I´m not a native English speaker and I would like to know if the following sentences are correct:
The person I was telling you ABOUT is Ana´s brother.
The girl I live WITH is my sister.
What time do you work UNTIL?
What do you want to save the file AS?
What is this soup made FROM?
thank you! :-)
2006-09-21 17:14:09 · 15 answers · asked by Mónica 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Native speakers of English have been arguing about this for over 200 years now.
In English it is common to leave a preposition at the end of a phrase or sentence like you have done in your examples. However, in the 1700s, some grammarians created grammar books that told English speakers not to do it. They wanted English to be more like Latin, which always moves the preposition to the beginning of phrases. So, over the years, people have been aware of the rule that says "Don't end a sentence with a preposition." However, this rule is not really a part of English, so most people don't apply this rule in their speech very often.
All of the sentences that you have given are very grammatical and native-like. If you are writing for a professor who is very strict about following prescriptive grammar rules, you could move the prepositions forward. However, if you said any of these sentences to your friends, they would completely understand you and not think that anything was wrong. In fact, to many native speakers nowadays, the versions with the prepositions moved forward sound incorrect and stuffy. For example, I don't think any native speaker nowadays would say "From what is this soup made?" unless they were trying really hard.
I guess this is a pretty good example of how the grammar rules that are taught to native speakers are different from the grammar rules taught to non-native speakers. Non-native speakers like you know that native speakers often end phrases and sentences with prepositions, while native speakers are not really aware of this. So they think they're doing it "wrong" if they don't put the preposition at the beginning.
2006-09-21 20:57:15 · answer #1 · answered by drshorty 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you look at traditional English grammar, the answer is: "No, sentences may not end in a preposition." However, in modern language (especially in speaking) this is simply not a standard that many people are held to. There are some English teachers that may argue this point with me; however, ending a sentence with a preposition is simply not the crime it once was.
Nonetheless, in an effort to support your attempt speak better English, why not say ..
Until what time will you work?
What would you like to name the file you are saving?
What are the ingredients of this soup?
2006-09-21 17:18:29 · answer #2 · answered by TripleFull 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
English is not a static language. It changes over the years as new rules replace old ones. The old rule about never ending a sentence with a proposition is one of the rules that's being phased out.
During the transition, you're just going to have to realize some sticklers will give up the old rules slower than others.
2006-09-21 19:03:38 · answer #3 · answered by Jim H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most grammarians will tell you that a preposition at the end of the sentence is incorrect. However, there are certain sentences which are much more cumbersome and less intelligible when stated without the preposition at the end. Just use whichever form is the most easily understood and damn the Language Police.
WK
2006-09-21 17:34:22 · answer #4 · answered by olin1963 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you'll probably be ok. personally, i don't like to end sentences with prepositions just as a point of pride, but there's nothing really wrong with it.
the only historical reason for avoiding it was that in latin, if a preposition was misplaced it could mess up the meaning of the sentence. for some unknown and illogical reason, this rule was transfered to english. it doesn't make sense, but it's a fun way to see who's educated and who isn't.
this is one thing with which i can help you, though i do not know whom i am addressing.
2006-09-21 17:19:42 · answer #5 · answered by donlockwood36 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, you can't. It can be in the middle of the sentence; You just can't end the sentence with one. The last three sentences are incorrect.
What time do you get off of work?
How do you want to save the file?
What are the ingredients in this soup?
2006-09-21 17:32:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Absolutely not. The correct forms: Until what time do you work? As what do you want to save the file? From what is this soup made?
2006-09-23 00:36:28 · answer #7 · answered by Lydia 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes. It is very common practice for Midwestern (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois) people to speak that way. Its most common for people in that area and is a give away as to where they are from. Though, structuring a sentence to end with a preposition makes it extremely passive and for a paragraph to be considered "good", it should have very little passive voice.
2006-09-21 17:19:50 · answer #8 · answered by firerookie 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
e.g Jamie and Robert are going to the cinema, they saw some popcorn in date under a chair, they wanted it badly, so Robert grabbed the popcorn by going UNDER.
e.g William and Stephanie went to a dance club, they danced together, but their friend, George fell OVER.
If I missed anything, or got the question you requested to know, wrong, then I'm sorry, I'm not good with English problems just yet...
2015-12-11 07:00:01 · answer #9 · answered by Melissa 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my day, it was not okay. I don't know what the rules are today.
Until what time do you work? From what is this soup made? What should I name the file?
2006-09-21 17:17:55 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋