Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
From this to that/help!
Hi,
I asked a similar question earlier, but after reading it, I realize it was confusingly written.
So here it is again:
If I want to say students in third, fourth and fifth grades, do I say
1) Students from the third to fourth grades are...(I think this is the correct one.)
or
2) Students from the third to the fourth grades are...
or
3) Students from the third to the fourth grade are...
Here is a slightly different question:
If I want to say that something changed from X to Y, do I say
1) Things have changed from the fourth to the fifth century. (I think this is the correct one.)
or
2)Things have changed from the fourth to the fifth centuries.
or
3)Things have changed from the fourth to fifth centures.
Please reply. And please let me know the reason for your answer. Thanks.
I asked a similar question earlier, but after reading it, I realize it was confusingly written.
So here it is again:
If I want to say students in third, fourth and fifth grades, do I say
1) Students from the third to fourth grades are...(I think this is the correct one.)
or
2) Students from the third to the fourth grades are...
or
3) Students from the third to the fourth grade are...
Here is a slightly different question:
If I want to say that something changed from X to Y, do I say
1) Things have changed from the fourth to the fifth century. (I think this is the correct one.)
or
2)Things have changed from the fourth to the fifth centuries.
or
3)Things have changed from the fourth to fifth centures.
Please reply. And please let me know the reason for your answer. Thanks.
Top answer
If I want to say students in third, fourth and fifth grades-- This is the most foolproof choice: 'Students in third, fourth and fifth grade(s)'. My 2nd choice is 'Students in third through fifth grade'. I don't see the 's' as of any great importance to intent.
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If I want to say students in third, fourth and fifth grades-- This is the most foolproof choice: 'Students in third, fourth and fifth grade(s)'. My 2nd choice is 'Students in third through fifth grade'. I don't see the 's' as of any great importance to intent.
If I want to say that something changed from X to Y, do I say
1) Things have changed from the fourth to the fi
If I want to say that something changed from X to Y, do I say
1) Things have changed from the fourth to the fi
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Hello,
Thank you for your reply.
In your answer "Students in third through fifth grade,"
Is "Students in the third through fifth grades" wrong? Is "the" in front of third wrong? Is "s" in grades wrong?
Thanks.
Thank you for your reply.
In your answer "Students in third through fifth grade,"
Is "Students in the third through fifth grades" wrong? Is "the" in front of third wrong? Is "s" in grades wrong?
Thanks.
00
No, not at all. I don't see it as wrong; I just gave you my preference.
Students in third through fifth grade(s)
You can look at it as 'grade' being elided from 'third', or you can look at it as the series of 3 'grades'-- both perspectives are valid, to my mind.
Students in third through fifth grade(s)
You can look at it as 'grade' being elided from 'third', or you can look at it as the series of 3 'grades'-- both perspectives are valid, to my mind.
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