texts:
My little daughter rubbed her leg on a surface and a bit of skin is about to fall off (see the picture).
Is it correct to say "She rubbed her leg on something and had a thin bit of her skin almost falling off"?


texts: What do you call the individual "rounds" you pay in a slot machine?

texts:
I searched for "games of slot machines" and "rounds of slot machines." However these phrases can be easily mistaken for other meanings.

What's the correct way of saying an individual game (one game = pay one time)?


texts:
Here are my constructions:

  Only minimal signs of corrosion on the vehicle body surface which have been removed.
  Only minimal signs of corrosion on the vehicle's body surface which have been removed.

So my question is, should I use 'vehicle body' or 'vehicle's body'?


texts:
If you ___________ come by 12 o'clock tomorrow, let me know right now.

  A) won't
  B) don't

In an if sentence we should use present tense, but it feels like it doesn't make sense if I use "don't" and "won't" makes more sense. But would that be correct usage?

Edit: I changed the "from now" that is mentioned in some of the answers.


texts: What does "with an edge" mean? Here it is in context: "Jack is being facetious with an edge." I suppouse it means that Jack is being excessively facetious. Correct me if am wrong please.


texts: "Tomorrow’s lesson is to introduce the present simple tense to your students."

texts:
My question is, in the following sentence, what would you guys phrase it as?

Tomorrow’s lesson is to introduce the present simple tense to your students.

What is this sentence an example of?.... a grammar point of the lesson or is it the objective of the lesson or do you think it is a combination of both?

A grammar point of the lesson
The objective of the lesson

or both of the above?
I would think that it references both the grammar point as well as the objective , but I would really appreciate any feedback as well as your reasoning behind your choice?


texts:
Touch screens are electronic visual displays that allow a user to interact directly with what is displayed on the screen, rather than ___________ a pointing device, such as a mouse.

Which is the correct word to be filled in the blank in this sentence, "use", "using", or "to use"?

I prefer to use "using", but is "use" also OK? How about "to use"?


texts:
I would like others to explain this to me.
Which sentence is correct?

1- He transmits calm.
2- He conveys calm.


texts: "during the month of October" vs. "during October" and "in October"

texts:
A MLB tutorial says

  if you hear
  someone mention October baseball they
  are likely referring to the postseason
  as it takes place during the month of
  October.

Does it still mean the same thing if I substitute "in October" or "during October" for "during the month of
October"?


texts: Is it correct to use "had been in pawn"?

texts:
I found a question and an answer from an exercise. It is as follows:

  Q. The earrings had been in ………… before he noticed.

  A.  pawn

I'd like to know whether "were in pawn" should be used without using "had been in pawn".


texts: Difference between "in time" and "on time"

texts: I have an appointment at 8 and I arrive there at 7:55, is it "on time" or "in time"? What about "the nick of time"?


texts: Tense choice with expressions denoting a finished time period, like "last night", "yesterday", "two days ago"

texts:
Have you called me last night?
  Did you call me last night?

What's the difference between these sentences?


texts: "I have been graduated from XYZ University in ABC-MSc" is correct?

texts:
graduate verb is intransitive and as far as I know, this sort of verbs couldn't be used as a passive form. Am I right?

I have strangely seen it is correct in some website like this:

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090717174145AACv5YR


texts:
Consider (Source):

  What sport requires the timing of tennis, the stamina of cross-country running, and physical contact of football? The answer is: Boxing. And now that seemingly male spectacle is attracting women.

Does male spectacle mean dominated by men?


texts:
I've heard "therefore" is used at the beginning of sentence. I used it in a depending sentence.

  However, there are other works that claim the HTML is mainly used for the presentation layer; therefore, the DOM tree is not reliable to discriminate different semantic portions of a web page.

Did I do it correctly?

Do I need other words like "thus" or "hence" for this sentence and position?


texts:
You definitely know what are ventricles and the atria (or atriums), so just as a reminder... (it seems grammatically wrong)
  You definitely know what the atria (atriums) and ventricles are, so just as a reminder...
  "What are ventricles and the atria (or atriums)?" You definitely know the answer to this question, so just as a reminder...

Are these three sentences grammatically correct?
Then what is the difference between them, if any?

Let me give you another example (& another question, simultaneously) :

  A: Which do you think the best choice is?

  ( B: "which one do you think is the best choice?"

  C:"which choice do you think is the best?" )

  between these options in the parentheses & also between #2 & #3

This is one of those BrE & AmE issues, I suppose.

I've heard these kinds of sentences a lot (with this structure I mean):

  "You know/X explains/Y describes/etc + what + {plural noun} + actually/really/etc + are."

  e.g. If you look at this how-to book, it explains what these cleverly designed gadgets actually are.

Does this structure always work?

I wonder whether the usage of the adverbs like really/actually/certainly/etc after {plural noun} makes any difference in meaning or not.

For example:

  You figure out what these beautiful jungles are.

(I think this example sounds a little weird)


texts: Which one is the right usage? I have/had completed my Midyear appraisal on May 20, 2018

texts:
Which one is the right usage?

  I have completed my Midyear appraisal on May 20, 2018

or

  I had completed my Midyear appraisal on May 20, 2018


texts: I need you both the same - is it correct?

texts:
Is it correct to say 'I need you both the same'?
I want to say 'I need you both equally' but need it for the song with the word 'same'.
Doesn't it mean 'I need you both to be the same'?
Do you have any idea of what I can say instead?
Thanks a lot


texts: Is there any difference in pronunciation of "love" and "laugh" (UK, RP)

texts:
today I was wondering whether there is any difference in pronunciation of "love" and "laugh", especially in "Oxford English"/"RP English"? In my opinion it's hard to differentiate between these 2 words, because most people on tv say it in the same way. Something like "laaf" or the mid-sound bait shorter "laf".
When I say it, I use the following:
love: it is with a mixture of an "a" and "o" sound
laugh: it is with a relatively clear "a" sound
What is right or what is the "Oxford English"/"RP English" way to say "love" and "laugh"?


texts: Subject or object adjective clause (comma's necessity)

texts:
I can't clear up to which type of adjective clause the following refers.

  I can't say I'm the best challenger that has ever applied for this aid.

In object clauses we are able to omit "that" or other adjective pronouns.

I've just found the example:

  I'm a student that needs a car.

It has the same meaning.

So, I understand it correctly, don't I?

Furthermore, if this is so, I should had written:

  I can't say that I'm the best challenger that has ever applied for this aid.

Am I right?


texts:
"If you are taking something now sleeping"

Can you explain me how this could be correct.

Is this usage for informal native english?

"If you are taking s/t, you will be sleeping." Is this sentence the right way of speaking?

Thank you.


texts: "You use an obsolete definition of (?) hat". What must stand in place of (?)?

texts:
What must stand in place of  (?) in the sentence

"You use an obsolete definition of (?) hat"

Is it the definite article? Indefinite? Nothing? Or does it depend on the context?


texts: I'm in (name) and she's in math or she's in math class

texts:
Here in my country, the eleventh graders are spilt up into fields like Commerce ,Medical , Non-Medical , Humanities.
.
So here's some basic knowledge:

Commerce: Business Studies, Economics, Math, Entrepreneurship.
.
Medical: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Psychology.

Non-Medical: Physics, Chemistry, Math, IP

Humanities: History, Sociology, Psychology/Economics, Political Science.

So someone comments:

  She's in Commerce.  (She took Commerce and she studies it)

Is the use of "in" natural?

And here's another context

A girl asks me about another girl, so can I say

  She's in Math.

  She's in the Math class.

She studies math and right now, she's in her math class.

So does "in" sound natural here?


texts: Thoracic: Why are two differing types of c pronunciations used?

texts:
In the English language, the word thoracic is pronounced as "thorasik." (I know that's not the proper way to show pronunciation, but I'm interested (for this question) in the two c's.

Why would it not be 'kik'? or conversely, 'sis'?


texts: "all the books I've read were written by her": the author either is dead or doesn't write books anymore?

texts: Does "all the books I've read were written by her" suggest that the author either is dead or doesn't write books anymore?


texts: I invited my friend but I realised that I forgot/had forgotten to give him the address

texts:
I invited my friend, but later l realised that l ....... to give him
  the address.

A: forgot
B: had forgotten

I think that B is true but it's written in the book that A is the correct one.
Is that because the first action is the verb "give" not the verb "forget"? but I think that the verb to give didn't actually happen.
Can someone please explain why A is the correct answer?


texts:
According to the weather report, it will be sunny on Monday.

According to the weather report, it’s going to be sunny on Monday.

Which one is correct? What is the difference in meaning?


texts: What does the weapon suffix "of measure" mean in Diablo 2?

texts:
Items in Diablo 2 have randomly generated names which consist of various prefixes and suffixes.

My question is, in what sense is the word measure used in the suffix "of measure" (e.g. Flail of Measure)? The weapons with this suffix have got increased minimum damage.


texts:
Do the following sentences make sense ?

  They have produced 10 as many pianos this month as last month.
  They have produced 10 pianos this month as many as last month.

I feel #2 is wrong, and can be expressed as They have produced 10 pianos this month which are as many as last month.

I know twice as many as, but never see 10(or any other number) as many as


texts:
I'm writing something and wondering which one is the best choice and why.
The situation is that I'm explaining about a experience of cooking for my parents to one of my friends.

It was the first time that I'd prepared dinner for my parents.

It was the first time that I prepared dinner for my parents.

It was the first time that I've prepared dinner for my parents.

If possible, can I ask the difference?


texts: "in" versus "to" in "He went running {in / to} the park."

texts:
Do you agree that:

  He went running to the park.
  He went to the park running.

mean the same thing - "He got to the park by running."

Now, if I want to say: He went to the park to have a run. I need to say

  He went running in the park.

But I am confused about "He went running in the park". Native speakers say it means "He went to the park to have a run."

But in means inside not in the direction of, hence, (3) should mean "He started to run in the park" and not "he went to the park to have a run". Or maybe (3) has two meanings?

"to the park" = in the direction of the park
"in the park" = inside the park

So, how come (3) He went running in the park can mean "He went to the park to have a run"?


texts: Correct tense of "rise" in the given context

texts:
Here is the sentence:

  "You rise so early this morning!"

The context is that a wife is surprised to see her husband awake in the early morning. In my view, the correct verb should be "have risen". Am I correct?


texts: Can you use but after because to reinforce the predicate following because?

texts:
The animal was classified into that category temporarily, because there weren't any good category for it, but some experts agreed to put it there for various scientific reasons.

I am wondering if the above sentence is correct, because I've never seen but augment the preceding clause.


texts: "Don't be too forward" OR "Don't be this forward"

texts:
Suppose you met a guy in a party one month ago. You went out together for two-three times. Even you've exchanged some facts about your lives and know some details of your private lives. Now everyone can call you "friends", though you are “not close friends yet”. Moreover, you have been in his house for one or possibly two times so far. Also you have invited him to your house two or three times. This time when you invite him to your house you begin a discussion about something. The more you discuss about that topic, the more you feel uncomfortable because your girlfriend sits beside you and your friend is talking to you about some issues, which you prefer to be said when you are alone together or you do not want to be said that openly at all. For example he starts speaking about his private affairs with his ex-girlfriend, and subsequently opens some discussions about their private relationship (not merely "very" sexual affairs.) You feel shy beside your girlfriend just because of her being beside you at that moment. Nevertheless you are not going to offend your friend too! First because he is your guest, secondly because you think he is your friend and finally because though his words sound out of place at that specific moment, but if you both had been alone together, you would have listened to his words and perhaps you would participate in that discussion too. Having these all said, now you feel shy and you are going to change the topic or give him a hint that you'd better correct the way you are speaking (because my girlfriend has sat here and of course in an indirect way and with a smile on your lips to avoid him to be upset or feel out of place etc.) Then what would you say? I think for example "Hey David, don't be too forward" OR “don’t be this forward” (having a smile on your lips) Does it sound a natural statement at this moment?
Any other native’s suggestion would be welcome. :)


texts:
When we talk about a general thing and the event in the adverbial clause happens  earlier, what tense should we use?

Please help explain a bit, thank you.

Example 1

    I usually don't feel terrified after I watch / watched / have watched horror movies.

Example 2

    I have a super power. I don't feel tired during the day if I didn't / don't / haven't slept sleep well the night before.


texts: Grammatically Correct? {Verb} {Plural Noun} For {Productive Noun}

texts:
Sentence #1 Why do game engines use gimbals for rotation?

  Sentence #2 Don't use gimbals for rotation.

Grammarly says the 1st sentence is wrong, but no correction pops up on the 2nd sentence. Is the following form grammatically correct?

  ... {Verb} {Plural Noun} For {Productive Noun} ...


texts:
What do you think of my analysis of the present perfect and simple past when indicating some form of time such as "This morning, this afternoon etc"
"Have you spoken to her today?"
"Did you speak to her today?"
(I believe the first one is correct as the day has not ended yet.)
"Have you seen Maria this morning?"
"Did you see Maria this morning?"
(I believe the first one only works if the morning has not yet come to an end.)


texts: 'Pass something on (to somebody)' - what does 'on' mean?

texts:
I'm not a native-speaker; sometimes prepositions (or adverbs) are tricky for non-native speakers.

"Pass the book on to me when you've finished with it."

In this sentence, I don't know what does 'on' mean?
I understand what 'on' means in these sentences:

  There's a mark on your skirt.
  Put your coat on.

But when we use 'pass something on to'... What nuance of meaning of the word 'on' is here?

Is it possible to omit 'on'?

  "Pass the book to me when you've finished with it."

Would it still be the same meaning? Why does first sentence have 'on'? And could you tell me some example sentences with this meaning of 'on' in them?


texts:
squeak /skwiːk/ [intransitive] to make a short high sound that is not very loud

  My new shoes squeak.

  The mouse ran away, squeaking with fear.

  One wheel makes a horrible squeaking noise.

My kid often protrudes his lips and makes a sound like a mouse as in this video.

What is this action called: a kid protrudes his lips and makes a sound like a mouse?

I am not sure if we can say "he is squeaking"


texts:
So, assimilation may be of three degrees: complete, partial and intermediate.
But I don't understand the difference between intermediate and complete assimilation.

For example what’s [wɒts] is a short form of what is [wɒt iz].What degree of assimilation is it?

And one more question...
Why there is an optional "h" in transcription of words "when" [wen – hwen] and "what" [(h) wɒt]. Why is it even here?


texts: "help someone do" vs. "help someone to do"

texts:
Which sentence is correct and why?

  Could you help the carnivore cut his meat?
  Could you help the carnivore to cut his meat?


texts: Name for words originating from the same source but concurrently denoting unrelated concepts

texts:
I was contemplating how the word confuse and refuse sound similar and realized that there's also defuse. I couldn't figure out what the abstract epi-meaning of fuse was so I tried to google for its...

...well, what was it I was looking for?

It's not synonym, not really antonym. I was thinking synoriginym but that was a miscarriage for an idea. So I'm asking here how to ask to find words that are obviously originating in an archaic term but are today entirely unrelated both by meaning and usage.


texts: How to use right word in right way with sentence

texts:
I am learning vocabulary as I am not a native speaker , I just search word intrinsic and found its meaning as Belonging to a thing by its very nature . But I don't know how we can use it correctly Like if my brother's nature is same like me so Can I say

My brother's intrinsic like me

OR

If we have two toy of car's and their behaviour same like moving with the remote so we can use it like

These toys are intrinsic with each other


texts:
I have worked in 3 companies, and I want to tell my friend about my first company.

Should I say "My first company is abcd." or "My first company was abcd."?


texts: What does "engaging" mean in this context?

texts:
The Instructor was engaging and very knowledgeable. Information was
  relayed in a way that was easy to understand, and allowed me to be
  confident in using my new skill sets at work. (https://www.promethit.com/testimonial/loved-it/)

The meaning would be either "attractive" or "make people to participate in activities", but I am not sure which meaning is correct in this context. What does "engaging"  mean here?


texts: "Along the Silk Road throughout China’s ancient history" meaning

texts:
The Mogao Caves were a key stop along the Silk Road throughout China's ancient history.

Does this sentence sound natural? I don't know if it refers to “throughout the history of ancient Chinese Silk Road” here?


texts:
For example When ask İf use of any preposition like with is correct or not  i say “ would it be correct to use with in sentence “. Can i say instead of this sentence:

  Would “with” be correct to use in sentence ?


texts: What does it mean by "drank my bodyweight"?

texts:
In English Action/Thriller movie "xXx: Return of Xander Cage", Serena asked by Xander about the tatoo on her body.

  Xander: What about that sexy one?

  Serena: This? Phoenix out of the ashes. Eighteen hours in a chair in
  Mexico. I drank my bodyweight in tequila to get through it.

Phoenix out of the ashes is design of tatoo, But what does it mean by "drank my bodyweight"?


texts:
Question: Which preposition is appropriate for the following sentence?

Given: He has no taste (in/for) music.


texts: "in the non-rigorous way" vs. "in a non-rigorous way"

texts:
I answered a question just now, where I said

  Actually, you are calculating the false positive rate (FPR) instead of
  the false positive, it seems that wiki example uses this term in the non-rigorous way.

I am concerned I misuse the expression, so, "in the non-rigorous way" or "in a non-rigorous way", which one is idiomatic?

If you have a more idiomatic and clear expression about this, please let me know.


texts: Is the phrase "students' intention" correct usage

texts:
We were trying to understand the students' intention.

Is the word "intention" supposed to be plural, since the word "students' is plural possessive, or is it alright to use it in the singular form?


texts:
In the following two sentences:

I'm afraid, I don't like fast food very much.
Dare I say, Binge eating is prevalent among young people.

Are "I'm afraid" and "Dare I say" both softening phrases? Can we replace one with the other one without changing the meaning of sentences?


texts: Last time/the last time. Usage of the article

texts:
Last time I read a story about...
  The last time I read a story
  about...

Is it acceptable to use "the last time" (with the) when speaking about the previous occasion, one in a row: "The last time I read an interesting story", "The last time we talked about elephants"?

(Yes, I know that in sentences like "The last time I read that story someone knocked at the door", "The last time we met I saw that he hadn't changed much" the article is necessary.)


texts: Which preposition should go first? "for two hours" or "to her"?

texts:
Which preposition should go first? "for two hours" or "for her"? and why?

  He has been writing a letter for two hours to her.

  He has been writing a letter to her for two hours.


texts: Grammatical structure of stuck being told

texts:
I came across the phrase here:
http://www.personal.kent.edu/~wkneelan/thirdoption/essays/tmnt_music.htm

  The listener or viewer is therefore stuck being told what is just as easily observed

I tried googling the phrase normally and by exact matching. I found some example sentences like:
stuck being someone, stuck being weak, stuck being stupid, etc.
I think the meaning is clear to me in these sentences: the speaker is and will continue to be something.

But what does a sentence like stuck being told mean?
Consecutive verbs confuse me!

If you have any information about the grammatical structure of the sentence or etymology, it would be very useful.


texts:
What of the following two sentences using  the phrase "beholden to" is more correct or sounds more like natural English?

  I am beholding to you a lot for your helps to me.
  I am being beholden to you for your help to me.


texts: Is the word "suit" offensive (meaning "corporate-looking person")?

texts:
You are in your workplace.  Your father is visiting you. He sees one of your coworkers and asks you:

  Who is the suit?

Is the word "suit" offensive in this context?

A usage of this : http://youtu.be/y8rzt-vj2gU?t=3m17s


texts: I feel like talking with you until you feel better. So my question is that is "until you feel better" in a correct tense? especially when the main clause is "talking with you". Maybe I should say I feel like talking with you until you feeling better.


texts:
What's the meaning of the expression "to make amends" in the texts below:

Text 1:

  You have to learn from mistakes and grow as an individual so you dont
  make the same mistakes twice. You can always try to make amends for
  past mistakes, pray God's forgiveness, and become the person you
  prefer to be.

Text 2:

  Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz? My friends all drive
  Porsches, I must make amends. Worked hard all my lifetime, no help
  from my friends, So Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz?

In the first example (Text 1) I found many different translations in Portuguese that makes sense and could be used but many of them have slightly different meanings and I'm not sure which one would be the more indicated here.

In this specific case does it relate to try to get someone's forgiveness for something you did in the past?

Regarding the Text 2 I have no idea what's the meaning of "make amends" in the context. No translation seems to make sense.

One last question: in Text 1 where it's said pray God's forgiveness the correct wouldn't be pray for God's forgiveness?


texts:
Here's a sentence from a textbook

  Before I left home, I promised my parents that I would return.

According to the given instruction, I'm suppose to rephrase it into a participial sentence.

One of my answers, however, according to my teacher, is wrong. But she didn't explain to me why. She just told me that before wasn't suppose to be in the middle of the sentence.

Here's the wrong one:

  I promised my parents before leaving home that I would return.

Could anyone explain it to me?
Thank you!


texts: Is it correct to say - The Brenners are two sisters?

texts:
“Lydia Brenner and Cathy Brenner are two sisters.”

Now is it correct to say – The Brenners are two sisters?

“Lydia Brenner, Cathy Brenner and Mitchel Brenner are two sisters and one brother.”

Is it correct to say –

a.  The Brenners are three siblings.

b.  The Brenners are two sisters and a brother.

c.  The Brenners are three siblings: two sisters and a brother.

Do they sound native?

Are there any other expressions that sound more native?


texts: I found 'elated' means 'excited'.  I had known and used a lot about 'excited', but I am not familiar with 'elated'.  Can it be used in the same way as 'I was elated by that news'?  Is there any difference in its connotation compared with 'excited'?


texts: question about tense - "I barely finished my homework after he returns to my house."

texts:
(given sentence) I barely finished my homework after he returns to my house.
Here's the link that shows where this question is from.
http://www.ggulpass.com/2017/05/2015-9_80.html
This sentence is from choice #4 of question #10

According to the correct answer to the question, they say we need to change the tense of the verb 'returns' to returned because the tense of the verb 'finished' is PAST. But in my opinion, I think the verb 'returns' needs to be like 'had returned' because the event of his returning to the house had happened before another event, which was finishing the homework. I think that makes more sense in that way.

What am I missing here?

Thanks


texts: Looking for an Idiom - Great Minds having great demons?

texts:
I think I recall some Idiom about great minds having great demons, but I cannot seem to find it anywhere online.
Does it not exist or am I misremembering a different one?


texts:
I am kind of confused....
Are the two sentences below the same?

Let’s pretend that none of this had ever/never happened.

Let’s pretend that none of this have ever/never happened.

If it’s different, can you please be specific on how they are different from each other?


texts: There were some 20000 people in Chicago demonstration

texts:
I read an article in a newspaper and encountered this sentence given below.

  There were some 20,000 people in the Chicago Demonstration.

I searched in the dictionary, and it says "some" is used for unspecified unit. But here the unit is specified i.e. 20,000 people then why is some used here?


texts:
Everywhere the local turks vowed that death was preferable to rule by Greeks.

Except in this line, everywhere in the text the author used the Greeks. Why is the not used before "Greeks" in the above sentence? Is there any exception or any other rule that governs it?


texts: Why are finite and infinite pronounced differently?

texts:
Finite rhymes with 'my time'. Infinite rhymes with 'minute' (as in seconds, minutes, hours and not minute, micro, small).
Why are i's in finite and infinite pronounced differently?


texts: Does subjunctive structure always use 'that' word in the begining? How exactly it works?

texts:
I have an idea about it but not utterly sure how does it work? I read it in books but it's still confusing; for instance, is it mandatory to be preceded always by the word that?

Is there any rules on the base form on the sentence?


texts:
The FDA is increasing stakeholder communications related to biosimilars, including timely guidance for sponsors in order to provide scientific and regulatory predictability, as well as more efficient structures to support the development and review of biosimilar and interchangeable products. This includes efforts to harmonize international regulation of biosimilars and the acceptance of non-U.S. comparator products, as well as greater use of real-world data supporting regulatory decision making related to biosimilars.FDA

Hi, What is "non-U.S. comparator"?
I searched "comparatotr", and google says:

  a device for comparing a measurable property or thing with a reference or standard.Google

But still I have no idea.
Please help me.


texts:
Oxford dictionary does not seem to have an entry for the verb mistake.

P.S.
Oxford dictionary does have it. Sorry, I missed it. :(

However, Wiktionary has one and it says

  To understand wrongly, taking one thing for another, or someone for someone else.

An example of this usage in Wikipedia goes

  Sorry, I mistook you for my brother. You look very similar.

Is using mistake as a verb correct ?
Can I use it in the continuous form ? e.g.

  I keep mistaking asses for humans.


texts: What can be meant by "night period" in this contex?

texts:
I have a text and I am not sure about the meaning of "night period" here.

Could it be, that boy says "it's a lovely evening for a walk" and girl answers "yes, it's a beautiful evening"?

  She spotted him walking down the path—right on time.She went to the door, opened it. And liked—what woman
  wouldn’t—the way he paused, the way he looked at her.

  “You’re prompt. I thought I’d head up to the
  house, save you the walk, but you beat me to it.”

  “Nice night for a walk.”

  “Nice night period. Do you do this often?”

  “Do what?”

  “Go dancing.”

  “Not especially.”

Huge thanks for any help!


texts: Education technology that helps with learning English

texts:
As a language learner, I have always had a very traditional, pen-and-paper approach to learning a new language (English included). I have played around with websites and apps like Livemocha, Duolingo, and even BBC language pages, as well as many other obscure sources, but those things would never stay with me for more than a few weeks. Soon I would be back to purchasing grammars, dictionaries and lots of pen and paper.

However, lately I've been thinking about the role of technology, and the fact that nowadays, more so than when I was growing up, people are constantly "plugged in", and doing everything from work and study to self-help and dating on a computer. What's also different now is that I've had some experience actually working on digital technology, so I'm eager to see if there is a way to apply my skills and come up with something people would find useful for learning a language.

So my question to you is - do you use technology when studying English? If you do, what do you like and dislike about it? And also, is there some kind of technology you wish existed, but doesn't right now, to help you learn English better?

Many thanks in advance!


texts: A single indefinite article for two items?

texts:
As I'm working my way in Duolingo I got an exercise to translate a sentence from Russian to English. The accepted translating is "I have a warm jacket and a warm sweater".

In the comments on this question, one person states:

  Why does it keep saying I need the second article in sentences like this? As far as I'm concerned, it's fine in English to say "I have a warm jacket and warm sweater" (...)

The commenter goes on to say is even more natural to drop the second adjective and say "a warm jacket and sweater".

(Here is a link to the discussion, though I'm not sure it is accessible without registering).

This seems wrong to me - I think the translation as written above is correct, and should be the one and only acceptable one. However, several other commenters agree with this comment, and not even one says it is wrong. (Note that Russian has no articles, but the translation in this case is straightforward).

My questing is not about translation but about the English sentence. I assume in informal spoken language some people would use "a warm jacket and sweater". But is it common to just drop the second article (keeping the two adjectives)? Also, is it correct English in the strict sense?


texts:
The river bus leaves from Pier 4.

This sentence is from Oxford Advance Learner Dictionary.
Do we need ''from'' after the word ''leave''?


texts: what's the meaning of otherwise in this sentence? "even when they think they are doing otherwise, observations show that ~"

texts:
I rarely understand "otherwise" meaning in this sentence. I think it's not normal meaning(in circumstances different from those present or considered; or else).

please tell me what this mean.

this is full passage

  While many teachers say they are keen on the idea of participatory pedagogy, they often have little understanding of what participatory practices entail, and are, in fact, impervious / inimical to change; even when they think they are doing otherwise, observations show that teachers perpetuate the teacher-centered classroom practices to which they have been habituated.

thank in advanced


texts: Is it a passive tense or a 'Subject + linking verb +predicative' pattern?

texts:
This caused the construction of gigantic buildings where too large masses of human beings are crowded together

In the attributive clause after 'where' above, is 'crowded' the past participal of the action verb 'crowd' (i.e., a passive tense) or is it an adjective to describe the state of human beings?

I tend to think it is a passive tense to stress the action as people do not have any active roles in the context of the article (i.e., the impact of industralizaiton on our society).


texts: You should/might/ought to consider going

texts:
You should consider going.

You might consider going.

You ought to consider going.

Could someone please explain the difference between these to me?


texts: Why this sentence used "with" instead of "of"

texts:
I came across a sentence, which used with instead of of, and it goes like this:

  "You may lose the contest due to the weight disadvantage with your dogs".

Can you explain the case here, is the usage of "with" here right, or can I use "of" to replace "With", and which one sounds more natural in your native speakers' ears! Thank you so much in advance!


texts: What word can be matched with 'general calculation'?

texts:
My electronic calculator, a Casio, has this abbreviation in it, COMP.
It is supposed to be thought as 'general calculation mode,' unlike vector calculations etc. But I've not yet found what word the maker would have based on for the abbreviation. Can you tell me the word for the meaning?


texts: Should I add an "over" in the following sentence?

texts:
Parks, woodlands, forests, jungles are areas where countless of living
  organisms had made their homes. And where they’d probably live for
  thousands of years. If we don’t send (over) our chainsaws first.”

Is the over necessary? (or maybe there's a better option?)


texts:
The following question is from a test:

  The epidemiologist was worried: despite _______ signs of danger, few countries or companies had taken the possibility of a pandemic seriously, and there was little interest in developing a vaccine.

  erroneous
  mounting
  token
  inconclusive
  residual

The correct answer is given as mounting, but how can that be possible when there is a conjunction "despite" that refers to the opposite of the decisive?


texts: Why can't we use the Present Perfect tense for dead people?

texts:
Immanuel Kant has been born in Europe.

I heard that the following sentence is wrong, but why can't we use Present Perfect for a dead person?


texts:
What's the meaning and usage of “Let's keep in touch”?

My friend said to me, “Let's keep in touch”
I don't know the meaning


texts:
My friend conveyed his wishes to my mom on her birthday, and asked me to pass them to her on his behalf.

But said like, "Wish her a birthday for me."

Is it correct usage of word? Shouldn't it be "from me"?


texts: Slang words which came into English from other languages?

texts: Are there such modern slang words in British or American versions of the English language which came from other foreign languages?


texts:
Consider this sentence:

  I think if you give some more info regarding what you're "trying to implement", that might help.

I have the following questions:

Where should the commas go? (AmEng and BrEng)
Please include complete sentence examples with comma(s).
What grammatical element is "that might help"?
What does "that" refer to?

Also, this sentence seems grammatically complicated.  What is the "core sentence"? For example, "The brown dog that ate the sandwich jumped on top of the car." can be reduced to a core sentence, "The dog jumped."


texts:
A person asks:"Did Jim eat the apples,right?"

Answer 1: "He ate those apples"

Answer2: " He DEFINITELY ate those apples"

Do these answers have a difference? What is it?


texts: Reference of pronoun it : "to read in English regularly" or "to read for pleasure"

texts:
My question is what the first and the second pronoun "it" mean in the 2nd paragraph below. I think that the first it means "to read English regularly" or "to read for pleasure," and the second it also means either one. I'm still debating in my mind. When I think out the question in my own language, both options seem possible. Give me your advice. By the way, I understand the functions of the pronoun "it." Thank you.

One of the ways to improve your English is to read in English regularly. Spend some time in bookstores, reading a page or two of books that look interesting. You can also borrow books from the library. These days, I'm reading lots of English mystery stories to improve my English skills.
The point is to read for pleasure. Don't use a dictionary, because then it becomes studying and you'll grow tired of it. If you come across a word ......  (omitted below) .

(from an English exercise book)


texts:
    I must look baffled, because Camel lets loose with a
  toothless cackle. "Kid, don't tell me you didn't notice."
      "Notice what?" I ask.    "Shit, boys," he
  hoots, looking around at the others. "He really don't know!"
    Grady and Bill smirk. Only Blackie is unamused. He scowls,
  pulling his hat farther down over his face.      Camel
  turns toward me, clears his throat, and speaks slowly, savoring each
  word. "You didn't just jump a train, boy. You done jumped the Flying
  Squadron of the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth."
      "The what?" I say.      Camel laughs so
  hard he doubles over.    "Ah, that's precious. Precious
  indeed," he says, sniffing and wiping his eyes with the back of his
  hand. "Ah, me. You done landed yer ass on a circus, boy."
      I blink at him.     "That there's the big
  top," he says, lifting the kerosene lamp and waving a crooked finger
  at the great rolls of canvas. "One of the canvas wagons caught the
  runs wrong and busted up real good, so here it is. Might as well find
  a place to sleep. It's gonna be a few hours before we land. Just don't
  lie too close to the door, that's all. Sometimes we take them corners
  awful sharp."  (Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants)

‘Real good’ seems to intensify the degree of being busted up. But I don’t find the usage in dictionaries. Would you tell me what meaning does the phrase have?


texts:
The data that I get with my mobile plan is little
The data that I get with my mobile plan is less
The data that I get with my mobile plan is limited to use


texts:
I found this below sentence while I was reading an article.

  In most cases, you do not have a right to privacy in your work email.

At first instance, it was like did I read it properly?

So I read it many times, but still I feel like something is missing in this sentence.

If I wrote this above sentence, I would have it like this

  In most cases, you do not have a right to have private stuff in your
  work email.

I am a non-native speaker. Please teach me anything you think that, why I think this sentence is wrong.


texts:
Example with a context (Ukraine rebels deny internal strife behind commander's slaying):

  Mozgovoi played a central role in momentum-swinging battles that forced pro-Western President Petro Poroshenko to sue for peace on two occasions.

This is obviously not a real adjective in English—an ad-hoc one, if you will, to add idiomatism to the sentence. But what do you think it actually means?


texts: How to use "since" to imply "from the time that", not "because of"? Can tense itself have a role?

texts:
Consider:

  Since he left the group, we have worked harder to cover his absence.
  Since he left the group, we work harder to cover his absence.
  Since he left the group, we worked harder to cover his absence.
  Since he has left the group, we have worked harder to cover his absence.
  Since he has left the group, we work harder to cover his absence.

I want to know if tense itself has any influence on the meaning of since between these sentences.

In detail, I want to know how you would use since in such a way that it will not be understood as because. I mean I want it to imply "from the time that ...". I should say that I agree that since as "from the time that ... " and because may indicate exactly the same thing in certain contexts.

Does this have anything to do with the tense we choose? I mean: can the tense itself make the reader biased towards "because" or "from the time that"?


texts:
Which of the following sentences would be correct (they're questions):

  Would have I gone through all this process had I got the opportunity to continue with the other option?

or

  Would have I gone through all this process have I had the opportunity to continue with the other option?

Many thanks!


texts: What does "Could we ever bridge this bitter rivalry?" mean?

texts:
I came across the following dialogue in an American TV show, called Younger.

I am not sure what Could we ever bridge this bitter rivalry? means. I guess can we unite this bitter competition but my Chinese subtitle meant let's have a fight. Am I misunderstanding this?

Also, I got a hit means hi or someone looks for Diana on match.com?

Context: Diana is a director of a publishing house. Liza is an assistant of Diana.

  Diana: I got a hit. Look. [Diana is looking on match.com]

  Liza: [gasps] Ooh, he's handsome.

  Diana: And he's a tenured professor at Columbia Medical School. He
  likes rock climbing; his Australian shepherd, Ben; and Sundays at The
  Frick.

  Liza: You love The Frick.

  Diana: I love The Frick. He writes, "I see from your profile that you
  are a member of the East Side Chamber Music Society. I am a member
  of the West Side Chamber Music Society. Could we ever bridge this
  bitter rivalry?"

  Liza: Adorable.

  Diana: Stop cheerleading and help me. What should I write back?

  Liza: How about, "Some rivalries are fated."


texts:
In addition to war and politics,
  Aristophanes also ridiculed characteristics of Athenians
  themselves and human foibles more generally. In The
  Wasps, he poked fun at Athenians’ obsession with
  unnecessary lawsuits. Bdelycleon, driven to despair by
  his father Philocleon’s compulsive attachment to jury
  duty, tries to keep the old man from the law courts by
  allowing him to conduct a trial of two dogs, one of which
  is called Cleon.

In this context I get confused whether the meaning of " more generally" is: widely (including every people) or it means: not including details?

Source: Gale Contextual Encyclopedia Of World Literature


texts: Using 3rd person "s" with relative pronouns

texts:
My question is about adding S to the third person in questions starting by WH or any other type of word not only by do or does.

for instance, which of the following sentences are correct?

Is there a national program that teach how to eat healthy?
Is there a national program that teaches how to eat healthy?
Who in your family is the person who eat most?
Who in your family is the person who eats most?


texts: "confound" has two meanings and I'm confused which definition was used in this sentence

texts:
As candidates confound worries about immigration, Islam and terrorism, the campaign will turn toxic.

I looked up the dictionary and I found two possible definitions

to cause a surprise or confusion.
to prove something wrong.

My guess is number 2.

source: http://www.theworldin.com/edition/2017/article/12593/fight-france


texts: Is ‘having’ a participle or gerund in the prepositional phrase?

texts:
Is ‘having’ a participle or gerund in the prepositional phrase ‘to having his own office’

He is accustomed to having his own office.


texts: "A fire in Chursoo village in Jammu and Kashmir's Awantipora" is this correct grammar?

texts:
I cannot work out if "a fire in Chursoo village in Jammu and Kashmir's Awantipora" is grammatically correct in UK English grammar.

The text is copied from an English language newspaper in India.

Should it be "a fire in the village of Chursoo in Jammu and Kashmir's Awantipora"?

The meaning is clear in the original, I'm just not sure if it is grammatically correct.


texts: meaning of the word "consideration" in context

texts:
Here is the excerpt:

  Over and above any considerations of performance for sports, exercise is the stimulus that returns our bodies to the conditions for which they were designed.

I have looked all the meanings the word consideration has, but still cannot digest it. I cannot get what the author of the book means by considerations of performance. Could you please rephrase the sentence for me?


texts: As+ adjective + as (comparing the subject with itself)

texts: In the sentence, "When one considers the many ways by which organisms are completely destroyed after death, it is remarkable that fossils are as common as they are.", what is referred to by the word "they"? Moreover, is it possible to compare a subject with itself? For example, "The stars are as bright as they (the stars) are. Thank you!


texts: He will join us soon / He will be joining us soon

texts:
He will join us soon.
  He will be joining us soon.

This is  little confusing, both options seem correct to me. Please explain.


texts: Is this correct and good way to express?

texts:
I am off to work on my Monday morning as I was at my brother's wedding. I will resume work on Tuesday.

How about this way?

I attended my brother's wedding yesterday, and I am on the way to my home town. I will reach home by Monday evening and resume work on Tuesday.


texts: Difference between study English / in studying English

texts:
Do these sentences mean the same I will help you study English.
 I will help you in studying English.


texts: What is the idiomatic way to express "we have no power to run this machine"?

texts:
power  7  [noncount] a : energy that can be collected and used to
  operate machines

  electrical/nuclear/solar/wind/battery power

  The car's engine yields more power while using less fuel.

  — see also horsepower, manpower

  b : the electricity that people use

  We lost power during the storm.

  Do you know how many watts of power your refrigerator uses per day?

Whenever a learner like me looks up a new word in a dictionary, he or she expects to see some very common examples that most people use.

For example, when I looked for the word "power", the first thing that came in my mind was "how to express that we have or don't have power to run a machine"

But some dictionaries don't have this kind of common examples.

So, let's say "you took your laptop / radio to a library & you plugged its cable into a socket & there was no power, what you you say in this situation"


texts: What's the meaning of 'of' in : the government 'of' the people?

texts:
Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

‘Of’ being generally translated into this Korean word: ‘의’, which has over ten meanings, I don’t get the meaning of ‘of’ well. I get the idea that ‘of’ in the example above seems to have one of these two meanings: (RHD #1) possession (the people possess the government), (RHD #2) source (the government comes out of the people).
Which of them or what any other meaning do I have to get?


texts:
Is it semantically correct to use "specifically with an emphasis on..." in the following sentence? Could there be confusion as to whether "emphasis" refers to "Rowling" or "I"?

Considering Rowling's description of Ilvermorny, specifically with an emphasis on indigenous tradition, I will use  Robert James Muckle's research on indigenous people's of North America to see how Rowling...


texts: "Should have" in reference to the present

texts:
Can one use "should have" to say that something is expected, or might be expected, or must be done, but, in fact,  will not/ has not happen? For example,

  I should have gone to school, but I'd rather go to the cinema.
  He should have felt remorse, but instead he is happy.


texts: What's the meaning of this long TOEFL sentence?

texts:
There's a text from one of the TOEFL exams:

Wildman and Niles observed that systematic reflection on teaching
required a sound ability to understand classroom events in an
objective manner. They describe the initial understanding in the
teachers with whom they were working as being “utilitarian … and not
rich or detailed enough to drive systematic reflection.”

I can't understand the meaning of the second sentence: "They describe ... ."
what does "in the teachers" mean?
what does "drive systematic reflection" mean?


texts:
One person climbed on the electric pol and fell from there and died. While reporting how should report?

  a) He had climbed on the electric pole for some repair work and from there he fell.
  b) He climbed on the electric pole for repair work and from there he fell.

Both the sentences gives the idea of electrician was on the pole and was doing some repairing work before falling from there.

So which one is correct? And why?

Similarly,

  a) She went to her native where she was raped by her uncle.
  b) She had gone to her native where she was raped by her uncle.

Both the above sentences give idea about She was at her native place when she was raped by her uncle.


texts: about the waste-sorting OR with waste-sorting

texts:
Which sentence is correct between those two:

  The problems about the waste-sorting are ...

  The problems with waste-sorting are ...


texts: 'I would like [something]' sounds half-baked; is preposition 'to' necessary there?

texts:
I've heard and observed many saying...

  I would like a cup of coffee  I would like our website to be responsive  I would like a customer care button at the bottom of the webpage  and so on...

I always feel that it's a half-baked sentence and it strongly requires  'to + have'

  I would like to have a cup of coffee and so on...

Do we require 'to' after 'would like....' to sound a complete sentence? Or is it okay without 'to'?


texts: Phrase to express something has had a great impact despite a negligible popularity?

texts:
Can you please suggest me an alternative phrase to the highlighted one that would express "when you take in account the very insignificant popular knowledge it receives"?

The Effective Altruism movement has had a crazy impact for the little
it is known.

Or would my sentence make sense the way I constructed it? Thanks!


texts:
Extracting data from the web can serve a broad spectrum of data-centric applications.
The human effort required in large scale extraction tasks signicantly affects both the flexibility and the cost.

Should "the" at the beginning of the second sentence be used?


texts:
May I use "that way" at the beginning of a paragraph, referring to the idea which was mentioned in the previous paragraph?

For instance:

That way, it is possible to conclude that...


texts: Which sentence is better to say which stamp I can take?

texts:
Let’s say that my brother collects stamps and he wanted to me to take some stamps on one condition. Would it be correct if he said the sentences below to describe the condition:

  You can take one of some stamps which have two examples.

  You can take one of stamp of which there are two.

Especially is the word ”example” correct?


texts: The electricity has been going off/ has been off

texts:
For example:

It's 9:00 p.m and at 7 p.m the electricity went off.

Which tense is correct and what is the difference in meaning between these tenses?

The electricity has been going off for 2 hours.

The electricity has been off for 2 hours.

Thank you.


texts: Use of present perfect passive "has not being" or "was not being"

texts:
Industrial sector has not being attractive enough to absorb excess labour in the agricultural sector.

(Wanted to explain an Ongoing process from past to present)

Industrial sector was not being attractive enough to absorb excess labour in the agricultural sector.

(Wanted to explain what had happened during a period of twenty years, which ended in 2010)
I understand that, I can use present perfect tense in explaining something which has happened in the past which continues to the present. So, i used 'has not being' as the passive form of past present perfect tense, in the first sentence. (Not quite sure though)
In the second sentence, the process had begun some time in the past, continued for a period and ended.  I was just wondering whether I have to 'had not being' in the second sentence.
Thank you.


texts: Is the transitive usage of "back off" common?

texts:
Both of them backed off their verbals, and eventual Indiana pledge Romeo Langford cut Louisville from his list of schools. (source)

The meaning is clear, but I find the usage of "back off" as a transitive phrasal verb strange. I am more familiar with "back off on" and "back off from". For example, Merriam Webster has a sentence that employs the same meaning of "back off":

  you'd better not back off on your promise to do all the planning for the big dance

Is this omission of preposition in the quoted sentence idiomatic? Also, do "back off on" and "back off from" have the same meaning?


texts: When you teach someone your experiences, can you say "I transferred my experiences"? or is there a better verb to describe it?


texts: Could you tell me the difference between 'a day wasted' and 'a wasted day'?

texts:
There is a famous saying:

  A day without a laughter is a day wasted.

Can I replace it with the following?

  A day without a laughter is a wasted day.

Could you tell me the difference between the two sentences, if any?


texts: Is it correct to say: “Let's have another person into the game”?

texts:
Let us assume that we are three friends playing bowling and we like to have a 4th player. Can we say: "Let's have another person into the game"?

I'm doubtful about the use of the word "into". Is this the correct word to use here.


texts:
Are they synonymous? I don't quite see the difference between them.

What are some of the relativizers which are not relative pronouns (if any)?
What are some of the relative pronouns which are not relativizers (if any)?


texts:
I'm looking for one word, phrase or idiom that means the following "a female (woman,girl) who did a bad thing but it was cute and amazing, something surprising but not pleasant"

I invited a girl to have dinner with me at a restaurant, she ordered a lot of food and eat it. I went to the man's room and when I returned she wasn't there. She only left a paper saying "Thanks, good luck".

But what she did didn't make me angry, instead I was intrigued and surprised. I don't blame her but she did a nasty thing.

What is she after that? What do I call her?

I was thinking of "a charming bitch" or  "a lovely bitch", "a glorious wretch".


texts:
Many Russian textbooks use the adverbial "at the lessons" meaning that something takes place during some lessons/classes.

For example: "Children call each other names at the lessons".

I heard that native speakers never used this adverbial and it's a mistake in Russian textbooks.

Do natives usually use "in class" or "in the lessons" when they mean that something takes place during classes? Please, make it clear.


texts:
when i try on google search the meaning for a word, i.e calcium meaning and i click the pronunciation icon. it sounds like khalcium. also i have heard ppl pronouncing could as khudd or khould.

shouldn't calcium be pronounced as kalcium, and could as kudd like puddings pudd with k instead of p.

pudd <-> kudd <-> could with l kind of silent.

also i have heard, cool as khool.
does c have kh like sound instead of k?

same goes for p, i have heard people say power as pha-ver or phawer/phower

please guide.


texts: Why is the past form "changed" used in this situation?

texts:
A middle-aged woman of mine complained to her husband that she was bored. "We never go anywhere or see anyone", she told him. "We just sit here night after night in front of the television."
Her husband thought for a moment, then suggested, "Would it help if we CHANGED seats?"


texts:
Why this strife of the chase? why weary, and palsy the arm at the oar, and the iron, and the lance? how the richer or better is Ahab now? Behold. Oh, Starbuck! is it not hard, that with this weary load I bear, one poor leg should have been snatched from under me? Here, brush this old hair aside; it blinds me, that I seem to weep. (from Moby Dick Source)

I'm having trouble understanding why the word that is used in the bolded part of this quote.


texts: The names of magic items/devices in the folklore/fairy tales of the English-speaking countries

texts:
In folk stories and fairy tales of every nation, there appear certain magic items or devices that, being obedient to a hero's will, always help him and the goodness triumph.

In the Russian folklore, for example, the most popular ones, which I can think of, have always been the following (the definitions are entirely mine):

  "Шапка-невидимка" — a hat which, being put on, makes a man invisible;

  "Сапоги-скороходы" — self-running boots;

  "Скатерть-самобранка" — a table-cloth which produces all sorts of meal
  and drinks according to its user's preference;

  "Ковер-самолет" — a self-flying carpet;

  "Живая и Мертвая вода" — the two kinds of water, one called "live"
  and the other — "dead". The former heals the hero's wounds,  the latter revitalizes him;

  "Молодильное яблоко" — an apple which, having been eaten, turns the
  old into the young.

My question is this:

Does any of the above-listed exist in the English language oral tradition? What are their names in English? What other magic items or devices can be often met in the English-speaking world's folklore and fairy tales?


texts:
How do I use "move to" with feelings?
According to the definition of "move to" for feelings on the Cambridge dictionary website, we can use it to:
"to cause someone to have strong feelings, such as sadness, sympathy, happiness, or admiration"
but can I say for example since they didn't use it as an example:

1 She was moved to happiness.

or

2 She was moved to sadness.


texts:
I promise you that I will not make any attempt to contact you. I hope that you relieved.

This is supposed to be the reply to the addresse from whom I wanted some help but he did not bother to answer. I would like to ask if the second sentence is OK. I want to express in an ironical way that was a load off his mind. Not sure whether the verb "relieve" takes the object.


texts:
When you read a book and you want to express your excitement, what do you say:

"it was a nice read"

OR

"What a nice read"

OR

"Nice reading"

OR

There's something else which is most suitable?
I know that I could simply say: "I enjoyed reading this book" but I remember seeing a lot of people using the word "nice" but don't exactly remember how it was constructed though.


texts:
Once a man showed me the opening pages of a novel that he was writing,
  and he had something of a name. It begins something like this ...

This is from the “Donnellan Lectures” by  Lord Dunsany.

I do not understand the meaning of  “he had something of a name.”

I would be glad if some one kindly taught me.


texts:
Dictionaries give be the last word in something as the correct construction, but in the following sentence
The ICC World Cup remains the last word on cricket’s hierarchy.
"on" is used. Is that correct?


texts: "I won't be the ____ of the town." - what goes in the blank?

texts:
I won't be the ____ of the town.

This is a phrase that I’ve heard a lot when a person is about to be shamed publicly but I just can't remember what word it was.


texts: Is it correct to omit the definite article before the word "dad"/"father "and "mom"/"mother" when referring to one's parents?

texts:
Is natural to omit the definite article before mom/mother and dad/father meaning one's mom or dad. For example:

  Mom says that I don't have to clean my room.

  I will ask dad if I can take his car.

By dad and mom I mean my mom and dad.


texts:
Admittedly, there are a hundred thousand ways you can write a headline to communicate the same message. There’s the uber-awesome Caples-esque Upworthy way. There are simpler, more timid “2.0” ways. There are flashy direct response-style ways. And then there’s everything in between. Yes, this headline could have been wrong. (That’s why we test!) But it didn’t hurt conversion; it just didn’t nudge enough people over the Game of Thrones-sized Wall keeping them from converting.

what does "timid “2.0” ways" mean?

Is it mean two simpler way?

source: http://copyhackers.com/2014/09/buttons-vs-headlines/


texts:
Everyone of apple is tasty.

  Anyone of banana you can take.

Is that grammatical?


texts:
May be it's simple but I'm stuck.

I'm using "Cheers!" for a toast or valediction on any internet forums. When I'm writing "Cheers!" I want say 'Thanks for the communication! Goodbye!' Can I use "Cheer!" for the same? Or does "Cheer!" have a different meaning?


texts:
What's the difference between these two sentences?
Can we use that as a relative pronouns in this sentence?
As I know read in books that who is better than that but I am not sure how to use that to connect two sentences together?

  This is the man who was chasing me last night.
  This is the man that was chasing me last night.


texts: Isn't it werid to say "genes have discovered a lifestyle"?

texts:
THE IDEA of a last universal common ancestor provides a plausible and helpful, if incomplete, answer to where humans, oak trees and their ilk come from. There is no such answer for viruses. Being a virus is not something which provides you with a place in a vast, coherent family tree. It is more like a lifestyle—a way of being which different genes have discovered independently at different times. Some viral lineages seem to have begun quite recently. Others have roots that comfortably predate LUCA itself.

How to parse this sentence? Should I read it as :

It is more like a lifestyle—a way of being (which different genes have) discovered independently at different times
It is more like a lifestyle—a way of being (which different genes have discovered independently at different times)

Isn't it werid to say "genes have discovered a lifestyle" in 2? What could that mean?

article link : https://www.economist.com/essay/2020/08/20/viruses-have-big-impacts-on-ecology-and-evolution-as-well-as-human-health


texts:
Everyone! Why is this correct:

There was someone in the house because there was a light on inside.

As I know, light is uncountable. So correct to say the light/ light but not a light, isn't it?
Thanks!


texts:
"Many students complain about the pile of homeworks they have to do. Although, they fail to realize the importance homeworks in retention of information.."
is the usage of although acceptable / correct here?


texts:
https://youtu.be/Xe5LQHCWZRM

"Everybody's gotta learn somtime"

(As I know, " 's " is a contraction of 'has' in this case)

I am confused about what 'has got to' means in this lyrics.

Which of the following is more close to it?

1) Something is necessary or required.

2) Something is true or will happen.


texts:
Does 'average crowd of humans' mean 'common people'?
Here is the example, which is from 'Baker's blue-jay yarn' by Mark Twain.

They all examined the hole, they all made the sufferer tell it over again, then they all discussed it, and got off as many leather-headed opinions about it as an average crowd of humans could have done.


texts: Can "fancy paper" be used as an exact synonym for "gift wrap paper"?

texts: I haven't found "fancy paper" in a dictionary. I could only guess by using an images search and reading sentences containing the word. So I am not sure if "fancy paper" can be used as an exact synonym for the terms "gift wrap paper" and "wrapping paper". Besides that, does "fancy paper" have any additional meanings?


texts:
Prices are $25 for general admission and $20 for senior citizens and
  students with a valid ID. Children under 12 will charge/be charged/require/be required
  half price.

Which one is correct?


texts: Reporting a sentence with an 'if' condition

texts:
If someone said, for example,

  "I will not cry if I lose"

how could I report their speech correctly?

He said he wouldn't cry if he ... (loses or lost ?)

The same question about another sentence:

  "I wouldn't cry if I lost (a game)"

How to report this one?

He said he ... cry if he ...

And the last question: Is there any mistake in my question? )


texts: What is the difference of "flying people" and "people flying"?

texts:
It is filled with flying people.
It is filled with people flying.

What is the difference of "flying people" and "people flying" in the sentences above?


texts:
I have a situation where I need to describe two states. One is when something is configured properly and one where it is misconfigured.

Is it valid to contrast "configured" and "misconfigured", or should I use "configured properly" and "misconfigured" to differentiate more clearly?


texts: What is the right way of asking someone to give a more detailed explanation of what he just said (or wrote)?

texts:
I was told something and now I want to get a more detailed explanation of what the person just said (or wrote).

For example, the person wrote to me:

  The key difference between the two definitions is that valid is a property of sentences and satisfiable is a property of sets of sentences.

Now I want to get that sentence to be explained in more detail to me.

I answered:

  Can you please elaborate?

Link to that conversation: https://www.reddit.com/r/logic/comments/99geaz/satisfiability_and_validity/e4nyate/

Questions:

Is this the right way of asking someone to give a more detailed explanation of what he just said (or wrote)?
What are other ways (maybe better, maybe just other) of asking someone to give a more detailed explanation of what he just said (or wrote)?
Is there a difference when we speak and when we write? I mean, maybe some variant is better to use when we speak and some is better when we write?

If there is a difference between American English and British English regarding that topic please write that too.


texts:
I am reading a book about modeling and solving problems using software, and I found this sentence:

  Simulation is sometimes so easy to sell to managers that analytical solutions that can yield optimal results are often overlooked.

I feel that the sentence is not understandable because of the two that, should any of them be than?


texts: Usage and grammar rules for the verb "remain"

texts:
i have google the usage with different combination of tenses for the verb remain such as

is/are remained
will be remained

it seems like it's wrong in grammar to use past participle and future forms. Many website has stated the usage is error in term of grammar.

but i can't get the sense of the grammatical error, can anyone advice me?


texts: Is it normal to describe a Human being by a Non-Human thing with the verb BE?

texts:
If someone used another one to achieve a personal interest, then the other person may describe herself/himself by the suitable noun (a non-human thing) which s/he has been used as it.

For example, if two friends went on a trip, but it appeared later that one of them has invited the other one to go with him for getting directions to their destination since the first one doesn't know the road while the other one knows it, so the friend who has been used may say to the one who used him:

  — So, I was only a map for you.

Other possible situations where the following may apply:

  — So, I was only a/an [experience/adventure/wallet/...] for you.

I came across a similar sentence which was written without an article, it was:

  — I'm not property.

Is it normal in English to describe oneself by a non-human thing using solely the verb "be"? And, does it take articles or not?

I have tried writing similar sentences and general structures on Google Search but couldn't found anything alike.


texts: Error:Whatever his intention may be he should consider them carefully before he comes to a decision

texts:
Whatever his intention may be he should consider them carefully before he comes to a decision.

Is the above sentence correct ?

I am doubtful for the usage of them with intention since intention is singular don't I need to use it in place of them or replace intention with intentions ?


texts: Word for rewriting a sentence so it won't be misunderstood?

texts:
Is there a word for rewriting a sentence so it won't be understood incorrectly misunderstood

For example:

"I went to Washington to go to The the White House and then return returned."

In this sentence I meant to return from The White House, but somebody thought that I meant to return from Washington, so in order to avoid confusion, I changed it to "and then returned from The White House" and told him I'll rewrite the sentence.

Is there any word that means rewriting the sentence so it won't be misunderstood? Is saying I'll "rewrite the sentence" correct?


texts: which sentence sounds natural? Actually, by any chance, do you mind

texts:
A- Hi, Can I get this one, please?
B- Sure. Anything else?
A- No, that's it.

few minutes later ..

A- 1.Actually, Can you wrap it as a gift?

2.Do you mind if you wrap it as a gift?

3.Can you wrap it as a gift by any chance?

which one sounds natural?

or could you tell me if you know any better sentence?


texts:
I would to know if there is any error in the below sentence.

  No other man was so successful an administrator as James was.

As far as I am concerned so...as is used in negative sense. Here I am in doubt if the above sentence is having a negative or a positive sense.


texts: The singer was accompanied by her sister on the piano?

texts:
The original sentence is: "The singer was accompanied on the piano by her sister.
But what if I say: "The singer was accompanied by her sister on the piano". Does it sound odd?


texts: When to use indefinite article "a(n)" when referring to a person with an adjective?

texts:
I'm not a native English speaker. From time to time I see the following structure when referring to a person:

... a(n) [adjective] [person's name] ...

example:

  "Meanwhile, an increasingly sadistic Henry begins focusing his attention..."

  / Wikipedia: It (novel) /

I'm pretty sure that the following is correct as well:

  "Meanwhile, the increasingly sadistic Henry begins focusing his attention..."

What's the difference between these?


texts: How to use "contribution" and "contributions"

texts:
How do I know whether I should use the singular or plural form of contribution?

I did an exercise.
The …………… of artists could not be exaggerated.

The answer is contribution.

Why didn't it use the plural form?


texts: I usually hear people ask others "What's up？" when they first meet each other.  But what does this sentence mean?   Does it mean "How are you?"  or "What are you doing?'  And if asked with such phrase, how should I answer?


texts:
Because I feel that I am going to say so I always use following line:

"I will say/suggest that you must not go there."

Is above line correct? or, should I use following line:

"I say/suggest that you must not go there."

But I think that this line has connotation that I say something regularly or frequently.


texts:
What does the bold part mean?

Chomsky's target is the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement, which has made significant strides in recent years. It calls for an end to Israel's occupation of Arab lands conquered in 1967 and the dismantling of its West Bank wall; recognising the rights of Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and respecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes.
Chomsky says that while there is wide international support for the first two goals, there is only negligible backing beyond the BDS movement itself for the return of the 1948 refugees – a key Palestinian demand. Insistence on that, he says, "is a virtual guarantee of failure".
Against a background of bitter arguments over BDS activity on US university campuses, Chomsky invokes the "glass house" principle, writing that if Tel Aviv University is boycotted because Israel violates human rights at home, "then why not boycott Harvard because of far greater violations by the US?"
He also questions the "very dubious" analogy made by BDS between sanctions against Israel and sanctions against apartheid South Africa. By 1960, global investors had already abandoned South Africa, says Chomsky, though some historians dispute the claim. Today, by contrast, US investment is flowing into Israel.

source: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/02/bds-boycott-campaign-israel-noam-chomsky


texts:
Person A: What are you skills?
Person B: I can swim, I can drive a car,...
We list them using "can". But can we do the same using "could"?
Person B: I could swim, I could drive a car,...


texts:
My SO from Japan contemplates two phrases:

"We are going to die eventually."
"We are to die eventually."

Why does sentence 1. sound more correct?
Is sentence 2. correct at all?


texts:
see this sentence "I am 10 minutes late"

late is an adjective in this case Source

  late1 /leɪt/ ●●● S1 W1 adjective (comparative later, superlative
  latest)   1 AFTER EXPECTED TIME arriving, happening, or done after the
  time that was expected, agreed, or arranged OPP early

  Sorry I’m late – I overslept.

  ten minutes/two hours etc late You’re half an hour late.

My question is:

is "10 minutes" an adverb in the sentence "I am 10 minutes late"?


texts: Difference between have and find a good friend in you

texts:
I have a good friend in you.
I have found/find a good friend in you.

What is the difference between #1 and #2?


texts: What is the expected response to "What's up?"

texts:
When somebody ask me What's up? I answer I am well, thank you.

Is that the expected answer, or should I answer something else?
What does a native speaker understand when I reply like that?


texts:
I want to buy ____ books, two for my brother and the other for me.

  A. all   ;      B. both  ;    C. three

I encountered this question in a quiz today. I choose answer C, but the answer key is A. I don't understand why. To me, the question itself doesn't make sense. First, I doubt the use of "the other". If the answer was A, then it should be the others for me. Also, "buy all books" doesn't sound quite right. "All the books" seems to make much more sense. Second, if I go for answer C, the structure "two ... the other" confuses me. Usually, I'd expect "one ... the other".

Any thoughts?


texts: What is your life or What is your life like?

texts:
Which one is correct? Or are they both correct? What is the difference? Are they interchangeable?

I didn't find any results on google about the first one:

  What is your life like in two words?

or

  What is your life in two words?


texts: subject-verb agreement when "OR" is used in the subject

texts:
I wrote:

  For example, the subject or the object of the sentence are directly dependent on the verb and in turn they may take other dependents.

Is it "are" or "is"? Or "they" or "it"? Because I used "or" in the subject, I don't know the verb is plural or singular.


texts: Are 'branded by' and 'trademarked by' correct usage?

texts:
Do the words in bold sound OK to native English speakers?

(1) A lot of garments branded by a few well-known companies have been copied illegally.
(2) Logos and phrases trademarked by some well-known companies have been copied illegally.


texts: "There are many examples of Xs and Ys in our society." When we want to generalize a particular kind of person to a large number of people

texts:
In Persian, Somali(an Afroasiatic language) and Arabic when we want to generalize a particular kind of person (as a symbol)  to a large number of people we say:

  We have many Xs & Ys & etc in our society, these children are our future.

Or

  There are many Xs & Ys & etc(somone's name+[s]) in our society, these children are our future.

I wonder if we can say the following sentences in English:

  "There are many examples of Xs and Ys in our society."

Or

  There are many Xs & Ys among ourselves who can build our future.

Are these structures acceptable?

NOTE: X & Y are fictitous names. (e.g. Xs: Toms & Ys: Juliets)


texts: Is there any difference between 'correspondent' and 'reporter' in the media context? Their definitions on Lexico are quite similar, almost identical, I would say.


texts:
1) Mango is known as the King of fruits
  2) Mango is called as the King of fruits

I find this “called as" vs "known as” thing quite confusing...Which of these sentence is appropriate to use while writing?


texts:
I have been reading some papers on air transport management and I have found the word minimum is pluralized as minima. E.g.: landing minima.

I always thought the plural of minimum is minimums. I have looked it up on Google and I have found that both are accepted.

Which word (minima/minimums) do the people use when speaking in a normal context? (Out of curiosity I would also like to know where does the word minima come from? Since in English plurals are never done like that.)


texts: When do you capitalise the "P" in pokemon?

texts:
There have been a lot of articles online of late concerning the release of Pokemon Go. Across different articles, there are different patterns for capitalising the 'p' in pokemon.

I have been taught to use capitalisation when it is a name, but constant use when referring to pokemon as a collective term (I.e. when being used to refer to a group pf pokemon) has made me unsure.

When referring to a group, I have aleays been taught to use lower case, as in

  "A group of pokemon"

What is the correct use of capitalisation, when talking about a made-up species, such as in Pokemon?

I would think a more concrete rule applies to created names than "whatever the creator uses", and given that anybody can edit the Wikipedia, I do not trust its use of capitalisation. I feel that this might be right, but a good answer should tell my the global rule to follow, not "This is what the wikipedia says".

There is not going to always be a "wikipedia page" or "homepage" to check these sort of things, in future cases.


texts:
Well I just read book in my friend house and there I notice that there was sentence like

  He knows how to do that task

but what if I use it like

  He know how to do that task

That thing is still confusing me and I don't the key difference because I am just in process of learning.


texts:
Usage example with a context:

  It's easy to fantasize about Putin "saving" Europe from itself when you're in Germany or Greece, or better yet France. Such illusions are rare in Poland, Romania, the Baltic States, much less Ukraine, where the hungry Russian bear looms close-by. One wonders what Marine Le Pen would think of her crush in the Kremlin if France were located a thousand kilometers eastward of where it is.

What does that expression actually mean?


texts: The young lady, a young man - why different articles?

texts:
I came across two examples on YourDictionary.com and would like to know why these sentences use different articles?

  You're growing into quite the young lady.
  He was getting to be quite a handsome young man.


texts:
I have happened upon it in Crash Course A&P. It is at around 41 second. Here it goes:

  But much of your chemical waste still needs to be sorted and disposed of, so one system steps in to bat clean-up. And that is your urinary system.

I understand what the speaker mean from the context, but why is there no article before the word clean-up and used the word bat?


texts: "I am sure what is going to happen next" is this grammatically correct?

texts:
"I am sure what is going to happen next"

I have 2 questions for this sentence.

Was I supposed to say I am sure about what... with about or without it?
If we omit the "I am sure" part, the sentence will become a question. And it is confusing me, I don't know if I am saying the sentence right. Every time I use this type of structure, it reminds me of the rule putting to-be verb at the end in this type of sentences "Do you know who he is?". And I don't know what to do with *is" in the sentence above... Am I saying it right?
I said "I have 2 questions for this sentence"... is it for or about that I was supposed say?

Thanks for the answers. I really appreciate your help.


texts:
You will see how is it to be a parent when you have a child.

  You will see when you have a child how is it to be a parent.

Is there any difference between these sentences? Are both correct?

What is the main clause?


texts: is it fine "Have you ever serviced your computer"

texts: is it correct to say "Have you ever serviced your computer" please reply


texts: Is that correct to say "music for any media project"

texts:
What would be the best and correct way to say:

Music for any media project;
Music for every media project;
Music for all media projects.

The meaning of the sentence is that a composer offers its music for licensing to use in different projects such as video, film, podcasts, TV, advertising, etc.
And, in addition, is using the word "media" actually OK when referencing those projects (film, video, podcasts, etc.)
Thanks in advance :-)


texts: Which adjective word can I use for describing the network can not pass data?

texts:
If have two networking devices using a link connected them, but the networking between them can not switch data to each other. I mean the physical is connected, but they do not meet the protocol so can not traffic data, which word can I use to adjective this scenario ? I think I can not use "in-connected", because they are linked in the physical aspect.

Which adjective can I use for describe the networking can not work?


texts: particularizing attribute with indefinite article

texts:
While reading an English grammar book I've run into some issues:

There is the example of a sentence with particularizing attribute:

  One day in January he called at the seminary to return a book which he had borrowed.

(noun - a book, particularizing attribute - which he had borrowed)

Could it be that it's just a typo or there can be an exceptions in this rule ?

According to the rule, nouns with particularizing attributes are used with the definite article.


texts: By the time the CIA assessment finally emerged it was an anticlimax, its conclusions already known: America believes Muhammad bin Salman, the kingdom’s crown prince and de facto ruler, approved the operation to capture or kill Mr Khashoggi.


texts: What is the meaning of "pants time" in this review title?

texts: The title is: 'Great Little War Game 2' Review - Pants Time Is Extended One Final Round And here's a link to the full article: http://toucharcade.com/2014/06/16/great-little-war-game-2-review/


texts: Relationship between "detrimental" and "effective"

texts:
A sample IELTS question in the reading section concerns a passage about how dentistry has improved over the last few centuries.  The passage includes:

  "...for most of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century...Barber-surgeons didn't just remove teeth, either: they also doled out detrimental advice on how to care for teeth and relieve toothache - suggesting, for instance, that patients pick their gums with the beak of an osprey bird."

The question asks:

  Does the following statement reflect the claims of the writer? Answer
  YES if the statement reflects the claims of the writer
  NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
  NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this.

The statement is:

  Picking one's gums with the bill of an osprey was an effective method of pain relief in the 19th century.

The official correct answer is YES.  The explanation cites the quoted text above, starting after the colon, with "sooth an aching tooth" substituted for "relieve toothache."

I would have thought the answer would be NO because of the adjective "detrimental" indicating the writer did not think the advice was effective.

Is there a positive relationship between these two adjectives that would make the answer YES?


texts: "The reception **would be held** in that house"- tense?

texts:
I have a trouble to determine tense in the following sentence:

  The reception would be held in that house.

It is not a future simple, and future, relative to past perfect as I thought.
It is because in the future simple we must use will instead of would.


texts:
The mother took a few steps toward the family room, grabbing a long umbrella on her way. She was sure that if necessary, she could do some harm to an intruder with the pointy object.

I copied this script from a short story of a mother hearing some rumbling and talking at night and then decided to investigate. About my question, doesn't the position of the modifier "with the pointy object" create some ambiguity? Like someone might mistakenly understand (although the article "the" refers back to the umbrella) that there was an intruder grabbing the pointy object instead of the mother. If so, how can we fix it?

The mother took a few steps toward the family room, grabbing a long umbrella on her way. She was sure that if necessary, she could do some harm with the pointy object to an intruder. (if it needs to be fixed, this is my modest endeavor)


texts:
Look at this sentence ...

  I'd like some typing papers.

Now, look at this another sentence...

  I'd like to have some typing papers.

There is no difference. Both mean the same - I want some typing papers. However, somehow, to me, I'd like [what you want] is half-baked and unsatisfying; and the complete sentence (or better sounding) is I'd like to have [what you want].

The confusion occurs when I read that like (verb) means -to have something.

  like (v) (#5) -want to have AS IN I'd like a beer now.

So, when I say that I'd like to have -does it become redundant? Because I'd like includes want to have.

So the confusion...

Does it make any difference - I'd like and I'd like to...

In some instances, I'd like does not seem (to me) fit at all...

  I'd like a goal defined before we begin OVER I'd like to have a goal defined...   I'd like see how it functions before buying it OVER I'd like to see how... (-much better I guess!).


texts:
Is there one word that has the meaning of "at that time and prior to that"?

For example, "2018 and prior to 2018". The purpose of asking this question originally was that I needed to name 3 categories or folders - "pre-1999 (inclusive)", "2000 to 2010", "post 2011 (inclusive)" - for a project where different materials would be placed in them accordingly. I still would like to simplify the first and last ones.


texts: Modifying nouns without relative pronouns or relative proverbs

texts:
Do those sentences below sound natural?

1.She’s got that hair the color of chestnut.(Modified by the objective)
2.I looked in the mirror the size of my two hands.(Modifies by the objective)
3.I saw the view, an older man criticizing a young man.(Modified by the gerund clause)
4.My favorite sport, playing the baseball, has brought me friends.(Modified by the gerund clause)

And if these don’t really sound natural, can you give me an example using the same technique as in the ().
And also I want to know what kind of nouns collocate well with the way of modifying as in the ().


texts: What do you call the jewelry that's attached to clothes?

texts:
I'm referring to something like this:

Or they are just called jewelry?


texts: What does "to bite into life" mean here?

texts:
In this ads of a brand of toothpaste, it says "... so you can bite into life without hesitation."

What does to bite into life mean here? Does it also have different meaning in different context?

I have searched in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. In the entry "life", I found the idiom "spring into life", which looks close, but I am not sure if they are related somehow or not. In the entry "bite", I cannot find anything rather than the literal meaning of "to bite into something".


texts: Correct identification of subject and object pronoun placement in sentence

texts:
John has sent a book to Rahul. He is a good teacher.

Here I don't know who is good teacher John or Rahul.  The he Introduc to who.
Could you explain me that Rahul is good teacher because the pronoun is nearest than John. Or  John is good teacher because he is subject pronoun.


texts: What's the meaning of "rough" in this context?

texts:
This is a passage from an article on the origin of the idiom bite the bullet:

  “Bite the bullet” was originally used quite literally, and referred only to the actual act of biting a bullet. Many times operations were performed in the field or in rough hospitals without the benefit of any kind of anesthetic. The soldier was given a bullet to bite down on. In order to avoid swallowing the bullet, he needed to maintain focus on the bullet between his teeth, helping him to think about something besides the pain he was enduring.

What does rough mean here when used to describe a hospital?


texts: Can a sentence begin with "But why" or "So why"?

texts:
Can a sentence start with 'But why' or 'So why'?

And what's the meaning and use cases for both of them?


texts: "I beg to request you..." vs. "I pray to you..."

texts:
I often find people using

  "I beg to request you..."

in the letters or applications that they write to their superiors.

I am not sure if this usage of "beg" is okay.

I have tried to find rationale behind adding "beg" with "request". I have been told that "beg" is added with "request" to make the request more humble or polite and sound submissive and to offer adequate respect to the superior.

There is a difference between "request" and "pray". "Request" is formally or politely asking "x" for "y", while  "pray" is begging "x" for "y".

If so, then what is the rationale of using "I beg to request you..."? Why do the writers not use a simpler version: "I pray to you..."?


texts:
I am not sure if it refers to Heron Wealth or not because their website doesn't tell me.

"Previously a one-man shop growing assets at a 5% annual rate, Edwards transformed his fiduciary wealth management firm by adopting a “hyper-productive” team approach that has been growing assets under management 30%-40% annually. Heron Wealth grew from $122 million in assets in January 2013 to $285 million through February 2017."

Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-one-financial-adviser-lands-seven-figure-accounts-2017-04-25?mod=fa_center


texts: Why do we not use the definite article in "Where can I find the room 401?"

texts:
Last week in college, a student [with a thick South Asian accent] asked me:

  "Excuse me, where can I find the room 401?".

I realized that to my native English ears, the word "the" sounded non-native. This had me realize that we sometimes use no article.

I am learning French; in French, we seem to always use some kind of article before nouns. It surprised me, at that moment, to realize that English doesn't always do the same! (That, and using the definite article in "the room 401" seems to make sense if I think about when definite articles are used).

Is there a grammatical name or concept for this "no article" aspect of our language? Are there any websites that can explain this to me?


texts:
What would one call a tablet which isn't swallowed?
What verb would be used when taking it?

Would the following phrase be correct?

  To suck the secretion of tablet...


texts: Changing "It is strange that families adopt dogs but not a child." into passive voice

texts:
When trying to convert this sentence into passive voice

  It is strange that families adopt dogs but not a child.

I found two confusing answers as follows..

  1: It is strange that dogs but not a child are adopted by families.
  2: It is strange that dogs are adopted by families but not a child.

Which one is appropriate?


texts:
What does the phrase "The horse has left the barn" mean?

I'm asking this question because I was watching the live testimony of Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire before a congressional committee and he said this phrase at the end of the meeting. When asked by the chairman of the committee should the investigation on Donald Trump be conducted he replied:

  "The horse has left the barn. You have all of the information. You
  have the whistleblower complaint. You have the letter from the ICIG.
  You have the Office of Legal Counsel opinion and you have the
  transcript from the president".

I tried to look this up, but it doesn't seem that this is an established idiom. In my opinion, the phrase can mean that it's too late to ask whether one should conduct the investigation because too many documents have been made public.

I'd be thankful for a few examples that'd help me to understand the meaning of this phrase (or idiom).


texts: Regarding the usage of clauses similar to "To conclude," and "To sum up,"

texts:
Sentences starting with "To conclude,"  and  "To sum up," are commonly seen in English, but can we also use any other verbs like "start" the same way?

I just came across a sentence from a book and it reads:

  To start, the application of a gasket to a joint is a requirement if
  there is a possibility of leakage (vacuum, gas, liquid, or slurry)
  from the attachment either flowing inwards or outwards. Despite all
  the best of intentions, there is no such thing as a 100% leak-proof
  seal.

Here's a another one I saw:

  In the first 5 months of 2016, the total new car sales in Mexico
  reached 587,320 units, up 16.8% from the same corresponding period.
  The total car production in the first 5 months of 2016 reached
  1,354,848 units, down 4.6% from the same corresponding period. In the
  first 5 months of 2016, the total export reached 1,080,358 units, down
  7.1% from the same corresponding period.   To review by region, 820,460 units were exported to the U.S. (+0.3% from the same
  corresponding period; representing 75.9% of the total export volume).
  70,862 units were exported to Latin American countries (-30.4% from
  the same corresponding period; representing 6.6% of the total export
  volume). 11,175 units were exported to Asia (-68.6% from the same
  corresponding period; representing 1.0% of the total export volume).

Does the clause "To start" and "To review by region" and the way they are used sound natural to you? I just kind of feel this "To + Verb, " structure does not necessarily apply to all verbs because grammatically the clauses before and after that comma mark should share the same subject, as in the following sentence where the verb "start" and "think" share the same subject "I"  :

  To start with, I think I must explain the aim of this meeting.

Am I thinking this wrong or am I correct?


texts:
Does this statement sound right?

  'I feel fart'

Does it mean 'to feel required to fart or to pass wind/gas."?


texts: Help understanding "Hardly had any other artist of his time created as many works." from an English test

texts:
An essay in a university entrance exam begins with these words:

  Pablo Picasso is one of the most famous artists of the 20th century. Hardly had any other artist of his time created as many works.

To test the reader's comprehension the following question is asked:

  True (T) or False (F)?
  1. No other artist had painted as many pictures as Picasso.

The teachers who wrote the test believe that (according to the essay) the answer is "true". I and many of the students believe the answer is "false".

The cause of the confusion is this. Does the sentence "Hardly had any other artists of his time created as many works." mean that no other artists (absolutely nobody) created as many works as Picasso? How should the word "hardly" be understood. Does it mean "barely" or does it mean "not at all"?


texts:
Many of you heard of the movie "Red Heat" with Arnold Schwarzenegger as a star.
Russian distributors translated the word "heat" into Russian in its main meaning, i.e. hotness, warmth. Along with that some dictionaries say that one of the meanings of heat is police, so the most appropriate name of the movie in Russian could be "Red Cop". This point of view is controversial according to discussion on Russian Wikipedia. I would like to know opinions of native speakers.


texts: "Hawaii is the island that plants are green all the year round." Do native English speakers say like this?

texts:
"Hawaii is the island that plants are green all the year round."

One English teacher I know- he's not a native English speaker- argues this sentence is grammatically okay since 'that' can replace the relative adverb 'where' in the sentence, which I don't agree with at all.

According to Practical English Usage by Michael Swan, 'where' is often replaced by 'that' or dropped in an informal style after somewhere, anywhere, everywhere, nowhere and place but not after other words.

I don't think 'that' is as versatile as he thinks.


texts: How to use "most" or "the most" after a verb?

texts:
I can't make out which one of these questions is correct: "What impressed him most?" or "what impressed him the most?"
If both are correct, what is the difference in meaning and what kind of context do they derive from?