1,755 Answered Questions for the topic grammar

Grammar Chinese

03/23/19

Is there a difference between 教训 and 论点 ？
I'm taking a history class in Chinese and my teacher brought up 四五运动的两个教训 。 Then later on he talked about 启蒙的两个论点 。 I know that roughly 教训 is translated as "lessons" and 论点 is a bit more like... more
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Grammar Chinese

03/23/19

What does 了mean in this sentence?
Could someone please explain this sentence structure? > 衣服也落在了房间内. What does the 了 mean here? Is it pronounce le or liao?
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03/23/19

Is the use of dependent clauses undesirable? (in scientific writing)?
I tend to use dependent clauses frequently in scientific writing. This is especially true when discussing a problem-solving process where the result from one step leads into the next. Here's a... more
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Grammar Chinese

03/23/19

Why is it incorrect to say (Someone) 想要了一 (Something)?
Basically whole question in the title. I was told that saying 我想要了一杯茶 or anything along those lines is incorrect. Why?
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Grammar Japanese

03/23/19

How does this ように work?
>今年も良い年でありますように！ I hope you have another good year! What is going on exactly where the ように means hope? Does the よう derive from a verb? I would also like to know how to describe this word in the... more
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03/22/19

相手の日本人 or 日本人の相手?
If I wanted to describe the person I was speaking about as being Japanese, to me it seems natural to say: > 日本人{にほんじん}の相手{あいて} ... however, one time a Japanese teacher told me it's more... more
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03/22/19

When to use mid-sentence commas when adding a formal name?
Where is it appropriate to insert a comma when putting a persons name in the middle of a sentence, such as when writing an email or letter. Is it really before AND after? Examples: "Thank you for... more
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Grammar English Writing

03/22/19

Enumerate reasons after because?
Is it correct to enumerate reasons of something after "because" in a sentence? For example: > This product is popular because: (1) It is inexpensive. (2) It has > two-year warranty. (3) It is... more
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Grammar German

03/22/19

Can "da- words" be used for humans as well as objects?
I was speaking to a friend of mine about another person and I almost used "davon" to refer to a human. Is this allowed? For example: I realise it is legal for the following to take place: >... more
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Grammar English

03/22/19

What are syntax structures?
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03/22/19

What is the difference between "excuse me" and "forgive me"?
I am hesitated when I use the sentence "forgive my fault, please." instead of "excuse me, please." because the word "forgive" has a religious theme and probably carries some additional meanings.... more
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03/21/19

Is it work or works?
is it " Dystrophin is part of a protein complex that works together to strengthen muscle fibers and protect them from injury as muscles contract and relax." or " Dystrophin is part of a protein... more
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03/21/19

Double subject construction?
I've recently been having trouble with constructions that seem to mark two subjects in the same clause. I've only encountered them in ～の方が... constructions, but I can't seem to make sense of them... more
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03/21/19

The difference between からすると、から見ると、から言うと?
Are there any differences between these three sets: >からして、からすると、からすれば vs. >から見て、から見ると、から見れば vs. >から言って、から言うと、から言えば These 'sets' seem to be used in 2 basic ways: 1. Presents... more
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Grammar Japanese

03/21/19

How to say "a year has 12 months"?
一年は十二ヶ月があります. I'm trying to say "a year has 12 months" or "there are 12 months in a year." Is the above sentence correct?
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03/21/19

Is it correct to avoid starting sentences with subordinating conjunctions in technical writing?
I work on a team where everyone has decided that it is incorrect to start a sentence with a subordinating conjunction period. For example they will change the sentence: *Based on the system-wide... more
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Grammar Chinese

03/21/19

What do these 将 and 为 mean?
警方将小印度一带规划为受管制区，不许任何人在管制区内公共场所喝酒。 Not sure how these 将 and 为 are used grammar-wise. If I were to break it down: (警方)（将）（小印度一带）（规划）（为）（受管制区） （police）（towards/把？）(little india) (plans) (???) (area... more
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Grammar English Syntax

03/21/19

What are the four types of sentence structures?
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Grammar Japanese

03/21/19

What does 「学校が学校」, 「年が年」and such mean exactly?
So I came across this sentence when reading "Kokoro" by Natsume Souseki: > ...友達は中国のある資産家の息子で金に不自由のない男であったけれども、**学校が学校なのと年が年なので**、生活の程度は私とそう変りもしなかった。 And a translation says: > ...My... more
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03/21/19

Japanese Buts: でも, しかし, ただ, ただし, ところが, が, けど, けれど, けれども?
I'm sure someone asked a similar question but I did a search and couldn't find any. Usually I just translate everything into but, but (no pun intended) I think it's about time I got into the nitty... more
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Grammar Italian Verbs

03/21/19

How do you conjugate reciprocal verbs when the subject is a collective singular noun?
When conjugating reciprocal verbs like **baciarsi** and **abbracciarsi** when the subject is a collective singular noun. Do you use a reflexive pronoun or leave it out?Reciprocal verbs have a sense... more
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Grammar Chinese

03/21/19

How do Chinese judge the right sound quality (softness, awkwardness, respectfulness (面子), negativity)?
In a number of questions asked here on CLSE, I have noticed answers that include responses about how something just doesn't "sound right" in Chinese. Here is an example from a recent answer... more
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03/21/19

What is the purpose of the suffix "さ" on adjectives?
What is the purpose of the suffix "さ" on adjectives like 美しさ and 多さ? The former is the title of an essay by Banana Yoshimoto, so I don't have much context for it. The book editors translated it as... more
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Grammar Chinese

03/21/19

How to say "A Person's Strength"?
Is there a good translation for "strengths" in Chinese? I am trying to say strengths as in 'We should try to improve our strengths, not our weaknesses'. I know that 强项 is one phrase that has a... more
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Grammar Writing

03/21/19

As a(n) noun vs as only?
I wonder about the use of `as a` and `as (only)` in writing. Can you explain when it is correct to quantify the noun when presenting oneself? I will paste some examples for clarity. Are there any... more
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