texts: Does "I've worked for Google" imply I still work for them?

texts: If I say "I've worked at Google" do you understand I still work at Google, I don't work anymore or you cant tell solely based on that sentence?


texts: Why do they correct simple past to present perfect here?

texts:
I've often found online articles where corrections are made to signify a different tense where I think there's no need to. For example:

  ... he tells BBC Culture. “... I [have] always felt like they were
  just the same thing ...”

Why would they insert "have" here? Simple past was enough, one cannot asume the subject still feels like anything

Source: http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20191015-how-todays-rappers-are-resurrecting-the-spirit-of-punk


texts:
We have an app in which user needs to specify some parameters and their value types.

GUI example:

Parameter details

Name
[              ] *text field

Type
[              ] *combobox

Here's a list of allowed parameter value types in our app (though I believe it's pretty generic):

single ordinal or floating-point value
datetime value
list of options from which you can choose only one
list of options from which you can choose many
text input
boolean input

What is the correct way of naming these types in a combobox/radiogroup from which user selects parameter value type? So that it is clear which option is selected, but is not overly wordy (since GUI space is valuable).

I guess that would be (correspondingly): Numeric/Digital?, Datetime?, Single-choice list, Multi-choice list, Text, Flag?

Please reply with which parameter value type names should be used to be proper English?

To address comments, I'm looking specifically for proper English words choice, not the UI/UX/programming advice.


texts: Is it incorrect to leave out the impersonal "it" in the following sentence?

texts:
To me, sentences "I hate that you can swim and I can't" and "I hate it that you can swim and I can't" are both correct, and including an impersonal "it" is only a matter of personal style. However, from what I understood, the book is suggesting that it is wrong to exclude "it" and say "I hate that you can swim so well." I was wondering how native speakers of English would feel about this.
P.S. the name of the book is Grammar in Use -- Advanced


texts: Is it natural to say "punch something/someome at full tilt" meaning to punch the thing or someone as hard as one can possibly can?

texts:
Is it natural to say  punch something/someome at full tilt meaning to punch the thing or someone as hard as one can possibly can? For example:

  The was punching the punching bag at full tilt. He must have been letting off steam.

If it isn't, then what would you say to mean that someone punched something as hard as they could?


texts: What does "nurture" exactly mean in this sentence?

texts:
In the sentence:

  Markets are nurtured by global companies in the tourism system. (Dickinson & Lumsdon, 2010, p. 184)

What does nurture mean exactly? How would companies nurture markets? I have already checked dictionaries such as Merriam-Webster's, Longman, and Cambridge. I am aware that nurture means to help a plan or a person to develop and be successful figuratively but  I still cannot understand what the word means in this sentence.

More context:

  Markets are nurtured by global companies in the tourism system. Thus,
  these companies will have an important role as an agent of change in the transition phase to a new green tourism order. Governmental incentives to adopt
  low-carbon approaches will bring a response to meet changing consumer expectations and for opportunities to reduce costs (Lynes and Dredge, 2006).
  There are a few cases of this happening now, but the price of resources will
  determine a decidedly different pace of change. The alternative will be to continue to compromise ecological systems to the point of collapse.

Reference: Dickinson, J., & Lumsdon, L. (2010). Slow travel and tourism: Routledge.


texts: How should I interpret 'that' in this passage from 'Tom Tit Tot'?

texts:
If this girl can't spin five skeins, she will be killed by king.

  However, all of a sudden she heard a sort of a knocking low down on
  the door. She upped and oped it, and what should she see but a small
  little black thing with a long tail. That looked up at her right
  curious, and that said:

  'What are you a-crying for?'

  'What's that to you?' says she.

  'Never you mind,' that said, 'but tell me what you're a-crying for.'

  'That won't do me no good if I do,' says she.

  'You don't know that,' that said, and twirled that's tail round.

  'Well,' says she, 'that won't do no harm, if that don't do no good,'
  and she upped and told about the pies, and the skeins, and everything.

This content is from "Tom Tit Tot" in English fairy tales.

I can't understand these sentence "That won't do me no good if I do","You don't know that", "that won't do no harm, if that don't do no good". Is "that" a small
 little black thing?


texts: Lie on the same plane vs. Lie in the same plane

texts:
We in mathematics say (so if you'll have to use, what will sound natural to you "on/in"?):

  Two objects are coplanar if they both lie in the same plane.

Or

  Two objects are coplanar if they both lie on the same plane.

So what sounds natural: "on" or "in" or both of them sound equally natural?

Also, is there any AmE-BrE difference?


texts: "Someone else's", "Someone's else", and "Someone else's one"

texts:
For example:

  -- You should move your car out of the way.

  -- This is not my car but someone else's car.

I want to get rid of the redundancy in the sentence which is presented by the second "car". So how can it be rephrased with being grammatically correct?

I thought of:

  This is not my car but someone else's.

But there must be a possessive noun as the apostrophe + 's' don't stand alone.

Another phrasing:

  This is not my car but someone's else.

I know this can't indicate the same meaning since "else" would act as the possessive noun, but would it be valid in this case?

And another one:

  This is not my car but someone else's one.

Substituting "car" with "one" seems suitable; however, the sentence wouldn't sound very natural and/or totally non-redundant.


texts: Correct way to say that my house was robbed

texts:
My house has been robbed recently and from my new job I am getting a Laptop (MacBook). But I am afraid to take such a valuable piece of equipment after the break in. Taking these things into account I constructed a sentence to tell my boss but I am not sure whether it is correct or not.

  "I can't take this valuable piece of equipment given the circumstances that my house was broke in."

I was trying to connect these two sentences with given the circumstances but I am not sure if it makes any sense. Is it correct, if not what would be the correct phrase or word for it?
Can I say that my house was robbed? Am I right in thinking that only people get robbed not things?


texts: "Both stand valid" or "Both stands valid"

texts:
I was answering a question in ELL and I got stuck between the usage of  'stand' and 'stands' in the phrase 'both stand/stands valid'. Which one is the correct version?

Context:

  (Question) Which is correct ? "I was alone since last month" or "I had been alone since last month" ?
  (Answer) "Both stands valid as neither of them are incorrect"


texts: 'late for school' or 'late for the school'?

texts:
Why is this sentence wrong about the article usage?

  Don't be late for the school.

I was told that the correct sentence is Don't be late for School.


texts: Why doesn't "add" work here? "If a little tomato sauce is **add** to it, its taste will definitely improve."

texts:
If a little tomato sauce is .... to it, its taste will definitely improve.

I think that "add" should go in the blank.

But, according to what I understand in this sentence I cannot use add here because it is not forming a grammatically correct sentence and I have no clue what else to use.

Please correct me if i am wrong


texts: Can we join the phrases to make a sentence?

texts:
I have the following few phrases

  Sweeping of unfixed edges to be the stable (need to say, by moving unfixed edges, it can be brought to a more stable position)
  affixing of the stable edges with the skeleton edges
  symmetrically preserved closed polygon
  (by joing 2, 3 => intersecting of near by fixed edges with skeleton edges are needed to do for obtaining closed polygons having preserved symmetrical property.)

I am stating these phrase in the processing order. So, I want to make one complete sentence by telling all these at the same time.

Here is my effort,

  Sweeping of edges to be the stable and affixing of the stable
  edges with the inclined edges are needed to achieve for a
  symmetrically preserved closed polygon.

So, my question is, if I use and and are, then would this make sense?


texts:
I was wondering why in this sentence

  I can enlist her support for follow up in my weekly meeting tomorrow

“follow up” was used instead of “following up”?


texts: Difference between preposition and appropriate preposition?

texts:
Look the below sentences please:

Take the book on the table.
Aeroplane flies over the sky.

On the other hand:

He died of cancer.
He  died for country.

Which examples are the appropriate prepositions?


texts: Why is it "inerrant" instead of "unerrant" when the definition is "something that is unerring?"

texts:
While searching for the correct spelling of inerrant, I came across a definition that labeled it as something that is unerring.

Why would something that is unerring be "inerrant" instead of "unerrant?"


texts:
In The Old Guard (2020), Freeman sees a statue of Rodin in Immortal Andy's caves:
Freeman: This is an honest-to-God Rodin. Wait. Did you know
him?
Livre: Probably biblically.
(Livre & Andy laughs)
Is there any joke exist in Livre's words?


texts:
"would like to V" is said to mean "want to V" in the present.
What is its past version? If I want to rewrite the following using a version of "would like to," what should I write?

John wanted to go home early, so he finished his work soon.


texts: "I've been loving you" is not a formal English

texts:
The phrase I've been loving you is not formal English.

Or so I'm told. I can't figure out what is wrong, though, please someone kindly explain.

I did google and found on WordReference the thread: Since I've been loving you/Since I've loved

The problem is I don't even understand why 'loving' (Post #3) is considered incorrect.

  Spot on, Alex! The point here is that "love" is a stative verb. If you look at the British Council Learn English site here, you'll see that stative verbs are "not usually used in the continuous form, even when we are talking about temporary situations or states ..."

English is not my native language.


texts: In "machine learning", is "learning" a noun, adjective or gerund? Please explain

texts: In the phrase “machine learning”it is really confusing for me to get the meaning of it in its grammatical sense.


texts: Consider them to be smart...but Say them to be smart?

texts:
If we can say: He is considered (to be) smart. We consider him (to be) smart.

By the same token, I have also heard: We think him (to be) smart or think him dead.

It is also correct to say: He is said to be smart.

But, Is it correct to say???: We say him to be smart.

For some reason it appears to follow the above structures, but sounds very strange.


texts: When the expression "I shall be coming to see you ..." would be used?

texts:
I was worried about whether I used the right preposition in post Does bridge actually refer to the part on which pedestrians and vehicles move on in everyday English?. So, I googled it. And then I found this example

  I shall be coming to see you via the bridge over the railway, not by the road along the river.

I am aware of the usage of the preposition in that sentence. The question is the tense.

If someone said "I am coming to see you ...", I understand they are being on the way come to see me, but how about shall be coming?

Could someone please help make up the context where the expression "I shall be coming to see you ..." would be used?


texts: How to understand and analyse the phrase "have a heated face off with (or against) somebody"?

texts:
I've come across the phrase "have a heated face off with (or against) somebody" quite often. Sometimes it is used without the indefinite article "a" or used as a noun phrase by using the noun word "face-off".

I can roughly guess its meaning to be "being very angry and ready to fight or quarrel bitterly with somebody".

I consult some dictionaries but can't find this phrase while the verb phrase face off is included. Then how to understand and analyse this commonly used phrase?

I am now highly suspicious of the correctness of this phrase. I just can't accept face off as a noun structure (face-off is a noun structure). Can people say a sentence like "Someone has a (heated) face off" without an object?


texts:
Spiderman's likes to introduce himself as, "Your friendly neighborhood Spider-man!"

Edit: removed comma after 'neighborhood.

But is his choice of words correct?

I understand the word neighborhood as (A) a group of people living in an area, or (B) the vicinity of a location; The Free Dictionary provides some other definitions, but not far from these two.

When introducing himself as friendly and dwelling in the nearby area, shouldn't Spidey cast himself a friendly "neighbor" (or "neighbour", if he fought villains in the UK?)

At what point can the word "neighborhood" take the meaning of a single person in the nearby area?


texts: What does "would engage in prayer" mean in the context?

texts:
From this article: https://qr.ae/Ti1Bns

  Sounds reasonable to conclude that patients would engage in prayer
  with the expectation of health benefit.

What does the bold part mean?
Does that mean, patients will try to pray to get health benefits?


texts:
When people say "Next Saturday", do they mean the Saturday that will come in 1 day?  Or do they mean the Saturday that will come in 8 days?

Is this the same rule if I say "Next Week"?


texts: Why is "can they" referring to "everybody" grammatical?

texts:
Everybody can not be intelligent, can they?
Everything is bright and beautiful, isn't it?

Why first sentence takes 'they' (plural)  But second one takes 'it' (singular)?


texts: What does "You are talking through your hat" mean?

texts:
I heard this phrase when I was following a hot loud debate by two Americans in a restaurant:

  You're talking through your hat!

What is an equivalent expression?

If you find it interesting for yourself and useful for audiences you can write about its etymology and usages too.


texts: An idiom or expression to describe feeling slack

texts: I am looking for an idiom or expression to describe feeling slack to do things (not due to physical tiredness necessarily, but it can also be because of a lack of enthusiasm and motivation). I think of using the expression 'dragging the feet'. Does it fit? Do you have other suggestions?


texts: Why start a written sentence with 'Okay'?

texts:
On a forum, the sentence starting the discussion reads:

  Okay, I admit I'm a bit of a old puritan...but AIBU in thinking...school should not be promoting limo hire...

Is it just an unnecessary addition or does it affect the sentence at all?


texts: Should have done vs Have to in questions

texts:
Doing some grammar exercises I noticed the example with modals:

  Where should I have put the cheese? In the fridge?

The other one came to my mind (though it wasn't present in the book):

  Where did I have to put the cheese?

Is there any difference between the two? I'm really kind of struggling to find any


texts: What's the meaning of "be closed to traffic"?

texts:
The center was recently closed to traffic on a child basis making it much safer for pedestrians.

I'm struggling to understand exact meaning of this sentence. There are a lot of meaning in 'close' and 'traffic' so I don't know what to select as meaning.


texts:
I think "so" in "you're so not cool" emphasizes the whole sentence.

Whereas, "so" in "you're not so cool" emphasizes "cool", meaning "very cool".

I am not sure whether I'm right.

So,  What is the difference between "you're so not cool" & "you're not so cool"?


texts: "the role of guide" or "the role of a guide"?

texts:
While Heaphy was in the role of hawk-eyed, sure-handed, specimen-procuring guide, Hochstetter, Haast and their colleagues were delighted by him and quick to sing his praises. (source)

This sentence strikes me as missing an article. Since "guide" is a count noun, shouldn't the sentence read:

  While Heaphy was in the role of a hawk-eyed, sure-handed, specimen-procuring guide, Hochstetter, Haast and their colleagues were delighted by him and quick to sing his praises.

Is "the role of guide" grammatical?


texts:
In this sentence:

  Four items are responsible for three-fourths of the overall spending around the world, the most prominent share being that of food.

Why after the comma, the verb "being" is used? Why it does not use "is"?


texts: What's the meaning of "the tape measure crumpled into a heap on the floor"?

texts:
Context:

  Harry suddenly realized that the tape measure, which was measuring
  between his nostrils, was doing this on its own. Mr. Ollivander was
  flitting around the shelves, taking down boxes.
  "That will do," he said, and the tape measure crumpled into a heap on
  the floor. "Right then, Mr. Potter. Try this one. Beechwood and dragon
  heartstrings. Nine inches. Nice and flexible. just take it and give it a
  wave."

What do "crumple" and "heap" mean in the sentence "the tape measure crumpled into the heap on the floor"?

Crumple is meant like this in Oxford:

  1.1 no object Become bent, crooked, or creased.

The question is why should a tape measure become bent, crooked or creased? What is the meaning of "heap" here? Does it mean that the tape measure has turned into a heap? It doesn't make sense. Or is heap just an untidy pile of things that the wrinkled! tape measure has fallen on it? Does "crumple" mean fall here? It can't be since Oxfords definition 1.2 has plainly mentioned "(of a person").


texts: "Human settlement of" or "human settlement in"?

texts:
I came across a sentence which was:

If unchecked, intensive human settlement of coastal zones across the globe will lead to further deterioration in the quality of marine environment.

What difference would it have made if "in" was used after settlement instead of "of"? Because I think that would be more appropriate.


texts:
In Masterchef US Season 3 Ep 5, one of the contestants David said this:

  Being a good leader is being able to pick people better than you so
  you don't have to work as hard.

Could you help me understand the meaning of the words in bold please?

I can understand the meaning of work hard and as hard as something.
But for the words, work as hard, I am not sure what it means in the sentence.


texts: What's more appropriate? (colon and semicolon usage)

texts:
She excelled in baking: her cakes and cookies won many awards.

Why should we use a colon and not a semicolon? Or can a semicolon still be utilized in place of a colon (in this example)?

  We had a good time in France; the kids really enjoyed it.

  Mother had to go in the hospital: she had heart problems.

Are the punctuations used correctly? If so, how can I distinguish between using a colon and a semicolon? The videos and articles aren't really helping me. Thank you so much!


texts:
what is the adjective you use to describe the extent or degree of distance from the roof of a car to the ground

is it "a short car" or "a low car"?

and is it "a tall car" or "a high car", or maybe you use some other adjectives to describe it?

and by extension, can I apply to other objects as well?


texts: "Opening the file, John called David" or "John, opening the file, called David."?

texts:
"Opening the file, John called David."

If we assume that the above sentence means 'after opening the file, John called David', can I give the same meaning by using the following sentence?

  "John, opening the file, called David."


texts: What do you qualify a video that keeps pausing?

texts: I know buffering is used, but it implies that the video is getting downloaded still, but what about a video that's already downloaded and keeps pausing for some reason. What adjective would you use to qualify such a video?


texts: You have to face the consequences of your actions; good or bad (AmE)

texts:
There is a proverb in my language which says: "You have to face the consequences of your actions; good or bad." I was wondering if someone could let me know if the following proverbs sound natural to indicate the same concept. If not, then I would appreciate it if someone could tell me what shall I say to make the best sense (using a common proverb) in AmE:

  They that dance must pay the fiddler.
  As you make your bed you must lie on it.


texts:
Is it OK to use "where" for explaining non-physical place?
For instance, is it OK to say "It is a social network where users can ..."?


texts:
What was the most painful experience you have ever experienced as mother?
What was the post painful experience you have ever experienced as a wife?
What was the most painful experience?

What are the differences between these 3 questions?

What does change when we use "as a someone" and what does change if we change that "someone"?


texts: Can these questions be answered with these answers?

texts:
I am trying to reach the question form by going through its standard sentence form. In my native language, Turkish,
The question form of

I'm talking about the money that is for your education = I'm talking
about the money for your education

can be

For whom are you talking about the money? -- OR -- Whom are you
talking about the money for?

Of course, you can ask "what money are you talking about", however, I'm trying to transform the standard form to the question form one-to-one.
Another example,
The question form of

I'm talking about the book on my desk

can be

On what are you talking about the book? -- OR -- What are you talking
about the book on?

Could you please tell me whether these answers can belong to these questions, or not.
In other words, could you tell me whether these questions can be answered with these answers?


texts: What's with "star as interesting" and "unstar as interesting"?

texts:
These are normal common messages most of us who've chatted in SE chat interfaces have seen. I find the way the negation prefix un- "acts" intriguing.

Why would I star and unstar a chat message as interesting? Does "unstar as interesting" mean that I unstarred the message because it was interesting? But that doesn't make sense, even though it does regarding "star as interesting".
How does "un-" function in these two phrases? It seems to me that it's more like un-[star as interesting] but how is that possible? How can a prefix modify a whole sentence, as opposed to modifying only the verb phrase [star]? I'm sorry if I don't know what I'm talking about; I ran into trouble trying to analyze this.

I'm more interested in the grammatical explanation behind the acceptability of the sentence "unstar as interesting" and how it could possibly mean, if it does, "to remove the star from a message previously starred due to being interesting". Please don't deviate much into the meaning nuances and/or possible replacements.


texts: More often than not, can we use it in different contexts, changing the fixed expression a bit?

texts:
He was injured in more places than not.

I have heard a lot of people use "more often than not", which upon looking up, I realized was a fixed expression.
So, I was wondering it could used in ways like it's been used in the given sentence. Like to say, he was injured in more places than he wasn't.
Would sentences like this be correct: he's achieved more than not, like to say he's achieved more than he hasn't?


texts:
Which sentence is grammatically correct ?

I would like that we try together
I would like that we tried together

Should the subordinate clause use the subjunctive present ? I know that it is used for both present and past events, but I am not sure about the conditional. If so, I guess the first sentence is the correct one.

note: I know that "I would like us to try together" is more usual.


texts:
Here is a sentence from a schedule planner app:

  In the app, you can easily group to-dos into projects and drag tasks within
  and between them.

I am not sure if the word "them" is used here for "to-dos" or "projects."


texts:
From PEU/talking about the future:

  There are several ways to use verbs to talk about the future in
  English. This is a complicated area of grammar.

I can't get the point of the indefinite article here? I thought complicated area is non count noun, therefore we shouldn't use 'a' the least, because we never use 'a' with non count noun. What's wrong?


texts: should I use "make some location" or "make it to some location"?

texts:
Which of the following sounds more natural to native speakers?

  I can make it to the library today

or

  I can make the library today


texts:
Can we use the word consult with unanimated objects.

You need to consult a dictionary
Please consult the works of Douglas Howard before trying it out
One should consult the book by Adam Fist before making such suggestions


texts: Meaning of the phrase "causal arrow point" in context

texts:
It was in an online journal, Psychology Today, by Hal Herzog. Here is the piece of the article:

  In their article, Westgarth and her colleagues suggested it is possible that some unknown pattern of behavior in emotionally unstable people makes them especially prone to dog bites.  But they also point out that other factors might be involved. For example, anxious people might be more likely to have nervous dogs. Or the causal arrow point could even point the other direction and being bitten by a dog could make people more fearful and anxious.

What does that mean there and why has the definite article been used before that phrase?


texts: Is "that" acceptable instead of "so that"?

texts:
Reading Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. I have found this sentence:

  I was in the service that I might have something to eat

Based on my limited knowledge of English, It seems to me that it should have to be like this: I was in the service so that I might have something to eat

Can the "so" be omitted? Both forms are correct?

Thanks in advance!


texts: Three smal concerns on the first two lines of this passage

texts:
So today we want to talk about the subject of defensive driving. And the way I define defensive driving is, the ability to develop the proper driving habits, so that we can compensate for pretty much anything that goes on out on the roadways and that we can avoid a crash at any level.

  The way I like to do this is talk about a term which is called space cushion driving. At what that basically means is, that as we’re driving our vehicle we want to have an imaginary space cushion around our car at all times. We want to have adequate distance in front of the car, in back of the car, and on the left and right sides of the car, so that if any type of situation comes up where we need to move the vehicle to avoid a hazardous situation we have the means to do this. We can never be too close to the car ahead of us. We don’t want the car behind us to be too close to us and we definitely want to have room, both on the left and the right side of our car throughout our driving experience so that, again, if something happens we need to have a way to get away from the hazard.

Does the word pretty much mean **almost* here?

What does the word go on here mean?

What does the word out on mean?


texts:
He looked down at Mr. Harden's body.

He looked down at the body of Mr. Harden.

If we by "body" means "corpse" is one of the two phrasings more natural to use than the other?


texts: A phrase to describe someone's immediate liking toward some negative activity?

texts:
How to describe someone's immediate liking toward some negative activity?

For example, in the example below, I was told that "He took an instant liking to bullying" doesn't sound well:

  When this class had just been formed, it turned out that Jeffrey was a
  head taller than anyone else in his class and much stronger at that.
  He took an instant liking to bullying his classmates - as if it were
  something natural for him. He has never stopped bullying his peers
  until this day!

So what would be the right way then?

My question was edited. The previous title was: ""to take an instant liking to" something - is this phrase possible in English?"

Here is how my question looked before:

Can I use such an expression as "to take an instant liking to" to describe someone's liking toward some activity or a thing at the very first exposure?

For example,

  When this class had just been formed, it turned out that Jeffrey was a
  head taller than anyone else in his class and much stronger at that.
  He took an instant liking to bullying his classmates - as if it were
  something natural for him. He has never stopped bullying his peers
  until this day!


texts:
I am confused about the usage of the word "type".  Take the following for example:

  A maine coon is a type of cat.

which most people believe is correct standard English.  But, dictionary definitions define "type" as a group with similar qualities.  So, a "type" is really plural, not singular.  This seems to make sentence 1 wrong, with "a maine coon" being singular.  It seems that the correct version of sentence 1 would be:

  A maine coon is a member of a type of cat.

What do native speakers think?  Is sentence 1 correct after all because it is idiomatic , and is sentence 2  unnatural?


texts: can "could have" be either a past modal/auxiliary form as well as a stative form of have?

texts: Consider the phrase, "is it possible, we could have rain (or rainy weather) on Saturday". This doesn't seem to be a past modal form as there is no verb it modifies, so seems more like a stative form of "have".


texts:
He is going up the mountain road.
He is going up along the mountain road.

In 1, up is working as a preposition, while along is the preposition in the 2.

Do the both carry same meaning?

Thank you.


texts: Present participle clause as object of a preposition

texts:
Can I use an -ing clause in this case?

A and B complement each other well, A having an extensive knowledge in the biological side of the project while B being focused on the geographical aspects.

I hope it is clear what I am trying to say. A and B are scientists, one is a biologist and another is a geographer, so their collaboration is beneficial for the project.


texts: The meaning of a sentence written by Lovecraft

texts:
I cannot figure out the meaning of the following sentence:

  The green of the backyard gives way to overgrown flowers toward the side of the house.

I know every word, but even after having reread it a couple of times, I still don't catch it.

This a sentence from Lovecraft's Mansions of Madness - What Lies Within (Script)


texts:
intervening noun phrase

An ELL post says

  Another place where bare infinitive is preferred is when there is an intervening noun phrase as in help people break the cycle of poverty.

I guess "break the cycle of poverty" is the "intervening noun phrase".

So, what is "intervening noun phrase"?

I searched on ELL and got 6 hits, none gives a clear explanation about the concept itself.

I also searched on google, Cambridge Dictionary, no luck.


texts: Do we put a comma before that when it refers to something that doesn't immediately precede it?

texts:
It's a device you put in your car, that allows you to find your
  destination.

  It's a device you put in your car that allows you to find your
  destination.

I think both are ok, but I am not sure. Which one would you choose and is there any rule that dismiss one of them as ungrammatical, or are both correct? I might only add a comma for clarification, but I feel it might not be needed.


texts:
I encounter it in the 22nd episode of the 9th season of Friends. Here is the context:

Phoebe: (entering and talking on mobile phone) Ok, great! All right,
bye! (she hangs up) Pain in the ass!! (she looks at the others, then
back at the phone) That's off, right?
Joey: What's the matter, Pheebs?
Phoebe: Oh... Mike's sister just invited me to a party tonight, he's
gonna be there. And she was like "Oh, don't worry! I asked him. He's
totally ok with seeing you!". So now I have to go so he'll think that
I'm totally ok with seeing him!


texts: get it to be done; why is this not used?

texts:
Many causative verbs have their objectives as the form of infinitive or participle, but not to-infinitive. You don't say like

  I got my car to be fixed.

What I wonder is that why it is so? Can't you use it as something with a future vibe? Like when you distinguish between "remember V-ing" and "remember to V"?

Can't it be seen as below? (I know it's wrong but)

  I got my car fixed (The car was fixed)

  I got my car to be fixed (The car was going to be fixed)


texts: is it possible to use 'put on' with emotion?

texts:
I saw the phrase

  put on air of happiness

as the meaning is 'to pretend to be happy',
if i say

  'put on happiness'

does it mean 'to be happy'? or is it nonsense?


texts: Should there be a comma before 'just'? "If you love yourself just ignore them"

texts:
Is there a comma before 'just' in the sentence below?

If you love yourself just ignore them because no matter how hard you try they won't understand.


texts: Is it idiomatic to say 'go on **the** ride'?

texts:
An ELU post says

  Go on a ride suggests having a thrilling experience at a theme park. Go for a ride suggests an excursion on a bicycle, a motor cycle or a horse.

So, I am aware of the concept of 'go on a ride'.

I see an example somewhere

  I am feeling very dizzy after going on the ride.

where the speaker used 'the'.

I am aware the rule that 'the' is used when sth/sb has been mentioned. In this case the activity 'go on a ride' indeed had been mentioned though, I guess 'go on a ride' is a fixed combination.

question

Is it idiomatic to say 'go on the ride'?


texts:
They seem to bought the ideas from the crooked politician.

I believe I have heard the use of "seem to bought" in movies before, but is it grammatical?


texts: Do I use well present perfect in that case

texts:
I already made an order, so I've paid 2 times shipping, would you mind refunding me for the second shipping and send both orders together?

Would it be better to write

  I've already made an order, so I've paid 2 times shipping, would you mind refunding me for the second shipping and send both orders together?
  I already made an order, so I paid 2 times shipping, would you mind refunding me for the second shipping and send both orders together?

I think the first one is better because when I am writing  this I have just finished the second order and if I am asking some refund now it is because of the second order.


texts:
Is it correct to use the word "Ready" like this:

  Ready HTML
      Ready Code
      Ready Stuff
      Ready Things

With these I am trying to say that:

  the thing was completed by someone and ready to use...

Is it correct to use the word this way?


texts: 'In-laws' - is it correct the way 'CEOs' is?

texts:
In India, it's very common to say...

  "My in-laws have come these days."

This simply means that the speaker's parents in-law have come. The use of in-laws with the word 'law' pluralized is incorrect. I know that because we say sisters-in-law and not sister-in-laws to mention more than one sister-in-law.

But then...

Imagine a game wherein married couples are made to sit on one side and their parents on the other. So now, at one side there are 'coupleS' and on the other side there are 'in-lawS'.

I'm adding 's' to make 'in-law' plural the way we make other words/group plural - 80s, CEOs, MDs, scientistS, brotherS, sisterS and the like!

ONE PAIR OF PARENTS-IN-LAW + ONE PAIR OF PARENTS-IN-LAW = PARENTS-IN-LAWS?

Again, the last letter 's' is NOT pluralizing the word 'law' but indicating more than one pair of 'parents-in-law'.

Is that okay to say or write? in-lawS that way?


texts:
What is exactly a pain clinic as used in

  The hospital is holding/having a pain clinic on Tuesday night for anyone interested in learning how to deal with chronic pain

Does it refer to

a place that offers medical help with pain management (independent of a large hospital or as part thereof), or
an occasion when a doctor gives medical advice to patients suffering from pain on a one-on-one basis in one of those rooms in a hospital, or a meeting during which a doctor gives advice to multiple people at the same time on matters relating to pain management?


texts: {subscribe / subscribe to / subscribe for}

texts:
I subscribe to the book called Pride and Prejudice.
  I subscribe for the book called Pride and Prejudice.
  I subscribe the book called Pride and Prejudice.

What is the difference?


texts:
– What did she say? – Not to put too fine a point on it, she said you sexually harassed her.

This expression means 'used to apologise for a possibly impolite statement one is making.' But why does this sequence of words mean that? What does mean to put a point on something? And then how is a fine point different from a point?


texts: Changes "WITH" a diet vs "ON" a diet, which is the best?

texts:
Which would be the most correct title for an article that is about what changes in our body when we are on specific kind of diet?

I've got three options: "Pathophysiological changes WHEN ADOPTING a plant-based diet" or "Pathophysiological changes ON a plant-based diet" or "Pathophysiological changes WITH a plant-based diet".

I'm not an english native speaker, but I feel the first best explains the concept, but it's too long, and there's a shorter expression for it. The second gives to me an idea of stillness, like just "being on a diet", with no added meaning. And the third seems the most appropriate to me because it involves the idea of change, of something changing because of something else. Which are your suggestions?


texts:
What does "by spin" mean? Here it is in context:

  Be clear that what someone may label “complete, no-holds-barred honesty” may be just an excuse for verbally horse-whipping someone. Honesty doesn’t maim. Don’t be fooled by spin.

As far as I am concerned, "spin" means justification. Tell me please if I have a point there.


texts: What's the difference between "noun + pp" and "noun + that is pp"?

texts:
Is this sentence correct in grammar?

  'charcoal' is a black material used as fuel for fire.

If then, what's the difference with the below?

  'charcoal' is a black material that is used as fuel for fire.


texts: When and How to use the term "hindsight"?

texts:
hindsight=understanding of a situation or event only after it has happened or developed.

I heard many people (especially business people) use the term "hindsight", but I am not sure when to use it and how to use it correctly?

For example, is it correct to say this sentence?

  Steve Jobs just builds things he believe it's great first, then people will understand his products and his ideas later in a hindsight.

So, when and how to use the term "hindsight"?


texts: A term/phrase when we move side by side while singing

texts:
We move side by side humming or singing. It's a gesture we do when we enjoy or like the act of singing.

This happens to our head when we are not standing.

I want a term/phrase for the action when we move our body or head from side to side. I also doubt - it's not side to side (as we do in saying 'NO'). I may better call it 'tilting'. A tilting of head/body from side to side? I'm not sure!

Example is this video. Check the kid. However, he's not shaking his head probably because he's singing. But you get an overall idea.


texts: Feel Jealous and Accomplished at the Same Time

texts:
Looking for the word/idiom for the feeling/emotion where one feels jealous and accomplished at the same time.

For context, Person ABC (hereinafter, 'ABC') introduced and taught somebody (hereinafter, 'DEF') the basics of buying and selling stocks. Then after some time, ABC asked how are things going with the buying-and-selling, and found out that DEF earned a lot of money from the market. Now ABC feels both jealous and accomplished at the same time.

I don't think that this is gloating as it's just negative. Or perhaps a word (if there is) related to the feeling that masters have when their students surpass them? Imagining it as an equation, it's like:

  Jealousy + Feeling of Accomplishment = ???


texts:
Self-serving bias interacts with attribution error in interesting ways that
  can be hard to untangle. People generally are less likely to commit the classic attribution mistake about themselves, because they notice and feel
  their own circumstances more keenly than those of others.109 If you are
  frightened by a dog, you are likely to emphasize how big and scary the
  dog was; an onlooker is likely to notice that, too, but is much more likely
  to also conclude that you are scared of dogs—to interpret the story in a
  “dispositional” rather than just a “situational” way.

Source: pp 242-243, The Legal Analyst, Ward Farnsworth

I'm vacillating between definitions 1, 2, and 4, and also am complicated by the quotes here.
For example, if I use definition 4 (the power to deal with something as one pleases), then does the last clause mean that the onlooker   interprets the story in whatever frame or way he pleases, because he has this power?

Yet if I use definition 4.1 (The determination of events by divine power.), then does the last clause mean that the onlooker   interprets the story due to "nature's course", or the belief of godly determinism?


texts: How to describe a fraction with a sentence

texts:
I want to describe the fraction x/y, how should I describe it in English?

x divided by y?


texts:
Earlier today, I wrote:

  "Saw a friend got an ice cream."

However, I was told that it should be:

  "Saw a friend get an ice cream."

Why should get be used instead when the sentence refers to the past? Thanks!


texts:
Is the so in this example incorrect or superfluous?

I was thinking about the example of so with do:

  He asked me to send him money; I did (so).

I wondered whether so could be used similarly in my warriors example. Is it super formal, or have I not got it quite correct? Is the so in my example an anaphora?


texts: How to express that instructions (i.e. a recipe) should be followed precisely?

texts:
Suppose I'm giving a recipe (let's say, for a special cake) to a friend. I'd like to make sure he follows the recipe precisely down to the last minute detail.

Is there an idiom that I could use to express this? As in, "But you have to follow the instructions of the recipe ___!"?


texts:
In a sentence like this:

  Many people realize that they didn't do any wrongdoings, so they cannot understand why they have to be punished.
  or

  Many ..., so they cannot understand why do they have to be punished.*

Which sentence is right?

I know in an independent question like "Why do you fight?" we cannot omit the "do". But in a clause like the example I gave above, may I omit the "do"?


texts:
In my another post ("time adverbs" vs. "adverbs of time") I said

  I suppose these 2 sentences are both grammatical and idiomatic.

I guess the sentence above is grammatical.

I also see lots of people use "both these" or "both of these". And both are grammatically correct.

So, I am thinking if it is still is grammatical when I rewrite that as

  I suppose both of these 2 sentences are grammatical and idiomatic.

Could someone please give a hint?


texts: Why no article for 'tomorrow' but there is for 'morrow'?

texts:
I searched for the word 'morrow' and found out that it takes the definite article 'the'. It's an old word but still in use as I refer COCA. One of the example is:

  the postbox by the door where it would not be noticed until the morrow

My question is,

'morrow' is a noun and so is 'tomorrow'. Both mean the same, but then why the word 'morrow' takes the definite article and 'tomorrow' does not! Say--

  It is reserved till the morrow BUT  It is reserved till the tomorrow.

If both mean the next day, and there should be only one day, 'the' seems okay with 'morrow' but not with 'tomorrow'.


texts: The meaning of the word "money" with different adjectives in context

texts: Here is the context: "In cold, hard, merciless dollars, does it make sense to spend or borrow money on college?"


texts: Help me to Identify whether a verb is transitive or intransitive

texts:
I was doing an exercice about identifying types of verbs (transitive or intransitive) in a sentence. And I  am confused about a sentence.

  An old baggar stood by the gate.

In the answer for the above sentence, the verb is marked as an intransitive verb.

But as per the explanation in the book, a transitive verb is one that passes over a subject to an object. And in the above sentence the object is gate.

In the above sentence, is the verb stood transitive or intransitive? And how?


texts: Use and meaning of "Would" in following sentence

texts:
As part of my effort to understand use of "would", I came across below text on internet.

  I need a translator (junior translators welcome) to proofread/revise a text. Must be a native speaker. Please email me to get more details.
  I am looking for someone responsible and serious. I would send you
  the document Friday night or Saturday morning, and I would need it for
  Saturday evening.

As per my understanding, here "would" is used as 2nd condition sentence where condition is unlikely to happen.

I believe in above sentence instead of "would", use of "will" is a better choice.

Please correct me if my understanding is wrong.


texts:
He wondered, as he did so, if they did not represent an unnecessary note of strain. Mrs. Barrows smoked only Luckies. It was his idea to puff a few puffs on a Camel (after the rubbing-out), stub it out in the ashtray holding her lipstick-stained Luckies, and thus drag a small red herring across the trail. Perhaps it was not a good idea. It would take time. He might even choke, too loudly.

Does choke in the example mean "cough"? It looks like since he is smelling a cigar for the first time it might make him cough so loudly that the neighbors would hear it.

For context.


texts: "received notices denying them rebates on those grounds."

texts:
SOURCE   (Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, Steven Sinek)

  More than 4,000 Samsung customers lured by the cash back received notices denying them rebates on those grounds.

I have two questions based on this sentence.

does the word received mean here that: cash back which recieved notices, or what?
what is the meaning of them here, what it comes to my mine that the writer should exchange them with their rebates.

In brief, I want to know how this sentence works grammatically and meaningfully in context, especially the words I stressed on.


texts: Question about "death grip on something"

texts:
The other thing is our hand position when we’re driving. It’s nice, soft hands are very important in learning to drive. We don’t want a death grip on that wheel. We want nice, soft hands, like pretty much anything that you do in sports, your hands have to be nice and soft. If your hands are soft and you’re not real tense, you’ll find that you have the ability to steer a car much, much better.

What does the word grip mean here? What does it mean to say to want a death grip on something ?


texts:
Is use of "at" and "in" in a sentences together correct grammatically?

  there is low separation at higher radius of blade (near tip) in
  variable thickness blade.


texts: What's the word for a picture that is turned over - is it opposite?

texts:
As non-English native speaker, I need some help in expressing myself in the following context. Someone sent me a picture that turns opposite (I'm not sure I'm using in the correct words, sorry) so it's difficult to read the text in this picture. (You can compare it with a picture where the head is down and the legs are up).

What is the correct way to express this condition? Can I say "This picture is opposite"?


texts: Are "over-visible" and "over-visibility" correct/idiomatic words?

texts:
I want to say that someone is too visible, as in the following sentence:

  Unlike philosophers who suffer from invisibility in the society,
  sociologists enjoy over-visibility.

Is the use of "over-visibility" in the above sentence correct?


texts: I know that objective stands for impartial aka unbiased whereas an objection means a protest, an opposition. I do not see how opposition is related to impartial unbiasnes.  How did the word split into two meanings?


texts: What do you call this plastic rope for measuring?

texts: I am having difficulty to find the English word for this stuff. It is actually a plastic rope that is usually used to measure.


texts:
Why does the dove moan or the horse shake its mane?
  Or the lizard wait on the white wall then is gone?

Something about this, may seem strange to read, mostly near then is gone. Grammatically, and, maybe, in a proper sense, why may this seem, maybe, like this?


texts:
Once I was confused as to which version I should choose in the following sentence.

Any person (comes/coming) late (is) not admitted

It turned out that coming is the right choice. However, I still would like to know which grammar topic deals with this kind of sentences/constructions.

Any ideas?


texts: What is the difference between 'figure', 'graph' and 'drawings'?

texts:
I like taking online IQ quizzes. Very commonly I see questions like this:

Which of the figures below the line of drawings best completes the series?

Sometimes it's like this:

Which of the graphs below the line of drawings best completes the series?

Are the words figure, graph and drawings above interchangeable with each other?

Thanks,


texts: Why does the author say: "the word is 'vasectomising'..." suddenly?

texts:
For this text:

"When you're a guy, and a dad," I told Freddy's scarecrow, "and you have to ask your wife to put ￡5,000 of her bonus into the joint account so that the garage won't refuse your card, and all the jokes about being a Kept Man are worn away, the word is 'vasectomising'..."

I know I have asked the "almost-the-same" question again, but the really important thing that I want to ask is not the meaning of 'a Kept Man' and 'vasectomising' (basically I know their meaning now), but it is this question:
Can I understand the last two clauses (i.e., "and all the jokes about being a Kept Man are worn away, the word is 'vasectomising'...") in this way (because I think the author omits something between these two clauses, doesn't he?):

and all the jokes about being a Kept Man are worn away, oh yeah, right, and they use a word called 'vasectomising' when they are joking.

Thank you in advance!
The full context is:

Though sure, there's no denying that the money stuff hasn't helped the marital stuff. "When you're a guy, and a dad," I told Freddy's scarecrow, "and you have to ask your wife to put ￡5,000 of her bonus into the joint account so that the garage won't refuse your card, and all the jokes about being a Kept Man are worn away, the word is 'vasectomising'..."
Garden time swallowed me up, because the next thing I knew, Lorna was calling me from the patio.

Excerpted from David Mitchell's short story The Massive Rat: online link


texts: Meaning and the position of "all" in a sentence

texts:
All my friends answered my questions in the class yesterday. Every one of my friends answered my questions...

My friends all answered my questions in the class yesterday. Each one answered my questions...

My friends answered all my questions in the class yesterday. Every one of my questions was answered by my friends...

My friends answered my questions all in the class yesterday. Not acceptable English.

My friends answered my questions in the class all yesterday. My friends answered my questions all day, yesterday.

Do you agree with these? I am confused with the fourth one.


texts:
Can you explain to me please what does "matchy friends" mean in this sentence? "What you must do at first is to make sure you have chosen the matchy friends to explore a city?"
I checked some dictionaries, but all I could find was "matchy-matchy". Is this usage "matchy friends" correct? I found it in an English coursebook
See http://ogmmateryal.eba.gov.tr/panel/upload/etkilesimli/kitap/ingilizce/11/unite9/index.html#p=11


texts:
In grammar rule, the verb "make" follow infinitive without "to": for example my teacher made me study hard.
But I found a below sentence.

  The act of being heavily committed makes an executive likely to miss certain sighs.

I am confusing because I think the phrase seems infinitive with "to" for me.

Or the phrase "likely to do" works as an adjective, here?


texts:
I do not think, sir, you have any right to command me, merely because you are older than I, or because you have seen more of the world than I have; your claim to superiority depends on the use you have made of your time and experience.
  ― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

Why may merely because you are older than I get contained in commas? Does it get utilized like some phrase? May it seem an adverbial phrase? I may get a comma follows that conjunction or.


texts: What's the meaning of "On a hot skillet with beans"?

texts:
Shang Tsung: Would you consider serving a sorcerer?

Erron Black: On a hot skillet with beans, maybe.

Shang Tsung: I will not extend the offer twice.

resouce: https://mortalkombat.fandom.com/wiki/Mortal_Kombat_11_Intro_Dialogues

I found this on this website: Meaning of the phrase 'hot off the skillet'

But I still can't comprehend the dialogue.


texts: Meaning of: if it is the injury he is expecting

texts:
We play a very, very emotional game,” Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner said. “I think sometimes you have to allow people to have their emotions. I don’t think nothing of it. I think he has a long road ahead of him if it is the injury he is expecting.

(Quote from a news story about Earl Thomas breaking his leg)

What does the sentence in bold mean? The “if it is the injury he is expecting” is the most confusing part. Would you rephrase it for me please?


texts: When you are going to ask someone about the amount of their bank deposit

texts:
Imagine you are going to find out how much deposit someone has in their bank account. I would appreciate it if you could tell me which one of the following self made sentences would sound natural in such a case to be asked:

  a) How much is your deposits?

  b) How much do you have in deposits?

  c) How much do you have in your cash bank deposits?

  d) How much deposit do you have in your bank account?

[This is a query between two close friends.]


texts:
But whether that gift be present in greater or in lesser degree, the
  character and ideas of a statesman are best studied through his
  own words.

So what's the meaning of this "are?"
Does this imply "can"?

It can be studied very well through his words?


texts: Articles we should use when we are talking about a specific person and clothing

texts:
Which article should I use in the question below?

  A) Who is the girl with the umbrella?

  B) Who is the girl with an umbrella?

Thanks!


texts:
Suppose I am organizing a meeting for my team, here is what I sent to the team

Hi, team, please check your email, I just scheduled a meeting in Outlook.

Should I have used the preposition "via" here?

... , I just scheduled a meeting via Outlook.


texts:
What you look like.
  What do you look like?

When forming the wh question, do I need to use a verb or auxiliary verb in between wh and subject?

  What · he said · turned out to be true?
  What ·  did he say · turned out to be true?

  What · you opened it · with?
  What · did you open it · with?

What do the above sentences mean?


texts: "End user" vs. "end-user" — correct usage of hyphen

texts:
I am writing an academic paper, and using the term "end user" many times. However, I am confused between "end user" and "end-user". My current policy is to use "end user" if it is used as a noun. For example,

  The system is designed for end users.

If it is not used as a noun, I used 'end-user'. For example,

  This is an end-user based platform.

  It focuses on the end-user networks.

Is this correct hyphen usage? Should I consistently use one form throughout a paper?


texts: Can "to" be reduced to "ə" in fast speech?

texts:
Many times in fast speech, i've heard people say the prep "to" like only with a sound /ə/ (maybe with a little flap t as in 'better'). For example: i'm trying to help. I'm not trying to get mad at....Or, Power to sing. In the sentence, i'm trying to help, it sounds like /am trai ə help/. Is that really what they do?
  I ask this because i feel like it's smoother and easier for me to pronounce "to" with only a schwa sound when speak fast. I just wanna make sure it's proper.

PS: for instance, in this utube video https://youtu.be/tVja6oEUYlo, min 1:16. 'He helps people and corporations learn how to make better decisions'. That "to" is pronounced /ə/ or /də/ ?. it's fast, so i can't be sure,but I think it's /ə/


texts:
Here are two examples:

The front wall is all that remains of the fort.
... since no records will remain of
their phone conversations, emails, blogs, and text messages.

The sentences below have the preposition of sandwiched between two nouns to form a noun phrase.
1a. The front wall of the fort is all that remains.
2a. ... since no records of their phone conversations, emails, blogs, and text messages will remain.
I’m wondering whether they hold the same meaning, eager to know the answer!
Many thanks.


texts: "The daily life of my cats" ? or "My cats' daily life"?

texts:
I'm making a webcomic about my cats, I'm ready to publish it, but I have a huge doubt regarding the title. Because, according to Google Translate (yes, I know, it's not the best reference...) both of the sentences can be used... But I'm not sure. So what is the best, please?
I'm a French native, by the way


texts: "Some required fields" or "Some of required fields"?

texts:
Which is correct:

  Some required fields are not highlighted.
  Some of required fields are not highlighted.

If both phrases are correct, is there a difference in meaning?


texts: How to imagine 'pull oneself together' is relevant to calm oneself down

texts: pull oneself together means calm oneself down and begin to think or act appropriately. I am wondering how they are relevant and how to understand it?


texts:
In Russia, we can say that we live 'on land' if we have our own detached house with a square of ground.
Is there an expression like this in English, or is it strange to say that
you live

on the ground
on land

?


texts: meaning of "getting in" in "spent time getting in"

texts:
The government is seeking to take out things from the political declaration that Theresa May spent time getting in.

What does getting in mean?


texts:
Caroline was skiing when she broke her leg.

Is when a conjunction or adverb? Can I replace when with the word and?

Are there ways to rephrase this sentence?


texts:
If I am citing a phrase that looks like this:

  She said "That's fun!"

and I only want the "That's fun!" part, should I write it like this:

  "'That's fun!'"

this:

  'That's fun!'

or this:

  "That's fun!"


texts: Nouns for calling something we don't know how to call it

texts:
My daughter always calls things she does not know how are they called as thingy. She could say just that thing but she wants to express that she doesn't know how are they called and sometimes she just wants to make it sound funny.

Is this expression used in English and are there any other words for calling things we don't know how are they called while expressing that we don't know how are they called to the listeners?


texts: "properties of something and [of?] its something"

texts:
Which one is correct? Which one is more preferable in an academic context?

  properties of something and its something

  properties of something and of its something

The properties studied are properties of both of those things, ie. properties of something and also properties of its something. The "of" seems to be semantically fitting, but it seemed a little redundant.


texts: Regarding a math function, which is better?

texts:
I I want to have a function depicted graphically, which is better?

Draw a graphic of the function
Draw a plot of the function
Make a graphic of the function
Make a plot of the function
Plot a graphic of the function
Plot the function


texts: l don't get the meaning of the sentence in bold clearly

texts:
The bullet smashed Anders’ skull and ploughed through his brain and exited behind his right ear,
  scattering shards of bone into the cerebral cortex, the corpus callosum, back toward the basal
  ganglia, and down into the thalamus. But before all this occurred, the first appearance of the bullet
  in the cerebrum set off a crackling chain of ion transports and neuro-transmissions. Because of
  their peculiar origin these traced a peculiar patter, flukishly calling to life a summer afternoon some
  forty years past, and long since lost to memory. After striking the cranium the bullet was moving at
  900 feet per second, a pathetically sluggish, glacial pace compared to the synaptic lighting that
  flashed around it. Once in the brain, that is, the bullet came under the mediation of brain time,
  which gave Anders plenty of leisure to contemplate the scene that, in a phrase he would have
  abhorred, “passed before his eyes".

Dose the whole phrase means: He remembered 40 years ago. and remembered things(a summer afternoon) that he completely had forgotten.?

Or Dose it means: He was forty years old.?

Or does it mean: suddenly he died in a summer afternoon?

Dose calling to life means: remembering?

(Bullet in the Brain by Tobias Wolff)


texts: Pronunciation of ‘a’ when the article is modified by an adverb

texts: ‘A’ means one. If ‘a’ is modified by an adverb, for example ‘only,’ in ‘only a star.’ Do I better say ‘a’ as the sound in ‘make,’ not as schwa sound?


texts: Why is the subject singular in this sentence (ponies are a breed that need to be protected)

texts:
From this BBC News article:

  The wild Carneddau ponies of Snowdonia are a unique breed that need to be protected, say scientists

I was surprised to read need, expecting needs.

Why does it say a breed that need to be protected, and not a breed that needs to be protected?

In this sentence, I think that refers to breed, not to ponies.
I'm aware that with British English collective noun rules, sport teams, companies, and probably some other groups, may get a plural verb even if they appear singular (Arsenal rule, BP have made profits, etc.).  Does this apply to breed?  Or is there a different reason why the verb in the cited sentence is a plural one?


texts: Is it important to provide additional information when using Past perfect, past progressive, and past perfect continuous

texts:
What I mean is will it make a difference if we omit the second information?
Example:

  1 - Past progressive.

    I was bathing when you came.

  2  - Past Perfect

    The Train had left before they reached the station.

  3 - Past Perfect Progressive

    I had been bathing for 2 hours and so couldn't answer when you ranged my phone.

Now, can we omit the second information(in bold) without hampering the grammar rules?

Is it really important to provide the second information when using these three tenses? Further examples will be welcomed.


texts: What is exactly the difference between "gaze" and "stare"?

texts: According to dictionaries, they both mean "to look steadily at somebody / something".


texts:
Should I use the singular or the plural form of "headache" in my sentence?
"I love rain when the thunderstorm thunders. I like sunny weather when it's light all around.These changes in the weather can give me headaches/ a headache.The weather also has a mood. It changes so quickly where I live."


texts: Only now "are" technological advances beginning to offer hope

texts:
Only now are technological advances beginning to offer hope that wind power will come to be accepted as a reliable and important source of electricity. Wind Power in the US

Why do we need the auxiliary verb "are" in the above sentence? can we re-write it as below?

  Only now technological advances are beginning ...

Or omit it to be:

  Only now technological advances beginning ...

Update:

What is the subject? "Only now" or "technological advances"?

  Only now are technological advances beginning to offer hope


texts: word choices related to Personal Protective Equipment

texts:
Could you help me with this sentence? I don't know if I am writing it right, specially the the bold words :

  Personal Protective  Equipment ( PPE) is specialized clothing or equipment worn by employees for protection against health and security hazards. Personal protective equipment is designed to protect many parts of the body, i.e., eyes, head, face, hands, feet, and ears.

In particular:

Should it be special clothing, or specialized clothing?
Would it be better to day worn by employees, or used by employees?
Which should it be: security hazards or safety hazards?


texts:
Source: Vladimir Putin’s worst nightmare may be happening right now (CNBC)

"I think we are likely to see much more decline than anybody now predicts," he says.
Other observers say that while Putin can still count on the propaganda coup his state media machine has pulled off, it's only because Russians haven't had to cope with the downturn for long.

What is "propaganda coup"?


texts:
When talking about a group of people, e.g. project managers, which of these is more correct:

  Project managers are generally goodhearted, but here's a list of things you should avoid doing lest you invoke their wrath:

or

  Project managers are generally goodhearted, but here's a list of things you should avoid doing lest you invoke their wraths:


texts:
What is meant by "consumed" and "consumed by"  apart from the general meaning?

For example : in the movie Civil War T'Challa says to Zemo

  Vengeance has consumed you. It's consuming them. I'm done letting it consume me."

What does he actually mean by it ?


texts: How should I interpret this sentence structure (with too many "or")?

texts:
Without the written consent of us, you are not allowed to modify, use,
  or allow others to use, rewrite, or disseminate the above content in
  any way, or use it for other commercial purposes.

The bold part is confusing for me. This sentence is from a Service Agreement, and does the bold part mean:

  You are not allowed to use it for other commercial purposes.

or

  You are not allowed to allow others to use it for other commercial
  purposes.


texts:
I'm struggling with the verb "accompany". Let me commence with the example first.

to go with someone or to be provided or exist at the same time as something:

[E1] Depression is almost always accompanied by insomnia.

[E2] There are two modes of establishing our reputation: to be praised by honest men, and to be abused by rogues. It is best, however, to secure the former, because it will invariably be accompanied by the latter.

The meaning says that "A accompanies B" (and "B is accompanied by A") is equivalent to "A occurs concurrently with B", i.e., there is no primary-secondary relation between A and B. But [E1] seems that it means "insomnia generally causes depression", i.e., "A causes B". On the other hand, following from the context of [E2], I guess that it means "the former certainly causes the latter", i.e., "B causes A". I'm stuck here. Which interpretation is right?


texts:
I'm a little confused about using toward and towards in sentences. For a PhD student is it correct to say:

  He is moving toward PhD degree

or

  He is moving towards PhD degree

?

Should I use the before PhD in this sentence?


texts:
Does the following makes sense, with "the totem pole" referring to totem poles in general?

  The totem pole can be grouped into specific categories, depending on its location and the occasion for which it was carved.

Note that there are various types, or categories, of totem poles such as the welcome pole and memorial pole.

I'd appreciate your help.


texts: What does the meaning of "informed on you" in this sentence?

texts:
Context: Mr smith saying Janusz wife reveal information about Janusz to Russian soldiers. Irene told this to Mr.Smith.

  Irena told me that they tortured your wife and she informed on you.

I am familiar with informed by me in English sentences, But I never came across informed on you. so What does it means?


texts: Exact difference between "keep doing" and "keep on doing"?

texts:
I often come across sentences like these

  He kept on chasing the thief even it's deep into the night.
  Shall we keep practicing in the next few days?

But as far as I'm concerned, both of the following sounds fairly OK.

  He kept chasing the thief ...
  Shall we keep on practicing ...?

I can barely remember that they have a monir difference in meaning but I Googled (and searched ELL.SE) around and found only usage differences. Can anyone tell the exact difference in meaning?


texts:
Is it possible to use a verb directly after a prepositional phrase? For example,
Is the sentence of "In this picture are some wonderful details" correct?
thanks


texts:
Is it okay for me to open the door?

In this sentence, does 'it' refer to 'for me to open the door'? Is 'it' an anticipatory subject? Or is 'it' an impersonal pronoun, which does not refer to anything?


texts:
What's the best idiomatic way of putting a line in a diary about visiting some family whose last name you don't know?
For example, today I have visited Jack and Marry, but I don't know their last name. What should I write?
Could it be like:

Paid a visit to Jack and Marry's home.

or

Paid a visit of Jack and Marry's home.

or

Paid a visit to Jack and Marry's house.

or

Paid a visit of Jack and Marry's house.

or

Paid a visit of Jack and Marry's.

or

Paid a visit to Jack and Marry's.

or is there a better way yet?
NOTE: By "the best idiomatic way" I mean the way a native English speaker (preferably an American) would put that.
EDIT: I understand that a verb "visit/visited" might be very suitable here; however, I am very much interested in whether using the noun "visit" may also be idiomatic in this situation.


texts:
Can you help me with those questions, I would like to know what is the best way to ask someone:

  How long have you been working for Apple?

I am not sure I have to use "for" or "At" Apple. And if the person is not working anymore I think the right questions is:

  How long did you work for Apple?

Is that correct?

Also:

  I am at a restaurant

vs

  I am at the restaurant.

Is there any differences between those two?


texts:
In Selena Gomez's new song, Lose You To Love Me, she says:

  "I needed to lose you to love me."

I was wondering if this means she needed to lose them, so that they would love them. If so, is this an established way of saying it? Shouldn't it have been "I needed to lose you for you to love me.", if that was the intended meaning?


texts: These movies are "ONE" of the known movies

texts:
I'm writing this article and there is a sentence in it: "These movies are one of the best movies."
I spell-checked it, and the website I used said that one should not be used with a plural subject.

Should I omit one?


texts: Question about preposition in the sentence

texts:
Tell me please what is better to say:

  I want to experience more of smth.

or

  I want to experience more in smth?

Is this sentence grammatically correct or not? How would you say?


texts:
I guess I understand the rules in Cambridge Dictionary grammar tutorial on see sb do sth and see sb doing sth.

However, Google Ngram shows another possibility of the use of "see"

in what situations I am supposed to use the pattern see sb did sth? Could someone please give a hint about the rules/conventions of it? Thanks in advance.

"sb" refers to "somebody" or "someone"

"sth" is written abbreviation for "something".


texts: Where does t-drop pronunciation happen in UK?

texts:
If I hadn't written they ideas on that jotter as they come to me
  I'd've forgotten 'em all b'now. . . . . .Actually now you can pass me
  that jotter.  (BBC. The Archers. 2013-06-17,
  2:00~2:49)  sentence 1 sentence 2

Clarrie in the soap opera doesn’t seem to pronounce /t/ in jotter. Where does this pronunciation - t omission - used in UK?


texts: "It is high time we leave" or "It is high time we left"

texts:
Phrase 1: It is high time we leave.

  Phrase 2: It is high time we left.

Some opinions I have gotten so far imply that both are correct while some imply that only phrase 1 is correct.


texts: 'All' in "all just ten miles from Manhattan" in this context

texts:
Brighton Beach had a marvelous sandy coast looking out on the Atlantic and the adjacent Coney Island amusement park, all just ten miles from Manhattan -- everything one could ask for in a delightful seaside resort.

I'm not quite sure how to understand 'all' in the context.  Does it mean the distance between Coney island and Manhattan totally just ten miles? Or it refers to all the areas that have been mentioned in the first part of the sentence including Brighton Beach, Coney Island, and etc.?
What's the correct way to understand it?


texts: I found these mistakes in the English news

texts:
I read this news on Yahoo and I found two mistakes as per me, not sure if they have been mistaken or I am wrong so I need your help.

This is a paragraph on Yahoo.in:

  "Throughout this series, they've played very good cricket. Their new ball pair have been very good but where they've taken the game away is in the middle overs batting which set up their charge late in the innings, picking up 80-90 runs consistently," he said.

I think, it should be like this:

  "Throughout this series, they've played a very good cricket. Their new ball pair has been very good but where they've taken the game away is in the middle overs batting which set up their charge late in the innings, picking up 80-90 runs consistently," he said.

Thanks in advance.


texts:
A. He backs.

B. He is back.

C. he will be back

What is the difference in meaning between these?


texts: Is it unconnected adjective when the verb with ending "-ed"?

texts:
Hi I'm a beginner in English. I'm confused about the grammar in English.

This sentence is an explanation for the verb implement means from Oxford learners dictionary

  to make something that has been officially decided start to happen or be used

Q1: In the sentence there is decided in it. I wonder about decided whether it is a passive form from of the infinitive verb decide or a new word typed adjective.

Q2: Is start to happen or be used same as start to happen or start to be used?

Q3: I know that is a relative clauses and it  seems to be used for something, but why doesn't leave out even is an object?


texts: What are the differences between "Our democracy is what is at stake." and "Our democracy is at stake."

texts: "Our democracy is what is at stake." and "Our democracy is at stake." Both have same meaning, but what are the differences.


texts:
Why do we always say:

The class is over.
The time is over.
The time of class is over.

Why don't we say:

The class is finished.


texts:
Following a previous discussion about I would like vs I would have liked, I have a similar question.

What is the difference between

  I wanted to come to your party but I couldn't

  I would have liked to come to your party but I couldn't.


texts: "Watch a snippet on TV" or "see a snippet on TV" which is more appropriate?

texts:
I would like to express that I happened to see a piece of news on TV when walking past the living room. Can I say, "I saw a snippet on TV."

And which is more appropriate?

"I watched a snippet on TV"
"I saw a snippet on TV"


texts: Looking for synonyms for "confirmed by reality"

texts:
I would like say that something (like facts) is "confirmed by reality" but with a different word instead of "confirmed"
I thought of the following but I expect they're not precisely accurate:

endorsed by reality?
supported by reality?
sustained by reality?

Are any of these accurate or do you have other suggestions?

From a quick search, it looks like "supported by reality" has more results in Google , but some of them are due to an IT/SQL product named "Reality".


texts: Colloquial English way of asking question

texts: Having gone to market, my friend was asked question that what are the items which has been bought. If I want to ask in colloquial slang.How can i ask?


texts: alternatives to say "according to the definition"

texts:
From the post "motion picture" vs. "video"

  According to the definition, some types of video are ...

I'm pretty sure the phrase "according to the definition" is common and natural, according to Ngram Viewer.

The question is if any of the following candidates could also do the job.

  In reference to the definition, ...

  As per the definition, ...

  As stated by, ...

  In keeping with, ...

Why would I do that? Because the sentence after my first quoted sentence uses "according to" twice, which is usually considered bad expression.

Could someone help me on this?


texts:
Tennis and Cricket enthusiast.
Formula-1 and MotoGP fan.

I have included these two lines in my (high school format) résumé. I want to depict the idea that I know most of the rules of Tennis and Cricket. On the other hand, I love watching Formula-1 and MotoGP races, but do not know all the rules of the game. I do not want the interviewer to get the wrong idea that I know everything about all the mentioned things.
I searched the meanings of the words and these were the results:

enthusiast - a person who is very interested in a particular activity or subject.  Source

aficionado - a person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about an activity, subject, or pastime. Source

fan - a person who has a strong interest in or admiration for a particular person or thing. Source

What prevented me from using the word aficionado is that it means someone who is knowledgeable. I won't consider myself on that level yet. Hence my question, are the two statements above idiomatically correct? Or should I consider opting for other alternatives? Also please do mention those alternatives.


texts:
I need a smartphone which allows me to check my email and use Facebook. I really want a phone with good battery life.

A tutorial suggest to use "a", but I think I should use "the" because the reader know which phone I am talking about and it is mentioned before.

Also why it is not a good battery life?


texts:
Mr. Raj is one of the famous teachers who has/have come to teach you now.

I'm confused between the two. I think have should come. But here noun is singular so has could also come.


texts: Is "starred by" correct in this context?

texts:
The Terminal is starred by Tom Hanks

(Terminal is a movie)

I am trying to state that Tom Hanks is the star in the terminal.

In my context I need to use passive voice. So is starred by make sense in this context please?


texts: What does it mean "... the economy goes arse over tit."?

texts:
I've found this turn of speech here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=429146.msg4691806#msg4691806

  which I'm sure is quite alarming and effective to the average ignorant
  pleb who is then happy to shell out £100 on a subscription if it means
  he now has the secrets to hold onto his money when the economy goes
  arse over tit.

What does it mean "goes arse over tit." ?


texts: What does details mean in the definition of detailed

texts:
Detailed (adjective) means

having too many details

example: a detailed answer

What does this details mean in the definition of the adjective Detailed?

Since the noun detail has two meanings:

1.an individual fact or item

2.a minor, less significant point

In my interpretation

#1 and #2 mean the same thing as

When someone alleges rape, the interrogator may ask for lots of "details" such what time was it, what were you wearing, what colour was the attacker's shoes, how did you get home afterwards, etc.

These details could be seen as "mere details" compared with the main fact, but those details could be extremely important as evidence of truthfulness or in identifying the actual attacker.


texts: How is called the word that means to have an intention or wish so weak that he/she  decides not to do something. What I remember is that this word it seems have common roots with the word volition and it is formal.


texts: What is the usage of 'completed' in this sentence?

texts:
Please specify the highest level of education completed qualifying you for university entry.

I don't understand the usage of 'completed' and 'qualifying'

I thought meanings like this
the highest level of education was completed.
you have to qualify you for university entry for specification of the education.

My interpretation is right? I don't understand the sentence structure.
Thank you in advance.


texts: Help understanding the phrase "at the mercy of your subject's prejudice"

texts:
The following quote is from the movie Inception:

  — Right there you have various political motivations and
  anti-monopolistic sentiments and so forth. But all of that stuff,
  it's, um... It's really at the mercy of your subject's prejudice, you
  see? What you have to do is start at the absolute basic.

  — Which is what?

I have emphasized the sentence I'm trying to understand. So, as far as I know at the mercy of something means completely under control there. But what about prejudice? I've found various meanings there. How can we bound them sensibly in that context?


texts:
Can you say

  Despite initial success, method A has not found its way into the canon
  of cancer treatments.

What I mean by "canon" is simply that method A is not one of those that a normal doctor at a normal hospital would suggest or would have learned about during his studies.

Looking at Merriam-Webster's definition, I think that the 4.th meaning might cover my usage, but I am not sure because the focus there is on 'principles', not 'methods'. Similarly, most other definitions that I looked at are even more limited to religious, poetic, or musical meaning.


texts:
I'd rather stay at home, read more books.

I'd rather stay at home reading more books.

I'd rather stay at home, and read more books

Are all the above sentences grammatically correct?
What's the difference in their meaning?


texts: What do you call those hats that only cover the top of your head?

texts:
I'm not really referring to the Jewish hats. More like this one (usually worn by Chinese, I think):

What's the name? I typed types of hats on Google, but it doesn't show in the images.


texts: Asking question about event that happened some minutes ago

texts:
If someone giving me order on the phone and then after 1-2 minutes he/she comes in front of me, how I can ask him that he/she gives the order on phone or they come without giving order on the phone?

Is it can be like "Have you already give the order?" or "Did you give the order?"?


texts:
I asked a question (In some cases, "come" and "go" are interchangeable, right?) just now, and added some explanation at the beginning.

  This post is discussing verbs, the following scenario is to add background for discussion.

Is "add background" an idiomatic expression? Is there other beginning more appropriate for this kind of scenarios?


texts: The bus or car part that we stand on name

texts: When we stand on the bus or a car, what is the part called that our feet comes in contact with?


texts: Can any one explain to me "to pay his way through"?

texts:
A poor man was selling goods door to door to pay his way through medical school

What does "to pay his way through" mean here? Is it an idiom?


texts:
a. In his bedroom, Phil texted Jane.
b. Phil, in his bedroom, texted Jane.
Wouldn't you say that there are three slightly different ways to understand these sentences?

Phil, who was in his bedroom, texted Jane.

Phil texted Jane when he was in his bedroom.

Phil texted Jane once he was in his bedroom.


texts:
Can you please explain me how can 'shone' be after 'when' ?
Or another example. When added to a liquid,antifreeze lowers the freezing temperature of that liquid'


texts: How to understand the use of "to" in "rolling up the magazine to continued gales of laughter from the Slytherins"

texts:
... Harry could feel his face burning. Snape was pausing at the end of every sentence to allow the Slytherins a hearty laugh. The article sounded ten times worse when read by Snape. Even Hermione was blushing scarlet now.

  “'…Harry Potter's well-wishers must hope that, next time, he bestows
  his heart upon a worthier candidate.’ How very touching,” sneered
  Snape, rolling up the magazine to continued gales of laughter from the
  Slytherins. “Well, I think I had better separate the three of you, so
  you can keep your minds on your potions rather than on your tangled
  love lives. ...

I don't quite understand the part in bold above. It might be because the use of 'to' is confusing. "rolling up the magazine to" doesn't seem to make much sense to me. How should we understand it?


texts: Definite article for things that are mine

texts:
Can I use the definite article for things which are somehow mine, which I can use my before them and they are unique to me (like my mother, father, wife, husband)?

For example to say

  When I was 16 years old, the father said me .....

Instead of

  When I was 16 years old, my father said me ....

or

  As I fell, the shirt teared apart


texts: How avoid using two adverbs in one sentence

texts:
How to use two adverbs in one sentence is been asked at least four times here:

Use of two or more than two Adverbs in one sentence

How do I put two adverbs together in a sentence?

Two adverbs in a row with “-ly”

Do I need a comma when using multiple adverbs?

None of the questions answer the general rule of how to use two or more adverbs in one sentence!

I found these rules here, Why Adverbs Stink (and the Magic of Editing):

  4 enchanting rules for adverbs
  If you delete an adverb and the meaning of a sentence doesn’t change, remove it.
  If you delete an adverb and the sentence weakens, try finding a stronger   expression.
  If an adverb modifies a verb, try picking a more accurate verb and delete the adverb.
  When in doubt, delete your adverb.

  (enchantingmarketing.com)

While I was searching for an answer, I stumble upon Steven King quote on adverbs

  "The road to hell is paved with adverbs."

Instead, he is encouraging writers to paraphrase and refrain from using adverbs

Q: So in the light of the above advice how to avoid using two adverbs in one sentence? Is the sentence below a good example? I also welcome any other examples.

  A.
  Recently, I have been occasionally at (place 2) transporting individuals from (place 1) and/ or securely handling and delivering something back to (1).

Or

  B. Since I started working at (1), I have been occasionally at (2) transporting individuals from (1) and/ or securely handling and delivering something back to (1).


texts:
I have come across in exercise a sentence presented like this:

  I decide that NOT GO/NOT GOING would be the better decision.

Between NOT GO/NOT GOING I 've selected Not go but the right answer is
NOT GOING.

Why is 'not going' the correct answer?


texts: Using "already" in the future scheduled time

texts:
Is it okay to use "already" in the future scheduled time meaning that the decision has already been made and, thus, the time is occupied?

For example, can I say

  "Jenny invited me to go swimming with her this Wednesday, but I am
  already doing one sport this Wednesday, so I can't go with her"

?


texts:
I am writing my bachelor thesis in English and currently have a problem with expressions of the form "the x, the y", where x and y are quite long. When reading the following sentence I produced, I am unsure whether it is explicit enough:

  That is, the lower the difference between the average F-measure that has been achieved on some particular dataset by LS restricted to exact match versus the best LS overall, the simpler the structure of this dataset can be assumed to be.

Note: LS stands for link specifications (pl.)


texts:
I have a sentence like:

  We run the three programs __ the same day:

Choices are:

1) at

2) in

3) on

Which one is correct? You can suggest another better choice if any.


texts: Successful meditation between two countries requires patient and enthusiasm

texts:
Successful meditation between two countries requires:

  A. Patient and enthusiasm
  B. enthusiasm and patience
  C. enthusiastic and patience

Which will be the right answer?


texts: Should not there be "preceding" instead of "following" in this sentence?

texts:
I read a sentence in a chapter in my book which was:

  Death rate in Bihar in 1967 was 34% higher than the number of deaths that occurred in the following year.

I think, in comparison, we tend to compare present situation to a past one. So I think by reason of logic, "preceding" should be there instead of "following" in the sentence. Am I right in thinking so?


texts: I need to know from a native speaker whether the TH in the word "foul-mouthed" can be pronounced as F. I find it very difficult to make a D sound after the TH.


texts: "job" literal meaning and figurative meaning

texts:
I just came across a situation that I had to express my feeling, for instance when you do ironing and when it's done what exactly you can say? I myself usually say:

  Phew, what a tough job

I was wondering what exactly should I say in such a situation, because as you know job as its literal meaning conveys different meaning.

What else I can say when I want to express my idea about something which is hard to do?


texts:
I have been using Ubuntu operating system for a few years, and
  recently I had to temporarily switch to my (long unused) Windows on the same laptop.

I wonder which adjective could be used instead to mean "long unused"? Thanks!


texts: What does it mean: to roll into the wild

texts: Context: Android 4.2.2: A better Jelly Bean rolls into the wild. Does it mean that  Android 4.2.2 becomes something like an animal, something crazy?


texts:
I'm writing an email, and I've the following doubt: To say that I'm sending a file alongside the email itself (there is a file attached to the email) is correct to say "I'm sending the document attached on this email" or "I'm sending the document attached in this email"?

Which one is correct and why?


texts: Do different pronunciation of detail /dɪˈteɪl/ /ˈdiː.teɪl/ have the same meaning and usage?

texts: On Cambridge Dictionary, the word "detail" has two different American pronunciations: /dɪˈteɪl/ and /ˈdiː.teɪl/. Do they have the same meaning and usage?


texts:
What is the function of "that" in the following sentences?

I don't regret having been the jerk that I was.
Was it me that you said that to? (only the first "that")
It feels like just yesterday that winter break started.

Also, is it possible for phrases to be inverted within sentences and keep the same meaning?


texts: Can we say "visiting" a store when we mean buying things there?

texts:
He hasn't visited our store recently. I know he buys food in this
  store. He has become very significant.

Does "has visited" go well with this context?

Is it suitable here, or should I have chosen another verb?


texts:
War leaves too many young men cut off in their prime.
  (Source)

I just came across this sentence. Is "cut off" here used as an adjective or passive voice?

I know I can use this structure: "Leave + something + adjective"

  For example: Please leave the door open.

If "cut off" is used as passive voice there, don't we need "to be" ? As in:

  War leaves too many young men to be cut off in their prime.


texts: When something good is being presented as bad

texts:
When a person presents in his speech something that generally is good as being the absolute opposite, what do we call it?

I mean grammatically and in terms of terminology only.

How do feel?
Never been better (in a sad voice and manner when it actually should have been and stands for "Never been worse")

This example shows that "Never been better" is generally perceived as being something positive, however, is delivered as something negative.


texts: Doubt in a particular extract from the newspaper "The Hindu"

texts:
I could not understand the analogy behind this particular paragraph taken from the Indian newspaper called "The Hindu".
The paragraph is given as follows:

The Forest Department officer also speaks of an administrative gap."We don't have a wildlife division here due to political reasons", he says. Indeed, despite the four notified wildlife sanctuaries that form roughly 3.5% of the district's geographical area, there is no wildlife division under the forest department.


texts: How to use "occasional" as a doer of a particular activity?

texts:
Is it correct to say for example: "I am an occasional music composer"?
I mean is it correct to use occasional as a maker or doer of something?

I have already checked the Merriam Webster Dictionary and this is the result:

Definition of occasional
1a: of or relating to a particular occasion
a budget able to meet occasional demands as well as regular ones*

b: created for a particular occasion*
occasional verse
occasional music

2: acting as the occasion or contributing cause of something
occasional causes for creating apparent effects

3: encountered, occurring, appearing, or taken at irregular or infrequent intervals
occasional visitors
an occasional vacation
found occasional errors
occasional episodes of chest pain

4: acting in a specified capacity from time to time
an occasional lecturer
an occasional essayist

5: designed or constructed to be used as the occasion demands
occasional furniture


texts: The meaning of the idiom 'be subject to'

texts:
This paper is subject to correction.

Without context, I take it to mean:

  This paper may be corrected.

But could there be some context under which it could mean:

  This paper will be corrected.


texts: present and past perfect with a dead entity

texts:
I learned that "had", or past perfect is usually used with a dead entity. But what if I am not trying to emphasize the fact that an action had taken place before that entity died? Such as:

  My dead grandfather has stepped on a mine (when he was alive).

This sentence is resultative, showing why he died, and uses present perfect.

And this sentence below:

  My dead grandfather stepped on a mine (on July 6, 1995).

This sentence is incorporating the specific date at which he stepped on a mine, therefore using simple past tense.

Are the uses of simple past and present perfect tense above valid?


texts: What's the meaning of "fed" in this sentence?

texts:
I found this sentence in a novel. I'm quite sure I understand the general meaning, but I can't understand the exact meaning of "fed". It should be the simple past of "feed", but in the dictionary I can't find a definition that can help me.

Two men are moving a piano.

  The taller guy held it in place atop the padded board while his partner ran thick nylon straps into slots in the board and fed them through to the other side. Each strap went over the piano and was buckled tightly to itself.


texts:
Desert oases are the main, in many cases the only, source of water in the region.
  Tommy, along with the other students, breathed a sigh of relief.

Sometimes I see a phrase or even a clause in the middle of a sentence and is set apart from the rest with commas. What are these element called ?


texts: The use of the present simple in context

texts:
Tell me please why the present simple was used instead of the past simple in the following context.

  Have you ever talked with a friend about a problem, only to realize that  he just doesn't grasp why the issue is so important to you? Have you ever presented an idea to a group of people and it's met with utter confusion?

It is from this video. It is right at the begining.


texts: Could I say the more the thickness is, the greater the A is?

texts:
The resistor formula is R=ρL/A.
Is this sentence grammatically wrong about the more...is...the greater...is?

Total length of resistive element is like L in the formula. The thickness of film layer is like A, the more the thickness is, the greater the A is.


texts:
So I came across a really confusing sentence. The following passage is to provide a bigger context, but what I don't understand is just the first one:

  Control was something Ruth wanted very badly, yet eczema defied her attempts to eradicate it. The Jewish mythological figure Lilith, known as the ‘night hag’, was very powerful in her; ‘erupting’ when she felt controlled. This archetype had played out in every aspect of Ruth’s life, and she was only now beginning to see how it had influenced her: she’d had no trouble finding jobs, friends, boyfriends, but then felt controlled by them, and turned destructively against them.

To help understand more about the context -- there are four pillars in Ruth's life, Zionism, feminism, socialism and Judaism. I kind of feel that religion plays a part in interpreting the sentence.

To specify my question, I simply don't understand what is eczema to do with anything in the sentence (isn't eczema a skin disease?) and I am not sure about what the "it" refers to too... Control? Eczema? Or something else?

Maybe eczema is just a metaphor? I notice that "erupt" can also mean "(of a spot, rash, or other mark) suddenly appear on the skin." But how can I interpret the metaphor (if it is one)?


texts:
I would like to know whether the expression this is the thanks I get? is used in English or if there is any other expression conveying the same meaning

The implication is that one shows no signs of being grateful after someone did something good for him/her or one is flabbergasted at another person's ungratefulness or ingratitude after being bighearted and generous to him/her.


texts: How would I describe a room with no ventilation?

texts:
Let's say I have a room in my house with no windows, no flow of air in or out, isolated from the rest of the house, which makes it impossible to sit there.

How do I describe it? Can I uses the following sentence?

  Because of no ventilation it(the room) is always very congested, so it is impossible for anyone to live there.

Is the use of congested correct in this context, or should I use some other word?