frequency words, expressions of time

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

mas94010

Guest
1.Is this correct?
Are Mr. and Mrs. Harvey at home usually in the evening?
What is the rule for word order of frequency adverbs when asking a question with the verb "to be"?
2.Which of these is correct?
We have never been to the Museum of Modern Art.
We never have been to the Museum of Modern Art.
3. Is this correct?
They have always tried to follow his instructions carefully.
4.What are the rules for using expressions of time like: by vs. in, by vs. until, by vs. for, until vs. for, until vs. in, for vs. in. How does one know what to use when?
5.What are some rules for using expressions of place (in, at, on, to, by, of)
 

RonBee

Moderator
Joined
Feb 9, 2003
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
1.Is this correct?
Are Mr. and Mrs. Harvey at home usually in the evening?

More usual would be:

  • Are Mr. and Mrs. Harvey usually at home in the evening?

Or:

  • Are Mr. and Mrs. Harvey usually at home evenings?

What is the rule for word order of frequency adverbs when asking a question with the verb "to be"?

I'll leave that one for JWSChang, Caseopia or Tdol. :wink:

2.Which of these is correct?
We have never been to the Museum of Modern Art.
We never have been to the Museum of Modern Art.

Both of them are correct. :wink:

3. Is this correct?
They have always tried to follow his instructions carefully.

That is perfectly fine. :D

4.What are the rules for using expressions of time like: by vs. in, by vs. until, by vs. for, until vs. for, until vs. in, for vs. in. How does one know what to use when?
5.What are some rules for using expressions of place (in, at, on, to, by, of)

There may already have been discussions here on those issues previously. I'll see what I can find.

:)
 

RonBee

Moderator
Joined
Feb 9, 2003
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
J

jwschang

Guest
RonBee said:
What is the rule for word order of frequency adverbs when asking a question with the verb "to be"?

In that case the adverb is usually after the verb and either near or at the end of the sentence. Example:

  • He is always late.

frequency adverbs
:)

I'm not too sure about adverbs of frequency. Must look at the sites you gave.

For adverbs, the order is:

Place-Manner-Time. Frequency could come before the verb.

He went home (or there) quickly at three o'clock.
He often goes home quickly before dark.

Some say it's Manner-Place-Time???
 

RonBee

Moderator
Joined
Feb 9, 2003
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States

Casiopea

VIP Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2003
Member Type
Other
Hello!

Both 1a. and 1b. are okay, but 1b. is more acceptable.

1a. Are Mr. and Mrs. Harvey at home usually in the evening?
1b. Are Mr. and Mrs. Harvey usually at home in the evening?
1c. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey are usually at home in the evening.

Place frequency adverbs after the verb to be and before other verbs. For example,

I usually walk the dog after dinner. (before 'walk')
I am usually home by 7:00. (after 'am')

When asking a question with 'to be' forms, move the verb to the front of the sentence and leave the frequency adverb alone. For example,

He is always watching TV.
Is he always watching TV?

--------
Both 2a. and 2b. are correct, but 2a. is more acceptable.

2a. We have never been to the Museum of Modern Art.
2b. We never have been to the Museum of Modern Art.
2c. Have we ever been to the Museum of Modern Art?

Note, 'never' is replaced by 'ever' in questions.

When dealing with forms of 'have -en' or 'have -ed', place the adverb after 'have'. For example,

3a. They have always tried to follow his instructions carefully.
3b. Have they always tried to follow his instructions carefully?

Cas :)
 

RonBee

Moderator
Joined
Feb 9, 2003
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Note, 'never' is replaced to 'ever' in questions.

Um, are you sure that's not by instead of to?

:wink:
 

RonBee

Moderator
Joined
Feb 9, 2003
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Um, what's L2 interference?

:?
 

Casiopea

VIP Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2003
Member Type
Other
RonBee said:
Um, what's L2 interference?

:?

Terms commonly used in Linguistics:

L2 = Second Language
L1 = First Language
L3 = Third Language

Someone once said, "If you speak three languages, you are trilingual, if you speak two languages, you are bilingual, and if you only speak English, you're American."

Cas :D
 

RonBee

Moderator
Joined
Feb 9, 2003
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States

RonBee

Moderator
Joined
Feb 9, 2003
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States

Casiopea

VIP Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2003
Member Type
Other
Ron, have you put these in our links database for us yet? ;-)

No, You didn't ask me to. :wink:

Just as important, if I ever knew how to do that I have forgotten. :(

Isn't that Tdol's job? :wink:

Have you taken a look at them? You think they're pretty good, huh? :)

Oops. Sorry. My mistake, don't mind me. (I've apparently walked into and interrupted a staff meeting), don't mind me, continue on, sorry, thanks, okay, bye. :D :D :D
 

RonBee

Moderator
Joined
Feb 9, 2003
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
You didn't interrupt anything. :wink:

The staff "meetings" take place in the Admin. folder, which regular members cannot see (I think).

But you were just kidding anyhow, weren't you? :wink:

:D
 

Casiopea

VIP Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2003
Member Type
Other
RonBee said:
You didn't interrupt anything. :wink:
But you were just kidding anyhow, weren't you? :wink:
:D

Kidding, moi? Not unless ya'll are under 3 feet. :D
I was humaning :wink:

Cas :D
 

Red5

Webmaster, UsingEnglish.com
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Member Type
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
RonBee said:
No, You didn't ask me to. :wink:
I was hinting that as and when you find good links like that, you could put them in the DB for us! ;-)

RonBee said:
Just as important, if I ever knew how to do that I have forgotten. :(

1/ Go to https://www.usingenglish.com/links/index.html
2/ Click on Add a Site
3/ Fill out the link info.

RonBee said:
Isn't that Tdol's job? :wink:
Um, it's anyone's job. :D

RonBee said:
Have you taken a look at them? You think they're pretty good, huh? :)

They're grrrrrreat!!! ;-)

:multi:
 

Red5

Webmaster, UsingEnglish.com
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Member Type
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England

Red5

Webmaster, UsingEnglish.com
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Member Type
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
Casiopea said:
Oops. Sorry. My mistake, don't mind me. (I've apparently walked into and interrupted a staff meeting), don't mind me, continue on, sorry, thanks, okay, bye. :D :D :D

What Ron said! (I was just being cheeky) ;-)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top