texts: 'Have dinner by candlelight' - preposition 'By' means 'using'?

texts:
As far as I know,  two of the usages of preposition 'by' are:

If you do something by a particular means, you do it using that thing.

Ex:
 1. We'll be travelling by car./ May I pay by credit card?

We returned home by a different route./ We went in by the front door.
She had dinner by candlelight./ We had to work by candlelight.

----------

If you do something by a particular method, you use that method to achieve something.

Ex:
 1. Reading is taught by traditional methods here.

Every bit of lace is made by hand.
He learned English by listening to the radio.

  So with those above meanings are these following sentences correct and
  understandable when I apply 'by' in order to mean 'using a thing or a method'?
  If their meanings are not clear, please show me other ways to rewrite
  these sentences.

She wrote the answers by a pen.
He usually drinks coffee by a tumbler.
She ate spaghetti by a bowl instead of a plate.


texts: What does "for" mean in "...for works written by and for the sophisticated adults .."

texts:
These were chosen by Renaissance teachers after much deliberation,
  for works written by and for the sophisticated adults of pagan Rome were not always considered suitable for the Renaissance young.

Is it preposition or conjunction?

I think it means because. But I'm confused why it has two because.


texts: not only loves but also leads her children[Connective]

texts:
She not only loves her children but also leads them.
She not only loves but also leads her children.
Which is more suitable?


texts:
X company offers the best coverage plans. They also offer great benefits.
X company offers the best coverage plans. It also offers great benefits.
Or
X is a known company in the world of tech. They make the best products.
X is a known company in the world of tech. It makes the best products.
Is using they to refer to a company a grammatically sound choice?


texts: What does "right his life off the field" mean?

texts:
From here:

  The bumbling Washington brain trust committed another blunder, this time blindsiding a player who was trying to right his life off the field.

I don't recognize "right something off something" as a common phrase.


texts:
which word is correct to be used in the sentence?- advertising or advertisement?
And why may I ask?

  A great deal of advertising/advertisement is now done as we surf the internet

When I checked the oxford advanced dictionary, both words (advertising & advertisement) can have meanings that refer to the 'activity of advertising'.So that means both can be right in the above sentence. But a Cambridge textbook says its advertising; not advertisement. And the reason is not given! Why? Can anyone help out?


texts: You're standing in a building & point to the glass window to refer to the space outside. Is it ok to say "There're more birds on this side"?

texts:
You are standing in a room on the 3rd floor in a building. You then point to the glass window to refer to the space on the left outside the building as showed in the picture.

And then you say "There are more birds on this side".

Is it okay or natural to say that?


texts: Can the word 'just so' be a substitute for the word 'so that'?

texts:
Earlier today, I was watching a CSS tutorial on Youtube. I noticed the author use the sentence
'just remove the margins and padding  just so we can see everything clearly. This wasn't the first time I noticed a native speaker use the word 'just so'. I noticed a lot of native speakers on Youtube use the word just so. Can that be a substitute for the word so that?


texts: Is “I hate his doing that” old-fashioned?

texts:
I read a lot of classical novels although I am not a native speaker, and in Jane Austen’s or Louisa May Alcott’s, I see a lot of sentences like these:
“I don’t like his insulting me”
“I don’t feel comfortable with her being there.”
“I hate her speaking to him.”
“I forgave her being mean to me”
“I don’t like your talking to me
Do these sentences make sense nowadays? Can we express ourselves this way or is it considered old-fashioned?
If we can’t use them anymore, what alternatives could we use instead of “pronoun, verb at the infinitive”
Example: I hate his being there./ I hate him being there.
Thanks lots!


texts: Expression for "let's use this opportunity"?

texts:
What expression can I use to indicate that I see an opportunity and suggest an action?

I'm thinking of trivial situations.

  "Wife, I'm going to the post office."

  "The baker shop is nearby. Use this as an opportunity to buy some bread.

  "Boss, we're placing an order to upgrade the office's computers."

  "Use this as an opportunity to replace our old printer."

  "I went to the gym's desk to renew my membership and I've used this as an opportunity to enroll my son in Judo classes"


texts: Some doubts about the usage of Past Perfect in these context

texts:
I am encountering some problems filling these space in this exercises:

  A: Have you seen Matt recently?
  B: Matt? He’s in Canada.
  A: Really? How long has he been in Canada?
  B: About a year now. ______ (I / see) him a few days before he went. He had been unemployed for months, so he decided to try his luck
  somewhere else. ______ (he / really / look forward) to going.

My answer was:
I had seen
Because you are saying that something (seeing Matt) is happened before something-else (his departure), for this reason I thought was correct to use the Past Perfect, to arrange the events happened in their properly timeline.
He had been looking forward
Based on the exercise's context, it makes me think that Matt (1) has been thinking about it for a long period of time, (2) it happened in the past, therefore, once again I thought the Past Perfect would have matched correct here.

Instead, the book says:
I saw
He was really looking forward

Could I ask you guys why my answers are wrong? Thank you.


texts:
I have just encountered the following phrase:

  It is important that each player not know what the other player will do.

Why is it written here "not know" and not "not knows"? Also would it be correct to say "...player does not know..."?


texts: Meaning of "subtle but pervasive message"

texts:
I was learning some essay techniques and noticed the expression:

  the subtle but pervasive message is that...

What does this exactly mean?


texts: Grammaticality of “several of them she did not deem good enough, but there was one which”

texts:
I'd like to know if the first proposition is grammatical in the following sentence

  Several of them she did not consider good enough, but there was one [that was outstanding].

Or should it necessarily be phrased as follows?

  There were several of them that she did not consider good enough, but …


texts: What does the second 'intelligence' mean/imply in the sentence of "An intelligence organization that fears intelligence?”

texts:
My friend and I had another argument over the meaning/implication of the second 'intelligence' in the following sentence:

“An intelligence organization that fears intelligence?” Tony said. “That’s historically . . . not awesome.”

My friend believed that the second intelligence is the same as the first one –– also means "spy", which refers to Tony's action of breaking into S.H.I.E.L.D.’s secure files by decryption program ever since he was on board, like a spy.

I believe the second one means "smartness/cleaverness", which refers to Tony's own high IQ, and he is being sarcastic, pointing out that SHIELD, an intelligence organization , full of elites (intelligent persons),  should not have feared to bring one more intelligent person (himself) into the organization, which leads to the conclusion that Fury is definitely hiding sth from people.

So, which one is correct? or we both wrong? And if , not necessarily, anyone could point out how to distinguish the two would be a lot more helpful, thanks a lot.

Here is the sentence in the context:

  Bruce sighed and took off his glasses. “‘A warm light for all
  mankind,’” he quoted. “Loki’s jab at Fury about the cube.”

  “I heard it,” Cap said.

  “I think that was meant for you,” Bruce said to Tony. “Even if Barton
  didn’t tell Loki about the tower, it was still all over the news.”

  “The Stark Tower? That big ugly . . .” Tony looked up. “Building?” Cap
  finished. “In New York.”

  “It’s powered by an Arc Reactor, a self-sustaining energy source,”
  Bruce pointed out. “That building will run itself for, what? A year?”

  “That’s just the prototype,” Tony said. “I’m kind of the only name in
  clean energy right now,” he explained to Cap. “That’s what he’s
  getting at.”

  Cap didn’t know what he meant by clean energy, but he could tell it
  was another of Tony’s typical boasts, so he let it pass.

  “So why didn’t S.H.I.E.L.D. bring him in on the Tesseract project?”
  Bruce asked. “What are they doing in the energy business in the first
  place?

  “I should probably look into that once my decryption program finishes
  breaking into all of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s secure files.” Tony looked at a
  tiny computer tablet, barely bigger than a credit card.

  “I’m sorry,” Cap said. “Did you say—”

  “Jarvis has been running it since I hit the bridge,” Tony said. “In a
  few hours, I’ll know every dirty secret S.H.I.E.L.D. has ever tried to
  hide.”

  “Yet you’re confused about why they didn’t want you around,” Cap said.

  “An intelligence organization that fears intelligence?” Tony said.
  “That’s historically . . . not awesome.”

  Cap felt his temper starting to rise. He got it under control.

  The Avengers I


texts: What would We use "People stand still" or "People pause" or other terms if the time stopped completely (like in Sci-Fi movies)?

texts:
still (adv): without moving : without motion

  Sit still. It'll just take a minute.

  She stood very still.

  pause [intransitive]: to stop talking or doing something for a short
  time before continuing

  Anita paused for a moment, then said: ‘All right’.

  The woman spoke almost without pausing for breath (= very quickly).

  I paused at the door and looked back.

  Pausing only to pull on a sweater, he ran out of the house.

So, What would we use "People stand still" or "People pause" or other terms if the time stopped completely (like in Sci-Fi movies)?


texts: How do I write this sentence in indirect speech?

texts:
Write the following line in indirect speech:

  The boy said,"I have had my lunch today"


texts:
The secretary's office will then give confirmation of the chosen course by email.

and

  The secretary's office will then confirm the chosen course by email.

Is there a difference and when/in what situation would I rather use the first one, when the second?


texts: Unsure about both the direct and reported speech in this particular case:

texts:
Direct speech:

  In 1917 she said: "The other half of the sum will be granted when he finishes (has finished) to instruct the three students he had committed (himself) to train."

Reported speech:

  According to that 100 years old document the other half of the sum was to be granted (would be granted) when he had finished to instruct the three students he had committed (himself) to train.

What would be the right form for both cases?

I am not sure whether "himself" has to be added or not and also whether "when he had finished" can end in a future in the past like "would be granted" or "was to be granted". There are also other things like whether "finishes" and "has finished" can be both transformed in reported speech in "had finished" or "finishes" turns in "finished" and "has finished" in "had finished"?


texts: the meaning of "the cloak of respectability wore gradually thinner"

texts:
And as they read, little by little the cloak of respectability wore gradually thinner, the pretence of secrecy was dropped, the name of their master was discreetly avowed and quietly praised.

Source: H. R. Trevor-Roper: Niccolo Machiavelli. In Joseph Frank (ed.) Modern Essays in English, p. 24.

This is an excerpt from the text on N. Machiavelli. In the paragraph, from which I cites only this sentence, the author sets forth how Machiavelli was in the middle of the 16th century becoming an acceptable political thinker and how many famous individuls started reading him and thereby they legitimized his work. Given the context I have the problem with the metaphor  "the cloak of respectability wore gradually thinner" which (if I understand it properly) asserts the opposite: increasing the inrespectability. But this seems to be against the sense of the context. What does exactly the mentioned metaphor mean?


texts: "I am excited I'll play against Federer tomorrow/next week." Weird sentence?

texts:
I am being taught by a teacher who is a non native speaker. Her boyfriend comes from an English-speaking country. The problem is that she asked him whether the following sentences are correct:

  I am excited to play against Federer tomorrow/next week.

  I am excited I'll play against Federer tomorrow/next week.

  I am excited I am going to play against Federer tomorrow/next week.

  I am excited  I'll be playing against Federer tomorrow/next week.

Options 3 and 4 are correct in his opinion. However numbers 1 and 2 aren't. Sentence number two is "weird". What is it that is weird on the sentence number two? Would you use it? If not, why?


texts: I'm looking for a word/phrase that would describe a dishonest politician. Example: "He is a ___ ." Maybe something idiomatic or colloquial.


texts: Usage of the word "champ" when speaking about champignons

texts:
Can the shortened word "champ" be used when speaking about champignons (mushrooms), not about champions?

There is definitely a wordplay in the name of the company: champsmushrooms


texts:
I came across this English sentence when I was reading an article:

  Have you ever met anyone on holiday who you were friends with at school or university?

Wasn't it supposed to be "friend" in place of "friends" there?


texts:
Have you ever got to meet the actress in person?
  Have you got to meet the actress in person?
  Have you gotten to meet the actress in person?

I want to know what's the difference in meaning between them, apart from their unnaturaity on this question.

To me,
The 1 means similar to either "did you have an opportunity to meet the actress in person" or "did you have to meet the actress in person".

On the other hand, the 2 seems to mean similar to "do you have to meet the actress in person"., and the 3 only to mean the former of the interpretations of the 1.

What do you think of them ?

It seems right that the word "ever" and "gotten" affects the sentences to mean totally different from each other.


texts:
Here are some sentences with 'Yet', 'however' and 'and'

  She hasn't got many friends, yet everyone likes her.
  She hasn't got many friends, however, everyone likes her.
  She hasn't got many friends, but everyone likes her.

I'm actually confused with the use of ‘yet’ because it's quite similar to ‘but’ and ‘however’. So, how is ‘yet’ different from them? Could you please tell me how to distinguish the differences in the usage of them.


texts:
I am just confused about how to use have/has had

David has had a nice car.
David had a nice car.

May I know which sentence is correct and why, and please let me know how to use have/has had.


texts: How to understand this sentence: "This clipped, the final section to the belay is relaxing by comparison."

texts:
This clipped, the final section to the belay is relaxing by comparison. (source)

This is a sentence from Longman Dictionary. I am having a hard time parsing and making sense of it. There is no further context in the dictionary, and I can't find a source from which this sentence possibily comes. With "clip" being a verb with multiple meanings, I am not sure what it means here or if this sentence makes sense at all.

Since "belay" is a rope for climbing, is the sentence saying that "the final section to the rope is relaxing by comparison"? In the context, limited though as it is, what could "clip" possibily mean? "fasten", "hold", "cut", or "shorten"? Is this sentence grammatical, at all?


texts: why the verb after 'be' must use past participle?

texts: "She might be loved forever". I don't know why the 'loved' have to use in the past participle? Can anyone explain to me?


texts: Because I played the piano or because I was playing the piano?

texts:
Here is a task in an English test:

  Last night my neighbors got angry because I (played / was playing) the piano. They repeatedly came to my door and knocked, but I didn't hear the knocks. Why? Because I (played / was playing) the piano.

I was taught that I should choose the simple tense to talk about habits or routines, and the continuous tense to talk about being in the very process of doing something, but that doesn't really help make the choices in this particular task. The sentences are neither about a habit nor about any particular moment of time. What's more confusing is that two choices have to be made, which suggests that the answers might be different.

So which choices should I make and why?


texts: If someone asks whether I want to play and I plan not play for the rest of the day could I answer : "No, not today anymore." or would it have to be different? "No more today" or perhaps "I dont want to play anymore today." What would be a good answer?


texts: What is the difference between to learn and to study?

texts:
If I'm doing homework, actually I'm learning or studying?
If I'm at the university, actually I'm learning or studying?

I'm confused of that, and always I don't know what is the right word to choose. Is it a matter of personal choosing and everyone can choose what he wants of these two?


texts: "What is dangerous is not the same as what appears so" meaning

texts:
What does

  What is dangerous is not the same as what appears so.

mean? Especially, the 'what appears so' part. Does that phrase have a special meaning?


texts:
Can anyone who knows the language well please tell me the difference between "no" and "no other" in the following sentences? Are they both correct? In speaking, I have seen both are used.

No student in the class is as strong as Alice is.
No other student in the class is as strong as Alice is.


texts: Are "directly" and "immediately" interchangeable in some situations?

texts:
I went through a nice tutorial if and whether: indirect questions on Cambridge grammar just now.

Here is one of the rules in that tutorial.

  We use whether, not if, directly before or not.

where "directly" is used to indicate the position of the word "whether".

Does it mean the same if I substitute "immediately" for "directly"? In other words, do the following sentence and the quotation above mean the same?

  We use whether, not if, immediately before or not.


texts: Comma after an expression containing 'since'

texts:
I am a bit confused if I should use a comma in the folowing sentence:

  We can use this assumption since in our system, the rewards are bounded.


texts: "evidence" followed by singular or plural verb?

texts:
While the general rule is words like "evidence", "knowledge" are considered singular and thus the verb that follows should be in the singular form, somehow the following sentence feels like it can use a verb in the plural form. Is this correct ?

"The diagnosis would be based on clinical, biochemical and, in some cases, in vitro evidence that validate the disease status."


texts: Use of "In the Middle" to describe an ongoing description

texts:
If I write this:

In the middle of my return to our dormitories,

Do you see anything wrong with it? A friend was pointing out the use of the word "middle" , but I think it can be used to describe ongoing actions also, not only places.

I'm also not sure about the "my return part". Maybe " In the middle of me going back to our dormitories" Or something like that?


texts: What does "hey them" mean in this context?

texts:
The context is that I bought some books from a seller in Instagram and after the transaction was completed (meaning they still need to be shipped) he told me:

Your books are now in the hands of the shipper. Let me know when you hey them!

At first, I thought he was trying to say "Let me know when you get them!", but then he said:

Hey them? Maybe when you get them.

And then I was pretty sure he meant exactly what he said. Sometimes when I post on Instagram, bragging about my books, I tag the bookseller in the post, but maybe I misunderstood the intention.
Do you think is that what he meant? This is the first time I see the use of "hey" as a verb (?).


texts:
As for indolence, that would be ridiculous, but there are other interesting things.

What does this mean? I'm especially interested in what the "but" means here.


texts: Calculating the "factor difference" of fluorescence values - what phrase to use?

texts:
I have a section in a document that describes a formula used to calculate a "factor difference" (Russian "кратное различие", literally "-fold difference") between two fluorescence values - that is, by how many times one value is higher than the other:

(section name) Calculation of the Factor Difference between fluorescence values

Factor difference = mean fluorescence at the highest concentration / mean fluorescence at the lowest concentration

For instance, if the numerator is 10 and the denominator is 2, the "factor difference" would be 10/2 = 5.
I'm not sure that factor difference is a naturally-sounding English phrase for this purpose though. What would be a better alternative?
Maybe "fluorescence suppression rate"? But that would deviate further from the Russian original.


texts: The double sence of a short text question

texts:
Headline: Planting the seeds of change.

The Green Wave project aims to help meet the goals of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity by educating young people on the importance of biodiversity. In an ambitious program, students from schools all across the world have been invited to mark the International Day for Biodiversity each year by planting a single tree of an inborn of locally important species. On May, 22, these student groups will each plant their tree – uniting to send a ‘green wave’ from east to west around the planet. Promoting research and learning about nature, encouraging team-work and partnership across countries and continents, The Green Wave is taking a positive step toward maintaining biodiversity all over the world.

What does its headline really mean and what is the text about in short?


texts:
What does the sentence below mean?

  His voice grates on my ears.
  His voice grates on my nerves.

Please have a look on Longman's definition below:

To grate on (to annoy someone):
 - Mr Fen had a loud voice that grated on her ears.

My questions:

How shall I paraphrase them with a precise definition?
Do they indicate that his voice is "annoying" or so they imply that his voice is "harsh sounding" or something else?

Does the following sentence sound informal and disapproving to you? (There are some reason behind asking this question):

  His voice is in one's nerves.


texts: What's the opposite (term) to 'cleavage'?

texts:
Indeed, it is not a taboo subject anymore! In fact, I frequently read about it in news papers mentioning this as dressing sense or beauty of a woman (I guess there are competitions as well).

Whatever--a dressing sense--or naturally forming 'deep cut', some have it well-defined, others simply show its absence.

Now there could be two opposites in this case and I am searching for both those terms.

  A) What's the opposite term for the word 'cleavage' - a woman with absence of cleavage (flat or no cleavage does not convince me).

AND...

  B) What's the term that describes opposite of cleavage itself - cleavage is *the space between the organs that can be seen above a dress but then some dresses (not uploading a picture here to keep this site graphically clean) show them from the bottom i.e. below the top (opposite direction)? What's the term for that? Cleavage from Bottom? 'Bottom Cleft' - no way. No word with bottom (#7) can prevent ambiguity here.


texts: Why "think bright" is used with adjective instead of adverb (think brightly)?

texts:
I find "think bright" is much more common usage, but why? In my opinion, "Think" is a verb, so it is reasonable to use adverb to describe it.

Examples:

  THINK BRIGHT!

  The National University of Science and Technology MISIS

(Source: MISIS)


texts:
What is wrong with this sentence?

I wrote -

I tried my hands again on my bicycle.

My teacher corrected to

I tried my hand again at riding my bicycle.

Confusion -

hands v.s hand - Why it is hand and not hands?

on my bicycle vs. at riding my bicycle?


texts: What does "from the Metal Up or from the Glass Back" mean?

texts:
As the artile's title, I cant get the point.
http://www.hanselman.com/blog/TeachingCodingFromTheMetalUpOrFromTheGlassBack.aspx


texts: infinitive or present continuous: (five to come)

texts:
Scenario 1
Suppose that a customer has ordered some things online. He is now in your store to pick them up. The order has 100 boxes of cookies. Then, you check his order form and get them for him. After bringing him 90 boxes, this is what you are going to say to him.
(1a) There are ten more to come.
(1b) There are ten more coming.
Scenario 2
Suppose that you are running a chess club and you want more people to join it. I have received some applications for getting into the club. This is what you are going to say to your club members.
(2a) Soon, there will be twenty more people to join us.
(2b) Soon, there will be twenty more people joining us.
Which verb form is correct?


texts:
I ran into a quote by Karl R. Popper:

  “A rationalist is simply someone for whom it is more important to learn than to be proved right; someone who is willing to learn from others - not by simply taking over another's opinions, but by gladly allowing others to criticize his ideas and by gladly criticizing the ideas of others”

I am thinking on the phrasal verb simply take over here. I know take over means gain control over, but it does not make an intact sense here? Look like here it mean only accept. What does simply take over mean here? Could you paraphrase the bolded?


texts: Forms of being + past participle verb(v3) and difference between having + v3

texts:
I read a lot of books to improve my english but sometimes I encounter some structures that are not found easily on learning webpages. First, I want to learn forms of being+V3(v3 stands for past participle form of verbs) except by passive voice. For example, I can't deduce the meaning of the sentence.

  Class something doesn’t enjoy any advantages by being defined in the same group or being a derived part.

I changed the above sentence to be understood. Here is original:

  Class House doesn’t enjoy any advantages by being defined in the same package or being a derived class.)

Second, I again really can't deduce meaning of sentences that use having+v3 structure except by one that is at the beginning of a sentence. (i.e. having worked - After he had worked) What are the forms of having+v3 and being+v3 except by I have just mentioned exceptions and short form of adjective clause.

Example sentences that I can't understand:

  It’s important to understand that there’s a difference between the practical knowledge of having worked with Java and the knowledge required to pass this certification exam.

  First, answer this question: do you remember having known more than one Amit, Paul, Anu, or John in your life?


texts:
Banks are not insured by government against default on the loans the banks make.

What is the meaning of "default on the loans" in this sentence?
When bank offers depositors lower interest, is it ok to say that bank is "paying" depositors lower interest? (In other words, is it ok to use the word "paying" rather than "offering" to have the same meaning?)


texts: (That or These)/(This or Those) for Compound Subjects?

texts:
I understand that compound subjects when joined with "and" are plural:

The car and house are for sale.

But what about for the "that/this" preceding the compound subjects?

That/Those house, car, and street belong to me.

Right now, I'm thinking it should be "those" because of the compound subject "house, car, and street"...but it sounds weird to me in my head also thinking it might be "that" because to refer to the first subject "house."
Also, what about for something like this?

People will go far in life with (that/those) desire and motivation.

(It's a compound subject "desire and motivation" so grammatically it probably should be "those," but it sounds like it could be "that.")


texts: Regarding present perfect appropriate use when spoken

texts:
If someone asks you

  Hey Indiver! Did you see Star Wars movie last week?

Should I reply

  Yes, I saw the movie. It was quite interesting.

Or

  Yes, I have seen the movie. It was quite interesting.

I find difficulty when speaking. I have to think between past indefinite and present perfect.

I usually use present perfect when I have to use those words like already,just or I know that if some work i have done few minutes back.

Please don't use Grammar rules to explain me. I am not preparing for exam. I want to know what is in your mouth tongue while answering above question's answer. Please don't say as well that we can use either because if you were to answer, you use only one sentence instantaneously. I just want to know why your mouth tongue has spoken in that way.


texts: How nothing from me differs from not from me?

texts:
At the end of every day we deploy our product with our team members developed features. Each one will get a turn to deploy in daily manner. The person who going to deploy will ask like,

Is there any pending commits for today?, I am going to deploy.

Then each member of the team will answer like,

  NO
  NOT FOR ME
  NOTHING FROM MY SIDE
  NOT FROM ME
  NOTHING FROM MY END
  NOT FROM MY END

As a newbie in my team, I am little bit confused how I should react to this question. Here are my questions,

Does this six mean the same ?

Is this six have different meaning ?

Which one is correct ?

Which one is wrong ?

Any suggestion would be helpful.


texts: What is the difference between ‘I'm never having a beard when I grew up’’ and 'I will never have a beard when I grew up'? Request

texts:
What is the difference between ‘I'm never having a beard when I grew up’’ and 'I will never have a beard when I grew up'?

Are the two sentences the same in meaning or they are different?


texts:
Among Scorpio's most important tasks, astrologers say, are ridding
  themselves of the tendency to be judgmental and tempering their
  insight with compassion.

What does "tempering insight with compassion" mean?


texts: Usage: “condolences with” or “condolences to”

texts:
There was an accident and few people died in the accident.
I want to write:

My condolences with/to the people. (i.e. the people who died)

Which preposition should I use with or to for this situation?


texts:
One example:

  One student has reported that Safari web browser ..

The brand Safari is mentioned for the first time in the text.

Another case:

  We store the data using Oracle database

Shall I use the article the before Safari and Oracle?


texts:
This research contributes to filling a considerable gap in academic literature dissertating on the application of CSR(corporate social responsibility) policies to address negative publicity.

Does "to address negative publicity" act as a complement in this context,  if so, I guess it should complement application?

But I also understand that to tells the purpose, so can the sentence mean that
"literature dissertates on the application of CSR policies in order to address negative publicity", and the infinitive would be linked to dissertates?

Under this context , does the infinitive function as complement or does it tell the purpose?  Or can it be argued that both options are possible?

The entire paragraph is as follow:

  Product or service failure should be seen as a chance for a corporation to prove their efforts and satisfy customers to keep them coming back. This research examines the findings of existing CSR (corporate social responsibility) literature regarding the recovery of corporate brand image supported by the legitimacy theory. Changes in consumers' perceptions are compared between Time0(the time when the negative incident such as food safety scandal occurs) and Time1(a year after). This research contributes to filling a considerable gap in academic literature dissertating on the application of CSR policies to address negative publicity. To that end, in this research, consumer behavior is examined in relation to corporate history of CSR implementation.


texts: Independent clauses and sentences are one and same?

texts:
I am learning phrases and clauses and one definition says that independent clauses and sentences are same.
Is it true?

E.g. He ate dinner.

Is it both a sentence and an independent clause? If so, then is independent clause a synonym of sentence?
If they aren't same, then what is the difference between them?


texts: The usage of the present simple for the future actions

texts:
I've got a bunch of examples dealing with the same issue. I have had some opinions on them but some of the opinions are controversial. So, I hope to get a better picture from you. The issue deals with the usage of the present simple for the future actions.

A person has arranged an appointment with the lawyer recently and wants to tell about it:

1) I see my lawyer tomorrow. (not as part of habitual actions)
2) I am seeing my lawyer tomorrow.

I know that 2 is what is said most often, but sometimes, I can read or hear people say 1. Could you give some guidelines which would help to understand when 1 could/should be used?

3) Do you know what you are  doing every day this summer?
4) Do you know what you do every day this summer?

Sentence 3 is fine. I wonder whether 4 is completely wrong. Most of the people say it is wrong. However, one person considers it possible explaining it "It is usually a rhetorical question, and is a lead in to a description of a repeated task; possibly as a complaint, possibly as an order. "

What do you think of 4? Does that explanation hold water? Are there any circumstances when you would see how it could fit to be used? I have googled and found a few examples from literature of this sentence "What do you do next year?" For example, 'But what do you do next year?' I asked. 'Yes. That is the problem,' he replied. ' I suppose, that there must be some situations when 4 may fit. Or am I wrong?


texts: a brain region called the anterior cingulate cortex: why not "the" brain region?

texts:
From a news report:

  Now that they had evidence that the brain could generate both strategic and random behavior, Karpova and her colleagues wanted to know how it switched between modes. Since that switch determines whether or not an animal's internal model of the world influences its behavior, the scientists suspected it might involve a brain region called the anterior cingulate cortex, where that internal model is likely encoded.

Why is the indefinite article used here? The news report names the region, so it is quite a definite thing.

Would it be an error to use the definite article in its place? Would it change the meaning drastically?


texts: What is the meaning of "on the wrong lines" in this context?

texts:
This is the context:

  The universe is
  telling us it is simple. It is astonishingly simple. And yet here we are with thousands of physicists worrying
  about a multiverse of infinitely complex universes, which we can’t see, and so on and so forth, I think it’s
  great because they’re all on the wrong lines. All these very, very smart people are distracted with
  a lot of confusing ideas.

  Source: The origins of the universe: why is there something rather
  than nothing?
  (in the Annals of The New York Academy Of Sciences)

I searched the phrase on the internet and found nothing useful. What is the meaning of the bold part?


texts: imperfective vs perfective in English (I was doing/ I did)?

texts:
I tend to use the continuous form a lot for situations that happened in the near past as it brings my mind closer to the actual action that was performed. I'm still not sure if this is grammatically acceptable.

For instance in this sentence:

  Person A comes home after work and asks Person B: What did you do
  today?

  Person B answers: I was lying in bed all day.

In this example, if Person B answered 'I've been lying in bed all day',to me, it suggests that the person is still lying in bed and intends on continuing to do so. The simple past 'I lay in bed all day' sounds like it was a moment in the far past whereas 'I was lying in bed all day' sounds like it's closer to the present and it also communicates annoyance.

Another example would be:

  Person A asks: Where were you?

  Person B answers:  I was cleaning the car, why?

Those are situations I'd image myself answering exactly like that and I can't let go of that 'habit'.

Is there a grammatical exception or is this really just a bad habit of mine?


texts:
In this two cases what we should use? What or Which?

  1) what/which email program do you use
  2) what/which accounts have this problem

Thanks.


texts: Which one is correct, "prime period" , "medrian period", "heyday"?

texts: For example, Tang dynasty was "prime period" or "medirian period" or "heyday" in China. At that time, China's had many number ones in the world.


texts: Are the pronunciations of "real" and "reel" same?

texts: Why do the British Sound Symbols are the same, but the Americans' are different?


texts:
At what situation I can use 'Conveniently left out'? Does this have a negative tone(When someone hides something intentionally) or a positive tone(some details were hidden to make something easier to understand)

Thanks,


texts:
There is a wooden bar leaning on the edge of a table.
Is it natural to say "the bar may slip OFF the table" or "the bar may slip ON the table"?


texts:
How can I indicate the levels of possibility with the word "chance"?

All I know is that I can say "There's much of a chance I'm going to marry her" when possibility is high.

How about these sentences?

  There's a lot of chance a chance ~
  There's low chance ~
  There's high chance ~

I just want to know as many common expressions with the word "Chance" as possible


texts: "Let them never be born" or "Let them never to be born?"

texts:
Which one is more grammatical? Example:

  Deformed animals suffer a lot. Why not let them never (to) be born?


texts: How should the names of Hindu deities be spelled?

texts: For instance, shouldn't Lord Rama actually be spelled as Lord Ram, because that's how we pronounce it? Why then do I frequently find an extra 'a' at the end in texts?


texts:
From a post

"after then": means after the time you mentioned before.

My mother cleans the closet. After then, she cooks dinner for me.

In this particular situation, could I also use "After that"?

My mother cleans the closet. After that, she cooks dinner for me.

According to another post, both of them suggest a shorter time period. So, they are interchangeable for any cases. Is my understanding correct?


texts:
I saw a dog.

  I have seen a dog.

What are the differences between them?
Did these events happen on the same day?


texts: Can I use a expression "regular bedtimes" for adult?

texts:
I have a kind of insomnia so that my sleeping times are unstable.
Can I say

  I don't have regular bedtimes.

Maybe is this expression suitable for child parenting?


texts:
I have read a weird selection question on preposition:

"September 30 is the day ___ which you must pay your bill".

The four given options are:

A.by.  B.for   C.with   D.in

I cross the options of B and C easily, but not sure whether A or D is the correct/better one to choose.
I have read the previous question of "in which or by which", q1 and q2, but neither case with its explanation seem to match with this sentence.


texts:
https://youtu.be/ixWnosDTAls

What does "land a date to the dance" mean here? (Liv says this.)

And later on Joey was:

  I wish I had a twin who could help me land a date to the dance. I'd call him Michael.


texts:
The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960.

Source

The Beatles were? Aren't/isn't The Beatles a proper noun and it refers to one group? I don't understand why WikiPedia and other sources use The Beatles were instead of The Beatles was. Is it because of the s? Somebody please explain me about this, it goes against all the rules I've learnt and it is not even in my grammar books.


texts:
Sentence:
Have you met him?

Structure:
to have verb + subject + extension + interrogation

Then, how will these be structured?

  Could you please tell me where the bookstore is?

  The train leaves at 9 am, does not it?

  It is raining now, is not it?


texts: After/Because/etc. + simple past or past perfect?

texts:
1.After/Because she had finished the exam, she felt very happy.

  2.After/Because she finished the exam, she felt very happy.

Is there a big difference when simple past is used instead of past perfect with conjunctions? (or What is the difference between the above two clauses?)


texts: "not a + comparative and noun" or "no +noun+ comparative"

texts:
Is there any difference between:

There is not a clearer explanation than yours on this matter.

and

There is no explanation clearer than yours on this matter.

Are they both commonly used to express the same meaning?


texts:
I thought I knew the difference between 'police' (police officers) and 'the police' (a police organization). But this NYT sentence made me doubt it.

Meanwhile, demonstrators with sledgehammers and pickaxes were dismantling the plaza they have occupied for weeks, breaking apart cobblestones to be used as weapons against the police.

(from here)
You can't throw a physical object at an organization. I believe NYT is well edited.


texts: Plural adjectives of plural nouns: "Device terminals" VS "devices terminals"

texts:
My mother tongue is Spanish. I'm trying to complete a legend for a technical drawing I'm doing. The text I'm writing doesn't have a context that makes it clear what I want to say. I want to put a symbol in my legend and specify that symbol is used to represent the many terminals of many devices.

Can I say "Devices Terminals" ?
If I say "Device Terminals" how do English native speakers know I'm talking about multiple devices multiple terminals as opposed to 1 device multiple terminals?

While this makes perfect sense in Spanish : "Terminales de dispositivos" the only way around this I have found is to write "Terminals for devices"


texts: What does 'To mistake for profanity is only the rudiments' mean?

texts:
Here is what I don't understand,the words in bold. It is from 'Baker's blue-jay yarn' by Mark Twain.

When his head come up again he was just pale with rage. He says, 'I've shoveled acorns enough in there to keep the family thirty years, and if I can see a sign of one of 'em I wish I may land in a museum with a belly full of sawdust in two minutes. He just had strength enough to crawl up onto the comb and lean his back agin the chimbly, and then he collected his impressions and begun to free his mind. I see in a second that what I had mistook for profanity in the mines was only just the rudiments, as you may say.

I know every word of the sentence in bold, but I think the author is saying something implicit. What I'm guessing is,the bird is swearing because of his anger and the speaker thinks that the bird's swearing is much harsher than he has ever heard among people in the mines.


texts:
When you loved dolls and studied them, you started to love all kinds of people too, because you saw the virtue in their expressions, how carefully they had been sculpted, the parts contrived to create the triumph of this or that remarkable face.

Source: Ellen Tsagaris: A Bibliography of Dolls and Toys, p. vii.

Is before the phrase "the parts contrived to create the triumph of this or that remarkaple face" the word "how" omitted? Why is "this or that remarkaple face" used there? Could it be replaced simple by the noun – "their remarkable faces"?


texts: relative pronoun + to. introducing a relatve clause?

texts:
The sentence below (1) is from the Cambridge Online Dictionary:

  (1) Early in the Autumn Term there is a reception at which you can meet current staff and students. (which refers to a reception and is the complement of at).

If there is a relative pronoun, I can easily separate the sentence into two parts so the above sentence is like:

  a. Early in the Autumn Term there is a reception

  b. at that reception, you can meet current staff and students.

The sentence below (2) is from The Economist

  (2) There is something on which to build.

It is different from:

  (3) There is something to build.

(3) means you are building "something", whereas (2) means you are building whatever on "something".

So with the same logic from the Cambridge Dictionary,
'which' refers to 'something' and is the complement of 'on', right?

But because the relative pronoun 'which' is used, I feel like there should be 'a clause' rather than a dangling phrase.  And I can't really separate the sentence into two like I did before for (1).

Any sources you will find will tell you "Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses."  But (2) really isn't a "clause", if you know what I mean.

  (2) There is something on which to build.

How is it that "which" introduces a relative clause on the sentence above?


texts: The phrase "SKINNY TURKEY TEE'S $10" in the image is supposed to be funny, but I can't figure out the reason. Could somebody explain why it's funny? Also, it's "TEE'S" instead of "TEES" - is it because it's the name of a company? Thanks!


texts:
     "Wizards have banks?"       "Just the
  one. Gringotts. Run by goblins."       Harry dropped
  the bit of sausage he was holding.       "Goblins?"
        "Yeah –– so yeh'd be mad ter try an' rob it, I'll
  tell yeh that. Never  mess with goblins, Harry. Gringotts is the
  safest place in the world fer anything yeh want ter keep safe –– 'cept
  maybe Hogwarts. As a matter o' fact, I gotta visit Gringotts anyway.
  Fer Dumbledore. Hogwarts business." Hagrid drew himself up proudly.
  "He usually gets me ter do important stuff fer him. Fetchin' you
  gettin' things from Gringotts - knows he can trust me, see.  . .
  . . . .

       "Why would you be mad to try and rob Gringotts?" Harry
  asked.       "Spells –– enchantments," said Hagrid,
  unfolding his newspaper as he spoke. "They say there's dragons
  guardin' the highsecurity vaults. And then yeh gotta find yer way ––
  Gringotts is hundreds of miles under London, see. Deep under the
  Underground. Yeh'd die of hunger tryin' ter get out, even if yeh did
  manage ter get yer hands on summat." (Harry Potter and the
  Sorcerer's Stone)

What does see mean?
Are they spoken English, “used for making sure that someone is paying attention to what you are saying and that” (MacMillan; but here’s no question mark in the example); abbreviated forms of “you’ll see”; imperative?


texts:
What can we call someone who creates a map based on somebody's exploration?

For instance one person explores and collects data about a place and another one creates a map from that data? Not just a drawing but with information, a database of the explored place.

I know about "cartographer", but they simply draw a map. I need to imply creating a whole database of the explored place. Like if somebody explores an island then there should be information on fauna, flora, soil, water, atmosphere, landscape, minerals, settlements, inhabitants, radiation (if present). And maybe a lot more.


texts: Is it correct and natural to say "I mark your words" meaning I will remember what you have said?

texts:
Could you tell me if it's correct and natural to say I mark your words meaning I will remember what you have said and if I don't do what you have said I'll lose respect for you. For example:

Person A: I'll beat you at Counter-Strike.
Person B: Ok, I mark your words.

If this phrase doesn't convey the meaning, what would a native speaker of English say?


texts: Here I am comparing the two activities please tell me which is the correct sentence

texts:
Teachers should pay as much attention to students study as they are paying to students dance.
  Teachers should pay as much attention to students study as much they are paying to students dance.


texts: Can "happen to" be followed by a Present Progressive form?

texts:
Or does it always take an infinitive form?

Ex.: Is "I happen to be doing this at the moment" correct or should you say "I happen to do this at the moment"?


texts: Hey ! I used the indicator to indicate that I was turning left

texts:
My mom was driving,when she was going to take the next left,she used her indicator to indicate that. But when she was turning,a car speeded past was while she was turning.(in the direction we were turning.) So she said:

  Hey! I used the indicator to indicate I was turning left.

  I gave an indicator to indicate that I was turning left.

What will be a natural way to express this idea? I don't know how this sentence can be spoken naturally in this context....

P.S. She's talking to the driver.


texts: What is difference between 'to publish' and 'publishing'?

texts:
Apart from a small chain of retail outlets, __________  non-fiction is the source of Baxter Books' revenues.

a. publisher
b. publishes
c. publishing
d. to publish

The answer is 'c'. Why not 'd'? Sometimes It is very difficult for us (non native, even my teacher(also non native) doesn't know exactly, everybody doesn't know) to understand the difference between infinitive form and gerund form.

What is difference between 'publishing' and 'to publish'? Why not 'to publish'?


texts: Do we say "pull the canopy close" or "pull the canopy closed" or "pull the canopy shut"?

texts:
in The dictionary, "close" is an adjective, "closed" is also an adjective, "shut" is an adjective and it is the synonym of "closed"

close

  14 WITH LITTLE SPACE
  with little or no space around something or between things
  The horses are always eager for exercise after the close confinement of the stables.
  The shoe is a close fit (=there is no space around the foot).
  I find it difficult to read such close print (=with letters printed so close together).

closed

  closed /kləʊzd $ kloʊzd/ ●●● S3 adjective
  1 not open SYN shut OPP open
   Make sure all the windows are closed.
  She kept her eyes tightly closed.

shut

  shut2 ●●● S3 adjective [not before noun]
  1 not open SYN closed
  Is the door shut properly?
  She kept the windows shut, for fear of burglars.
  He sat with his eyes shut.
  The windows were tightly shut.
  slam/bang/swing etc shut.
  The door slammed shut behind him.
  pull/kick/slam etc something shut  Jenny pulled the window shut.

o‧pen

  1 /ˈəʊpən $ ˈoʊ-/ ●●● S1 W1   adjective
  1 DOOR/CONTAINER ETC not closed, so that things, people, air etc can go in and out or be put in and out OPP closed, shut
  He threw the door open and ran down the stairs.
  an open window
  The gates swung silently open.
  The bar door flew open and a noisy group burst in.
  All the windows were wide open (=completely open).
  She looked at the open suitcase with surprise.
  There was an open bottle of wine on the table.

pull

  1 MOVE SOMETHING TOWARDS YOU [intransitive, transitive] to use your hands to make something or someone move towards you or in the direction that your hands are moving OPP push
  Mom! Davey’s pulling my hair!
  pull somebody/something into/away from/over etc something
  He pulled her down into her seat.
  pull something open/shut
  She pulled open the door and hurried inside.

So, do we say  "pull the canopy of the stroller close" or "pull the canopy of the stroller closed" or "pull the canopy of the stroller shut"?

Ngram of "pull the door closed, pull the door close, pull the door shut", people say "pull the door shut" & "pull the door closed" but not "pull the door close"


texts: Is it okay to say "I PAY ATTENTION TO the house" in the sense I watch it or look after it? Because I am afraid it is a lexical misuse


texts:
I have asked my teacher about articles and she gave me such an example:
A: Today we are going to a concert.
B: Okay! (the person does not want any details)

Later:
A: Where are we going now?
B: To a concert. I told you we are going to a concert today.

She said everything is correct here because the person I am talking to in the dialogue doesn't know what concert and I did not specify it but since she has been mistaken many times before, I want to ask you here.
I would you "the" in "B: To a concert."


texts:
Is there a difference between:

1 He left his work early so that he arrived in time at the party.
and
2 He left his work early so that he would arrive in time at the party.

I gather that 2 means that it was his plan to arrive at the party in time but the sentence doesn't say if he really did so.
What about 1? Does that mean the same as 2 or does that mean that result e.g. that he indeed arrived at the party in time?
I think it's not so ambiguous in the present, though.

3 I teach him English so that he speaks it as well as possible.
(purpose) I think result is impossible. Or possible?

What do you think about 2 and my take on it?


texts:
Suppose that you own a restaurant and you want to make a particular soup for each day of the week, and you want to capitalize the name on the menu (as if it's a proper name or a unique title or something like that).
What would you call it? "Soup Of The Day" or "The Soup Of the Day"? Or both are possible?

I'm not concerned about menus per se. Articles may be omitted in menus, headlines, etc for the sake of shortness. But when a customer sees that the name is started with a capital, they know that it's a special title. How should they order it then? With the definite article or without?

- Are you ready to order?
- Yes. I'll have (?The) Soup Of The Day.

I think maybe the article is not necessary (or even wrong) because unique titles often don't have it (e.g., He is president of France.), but there's this grammar I have that says otherwise.


texts: What is the grammar behind "One wild cart ride later they stood blinking in the sunlight outside Gringotts"?

texts: Especially the problem is with the words preceding "they." Is "one wild cart ride later" a complete phrase? Is it an adverb like "after a wild cart ride" in the sentence "after a wild cart ride, they stood blinking ..."?


texts:
The OALD gives two pronunciations for have to: /ˈhæf tə/ and /ˈhæv tə/. It also gives two pronunciations for has to (/ˈhæz tə/, /ˈhæs tə/) and had to (/ˈhæd tə/, /ˈhæt tə/).

When is have to pronounced /ˈhæf tə/? Does the pronunciation change basing on the following word, as it happens with the, or are there other rules?


texts: What does 'for someone else's views' mean?

texts: The original sentence is 'Ajjawi’s visa was canceled and he was summarily deported — for someone else’s views.'. I want to know what is the meaning of "for someone else's views".And how explains the use of 'for'?


texts: Can the sentence "My shoelaces are so long that when I walk, they come under my shoes." be rephrased to a shorter, routine language sentence?

texts: The routine language part in question is subjective, of course.


texts: Does "should not have (past participle)" have the same meaning as "should have not to (verb)"?

texts:
Are they the same meaning? Or grammatically it's right?
I used grammar check online but it said both are correct.
For example,

You should not have believed him.
You should have not to believe him.

Which one is correct?


texts:
Consider the following sentence from Oxford learners' dictionary, under their entry for the:

  There was an accident here yesterday. A car hit a tree and the driver was killed.

In the first sentence, an occurrence of an accident is mentioned. Then, why "a car" is used in the second sentence? I think it should be "the car". Since it is assumed we are talking about of a car involved in the accident.


texts:
I would like to know some idiomatic expressions synonym to "never-ending issue" as in such a sentence:

  The deployment of IPv6 is one of the never-ending issues of the Internet


texts: What's the difference between "To have" and "To make"?

texts:
I think both sentences have the same meaning. If there any difference please, tell me.

I'll have him killed.
I'll make him be killed.

Here another examples:

Why you guys have your phones turned off?
Why you guys made your phones be turned off?

I'm asking especially about using the verb "to have" in this way. I feel like if I replaced it with "To make", it will give the same meaning.

I'll give more examples to make it clearer:

I have her saying...
I have him hurt.
I can have you crucified.

Why don't we just say: I can make you be crucified. Is there any difference?

One more question, do you use -ed or -ing after using the verb "To have" that way?

Edit: I inserted the word "be" to make my sentences clear in meaning (or to have my sentences cleared in meaning).


texts: "I look forward to receiving your updates", is it right?

texts:
I look forward to receiving your updates

Do native UK speakers use this kind of sentence holding for news from someone?

I don't know if it could be helpful, the context I am referring to is a bureaucratic process and I would say

  to keep me updated as soon as new documents are ready.


texts: How to understand the first sentence in chapter 13 of Tess of the d'Urbervilles?

texts:
The event of Tess Durbeyfield's return from the manor of her bogus kinsfolk was rumoured abroad, if rumour be not too large a word for a space of a square mile.

I have several doubts:

Whether "if rumour be..." can be replaced with "if rumour is..." and why?
What is the meaning of "too large a word for a space of a square mile"? Is it slang or something else?


texts: Meaning in context: 'I was' or 'I have been'

texts:
What is correct in this context?
'Have you ever been to Italy?'
->'Yes,  I was last year.'
OR
->'Yes, I have been last year.'

THX


texts:
Please help me with correct sentence construction.
And What is the exact meaning of below sentence if sentence construction is correct.

Why are you talking like mad? Have you ever fallen on your head or what?
Why are you talking like mad? Are you fallen on your head or what?
Why are you talking like mad? Did you ever fell on your head or what?


texts: Questions about the transcript of the YouTube video "Five Stages of Watching A Marvel Movie"

texts:
What is the transcript at 1:04 of this video "Five Stages of Watching A Marvel Movie - HISHE Features: OnlyLeigh" (https://youtu.be/gvjMJEqkDqA)"?
It sounds like "not to mention the TV show web series 'in card game'."
I search on google but can't find other web series connected with Marvel besides "Daredevil".


texts: The grammar of a news headline 'Adachi Leak'

texts:
Why should it be like this,instead of maybe 'Adachi's leak','Adachi leaks' or 'Adachi leaked'.

I read this report on San Francisco Chronicle.

A similar example is 'Journalist Says Police, Feds Raid Home in Pursuit of Adachi Leak Information.'

Here are the links.

The Adachi leak: What you need to know about the public defender’s death and the raid on a journalist

Journalist Says Police, Feds Raid Home in Pursuit of Adachi Leak Information

Specifically,should i paraphrase 'Adachi Leak Information' into 'Information leaked by Adachi' ,or 'Information about Adachi Leak'?


texts: Should I use "his" or "their" in this sentence?

texts:
The image of a European dressed in their / his finery going out to gaze upon...

Should I use their or his?

In my opinion "their" is the correct pronoun because it refers to both men/women. Though, my SAT exam preparation book states "his" is correct because it refers back to a European, which is singular.

Why should I use "his" in the sentence above instead of "their"?


texts: is it grammatically correct? two -ing words together

texts:
The situation was going irritating at that time.
I am starting eating my breakfast now.

Are these statements correct? Can I use two -ing words together? Can you explain by giving few more examples?


texts: Difference in the meaning between “flying straight for the lunch” and “flying straight to the lunch”?

texts:
What is the exact difference in the meaning between "The ball was flying straight for the lunch" and "The ball was flying straight to the lunch" ?
i want to see the examples about the differenece. thank you.


texts: Is this subordinate clause missing an independent clause?

texts:
However, ♦ when the Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Act 2011 retains
  the power to relocate individuals to another part of the country without consent under
  powers for the secretary of state to impose enhanced TPIM notices. ♦ This, essentially
  emergency power may only be used, when Parliament is not in session, i.e. between the
  dissolution of a Parliament and the fi rst Queen’s Speech of the next Parliament.

Source: p 72, The English Legal System 2012-2013, Gary Slapper

Are there problems with the subordinate clause that I've surrounded with lozenges (♦)?


texts: On the occasion of someone's coming back / arrival

texts:
Which one of the sentences below sound more natural to you:

  He organized a big party on the occasion of his son’s coming back.
  He organized a big party on the occasion of his son’s arrival.


texts: What does promising in (promising scholars) mean?

texts:
What does promising mean in the phrase promising scholars?

For example:

  Doctoral Scholarship recipients are among our most promising scholars.


texts: Present perfect vs Pesent perfect continious vs Present simple vs Past simple. here!

texts:
1) I've known her for ten years.

2) I've been knowing her for ten years.

3) I know her for ten years.

4) I knew her for ten years.

Which of these are is/are correct. Explain it- please.


texts: Does "handicapped" mean mentally ill or physically disabled?

texts: Does the word "handicapped" mean mentally ill or physically disabled?


texts:
How can you say that a sensor system uses three different types of sensors? I thought about the composite word triple-sensors, but it doesn't sound like a word that would be used in a technical document.

  The triple-sensors system can detect all sorts of threat through the
  use of thermal, imaging and radar detection technologies.

I can't think of a good adjective for this.


texts: How many people will be there VS How many people will there be there

texts:
What is the difference:

  1) How many people will be there?

  2) How many people will there be there?


texts:
I've come across it in the eighth episode of the first episode of Rick and Morty. Here is the context:

Announcer (on TV): Mrs. Sullivan always planned to leave everything to her cats. But sometimes, plans need a helping paw. What are the kitties to do, but buckle together and work as a team.


texts: Using adverbial modifiers ("the whole day" vs "for the whole day")

texts:
I found information that claims natives prefer to say "the whole day" rather than "for the whole day". Since then, I've been wondering what the situations are in which a speaker is more likely to say "for the whole day"? The variant isn't incorrect, so are there any situations in which it is needed?

I assume we use "the whole day" to indicate only the period of time, something like having experienced something for a period of time.
And the second phrase ("for the whole day") implies something that the person wants to draw attention to as an ongoing action or situation. For example, a recent graduate gets a job and is proud of it, is proud of how much time it has taken.

"I have been developing our summer photos the whole day".

Am I right? I would be very grateful if you could give me some examples.


texts:
Do these sentences use 'anymore/any more' correctly?

We won't be trying any more of those products.
We won't be trying those products anymore.
Spotlight's on him now, he won't be trying anymore funny business; for a while anyway.

Note: I made up Sentence 1 & 2. Sentence 3,  which I don't feel certain about, was found on Google Books.

Thank you.


texts:
Examples:

  1. I'm busy doing homework.

  2. I could use your help getting the tire back on car.

Why there's no prepositions, like :

  .....in doing homework.
  .....in getting the .....

I come across more such sentences.

Please explain. Thank you.


texts:
To read this book was my dream.

  Reading this book was my dream.

What is the difference between using “To read” and “Reading”?

When I have to use any of them? When they can not be interchangeable?


texts: Present perfect vs past perfect vs past indefinite

texts:
1.I am tempted by the sumptuous chocolate cake , but I can't eat as my doctor had advised me to watch my weight.

2.I am tempted by the sumptuous chocolate cake, but I can't eat as my doctor has advised me to watch my weight.

3.I am tempted by the sumptuous chocolate cake, but I can't eat as my doctor advised me to watch my weight.

Which one/s is/are correct?


texts:
The question is - The risk of living near a volcano is more than offset by the benefits. To what extent is this true?

If I agree with this statement, does it mean that I agree that there are more benefits than the risk in living near a volcano?


texts: What does "enthusiastic as they were" mean?

texts:
The sentence is from the article "The Touch-Screen Generation" by Hanna Rosin.

The part I'm confused with reads:

  "I had come to the developers’ conference partly because I hoped that this particular set of parents, enthusiastic as they were about interactive media, might help me out of this conundrum, that they might offer some guiding principle for American parents who are clearly never going to meet the academy’s ideals, and at some level do not want to.”

As to the meaning of the sentence in bold, I have two theories:

Because they were enthusiastic about interactive media
Although they were enthusiastic about interactive media.

I can't be sure which one is correct.   What does the sentence mean?


texts: "Same thing happened to me" versus "Same thing happened with me"

texts:
The same thing happened to me.

OR

  The same thing happened with me.

Which one is grammatically correct?


texts:
Consider the following examples:

  We put up at a hotel in the city centre.
  We put up in a hotel in the city centre.

To me, the first example sounds better than the second one. Can we use the preposition “in” after the phrasal verb “put up” here?


texts: "stodgy", "orthodox" vs. "fickle", "inconstant" -- Which set fits someone who jilted a friend when a viscerally objectionable situation arose better?

texts:
I had a GRE question that needed me to select the best 2 options that complete the text:

The doctor’s real mistake, from the perspective of his _____ professional friends who quickly jilted him, was not that his choice of treatment was inappropriate, but rather that it was viscerally objectionable to the medical establishment.
a) squeamish
b) fickle
c) staunch
d) inconstant
e) orthodox
f) stodgy

My answer with the reasoning:
As his professional friends were saying that his answer was correct but they object it primarily because it was objectionable to medical establishment. So it gives the impression that they are clinging to old established beliefs rather than looking whether it is actually apt here. So I chose options f) stodgy and e) orthodox because both of there refers to people who are very obsessed with old traditional ways of doing things.
Is my reasoning correct?
My class were divided when we were discussing this question. The chosen options were b) fickle and d) inconstant.


texts: "Carefully considering" vs. "carefully consider"

texts:
I have a sentence like:

  We recommend carefully consider these variations ..

Is the sentence grammatically correct? Or is using considering instead of consider better?


texts: Is it correct to say 'The account will remain not active'? Can we use 'not' in such a position in the sentence? Or is it better to say 'The account will remain inactive'? What grammar rule is applied here?


texts: is it right to say " it's the best of me ever been"?

texts: Is it right to say "it's the best of me ever been"? or "it's the best of me ever being" in  biography, in order to say you are happy with your life now?


texts: I hear and use both (in the way and on the way), but I am not sure which one is perfect on which situation. Please help me to understand the difference between these two (in the way vs. on the way).


texts:
Could you tell me if there is any difference in meaning and usage between the last time and one last time? For example:

Dad, can I use your car the last time?
Dad, can I use your car one last time?

By the way, do I need to include for before the phrases or is it totally optional? For example:

Dad, can I use your car for the last time?
Dad, can I use your car for one last time?


texts:
I'm a portuguese speaker who loves English.
I've seen on a website the following affirmation: The content of the website. You can also say, "the website content", or "the website's content".
My question is: do the three ways of writing have the same meaning?
Can I apply the same logic to the following example: The phases of the moon, moon phases and moon's phases? Do they all mean the same thing and can be used interchangeably?


texts: can I substitute "an art form" for any other alternatives in this cases?

texts:
When I constructed a sentence, "Peking opera is an art form". I realized I had multiple options. And then I tried to distinguish the difference between "an art form" and "a form of art".
I googled it and I got a post, which says

"Art form" is really a fixed phrase, almost jargon, that means "a form of art", "a type of art", "a style of art".

Which means "art form" is the most common phrase and is justified by Ngram Viewer.

So, I can substitute "an art form" for any other alternatives in any cases.
Is my understanding correct?


texts: Can we say the sentences "I dislike it worse", "I dislike it worst", "I hate it worse" and "I hate it worst"?

texts:
Since we can say the sentences "I like it better", "I like it best", "I love it better", and "I love it best", I wonder if we can also say these sentences:

I dislike it worse.
I dislike it worst.
I hate it worse.
I hate it worst.

or do we have to use "more" and "most" instead of "worse" and "worst" in those sentences?


texts:
Which is correct?

  Weird is hard to spell. Here's it spelled correctly: weird.

or

  Weird is hard to spell. Here it's spelled correctly: weird.

In conversation, both seem acceptable, but on paper the first looks wrong to me.


texts: The set of integers is or The set of integers are

texts:
May I know Which one is grammatical?

  A set of integers is returned by the function.

  A set of integers are returned by the function.


texts: "already covered” vs “has already been covered"

texts:
Let's say you are offering a product that is included in the benefit package from Medicare (a health insurance), what tense should you use?

  Promoter: Have no worries, this product is already covered by your Medicare, so it's free, you just have to agree.

Or

  Promoter: Have no worries, this product has already been covered by your Medicare, so it's free, you just have to agree.


texts: What do you call a person with a good memory? Does 'intelligent' work?

texts: Can a person with great memory power be called intelligent? Or is there any other word or phrase to describe such a person?


texts: Does "as to me" mean "as for me"? Does this phrase exist?

texts:
Can we use "as to me" to mean the same thing as "as for me" when we want to say: "Regarding me?"
For example: As for me, I am a teacher of Italian. Can we say: As to me, I am an Italian teacher.


texts: Phrase for a process ignoring individual members' needs

texts:
I need a phrase for a process which goes on large scale, trying to optimize overall output while ignoring needs of individual members.

The focus should be on the negative aspect: ignoring the needs.

(e.g. a doctor suggesting the same cure for everybody, being helpful for 80% of his customers, but not at all for the others).


texts:
He doesn’t eat a lot like her.

This can mean both she eats a lot and she doesn’t eat a lot, right?

  He doesn’t eat a lot unlike her.

Does this have the same problem as the first sentence?


texts: "I am a student of / in / at / by the Example University"?

texts:
What preposition is the right one to use in this example:

  I am a student of / in / at / by the Example University.


texts: Regarding the pronunciation of "address"

texts:
pronunciation of address

I'm a post-80s. I had been keeping pronouncing it /əˈd'drɛs/ for many years until recently. Now I know its pronunciation in verb form /əˈdrɛs/ and noun form /ædrɛs/.
I thought what had made me misread it was becase our teacher misread it.
But today, my older leader (a Chinese) also read it as /əˈd'drɛs/. This pronunciation is more a 'd' in there. It didn't look like both our teachers misread it. I wonder where did the 'a d dress' pronunciation come from.


texts:
Which sentence is correct to say?

a) He may be forgot to send an email.

b) He may have forgot to send an email.

c) may be he forgot to send an email.

As per my knowledge sentence a) use to tell current situation.
and sentence b) to tell past completed action which has impact on current situation.


texts: Shall I use present or future when as means because?

texts:
As the record is/ will be out in June, please could you cancel my order
In this case as means because, shall I use present or future?
As the date of release  is a fixed timetable so I would choose present, but as means because it is not a time clause so may be we can use future will


texts:
What is the difference between them and when I should use -ing form and when -to+infinitive in similar cases?

"I could see her eyes starting to tear up."

or

"I could see her eyes to start to tear up."

It's always difficult for me to differentiate these two type of expressions.


texts:
I've got dummy examples below :

  You use this tool to cut, break, and repair the box.

or is it

  You use this tool to cut, breaking, and repairing the box.

Also the following cases where there is a preposition in front of the previous verb.

  She is good at singing, dance , and study.

or  is it

  She is good at singing, dancing , and studying.

I have 2 questions :

1). Do they need to be gerund.

2). Whether or not they need to be, do the following verbs should be in form of the previous verbs' sentence? like :

  She came, drank, and slept.

also

  She  was eating, drinking, and talking at the same time.

Thanks in advance


texts:
From English Grammar Today on Cambridge Dictionary

Countable nouns can be singular or plural.

Which implies singular nouns is a type of countable nouns. Other parts in that tutorial justifies this.
However, Collins says

Singular nouns that are uncountable are used without a determiner when you are making a general reference.

Could singular nouns be uncountable? If yes, in what kind of situations they could be?
It seems that it's meaningful to distinguish singular or plural in terms of countable nouns. Which means that if a word is uncountable, it's not countable, therefor it's neither singular nor plural?
Is my understanding correct?


texts:
"As a result, cell phones are now commonplace, with at least 85
  percent of adults in the U.S and the U.K owning one."

Can we use the verb 'own' in the progressive tense? What is the rule behind this? And what does 'with' mean here? Does it mean 'which have/has'?

Source: Focus on Vocabulary 1. Chapter 9


texts: "The attack happened" or "The attack was happened"

texts:
The attack happened on the Lisburn Road shortly after 23:00 GMT on Friday night, police said. BBC

Shouldn't the writer say: "The attack was happened" or "The attack has been happened"? Shouldn't he use the passive voice? I assume that because the attack happened by someone.


texts: "Once you have finished" or "when you will have finished" are they synonymous?

texts:
And why do we use present perfect to describe future if the first expression is correct?
Please describe it to me in a plain way because unfortunately I cannot find any sufficient information on it on the Internet.


texts: Colloquial name for "natural fibre ropes"; picture included

texts:
What's the natural fiber rope colloquially called?
And what about the synthetic fiber one, what is it called too?


texts: Can purpose be described through a "how-clause"?

texts:
The main purpose of this period of the year, when the company
intensifies training for its employees, is (how) to acquire better performance at every level.

My question is: Would the use of how make this sentence incorrect? I find this structure in other languages (with "how"), but when I translate into English, I hesitate to put "how" in for some reason. If it is incorrect, could someone explain why?
The question is not limited to this particular example which may not be the best.


texts: Can an imperative sentence be without verbs?

texts:
In English there are 4 types of sentences as it's taught in schools: 1.
 Declarative. 2. Interrogative. 3.Exclamatory. 4. Imperative.

Now, as far as I can see, all the first three types of sentences (i.e. declarative, interrogative, exclamatory) can be without verbs, AKA "nominal sentence". But If I try to find nominal sentence for the 4th type of sentences (imperative), I cannot think how it can be to give an order without verb, or in other words, I'm not sure if it can be "imperative sentence" as a nominal sentence rather than a verbal sentence". What's correct in fact?


texts: A phrase meaning a drawback turned out to be an advantage

texts:
I remember having heard one before but can't say how it went. The phrase says that what seemed like a disadvantage - became an advantage.
If anyone knows anything even similar to this definition - it'd much appreciated.
Thanks!


texts: Put money on (mutual funds,health insurance etc) to mean invest

texts:
Is it natural to say:

  I put some money on mutual funds.

  I put some money on health insurance.(or any other insurance)

Is the use of "put some money on" natural?

Like:
I invested in mutual funds.
I invested in health insurance.


texts: Could these words be left out in these sentences?

texts:
From time to time, I come across some sentences (and create them myself) that have object pronouns that, in my perspective, are wrongly used.
For instance:

The newest show has these known actors in it.

My question: in sentences like this one above, could I leave out the pronoun as follows?

The newest show has these known actors in.


texts: What does "Why you should speak English like you’re playing a video game" sentence mean?

texts:
I saw this video title on the youtube and i wonder what does it mean.

Does it have same meaning in the sentence "This is why you should speak English..."

or Is "Why should you speak English ..." being tried to tell in video's title?

I noticed this issue on a few video titles, please reply the native speakers.


texts: The difference between "Chemistry students' group" and "Chemistry student's group"?

texts:
I'm not English native speaker, that's why I'd like to understand the following thing:

What is the difference between "Chemistry students' group" and "Chemistry student's group"?

What is the meaning of the apostrophe in this case?

Thank you!


texts: "Your mail is received." or "Your mail was received."?

texts:
I'm looking for the right subject for my email autoresponder.

Your mail is received.
Your mail was received.

Which one is correct or more acceptable?


texts: Difference between 'bad in poetry' and 'bad at poetry'?

texts:
I am confused between

  I am very bad in poetry

and

  I am very bad at poetry

Can anyone explain which one should I use.


texts: Is "I know where you are coming from" the equivalent in English of "Sé a dónde querés llegar" from Spanish?

texts: Lately, I hear a lot in English the phrase  "I know where you are coming from" . The funny/weird thing to me, it's that it seems to be used in the same situations we Spanish speaking people uses the phrase "Sé a dónde querés llegar" or "Sé a dónde quieres llegar" which translates to "I know where you are going to" . Are these equivalent phrases between English and Spanish? Or I just happened to find english speaking people who is talking incorrectly?


texts: Is there any difference between "solved the problem" and "fixed the problem"? Do people actually use both forms?


texts:
The single most importante thing to remember is that there is no good way to do a talk.
The most memorable talks offer something fresh, something no one has seen before.
The worst ones are those that feel formulaic. So do not on any account try to emulate every piece of advice. I've offered here. Take the bulk of it on board, for sure. But make the talk your own. You know what's distinctive about and your idea. Play to your strenghts and give a talk that is truly authentic to you.

"So do not on any account" can be rephrased as:

A) All in all, for no purpose

B) No matter what

C) However, never

D) Therefore, do not, for any reason

P.S.>I understood by the meaning that the nearest alternatives are C and D. But, I am doubtful in alternative D on the difference between "for no reason" or "for any reason" in this context of the text.


texts: offer him of offer to him? lent him or lent to him?

texts:
Which one is correct? (or if both are correct, which one is better)

  I offered him a job.

or

  I offered a job to him.

  I lent him a pen.

or

  I lent a pen to him.


texts:
I would like to ask a suggestion of a link, in which must contain Preposition's meaning applied to Phrasal Verbs, for instance:

A verb followed by a preposition "Up" can means: complete, increase and move, like: finish up,turn on, stand up.

To be more exactly what I want, would be a list where I could search meaning of preposition, or a word, like: "I would like to know what are the phrasal verbs that I can use to speak: to arrive, to enter etc..

I'm used to see phrasal verbs when I search a word definition, for example: Get

Is here I can see all phrasal verbs with "Get"


texts:
I think I've heard this sentence, but I'm not sure if it is grammatically correct.

Example:

"I have seen three films in the last week. I didn't like the first, I liked the second, but I liked the third best."

Is this colloquial, or wrong? is this form acceptable in formal speech?

Is it used only when there are many things taken into account?


texts: What's the meaning of "against" in "These vouchers are redeemable against any future purchase."?

texts:
From the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

  These vouchers are redeemable against any future purchase.

I know "against" can mean opposition, contrast or prevention, but I fail to understand its meaning here.

Could someone explain this usage? Thanks in advance.


texts:
I saw this sentence "Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work." in this page

And then, I also saw this sentence "This time tomorrow I will be waiting at the doctor’s office." in this page

My question is that:

what are the difference between "at this time tomorrow / yesterday / next week..." and "this time tomorrow / yesterday / next week..."?

Are they the same?

In the dictionary,

  time: [uncountable] the time shown on a clock in minutes and hours

  The time is now half past ten

  This time tomorrow I'll be in Canada.

also in another dictionary

  at this time

  (American English) at this particular moment

  The president said his actions were ‘the right ones at this time’.

It seems like "at this time" is an idiom


texts: Why are different tenses used in these similar situations?

texts:
I have the following (similar) examples:

My mouth tastes like I have vomited.

My throat feels like I have been yelling at a concert.

Is there a grammatical reason why one uses the present perfect progressive and the other the present perfect or is it just preference and could either tense be used in both situations?

My mouth tastes like I have been vomiting.

My throat feels like I have yelled at a concert.


texts: A good synonym for hiding someone's neck

texts:
When it's cold outside or when you are in shame, someone might hide their neck as if a tortoise retracting it to its shell, but what verb or expression can I use to describe to action.

  Ex: When the wind picked up outside, he crossed his arms and ... his neck.


texts: How to respond when someone says 'It means a lot'?

texts:
In a scenario where you have encouraged someone but haven't helped them physically or with your time and they say "It means a lot". Just for the words you said. Can you respond with

Any time?
No problem?
You are welcome?

I am not a native speaker. I've seen these phrases used after you have done someone a favor.

Context: Someone showed good performance in sports after struggling to perform in multiple matches. You said:

  Person 1: Congratulations for your great performance. I am happy for you!
  Person 2: It means a lot!
  Person 1: ???


texts: What are the most common nouns used with "bits of"?

texts:
1) I've got a few bits of news. (OK?)

2) I've got a few bits of information. (OK?)

3) I've got a few bits of advice. (OK?)

4) I've got a few bits of apple. (What does it mean? Pulped apple? Diced apple?)

Any more?


texts: Suitable verb for gently stroking someone's butt

texts:
What would be a better word than "touch" when talking about gently stroking someone's butt?

In this context, it's a husband touching her wife's butt (she's ok with this, BTW), and not during sex or anything. Instead, he's touching her butt while she's doing something mundane like brushing her teeth and he's walking past her. A Japanese word that matches what the person wanted is なでる, which translates as "to brush gently; to stroke; to caress".

I thought "goose" would be suitable, but Wiktionary says that's for sharply poking or pinching, which isn't the case here. Would "fondle" or "caress" be suitable, or is that more associated with sex? There's also "grope", but does that imply a lack of physical co-ordination, or being unable to see what you're touching?


texts: Future tense - I would be available anytime until 12pm or after 8pm from 2nd of April

texts:
Is this sentence grammatically correct?

  I will be available anytime until 12pm or after 8pm from 2nd of April.

or

  I am available anytime until 12pm or after 8pm from 2nd of April.


texts:
It's a quote from The Marvelous Mrs.Masel

  A-See that guy over there in the gray suit? Marty Segal. Yesterday, he scored his first Copa gig. Big, big deal.

  B-He just spilled coffee on his suit. Does the Copa know about that?

  A-That may be his opening bit.

I have 2 questions:

What is a COPA? I checked the dic it says something like football games but still confused me.
What's the meaning of opening bit?


texts:
Meaning of the phrasal verb draw up is to come to a halt and it is used the following way

  The train drew up at the station.

  He drew up his car outside my house.

But I found a sentence in which it is used as

  The train drew up to the station.

I think it is wrong.

Help me understand this.


texts: Paralysis versus palsy: what is, the exact difference?

texts:
I would like to know the exact difference between the terms paralysis, and palsy (as in mouth palsy or cerebral palsy). My impression is that both convey the meaning that to some extent, the person with the condition cannot move, but I'm not sure whether there is an associated understood comprehension of the severity of the problem, which may be different between paralysis and palsy, or whether palsy also implies further medical complications that are separate from paralysis. Than you for clarifying this grim set of terms. Thank you.

P.S.: Aren't all forms of paralysis cerebral, as in they originate in Somme communication flaw in the brain, as opposed to in the nervous system outside of the brain, where it is virtually impossible that a nerve does not communicate properly, unless it has been cut (or partially cut, in which case it would communicate partially), or perhaps if an amputation is present. Is this perhaps the difference between palsy and paralysis, one has to originate with a brain defect while the other could have to do with something in the nerve cells exterior to the brain?

Note: this post could be more suited for Health SE, but these are commonly used words, and it is my belief that, as language learners and users and health awareness people, we all need to know what they mean, and what the difference is, being conscious. Which leads me to also ask, if a paralysis is induced by a coma, does it count as a paralysis, as a palsy, as a cerebral palsy, or both. Please migrate my post if you are not in a situation to suitably answer my question, thank you.


texts: Do I need the second "of" in the following sentence?

texts:
This means it isn't made of the same stuff it was made (of) years
  ago.

Do I need the second "of"? Why or why not?


texts:
"Let alone" is often treated as a synonym of "not to mention." But are they interchangeable? Are the following sentences correct? If only #1 and #2 are correct, what's their difference?

John can speak Classical Greek, Latin, French, and Japanese, not to mention English.
John can speak English, not to mention Classical Greek, Latin, French, and Japanese.
John can speak English, let alone  Classical Greek, Latin, French, and Japanese.
John can speak  Classical Greek, Latin, French, and Japanese, let alone English. (This one is definitely wrong; added here for contrastive purposes.)

I'd appreciate your help.


texts: (be+off+to somewhere) past tense version

texts:
She was off to bed when the doorbell rang.

I have some confusion about the meaning of this sentence.

Does it mean either of the following:

  1) She was on the way to her bed when the doorbell rang

  2) She was in the bed (just got in her bed) when the doorbell rang

The problem for me is the past usage of ''Be off to somewhere''


texts: What's the grammar behind "[Noun/pronoun] + [be] + [gerund]"

texts:
I'm wondering what's the grammar behind phrases like:

We be eating
She be sleeping
etc

What are the grammar backgrounds for phrases in such form? Can there be any other use cases of such grammar constructions?


texts: What does this mean: "All these years and I don't know who he is anymore than he knows who i am."

texts:
All these years and I don't know who he is anymore than he knows who i am.

Does it mean: I don't know him anymore and he does not know me either?


texts:
What's the difference between pose and cause?

For examples:

  pose a problem vs cause a problem

  pose a question vs cause a question or bring up a question

  pose an issue vs cause an issue


texts: Why is “Tuesday” placed in the sentence without being preceded by the preposition “on”?

texts:
THE SOURCE: Wall Street Journal

  In a village on their heavily militarized border, North and South Korean officials opened talks Tuesday, ostensibly over...

I think the preposition “on” should come before?


texts:
I have an English coach and he created a new English-learning program where he teaches pronunciation, rhythm, intonation and flow to help his students, including me, sound more natural. So, every time before making explanation videos, he sends everybody a lesson assignment, which can be a news story, a job interview, a dialogue, a promotional pitch or something of that nature (the assignment is not too long, usually 6-8 sentences on average). Your job as a student is to prepare and record yourself reading the assignment while doing your best to sound as perfect as possible (you've got about a week to do that before he gets back to you with explanation material). After you're done, you e-mail your MP3 recording to him, so that he can see what kind of mistakes everybody made which helps him better prepare for the class. That's the general idea of the class. And now I'm trying to come up with good names for my lesson files.

Lesson 1. Part 1 - Pronunciation.wmv -- the name of the first video file

Lesson 1. Part 2 - Rhythm, Flow and Intonation.wmv -- the name of the second video file

Audio lesson files – this is the folder for the two audio files which are basically audio tracks from the lesson videos

Lesson assignment.pdf – PDF file with the lesson assignment

But, my question is really about the following, there's also an MP3 file that comes along with each lesson where you can hear him read the assignment (he's just reading the text with natural and perfect pronunciation). And that's basically what it's all about—it's about that all-important file which shows you the perfect way that you should eventually be able to read the assignment. I'm kind of at a loss as to what to call that file. The only thing I could think of was lesson story, but that obviously doesn't sound very professional, does it? Any suggestions?


texts: Any idea, belief etc. regarding the hatred of men

texts:
What do you call thoughts, beliefs which are indicative of hate men? The words that I can make-up are as below, although dictionaries do not include any if them and it was why I needed to ask you:

  1) misandric
  2) misandrist
  3) misandristic

Example: Her................thoughts of men are really embarrassing.

I think none of my made-up words would work in this sense, so please let me know what word is used in this specific sense?


texts:
Is there a phrase for this
You wanted to say something, but Someone else said exactly the same thing before you could say ( you feel like they stole the exact words you wanted to say)
How do I describe this feeling ? I came across a phrase "beat to the punch" , but I don't think this phrase fits here


texts:
Please help me to understand the meaning of following paragraph; I'm having particular trouble with the part that reads "that of":

  It is also extraordinarily difficult to meet the third criterion for causal studies, that of controlling for all other potential causal influences.

Please paraphrase it, many thanks


texts: the first time "that anyone can remember"

texts:
I found this sentence today -

  For the first time that anyone can remember the gate of the park was open to the general public.

What does the clause that anyone can remember modify? What is the meaning of that here?

Can you please analyze this sentence, I have problem with that anyone can remember part? I want to learn the construction of this type.


texts: What is the meaning of "in the long daisies"?

texts:
What "the long daisies" mean in the passage? The passage is from The Ferryman (Jez Butterworth)

  AUNT MAGGIE. No, I’ll answer. The truth, girls. The truth is… I loved a
  man who loved another. He was from Killborren. His name was Francis
  John Patrick Maloney. The son of a house painter. All the boys from our
  village were small and pasty and dark, or bright ginger goblins with blue
  skin and clammy hands, like deep-sea fish, but shyer. But Francis
  Maloney… Francis had a long strong back and golden hair. Bronzed skin.
  And green eyes. Like a minor river god. Like Morrigan sprung to life in
  Kilborren. From the age of ten, whenever I spied Francis I was struck
  cross-eyed with lust. My mouth went dry. My heart sped to bursting. I’d
  lie awake at night dreaming of us being together, going swimming
  together in the river, lying on the bank after, in the long daisies. And then one day packing up all the small things we owned and sailing off to
  America to live in New York, ride the subway with our ten fair-haired,
  green-eyed boys and girls. Tuck them to bed and sit up at a rickety table
  with one candle, drinking bourbon and branch water, reading each other
  Whitman, Thoreau, Emily Dickinson.


texts:
What is the difference between these sentences?

  I can do it.

  I could do it.


texts:
In the final concert of Eurovision Song Contest, when the scores are announced, representatives from many countries say "eight/ten/twelve points goes to...".  This sounds completely wrong to me, "points" is plural after all. But since many say so I thought that maybe this is a standard way of announcing the results. Maybe it's just shortened "the result of twelve points goes to". I can't believe that so many people say it wrong for so many years.

Is it appropriate to use singular announcing the scores this way or is it a bad English?

Update: I watched the jury votes of 2016 now and he majority seem to say "twelve point go to...". Maybe it was just my selective perception about "almost everyone" so I edited the question but it still the same.


texts: Is it grammatically correct to say 'I've got Maths twice a week'?

texts:
According to Michael Swan and Catherine Walter in their Oxford English Grammar Course (2011) 'Got-forms are not generally used to talk about habits and repeated actions'. But I can't get rid of the feeling that I have come across the usage of got-forms with school subjects though can't cite the excerpts here.

So, is this usage common in English and if so, is it grammatically correct?


texts: get something down the back/ get something down to the back

texts:
1- Get this bag down the back. (There is a bag hanging in front
  of you and you are sitting on the front seat of the car)

  2- Get this bag down to the back.

I saw the first sentence in a movie. I don't understand why we don't use "to"? Is the sentence one missing out the "to" ?


texts: Differences between "in order to", "so that" and "so as to"?

texts:
Are there any differences (general or regional differences) between "in order to", "so that" and "so as to"?

I've seen that they may be interchangeable, but I'm not so sure.


texts:
Example with a context (Russia's pro-Putin media darling loves his new life in Brooklyn — minus the hipsters):

  Babo, a mobile app that connects citizen reporters with media organizations, is how LifeNews obtained the first images of NSA intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden as he began his new life in Russia, pushing a shopping cart after a trip to the supermarket.

What's that actually supposed to mean? I totally don't get it. Snowden, shopping carts? What's that all about?