texts: Commas with FANBOYS (for/and/nor/but/or/yet/so)

texts:
I watched an interesting YouTube video about commas. In this clip, the author says commas are needed with FANBOYS (for/and/nor/but/or/yet/so).

The example is as follows:

  Bartheleme was accepted into the University of Chicago, and he is on the waitlist for Stanford.

However, in this YouTube video clip, the author says it is not necessary when the subject in the first clause is different from the second clause.

The comma-less example that the author uses is:

  They went to get pizza but the store was closed.

The example that uses a comma is (the comma is needed as the subject is the same for both of the clauses):

  They went to get pizza, but came back with ice cream.

It's confusing because from the first YouTube clip the FANBOYS always need commas, but from the second clip we need the comma only when the subject is the same.

In this video clip, there should be no comma with:

  She started the car and drove down the hill.

This example is quite contrary to the second one.

What is the correct usage of comma with FANBOYS? For example, do I need comma or not in this sentence?

  I have raised him and tried to give all the support that he needed to become a person who leads a fruitful life,(?) and a model citizen who contributes to make the world a better place.


texts: Why is “seven” not pronounced as “seeven”?

texts: There is a so-called magic e in fourth place should force the e at 2 place to sound its name. But this rule does not apply to ‘seven’. Why?


texts: How does absolution 'automatically deprive...for virtue'?

texts:
Penultimate para: In other words, he consciously chose a course of action that he knew to be wrong, as he made perfectly clear by resigning when he was found out. Here again, Aristotle has the last word. You can wish for whatever end you like, good or bad, but it is what you actually do about it that counts; and while ‘a worthless man wishes for anything that takes his fancy’, he says, an honourable man will wish for what is good, and choose appropriate means to achieve that end. But at every choice, Aristotle insists, ‘We have the power to act, or not to act, to say “yes” or “no”.’ As a result, he concludes, virtue and vice are up to us, while to absolve bad men of blame for wrongdoing automatically deprives good men of praise for virtue.

1. Would someone please explain the last sentence? Is the author saying that absolution ... deprives good men of praise, and [provides instead] for virtue ? How to decompose/parse this?

2. I'm confused by the use of automatically. How can absolution be expressed as automatic?
What's the reasoning or what suggests it?

Please explain the steps, thought processes; I’d like to try to resolve this myself in the future?


texts: How could an adverb come straight after a transitive verb?

texts:
What I know, or what we have been taught is we could not put adverbs directly after a verb when the verb is transitive.

Could you tell me how is this possible if “had” is a transitive verb here in this example:

  we had quite a nice weekend here.

Isn’t supposed to be like? :

1) We quite had a nice weekend here.

Or

2) We had a quite nice weekend here.


texts: "indicate confirmation" or "indicate a confirmation"

texts:
A friend and I were talking about intonation, I said

I guess people could use rising tone to indicate confirmation.

Should I have said it this way?

... to indicate a confirmation.

According to Cambridge Dictionary, "confirmation" could be either countable or uncountable.
Which one should I go with in this particular situation?
Ngram Viewer shows the former is more common while the latter is not quite rare.


texts: Agreeing with negative sentences - "Me neither" or "Me too"?

texts:
How do we agree with a negative sentence?

What is the choice? 'me neither' or 'me too'?

Say,

  Andy:  I don't like my teacher.
  Bob:   Me, neither.

OR

  Andy:  I don't like my teacher.
  Bob:   Me, too.


texts: acknowledging someone one cannot put a name on

texts:
In the sentence:

It is a way of ____________

... acknowledging someone one cannot remember the name right away
... acknowledging someone one cannot remember the name easily

Better suggestions?


texts:
An ELL post says

  As most people will recognize that 'studying' does not last forever, it should be a given that it will end.

where "given" is used as a noun.

Cambridge Dictionary gives this definition about it

  something that is certain to happen

Is it reasonable to see "given" as something like "promise"? In other words, are "given" and "promise" interchangeable in this kind of cases?


texts:
One can say "get back home" or "went back home" to talk about going back home after hanging out with friends.

  In response to this question: Who do you usually like to hang out
  with? I say: Back home, I used to hang out with my collage colleagues, but nowadays, I usually go out with my work colleagues

"back home" refers to my country and the listener know that I am a foreigner. Is this a correct usage of the phrase. Is it idiomatic?


texts:
Sometimes it’s as simple as switching where and how you sit that can
  set the tone for the rest of your day.

Does it mean... - something like :

  A Simple action that how and where you sit can set the tone for the rest
  of your day.

  As simple an action as swiching how and where you sit can set the tone
  for the rest of your day.

This?

I thought "it" meant something before that sentence
And as simple as was Comparison with something.

But If I think like that .. this setence dosn't make sense in the News paper.

Thank you for reading ! I wait for your comment :>


texts: What does "theirs" refer to? "his auxiliaries"? Why don't use "them" nor "his" instead?

texts:
Machiavelli "The Prince" Chapter XIII

Three of four English translations are the same.

W. Marriott (the last sentence, key points in Bold, hereinafter):

  And although ancient histories may be full of examples, I do not wish to leave this recent one of Pope Julius II, the peril of which cannot fall to be perceived; for he, wishing to get Ferrara, threw himself entirely into the hands of the foreigner. But his good fortune brought about a third event, so that he did not reap the fruit of his rash choice; because, having auxiliaries routed at Ravenna, and the Switzers having risen and driven out the conquerors (against all expectation, both his and others), it so came to pass that he did not become prisoner to his enemies, they having fled, nor to his auxiliaries, he having conquered by other arms than theirs.

N. Thomson:

  Ancient histories abound with instances of this, but I shall not pass from
  the example of Pope Julius, which is still fresh in men’s minds. It was the height of rashness for him, in his eagerness to gain Ferrara, to throw himself without reserve into the arms of a stranger. Nevertheless, his good fortune came to his rescue, and he had not to reap the fruits of his ill-considered conduct. For after his auxiliaries were defeated at Ravenna, the Swiss suddenly descended and, to their own surprise and that of every one else, swept the victors out of the country, so that, he neither remained a prisoner with his enemies, they being put to flight, nor with his auxiliaries, because victory was won by other arms than theirs.

H. Mansfield:

  And although ancient histories are full of examples, nonetheless I do not wish to depart from this recent example of Pope Julius II, whose course of thrusting himself entirely into the hands of a foreigner, when he wanted Ferrara, could not have been less thought out. But his good fortune gave rise to a third thing so that he did not reap the fruit of his bad choice;f or when his auxiliaries were defeated at Ravenna, 1 the Swiss rose up and, beyond all expectation, his own and others, drove out the victors; and he came out a prisoner neither of his enemies, who had fled, nor of his auxiliaries, since he had won with other arms than theirs.

J. Bennett's translation is different:

  There are plenty of examples in ancient history, but I want to stay with Pope Julius II’s obviously dangerous decision to put himself at the mercy of a foreigner in his desire to get Ferrara. But his good fortuna brought a •third element ·into the equation·, saving him from the likely consequences of his rash choice: his ·Spanish· auxiliaries were defeated at Ravenna; •the Swiss, to his and everyone’s surprise, rose up and drove out the ·French· conquerors; so Julius didn’t become a prisoner of his enemies, because they fled, or to his auxiliaries, because they hadn’t given him his victory. ·But that was incredible good luck; it doesn’t make the Pope’s behaviour sensible·.

You see, it's "they" not "theirs".


texts: In this sentence "He continued watching until I had driven off in my car." drive  off is obviously preceded to continue watching, why drive off is in past participle tense though?


texts: "Speeding time up" vs "speeding up time."

texts:
There are other examples, like "bringing up the topic" vs "bringing the topic up." What's the difference?

Example sentence:

  She wished she could speed up time/speed time up.

speed up time

speed time up

I found both instances on Google Books, so I'm more  and more confused.


texts: Does "He started remembering" breach the laws of english grammar?

texts:
He started remembering his past days and got really emotional about it.

vs

  He remembered his past days and got really emotional about it.

Does the 1st sentence breach the laws of English grammar? Because as far as I know, REMEMBER is a state verb and can't be used in continuous form, but I see a lot of these sentences being used in our daily lives.

For instance,

  Believing in god is very important. (isn't believe a state verb?)

and

  After he got to know all the things that she had done for him, he began loving her. (isn't love a stative verb)


texts:
How can time periods so long be "periods around now". I'm studying English Grammar in Use, and in the first unit, says:

  You can use present continuous with today/this week/this year
  etc.(periods around now)
  for example: The company I work for isn't doing so well this year.

First question: can I say => The company I work for isn't doing so well in this year. Difference?

Second question: Consider longer periods. How do you explain this subject that these periods are around now. for example:

Our country isn't doing well this decade!!!


texts:
Source: Networking—A Beginner's Guide, 5th Edition by Bruce Hallberg (2010)

Example:

  Network security is provided by a combination of factors, including features of the network operating system, the physical cabling plant, the network connection to other networks, the features of the client workstations, the actions of the users, the security policies of management, and how well the security features are implemented and administered.

what exactly is that?


texts: Should there be an article before “cell phone”?

texts:
From an online article:

  Many drivers tool around town or take long drives with cell phone in hand, one eye on the road but their mind clearly someplace else.

Since "cell phone" is of course countable, shouldn't the sentence be:

  Many drivers tool around town or take long drives with a  cell phone in hand, one eye on the road but their mind clearly someplace else.

Is it a grammatical error or a special usage in the original text?

I am interested in knowing if the "with something in hand" construction warrants an exception or if it is common practice to omit the article in similar constructions.


texts: Is it better using “has been reported” to replace "is reported" in the sentence?

texts:
Is it better using “has been reported” to replace "is reported" in the sentence below?

  Avoid crowded places like movie theaters and shopping malls if the flu is reported in your town.

What do you think?


texts: 'Thank you for taking your time writing' or 'Thank you for taking your time to write' ?

texts:
A person gave me an answer on English.SE and I commented:

  Thank you for taking your time writing this wonderful answer!

Now, looking at the sentence in retrospect, even though I am not a native English speaker (duh, otherwise I wouldn't be asking a question on ELL.SE), I find the sentence a bit odd.

To get my point across, let me rephrase the sentence:

  Thank you for taking your time to write this wonderful answer!

With my relatively little knowledge and understanding of English, I feel that using 'writing' (as I did in the original sentence) emphasizes the very process of writing the answer, whereas using 'to write' emphasizes the mere fact that an answer has been given, and a wonderful one at that.

This is exactly why I feel the original sentence is a little bit awkward and the second, revised one would have been more apt.

Am I correct or are the quoted sentences virtually synonymous?


texts: Facing Grammar Issues / copywriterly and grammarly

texts:
if used (While, As, Which, If, Where, Because) Must use ! or ? or ,

When I did that it dropped 2% in grammarly, is there's specific conditions to put the ( ! , ? ) after this capital words? or every time?

As copywriterly advised to put them, then the result on grammarly went more bad.

Thank you all for answering


texts: What's the negation of "Sooner or later"?

texts:
I find the following sentence in need for the "Sooner or later" but in its negative form.

The sentence:

  This is what I don't intend in disclosing. Not sooner or later.

The speaker wants to emphasize on his refusal of disclosing an X matter. I don't find "Sooner or later" fits the sentence, with preserving the speaker's technique of stating that.

But it may fit if the structure of the sentence changed a bit, like:

  This is what I don't intend in disclosing sooner or later.

According to Collins Dictionary:

  If you say that something will happen sooner or later, you mean that it will happen at some time in the future, even though it might take a long time.

  Sooner or later she would be caught by the police.

In my case, the speaker is certain that that won't happen in the future. So, is there a negative form of the phrase? Since I didn't find it stated on the Internet in its negation. Google Search - Google Books


texts: Reduced relative clauses referring to a whole sentence

texts:
1a- The station chief was fired, meaning there is an open position.
2a- We argued over something meaningless, making me feel bad.
3a- Dr. Gregory House is often brooding, ill-humored, and pessimistic,
leading to interpersonal discord.

Are these sentences above grammatically correct and can I rewrite them as follows?

1b- The station chief was fired, which means there is an open
position.
2b- We argued over something meaningless, which made me feel bad.
3b- Dr. Gregory House is often brooding, ill-humored, and pessimistic,
which leads to interpersonal discord.


texts: Word describing someone who wants/needs an authority?

texts: As far as I know, "authoritarian" is mostly used to describe the power itself ("an authoritarian ruler", for example). However, are there any similar word to describe someone who wants/need an authority to function properly?


texts: missing commas between coordinate adjectives?

texts:
to reach a mutually-agreed long-term comprehensive solution that would ensure Iranˈs nuclear program will be exclusively peaceful.

As I see, in the noun phrase a mutually-agreed long-term comprehensive solution, all the three adjectives describing the head noun are coordinate. Then, shouldn't there be commas between them making it look like a mutually-agreed, long-term,/and comprehensive solution? Is putting a comma between coordinate adjectives a must? If so, what has happened here?

Links for further study are most welcomed:)


texts: How should I use neither/nor/not/or in negating expressions?

texts:
My friend and I are confused on negations. we thought it could be because of possible different use of negation in countable or uncountable nouns, but our problem definition could be wrong.
So what can we learn from this?

Which one(s) out of these below is/are the most correct, concise, and natural expression(s)?

1a. Most probably there is neither an escape from love nor faking it.
1b. Most probably there is neither escape from love nor faking it.

2a. Most probably there is not an escape from love nor faking it.
2b. Most probably there is not an escape from love or faking it.

3a. Most probably there is not escape from love or faking it.
3b. Most probably there is not escape from love nor faking it.

4a. Most probably there is no escape from love or faking it.
4b. Most probably there is no escape from love nor faking it.


texts: this is Mama talking ; this is Mama's talking

texts:
Dear Papa will not salute the Stars and Stripes. “An Edgefield man would die first,” Papa says. Yet he doesn’t like it when Mama quotes Mark Twain, who has recently written that Old Glory should be changed to a pirate flag, with black stripes and each star a skull and crossbones. As long as this great land of ours is fighting, the men aren’t fussy about who they fight -- this is Mama talking with her small bent smile. Papa smiles, too, but he is wary. Mama’s needles fly as she quotes from an editorial read at the library, “The taste of Empire is in the mouth of the people, even as the taste of blood --‘” (Killing Mister Watson, by Peter Matthiessen)

‘This’ seems to refer to the anterior sentence, 'As long as this great land of ours is fighting, the men aren’t fussy about who they fight.'  And the head of predicative complement, which is ‘Mama talking with her small bent smile’, is ‘talking.’ However, the modifier of ‘talking’ isn’t possessive case, Mama’s. Can we say both ‘this is Mama’s talking’ and ‘this is Mama talking’? Or is there any other reason to say that way?


texts: Do we say "triangular hole" or "triangle hole"; "circle hole" or "round hole"?

texts:
triangle noun BrE /ˈtraɪæŋɡl/ ; NAmE /ˈtraɪæŋɡl/

  a flat shape with three straight sides and three angles; a thing in
  the shape of a triangle

  (British English) a right-angled triangle

  (North American English) a right triangle

  Cut the sandwiches into triangles.

  triangular adjective BrE /traɪˈæŋɡjələ(r)/ ; NAmE /traɪˈæŋɡjələr/
  shaped like a triangle

This lady in the video seems to be a native speaker and she said "triangle to the triangle hole" (at 1:10). She said "circle to the circle hole ..." (at 1:20).

Why didn't she say "triangular hole"?

Similarly, "rectangle" (noun) -> rectangular (adj)

But "square" (noun); "oval" (noun) --> "square" (adjective); "oval" (adj)

But"circle" (noun) --> round (adj)

Why didn't she say "triangular hole" instead of "triangle hole" and "round hole" instead of "circle hole"?


texts: Is there any difference between "that is it" and "that is what it is" in the sense of it is a fact?

texts:
Is there any difference between the phrases in the following context.

  I couldn't pass the exam. That's what it is.

  I couldn't pass the exam. That's it.

What I am trying to say that I didn't pass exam and that is a fact. Nothing can be changed about it.


texts: polish in Reverse Polish Notation or Polish Postfix Notation

texts:
Upon reading Reverse Polish notation - Wikipedia

  Reverse Polish notation (RPN), also known as Polish postfix notation or simply postfix notation, is a mathematical notation in which operators follow their operands, in contrast to Polish notation (PN), in which operators precede their operands. It does not need any parentheses as long as each operator has a fixed number of operands. The description "Polish" refers to the nationality of logician Jan Łukasiewicz,[1] who invented Polish notation in 1924.[2][3]

What does Polish mean here?

The definition from polish | Definition of polish in English by Oxford Dictionaries

  Verb:  Improve, refine, or add the finishing touches to.
  Noun: A substance used to give something a smooth and shiny surface when rubbed in.
  Relating to Poland, its inhabitants, or their language.

Does it relate to Poland?


texts: Can I use "You can" rather than "Could you" in restaurants?

texts:
I'm learning restaurant English. I tend to use "You can" but my English teacher always corrects me to use "Could you". She is telling me "You don't want your server to be angry".

I think if I say "You can give me a cup of water", "You can give me the check", and the server does get angry, and gives me bad service, I can give him less tip because of the bad service.

Is it OK to use "You can" rather than "Could you"?


texts:
I am writing a report. In the middle of the report, I've written:

  Here, in order to reduce complexity we encounter in (33), we use approximation of the X. (The) Approximation for the X is given by:

The question is which preposition is correct, "for" or "of"?


texts: Should I use 'the' in the below sentence?

texts:
I need clarification for your problem.
Could I use 'the' in the above sentence? Will it be correct or it is correct without 'the'.


texts:
Is this sentence correct?

  Nobody there is called for discipline from

I mean what what order should it have becase it seems  to have been over twisted or something...


texts:
As the title states, in what circumstance should i use "as opposed to"?
Can i use "vice versa" in some context instead?


texts: completed or have completed undergraduate

texts:
I have completed my undergraduate degree at Harvard.
Or
I completed my undergraduate degree at Harvard.

Which one is correct? The simple past variant or the present perfect one?


texts: Does "two consecutive columns have the same color in every two columns" make sense?

texts:
The image above shows an Excel worksheet.  I am trying to describe how cells in row 3 are colored. It is not necessary to describe what color it is. My example is as follows:

  Cells in row 3 are colored such that two consecutive columns have the same color in every two columns.

In this image, the number of consecutive columns is two, but I would like to know more general expressions that can be used regardless of the number of consecutive columns, for example, in the sequence of five consecutive colored columns, three consecutive uncolored columns, five consecutive colored columns, three consecutive uncolored columns, five consecutive colored columns, ....

Could you advise me on whether this correctly describes the color pattern.


texts:
I learn english for about 20 years, and still sometimes articles make me mad. This question has few related sub-questions about articles.

Can you please explain these sentences:

"Waiting for remote server" - no definite article. Does adjective remote serves as a replacement of an article?
"Program exited" - no definite article, although it is clear that the exact program was meant.

The examples above are taken from https://golang.org/
"He borrowed the teacher’s book." - is the related to teacher or to a book? Or it depends on the context? Can the be related to both teacher and book?
Can any adjectives other than posessives (my, his, etc.) and demonstratives (this, that, etc.) make articles unnecessary? E.g.: "I gave him my (this) pen". Or only posessives and demonstratives have such a magic ability?
Did I do any mistakes of using articles while writing this question?


texts: Is it grammatically correct to say "I also question the charges in my bill" or should it be "I also ask question about the charges in my bill"


texts: Can 'I have written to him for a long time/for six years' mean I recently stopped writing him?

texts:
I have written to him for a long time.

Is it possible to write that? Someone told me that this sentence was not valid, but I don't understand why? Is it true?

It means for me that I still write to my friend or that I have recently stopped.

I want to say that I have very recently stopped writing after sending many letters during a long time, say six years. Is the sentence below okay?

  I have written to him for six years.

but I recently stopped.

What difference, if any, does for a long time and for six years make?

If present  perfect is not possible here, what tense should I use?


texts: What do you call something that looks like clockwork?

texts: I don't know any adjective or word that has that particular meaning. What's the closest expression or word if there's no adjective for it?


texts:
I used to spend hours learning songs on youtube but   would learn nothing.
Your movie had an interesting subject, and it did well, but perhaps not as masala (spicy) film would do.
You had no advantage then and struggled like any other person would.


texts: (something rubs off on people) vs. the same relation from the other direction

texts:
I like the idiom that something "rubs off" on people but I am wondering if there is an idiom with the same meaning but from the other direction; in other words, I mean with the meaning that people begin to have a positive attitude -or any other thing for that matter- from it as in the quote below.

This entry is from Merriam Webster

  rub off

  often used figuratively

  ▪Her positive attitude rubbed off on other people. [=other people
  began to have a positive attitude from being around her]

  ▪I wish some of your good luck would rub off on me. [=I wish that I
  would start having good luck too]


texts:
From NPR: 'Made For This': The Rootless Life Of A Roving Musician
This passage describes David Dondero: a singer, songwriter as well as a transient. The following text is just a quotation about how Bazan recognized Dondero and his impression of Dondero.

MASTERS: Bazan says he admires his friend. He first met him when they toured Europe in 2008. Bazan says he watched him every night.
BAZAN: Whoever's in the room, even if they don't know about him prior, are just kind of captivated and it energizes him. And I could see it over and over again; him being plagued with self-doubt, you know, when he's not on the stage, when he's kind of going about his day. And then he gets up on stage and it's a reminder to him, like, oh yeah, I'm kind of made for this.

I have two questions:

It seems that the word prior stressed above is used as an adverb. But from the dictionary, prior can only be used as adjective and noun. So is it wrong in the passage?
What's the meaning of his day in the quotation?


texts:
1) Whose are these cattle?

2) Whose cattle are these?

Which structure is correct? If both, then what is the difference in meaning?


texts: 'He don't have knowledge ' vs 'He doesn't have knowledge'

texts:
Which one of the statements below is correct?

He don't have knowledge about others.
He doesn't have knowledge about others.


texts: A word or a phrase to describe a person who distort your message and pass it to another person

texts:
A colleague of mine encountered a person who selectively distort some message on purpose when communicated to certain group of people. As a result of that, the main message was not been correctly conveyed.

I wonder is there any term or phrase to describe that person trait? I mean this person makes the message false by mutilation or addition.


texts:
By the time we get there, he will be/will have been gone.

I would like to know whether there is a difference between these two or the perfect tense is wrong here.

I assume that with the perfect tense, more emphasis is placed on the fact that he has been dead for a while.


texts: Which kind of adverb clauses that show us Cause and Effect?

texts:
Some of the adverb clauses that show us Cause and Effect like: 'because, now that and since"

Are there any more of these?

What is the rule for using them?

For which of them we need to use comma in the sentence when we use it?


texts: Is "a bit more erected" an appropriate way of describing the following posture?

texts:
I want to explain why the bunny on the right-hand side of the following picture appears to be bigger than the one on the left. Maybe it is really because of the difference in the heights of the two, but let's assume it is just because of their postures.

  The bunny on the right-hand side appears to be bigger because it is a bit more erected than the left one.

How does this sound? Do you know some better expression?


texts: one of which will be/is and the other will/is

texts:
Suppose that you have put a few boxes on a table. Each box contains a watch and one more thing. The surprise item is different in each one. You let your friend choose a box and keep the gifts inside. This what you are going to say to him/her.

(1) Each box has two items, one of which is a watch and the other is a mystery.

(2) Each box has two items, one of which will be a watch and the other will be a mystery.

(3) Each box has two items, one of which will be a watch and the other is a mystery.

I am not sure which verb form is correct? Please help me.


texts: Which one sounds better in formal English?

texts:
Two varieties of apple

  Two varieties of apples

  Two varieties of an apple

Is there any difference between these. Which one should be preferred by a native speaker?


texts: difference between "any influence over sb" and "any influence on sb"

texts:
I wonder if I can replace over with on in the sentence below and if the meaning remains the same. If there is any difference, I would like to ask for the explanation of it.

  Her parents no longer have any real influence over her.


texts: Can I say "... have us been provided"? :)

texts:
Can I say "this robot have us been provided", without being gramatically incorrect? :)
Or is it only "this robot have been provided".


texts:
1.The factory (was closed down) (considering) the use of excessive (chemical) made the river (dries out)

2.The Maasai tribe (are) people (whom) have (wondered) throughout the world for (nearly) 1000 years

3.Del Piero (has become) one of the (greatest) fottballer that the world has (ever known)

4.By 1990, 1.5 (millions) people (were) living in an area that in 1960 (had) a population (of) 180.000

5.Nowadays many people (need) technology (because) (it) is important in (shape) modern lifestyle

Can you help me to find out the wrong words in the brackets? Thank you ^_^


texts: One can often see expressions like "Biology 101".  Also in in book and article titles like "Wine tasting 101."  What does this mean?  Does this have something to do with a class one takes? Can it mean something outside of registering for a class?


texts: meaning of "within sb. reach" in context

texts:
A post explains "right here" this way

  is usually used when the location is very specific, within reaching distance, and can be pointed to directly

which uses the phrase "within reaching distance"

In another post ("here" vs. "over here" in an area of an eye), a contributor uses a similar phrase

  In simple terms, 'over here' means 'within your reach'. Over here means near you - From Collins English dictionary.

I guess "within my reach" and "within my reaching distance" mean the same thing.

"within" means

  inside or not further than an area or period of time

I guess "reach" in this context means "see", the whole thing means the whole area I can see.

Given the post is based an image of the surface of an eye, "within my reach" means the whole image/screenshot, is my understanding right? Could someone please give a hint? Thanks in advance.


texts: what is meaning of subject to in the following sentence

texts:
Hello there I m Sajid and I'm exceptionally confounded about the use of the phrase subject to.

What is the significance of subject to in the following sentence?

  This was partially because in analyzing his data he used probability theory, an alien subject to most biologists of the time.


texts: What is the meaning of this quote by Hannibal?

texts:
Before the Battle of Cannae, in which Hannibal defeated a larger Roman army, Hannibal made the following quip:

  Reportedly, a Carthaginian officer named Gisgo commented on how much
  larger the Roman army was. Hannibal replied, "another thing that has
  escaped your notice, Gisgo, is even more amazing—that although there
  are so many of them, there is not one among them called Gisgo".

What is the intended meaning of this phrase? Is he attempting to praise the man under his command?


texts:
From tribune.com:

  We will prevent Saudi help in the building or financing of mosques in Germany where Wahhabi ideas are to be disseminated,” he told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper.

I know we can use noun as adjective whenever we want, for example "boy-style", so is "Saudi" an adjective describing "help" here? But this is a bit strange to me, is this common or normal?

Or is it a typo of "prevent Saudi helping in the building" or "prevent Saudi's help in the building"?


texts: Comma after "to"-phrase starting a sentence

texts:
I am wondering if I need a comma in the following sentence.

  To further our understanding of this phenomenon(,) we conducted yet another experiment.

If the sentence was the other way around (We conducted... to further...), I would not use one but with the given order I am not sure whether it may be smart to put one in.


texts:
The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the
  grounds that the argument

  A)_____ B)_____ C)_____

For me, it sounds like most should be eliminated in order for the sentence to be correct, since "criticism" is a singular in this sentence. If the sentence is "The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to which one of the criticisms?" then it would sound ok with the word most. Am I thinking incorrectly?


texts: How exactly do I tell if "A xxx of" is plural or singular?

texts:
I looked up a few grammar-teaching websites (in Chinese language). The website says many people do not use the phrase "A xxx of" correctly because they do not identify the subject of the phrase correctly.

The website says phrases like "A range of; A high percentage of" is singular, while "a number of; a group of; a couple of; a total of" is plural.

Therefore according to the website, the correct sentences should be as follows.

  A wide range of courses is available. ("A wide range" is the subject)

  A high percentage of peptides that are made of amino acids is present
  in the sample. ("A high percentage" is the subject)

  A number/ group/ couple of people were killed in the earthquake.("people" is the subject )

  A total of 230 employees were laid off. ("employees" is the subject)

I don't get the pattern here. All of this looks (or should I use "look"?) arbitrary to me. In fact I thought this phrase is supposed to be arbitrary and whether the phrase is plural or singular should depend on the the person's own judgment.

How do I identify the correct subject in the "A xxx of" phrase?


texts:
I think in the following sentence I used apposition at the end of sentence, I would like to know is it a correct way to introduce an apposition?

  If  this rule be applied on the elements of the page, all such elements will be removed, regardless of their locations in the page, even if they be inside the main content.


texts:
They fight a lot.

1) Then let's hope she finds someone else soon.

2) Then let's hope she finds another boyfriend soon.

3) Then let's hope she finds herself another boyfriend soon.

In this example where she already has a boyfriend, which one of the sentences is more natural? Could I use them all?


texts: Get and be - when should each of them be used?

texts:
here is a motivational sentence about exercising and I'm not sure if it is correct.

  Challenge yourself, push yourself and every day you will get better and stronger and every day you will be one step closer to your goal.

I'm not sure about using be and get. I prefer be (...will be one step...) but I think it's more passive. Should I use get instead?


texts: How to understand "before her Sept. 14" in this context?

texts:
On Wednesday, Judge Dow ordered Badway to tell clients, who were not in court, that they must appear before her Sept. 14 after giving sworn depositions on what happened to the money at Badway's law office on Monday morning. Dow also voiced concern that McClure and D'Amico will attempt to flee her jurisdiction.

The phrase can be seemingly parsed into two different ways:

[they must appear before her(in front of her)] {(on) Sept. 14}: in this case, the prep 'on' is omitted
[they must appear] {before her Sept. 14}: I'm not sure if the phrase "her Sept. 14" could really make sense. If it does, it sounds like Sept. 14 is a timeline in her schedule list.

So, what would be the correct way to understand it? I feel the first one looks more correct or plausible.

The full source.


texts:
My understanding is that "who" is only used to address people. However, i read an article that claimed if we are referring to the organization as a group of people , we can use "who." Please provide your feedback on the examples below.

The customer will send their bills to the company who will then defer them to the insurance company.

The customer will send their bills to the company which will then defer them to the insurance.

I don't think "that" can be used in the context noted above.

I had an interview with a company, which did not offer much incentives.

I had an interview with a company that did not offer much incentives.

Thanks!


texts: Why the word "both" is considered as a determiner?

texts:
Why the word "both" is considered as a determiner (According to the Cambridge and the Collins dictionary)?
Example sentence: Both kids walked a minute ago.

Isn't it a quantifier? Also if yes then could you please tell me how to know when a word acts like a quantifier and when it acts like a determiner?


texts:
So, “May I go to the bathroom?” is “Will you please permit me to leave
  class and go to the bathroom?”

I guess leave class would be leave the class since both the speaker and the listener know which class the speaker is taking about ? Am I correct ? And is there a difference ?

Thank you.


texts:
What are some tips to figure out the correct meaning of a sentence?
Example:

A: "1+1=3."
B: "Yeah, right".

If I don't know what 1+1 equals to, I don't know if B means: "That is correct."(nicely) or "Thats so wrong!"(offensively).
Are there any tips that I could use? Thanks.


texts:
The phrase

  Michael, born and bred in London, is a scientist from Cambridge.

is clear. He was born and I grew up in that city (I do not know the origins of the word bred, but I trust it to mean grew up).

Now, imagine that he was born in one city but grew up in another:

  Michael, born in London and bred in Paris, is a scientist from Cambridge.

Question 1: Is this allowed? May I split up the usually fixed phrase born and bred like this?

Since I wasn't sure that this was allowed I tried working with an alternative to bred. Such alternative would be grow up in its past tense. Some suggestions would be:

  Michael, born in London and grew up in Paris, is a scientist from Cambridge.

  Michael, born in London and grown up in Paris, is a scientist from Cambridge.

But I am in doubt here. This does not seem correct by far.

Question 2: Are any of these versions with grew up or grown up correct, or would something else fit?

How would the perfect sentence be?


texts: Which is Adjective its Transfer or Transferred?

texts:
What could be the Adjective in below sentence, I mean which is defining the date?

a) Your transfer date is 31-Dec-2020.

b) Your transferred date is 31-Dec-2020.

I can understand that most of the adjectives are in Past Participle format. but can we simple tense for adjective?


texts: Is it correct to say "index and thumb" without the word "fingers"?

texts:
Example sentence:

  Takahashi caressed my middle finger with her index and thumb.

I see both instances on Google.


texts: Why "the" isn't used before significance in this sentence?

texts: An essay on the nature an significance of economics science.


texts: What does "closed expression" on someone's face mean?

texts:
Mr. Moony presents his compliments to professor Snape, and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's bussiness.

  Snape froze. Harry stared, dumbstruck, at the message. But the map didn't stop there. More writing was appearing beneath the first.

  Mr.Prongs agrees with Mr.Moony and would like to add that Professor Snape is an ugly git.

  . . .

  Snape pointed at the parchment, on which the words of Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs were still shining. An odd, closed expression appeared on Lupin's face.

  Harry potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Here, Snape found out that Harry was possessing this magical map, and called Lupin to ask him what this is. It turns out later in the book that Lupin is, in fact, Mr.Moony, which means he was one of the four who made the map which teases Snape. But Harry knows none of these yet.

In this situation, what does "closed" expression mean? I thought from the context that Lupin seems to or wants to hide something but not sure what exactly it means.

Can anyone help me with this expression


texts:
I've tried to find out classification of English nouns. Common nouns have a number of types, such as countable, uncountable and collective. Everything's clear here, but I am confused by Proper Nouns.

Some sources say that proper nouns (e.g the name John - There are five Johnes here) can be countable, can be uncountable and even has plural tantum form (e.g. Alpes), but on the other hand there are sources saying that countable/uncountable and collective rules are applicable only to common nouns.

Do the proper nouns have the same set of rules as common nouns (except indefinite article) or it is just an informal usage of it?


texts:
For this sentence:

  We reviewed the data starting from the year 2000.

, does "starting from the year 2000" modify "the data", or "reviewed"?

In another word, should the sentence be read as:

  We reviewed the data, starting with the data concerning the year 2000.

or

  We reviewed the data that came from the period from the year 2000 to some unspecified end year.

?

EDIT ADDITION:

Also for these:

  2  We reviewed the data from 2000.
  3  We reviewed the data from 2000 to 2005.

In 2, does "from 2000" modify "the data" or "reviewed"?
In 3, does "from 2000 to 2005" modify "the data" or "reviewed"?


texts: What is the meaning of "steep horizontal pressure gradient"?

texts:
I could not solve the meaning of steep in this phrase:

  Steep horizontal pressure gradient.

Could you paraphrase the sentence or give me the synonym of this word meaning in this sentence?


texts: word for squeezing your body while in cold

texts:
Sometimes I squeeze my body like crossing my arms and hunching my shoulders in cold weather.

Is there any word which I can use to describe this activity?

Thanks.


texts: The use of the phrasal verb "take up" in context

texts:
Does the use of take up sound correct and natural in the following sentence?

  When I was at school, I took so many notes that sometimes they took up a few dozens of pages.

Would it be better to say the following?

  When I was at school, I took so many notes that sometimes they were
  a few dozens pages long.

If neither sounds ok, what would you say?


texts:
I would like to know if to teach "in" is a valid collocation, as in:

  I teach in Computer Science at various Universities.


texts: Just thinking of/about the smell makes me want to throw up!

texts:
Someone was talking about cats and I said I'm not a pet person mainly because of their poops. Then I said:
"Just thinking about the smell makes me want to throw up."
Even though I said 'about' I feel like I should have said 'of' since thinking about means actively thinking about something and thinking of means you are least aware about it/an idea comes to your mind.
Since I don't actively think about cat poops. Should I have said 'of?'


texts: "The motel was located on, by, or along the road"?

texts:
The motel was located on/by/along a deserted road.

Which one is correct? "By"?


texts:
I saw this sentence in the movie 'The Flamingo Kid'.
I've tried to look up the meaning of it in the dictionary, but I couldn't find.
Please, help me.

This's one line of the dialogue between a father and his son.
They're working together on the drainpipe in the kitchen, while sharing jokes with one another.
The father is a plumber.

Father: Who taught you how to do this?
Son: Some bum.
Father: I'll give you bum.


texts: An adjective for a deal/agreement that is withdrawn by one side?

texts:
The nuclear agreement is now a ----- deal. Trump one-sidedly withdrew it.

I want an adjective that shows a deal is withdrawn only by one side with no shortcoming on the part of the other side.

I thought about "betrayed deal". Is that idiomatic enough? Any other/better suggestions?

As an answer suggests, we can say "that is a broken deal". But "broken deal" says nothing about being "unilateral". I am looking for an adjective that implies that the deal is "unilaterally broken".


texts: Why "cut in line" doesn't have an article?

texts:
There is a expression "cut in line" and it seems there is no expression "cut in the line".

According to a dictionary the word "line" is not uncountable. Why the phrase doesn't have the article?


texts: Following Tim's recommendations has/have not led to good outcomes

texts:
Which is correct?

  Following Tim's recommendations in the past has not led to good outcomes.
  Following Tim's recommendations in the past have not led to good outcomes.


texts:
In a book description I found: "This book will definitely lift up your mood and you'll feel capable of achieving almost anything".

As you can imagine the sense has to be made in a positive way (they are trying to sell the book, of course). Nonetheless, being a non-native English speaker and an English student I would have used EVERYTHING -which is what you would achieve reading that book - instead of ANYTHING.

I tried to consult some educational material but the everytime explanation is: "anything is used in questions and negative sentences" but this doesn't help me out in understanding.

Thanks for your clarification


texts: Question form of "he is the 6th son of his parents"

texts:
Let's say there is a person A and he is the 6th son of his parents, means there are 5 more children of his parents before A. Now suppose you don't know that he is 6th and want to ask someone that question. How do you ask?

He is the 6th son of his parents

I made two question forms.
Question form:

A is the which son of his parents?
Which son of his parents A is?

How do native English speakers say that? Is there a better way to say?


texts:
Your child made a ring out of a twist tie but for some reasons, the 2 ends of the tie were not folded and stuck up as shown in the picture.
Is it correct to say "Be careful of the bits sticking up. They may poke you in the eye"?


texts: Can "too" be in the middle of the sentence?

texts:
I was told in the past, that "too" (=also) unlike "also", should be in the end of the sentence only ("I want too to go there." or "I too went there"). Today I read an article in which they put "too" in the middle of the sentence. So it means that one of us (what I was told, or what's in the article) is wrong. What's correct?

  But the student from Aberdeen completely understood how the woman next
  to her in the store was feeling because she too is going through the
  menopause. (BBC)


texts:
I read this phrase from this article (https://towardsdatascience.com/can-analysts-and-statisticians-get-along-5c9a65c8d056)

  Follow the one golden rule: call your shots before you take them or
  stick to describing what’s in front of you.

  Real statisticians turn their noses up at your so-called “insights” if
  you failed to follow the one golden rule: call your shots before you
  take them. Otherwise, stick to describing your dataset and don’t reach
  beyond it. Please don’t take yourself too seriously and don’t ask
  anyone else to either.

I have tried to look up "call the shot". But in this context, I am not sure does I understand it right though.


texts:
what is the meaning of " Part of the way " in this quote ? :

  I'm a professor at a research institution, I've written five books, I
  rarely work past 5 pm on a weekday. Part of the way I'm trying to be able
  to pull that off is because it turns out, if you treat your attention
  with respect, so you don't fragment it, you allow it to stay whole,
  you preserve your concentration - when it comes time to work you can do
  one thing after another

  Quit social media | Dr. Cal Newport | TEDxTysons


texts: "...where gin could be bought at ten cents the large nip" — what else can be used instead of "the"?

texts:
The following is an excerpt from 1984:

  In the low-ceilinged canteen, deep underground, the lunch queue jerked slowly forward. The room was already very full and deafeningly noisy. From the grille at the counter the steam of stew came pouring forth, with a sour metallic smell which did not quite overcome the fumes of Victory Gin. On the far side of the room there was a small bar, a mere hole in the wall, where gin could be bought at ten cents the large nip.

Can we say a large nip? What's the difference between a and the in such cases? Can we also say per large nip?


texts:
Imagine I have three brothers older than me e.g. Jack(30), Isac(28) and Noah(27). How can I refer to them?
For instance may I refer to jack as my oldest/biggest brother?
May I call Isac my second older brother. It seems a bit not-English to me!
and to Noah as my third older brother or my youngest older bro.

How would you refer to your family member older than you? Do the rules appply for younger brothers as well?


texts: What is the different between "what" and "which"?

texts:
What is the difference between what and which?

For example, what is the difference between the following sentences?

  What is correct?

  Which is correct?


texts: Can you help me with the sentence "One year closer to coming home"

texts: English is not my native language so I'm having some problems with sentences. I want to wish my sister, who studies abroad a happy birthday by saying something like One year closer to coming home, but I am not sure if that is correct, can someone tell me some similar sentences that have the meaning of One year closer to coming home


texts: “It seems that Japanese customs have been changing since around 1920 little by little.” What’s the mistake?

texts:
According to “Objective IELTS” the above mentioned sentence needs the following correction:

  It seems that Japanese customs have been changing little by little since around 1920.

What is the nature of this mistake? Can it change the meaning of the sentence?


texts: Difference between "usually" and "customary"

texts:
According to online translators "usually" and "customary/customarily" mean the same.

Since I've encountered them in different usages, I assume that there is actually a difference. It seems to me like "customary" is a more formal version of "usually".

Is there a difference? If so, what is it?


texts:
Why at the moment we greet somebody for the first time we say?:

  How do you do?

And the another person replies:

  How do you do?


texts: Correct placement of that and which clauses

texts:
This amount of electric energy is enough for the distance that the drone is expected to use to reach the point.

(I already know well there's more natural-sounding sentences, but I constructed this sentence like this on purpose to study what I want to know, so you don't need to suggest edited versions of the sentence.)

("that-relative clause" is "that the drone ... the point")

1. Is this sentence grammatically correct? My answer is yes.

2. What is the direct object of "use" in the sentence? I think the direct object is "this amount of electric energy" because it is the drone that is going to use the electric energy.

3. Given A and B, which sentence sounds more natural? I think A and B all sound natural, but A seems to be better.

A : This amount of electric energy is enough for the distance that the drone is expected to use to reach the point.

B : This amount of electric energy that the drone is expected to use to reach the point is enough for the distance.

4. Like A, if "that-relative clause" is long, in B, can I place "that the drone...to reach the point" part behind "the distance" in order to emphasize the part of "This amount of....the distance", breaking the rule that "relative pronoun" must be placed right behind its antecedent?

5. Are these sentences below grammatically correct as well? I think C, D are all correct English, except F.

C : The new game is going to be released in stores next month that is expected to be the most popular military game of the year.

D : The new game is going to be released in stores next month, which is expected to be the most popular military game of the year.

F : The new game is going to be released in stores next month which is expected to be the most popular military game of the year.

6. Are "that" and "which" referring back to "The new game" ? My answer is yes.

7. As shown above, is it common to place back "that-relative clause" because of the reason I gave in 4? and is this grammatically and stylistically acceptable?

8. If you provide similar examples, it would be of a great help to me.


texts: What does the phrase "plot your route" mean here?

texts:
Please help me figure out the meaning of the phrase "plot your route" in the following sentence (not available online):

*In the game, you’ll plot your route by the stars, tapping to thrust towards the nearest one. When you arrive, you’ll circle it automatically.*

The text is from the description of the game "Little White Rocket". Here is a description of the game from a different source:

Little White Rocket is an inexpensive tappable toy, where each touch launches your craft along a path of stars, some of which aren't visible until you get close or complete a particular orbit.

Thank you for your time.


texts:
Peter doubted by Regina that he might killed Charles and Scobie.

  Regina: Whoever's left alive at the end will pretty much have sewn up
  the nomination, don't you think?

  Peter: What are you trying to say, that I might have  killed Charles
  and Scobie? What do I have to do to satisfy  you? Become the next
  victim?

  Regina: It’s a start, anyway.


texts: "I learned" vs "I have learned" when it comes to past experiences that have indirect connection to the present?

texts:
I'm writing a blog post about my experience in college and I'm not sure which of following titles should I use:

10 Life Lessons I Learned After Leaving College
10 Life Lessons I Have Learned After Leaving College


texts: Word for someone who doesn't know any latest trends?

texts:
Is there a word for someone who doesn't know any new trends? The things that everyone talks about.

For example, someone who doesn't know the new popular movie star or TV show that everyone is crazy about at the time.

Someone who'd often hear, "How could you not know this? Everyone is doing it / has it these days."

I can think of "being shut off from the world", but I wonder if there's a name for someone like that.


texts: Grammar question : "I think it is right that women be involved in the policies"

texts:
I'm watching Emma Watson's speech on gender equality.
She says

  I think it is right that women be involved in the policies

I understand the meaning all right but can anyone explain grammar behind this sentence? I mean "women be involved" .
The verb "be" is right after the subject "women." For example, I guess "It is right that women to be involved" or "It is right that women should be involved" would be the right alternatives.
Is it colloquial or grammatically correct expression to say that sentence without 'to' or 'should' etc? If so, why is it?
Please enlighten me. Thanks!


texts:
Which is correct, a "two-year" program or "two-years" program?

The difference between two expressions is the absence/presence of "s", i.e., singular or plural.


texts: Can we use "but" to stand out only one specific agent?

texts:
I wrote this sentence:

  Unfortunately, the exact velocity cannot be calculated analytically, but by making use of computers.

Can we use "but" to declare that only one specific agent can fulfill the task described in the previous passive sentence?

Analytical calculation is a type of calculations in which you solve a problem using mathematical identities and formulas. For Instance, 2x=4; x=4/2 => x=2.


texts:
Please let me know can we use in a hand? I have seen the hand but I am not sure about a hand. But I think, grammatically we can say a hand.

  Are all question good?

  A beer in a hand.

  A beer in hand.

  A beer in the hand.


texts: American Equivalent for "roll on something"

texts:
Roll on something

As you perhaps know, Britons tend to use this term to imply how much they like something happen and when they wish a specific time or event would come more quickly.

Example:

  Roll on the summer vacation!

As you see, Longman and some other dictionaries have pointed out that it is a BE term!

Please kindly let me know what would be the American equivalent for this term?


texts:
Does which here mean that?

  On the other hand, it is only fair to add that the Mr. Bell who occupied
  the house at that time was not a man of notorious character, and one
  would willingly concede that an accusation founded entirely upon
  psychic evidence would be an unfair and intolerable thing. It is very
  different, however, when the proofs of a crime have actually been
  discovered, and the evidence then centres merely upon which tenant
  was in possession at that particular time. The deposition of Lucretia
  Pulver assumes vital importance in its bearing upon this matter.


texts: Articles: When do I use "a", "the", or "__"?

texts: How do I know whether to use the definite (the) or indefinite (a, an) article, and when to omit it altogether?


texts: "Early" vs "earlier" this morning / this month

texts:
While I was reading some various text below two things came up over and over like them in a rule.

  Early this morning (Ex. 4~5 AM)

  Earlier this month (Ex. 1~5 Nov.)

If "early" and "earlier" were exchanged, would those sentences still be correct, and are the meanings the same as before?

  Early this morning = earlier this morning?

  Earlier this month = early this month?


texts: Does present continuous fit in this case

texts:
don't forget to precise (attention to ......) when you are writing/going to write/write  the address

Is present continuous to express the future ok in this case or will it be better to use present simple or going to . I did not use present simple as it is not a general statement only a one off and did not use  going to as it is not a personal plan but a strong advice given to someone else.
After thinking of it, may be the best is present simple to express the idea of strong advice


texts:
All these stand testimony to China’s firm commitment in promoting China-ASEAN relations, which has also invigorated ASEAN’s other partnerships and played an exemplary role in advancing East Asia cooperation.
  All these stand a testament to China’s firm commitment in promoting China-ASEAN relations, which has also invigorated ASEAN’s other partnerships and played an exemplary role in advancing East Asia cooperation.

Is there any difference between "stand testimony to" and "stand a testament to" in this context?


texts: wax about Orthodox swords but don't actually go to church much -- meaning?

texts:
Usage example with a context:

  Ukraine's Orthodox Church, which is powerful politically — Ukrainians tend to be more personally devout than Russians, who like to wax about Orthodox swords but don't actually go to church much — has explained that it rejects Western post-modern values but emphatically does not reject Europe or democracy.

What do they mean by Orthodox swords? Something idiomatic, maybe?


texts: Is it correct to say, "That was a little disappointment for me."?


texts: What do you call the thing that squirts out juice, chocolate in a food plant? What do you call the end of the machine that squirts out the food ingredients, and what do you call the entire thing? I am pretty sure there's a word for one of them at least.


texts:
Russia is the most powerful country after the US.

Or

  Russia is the second most powerful country after the US.

Question: Which one of the above should I use to convey that Russia is second to US in terms of overall power.

Personally, I was inclined to believe that number one is the correct version, because to me it is more logically sound to think of 'after' as 'excluding' or 'following'. However I found more instances of number 2 being used on online forums.

Many thanks in advance.


texts: The usage of "Is not", "Has not been" and "are not being" in the following sentence

texts:
Which one of these sentences is correct?

There are two new courses which have not been started yet.
There are two new courses which are not started yet.
There are two new courses which are not being started yet.


texts: Are "free will" and "volition" interchangeable?

texts:
Example sentence:

I want to do this of my own free will/volition.

Do they mean the same? If so, is one word more formal than the other (e.g. used in everyday speech)?


texts: Is "The mother is asking her son 'Does your hand hurt?' grammatical?

texts:
The mother is asking her son ‘Does your hand hurt?’

The sentence is about a picture in which a mother is talking to her son and he is injured. Is the structure and punctuation of the sentence OK?

Can we say 'Is your hand hurting?' instead of 'Does you hand hurt?' Is there any difference?

And do I have to use 'the' before mother?


texts:
He called his son to the meeting room from the downstairs office. He sat him on /at his right hand.

Which one is correct, and if they both are, which would be more appropriate for a rather formal context.
Also, do I need to add side after right hand?


texts: The use of "Would have not been" and "Would not have been" in English Grammar

texts:
What is the exact meaning of "would have not been" and "would not have been" in English grammar? Do they mean same thing?
For example,

On this principle, if Mr. Lynch had decided to go on hunger strike, the police would not have been entitled to administer forcible feeding.
Across the nation are examples of incidents that were the incident not recorded, some police would have not been prosecuted for horrendous.


texts:
A five-year-old whiskey
A five year old boy

Should multiple adjectives describing a noun be hyphenated?


texts:
In this sentence:

Looking towards our goal of reaching a better performance, we will use more efficient strategies.

Would to reach be more correct in this context, or are the expressions goal of doing and goal to do always interchangeable? Is there any distinction between the two uses?
I found instances of both on the internet:

In 1961, President Kennedy set a goal to reach the moon "before this decade is out". (Ludwig)

and

Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced he was “setting the goal” of reaching 100,000 tests for coronavirus per day by the end of April.
(Somerset Live)


texts:
When we use disposed as an adjective, we mean "inclined or willing" in some contexts. E.g. James didn't seem disposed to take the hint.

I think the primary meaning of dispose is get rid of. Why does it have a meaning of incline? Is it related to its primary meaning?


texts:
Can I use fix for talking about clothes?
For example :

  My mother fixed the hole in my jeans.

Or is there a better verb I should use?


texts: Meaning of the word "as" in the phrase "as from"

texts: What is meaning if the word "as" in the phrase "as from." Would it make sense if I omit it? For example, "(As) from today, he is fired"


texts: Get in Someone like that’s car. Or Get in someone's like that car

texts: Which is correct "Get in someone like that’s car." Or, "Get in someone's like that car."?.


texts: Is it possible to combine present perfect and past simple in this sentence

texts:
Even if you have told us before we have been surprised because it has only been raining a little
  Even if you have told us before we were surprised because it has only been raining a little

What is the best sentence because I am wondering if the second one is correct. We were surprised refers to one single moment and has only been raining to a duration


texts: Is the definite article missing in this sentence?

texts:
This is a sentence from a book:

  We do not intend here to describe the medieval sense of geographical space in its totality, but briefly to point out some of differences between it and our modern one.

Shouldn't there be the definite article before differences? I thought the sentence reads odd and ungrammatical, and should be rewritten as

  We do not intend here to describe the medieval sense of geographical space in its totality, but briefly to point out some of the differences between it and our modern one.

or

  We do not intend here to describe the medieval sense of geographical space in its totality, but briefly to point out some differences between it and our modern one.

Am I right?


texts: What does 'refer' mean in this sentence?

texts:
I encountered a sentence and don't understand the meaning of 'refer' here even if I looked it up in the dic.

"A snowball strategy occurred as administrators were asked to refer special education and general education teachers."

If anyone knows, please help me out.

Thanks!


texts: What is the subject of "underwrites my existence" in the sentence below?

texts:
I've been trying to understand the last line from the poem "The Importance of Elsewhere" by Philip Larkin. The line goes

  Here no elsewhere underwrites my existence.

I found it difficult to decide on the subject in this sentence, and that made it really hard for me to get the meaning of this sentence.  What is it that "underwrites my existence"?  Is it "here"?  Or is it "Elsewhere"?  Or is it that "here" is an adverb and "No elsewhere" is the subject?  I'm really confused!  Thanks for any help!

Below is the poem.

Lonely in Ireland, since it was not home,
Strangeness made sense. The salt rebuff of speech,
Insisting so on difference, made me welcome:
Once that was recognised, we were in touch.

Their draughty streets, end-on to hills, the faint
Archaic smell of dockland, like a stable,
The herring-hawker's cry, dwindling, went
To prove me separate, not unworkable.

Living in England has no such excuse:
These are my customs and establishments
It would be much more serious to refuse.
Here no elsewhere underwrites my existence.


texts: Do these two sentence mean the same? Does the second sentence sound natural to you?

texts:
Some children want to challenge themselves by learning a language different from what their parents speak at home.
  Some children want to challenge themselves by learning a language different from the one their parents speak at home.

Do the above two sentence mean the same thing?
Does the second sentence sound natural to you? If it is natural, I wonder whether "different from the one their parents speak at home" is used to modify "a language".


texts: Is it okay to say "our meet up is pending"?

texts: if you had a discussion with someone in past about meeting up and then never get a chance to meet or make a plan. What is the best way to tell them that our meeting is due?


texts:
At the end of every day you will be required to write a review.
  At the end of each day you will be required to write a review.

Which one of those sentences is better if this action will repeat itself every day for longer period of time, several weeks for example, maybe even months?


texts: Does "I'm positive" mean "I agree with you"?

texts:
In a drama, I heard the following exchange:

person A : Oh, Today is very cold.
person B : I'm positive.

So I thought that "I'm positive" means "I agree with you", but after googling it seems like that there is no such meaning.

Can "I'm positive" have the meaning "I agree with you"? What about "I'm negative" - can that mean "I disagree with you"?


texts:
I have a small doubt: I was doing an exercise where a statement is given which you have to reformulate using a given word.

The statement given:

  The company is selling their products at the trade fair.

The new statement (sale) "The company___________at the trade fair."

Solution: "The company's products will be on sale at the trade fair."

I didn't understand. Shouldn't it be "The company's products are on sale at the trade fair", since the first statement is in present continuous?


texts: Usage of "for" in "Scaramucci’s official start date was set for Aug. 15"

texts:
Scaramucci’s official start date was set for Aug. 15

I doubt the usage of "for" in this sentence. Can we use to/at/on here? Any difference?


texts:
I recently came across the following sentence:

Matter can exist in 3 states viz. solid, liquid and gas.

I am not sure what the word 'viz.' means can anyone explain me it's meaning and usage?


texts: The word "patient" can be used for the people who are cared for by caregivers?

texts: Is it possible to use the word "patient" for the people who are cared for by caregivers or the people who are in need of nursing care? If not, what do you call those people?


texts: "feeling"vs"with feeling"vs"while you are feeling"?

texts:
There are 3 sentences that I'd like to compare.

You come feeling more motivated and ready to work harder after a vacation.
You come with feeling more motivated and ready to work harder after a vacation.
You come while you are feeling more motivated and ready to work harder after a vacation.

I think these 3 sentences are pretty much the same meaning, but I'd like to ask if there is any subtle difference.


texts: are there any differences between symmetric and symmetrical?

texts: I looked up the free dictionary, under symmetric it said another word for symmetrical. But which one is more common? Any other possible distinctions?


texts: Help understand phrase "to be engaged with one's kids in a meaningful way"

texts:
I recently encountered the following paragraph:

I try hard to become incredibly selective about those
things I engage with, so I can be really present for the stuff
that I’m doing, and be really engaged with my kids in a meaningful way.

In this context, what do the phrases

things I engage with

and

to be engaged with one's kids in a meaningful way

mean?


texts:
I am looking for two casual nouns or adjective to describe/call somebody who is sensitive (and not sensitive) to physical pain.

From hyper-(hypo-) algesia, I suppose that one can be said to be hyper(hypo-) algesic. However, these sounds very formal. I am looking for a word that is commonly used and is eventually slightly mocking.

Do the words hyperalgesic and hypoalgesic exist?
Are hyper(hypo-) algesic formal?
Are there less formal (eventually slightly mocking) equivalent terms?


texts: Why is innovation spelt with 2 n's while renovation is spelt with 1?

texts: Is there a consistent rule when you double the n's ?


texts:
Which is correct? "I am always eager to meeting you..." or "I am always eager to meet you......"

I for some reason think that 'meeting' should be used because it's being  referred in future.


texts: Can We Use Modal Verbs Could / would for future events?

texts:
Can We Use Modal Verbs for future events?

My examples are as follows,

Could:

Can you tell me how could we recover this amount from him in the next month?

Would:

Can you tell me would it be possible us to recover this amount from him in the next month?

Might:

We might recover this amount from him in his next months salary.

In my above examples I want to mention that Money recovery will be done in the future. This would be future course of action. I am not referring to past event.

Modal Verbs are used to described abilities , possibilities in the English sentences. Can we use this to describe future events?

I read in some article that It can be use for past/Present and future.


texts:
If I say that he took his life yesterday, which means he committed suicide yesterday.

If I say that Tim took William's life yesterday, which means Tim committed murder yesterday.

But is the usage also used in this kind of sentence?

  The tsunami took one thousand lives yesterday.

Or it should be used with "away" such as:

  The tsunami took away one thousand lives yesterday.

Which is right? or we often  use the phrasal verb in another way?

The bold part of this sentence from my book is not correct?

  According to the statistics, drunk driving took away almost one thousand lives in Taiwan last year.


texts:
He stood at the candy section in a supermarket, carefully considering the selection of chocolate.

Is 'carefully' natural here?

Does the sentence mean that he's considering which kind of chocolate to pick?


texts: What's the meaning of this "updog" joke?

texts:
From "The Office" S2E13

  Jim: Is it me or does it smell like updog in here?
  Michael: What's updog?
  Jim: Nothing much. What's up with you?

Where is the funny point?


texts: Prepositions for transportations. In & On

texts:
Why "on a plane", "on a bus", but "in a car"?

It's hard to explain. How to explain that to English learners?

This question is not a duplicate. Please, try to understand what I ask.

How to explain that to English learners.

With the examples I gave.


texts:
I'm confused by the usage of the idiom "on its behalf" in this sentence:

  One of the key parts of the telecommunication is the action that one
  device is asking another device to take on its behalf.

I think the meaning of that idiom is "instead of", but it seems pretty awkward to me there. Might there be other meanings which are more suitable there?


texts:
In my opinion the following sentence should be like that:

Support and advice partner institutions of Russia and Ukraine to
define scenarios...

But a friend of mine feels confident that the sentence has to be like that:

Support and advice to partner institutions of Russia and Ukraine to
define scenarios...

Is it legitimate to use "to" in this sentence?


texts: What is the difference between a double entendre and a play on words?

texts:
Wikipedia gives the following as an example of a double entendre.

"If I told you that you had a nice body, would you hold it against me?"

I also remember the one scene from a TV show where the two characters are playing music together and the woman turns to the male Cellist and says... "You have a magnificent piece of wood between your legs."

To which the man says. "You mean my Cello, right?" and then she replies. "I'm referencing the crude double entendre." "I'm seducing you."

These all seems like clever word plays to me. So exactly what is the difference between a play on words and a double entendre?


texts: Doing something quickly and perfunctorily and carelessly

texts:
I was wondering what is the AE idiom / common verb which is normally used when you want to indicate that someone is intentionally skipping some needed steps in doing something and works or acts so quickly, perfunctorily and “carelessly” that it ends up getting a bad / clumsy result just out of laziness or in order to do it as easily as it’s possible or to save time or money.
I have found the following idiom and phrasal verbs, but I have no idea if they are all indicative of the matter in my question.
Additionally, do they mean the same thing?
Finally, I need to know which one is the most common option in the case I tried to explain?
Example:

1. The builders really botched up this room.
2. The builders really bungled up this room.
3. The builders really cut corners on this room.


texts:
I want to thank you for a wonderful first semester.

OR

  I want to thank you for the wonderful first semester.


texts:
See this conversation:

  Ben: I'm Ben whittaker. I received an e-mail about an interview for
  the senior intern program.

  Lady: Hey, Ben. How's it going?

  Ben: It's going good, real good. Thank you.

  Lady: Excellent. Take a seat around the corner, and someone from
  talent acquisition will come get you.

  Ben: Thank you. "Talent acquisition"?

In the dictionary

  Get: CATCH SOMEBODY [transitive] to catch someone

  The police got him in the end.

But, catch in the dictionary refers to negative events such as robberies or something like that

  2 FIND/STOP SOMEBODY [transitive]

  a) to stop someone after you have been chasing them and not let them
  get away

  ‘You can’t catch me!’ she yelled, running away.

  b) to find a criminal or enemy and stop them from escaping SYN capture

  State police have launched a massive operation to catch the murderer.

  If you go back to the city, you’re bound to get caught.

But the above interview context has nothing to do with robberies

What does "get" mean in this sentence "someone from talent acquisition will come get you"?


texts:
I'm not sure as following sentence whether right or wrong?
"Please let me know whenever, if anything else suitable come up."


texts: Go down the hall meaning? (For giving directions)

texts:
When I asked for the directions to the HR's cubicle, I got this reply:

  Go down the hall then take the first left, You will find the HR's cubicle there.

(I don't remember exactly what he said.)

I am assuming by down the hall he meant to go straight and then take a left.

Can I apply the same logic for streets and roads while giving the directions?

Go down the road and then take a left.

I would really appreciate if someone can explain the meaning of the phrase "down the hall" in this context.


texts: Does my edit of participle clause of "an action that is the result of another action" make sense?

texts:
OP:

  moments later a bomb exploded, leaving three people dead and twelve others injured

Can i change it into future tense of participle clause? Like

  soon, a bomb will explode, leaving three people dead and twelve others injured

Does it fit in with all kinds of tenses?


texts:
An example under the entry "inauthentic" in Oxford Dictionary:

not genuinely belonging to a style or period:
baroque harpsichord pieces played on the decidedly inauthentic modern Steinway

What does "the decidedly inauthentic modern Steinway" mean here?
Does it refer to a Steinway piano?
Does it mean the piece of music is not suitable for modern pianos?


texts: Should I use preposition 'at' or 'on' for this affirmative sentence?

texts:
sentence:

  1) You should train yourself at writing

  2) You should train yourself on writing

question:

  Which preposition I should use for this sentence OR both of them could be used in this context?


texts:
I wanted know, what does means these sentences below:

Nothing went right today. Nothing went right again.


texts:
I’ve been waiting for more than an hour for him.
I’ve been waiting more than for an hour for him.
Which is correct?


texts: Is 'for your health' a correct response in the context of showering?

texts:
Please is "for your health" a correct answer in the following context?

Speaker A: I'll take a shower or I've just taken a shower.

Speaker B: For your health.

Thank you!


texts:
Can I Use “Had Born” in English sentence to express past perfect i.e. past of past?

1)  He had born when I reached to the Hospital.

2)  This is where I had born.

3)  Your father came to hospital but before that you had born.

4)  He had born in India.

Why Born is adjective and died is Verb?
Also What verb for bron then?


texts:
It’s not impossible to imagine an outcome in which Keystone XL would
  have survived to live its life to the fullest. However, the project
  was barely conceived before spin doctors diagnosed at least two
  major flaws that would prove to be fatal: timing and politics.

  Obituary: Keystone XL, age 7, choked on political baloney

What is the meaning of 'spin' here? Is it a noun?


texts: Replacing gerund with subjunctive construction

texts:
Can the following sentence with gerund be rewritten with the subjunctive construction ?

  We objected to the buyer's paying only part of the invoice amount.

to

  We objected that the buyer should pay only part of the invoice amount.


texts: Omitting the article before defining relative clause

texts:
We use the definite article before defining a relative clause when we mean specific instances— this is a well-known rule. What if we omit an article in order to say something in a more general way, but assuming specific instances, when the context makes it clear.

Example:

  Computers that are now in this room, are powerful.

Is this grammatically correct? Would it be correct even if it was the second mention of computers?

Would it mean that I talk about those specific computers, but just with general sense? I interpret this as they are mostly powerful, and there might be some that are not.  As I understand it, saying "the computers" will imply all of them. Is having no article appropriate here or should I use "some", "most", etc., instead?

Thanks.


texts:
Suppose you work in a library, checking people's books as they leave,
and a friend asks you to let him smuggle out a hard-to-find reference
work that he wants to own. You might hesitate to agree for various
reasons. You might be afraid that he'll be caught, and that both you
and he will then get into trouble. You might want the book to stay in
the library so that you can consult it yourself. But you may also
think that what he proposes is wrong -- that he shouldn't do it and
you shouldn't help him. If you think that, what does it mean, and
what, if anything, makes it true?

What does it all mean? Thomas Nagel, Chapter 7
What does "if anything" mean in the context?
Thanks


texts:
Is this sentence correct to use in the following context?

  "I took out the milk from the fridge. It has been in there for ages."

I mean, the milk is no longer in the fridge while the person says that.


texts: Is it natural to use the phrase "on the same level" in sense of being as good at doing something as someone else?

texts:
Is it natural to use the phrase on the same level in sense of being as good at doing something as someone else? For example:

  Kate and Tom are on the same level in terms of math.

Would it be better to use at instead of on there. For example:

  Kate and Tom are at the same level in terms of math.

If this usage of the phrase doesn't sound natural at all, what would a native English speaker say instead?


texts:
These striking facts have led us to consider one or another variety of
  parallel universe.

Shouldn't the word "universe" have been used in the plural?


texts: Is it “I took a photo of myself” or “I took a photo of me”?

texts:
I’ve been thinking about this for a while: if there is a photo, drawing etc. of me that I made, how would I say I created it, using this phrase:

  I took a photo of {pronoun}.

“Of” causes some weird things, so I’m very unsure of what pronoun to use.

Would the pronoun be “me”, or would it be “myself?” Why is it that way?


texts: What is the meaning of "to learn to one's cost"?

texts:
If found the expression "to learn to one's cost", which  seems to be  "learning a lesson at the expense of their money". Some examples:

Thousands of people - mostly internet-savvy men in their 20s or 30s - have learnt to their cost the legal and financial risks involved in file-sharing copyrighted music in large quantities.
Toyota have learnt to their cost that it is far better to be transparent and open when issues are identified than to try and cover up any faults.

Is this an idiom? Another definition of "to learn"?
Would it be correct "to learn to one's health"?


texts:
"Darned if the squaw hain't got on all her war paint! Jest give
her a shove off if she comes any of her tricks on me, for I'm so
fixed everlastingly by the boss, that durn my skin if I can keep my eyes from her if she wants them! Easy there. Judge! don't you slack that ar rope or I'm euchered!"

Another question about 'Squaw' by Bram Stoker.

Anybody can give me an explantion of the sentence above (block letter part)?

Looks simple, but it is undecipherable for me.

Many thanks in advance!


texts:
In this question, in one of the comment threads the following was stated

  Tom is taller than me" or "Tom is taller than I am" — both are correct. "Tom is taller than I" is WRONG` (link)

Which I'd agree with. This comment is disputed with

  That is very arguable. More used? Definitely. Wrong? Not if you consider "than" as being a conjunction, in which case the last part of the phrase "Tom is taller than I [am tall]" is elided.

So is it really grammatically acceptable to use the following?

  Tom is taller than I


texts:
The oldest boy came striding into sight. He had already changed into his billowing black Hogwarts robes, and Harry noticed a shiny silver badge on his chest with the letter P on it.
  (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)

Does robes mean just a formal gown, whether it is consisted of a couple of pieces or just one?
Does robes mean something that consists of more than one piece of gown?


texts: How to say that my pet sleeps "next to my legs"?

texts:
I have a pet that often sleeps next to my legs in my bed.

How can I say it properly in English? Is there a neat idiom for it? I want to sound natural and I don't think the above expression is natural.


texts: Confusion in placing Articles a and an before nouns

texts:
When I was a kid I was taught that Article An should be placed before nouns starting with a Vowel letter, but now i got to know that it's actually the sound of vowel we should focus not the letter.

For eg. Apple(A) , Orange(O) , Ice(A)

Here Apple makes a vowel sound A, Orange O and Ice Aa-eice

But then there are words University, Unit etc. That sounds Vowel to me (yuni) yuni makes sound of U. Why is it considered that it makes a consonant sound and thats why we place "A" before them?


texts:
In the movie Birddman (2014), Sylvia blames Birdman,

  "It's what you always do. You confuse love for admiration."

Shouldn't it be confuse love with admiration? Is the meaning the same as confuse with and is it common usage?


texts:
What meaning exactly the expression: 'peering under the hood'. Where I can use it?

I found this expression in the next text:

  Embracing module thinking is understanding that complexity is, ultimately, inescapable. At the same time, that complexity can be swept under an interface, hardly to ever be seen or thought of again. But, and here’s one of the tricky parts, the interface needs to be well-designed so that its users don’t become frustrated. That frustration could even lead us to peering under the hood and finding that the implementation is vastly more complex than the poor interface we’re frustrated by, and maybe if the interface didn’t exist in the first place, we’d be better off in terms of maintainability and readability.

In google I found the article Peering Under the Hood of Africa's Runners
and Peering under the Hood of Rules-Based Portfolio Construction


texts: So the word snazzy I don't really understand if it means the same as fancy or elegant. Are those interchangeable or not? (like when or how to use them)


texts: what's the meaning of 'quite some' in this sentence?

texts:
I wonder what can be the meaning of quite some in this sentence,
a little or much?

your research interests certainly have "quite some" overlap with mine.


texts: The office dialogue. I don't get it the sentence "You go to the bathroom for forty-five minutes and...everything changes."

texts:
I am learning English watching American sitcom, The Office.
While I am watching season9 episode 18(Promos), I found some expression like below and I don't know what it exactly means. Please help me if anybody know this drama or know the meaning of this sentence.

  (The workers are watching their documentary promos.)

  Announcer: The workers. The lives. The loves. The people. The paper.
  The Office: An American Workplace. Coming soon on WVIA.

  Kevin: Whoa! You go to the bathroom for forty-five minutes and...everything changes.

  (Scene changed and interview with Kevin)

  Kevin: This is a documentary? Oh! I always thought we were like specimens in a human zoo.

The bold part is implicative expression? or just Kevin said after going to the bathroom, everything changed?


texts: Is there a phrase like "you have right" meaning "you are right"?

texts:
I use the phrase "you have right" quite often when I want to say that somebody is right about something. But today I was corrected that there is no such saying, and that "you have a right" can mean only that somebody has some rights to do something.

What is the truth?


texts: Do you "slump on a bed" or "slump onto a bed?"

texts:
Is one of them the correct option? Or they mean different things?

On Google maps I got these results:

"slumped on the bed" (9K results)

"slumped onto the bed" (3K results)

Example sentence:

  Without permission, he slumped on/onto my bed and lay on his back.


texts:
While I was reading a magazine, I saw a sentence that makes me think about orders, placements of the participles.

  Anyone caught playing faced fines and even potential jail time.

I think that the present participle should be placed between "anyone" and "caught. Who was caught ? The answer is anyone playing.

Is there an absolute rule related to which participle comes first or both of them could come first ?


texts:
Do I have your word as a lawman not to shoot me down like a dog in the street?.

I don't understand the "as a lawman" part. Why did he use "as"?

This quote is from the movie Django Unchained.

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/5b3a8cdc-85b1-498a-addd-c95dd6c2ad79


texts: "What does it do?" or "what it does?", Which one is the correct/ best?

texts:
I have asked this question on StackOverflow. In the last line, I have asked the following question.

"Could anyone please explain how this method of 'tick()' works and what does it do? and Why?" According to this context which is the best way of asking this?
"What does it do?" or "what it does?"


texts: How “if” functions in the context below?

texts:
THE SOURCE: NEW YORK TIMES

  “Some of those who try and ban our customs are in essence trying to make Europe more uncomfortable for Jews, because the essence and centrality of our life are our ancient traditions, and if our customs are not welcome nor are our communities,” Moshe Kantor, the president of the European Jewish Con- gress, wrote in a statement to The New York Times.

Here, in this context, if doesn’t work conditionally.

So how it works here, what meaning is it trying to express, especially with “nor”?


texts: "I wish I could" or "I wish I could have"

texts:
I wish I could do it.

I wish I could have done that.

The second seems off.
What do generally use with wish sentences. And is there any specific title we can use to dictate sentences with wish kinda meaning?


texts: Should I be using 'is' or 'was' in reported speech?

texts:
Which is correct?

  She was told that it was against the law to steal.

Or

  She was told that it is against the law to steal.

Background information: The original context is that I was relating an incident via email, where my colleague told a customer that some of our actions were part of the organisation's policy. The policy is still valid, but the statement I used to relate the incident in my email went like this:

"Mr Jay was informed that it was our policy to do this."

And I received feedback that it should go like this instead:

"Mr Jay was informed that it is our policy to do this."


texts:
Can the name of a bus/train/subway line come before and after the term "line" ? For instance, are both expressions below correct?

subway line F
F subway line

The former seems more usual to me, but I have recently heard from an American that the latter is also usual .


texts: Including or omitting the 'to be' verb in a compound subject

texts:
With regard to including or omitting 'am', which sentence is correct, and why?

  I humbly acknowledge and thankful to you.

or

  I humbly acknowledge and am thankful to you.

If correct usage warrants not using 'am' as appropriate, then which of the following sentences is correct?

  I wish and am sure that you'll win the trophy.

or

  I wish and sure that you'll win the trophy.


texts: Is Perfect Tense appropriate in "I have forgotten to post your letter."?

texts:
I was supposed to answer the question "Did you post my letter?" I answered "No. I have forgotten to." It was a wrong answer. The right one was "No I forgot to."

Can I use Present Perfect there? On one hand since now I remember that I was supposed to post the letter, absent of this knowledge does not prolong up to now. But on the other hand, there is a consequence of my forgetfulness that is relevant now—the letter is not posted.


texts: Why does the phrase "cross my fingers' mean just "cross middle finger over index finger"?

texts:
Originally, I thought "cross my fingers' would mean something like this picture shows:

But by a search for the phrase "cross my fingers images" on the web, I get most of pictures like this:

So, I want to know:

Is there a reason (if there is) why "cross my fingers' means just "cross middle finger over index finger"?
Is there a phrase to describe all the five figures of both hands get crossed just like the first picture shows?


texts: Can an action be stuttered? Or is it only referring to talking only? I see in the dictionary that it means to speak in such a way that the rhythm is interrupted by repetitions. What if an action is interrupted by repetitions? would that also be considered stutter?


texts:
So I am reading the second series of the famous Harry Potter and right now I am going through the tenth chapter "The Rogue Bludger". The second section of this chapter starts with the following sentence:

  Harry woke early on Saturday morning and lay for a while thinking about the coming Quidditch match.

With the current understanding of the English that I have, there seems to be some problem with the use of the verb lay in this sentence. Looking at the tense in which the situation is being described (Harry woke), we should have had laid instead of lay. Even if I assume that author, for some strange reason, wanted to use present tense in the second part of the sentence, she should have rathor used lays insted of lay. Am I missing something terrible because of my little knowledge of English? Thanks in advance.


texts: Should "the number of college students going overseas" use "who go" instead?

texts:
Which of the following sentences sound more natural?

I'm surprised at the number of college students going overseas.
I'm surprised at the number of college students who go overseas.


texts:
https://www.grammar-quizzes.com/clauses-8.html
this site well explains about 'of which'. i sort of understand where to use it and what it means.

He bought a car, the brand name of which I can't remember.

this is one of examples on that site and here is another one.

a verb of which it is the subject.

as far as i know, i can place the preposition in front of a relative pronoun when the sentence ends with it. but in that sentence, the presence of the 'it' really confuses me and now i can't fathom what that sentence means. i really don't see the place where 'of' is able to go when i rephrase it.
could it be

a verb whose the subject is the verb itself.

?? i need help :(


texts:
Is "so" considered informal. and not suitable for formal writing, such as writings for application to graduate schools?

For example,

  My experiences are non-traditional, so I had wondered what I could bring for my application. Now, my answer is ...

alternatively,

  My experiences are non-traditional. Therefore I had wondered what I could bring for my application. Now, my answer is ...

What would you write, if it were you? Thanks!

By the way, is "bring ... for my application" correct?


texts: Why does "money" take "the" in "all the money in the world"?

texts:
"All the money in the world " , in this sentence we talk about money in general , right ? I've read a book that says if we're talking about  things in general we do not use "the".
So why "the money" ?


texts:
What does "grant to us that..." in this context mean? It is from the Christian Bible, from Luke 1:72-74:

  72He will do this to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73the oath that he swore to Abraham our father, to grant to us 74that we, having been delivered out of the hand of our enemies, would serve him without fear. (Luke 1:72-74)


texts: appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix -- why is there no definite article in front of "inflammation"?

texts:
Example (Wikipedia article):

  Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix.

Why do you think there is no definite article in front of inflammation? Wouldn't it be better if there were one? For example, we say the handle of a knife because, even though we don't know what knife we are talking about, we do know that it has a particular handle that's part of the knife.


texts: Is There A Hyphen Limit When Hyphenating Words?

texts:
When creating hyphenated words is there a limit to how many hyphens you can use? I've rarely seen examples exceeding word-word-word, and I'm wondering if this is because it's rare that one would need to go beyond that point, or if there is an imposed limit of some kind.

For example, would word-word-word-word-word-word-word-word-word-word be acceptable, assuming the words used qualified for hyphenation?


texts: When my supervisor tell me do something, can I reply by done?

texts: I am writing a text with my supervisor, and when he put a remark to correct it, can I answer by done ? that's mean yes I do it.


texts: What will you call someone who loves people of his own state within a country?

texts: Is there any noun for a person who has special place/respect/love for people belonging to his own state within a country?


texts:
I would like to know what is the difference between the tuff/tough/difficult times.

I would be glad, if someone could explain me the correct usage of those.
Does it have any significant difference?

For example can I say "tuff time" if I have a "fairly bad" day?
What about the "quite bad" day?

I appreciate every answer!


texts:
What is the difference between

  I spoke to him.

and

  I have spoken to him.

Does the former mean at this moment and the latter mean it had happened in the past?

Appreciate insight into this.


texts: The usage of commas when writing an address

texts:
Let say we have an address of the following form (4 lines):

Apartment 5, Banana Residential Area,

No. 28 Apple Street,

[City], [Province], [Postcode],

[Country]

Now here are the questions:

Where should insert a line break? For example, should I write "Banana Residential Area" in the second line?
Should I have a comma at the end of each line? In particular, the comma after postcode.

Sometimes, the country is selected from a drop-down list, so I may forget to add the last comma.