texts: Is it idiomatic to say "he wakes up early always" or "he wakes up always early"?

texts:
I guess these 3 sentences are all idiomatic.

He always wakes up early
He usually wakes up early
He wakes up early usually

However, I am not so sure if these 2 sentences are idiomatic

he wakes up early always
he wakes up always early

In addition, These 3 sentences confuses me much more.

"She slowly began to recover." as you can
see, the adverb "slowly" usually comes next to
before the main verb "began"
"She slowly began to recover." as you can
see, the adverb "slowly" comes usually next to
before the main verb "began"
"She slowly began to recover." as you can
see, the adverb "slowly" comes next to
usually before the main verb "began"

The most important thing is, I just don't know the grammar standard for this kind of cases. Could someone give a link or some keywords?

This post gives this order (also known as "Royal Order of Adverbs")

Manner
Place
Frequency
Time
Purpose

This video gives a different one

Which one should I choose?

I guess the order in that video is incorrect as comments below the video pointed out, though I did find a solid reference for the Royal Order of Adverbs.


texts: English grammar is not (so difficult/very difficult/too difficult/difficult enough) to understand

texts: I can't decide which is the right option to choose. I can say that 'difficult enough' is not the right option, because it doesn't make much sense. But, so difficult/too difficult/very difficult look all the same to me.


texts:
"budgeting and increasing revenue are important but it could harm..."

Does this sentence work with the prono


texts:
I am creating a tagline for a vegetable and fruit brand. I want to tell people that the produce is (or products are) created through natural practices, for the betterment of the environment. So I propose "by nature, for nature".
This tagline is rejected by my partner, as he thinks, the subjects are inconsistent in this context. Subject for "by nature" is "produces", subject for "for nature" is "the way to produce". So I cannot use it this way.
Can someone help me to explain this to him?


texts:
I've just sent a book to someone. What should I say, when I write, to let him know the book has been sent?

  let me know when the book is with you

or

  let me know when the book will be with you

What tense should I use present or future? I think both are correct


texts:
Which words can be used when person A pretends to be person B to make people laugh by behaving and speaking like person B for a short period in front of a group of people who know both.

( but not necessarily person A tries to humiliate person B)

Person A could be a student and person B could be a teacher or
person A could be a employee and person B could be his/her boss in a simple scenario.

There are a bunch of words I may use about this but I couldn't figure out which ones fit for this kind of scenario.

Can you choose the right words from the link below.

Actually this question is kind of "what is the difference among to ape, imitate, mimic, impersonate" with a scenario

http://www.macmillandictionary.com/thesaurus-category/british/To-pretend-to-be-someone-else


texts:
The meat mince is rough.

(When the grinder used is larger size or didn't grinde twice time.)

What word do we use if the meat is a bit big and not grinde well.


texts:
"So smart" is too boring so I'm interested if it's natural it say "So much smart". I've made a quick google serch and seems like it's not. But for me it doesn't sound wierd at all.
"A myth about us being so much smart"


texts:
I can't figure out what's the tense of call in the following phrase

  I heard someone call my name

I mean,  I'm quite sure it's infinite but then shouldn't it be calling or to call?


texts: Use of Modals "would" and imaginative situations

texts:
Which of the following sentence is correct or both of them are correct?

If i were a bird, i had flown in the sky.

If i had been a bird, i had flown in the sky.

Also please tell how to express the imaginative past continuous situations.
example:

I would have carried my bag , if i were going to market.

I think the above sentence is incorrect after the "IF"  clause
Then what would be the correct answer?


texts: Is it natural to use the verb "take" in the sense of borrowing something?

texts:
Is it natural to use take in the sense of borrowing something. For example:

  Can I take your phone?

If it fine, than is it more common to use take instead of borrow?


texts: Is "one too many" too formal or too "proverbial"?

texts:
Imagine I had 3 cups of coffee. 2 would have been ok, but 3 is too many. I want to be factual that I had too many, by exactly one. I want to say:

  I had one too many cup of coffee.

But I feel like this sentence is a little to "proverbial" in the sense that "one too many" is an idiom.

According to this answer, it has a "negative connotation" and it's closely related to alcohol consumption.

I don't want to convey that at all. Is my sentence OK, or is there another way to say it?

Also, is there any difference in connotation or meaning with this sentence?

  I had one cup of coffee too many.


texts: Is there an English idiom for provocative titles, something like "yellow title"?

texts:
There is a Russian idiom "yellow title" used for provocative / trolling news and articles titles. It's similar to yellow journalism but used particularly for titles.

Does this idiom exists in English language as well? Maybe there are similar idioms with same meaning?


texts: What does "A moment pulled into its smallest parts" mean in this context?

texts:
I would like to know what "A moment pulled into its smallest parts" means in the following sentences:

At first, there was emptiness. Thoughts flew through space, trying to
ignite. A sky readied for fireworks, a stage cleared for decisions.
But where do decisions come from?
I saw you and Hania slung together, dancing, oblivious to me on the
other side of the window. My stomach began to burn, secreting pain
like arrowheads, and then the two of you as a four-legged creature,
struggling on the forest floor. Eating itself, aware only of itself.
At the same time your pleas for trust rang in my ears, your pleas for
my patience. The fire in my belly spread. My back reached for
soreness, my eyes stirred and dampened. The man was still there,
staring at me. And so was the piece of paper.
I felt the pause of time. A moment pulled into its smallest parts,
spread so thin it threatened to break. When I imagined taking that
piece of paper and reaching for the pen, pictured the possibility of
it, of writing your name, my arm refused to move. I couldn’t feel it.
I couldn’t feel the fire in my gut, I couldn’t feel any pain. I’d gone
numb.

Tomasz Jedrowski, Swimming in the Dark, Chapter 7

In this novel which is set in the 1980's in Poland under the socialist regime, where homosexuality was socially unacceptable, the protagonist Ludwik left Poland in 1981 to live in the United States of America. And he remembers what it was like back then in Poland, where he decided to leave the country after trying hard to stay in the country. So he came to the Passport Bureau to get his passport and was preparing to be asked questions by the officer regarding his trip to the U.S. when the officer suggested that the Bureau knew about his "pederasty" and said that Ludwik must write others' names "engaging in sodomy" in order to get his passport. So when he faced a blank paper lying in front of him, Ludwik sat there, thinking of writing the name of Janusz, who was his lover but straddled between Ludwik and the girl named Hania.
In this part, I wonder what the underlined expression means.
Does it mean that a moment is composed of several units, and this moment was being extended/stretched like a rubber ring to the fullest extent in order to be shattered into the moment's smallest parts...?
But then, because it "threatened to break," I believe the moment was not yet broken, so I am confused.


texts:
If instead of 'to say and assume that...,' I write 'to say that I assume that...' do these sentences mean the same?
Does

That is so weird to say and assume that you meant something else and had made a mistake.

mean the same with

That is so weird to say that I would assume that you meant something else and had made a mistake.


texts: What's the difference between "present perfect" and "present continuous" constructions when used for expressing repeated actions?

texts:
Is there any difference between the present continuous and present perfect tense in each of the following sentence pairs when both tenses express repeated actions?

For example,

  He is always helping others.
  He has always helped others.

Or

  She is always working hard.
  She has always worked hard.

The first sentence that I saw in a grammar book has no context, and I add another sentence in present perfect tense for comparison. The complete context of the fourth sentence is "She's always attended classes regularly. She's always worked hard." The third sentence is wrote by myself for comparison. It would be better if you could give me some examples.


texts: I want to know the natural expression for contrasting

texts:
I want to elucidate the characteristics of one object, contrasting to another object at the end of the sentence. However, I am not sure whether these expressions natural or not. Please let me know what are the natural sentences in the followings.

Microwave is an energy-efficient tool for heating the material -

distinct from dry oven.
different from dry oven
other than dry oven.
contrasting to dry oven.

Or I will terribly appreciate you if you let me know other expressions which could deliver the same meaning in the more fluent form.


texts: Does this sentence make sense "you can do it however way you think is best"?

texts: Is this sentence correct? or rather, is there any way of improving this sentence (by possibly substituting in new words or even changing the sentence completely so that it still keeps its message)?


texts: How would a native speaker likely interpret the phrase "contemporary documentary" in this context?

texts:
This building is the former headquarters of the polymer
corporation Union Carbide. In a contemporary documentary,
it's presented as a democratic architecture because it was based on
interviews with the employees and all of the office rooms have the
same area and thus, everyone can regulate the environment of their
room.

Would a native speaker understand it's a documentary coming from the time when the building operated as the headquarters? (not contemporary as in modern)

Is it OK to use architecture to refer to a single design like in my sentence?


texts: Is the sentence "He is known by me" a valid English sentence?

texts:
The question is fairly straightforward: is the passive voice of "I know him," which would be "he is known by me," a valid English sentence? I thought I had heard/read it before, but I may be wrong and it may also be some form of slang.

I am a student of Italian, and in learning the passive voice, I attempted to make this same connection and was told that this is not a valid passive voice in Italian because "to know" ("sapere" in Italian for those interested) cannot be used in the passive voice.

This idea is mentioned in this question, but I struggled to find a definitive answer.


texts: What's the difference between how once and wants are pronounced? I don't hear a difference- is there one?


texts: Why is “the” not used with “Angkor Wat”?

texts:
I saw an answer to an exercise on EnglishPage:

  "Travel Magazine" did an extremely interesting article on the world's most amazing buildings. If I remember correctly, the first building on the list was (/) Angkor Wat, a beautiful temple in (/) Cambodia. And the second was the Pyramid of Khufu in (/) Egypt.

(/) indicates no article.

I think Angkor Wat is a great architectural achievement, so it should have article the, like the Pyramid.
Am I right?


texts: I'm confused with the uses of the words such as "so that", "in order to", and "to"

texts:
Meat and vegetables are prepacked before they are sold so that they will be hygienic.
  Meat and vegetables are prepacked before they are sold in order to be hygienic.
  Meat and vegetables are prepacked before they are sold to be hygienic.
  Before they are sold, meat and vegetables are prepacked to be hygienic.

I'd like to know whether they have the same meaning. And which adverbials should be used? In the sentence 2 and 3, I'm comfused with the places of "in order to ..." and " to-infinitive"
In the sentence 1 and 2, adverbials are "so that they will be hygienic" and "in order to be hygienic". Is it correct to use them? In the sentence 3 and 4, what is the grammatical function of "to-infinitive"?


texts: Confused: Use of Important to and important for

texts:
I have seen a sentence in book

  Bacteria are important to human health

I have searched on stackexchange

And according to that answer -

To is used  as : It is important to me

For is used as: It is important for my health.

So, as per above answer, it should be Bacteria are important for human health


texts: Can I use "chance" as a future-tense verb?

texts:
I will never chance to meet him in my life

Is this sentence correct English, if it's intended to mean:

  I will never get a chance to meet this person in my life.

Update: Since ambiguities arose, in respect of the acceptance of the phrase above, I would like to clarify the specific case I was inquiring about. Can either of these two variants:

  a. "I will never chance to meet the king in my whole life".

  b. "I will never chance meeting the king in my whole life".

ever mean:

  "I will never have a chance to meet the king in my whole life".

If you think both variants do not make much sense, what other good alternatives can be suggested? Especially when addressing a person you greatly admire, as in "In my youth I thought, I will never have a chance to meet you in my whole life". Perhaps, more elegantly phrased ...


texts:
From an American sitcom Friends S05E17, SOURCE HERE

  Suspect has just emerged naked from the sewer.

I just wonder why it is "naked" instead of "nakedly". Normally it's the adverb that modifies a verb. Such as: "I went there happily." It would be wrong if you say "I went there happy."

Is it just because it's colloquial, and couldn't be used in formal English? But the quoted sentence seems right to me.


texts:
This was an Arab custom that they would send their young kids for nursing. The women who would breastfeed the kids would have a relation called 'Milk kinship'. In some of the articles, I've read a word 'milk-brother' for the two kids, one who is biologically the son of the woman who breastfed the other who's not biologically her kids. Is it a right use?

milk-son

milk-mother

milk- brother

milk-sib


texts: Which one is correct "Designer is my dream job", "A Designer is my dream job", "Being a designer is my dream job"?

texts:
An English teaching document, which is written by non-natives, says:

"Designer is my dream job"

This page says that "A singular countable noun can not stand alone".

We can not say,

"I want to eat apple"

But we can say:

"I want to eat an apple"
"I want to eat apples".

So, which one is correct:

"Designer is my dream job"
"A Designer is my dream job"
"Being a designer is my dream job"?

Note: I found  "Being a designer is my dream job" a lot on Google.


texts:
What is the difference between "I have a lot of friends" and "I have lots of friends"?

Are they interchangeable?


texts:
Although cows are famed for their ability to forecast rain hours advance, their talent for navigating has so far gone overlooked.

Is that an idiomatic grammar construction or simply Present Perfect + past participle?
It's not clear for me what sense the word "gone" makes.


texts: Passive - attribute and Put something down to something

texts:
What do you put her success down to? - [from Oxford dictionary]

She attributes her success to hard work and a little luck. - [from Oxford dictionary]

So in light of these sentences' being grammatical, the following sentences could be also grammatical?

aa) What is put her success down to?

bb) What is her success attributed to?


texts: Usage of "from" in indicating time expression

texts:
All because of my fine efforts from last 2 or 3 months.

Is the usage of 'from'  correct in the above sentence? If not then with what word should it be replaced?

And when and how should one use 'from' in indicating time expression like

  From yesterday

  From 2 PM

  From last min or year.

Is the usage of from correct here?


texts: "Figures' description" vs. "Description of Figures"

texts:
I need to use a sentence as a title. which one is better?

  Figures' description

Or

  Description of Figures


texts: Meaning of 'narrative', 'expectations for' - about Charlie Chaplin

texts: (Source) Is this true, or had Chaplin fallen for his own mythology? Does a talent for comedy necessitate a tragic life? Are comedy and happiness truly incompatible? Common sense says no—there are countless comedians who have lived normal, well-adjusted lives without succumbing to depression, insanity, or suicide. So why is it so hard to think of one? It would seem that Chaplin, like the many who followed in Grimaldi’s wake, found it hard to resist the powerful narrative that set expectations for his happiness. The comedian’s split personality reveals what we ultimately believe comedy to be. Whereas in the Middle Ages fooling was seen as an expression of the cosmic absurdity of being alive, the modern world views it as a symptom of personal distress. In Grimaldi’s day, misery was the grit in the oyster that grew the pearl and gave substance to the otherwise trivial world of pantomime. Suffering ennobles, and when comedians suffer, we are more willing to see their work as flowing from the same font as the profoundest art. We want our comedians to be tortured; only then can we really laugh.


texts: Why is Christina Perri pronouncing "closer" as "cloSSer"?

texts:
In this song at 0:58, Christina Perri pronounced the word "closer" with an S sound: clo[s]er
I have always pronounced and heard it with a Z sound. Is the pronunciation of "closer" in this video specific to her accent? It is strange.


texts:
They were being commanded to wait till the signal was given.

A) commanded

B) given command

My books says the correct option to replace the bold part of sentence is option A reason being we need been verb in passive but why is it so ? For my ears even option B sounds good.


texts: What is this word? Why is it difficult for me to identify?

texts:
I couldn't identify the last word "...  it can be very_____", the guy says in this audio file? Here's the link.

From the OP's comment:

They are talking about Food Testers and here it goes "the thing is food testing is not a fun experience and it can be *********** ". I believe the word means something like daunting or exhausting task yet I never heard it before and I cannot find it online.


texts: What is the negative form of the verb after can?

texts:
As a non-native English learner, it came across my mind that I don't know a way to put the verb that's after can in negative form.

For instance, I can say:

  "I am capable of not doing this thing"

But I can't do the same if I wanted to use can instead of capable of so what am I missing?


texts:
Can you please explain me the distinction between the words "answer" and "give answer" and feed back over the examples below?

  Answer the question.
  Give the answer.


texts:
Which of the following sentence constructions is correct (or more commonly used)?

Which slot in the washer did you put in the water?
Or
Which slot in the washer did you put the powder in?

A very simple question but please give me some explanations on why one is preferred over the other. I have always thought that 'put in' is a phrasal verb as in 'You have to put in the effort to succeed'.
While the second sentence seem more correct to me as 'put' is a transitive verb and since the sentence can be rearranged into 'In which slot did you put the powder', I felt that the proposition should be used to end the sentence.

Is what I said correct this a degree?

Many thanks


texts: "which are itself / themselve" in case of multiple neuters?

texts:
Consider the following sentence:

  This allows convenient writing of queries in JavaScript template strings
    (that is itself delimited with backticks).

"is" refers to "template strings", but "strings" is plural and it should therefore be "are" instead of "is".

"that are" feels awkward to me however and I would change it to "which are" - I guess both are acceptable in this context?

I wonder what to do with the "itself". Can it be used for multiple "it"s?
Should it be "... which are themselve ..." ? Or is "themselve" only used for people (he/she)?


texts:
What is the meaning of "for" in this sentence

  Today many Jews no longer hold to a personal messiah, but hope for a
  messianic age of justice and truth. For the Jews the coming of the
  Messiah or the messianic age still lies in the future.

Source


texts:
What does this sentence mean

  If it does not rain in the next 7 days, could you please water the flowerpot

Does it mean that I' ve heard the infos before and know that it won't rain or does it mean this eventuality may happen but I'm not sure or both of them


texts: Three prepositional phrases one after the other: is it harder to understand?

texts:
This text was written by coffee1054 in this question:

  The simplest case how the superconductivity appear it is fall to zero
  of the resistance of conductor at low temperature.

Which is the better way to rewrite the sentence above, to make it clearer?

  Superconductivity occurs when the resistance of a conductor at low
  temperature has fallen to zero.

or

  The falling to zero of the resistance of a conductor at low
  temperature gives rise to superconductivity.

In the latter sentence, do the three prepositional phrases in a row make it harder to understand?


texts: "Heel" as a name of the part of a leg and "heel" as a name of the part of a women's shoes

texts: As a dictionary says the word "heel" has general meaning to leg's heel and shoes' heel, so when I talk about 'Heel' as a name of the part of a leg what more exact word can I use? The same question is to a name of the part of a women's shoes.


texts: Should I use the genitive case in Paola's answer?

texts:
Which of the following sentences is correct?

I should've waited until Paola's answer
I should've waited until the Paola answer

Should I use the genitive case?


texts: Is it grammatically ok to say "Of that, I'm sure" instead of "I'm sure of that"?

texts:
Is it grammatically correct to say "Of that, I'm sure" instead of "I'm sure of that?
Examples:

My friend: Are you sure the covid-19 epidemic is gonna be done soon?
Me: Of that, I'm sure.

We need peace, of that I'm sure.


texts: What is the grammar for "Why + verb" question?

texts: Why put health food in a perfectly good bag of candy?


texts: The meaning of "raise the cost of" in this sentence

texts:
This sentence from an Economist article reads strange and puzzling.

  Mr Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal and levy metals tariffs on Canada and the Europeans has already raised the cost of mistreating allies. It has forced them to take retaliatory action and probably made them less willing to provide support for future Trump dealmaking, especially with Iran, which his advisers would like to turn to next.

Shouldn't it be come at the cost of? By using raise the cost of, the author appears to be saying Trump's policy is turning America's allies away. What does raised the cost mean in this context? And is it a correct usage?


texts:
I write this phrase every day in my emails and every time it bothers me which way is correct.

"Please assist with today departure". (or today's departure).
"Cargo will leave on today flight". (or today's flight).


texts:
Which sentence is correct?

  I will go to your office tomorrow.
  I will come to your office tomorrow.

Sometimes I hear people use "come" and sometimes "go."


texts: What is the difference between a "book" and a "tome"?

texts:
Can anybody tell me if there is a difference in meaning and/or usage of "a book" vs "a tome"?

So far, I found on the internet that:

a book is a general, versatile term
a tome is an unusually thick book

Is that correct?

Thanks!


texts: What does "few public addresses" mean in "Madison was not a communicative person and thus made few public addresses"?

texts:
Madison was not a communicative person and thus made few public
  addresses; but those he made were memorable, filled with noble
  phrases.
  -- How to Prepare for the New SAT by Sharon Weiner Green, Ira K. Wolf

In this above context what does few public addresses mean and also the sentence said that

  but those he made were memorable, filled with noble phrases.

Does it mean he made memorable friendship or communication with people whom he met. Could anyone help me to understand the whole meanning of this sentence.


texts:
My grammar book says "often" is generally used with present tense and with "would" and "used to" but I have seen that it is used with simple past tense too. Are "would often" and "often + past tense" interchangeable in the following context? Can I use often+simple past tense?

Here are the examples:

When I was young, I would often go to my dad's office to help him in his work.
When I was young, I often went to my dad's office to help him in his work.


texts: Use of indefinite article before "worsening"

texts:
Since worsening is an uncountable, singular noun according to the Cambridge dictionary, I dont know how an indefinite article comes before it. For example:

" No one could have predicted such a dramatic worsening of the economy."

I am having a hard time as to when to use an indefinite article before an uncountable noun or when to know a word is countable or not.


texts:
What should we use in the below sentence?

  You should stop hanging with people who bring/brings you down and call/calls you stupid.

I'm not sure if people here is plural or singular as it is used in a generic way. I would really appreciate, If somebody could help me out here.

I read about the single and plural uses of people on this site but I'm still not clear on what to use here.


texts:
The gases around Earth, which make up its atmosphere, break up the sun's light. This makes the light bounce around in different directions.
Is the word "this" meaning gas/atmosphere or meaning break up the sun's light?
Thanks


texts: Best position for an adverb in a sentence

texts:
Consider the following sentences:

  I currently work as a soccer coach and have helped a number of players to considerably improve their technique.

or

  I currently work as a soccer coach and have helped a number of players improve their technique considerably.

Which sentence is structured more clearly? My gut is that the first one is better because the adverb "considerably" is closer to the verb it's describing "improve." I've seen similar questions on the ACT that involved having the adjective as close as possible to the "expressed noun."


texts: 3. I want to know how "be" is funtioning in this senstence

texts:
In order for the process to be meaningful, it is proposed that the
  engagement with schoolchildren be a continuous process in Kalaw.


texts: Confused about some questions in my exam!

texts:
I would like to know the solution for these questions.

1- People who ...... shops should be punished. ( plunder - takeaway )
2- Ice boxes are useful because they keep goods ....... . ( good condition - fresh )

:- My openion :
I choosed : takeaway - fresh
The reason why I choosed "fresh" is that "good condition" show come after "in".
Sorry if my question avoids the rules, if so it could be removed or closesd!


texts: Help understanding the difference between "been made" and "being made"

texts:
Where has this product been made? -China.
Where has this product being made? -China.

I know the best question would be something like this: Where is it made? . I also know the grammar being used in the above questions. My problem here has to do with simplifying the questions above.
I don't understand the difference in meaning. Even if the grammar is incorrect, please simplify them in simple English, so that I can determine if the structure I have used is correct or not.


texts:
In Inside Out animation when Riley fall asleep, her emotion Joy says "We're out". She actually wants to say we fell asleep. So I think Joy wanted to say We're passed out asleep and the writer abbreviated it to We're out... Sorry for bad English ...

What is the difference between two:

  He's passed out asleep.

  He slept.

And is the first sentence "He is passed out asleep." Or "He has passed out asleep."?


texts: Can I use "rant" when also seeking a solution?

texts:
Some dictionaries say "rant" means to speak or shout in an aggressive, unreasonable way. Some even describe ranting as "nonsense"-talking.
Can "rant" be used in a situation where the speaker wants to talk about their serious problem to let the steam off but also seeks a solution?
For instance,

Mark, I will call you later to rant about this [problem with an application] and maybe you will be able to solve it.


texts: What does "trampling of political norms" mean?

texts:
Does it mean "political style"?

"This isn’t a defense of Donald Trump, his trampling of political norms or his erratic governance style. But if there’s a leader who is going to set off an economic armageddon, it seems more likely to be German Chancellor Angela Merkel than President Trump."

Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-world-leader-posing-the-biggest-threat-to-global-economy-isnt-trump-2017-05-15


texts: "my" vs "mine" (adjectives vs. possessive )

texts:
Is correct to say "my question is" or "mine question is".
When I talk, I automatically use "my question is", but "mine" is a possessive pronoun and somehow when I think about it (and translate it literally from my mother tongue) then somehow it seems to me I should use "mine question is...".
Can anyone please help me clear this and give some explanation and guidelines to now when to use which word? Thanks!


texts: Are these clauses independent or dependent?

texts:
This fog is so thick, you can cut it with a knife.
This fog is so thick that you can cut it with a knife.

Also, if only one is a dependent clause, please explain why.


texts: Is "clear of" an adjective phrase in this sentence?

texts:
I came across this sentence in an online article

  United are currently second in the table, seven points clears of their north west rivals after seven games, level on points with neighbours Manchester City and trailing only on goal difference.

Isn't clear of an adjective phrase in this sentence?


texts: "We operate with some stock images of the addict." What does it mean?

texts:
"We operate with some stock images of the addict."

•Larger context(it's in first seconds)

I've read all of the definitions of these two words "operate" & "stock" & I think they do not make any sense here in this context. What does stock images mean?

Therefore, I couldn’t think of a suitable answer to this question:

What does this sentence totally mean?

I think, (it's just a guess) that it means:

  We got used to it, to this particular idea about the addict by these very negative advertisements against addicts.


texts:
Claude Lanzmann, who has realized, aesthetically, the experience of the death camps through the bearing of witness—and, in the process, has sought to define what might even constitute an image of the murder of European Jews at the hands of the Nazis Source

What does this "even" mean here and what is its impact on the meaning of this sentence?


texts: I searched for "what a mess" but I didn't find any definition for this phrase. So, what does it mean, and where is it used? For example if you've heard horrible news about an earthquake, is it common to say "what a mess!"?


texts: Many nouns that can sometimes be countable and others uncountable

texts:
I really have a problem using such as these following nouns
, disagreement, balance and alteration...etc . Because sometimes they can be considered countable and othertime uncountable. So how can i know if I should use it as countable or uncountable?... please help me !


texts:
You're trapped in a stalled elevator with your annoying boss. A fairy
only you can see tells you to superglue his mouth. Otherwise, It'll be
18 hours before you're rescued.

Is superglue his mouth referring to the boss or the fairy?
Please note this statement is being narrated to you, this isn't something you are reading.


texts: What different vehicles do: drive, swim, fly

texts:
Travelling on land in a vehicle is inarguably driving:

  The car drives.

But in case of travelling on water, the situation is not as unambiguous (at least in German).

What does a ship do (in English)? Does it swim or drive?

What does a submarine do?

Do all kinds of aeroplanes fly?

Do any other vehicles have any special mobility verbs?


texts:
Although I understand what group rate means, I am not sure I understand Merriam Webster's definition which says:

  a uniform rate charged to or from any one of a group or block of points within a given territory — called also blanket rate, block rate

My understanding of the phrase is simply a discounted rate for a group of people compared to an individual rate. So why does Merriam Webster say "or from any one of a group"? How can it be money charged from a member of a group?

Also what does a block of points within a given territory mean in this context? How is that relevant to the phrase?


texts:
I am familiar with "no later than"". However, I have seen "by no later than".
As far as I know, "no later than" has meaning as follows.

by a particular time and not after it

https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/later_1#later_idmg_2

by (a specified time) : at, in, on, or before (a specified time)

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/no%2Fnot%20later%20than
.
With regard to this, there are example sentences below.

https://ludwig.guru/s/by+no+later+than
.
Question 1. is this duplicate meaning with "by"?
Question 2. from what I hear, "no later than time" is a chunk as Adverbial phrase. So is this possible to be with ""by(preposition) + no later than time(Adverbial phrase)""?


texts:
What's the difference between "It is time to do something" and " It is a time to do something "?
For example:

  It is time to welcome a new year.
  It is a time to welcome a new year.


texts: Meaning of the word " reaffirmation" in context

texts:
It is from Crash Course US history. It is at around 4 minute and 31 second.

  In his first Gettysburg address,Abrham Linkoln fostered the idea that the Civil War was kind of second American Revolution or a culmination and reaffirmation of the first one.

As it is defined in the Machmillan Dictionary the word means to state something officially again, and it doesn't seem to fit the context.


texts: Should I use "definitely" at the beginning of a sentence?

texts:
Which one is correct? Should I say

Definitely, there are multiple points that we need to improve on.

Or

There are definitely multiple points that we need to improve on.


texts:
I've seen the famous quote from Hermes Trismegistus:

"As above, so below. As within, so without. As the universe, so the soul."

Is without actually the opposite of within?
For example, these opposites make sense:

On the ground, I have seen the clouds above me.
On an airplane, I have seen the clouds below me.

But, these don't seem to work.

I struggle to contain the emotions within my heart.
I struggle to contain the emotions without my heart.

Is modern usage of without eclipsing the real meaning, or does this not make sense? In what context would it make sense? Examples and answers would be appreciated.


texts: What does "A small loan of a million dollars" mean?

texts:
Donald Trump, a republican presidential candidate, said

  "It has not been easy for me. I started off in Brooklyn, my father
  gave me a small loan of a million dollars"

A lot of people are making fun of him for saying that line. And I don't understand why and I don't know what it actually means. Is that something you can say?


texts: Help to understand "a 'bullseye' on his chest"

texts:
Former CIA director John Brennan -- shown here in September 2016 -- says he knows he has a "bullseye" on his chest over his comments on Donald Trump (AFP Photo/MARK WILSON)

I saw the sentence from this article. I think it's a figurative speech. My big guess would be that John Brennan put himself on the spot where he could receive some potential (verbal) attacks from Trump supporters, after he put those comments on Donald Trump. But I am not sure if I get it right.

Is it a common metaphor?


texts: My morning's work was finished. passive voice?

texts:
The sentences below come from a story. I am wondering about was finished

  My morning's work was finished and I was free until six o'clock that evening.

Is it a passive voice? I don't think so, but what kind of sentence it is?


texts: "I have been had it" or "I have had it": which one is correct?

texts:
Which one is correct?

  This is a very old book. I have been had it since I was child

or

  This is a very old book. I have had it since I was child


texts: Is it 'freshman female representative' or 'freshwoman representative'?

texts: Lexico has the word 'freshwoman', but, unlike 'freshman', it doesn't have the meaning 'a newcomer or novice, especially someone newly elected to Congress'. Which option would be better? 'Freshman female representative' sounds clumsy but, technically, it seems to be the only correct one. Yes, I want to mention gender.


texts: I would like to know if the phrase "I've arrived by car" is grammatically correct, and if yes, what is the difference between this phrase and the phrase "I arrived by car".


texts:
'' There was made a research'' or' 'there was a research made''? Which one is correct? Can I use '' there+to be+verb'' construction?

Added from OP's comment:

I think both as it depends on what is emphasized. The first sentence focuses on the process of making a research and the second one on the fact that some kind of research exists. Am I right?


texts: what's the past form of "what's he/she like?"

texts: if I want to ask  "what is he/she like?" but refering to past or about a died person, what is the right form?


texts: Is "a probability of needing..." grammatically correct?

texts:
There is a high probability that my car will need to be repaired.

I am trying to rewrite the sentence above I created such that it does not use "that-clause". My example is as follows:

  There is a high probability of my car needing to be repaired.

I know that the word "probability" can have two forms: "probability that" and "probability of".  However, I could not find such usage as "a probability of needing".


texts:
“My daughter and I––and my dog, Enzo––would very much like to join you
  for dinner in Maranello, then.”

  “Your dog is named Enzo? How propitious!”

  “He is a race car driver at heart,” Denny said, and he smiled at me. I
  love Denny so much. I know everything about him, and yet he always
  surprises me. He called Luca!

  “I look forward to meeting your daughter and to seeing Enzo
  again,” Luca said. “I will have my assistant make the arrangements. It
  will be necessary to retain your services under contract. I hope you
  understand. The nature of our business, as well as the expense of
  developing a test driver––”

  -- Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain

I guess the -ing form in meeting has the meaning of specific actuality, while in What had he hoped to achieve?, to-infinitival has potentiality. And the former has internal aspect, while the latter external aspect as a whole. Is this what could be expected from the form?


texts:
I'm confused about the present/past tense before the word "again"
Let's say for example my sentence is :

It would mean a lot if you helped me again

Or

It would mean a lot if you help me again

Which is correct? And why?


texts: What is the difference between ‘If there was’ and ‘If there were’?

texts:
If there was any truth in what you are saying, I would be worried.

If there were any truth in what you are saying, I would be worried.

What is the difference between them?


texts:
What is more correct to say:

  One summer's/winter's day.

or

  One summer/winter day.

For example: "One summer('s) day we decided to walk in the park"


texts: reported speech and usage of "will" or "would" -- "I told him that I will (would?) be there at three o'clock on Friday."

texts:
I told him that I will be there at three o'clock on Friday.
I told him that I would be there at three o'clock on Friday.

I am not sure which sentence is correct in this context: I said this statement just one hour ago. I mean the upcoming Friday. So this is not the case of the future in the past. Is the change of "will" into "would" applied in reported speech only when the future in the past occurs?


texts:
In an IELTS Listening question, I am supposed to write a date. The answer sheet gives:

23rd March / Monday 23rd March

Would March 23rd be a valid answer?


texts:
So today I was chatting with an oversees friend of mine and I asked him:

  How much more time are you going to stay online?

Just after asking, it seemed to me that it is not quite a natural structure. So I want to clear the doubt.

Is this construction correct? Is "much more" conveying the sense I want to? Or it sounds stilted?


texts:
If I am explaining the meaning of symbols in a formula, like:

  ..., where 'e' is [the/an] electron charge ([the/a?] charge of [the/an] electron), 'c' is [the] speed of light, 'k' is [the] Boltzmann constant...

Is there a rule to put the definite (or indefinite) article?


texts: Simple past vs. present perfect in "the page was not fully loaded"

texts:
Suppose in an application you can surf a website, after you entered the address, loading may take a long time and you press "Stop". Now, which message is appropriate:

  1) The page was not fully loaded! Are you sure you want to stop loading

  2) The page has not been fully loaded! Are you sure you want to stop loading

I ask this because the effects of stopping continues to present and maybe 2 is better.


texts: Which is correct, "their name" or "their names"?

texts:
I've got a command that says: Point to the items and color them. Say its name.

I'm sure it should be their instead of its, but I'm not 100% sure if it should be their name or their names.


texts: Use of the phrase: "plan out" or "list out"

texts:
I have recently noted that conversations around me are increasingly full of the expressions: "plan out" and "list out" (just to name a couple using "out").
I cannot stand the sound of these expressions and wonder why they would just simply say "plan" or "list". Please help settle this for me as it just rubs me the wrong way and seems to have proliferated in use and seems accepted.
For example: "I will list out the options you have" or "She planned out her whole strategy without any help or outside sources".


texts: Difference b/w "More Than Once" & "Twice"

texts: So if a person is sure that this thing happened twice...he'd rather say 'twice'...when should he say 'more than once'?


texts:
I want to compare the features of a single person.
The following sentence should describe a person. The person is very clever but at the same time, this person is insane. I mean this madness in his had helps him to be genius and the madness is more positive than negative.

  He is as clever (genius) as he is insane.

And I'm not sure that sentence above is correct.

What grammar structure should I use to compare incomparable things of one person?
Should I use any phraseology in this case?


texts: How to request that I be allowed to share some pages from someone else's newspaper

texts: I am on the way to office in a bus/train and someone seated nearby is reading a newspaper. I would like to ask him/her to share few pages of his/her newspaper. Could someone give me some polite English sentences for doing this?


texts:
Given Sentence:

  She paid the interest on the pawn ticket every year.

Can I change the word every year to yearly in the above sentence?

  She paid the interest on the pawn ticket yearly.


texts: Opened vials must not be used in other patients - or "for other patients"

texts:
From a package insert (solution for injections)

  Previously opened vials must not be used in other patients.

Is it okay? Or should it be

  Previously opened vials must not be used for other patients.


texts:
I heard of the phrase "hit my head in short" on an American radio. I figure it probably means put/make/explain it in short. But I'm really not sure. I searched it on the web, and I haven't found it used anywhere. Is it a common phrase? Or we should take it literally.

Note: I might mishear it. It could "heat my head in short" as well.


texts: "That they declared to be~" Vs. "That they said to be~"

texts:
I see they can use either ways as follows:

  They declared that to be~

  They said that to be~

But, somehow, when you change the sentences' structure like those of title, "That they said to be~" just gave me 0 google results. Why is that?


texts:
When I wanna confirm if he did not-doing something, how can I ask?
I predict the following example might be close but I am not sure.

  Didn't you not giving your note to him?

Is it right to use gerund here or can I use infinitive?

Reading one answer tagged on my question, i come up with one more example.

  Weren't you not giving your note to him?

Is this valid?


texts:
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shall_and_will#As_past_of_shall_and_will

  ♦ He left Bath in 1890, and would never return. ♦ (in fact he never returned after that)

Seeing as this sentence is located below the 'As past of shall and will' heading, I can infer that would here means the "future-in-the-past" tense of 'will', so the meaning in the bracket is right.

Yet what if no context were given, and the sentence between the lozenges stood alone? Then is it ambiguous? How would you determine whether would meant any of the following definitions: 2, 3, or 5?
If so, the reader knows that he hopes never to return, but can't infer whether he returned or not?

  2. (Expressing the conditional mood) indicating the consequence of an imagined event or situation
  3. Expressing a desire or inclination
  5. Expressing a conjecture, opinion, or hope


texts:
What does uneasy mean in the following context?

The robot can emulate the movement of an actual finger with uneasy accuracy.


texts:
Consider the following two sentences:

If I had a free year, I would have traveled the world.
If I had a free year, I would travel the world.

Is sentence 1 referring past not probable thing?

Is sentence 2 referring present not probable thing? i.e. I don't have a free year now, so I can't travel.

Thanks.


texts: An American equivalent for "to do the dirty on someone"?

texts:
To do the dirty on someone means, in Australian and British English,

  to behave unfairly or very badly towards someone, often without them knowing. And then he did the dirty on her and went and had an affair with her best friend.
  — The free dictionary

which I think is a pretty cool and useful idiom. However, it seems it isn't used in American English, so what would be the AmE version?

IOW, how would you rephrase the sentence above so that it sounds idiomatic in AmE?:

And then he _____ (her) and went and had an affair with her best friend.


texts:
Which one of the following is correct?

He is making wastage of time.
He is making a wastage of time.
He is doing a wastage of time.
He is doing wastage of time.

I just wanted to know whether "do" is used with "wastage" or "make" is used with "wastage, like "make mistake" is correct English but "do mistake" is not. I searched on Google and found both usages(make wastage & do wastage), but I couldn't figure out which one is correct, or both of them are correct or incorrect. Precisely speaking, my question is about using "make" or "do" with "wastage". Let me know if both of them are incorrect or correct.


texts: Difference between "in","on","as" and "when" to mean "at the same time"

texts:
In entering the room, she saw him.
  On entering the room, she saw him.
  As she entered the room, she saw him.
  When she entered the room, she saw him.

What are the differences between these sentences? They all refer to something that happens at the same time as something else, but does one make the second action (she saw him) evoke more quickness than another? does one of the examples make the two actions sound more consequential rather than simultaneous?

Regarding in TheFreeDictionary says:

  3.b. During the act or process of:

    tripped in racing for the bus.

(So, that means that it was on entering the room that she saw him, not when she was doing something else.)

but Collins says:

  You use on when mentioning an event that was followed by another one.

    She waited in her hotel to welcome her children on their arrival from London.
    On reaching Dubai, the evacuees are taken straight to Dubai international airport.


texts:
I know the conditionals but I have doubts regarding the use of probable conditional for universal truths. and the conversion of them into indirect speech
I have referred to Michael Swan's  and Raymond Murphy's and Wren and Martin's grammar books and searched on the Google too. All of them say that If you heat ice, it melts and If you heat ice, it will melt are correct but they differ slightly in meaning.

I think the conditional under discussion is different from a sentence like:

  If you plant a tree , it will grow.

because if you plant a tree, it may not grow, it may die. It does not come under universal truth, I think. But:

  If you heat ice, it melts.

It is a scientific fact.

So I think:

  If you heat ice, it melts.

is preferable to:

  If you heat ice, it will melt.

I would like your responses on this topic.

I found more on this topic here:
https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-conditional-zero.htm


texts: 'If we would have done what you wanted, I would have never have found them' - is this correct? (from Rick and Morty)

texts: Just watched Rick and Morty and in the pilot there's something like that - "if we would have done what you wanted, I would have never have found them". It sounds incorrect to me, shouldn't it be something like "I would have never found them" instead?


texts:
For those of you who don't know this site has been in financial trouble for some time, today the website and database have disappeared.
If you are one of the many sellers owed money by GEMM do not expect to see it, Site owner Roger Raffee had emailed several people stating that he intends to file for bankruptcy and close GEMM down .

     —"discogs forum gemm more music two months ago"
I don't understand the choice of past perfect for email—before what event. Before today, the disappearance of the website, I think past simple would fit; or did he email sellers first to say that "they will lose their money"?


texts:
I'm confused between two kind of greetings in English, "How do you do ? And "How are you ?

I googled for it and found this:

  How do you do?

This is not a question. It is another, very formal way of saying "Hello." It is also very British.
The correct response is; "Pleased to meet you." or "How do you do." or just "Hello."
We only really use it the first time we meet someone.

----How are you?

This is a question, but the person asking it doesn't really want to know the truth about your aching back or hangover.
A polite response is; "I'm fine thanks. And you?"

http://www.learnenglish.de/mistakes/howdoyoudovshowareyou.html

But I want to know are they really different in the meaning and use in our daily conversation, especially in terms of British and American English?


texts:
"I didn't raise you for 15 years so you could go to war".

I found this frase and it didn't sound idiomatic to me. Is there another way of expressing the same idea in the following sentense?

"I didn't pay your college tuition for four years, so you could drop out now!"

Can I say:

"I didn't pay your college tuition for four years, for you to drop out now!"

Any sugestions?


texts: Is "A pointer is returned to an automatic variable" correct and unambiguous about what is "returned"?

texts:
I found this sentence in a book.

A pointer is returned to an automatic variable in a previous function call (discussed in the section “Pointers to Local Data” on page 66).

Based on the context, I guess the author really mean a pointer to an automatic variable is returned in a previous function call. Is my understanding correct? If so, the current word order is a little bit misleading and it could let people think we are returning a pointer to a variable, which is pointless. Is the current word order correct?


texts: Is the definite article 'the' necessary in front of seasons?

texts:
The best time to travel is in the autumn.
  The best time to travel is in autumn.

Which sentence is correct?


texts:
I would like to answer these questions and i need your help

The question is :

*Put the verbs in the brackets into either the past simple or the past perfect

1.It ................ (stop)raining for a while,but now its raining again.

2.The town is very different now.It ................ a lot. (change)

3.I did German at school but I ................ most of it.(Forget)

4.Look there is an ambulance over there.There ................ an accident.(be)

5.The police ................ three people but later they let them go.(arrest)


texts: Is "myself" the grammatically correct choice?

texts:
I find it hard to explain to myself why "myself" is the grammatically correct choice in this sentence:

When my friend came he joined myself, my wife, and my son at the table.

Often people write or say "me" instead, but I often see that in well-written books and in good-quality literature, "myself" is the more common choice. Does that mean that "myself" is the grammatically correct choice?


texts: I was watching the Golden Globes when Bryan Cranston won the Best Actor award. I then said " there is no one who deserved it more". Should I have said " there WAS no one who deserved it more"? Are matching tenses required within a sentence? I am aware that I could have said "no one deserved it more." But I'd still love to learn the difference. Thank you!


texts: What is the difference between "general" and "generic"?

texts:
I am finding an example to clearly differentiate and demonstrate the use of these two words. At the moment, I am relying more on my feelings to decide which word to use. Say I am writing an article that talks about a solution or framework, should I say:

It is a general solution to kill computer virus.
It is a generic solution to kill computer virus.

I want to show that the framework is normal, does it job, nothing fancy and that's about it. If the two sentences above are correct, what are the perceived meaning of each sentence?


texts:
Early in the morning, the Ducks signed four-star verbal commits Jalen Hall and Isaah Crocker. (source)

I find this sentence very strange and difficult to parse. Is "commit" being used as a noun, with "four-star" and "verbal" as modifiers? "Commit" seemingly doesn't have a noun usage. Is "verbal" an adjective or a noun (which would mean verbal commitment)?


texts:
Which form would a native English speaker use here?

I'm the kind of person who doesn't like a movie if it's not very convincing.

I'm the kind of person who wouldn't like a movie if it wasn't very convincing.


texts: Verb for putting laundry to the drying rack

texts:
What verb can I use to describe the process of takind the laundry out of the washing maching and putting it on the drying rack? Is "I have to take out the laundry" correct? Can I use another verb instead?

As a non native speaker, I feel like I am describing the process instead of using the actual verb of it. I am asking because I feel that it is not the proper way to say it.


texts: Is there an alternate way of saying "on your hand(s)" or one of your hands or both of them?

texts:
If there's blood on one of your hands, the machine will detect it.

If there's blood on one of your hands or both of them, the machine will detect it.

So, is there a way to rewrite the last sentence into a much shorter one?


texts:
I am quite confused as to the meaning of these two sentences.

  a Did you clean the car and drove it?

  b Did you clean the car and drive it?

It seems to me that sentence a means:

  Did you clean the car and you drove it?
  So something like: you drove
  it alright, but did you clean the car?

And sentence b means:

  Did you clean the car and did you drive it?

But I don't even know if sentence a is grammatical.

Am I correct about the meaning of the sentence?


texts: Is or could be "War Slaves" grammatically accepted?

texts: The correct way to write it, if I ain't wrong, is "Slaves of War", but could be "War Slaves" correct too?


texts:
Can we use short answers as a proving method for modal verbs? The rule regarding the short answer to affirmative or negative statements is to repeat the auxiliary verb. eg:
"I can fly."
  "So can I."
"I shouldn't stop eating."
  "Neither should I."

I was taught that "Have to" is not a Modal Auxiliary Verb because it fails this test. eg:
"I have to run."
  "So do I."

But what about Must?
"I must be getting old."
  "So must I."
"I must be crazy!"
  "So must I!"

Is that really correct? It seems strange to me, but I'd accept it if someone could show evidence to support it. My inclination is to find ways around saying this, but maybe that's out of fear of sounding like a character from Lord of the Rings. I guess this is where "me too" comes in to save the day.


texts: Is there any difference in meaning between "take up a challenge" and "take on a challenge"?

texts:
Is there any difference in meaning between take up a challenge and take on a challenge? For example:

  I am taking up the challenge of learning a new language.

  I am taking on the challenge of learning a new language.

If there is not difference whatsoever, which one do you hear the most?


texts:
My book says "media" is a singular noun, but I think that it is a plural noun. So I should use a verb in the plural form with the word "media".

What is the error in the sentence below?

  The media play a vital role in popularising a brand.


texts: Do you domesticate a wild animal or do you tame it?

texts: When you want to make a wild animal, let's say a lion, give up some of its natural instincts and be nice to it's potential prey (aka human!), do you "domesticate" it or do you "tame" it? I couldn't find the difference.


texts:
Is it correct to say the following as an indirect question?

Can you tell me where did you buy it?

or should it be

Can you tell me where you bought it?


texts:
I got an email and was told something "Not positive but pretty sure" about something.

What does it mean? Should I expect a negative/bad news or I should assume that it will be a certain thing?

Thanks


texts:
The thirsty children drank up all the water.

Is it all right to use define article the with water as in above sentence ? I feel it would have been better without it as water here is used in general sense.


texts:
Is it correct to put a comma before the word too in this sentence?

  He was getting tired of eating sandwiches! It turned out his father was getting tired of eating sandwiches, too, so they both went down to the beach, where Jamal
  lived with his mother.


texts: "written in skim milk" means cheesy, soppy writing?

texts:
I just read Raymond Chandler's letter to Hitchcock (which is brilliantly written); Chandler is ranting about the script for a film, pretty much calling the final script rubbish, and this is where I came across this sentence:

  But if you wanted something written in skim milk, why on earth did you bother to come to me in the first place?

I understand the meaning of the whole text, and get the gist of the quoted sentence, but never ever before I read this particular figure-of-speech. Is it an established one? My google search only returned dairy related stuff. Is it the invention of Chandler to express cheesy, soppy, schmaltzy writing?


texts: In these sentences, "OF the past" vs "IN the past"?

texts:
I've got several sentences that include 'of the past' or 'in the past' written in my book

Phones of the past were all landlines.

The main difference from transportation in the past.

Many restaurant in the past were quite run down in terms of appearance.

I have no idea what is the difference. Could you help me get out of this tight spot?


texts: "have not done" or "have not been doing"

texts:
I want to convey that I didn't speak English in the last two years and I'm not speaking English now.

  I haven't spoken English for two years.

  I haven't been speaking English for two years.

In this case, which is proper?


texts:
Which one is correct?

he is not in this photo as he has been the photographer. or
He is not not in this photo as he had been the photographer.

Lets say it's been so many years since that particular event had been there. But the photographer is still among us. May be one of our friends who is conversing with us when the above sentences are said as dialogues.


texts:
Note: this post is different to "going to be doing" vs "going to do", which just cites part from somewhere else, without any further analysis and thinking. Furthermore, none of the answers to that post answers my question - the situations where "will (going to) be doing" is more appropriate.

I will be participating in IELTS test next Tuesday afternoon.

In an online class, the teacher says the following at the beginning of the lesson.

I will be using NotePod (pointed out by red rectangle) to write relevant points we talk about today.

I guess "will be using" is more appropriate than "will use" there, right?

A post explains

This "tense" is used for reporting a scheduled activity with special focus on its timing— as if one is standing in the future and experiencing the flow of the time. The focus is on the temporary, ongoing, or repetitive nature of the activity.

I understand the grammar rules of those verb tenses and the difference between this group

I am going to drive home tomorrow.

I am going to be driving home tomorrow.

The former is just convey my activity in the near future while the latter probably makes an implication that "don't disturb me as I am driving in that time"
However, in the following situations, I don't see the difference between 2 verb tenses.

Welcome back to this class. Today's lesson is for the IELTS
students who are going to be taking the
IELTS test. it's for everybody to be
honest with you. this lesson is useful
for anybody who needs to do some writing.

who are going to take the
IELTS test ...

source


texts: Can you use "understand" in progressive constructions?

texts:
In an answer to a question asked today on EL&U (Antonyms of “lesser” and “greater”), I read the following sentence :

"If I am understanding your question accurately"

To my knowledge, the verb understand is marked as non-progressive in grammar books and dictionaries alike (see for example Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary and Michael Swan's "Practical English Usage").

As a non-native speaker, shall I consider this a colloquialism, a new tendency in the language, an American form, or what? Am I safe in using it or would people frown at me if I did?


texts: Word for the strong liking people have towards the smell of petrol/gasoline

texts: Is there any particular word for the strong liking some people have toward the smell of gasoline?


texts:
I'm watching documentary about vet. There are some sick cows. and owner said this.

Black one's kind of dumping on me.

The cow was just lying on the ground. I searched for dumping on, but it's usually about being harsh to someone. or make someone does hard things. I can't find one exactly fit for this situation.
What does this mean? Does this mean cow fell down? or cow attacked the owner? or Cow is sick so that's the burden for the owner? or Cow take a dump, throw up or something?


texts: What's the opposite of "by force" in this case?

texts:
Since the Roman general had an unlimited power in Judea, he could have
easily entered any synagogue with the help of his soldiers, but that
would not endear him to the Jewish members of that synagogue.
Therefore, he was seeking a way to be invited into that synagogue. In
short, although he could have come by force, he yet wanted to come
_____________ .

by peace

in peace

through peace

voluntarily

?


texts:
"I've never been here before. Do you know the coffee house just down the street? Usually that's where I go after work. You should join me someday."

Is "usually" placed naturally here?


texts:
Reading this article , for my personal desire to brush up my English, I have become interested to know more details in English usage. Now, thee are 2 words which sounds similar in the article, Attorney and Lawyer.

This page says,

  Who Are Lawyers?
  A lawyer is someone who is educated in the law. A person who has been educated in the law will always be addressed as a lawyer, even if he or she does not give legal advice to other people. In fact, a lawyer in the United States is simply anyone who has gone through law school.

  Who Are Attorneys?
  Attorneys are also recognized as lawyers. Attorneys graduate from law school and they can also choose to practice law as a profession. However a potential attorney must pass the bar exam to be eligible to practice law within a specific jurisdiction. Apart from performing the basic functions of a lawyer, attorneys can also act as legal representatives for their clients.

So am I correct in understanding that people in the English zone call people who are engaged in legal matters as lawyers as a general term, , and call the attorneys aka lawyers who are prosecuting some specific lawsuit.

Please kindly correct my understanding if there is.

And I would like to also know the difference from the prosecutor and the above 2.

P.S It looks like this question went into HNQ. Unless Lambie, the answer, who is receiving a lot of requests, update her answer, I am sorry I can't improve my question anymore. ( P.S + I actually don't understand even in my own language what the real difference is between barrister and the solicitor (and others))


texts: Does this sentence example of perpetual lamentations make sense?

texts: The foreigners mourned with perpetual lamentations for 3 months following Murray's death.


texts:
I am a middle aged adult with a non-English background and my English is proficient. I am unable to create the 'a' sound in words like bat or cat. My pronoucitation makes them sound like but and cut.

How can I learn to say them correctly?


texts: Is "stick your mouth to a hole" idiomatic?

texts:
I am not sure how idiomatic it is. When someone says "stick your mouth to a hole" does he mean literally as in put your mouth in contact with the hole or close to it? I thought it was an exaggeration, but I am not sure if it is and if it is a commonly used phrase.

Here's an example of how I would use it:

  The prisoner stuck his mouth to a hole on the door in order to be fed,
  because the guards wouldn't give them an utensil in fear that they
  would be used as a weapon or used to dig up a hole.


texts:
What a coincidence meeting you here!

Today, I came across this expression for the first time.
I have three questions of this sentence.

Is "meeting you here" the appositive of "a coincidence"?
If 1 is correct, must a comma be there between coincidence and meeting as in "What a coincidence, meeting you here!"?
I think "meeting you here" must be connected to the coincidence by the preposition, of, if we want to get rid of the comma, as in "What a coincidence of meeting you here!".

Please check whether my thinking is correct.


texts:
(1) I will be free (for) part of next year.

(2) I will be free (for) most of next year.

(3) I will be free (for) all of next year.

Which one is grammatical: with or without for?


texts:
I have always been confused about these three sentences:

  I want no more foreign language to be spoken in this class.

  I want no more foreign language be spoken in this class.  (Subjunctive)

  I want no more foreign language spoken in this class.

Are these sentences all fine.

Thanks in advance.


texts: What or who is the "hauler"? [long-hauler]

texts:
This article has this line, saying,

"For the long haulers living with symptoms of COVID-19 for months on end, this virus is terrifying. Trump doesn’t care, and he still doesn’t get what families are going through," Kocher said in a statement.

Which definition is it according to this dictionary?
Thank you.


texts:
I found on the free dictionary By Farlex this definition: Link

pass on : accept or approve someone or something

and they gave this example :

The committee passed on the proposal, so work can now begin.

I always thought "pass on"  means to decline something

Is the definition given by Farlex correct?


texts:
I'm translating a book about behavior. What does a "side discussion" mean in the following context:

  No side discussions, no joking at the expense of others, no interruptions, no cellphones, no handing off parts of the presentation to a subordinate.


texts:
What are some idioms for when you're bad at something?
Like:
I can't (do something) to save my life.
But aside from that what are other idioms. Maybe something similar to the one above.


texts: What is malaise in the following passage?

texts:
The malaise of innovation

DG Research commissioned a group of experts to study the impact of the concept of the knowledge society on citizens (‘Taking European Knowledge Society Seriously’). A central question of this project was the nature of and possible answers to the malaise that civil society feels towards certain techno-scientific innovations, particularly in relation to their objectives, the social changes they bring and the underlying risks. The research was conducted very openly by groups that included not just experts, but also students of ‘hard’ sciences and human sciences (sociology, philosophy and law students), citizens who had expressed their interest in taking part in the study and trade unions. The conclusions of this study center in particular on the tendency to focus exclusively on a knowledge society motivated by a frenzied race for innovation and efficiency imposed by globalization, which, its authors state, poses a serious problem of acceptance by society. The study explores many avenues for having civil society experience the dynamics of innovation as a collective and diversified undertaking, democratically shared by all.

What do they mean with malaise of innovation? What is malaise here?
malaise means a general feeling of discomfort, illness, or unease whose exact cause is difficult to identify


texts: Why can’t I say “We are prepared to hear the other 23 speeches” instead of “We are prepared to hear other 23 speeches”?

texts:
Since other is for plural, I thought that instead of saying

A) We are prepared to hear another 23 speeches.

I could just simply say

B) We are prepared to hear the other 23 speeches.

I notice that if I wanted to write the same sentence without the ”the” before ”other” it may be incorrect.

Why is that?


texts: How to call those who are experts in Media Studies?

texts: Media Studies is an established research field. What are the experts in this field called? Media Researchers? Media Experts? ...


texts: Does “spans a continuum” mean “creates a bridge” in this sentence - “As the chart indicates, creating spans a continuum from adding to inventing.”?


texts: What does it mean 'to hit a switch on someone '?

texts:
My woman claiming that I switched on her
  Only 'cause I hit a switch on her

  She wasn't really good at keeping up

I don't understand what it means to hit a switch on her, if I get the previous line right that he beat her up while they were in a bed, it have to be associated with sexual violence...Help me please

Upd: I have found the same phrase by Rihanna

Hit a switch on a fake nigga


texts: Use of present perfect "I've gotten up at five o'clock in the morning."

texts:
Here is a sentence I wrote:

I've gotten up at five o'clock in the morning.

I intend to convey the idea that waking up at five o'clock in the morning is like a daily routine for me both in the past and now. Does this the right way to use present perfect? But my roommate said this sentence sounds like me only doing this action repeatedly in the past, but not now.


texts: How to talk about the act of pressing the cancel button once the conversation on mobile is over?

texts:
At the end of the talk, people press cancel button to cut the call. What is that act called?

If it were a land line phone, we could have said: She has put the phone down (?)

Scene:

  My child was talking to her aunt on the mobile. Aunt pressed the cancel button to cut the call. Child didn't know this and continued talking.

What should I tell the child now about the aunt pressing the cancel button to cut the call?

This is mobile phone not the landline.


texts:
Suppose there are two phases, a water phase and an IL phase, you can use any other name too. We did some calculation between X and each of them. Which of the following is correct:

Y was calculated between X and both water and IL phases
Y was calculated between X and both water and IL phase
Y was calculated between X and each of water and IL phases
Y was calculated between X and each of water and IL phase

First, I don't know to use "both" or "each of". Secondly, I don't know if I should use "phase" or "phases". I guess "phases" is correct, but then again I think "phase" could be possible too, based on an ellipsis rule, or they may not differ much.


texts:
What would be the most natural way of saying that there are two things you would choose rather than one.

For example, when someone asks you a question like

  What is the car of your dreams?

or

  What is your favorite color?

What would sound more natural as a reply?

I have two.
I have two of them.
There are two.
There are two of them.

[e.g. one is Porsche and the other is Mercedes and one is green and the other is blue]


texts: What do the expressions "something get hold of someone" and "to get away into the bush" mean in this context?

texts:
But he only remained a few months. When he had enough money to buy paints and canvases he left me. The place had got hold of him by then, and he wanted to get away into the bush. But I continued to see him now and then. He would turn up in Papeete every few months and stay a little while; he'd get money out of someone or other and then disappear again
Source: This passage comes from "Moon and Sixpence" by Maugham.

I am confused about the expressions "something get hold of someone" and "to get away into the bush" - what do they mean? The second I suppose means "to roam" by the first don´t have exact explanation.


texts: Why is this combination grammatically correct? "Sports the world over..."

texts:
Sports the world over are looking to other industries for inspiration, not least the technology and engineering sectors (Source: BBC).

Should it be "the world over sports are..."? If so, please tell me the difference.


texts: Should period (full stop) be inside or outside brackets?

texts:
If some part of the sentence at the end is enclosed in brackets, should the full stop be inside or outside the bracket?

  I need to visit the supermarket to get some fruits, groceries and clothes (and also to meet my friend who works there).

OR

  I need to visit the supermarket to get some fruits, groceries and clothes (and also to meet my friend who works there.)

Note: The example is only to illustrate the question.

I have seen both usages, and did not find any place where such a rule is described.


texts: Grammatical analyze with the form "AS TO+V"

texts:
I am studying English in France and I have to do a grammatical analysis of a phrase that is:

  Ah, what would I not have given to have possessed Gatsby's elaborately monogrammed shirts, not have sacrificed if only I could have been so consumed with wonder at a dream come true as to have thrown them in flamboyant offering at the feet of some unattainable girl...

I have to explain the passage in bold. I am so confused with the use of "as to have thrown", I found some explanation about the "AS TO" but never with a verb after it.


texts: "take my phone with me" or "carry my phone with me" or "bring my phone with me"?

texts:
Tell me please which sentences sounds more natural.

  I always take my phone with me as I may need to make a phone call at any moment.

  I always carry my phone with me as I may need to make a phone call at any moment.

  I always bring my phone with me as I may need to make a phone call at any moment.

What I am trying to say is that I always have my phone with me. Is there any difference between the sentences? Are all of them natural sounding?


texts:
As far as I know, when somebody is asked to elucidate an intricate topic in which he/she is specialist  and after explaining it in detail for a while, he/she says 'so in briefly' or 'if I put it in brief' at  the end of his/her talk in order to sum up the gist of the topic in one or two sentence for people who listen to but are baffled also.

Even though I wrote down some  examples of the usage of the word briefly, I am not sure if I use it correctly.So I would like to ask as to how to use the word briefly in these kind of scenarios.

And is the word succinclty snonym of the word briefly and how can we use it in similar way as the word briefly in our conversation or essays?


texts: What should be precisely inferred from "as" in the context?

texts:
As the world becomes busier and there're so many more demands on people, I think it might become more difficult for them to relax.

What does as here in the context refer to ? while, because or both could be inferred?


texts: Why is air conditioning often referred to as A/C? Why the slash?

texts: I don't understand why it's A/C, what's the purpose of the slash? Are there other examples of the same usage?


texts: What's the exact meaning of "a role dispatched with some....and so on

texts:
Could ypu please explain and paraphrase the last part of the sentence.

  The whole sentence: "Colin Firth gives a warm and sympathetic performance as Bertie, the Duke Of York, an introverted and uncomfortable stammerer, bullied by his father George V, played by Michael Gambon, and overshadowed by his charismatic playboy older brother, David, a role dispatched with some style by Guy Pearce, incidentally putting to rest the overpowering memory of Edward Fox in the part."


texts:
Should I use "this" or "that" when I refer to a situation that I have just described?

  William has a certain psychological condition that prevents him from
  talking. He can listen and understand, but he talks only if he really
  wants to. So my interaction with William is very much limited by that.


texts: At the cost of about or At a cost of about

texts:
According to preliminary estimates, the project should be completed by 2020 at a cost of about RUB 40 bn.

or

  According to preliminary estimates, the project should be completed by 2020 at the cost of about RUB 40 bn.

Are both options okay, or is the first better?

We are introducing the sum to the reader, so logically it should be the first option. But there's a lot of google-hits for "at the cost of" too.


texts: What does "Bless you" mean in this context?

texts:
“What's that?” said Ron, pointing at a large dish of some sort of shellfish stew that stood beside a large steak-and-kidney pudding.

  “Bouillabaisse,” said Hermione.

  “Bless you,” said Ron.

  “It's French,” said Hermione, “I had it on holiday summer before last.
  It's very nice.”

One of the dictionaries I've consulted says "Bless you" can be used to express "thanks", which I think it could be the author intended to mean for this context. But I don't have confidence. What does it truly mean?


texts:
what is the meaning of "assert their claims to be considered sane" and "reduced to the limits of ruin"?

  This has been a long but necessary digression from the account of the
  early days of American progress. Those early days were marked by great
  enthusiasm, much success, and also considerable persecution. All the
  leaders who had anything to lose lost it. Mrs. Hardinge says: Judge
  Edmonds was pointed at in the streets as a crazy Spiritualist. Wealthy
  merchants were compelled to assert their claims to be considered sane
  and maintain their commercial rights by the most firm and determined
  action. Professional men and tradesmen were reduced to the limits of
  ruin, and a relentless persecution, originated by the Press and
  maintained by the pulpit, directed the full flow of its evil tides
  against the cause and its representatives. Many of the houses where
  circles were being held were disturbed by crowds who would gather
  together after nightfall and with yells, cries, whistles and
  occasional breaking of windows try to molest the quiet investigators
  in their unholy work of "waking the dead," as one of the papers
  piously denominated the act of seeking for the "Ministry of Angels."

source:http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks03/0301051h.html _ hos by acd


texts: When do we use the third form of the verb after "been" and when is -ing used?

texts:
Which of the following is correct?

Dam had been constructed before the flood.

or
Dam has been constructing before the flood.


texts:
Is it possible to use an inversion in this way?

Only after people had started working harder, did they improve their skills

Is it natural enough or awkward?


texts:
I'm writing a resume and I want to express how much I like something related to a professional sphere. The first draft contains a sentence "I am mad about ...". As resume must be more formal I want to change that line to its equivalent.
What's the way to say "I am crazy about doing something" on the edge of formal English and displaying my emotional intensity towards this thing?


texts: What does "scary ones, besides the waist" mean?

texts:
A quote from a TED presentation at 58 second:

Of course, there's health consequences to this, scary ones, besides the waist.

What does the bold text mean? Was she talking about the foot or something that's below the waist?


texts:
In some articles (scientific) I see the word Web site and specially Web page,
I don't know what to use in my paper. (Web site or website) and (Web page or web page or "webpage") please note "Web" in the first phrase is in upper case.

I prefer the later one and used that. Is it any difference?


texts:
According to the tab on the right I can ask question.

But we would never say that. I can ask a question. However, question is neither an an abstract nor uncountable noun.

I also noticed the same rule in an online system I use - I can add order.

Are these phrases incorrect or is it a rule that justifies omitting the articles?


texts:
Consider this sentence:

  A user does this task by scanning the page in a top-down and bottom-up manner. The algorithm for this task (respectively ? ) traverses the tree  bottom-up and top-down...

In general, when you want to say a related task is done in the same manner, which words are used?


texts:
It seems to me that "came back for more" refers to "already faced said reprisal and came back for more (reprisal)". But then the grammar is inconsistent:  The present perfect (have already faced said reprisal) means facing reprisal has continued to the present time; so if you have the courage to face more, you have to use the present tense (come back for more) rather than the past tense (came back for more).
What does "came back for more" mean then?

The Daily Wire tweeted:
Meet the few, the proud, the openly conservative artists willing to embrace smaller government without fear of reprisal.
Or, they’ve already faced said reprisal and came back for more.


texts: Why is the past perfect is used in this sentence?

texts:
Uncle Vernon said sharply, “Don't touch anything he gives you, Dudley.”
    The giant chuckled darkly.
   “Yer great puddin’ of a son don’ need fattenin’ anymore, Dursley, don’ worry."
    He passed the sausages to Harry, who was so hungry he had never tasted anything so wonderful, but he still couldn’t take his eyes off the giant. Finally, as nobody seemed about to explain anything, he said, “I’m sorry, but I still don’t really know who you are.”
  (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)


texts:
I'm wondering what does out of the box mean.

It seems that referring to the features which don't come with the product but as far as I noticed that is used to refer the features which come with the product and I'm confused.

For example

  ColdFusion provides a number of additional features out of the box.

What I expected is some extra plug-ins which you can download and install but it seems it means there are additional features in the main application without need of extra tools.

If it is really used to refer to the features which come with the product, I think they should say in the box instead!


texts: What’s the meaning of ‘somewhere between eight and 12 seconds’?

texts:
The following excerpt is from an article about Obama’s famous 2004 speech.

‘He seemed to have somewhere between eight and 12 seconds of political nicety in him for everyone before he would declare what he would rather be doing (“I need a nap”) and move on.’

In this context, what’s the meaning of ‘eight and twelve seconds’?


texts:
But be sure to ground your touchdown dance or celebratory round of
  kombucha in the recognition that this was one of the easier fossil
  fuel mega-projects to stop. Of the oil sands pipeline proposals made
  in the last decade, Energy East has always had the most questionable
  economic prospects and held the most risk for the Quebec-dependent
  Liberal government.

Social movements played a huge part in derailing Energy East

Does 'ground' here mean 'restrict'?


texts:
A bar is inserted through a ring.

I am trying to rewrite the above sentence such that the subject is "a ring". My example is as follows:

  A ring is inserted on a bar.

Does my example make sense? Specifically, the inside shape and size of the ring
are identical to the outside shape and size of the bar so that they can contact each other all around.


texts:
I saw the phrase in some texts but I am not sure that I've got the meaning of it. Does "wild dog" mean "crazy"? Could you please explain it to me?

The full text is here:

“A man ought to have a real belt,” Dad said at breakfast on the day Luke
was well enough to return to the junkyard, handing him a leather strap
with a steel buckle.
“Not Luke,” Richard said. “He prefers twine, you know how fashionable
he is.”
Luke grinned. “Beauty’s everything,” he said.
FOR EIGHTEEN Y EARS I never thought of that day, not in any probing way.
The few times my reminiscing carried me back to that torrid afternoon,
what I remembered first was the belt. Luke, I would think. You wild dog. I
wonder, do you still wear twine?

Educated by Tara Westover


texts: Is this grammatical? "This game will be decided by which team has the better strikers."

texts:
"This game will be decided by which team has the better strikers."

I am not at all sure if this is grammatical and there are certainly easier ways to say this like "The team with the better strikers will win this game." The long phrase after "by" just seems wrong to me.

Nonetheless I want to know whether this makes sense or is wrong.


texts: in his ears hammered still the harsh notes – how can ears hammer harsh notes?

texts:
While I read the novel 'Rain', one sentence looks awkward to me. the sentence is below

  in his ears hammered still the harsh notes of the mechanical piano

I think it means that he heard the harsh notes of the mechanical piano
but I don't understand how 'ears' can hammer the harsh notes.
What is subject and verb in this sentence?


texts: Present perfect or past simple : example

texts:
Which tense should I use in this sentence ?

Context: The kitchen is dirty and I want to ask to my friend if it's because of him.

  Is it you who have cooked in the kitchen?
  Is it you who cooked in the kitchen ?


texts: Sequence of tenses: The only reason I found out about it [was/is] because

texts:
I recently found myself having to write this sentence:

The only reason I found out about it [was/is] because...

But I'm not sure whether I should use is or was in this sentence. I tried Googling the sentence to check my grammar, but so far the results are almost relatively split, in which I saw many sentences of the same form that used is and also many sentences that used was.


texts:
Are the following expressions suitable while asking someone to cover  and uncover the window with the blinds?

  spread the blinds over the window
  pull away the blinds

Secondly, how to ask someone to move forward one step or move back one step?

Could someone update me as I have never come across any suitable usage for the above situations?


texts: Should I put "it" before "is" to make the sentence grammatically correct?

texts:
As I am preparing for my upcoming writing exam, I came across this sentence as a so-called model essay. However, when reading it, I think I need to put "it" in front of "is" since it is another clause.

  However, coal overtook natural gas in 1990 and despite some fluctuation, is set to be the second most used fuel in 2030 with just over 30q.

  However, coal overtook natural gas in 1990 and despite some fluctuation, it is set to be the second most used fuel in 2030 with just over 30q.


texts:
I am not sure if I should use our
We use a combination of our own developed and existing programs.

  We use a combination of our own developed and existing programs.

OR

  We use a combination of own developed and existing programs.


texts:
Are the sentences below correct? If so, when/how to use these sentences?

If I had known you were coming, I would have baked a cake.
If I have known you were coming, I would have baked a cake.
If I had known you are coming, I would have baked a cake.
If I have known you are coming, I would have baked a cake.


texts:
Who _____ that handsome Young man and his friend?

1)is

2)was

3)had been

4)are

5)has been

which one should I use and why? Thank you.

I Think number 1 is the correct one. The word 'that' made me come to this conclusion.


texts: 'He' or 'She'? While writing about past/present events of a person who has a gender change?

texts:
I was writing a little note on a person who underwent some surgery to change the sex organs. While writing, I was bit confused using a pronoun i.e. which pronoun it takes when we write a post on such person. This person changed from a boy to a girl.
Consider that I interviewed this person and now writing a post.
Examples:

a) As a kid having those characteristics, s/he was criticized by her/his fellow mates.
b) S/He said that s/he was not comfortable among boys (this seems tricky)
c) When declared about his/her feelings, s/he was being treated very differently
d) When you ask about how s/he felt in past, s/he does not hesitate telling the truth (this one is annoying!)


texts: "...measures must be taken to..." VS "...measures have to be taken to..."

texts:
I must rewrite the follwing passage into passive:

  They have to take new measures to prevent more flooding.

We use must when "it's our intention" and "have to" - when we can do nothing with the task or current situation and someone else is making the decision for us.

Since that, it would be better to say:

  New measures must be taken to prevent more flooding.

instead of:

  New measures have to be taken to prevent more flooding.


texts: Using 'should' and 'would' in this sentence

texts:
I read the poem 'A Roadside Stand' by Robert Frost, and I have accumulated a few questions through the poem. So, I will be posting some questions from the same poem, if you can please answer my other questions as well. Thanks to all :)

Here you can read the whole poem. Below I have given the particular paragraph.

In the lines -

I wonder how I should like you to come to me
And offer to put me gently out of my pain.

Robert Frost has used 'should'.

I have two questions here -
First, what does this sentence mean (in the sense of using 'should' here)?
Second, what would the sentence mean if he had used 'would' in place of 'should'?
Like so -

I wonder how I would like you to come to me
And offer to put me gently out of my pain.

Will it make a drastic change to the meaning of the sentence?

  No, in country money, the country scale of gain,
  The requisite lift
  of spirit has never been found,
  Or so the voice of the country seems to complain,
  I can't help owning the great relief it would be,
  To put these people at one stroke out of their pain.
  And then next day as I come back into the sane,
  I wonder how I should like you to come to me
  And offer to put me gently out of my pain.


texts: Equivalent to "We both" for three (or more) people

texts:
How do you say something equivalent to "we both" in English when there are three of us?

"We both are Spanish" >> "We three are Spanish"?


texts: present perfect progressive for a negative sentence

texts:
I haven't played the piano for ages means that the last time I played the piano was ages ago.

Will it be possible to write that

  I haven't been playing the piano for ages

What would that mean?

  Before I stop playing it, I used to play very often.

and that

  I have not been sleeping for 5 days.

Would that mean that I have not slept well for 5 days but before this I used to sleep very well.

  I haven't been hanging about all day, I have helped my brother.

Does that mean that most of the day I helped  my brother and could not hang about a lot.


texts:
In Pulp Fiction (1994), Butch just reached home after boxing match:

Fabienne: Can you make spoons?
Butch: You know what? I was thinkin' about takin' a shower. I'm
stinkin' like a dog over here.
Fabienne: I like the way you stink.

What does "make spoons" mean?


texts:
I love style manuals. Ever since I was assigned Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style in an introductory psychology course, the writing guide has been among my favorite literary genres. Source

I am thinking over the exact meaning of "I was assigned" in my sentence. Although I checked out the dictionaries, none of the possible meanings does not make much sense. The one and only alternative that I find as being suitable is the meaning "to give out as a task". So the author says that at the university – maybe within a seminar – he had to deal with the textbook on style. Am I right?


texts: Do I really need to use The Past Perfect?

texts:
I'm having trouble understanding the difference between The Past Simple and the Past Perfect in some cases. I've hust read that there's no need to use the Past Perfect when the sequence is clear. The problem is I don't understand what makes the sequence clear. Is this sentence correct?

  She lazily leaned against the chair that he bought for her.

I'm sure that it's obvious that he bought the chair before she leaned against it. Am I right?

But can we say "She lazily leaned against the chair that he had bought for her"?

It this sentence correct or is it completely unnecessary to use the Past Perfect in this case?

What about "He read the diary of a student that (had) committed suicide"? I think it's obvious that the student committed suicide before someone read his or her diary. So, do I really need to use the Past Perfect in this case?

I don't get it. I can't understand what exactly makes the sequence clear for a native English speaker.


texts:
On grammar.ccc Rob De Decker, who (as it is written there) teaches English at a Flemish grammar school in Belgium, explains the so-called first, second and third conditional.

Instant English, a best-seller, by John Peter Sloan, has a lot of pages on these grammatical constructs, which are called, again,  first, second and third conditional.

Nevertheless, some EL&U competent users, like Barrie England and tchrist, more and more times repeated that the rules established with these definitions are nonsense in English grammar.

Among others, tchrist's comment below appears to be notable; what expressed is not different from Barrie England's thought.

  This whole “1st/2nd/etc conditional” thing is purely an ESL meme that is never taught to native English speakers in the course of their regular grammar-school education, and which furthermore makes very little sense when subjected to rigorous analysis. I think it just confuses people to no useful end.

Obviously I don't doubt that what tchrist claims is true, albeit those definitions are useful for ESL learners.

How do English native speakers render those patterns according to British or U.S. English grammar courses?

For example, what are the real grammar rules under the following sentences, which are called first, second and third conditional by international English learners?

  First conditional: If I have enough money, I will go to Japan.
  Second conditional:If I had enough money, I would go to Japan.
  Third conditional: If I had had enough money, I would have gone to Japan.


texts:
I read an article on ThinkProgress. Its heading is:

  The Republicans’ Sneaky Plan To Make It Much Easier To Pass Massive Tax Cuts For The Rich

I know the term 'easier' that means 'more easy'. I know the 'easiest', which is a superlative form of 'easy'. But, "much easier" confuses me.

Which kind of usage is this?


texts: A question about "should" and the past tense

texts:
I'm sending a message to my manager.  I don't know if I should send the message to her or to my section head.  At the bottom of the message I want to apologize to my manager if I've sent the message to the wrong person.  I tried this:

  If i shouldn't send the message to you, i am sorry,

Is that correct?