express their solicitude. Among them was the wise man." may be better.

Am I wrong on this? Please help.

7

You Asked Me This Question / Don't miss this opportunity ...

« on: December 04, 2010, 11:07:16 PM »

Hi Joe,

Here is another one. I thought the correct answer of the following question is on instead of of as indicated underneath the question. Please help. Thanks in advance.

10. Don't miss this opportunity _______ traveling to Japan.
a) at
b) to
c) of
d) on

source: http://www.dailylearningtips.com/exams/toefl-grammar-test-8.htm

8

You Asked Me This Question / one shivering consciousness

« on: December 04, 2010, 08:20:47 AM »

Hi Joe,

I'm having trouble understanding "one shivering consciousness", much less "one shivering consciousness looks over ...". Please help. Thanks in advance.

The whole sentence: "I have sought it, next, because it relieves loneliness -- that terrible loneliness in which one shivering consciousness looks over the rim of the world into the cold unfathomable lifeless abyss."

source: http://www.zimbio.com/Philosophy/articles/78/Bertrand+Russell+Lived

9

You Asked Me This Question / A confusing English grammar test

« on: November 30, 2010, 08:03:51 AM »

Hi, Joe,

I'm running into a confusing question shown below. Can you tell me why selection a) is the correct answer? I have not seen "It being a rainy day, we had to abandon the match." this type of sentence before. Thanks in advance.
 
_______ a rainy day, we had to abandon the match.
a) It being
b) Being
c) Having been
d) It been

10

You Asked Me This Question / As is vividly depicted in the cartoon, two people are playing football

« on: November 24, 2010, 09:30:37 AM »

Hi Joe,

I know there is something wrong with the follow sentence but I'm having trouble explaining it.

Here is the sentence: As is vividly depicted in the cartoon, two people are playing football.

Can we correct it this way: As being vividly depicted in the cartoon, Two people are playing football.
or this way: As vividly depicted in the cartoon, two people are playing football.

Thank you in advance.

11

You Asked Me This Question / be it, be that

« on: October 12, 2010, 12:34:32 PM »

Hi, Joe,

I’m having problem explaining "be it" or "be that" in precise English phrases. I’m listing three sentences for your reference. Please help. Thanks in advance.

1. Be it an alien icon, a football icon, a dog icon, we've got hundreds of smiley options for you to use.
2. Two, a lot of 'information', be it technical or otherwise, is not available in digital form and may never be available, only in hard copy.
3. Macroeconomics is a branch of economics that deals with the performance, structure, behavior and decision-making of the entire economy, be that a national, regional, or the global economy.


Royljc