[vnabhi]

Originally Posted by silversteed

Ah, that reminds me of 'whether'. Many people replace 'if' with 'whether', but it often ends up as a test of whether they know where to use whether or not. AFAIK, 'whether' is to be used only when there's a choice - 'I do not know whether it would rain today or not', and 'if' when there's an uncertainty - 'I do not know if it would rain today'. Sorry for nitpicking, @vnabhi

Thanks for 'nitpicking'!

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

No need for sorrow: nitpicking is what this thread is about! The more the merrier!

Yup, you're right!

Originally Posted by mayankk

Something wrong with the tense there, weather notwithstanding.

LOL!

[driverace]

Is this sentence correct, grammatically?

"Why is Mr.X asking that to Mr.Y?"

Somehow, that "asking that to" is not sounding right, when I repeat the sentence in my head.

My wife "corrected" that sentence by saying:
"Why is Mr. X asking Mr. Y that?"

Requesting seniors to help

Thank you,

Ace.

[amitoj]

Originally Posted by driverace

My wife "corrected" that sentence by saying:
"Why is Mr. X asking Mr. Y that?"

Requesting seniors to help

Wife is always correct. Even when she is wrong.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Here, I think she is right. Anyway, her version is a lot more elegant, and that, in English, is often a sign of being correct. Ugly English is often wrong English.

I don't think one can ask something to. One can ask of, but I'd tend to use that when asking for a something (eg favour, action, money, etc) rather than a question.

I've just come back from a month in UK, where English is spoken like what it isn't anywhere else. It was an interesting experience, which began with realising that, with those who are not of Indian origin, any movement of the head other than the basic nod or shake for yes or no is not understood at all. A whole vector of communication... gone!

The next thing was finding that the use of words like on and off as verbs was met with astonishment. Whilst I was used to this, from Indian people in London, I suppose it was something that I could, then, on or off, according to the company present. Now it has become my habit.

Those who have been to UK recently will probably be familiar with the telecoms company "Everything Everywhere," known as EE. I was surprised to find that my phone SIM was name named after a house fly!

(And a Tamil friend roared with laughter when I told her this: she had never noticed!)

(And yes, the 4G service does work even a couple of miles from Lands End. Always assuming that one has on-ed the mobile data, of course )

[driverace]

Originally Posted by amitoj

Wife is always correct. Even when she is wrong.

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Here, I think she is right. Anyway, her version is a lot more elegant, and that, in English, is often a sign of being correct. Ugly English is often wrong English.

..

Thanks a lot for settling it, folks

Missus is extremely happy to read the response.
(more so, because I am wrong here)

Cheers,

Ace.

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by driverace

Somehow, that "asking that to" is not sounding right, when I repeat the sentence in my head.

I'm no expert & sorry to nitpick, but "does not sound right" would have been better than "is not sounding right"

Cheers,
Vikram

[Thad E Ginathom]

The difference between English English and Indian English.

[driverace]

Originally Posted by comfortablynumb

I'm no expert & sorry to nitpick, but "does not sound right" would have been better than "is not sounding right"

Cheers,
Vikram

Don't be sorry, that helps!

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

The difference between English English and Indian English.

Thad_Sir, comfortablynumb

Could you please explain if "is not sounding right" is wrong usage?
I clearly see, "does not sound right" is more elegant.

----

I am determined on picking up proper English & dropping the "odd sounding constructions" from my language usage.
Although, colloquial influences (additions/edits/deletions) come in the gray/grey area, I want to consciously identify those.
This discussion thread has been immensely helpful to me!

Thank you all for the superb inputs.

Continuing the learning,

Ace.

[mayankk]

Originally Posted by driverace

Could you please explain if "is not sounding right" is wrong usage?

Disregarding elegance, it is correct.

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by driverace

I am determined on picking up proper English & dropping the "odd sounding constructions" from my language usage.

Check the first three links under "Plain English tools" section on this website: http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/

Cheers,
Vikram

[reverse_gear]

Originally Posted by driverace

Could you please explain if "is not sounding right" is wrong usage?
I clearly see, "does not sound right" is more elegant.

In this context, the usage is incorrect. "Is sounding" (and its negative form) is a present continuous tense, which indicates an action that is currently taking place. This leaves open the possibility that "it is not sounding right" today, but may sound (or may have sounded) right at some other time in the future (or in the past). In a way, it changes the meaning.

"Does not sound right" is an assertion of fact, without temporal limitations.

At another pedantic level, I am unable to make up my mind whether the original question ("Why is Mr. X asking Mr. Y that?") can be ended with "that" or a noun (such as question, riddle or query) has to be added at the end. Not sure.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by driverace

Could you please explain if "is not sounding right" is wrong usage?
I clearly see, "does not sound right" is more elegant.

Originally Posted by mayankk

Disregarding elegance, it is correct.

reverse_gear is correct, the usage is common in Indian English, but not actually correct.

Like many other native speakers of a language (and despite being old enough to have gone to school when it was still taught) I am not very good at technical aspects of English, but it is a matter of tenses. Indian English is fond of this form: I am having instead of I have, etc. It is probably the first stereotypical aspect that foreigners pick up on.

Another Lost Cause...

But hey, I'll rant anyway

Gift is a noun, not a verb. The verb is give. The past tense is gave, not gifted.

[driverace]

Originally Posted by reverse_gear

.. "Is sounding" (and its negative form) is a present continuous tense, which indicates an action that is currently taking place...
"Does not sound right" is an assertion of fact, without temporal limitations.

Wow, that 'makes' it crystal clear.
Again, "That is making it clear to me now" may be better usage? Especially since it wasn't known/clear to me earlier?

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

.. Indian English is fond of this form: I am having instead of I have, etc. It is probably the first stereotypical aspect that foreigners pick up on.

---
Gift is a noun, not a verb. The verb is give. The past tense is gave, not gifted.

I just read about this.

Turns out, there is a defined verb form of 'gift'.
So, I can gift this link to you
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/de...n/english/gift


relearning the right way is so much fun, I'm addicted!

slightly amused,

Ace.

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by driverace

Wow, that 'makes' it crystal clear.
Again, "That is making it clear to me now" may be better usage? Especially since it wasn't known/clear to me earlier?

Wouldn't "It is crystal clear to me now" be simpler and better?

Cheers,
Vikram

[reverse_gear]

Originally Posted by driverace

Again, "That is making it clear to me now" may be better usage? Especially since it wasn't known/clear to me earlier?

If it wasn't known to you earlier but is definitely known to you now (meaning the action has happened but only recently), I believe the appropriate tense to use should be present perfect. In this case, the usage would be "has made". If you are using "is making", you do not need to add "now" at the end.

Wow, this is serious grammar revision! Hope it helps in dealing with the bouncers that my daughter will soon be sending over based on her school work.