Question
29 May
- Simplified Chinese (China)
-
English (US)
-
Korean
-
English (UK)
Question about English (US)
Does this sound natural?
“Your sentences sound by far better than mine.”
Does this sound natural?
“Your sentences sound by far better than mine.”
“Your sentences sound by far better than mine.”
Answers
When you "disagree" with an answer
The owner of it will not be notified.
Only the user who asked this question will see who disagreed with this answer.
29 May
Featured answer
- English (UK)
- English (US)
@handsomeish
“Your sentences sound“ is not the type of simple sentence that I am referring to. If I said –
Your sentences are by far better than mine
Then we can equally say –
Your sentences are better than mine by far
See what I mean? If you are using any form of the verb – to be – to regulate The sentence, then you can switch – by far – around
Highly-rated answerer
Read more comments
- English (UK)
- English (US)
@handsomeish
Your sentences sound better than mine by far.
Your sentences sound far better than mine
👍
Highly-rated answerer
- Simplified Chinese (China)
@isthmus_x Thank you! What about these two sentences? Which sounds more natural to you?
1. He is by far the best basketball player.
2. He is the best basketball player by far.
1. He is by far the best basketball player.
2. He is the best basketball player by far.
- English (UK)
- English (US)
@handsomeish
They both sound very good.
When you have a simple sentence like – he is… (Something something) – it’s usually fine to place the – by far – at either end, after – he is
They were by far the worst band in Liverpool
They were the worst band in Liverpool by far
You can just go on and on and on making sentences like this
Highly-rated answerer
- Simplified Chinese (China)
@isthmus_x Thanks so much! But “Your sentences sound by far better than mine” sounds unnatural to you. You placed “by far” at the end. Is that because the subject is two words “your sentences”?
- English (UK)
- English (US)
@handsomeish
“Your sentences sound“ is not the type of simple sentence that I am referring to. If I said –
Your sentences are by far better than mine
Then we can equally say –
Your sentences are better than mine by far
See what I mean? If you are using any form of the verb – to be – to regulate The sentence, then you can switch – by far – around
Highly-rated answerer
- Persian
- English (US) Near fluent
@isthmus_x
Can we use "by far" at the beginning of the sentence? I mean like this:
By far they were the worst band in Liverpool .
Highly-rated answerer
- English (UK)
- English (US)
@GordAfarid
Now, you have made two separate statements or clauses, so you must employ punctuation –
By far, they were the worst band in Liverpool.
Highly-rated answerer
- Persian
- English (US) Near fluent
@isthmus_x
I got it. Thanks.
Highly-rated answerer
- Simplified Chinese (China)
@isthmus_x Oh, I understand! Thank you! So “by far” can be placed at the beginning as well. I guess placing it at the end is the most common. Am I right?
- English (UK)
- English (US)
@handsomeish
I don’t think so. All methods are extremely common – I wouldn’t like to say which one is predominant, because I don’t think that any one of them is.
Highly-rated answerer
- Simplified Chinese (China)
@isthmus_x Got it. And I saw that you used “predominant” in your second sentence, but I’d use “dominant” there if I wanted to mean that. So can you explain to me the difference between those two words a bit?
- English (UK)
- English (US)
@handsomeish
Pre-
You probably know that this means “before“, but it also means “1st“.
Both dominant and predominant are words that we have taken from the Latin language, and in the Latin Roman culture they had an important difference.
If you and I fight with swords today, and you win, you have shown your dominance – you are the winner because you have dominated me. But, if we fight again tomorrow, I might win – I will be dominant.
To be “of the first dominance“ means that you always win. There doesn’t need to be a battle because everybody knows that you are going to win, because you are so clearly and provedly dominant. It’s not an issue.
Highly-rated answerer
- Simplified Chinese (China)
@isthmus_x Alright. Your explanation is so helpful! So “dominant” sounds like it’s more powerful than other things for the time being, things could change at any time though, then maybe the other thing is dominant. But “predominant” has a more absolute meaning, it’s just like stating an obvious truth. Thanks a ton!
[News] Hey you! The one learning a language!
Do you know how to improve your language skills❓ All you have to do is have your writing corrected by a native speaker!
With HiNative, you can have your writing corrected by native speakers for free ✍️✨.
With HiNative, you can have your writing corrected by native speakers for free ✍️✨.
Sign up
Newest Questions
- i have a sweet teeth! does this sentence gets used?
- This is correct???”We are doing the final rehearsal before the take a break. Finally, I'm free to...
- Hey there. Please tell me if "swat" Sounds natural in a sentence like "I SWATTED a mosquito that ...
- Does it sound natural? "I got a stuff in popping by Swedish film festival and it got an award fro...
- What you call someone who changes his opinion fast? sometimes he said something then the opposite
Topic Questions
- Hey there. Please tell me if "swat" Sounds natural in a sentence like "I SWATTED a mosquito that ...
- What you call someone who changes his opinion fast? sometimes he said something then the opposite
- PLEASE help me to correct this”We did the last rehearsal shooting of the play then I'm free tomor...
- Is there "whyever"?
- "Cancellation must be made within seven days of check-in date in order for the deposit to be refu...
Recommended Questions
- what is correct? Where are you study? Or Where do you study? Thank you.
- what should I answer with "How's your day?" "How's It going?" example plz can I say "pretty good"?
- How to respond to "I hope you are doing well"?
- When I reply to a mail from my boss, can I use "Noted with thanks "? Isn't it rude to my boss?
- If you are not the correct person, please direct me the correct one. Does this sentence sound nat...
Previous question/ Next question
What’s this symbol?
The Language Level symbol shows a user's proficiency in the languages they're interested in. Setting your Language Level helps other users provide you with answers that aren't too complex or too simple.
-
Beginner
Has difficulty understanding even short answers in this language.
-
Beginner-Intermediate
Can ask simple questions and can understand simple answers.
-
Intermediate
Can ask all types of general questions and can understand longer answers.
-
Advanced
Can understand long, complex answers.
Sign up for premium, and you can play other user's audio/video answers.
Tired of searching? HiNative can help you find that answer you're looking for.
