texts:
This is very simple, but sometimes confusing. Here I have a sentence:

  Having rectified edges, the fixing of boundary is more stable and
  geometrically acceptable.

I know a phrase can be added in front of a sentence (and subject), but I want to know what is the best way to place this type of subject supportive phrase.


texts:
(I'm reading a grammar textbook, which contains the question and clams it was written for China's National College Entrance Examination in 2010. I checked, and it was.)

  Stephen Hawking believes that the earth is unlikely to be the only planet ____ life has developed gradually.

  A. that
  B. where
  C. which
  D. whose

The answer is "where", and I understand.

My question is whether "that" works and why.

I think we can say "I will never forget the place where/that/∅ we met for the first time."

related: Jane is back in May, by____ the new house should be finished


texts: What is the meaning of "Defiance afoot in every quarter"?

texts:
English Soldiers defeated by french troops:

  I regret to inform Your Majesty of our miserable  defeat in
  Scotland.The bishops do demand Your  Majesty's removal. Defiance afoot
  in every quarter.


texts:
If you meet someone who is traveling in your country by chance
 and have a nice conversation, do you say
"have a nice trip."
 or
" enjoy your stay."
when you finish your conversation ?
I assumed you say "have a nice trip" before someone goes on a trip , but is this correct?


texts: Taking the high road - what does it mean?

texts: I wonder what does mean an idiom (if it is an idiom, of course) "taking the high road"?


texts: "I don't know that I can" vs "I don't know if I can"

texts:
Tell me please if there is any difference in meaning in the following sentences.

  The teacher told me that I would pass the test, but I don't know that I can.

  The teacher told me that I would pass the test, but I don't know if I can.


texts: What is the grammatical role of the word "either" in the following sentence?

texts:
What is the grammatical role of "either" in the following sentence:

  Nevertheless, a goal is seldom destroyed by a delay, so don't destroy
  your positive attitude, either.


texts: When someone says "do a mistake" instead of "make a mistake" how does the listener interpret such a phrase?

texts:
I was trying to understand the difference between saying "I'm making a mistake" instead of "I'm doing a mistake", or "I make mistakes" instead of "I do mistakes" etc... I'm aware of the difference between "to do" and "to make" in terms of verb meaning or the fact that the verb "do" is an auxiliary for formulating questions etc.

I'm trying however to understand how does a listener interpret differently the two sentences (just an instance of application):

"I made a grammar mistake!"
"I did a grammar mistake!"

I don't actually see any grammar mistakes there, both sentences look to me perfectly correct, so the only difference between the two of them is probably how the listener (who I'm assuming the first language is English) interprets them. I've been studying English for a while now and I do know a normal speaker would probably say 1. instead of 2. My mind would suggest me that 2. is just not natural to say for a speaker, but a moment of reflection actually tells me that the two of them are grammatically correct.

Then… why is 1. correct rather than 2?
It's also possible that I'm not considering some grammar issues.…


texts: Which ones are appropriate?: "an office staff", "an office staff member", "an officer", or "to work in an office"?

texts:
In the dictionaries:

  staff [countable, uncountable] the people who work for an organization

  You say a staff member (or a member of staff in British English) or an
  employee, when talking about one person on the staff. ✗Don’t use a
  staff to refer to one person.

  officer: someone who is in a position in an organization or the government

  a prison officer

  the chief medical officer

  the organization's public information officer

  The document must be certified by the proper officer of the state.

  office staff: professional or clerical workers in an office

Let say, I am an average accountant mostly work in an office of an certain company.

Which of the followings are appropriate?

I am an office staff

I am an office staff member

I am an officer

I work in an office


texts: Which one is right: in, on, or at the market?

texts:
I want to translate this page, but I have a problem:

  on the market
  in the market
  at the market?

Which one is correct? I want use it for an object.


texts: I'm going to the SHOPS vs I'm going to the STORE (UK vs. US)

texts:
The day before yesterday I think, my daughter asked me where we were going and since I was not planning to do the weekly shopping on that day and I just wanted to buy some stuff from two stores, I said offhand we are going to the shops! Looking back, it seems when I don't find a NAmE word I turn to UK if I know of.

So what do you say when:

go shopping (it's just go shopping!)
you go to buy something specific; I mean you're not going shopping, and it's usually found in any store. You don't have to shop around.
you want to buy non grocery or clothing stuff, maybe a can of paint and a spare part for your car together.

I have found some kind of answer for this question on this page, but I prefer to get a clear answer to my points above, and also if you agree with this native speaker about using store in singular form not plural:

  Just as a side note, we don't use the plural in American English. "I'm
  going to the store" (even if I may visit several stores), not "I'm
  going to the stores". (If we know we are going to several stores I
  think it would be more likely to say "I'm going shopping" or even "I'm
  going downtown" in smaller towns.)


texts: Can any other word have the form grow + adjective?

texts:
While reading some books, I came across this phrase.

before Nate grows tired of walking in circles with me

And here's the whole paragraph.

I break for the oak tree, dragging Nate behind me. I find an acorn,
scoop it into my mouth, and run to the stash next to the garage. I
place the acorn in the pile and run back to the tree. I grab another
acorn; I bring it back to the stash. I place my third acorn in the
pile before Nate grows tired of walking in circles with me. He leads
me inside.

I realized that this means getting tired. But why is grow used to mean get here?
I heard get + adjective and be or become + adjective are only possible forms like this. Can any other such word have this form?


texts:
Please have a look at the constructions below:

  The table of values were changed to be more accurate.

I am fairly confident that the above sentence is good English, with the meaning that the values were altered so that they more accurately represent... The 'to' in the context above is synonymous to 'in order to'.

However, if I place it into the S-V-O structure, it would turn into:

  I changed the table of values to be more accurate.

It doesn't retain the same meaning does it? Reading it gives the impression that I was the one being referred to as 'more accurate'.
So how can I reword it in a similar and correct way? (Preferably still using an infinitive after the object)

Note that I am looking more sophisticated/ formal ways of expressing it. So I don't really want to use the sentences like:

I changed it to make it more accurate.
I changed it so that it is more accurate.

Please offer feedback and alternatives.


texts: "Has / have gone" vs "did go" without any additional information

texts:
I'm wondering what is the difference between the sentences bellow.

  Where has he gone?
  Where did he go?

The first one means that the subject of the sentence hasn't come back yet, doesn't it? And that is the only one difference?

I would like to consider next examples in order to understand it better.
Sentences where taken from translating exercise.

  Where did you go? - I went to the library. I'd lost my book there, so I went for it.
  Where has he gone? - I think he has gone to the library. He usually goes there on Fridays.

In the first case we used Past Simple in question because the second part is used in the Past Tense. We have two past action. One occured before another one (the second is the result of the first one).

As for the second case, we have action which was performed before. Someone we are talking about hasn't returned, so we use Present Perfect. Are my remarks correct?


texts: The honest human heart or The honest human's heart?

texts:
Which form is correct?

"This is how the honest human heart look" or "This is how the honest human's heart look", and why?


texts: Better way to say "I don't have any other option besides doing it"

texts:
Is there a better way to phrase

I don't have any other options besides going there.

And can we use words like restrain,constrained or something like them?
And if yes, then how?


texts: "Children have bags" or "Children have a bag?

texts:
If I say the below, what do you have in mind?

Children have bags.
Children have a bag.

A. Each child has a bag.
B. Each child has some bags.
C. Children share one bag.


texts: Two times present progressive in one sentence

texts:
Does the meaning of the sentences change/ is one of the versions incorrect?

I am wondering if you are looking for a car

or

I am wondering if you look for a car


texts: Is there a difference between 'disc' and 'disk'?

texts:
I've looked them up on Dictionary.com, and it says that they are interchangeable. But, when I search it on Reference.com (accidentally), this comes up: disk vs. disc.

Now, the sites confuse me, as many sites say that they are interchangeable while others suggest that they have specific meanings.

So, are they different or not? Why are there 2 words for one thing, if they are interchangeable?


texts: "attract tourists" vs "attractive to tourists" in the sentence

texts:
The high mountains are attractive to tourists.
  The high mountains attract tourists.

Which word is better to use, attract or attractive?
Please explain the differences between them to me.


texts: “the very image” VS. “the spitting image”

texts:
He is the very/ the spitting  image of sophistication

I am wondering whether or not those mean the same thing, if so, are they interchangeable?
Would you please throw a light on this confusion in a simple way?
I have just updated this issue, waiting for your invaluable explanations.
UPDATED:
h=Having taken into account the following linke, I am wondering which one I should use, and eventually which one of the following bold ones you use?
metaphor: “it’s like he was spat out of his father’s mouth” (1689).
metonymy: “he’s the very spit of his father” (1825) — when the metaphor is commonplace enough, it no longer gets spelled out in full.
idiom/cliché: “the spit and image of his father” (1859) — a particularly effective wording of the metonymy solidifies into a widely re-used phrase.
corruption: “the spitten image” (1878) — the original analysis of the phrase is lost.
reanalysis: “the spitting image” (1901) — this strange new word “spitten” gets replaced by something which is at least syntactically more comprehensible.
further reanalysis/eggcorning: “the splitting image” (1880(!?), 1939) — the phrase changes to something which is more semantically plausible — it’s easier to imagine ways that “splitting image” could have arisen than “spitting image”.
spitting image”
splitting image
enter link description here
Thanks in advance


texts:
I just saw a sentence looks like this:

  The strategy sheds light on the future endeavor and justifies
  resources.

I have no idea what "justifies resources" means. Doesn't justify mean prove? What does it mean by saying prove resources?

Well, I use an online dictonary to check the word justify. I think 5a, as a verb, to show or to prove, is the only reasonable definition under such circumstance.


texts: Question about paraphrasing this sentence in a less demanding and polite way

texts:
How would you reword this:

  "Would you like to donate the children's foundation "Red
  Nose"? It costs 1 dollar."

How can I let my customers at the pharmacy know they can donate more, for example, 5 dollars (or even more) so that they wouldn't feel ashamed even if they didn't like to participate?


texts: the sudden change in temperature or the sudden change of temperature

texts:
1.The sudden change in temperature can cause rocks to shatter.
  2.The sudden change of temperature can cause rocks to shatter.

I'd like to know if the two sentences are the same in meaning or if there is any difference between them. Thanks in advance.


texts:
Not sure which one is correct:

  On our scenario ..

Or,

  In our scenario ..


texts: similar words to "research", but less seriously

texts:
I want to express that:

  After doing some [research], I've got my own conclusion about how I should eat the apple.

I want to seek a word which is less "strong" than [research]. Because in my mind, [research] is meant to be used in some very strict areas. For example, do some [science research], [mathematic research], [astronomy research].

Obviously, "how I should eat the apple" is not something serious and strict. So I want a more appropriate word.

Is "study" more appropriate?

  After doing some [study], I've got my own conclusion about how I should eat the apple.

Thanks in advance


texts: "documents you sent me" or "documents that you have sent me"

texts:
Which is the correct sentence?

I filled out the documents you sent me.

OR

I filled out the documents that you have sent me.

Could somebody explain me why first or second sentence is correct?


texts:
On the other hand, there are a lot of cases where X could harm Y or at least gives nothing.

On the other hand, there are a lot of cases where X harms Y or at least gives nothing.

Which sentence is more accurate? I see that people often prefer the former version, but isn't it better to use the latter?
"Could" seems redundant to me in such a context. When we use "could", we are considering both "branches": with and without making harm. But we already left out "harmless" cases when we said "There are a lot of..." Yes, there are a lot of them, but we haven't said that they are the only ones.


texts: Does present perfect continuous imply that the action/event is ongoing if the duration is given?

texts:
In my grammar book the following examples for present perfect continuous (PPC) are given:

Example no. 1:

  Is it raining?
  No, but the ground is wet.
  It's been raining. ( = It has been ... )

In this example, it is not raining any longer at the present moment.

Example no. 2:

  It began raining two hours ago and it is still raining now.
  How long has it been raining?
  It has been raining for two hours.

In this example, it is still raining at the present moment.

Are these combinations, namely

PPC without a duration => no more raining,
PPC with a duration => still raining,

just coincidences?

Or does a given duration imply that the action/event is still ongoing, whereas an absent duration implies that the action/event is no more ongoing?

Or to put in examples. Are the following examples gramatically still valid?

Example no. 1*:

  Is it raining?
  No, but the ground is wet.
  It has been raining for two hours.

In this example, it is not raining any longer at the present moment.

Example no. 2*:

  It began raining two hours ago and it is still raining now.
  Has it been raining?
  Yes, it's been raining.


texts:
I see it in "Regular Show"

The whole sentence : Benson's gonna drop his balls when he sees how good we set up these chairs.

Is it a slang ? I haven't found anything in web.


texts:
Does "V." stand for "Versus"?

Tuesady, December 8, 2020
Order In Pending Case
20A98    KELLY, MIKE, ET AL.V.PENNSYLVANIA, ET AL.
The application for injunctive relief presented to Justice Alito by him referred to the Court is denied.

Source


texts:
Don't you need to go to the bus stop?
  Don't you need going to the bus stop?

Which of the sentences above is more informal or common to use? I think they mean the same, but the second phrase is just a shorter way to say the same thing?


texts: What is the meaning of "advance the ball"?

texts:
This is the news headline I see on Fox News.

  Tom Fitton: Kavanaugh-Ford hearing didn't advance the ball

What is the original meaning of "advance the ball" in sports? And what is its analogic meaning in this Kavanaugh-Ford hearing news?


texts: Unusual meaning of 'will' in the sentence

texts:
I met this sentence.

  "I'm sick". "Well, if you will eat so much, I'm not surprised."

What is the difference when 'will' is left out?

As 'will' means about future or doing sth not yet done, I can hardly guess what the sentence is meaning though I am used to the sentence without 'will'.


texts:
Is "as a matter of common sense" used correctly in the following sentence?

Education is of immense value even for labor work, but some hiring employers as a matter of common sense value experience over education.

I wanted to mention that some employers tend to place a higher value on experience. They believe that experience is clearly more important that education. It is obvious and they think that no scientific evidence is needed to support their view.
Please tell me if it needs any punctuation. Should I place "as a matter of common sense" between commas?


texts: What part of speech is "daily" in the phrase "on the daily"?

texts:
I read a sentence which was:

  They do it on the daily.

Consider the part "on the daily".
Daily is a noun as it is preceded by a preposition.
But most of the dictionaries define "daily" as a noun as either a newspaper or any servant.
So, how do you interpret this?


texts:
Does it mean :

Big chin(area of chin is huge)?
Chubby face?
Strong and noticeable jaw line?

When used in a book, does it in certain way means the girl is not so good looking?
The usage from Rowling in this case is definitely not describing someone beautiful.

  A lantern came swinging towards Harry and by its light he saw the prominent chin and severe haircut of Professor Grubbly-Plank, the witch who had taken over Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures lessons for a while the previous year.


texts:
Does it mean "the same as..."?

“We think pure discount-rate moves of this nature — that lead to a joint selloff in high- and low-beta assets — are unlikely to be sustained in this environment where inflation is low and weakly pro-cyclical,” Saroliya said. Sustained joint selloffs are more a feature of periods like 1974 and the early 1980s, when supply shocks triggered countercyclical inflation, he explained.

Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/is-janet-yellen-still-calling-the-tune-in-financial-markets-2017-07-10


texts: How to express the idea of creating the story of a book?

texts: I want to find the correct way to say that I´m thinking and documenting about all the details of my book, possibly making some diagrams, describing characters, etc., instead of actually writing it. Is there a verb for that? How would I say it?


texts:
I got into arguments using
"Wait for me for a second"
is it actually Wait For me For a second
or
Wait Me For a second
What is the correct way of delivering the idea behind it?


texts: What is the difference between oral and verbal?

texts:
What is the difference between the words verbal and oral?
I am confused a lot about these words and I would be grateful for your effort if you try to write about the difference.


texts: Use of "evacuate" when forced to relocate

texts:
I came across this passage and thought that the word 'evacuated' does not quite accurately show how Kiyomi and her family were forced to leave their home:

  Kiyomi, a Japanese-American girl, and her family were evacuated from their home during the World War. The United States and Japan were at war.  The US government compelled many Japanese Americans and their Japanese-born parents to leave their homes in special camps. The government interned Japanese-American families in camps because they were concerned that they might be working for Japan as spies.

Should the word 'evacuated' be replaced by something else? 'Evacuated' seems to suggests the idea that the occupants of a place are moved to a safer one. In this context, Kiyomi was forced to leave. What could be a more suitable word to replace 'evacuated'? Thanks.


texts:
Do not use any indentation styles other than K&R, Allman, and their mix, which uses K&R [for|with] control flow statements and Allman [for|with] function definitions.
// K&R         // Allman     // A mix of K&R and Allman
if (...) {     if (...)      function()
    ...        {             {
} else {           ...           if (...) {
    ...        }                     ...
}              else              } else {
               {                     ...
                   ...           }
               }             }

I don't understand whether I should use for or with in sentences like the one above.
(Surprisingly, there are no related articles or forum threads on the Internet.) Could you explain it to me?


texts: Is this structure correct? “What have we to lose by trying to work together to find those solutions?”

texts:
What have we to lose by trying to work together to find those solutions?

  What do we have to lose by trying to work together to find those solutions?

I am not sure if both sentences are correct. Or they have different meanings?


texts:
Which verb is more appropriate in this context?
She found solace in books to ___ her grief/resentment (alleviate/reduce/relieve/diminish/lessen or whatever is more suitable)


texts: a synonymous phrase for 'to increase tenfold'

texts:
I know that we can say the following in the context of math:

We increase a number by a factor of ten.
We increase a number tenfold

Remind me please of what else we can say in this context?
Can we say that

we increase a number ten times, or
a number was increased ten times, or
a number became ten times more/ten times greater, or
a number became ten times as much ?


texts: What would most Americans call this: A pram, a stroller, or a baby carriage? Or something else?


texts: Meaning of "to put a particular truth before the world"

texts:
I have trouble understanding this phrase:

  Because a poet puts a particular truth before the world, it does not
  necessarily follow that he has known or worked out all its great
  consequences or that having done so, he is able always to express them
  fully.
  — "The Gita according to Gandhi" p. 9

I get lost trying to get its meaning, starting from the meaning of "put[ing] a particular truth before the world".


texts:
How common is the glottal t pronunciation in British English compared to the /t/ sound?
I've heard both of them, but I'm not sure what frequency they represent. Does one of them represent more formal English or it isn't about formality but about dialect?


texts: "a victim of something" vs. "the victim of something"

texts:
Could you tell me whether I have to use a or the before victim in the folliwing sentence?

Sara has been a/the victim of identity theft too.

What I'm trying to say is that Sara has been one of many people who fell victim to identity theft, not some specific victim. Logically the use of a should work there, but I've seen the used time and time again even though it was clear that specificity wasn't implied. Which one is more natural and correct to use in my example: a or the?


texts:
Consider:

All cases involving children are treated as urgent.
The man was described as tall and dark, and aged about 20.

How "as" can collocate with adjectives here?
If I omitted "as" or replaced "as" with "to be", would these two examples still be correct and acceptable?


texts: Explain this joke: "Theoretical physicists will never schedule a meeting on Wednesday because it spoils two weekends"

texts:
This is the context:

  Finally, I would say that, even within physics, philosophers are sort of like theoretical physicists, and
  physicists are like experimental physicists. Experimental physicists don’t like theoretical physicists, because
  what are the latter really doing?— a lot of mathematical noodling, and they don’t really work at all. The
  experimentalists instead think they are getting results. The joke experimental physicists say is, “Theoretical
  physicists will never schedule a meeting on Wednesday because it spoils two weekends."

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

Can anyone explain this joke?


texts: What's the usage of expression of "Stand on feet"?

texts:
I found on internet dictionaries that "Stand on (own) feet" means "to be independent, financial self-supporting".
But I was wondering if they could mean also "to rise from a seated position".
I figure this kind of question isn't likely to be solved by dictionaries.

Thanks!!


texts: "There exists a ..., which..." or "There exists a ..., that..."

texts:
Suppose that I want to assert that there exists an object satisfying a certain property, which of these constructions would be correct?

  There exists a number which squares to four.

or

  There exists a number that squares to four.

My confusion comes from the fact that on the one hand, the clause seems to be restrictive, not just any number will do, on the other hand it seems to be non-restrictive, the number two and negative two both work....


texts: Is it "newspaper reports" or "newspapers reports"

texts:
Somebody read many newspapers which presented a specific event in various ways.
How should I write, "newspaper reports", "newspapers reports", "newspapers' reports"?

  He recognized in the newspaper(s) reports a mixture of real facts and many fanciful stories which he readily detected as probably fabrications.


texts:
I don't know what should I say between "we are some" or "we are a few"
in the sentence below.
Also can both be said, if so please educate me on when should I use each ?

We are some in my department having two computers.
or
We are a few in my department having two computers.

I'm contacting an other company to purchase a software to manage my two computers with one mouse and one keyboard.

(I'm a French Quebecker, google failed me, so as my Antidote software)
Thank you for the comments and the answer, I edited my questions to provide more context.


texts:
What does it mean "by the time he was six he had learnt to play piano"?

I have searched in the dictionary for a definition of "by" but I don't get the concept in the case of "by" referred to time. I have made some hypothesis about the meaning of the phrase above:

Does it mean during the time before he was six, nearly the time he was six, immediately before he was six, immediately after he was six, meanwhile he was six  or something else?


texts: "I'm three times as more profitable as my salary" vs. "I'm as three times more profitable as my salary"

texts:
I'm three times as more profitable as my salary

vs.

  I'm as three times more profitable as my salary


texts:
In everyday English, people usually use fever to talk about a very
high temperature. If someone's temperature is just high, they say that
someone has a temperature rather than has a fever: He stayed home from
school because he had a temperature.

Your child's forehead feels a bit warm, according to dictionaries, it's not correct to say "you have a fever".
How do we express the degree of a body's temperature from low to high when talking about illness?
Can we say these to express the degree from low to high?
-you have a little temperature: I am not sure it's ok to say that because "temperature" is a countable noun and "little" doesn't go with countable nouns
-you have a bit of a temperature
-you have a high temperature
-you have a little fever: I am not sure it's ok to say that because "fever" is a countable noun and "little" doesn't go with countable nouns
-you have a bit of a fever
-you have a high fever


texts: Signed vs has signed / first vs the first

texts:
I have a few dilemmas regarding grammar, and would like you to help me improve my written English, by fixing errors and explained me rules.

It's for a project, the sentence would be like this:

  Member states with at least one university (HAS?) signed a Memorandum
  (it is some formal paper) and member states with no universities
  (HAVE?) signed a Memorandum.

Is this correct? Should I put has/have signed? What's the difference?

Other sentence would be:

  First number represents a number of
  universities which shortlisted candidates and second number represents
  a total number of universities per country.

When should I put the first, the second?


texts: You can't do that. You shouldn't do that

texts:
Dear English speakers,

When you say "you can't do that”. or "you sholdn't do that". as an advice not as a command, are there any differences between them?

I also would like to ask to whom you say them distinctively. (like I say "you can't do that”. to my friends but don't say that to my boss.)


texts:
Can we use an article before "one more"?
For example:
"Please give me a one more coffee."
Thanks in advance!


texts:
Which phrase can replace the bold part,if its incorrect.

The woman left her husband immediately after he lost his job and he took to drink alcohol excessively.

a. started to drink

b. took to drinking (Book answer)

As I know "start" takes both gerund and infinitive. So why "started to drink" is incorrect here?

Can "started drinking" be a possible alternative answer of bold part?


texts: what's the meaning of "she takes a small measure of delight in the smudge of ..."?

texts:
Hadley takes a  small measure of delight in the smudge of lipstick on
her collar, ...
I know the meaning of take delight in but I don't understand the meaning of the sentence.

Does it simply mean she was sorrowing over her collar got dirty by lipstick?
Here is the fuller text:

Prada woman marches past with her cupcakes, her nose in the air, and
Hadley takes a  small measure of delight in the smudge of lipstick on
her collar, knowing lipstick, especially red lipstick, is very
difficult to get out.

Hadley and Grace by Suzanne Redfearn


texts:
She would hoover, dust and iron, but she didn't like doing windows.

I would like to look at expressing the point of the sentence in more simple words.


texts:
Then Brodda rose in wrath. "I rule this house," said he. But before he
  could say more, Túrin said: "Then you have not learned the courtesy
  that was in this land before you. Is it now the manner of men to let
  lackeys mishandle the kinsmen of their wives? Such am I, and I have an
  errand to the Lady Aerin. Shall I come freely, or shall I come as I
  will?"

  "Come!" said Brodda, and he scowled; but Aerin turned pale.

  Then Túrin strode to the high board, and stood before it, and bowed.
  "Your pardon, Lady Aerin," he said, "that I break in upon you thus;
  but my errand is urgent and has brought me far.

  . . .

  Then Túrin leapt at him, and drew his black sword, and seized Brodda
  by the hair and laid back his head. "Let no one stir," said he, "or
  this head will leave its shoulders! Lady Aerin, I would beg your
  pardon once more, if I thought that this churl had ever done you
  anything but wrong. But speak now, and do not deny me! Am I not
  Túrin, Lord of Dor-lómin? Shall I command you?"

  from Unfinished Tales by J.R.R. Tolkien

First, I can't see much difference between freely and as i will. What is the intention of the speaker?

Second, I can't understand the latter bolded sentence, which seems to be written in subjunctive mood. Could you paraphrase or explain this please?

FYI, Brodda the incomer took Aerin as his wife by force long ago and Túrin is a son of the former lord of the land and akin to Aerin.


texts:
What is your opinion on which noun it represents in the sentence below? Is it Truth-Event or violence? What does enacted from mean in the context?

  A more fundamental question might also be raised here: why does the revolutionary Truth-Event entail violence? Because it is enacted from the symptomal point (or torsion) of the social body, from the point of impossibility of the social totality — its subject is the “part of no-part” of society, those who, although they are formally part of society, are denied a proper place within it.

Source:  https://www.jacobinmag.com/2011/05/the-jacobin-spirit/


texts: In American English, how to make the /ɪər/ sound?

texts:
For example: here, dear, clear.
I sometimes hear American people when saying those words, the words come out from deep into their throats. But, still, I don't know how to do it.


texts: Copula? Copula and Noun? I Feel Anger, I Feel Angry?

texts:
I feel anger.

  I feel angry.

I’ve read some things about copulas. I don’t think I get meaning of adjective use after a copula. I don’t think I get how one can feel angry. I don’t think angry reads like a thing, to me.

How may these two not have a like meaning?

  I feel badness. (One may sense something, maybe in them, badness[?].)

  I feel bad. (?)

  I feel badly. (how one may do feeling[?])

Grammatically, can you not use I feel badness.?


texts: Tense simplification: use would, could, might, should to express possibility, uncertainty, etc. in the present

texts:
The book Practical English Usage by Michael Swan says:
The tense in the subordinate clause tends to be simplified.
He gives some examples:

(a) If I (would have) had lots of money, I would give some to anybody who (would ask) asked for it.

(b) In a perfect world, you would be able to say exactly what you (would think) thought.

(c) I would always try to help anybody who was in trouble, whether I knew them or not.

And since Would has the meaning of will just with a softer tone, it got me thinking:
What tense should I use when I use would to talk about the present and future, but with doubt, uncertainty, or possibility?
Examples I came up with:

(1) I would go to the park with her if she invites/invited me.
=>I want to use "would" to express uncertainty in my willingness to go to the park.

(2) This thing is weird. I would think Tom is/was able to explain.
=>I want to use "would" to express uncertainty in my thinking.

(3) I have this extra money on me. I would give it to friends who ask/asked for it.
=>I want to use "would" to express uncertainty or possibility of giving money.

Do they have anything to do with tense simplification?
If not, does it mean that I can use tenses depending on what I try to say?
By depending on what I try to say, I mean like:

I can use invites in (1) because it happens in the future.

I can use "Tom is able to explain" in (2) because it happens in the future.

And I can use either one of the phrases down below:

(4)use friends who asked for it to mean in the past, there were friends of mine that asked for money from me

(5)use friends who ask for it to mean the friends that might or will ask me for money in the future

Finally, how about could, might, should; I remember they can also be used to express uncertainty, doubt, etc. Do they follow the same rules?


texts:
I can't settle an argument with myself about the difference between "Supposed to" and "Have to". For instance

  Kids' show are supposed to have simple language

Or

  Kids'show have to have simple language

What's the difference?


texts: Difference in meaning of adjectives ended with -ed and -ing?

texts:
English has two kinds of participial adjectives:

ending in -ed:

  I am disappointed.

ending in -ing:

  It's disappointing.

They seem to mean different things.  How I can explain the difference between them to my students?


texts: How to indicate that something is in the shape of 'finger'?

texts:
For example

  Kofta can be made in ball shape and finger shape as the shape of regular sausage.

Is the 'finger' shape correct here?


texts:
I recall certain moments, let us call them icebergs in paradise, when after having had my fill of her — after fabulous, insane exertions that left me limp and azure-barred — I would gather her in my arms with, at last, a mute moan of human tenderness (her skin glistening in the neon light coming from the paved court through the slits in the blind, her soot-black lashes matted, her grave gray eyes more vacant than ever — for all the world a little patient still in the confusion of a drug after a major operation) — the tenderness would deepen to shame and despair, and I would lull and rock my lone light Lolita in my marble arms, and moan in her warm hair, and caress her at random and mutely ask her blessing, and at the peak of this human agonized selfless tenderness (with my soul actually hanging around her naked body and ready to repent), all at once, ironically, horribly, lust would swell again — and “oh, no,” Lolita would say with a sigh to heaven, and the next moment the tenderness and the azure — all would be shattered.

Would you explain what "azure-barred" means? Does this paragraph describe the sex scene of Humber and Lolita but not after that?  Does this "when after having had my fill of her — after fabulous, insane exertions that left me limp and azure-barred" tell that they have finished making love or not? Thanks.


texts:
1.The actor, a life well lived, died on the stage.

2.The victim, a local solicitor, was killed on impact.

Is it acceptable to use commas with 1, like 2, or should em dashes be used with after.

The actor — after a life well lived — died on the stage.


texts: Are you student of English literature? Are you a student of English literature OR Are you student in English literature?

texts:
Hey one question: Which of the questions are right:

  Are you student of English literature?
  Are you a student of English literature?
  Are you student in English literature?


texts:
When Money and Rupees are countable nouns why is "Much" used with them instead of "MANY" when asking a question like:

How much money do you have? or How much does


texts: What is the difference between "a bulge-bracket investment bank" and "a large investment bank"?

texts: Is there any difference between "a bulge-bracket investment bank" and "a large investment bank"? Or can bulge-bracket and large be used interchangeably when qualifying an investment bank?


texts: Why remove "himself" from the following sentence?

texts:
I'd like to know why it's necessary to remove himself from the following sentence to make it correct.

  He doesn't care himself for us.

I'm trying to express a father's sacrifice, but I'm having trouble finding the correct phrasing in English.

Update: As I thought, It will be better to change like this.

"He doesn't take care of himself he only care for us."
I wonder Is there some more improve point?


texts: 'as adverb as' or 'adverb + as much as'?

texts:
I'm wondering in use of  'as adverb as' and 'adverb + as much as'.

Which is grammatically valid as well as natural to use?

  It is extremely hot as much as it was.

  It is hot as extremely as it was

What I want to say is the next sentence. (someone brought up this)

  It is extremely hot, just as hot as it was before.

If those sentences I made are both wrong, can you suggest alternatives additionally?


texts: Use of "by themselves" and "on their own" in this context

texts:
Can both “by themselves” and “on their own” be used with the same meaning in this context?

  I think the better thing to do is just wait. Sometimes things can get
  better by themselves.

  I think the better thing to do is just wait. Sometimes things can get
  better on their own.


texts: Usage of prepositions is very difficult to choose

texts:
I want to explain my results. So I use a figure to explain an erroneous result. Here my idea is to tell, because of missing of a specific segment (say segment 8), I got the wrong result. Assume, I have shown p1, p2 and segment 8 in the figure. And I have written it as;

  For example, in Fig. 15 the corner p1 is incorrectly fixed to the corner
  p2 due to missing segment 8.

I have some doubts of the usage of correct prepositions, If I specifically referring to the figure, then can I use THE as I used in above sentence?

However, I think I should use as instead of to and also of in front of segment.

  For example, in Fig. 15 the corner p1 is incorrectly fixed as
  the corner p2 due to missing of segment 8.

So, please give your comments on this. thanks


texts:
1.They visited Portmeirion, Cornwall, which is best remembered as the filming location for the cult 1960's television series, The Prisoner.

2.It was beautiful in Portmeirion, made famous by the television series The Prisoner.

3.She walked up the stairs to bring tea for her wicked stepmother, Sarah.

Is 1 correct with the comma before 'The Prisoner', the comma usage being similar to that in 3, or should it be removed?

Without the title of the show in the sentence the information cult 1960's series doesn't define it (as there could be others) and therefore the comma should be removed?


texts:
Are there difference between those sentences?

  Alex is getting married next month.
  Alex will get married next month.

Seems that the first one is expressed in present continues, and the second on in future tense. Am I correct?


texts:
For men I can ask

  "Is this his book?"

and

  "Give him his book".

What is the parallel for the women?

  "Is this her book"?

and

  "Give her her book"?

If so, why do the men have two kinds of possessive forms (his, him) while the women have only one form (her, her)


texts:
The following sentence is from Lincoln in the Bardo, an  experimental novel published in 2017. As an imitation of 19th-century English, is it crafted properly?

I did always try, in all my aspects, to hew to elevation; to dispense
therewith, into myself, those higher virtues of which, rendered without, one verily may sag, and, dwelling there in one’s misfortune, what avails.

I wonder if "those higher virtues of which, rendered without, one verily
may sag" should have been "those higher virtues, rendered without which one verily may sag."


texts: Should I say "I miss you today when I drop by your office"?

texts:
I want to write a note to a person that I could not find him at his office, but he does not expect that I would be there

If I write "I miss you today when I drop by your office"

Does it sound reasonable?


texts: Is the Usage of Pursuit in this Context Right?

texts:
Is the Usage of Pursuit in this Context Right:

  I've done everything I could in pursuit of her.

What I mean is I've tried everything I could to find her on the internet.


texts:
I have been in Canada for seven years. When I have time, I volunteer to help new immigrants in community centres. One of the immigrants said to this to me:

  I am happy that we are Vietnamese. I really feel warm and close when I talk with you.

I am still trying to improve my English. He said, "... feel warm and close ...". Does it make sense to say "I feel warm and close when ..."?


texts:
1.Body movement takes place during sleep just before the REM stage.

  2.Body movement takes place just before the REM stage during sleep.

When there are two phrases of  ''time adverbs'' in a sentence, which phrase should be written first?

I prefer #1 as ''sleep'' will do first and "REM'' stage comes later.


texts:
What noun describes the act of forbidding something?

Just as 'permission' means allowing certain activity, is there a noun that states the opposite?

In particular, I'm looking for one that states 'disallowance' (if you allow me to make up this kind of word) a'priori, unlike 'denial', 'refusal', 'rejection', 'refusal', which all apply to a request: Imagine a grassy square where kids like to play soccer, disturbing people in nearby houses. If they ask "Can we play soccer here?" - "No, you can't" is a refusal. A sign on the grass "No playing soccer allowed" doesn't qualify as such though - it's there before intent to play even appears.


texts:
Does "to have + someone + Past Participle" have an ambiguity?

  You must have me confused with someone else.

When I saw this sentence for the first time, I was confused because only thing I knew about that kind of structure was a causative verb structure. But I found out that that means not only "You must be mistaking me for other person", but also is completely grammatical.

So, my guess is that the said structure has two possible meanings depending on the contexts.

He had her confused with someone else.

This means simply the same thing with the example above. "He mistook her for someone else".

He had her confused and ran away.

This means "She got confused and failed to catch him".

Am I right? If not, please correct me.

PS: By the way, are both of those two 'have' in No.1 and No.2 the Resultative Have?


texts: Inquiring whether there was a response to email

texts:
My friend sent an email to somewhere and I just want to know if they responded to him. What is the right way to ask it?

Can I ask:

  Did you get email back?

If not, what would be an acceptable way?


texts:
No (adv): used before adjectives and adverbs to mean ‘not’ (source)

  She's feeling no better this morning.

  Reply by no later than 21 July.

  good (adv): (especially North American English, informal) well
  (source)

  ‘How's it going?’ ‘Pretty good.’

  (non-standard) Now, you listen to me good!

is it idiomatic to say "speak English no well" & "speak English no good"?


texts: Is this a case of the sequence of tenses?

texts:
Are the bold words in the past tense due to the sequence of tenses?

  Those hypothetical scenarios don’t seem all that far-fetched. Kerry seemed to view those boots as dangerous magic shoes: they had the power to transform this into a military conflict that mattered to the American people; in their absence, there should be no cause for alarm, no real war with just missiles and planes.

Source:
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/closeread/2013/09/john-kerry-syria-intervention-air-strike-moral-argument.html


texts:
So there's this beautiful German word "doch" which is mostly used to contradict a contradiction.

Example:

  Ich war heute schon draußen
  I already went outside today

  Nein warst du nicht
  No you weren't

  Doch

I know there's no one-word translation for it, but how can I express it in English in this context?


texts: How should I say correctly about using a tap or faucet

texts: How do we say when we try to use the tap in a kitchen or bathroom? Can I say "open the tap" or "turn on water"?


texts: When to use "extend" and when to use "extent"?

texts:
What is the difference between extend and extent, when to use which one?

I am wondering, is there a quick rule to know whether one should use extend or extent? I know that it is "to what extend" (as in to what degree), "extent" (as in degree), "extend" (as in expand), but there are more forms and I am getting always getting confused between them.


texts: Do most Americans pronounce 'months' as 'mons', and 'clothes' as 'clos'?

texts:
I am watching a video course which teaches American accent (The video course is called 'The American Accent'). The teacher inside it says that most of Americans actually omit the [th] sound and pronounce 'months' as 'mons' and 'clothes' as 'clos', because they have problem to pronounce them as [ths] specified in dictionary. Of course, they still pronounce 'month' and 'cloth' as it is.

The 'ths' and 'thes' sound is indeed difficult to second language learners like me. But I am a bit surprised that most Americans feel the same as us:-)

Is it real?


texts: Will you greet your close friend 'Hi there'?

texts: I thought 'Hi there' was only used to greet people who you didn't know their names, such as you write a complaint letter to customer service. So I feel a little bit awkward when I received messages with 'Hi there' + some random chat/information from my close friends. I have encountered twice such case. Not sure if I have been overreacting on these.


texts:
Somewhere on the net I saw this joke.

  - What's the hardest part of a vegetable to eat?
  - The wheelchair.

I don't get it. I googled a bit but I suspect it might be a play on the words, possibly not that clever one, neither.


texts: "I was not sure when you were coming back" or "I was not sure when you would come back"?

texts:
I am taking a Spanish(*) course with a private teacher and they were on vacation these days. Since I was not totally sure whether my teacher was back from their trip, I sent a message today to check if there is a class this coming Saturday. Among other things, I wrote

  I was not sure when you were coming back from your trip.

My teacher corrected me and claimed that

  I was not sure when you would come back from your trip.

should be used.

Which sentence is correct? If both are correct, do they differ in meaning?

I think that the second sentence expresses more uncertainty than the first one. Am I right?

(*) the whole exchange was in English. I am only mentioning the Spanish course to point out that none of us is a native English speaker.


texts: If it is seven thirty, we can also say "half past seven". I am wondering whether "thirty past seven" is acceptable.


texts: What is the correct construction for 'as was my hunch'

texts:
Let's say I want to say

'X team did not win and that was my hunch.

I want to write this expression in the form of as I said, as I expected,

1 : As was my hunch, X team did not win.
2: As my hunch was, X team did not win.

Which of these expressions is correct? If neither, then what would be correct construct?


texts: “Everybody goes crazy”. Is the sentence correct?

texts:
What kind of verb should be placed after 'Everybody' - singular or plural?

Is it necessary to place 's/es' after a verb?

For example, which of the following sentences is correct?

"Everybody goes crazy"
"Everybody go crazy"


texts:
Let's say you were walking through a dark hallway, which you were very cautious, then you sensed a long tube of steel that could have tripped you, but luckily it didn't. And you say:

  What the... I am lucky! I could have tripped by that steel.

Or

  What the... I am lucky! I could have been tripped by that steel.

Which one is correct?


texts: "nobody could beat me" vs "anybody could beat me"

texts:
This is a part of translation work that I am doing.

  Let everyone declare that I am defeated, until I concede defeat, nowhere, ever, anyone/anybody could beat me.

Is the bold part correct in the above sentence, or should I replace it with nobody, as follows:

  Let everyone declare that I am defeated, until I concede defeat, nowhere, ever, nobody could beat me.


texts: "I wanted you to know that ..." is it mean or offensive

texts: I am not a native English speaker. I am writing an email to my boss and I want him to know an important thing, so will it be ok to say "I wanted you to know that ...", it is offensive/mean etc in any sense ?


texts: "Precipice", "Cliff", "Crag" + "Valley" or "Canyon"

texts:
I wonder what word do you usually use in the following sense:

  Boy: What an astonishing scene. Come on; let's  approach the its edge and take a selfie!
  Girl: no; let's not approach it. It is a dangerous...........

a. precipice
b. cliff
c. crag
d. canyon
e. valley

All the information I know:

  A "precipice" is a sudden steep drop. "Precipice" is a cliff with a vertical, nearly vertical, or overhanging face. a situation of great peril.
  A "cliff" may be precipitous but it can also have a gradually steepening slope leading to the vertical section. A "cliff" is a high steep face of a rock. Also, a "cliff" is a type of crag, and is always vertical (up and down), not horizontal (across, or stretching outward).

Also, dictionaries as usual cannot help me to tell these similar words apart:

Precipice: a very steep side of a cliff or a mountain.
Cliff:  high area of rock with a very steep side, often on a coast.
Crag: a high, rough mass of rock that sticks out from the land around it.
Canyon: a large valley with very steep sides and usually a river flowing along the bottom.
Valley: an area of low land between hills or mountains, often with a river running through it.

Note: I would classify these five words as below:

  Precipice - Cliff - Crag
  Canyon - Valley

I know that the words in group #2 are more or less synonymous and are different from the words in group #1. But I needed two know whether I can use the words group two in this sense too or not. That was to avoid asking similar question plus making this thread more useful for other learners.


texts: Confusion regarding the meanings of "till" and "until"

texts:
Till means upto a certain time limit and until means "till not".

Example 1:

  I can not go till I finish my homework.

Example 2:

  I can not go until I finish my homework.

I cannot differentiate between these two and both seems to me having correct meaning. But as until is "till not". This "not" should have an effect which I am missing. Please help me clearing the confusion.


texts: Meaning of “carry me out with my boots on"

texts:
What does "carry me out with my boots on" mean?

  Shaich, 63, has said that he wasn’t looking to sell the company, but changed his mind after being approached by JAB. He will remain on as CEO. “I’m here and and I’m doing this,” he told ABC earlier on Wednesday. “They’ll have to carry me out with my boots on.”

Source: How Ron Shaich made nearly 400 million pretax and beat Buffett along the way


texts:
If someone asks me

  Does 8:30 am work for you for the meeting, or should have it 2 in the afernoon?

I want to say, of these two options I choose the 2pm one. What is the colloquial word/expression of saying I choose or I select?


texts: What is the meaning of "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"?

texts:
I'm watching the movie called Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and I don't get the title. It appears to be some kind of play on words or a double meaning.
First, I thought it was just a list of professions but I'm rejecting that theory based on the absence of commas between the words as well as the capitalization of them. They don't seem to describe each other adjectivisticly, i.e. it's not a soldierish spy who is a tinkering tailor.
As far I can understand the plot, I can definitely fit in the spy and soldier somehow. Tinker might be used as a term for mischiefing kid so it might correspond to the dirty trickery in the domain of espionage but we're getting a bit too creative already. And how tailor would suit the list is a black void to me.
What does the title mean?


texts: Is it natural and correct to say "drink a thing" meaning to exchange the thing for alcohol or sell it to get alcohol to drink it?

texts:
Is it natural and correct to say drink a thing meaning to exchange the thing for alcohol or sell it to get alcohol to drink it? For example:

  After John lost his job, he drank all the valuable things he had.

In the TV show Friends the next morning after a party, where Chandler drank a lot of alcohol, he said

  Well, my apartment isn’t there anymore, because I drank it.

Did he use the phrase jokingly in the sense of selling his apartment to get more alcohol?


texts:
"When President Christie is in the Oval Office, I'll have your back," he said.

What does "have your back" mean in this sentence? It seems to be of the same meaning as "support", but I can't find a matching noun meaning in Oxford and Longman Dictionary.

Can "back"  be used as a noun meaning "support" in standard English?


texts: What does "on this side of the border" mean in this context?

texts:
What does "on this side of the border" mean in the following excerpt? What things does the border separate?

  Here's what happened. The Ontario Human Rights Commission had settled on a term to use in reference to people of color — "racialized people."

  The commission wrote:

    "Recognizing that race is a social construct, the Commission describes people as 'racialized person' or 'racialized group' instead
    of the more outdated and inaccurate terms 'racial minority,' 'visible
    minority,' 'person of colour' or 'non-White.' "

  In turn, Star reporter
  Natasha Grzincic created a listicle: "5 other labels for people of
  colour er... non-whites uh ... racialized people." It seemed to be
  riffing on a common idea that these designations are tortured and
  overly sensitive.

  Some readers complained that Grzincic was making light of the agency's decision, and the story was subsequently removed from the Star's website a few hours later, with a note saying that it did not meet the paper's standards.

  On this side of the border, the Army found itself in hot water after it updated its regulations to prevent discrimination, noting that some people who are "black or African-American" might also identify as "Negro." The story was widely reported as Army says 'Negro' is OK to use, and although that's not exactly what happened, the Army felt compelled to issue an apology and remove the motive. (You might recall a similar controversy over "Negro's" appearance on U.S. Census forms that prompted the bureau to announce last year that it would be removed from future questionnaires.)

(From this post)


texts: Which is an appropriate term for school management to use while referring to students in official letters sent to their parents?

texts:
I have seen "all wards", "all children" and even "all scholars" commonly used in letters sent to parents by schools. For example:

Dear parents, all the wards are required to be present in the auditorium by 9:30 AM.

I would like to know what is the standard term used to refer to school children in this context.


texts: Is "but" required, optional, or forbidden after "[I’m] not going to lie"?

texts:
Is it weird to add but after not going to lie?

Not going to lie, but this week really flew by.

Not going to lie; this week really flew by.

I have heard people use this phrase without but.
Is it ever appropriate to use but this way?


texts:
I understand the structures "a rumor that...", "a comment that ...", "a though that....", etc.

But I don't get this sentence:

  For some interviews, there is a rule that reporters must not disclose sensitive information.

Is "a rule that...." wrong?

If "a rule that..." is good English, would "a regulation that...." or "a law that..." work too?


texts: "for easing restrictions" or "for easing of restrictions"

texts:
Today, we often see news headlines like the below examples, and I wonder if there is any difference in nuance between "for easing restrictions" and "for easing of restrictions". Can anyone help me with this question, please.

Greek government unveils plan for easing restrictions.
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/greek-government-unveils-plan-for-easing-restrictions

Koike unveils road map for easing of restrictions in Tokyo
https://japantoday.com/category/national/Koike-unveils-road-map-for-easing-of-restrictions-in-Tokyo


texts: the difference between present passive voice and present perfect passive voice

texts:
What is the difference in term of meaning between these:
The order has shipped, that means you will receive it soon and it is shipped. Does it mean the same thing ?


texts: Regarding the presence of a comma after a date

texts:
I have read about this rule: "When the date appears in the middle of a sentence, commas should appear both before and after the year. However, I have met cases like "1905, issue"; "1938, and"; "1958, but" and other situations where the necessity of a comma is not so evident.

I have a list of examples here. Where exactly do I have to insert a comma after the year and where I can omit it?

The visit took place on September 20, 1882(,) according to his claim.
Another point of interest in the same November 15, 1908(,) article is a small paragraph about what he knew at the moment January 1, 1905(,) but was not allowed to divulge.
He has serious doubts regarding the credibility of the March 22, 1988(,) eyewitness account.
I received from him a rare copy of the January 1, 1972(,) issue of that periodical.
The problem is that the credibility of his March 31, 1976(,) answer is also quite low.
Coming back to the September 15, 1946(,) article, he says that at about 2 PM, on August 29, 1944(,) he reached the old familiar village situated between two hills.
All tests were done between December 17, 1903(,) and October 5, 1905, before the first officially witnessed flights.
He sent them a letter on February 16, 1904(,) expressing his wish to witness some of their next experiments.
The inventor answered on February 23, 1904(,) suggesting he might have such an opportunity.
The visit took place after July 26, 1904(,) but before August 26, 1904(,) or August 28, 1904(,) and the results are unknown.
It is known that the day of November 28, 1935(,) found him writing a letter to one of his friends.
The text was updated mentioning the day of October 2, 2006(,) as the last hot day of that year.
The article was submitted to him on December 24, 1922(,) for a final approval.
A letter of some importance is that of October 21, 1905(,) which contains direct evidence he had the habit to take for granted what other people told him.

UPDATE

I have simplified my initial question and reduced it only to a few cases where the comma after the year is in no way obvious:

  This is the November 15, 1908(,) article.
  This is what he knew at the moment January 1, 1905(,) but was not allowed to divulge.
  All tests were done between December 17, 1903(,) and October 5, 1905.
  The visit took place after July 26, 1904(,) but before August 26, 1904(,) or August 28, 1904(,) and the results are unknown.
  It is known that the day of November 28, 1935(,) found him sleeping.
  The text was updated mentioning the day of October 2, 2006(,) as the last hot day of that year.

For these situations marked in yellow, where do I have to put a comma after the year and where there is no need of it?


texts: How to ask a question which implies an ordinal number as an answer?

texts: How do I ask a question which implies an ordinal number as an answer? E.g. if I want to ask "which exit should I take on a motorway?" and I don't want to get an answer "left" or "right" or "the next one", but rather "first", "second" etc. What do I need to add to my question or how can I modify it in this case?


texts: Using "that" for nested subordinate clauses

texts:
I wrote

  Suppose that you know that 10% of people are smokers.

Are using of two "that" natural?
Can I say it in other ways and omit one or two "that"s?


texts:
A small part of ice-cream is taken (from a brick of ice-cream) on a plate. So if someone is talking about taking a spoon and breaking off a small part, what will be a natural way to describe that:

  Break off a small part of ice-cream with a spoon. (Telling this to a kid)

  Break off a little ice-cream with a spoon. .

Is the use of "break off" natural?
And what can be used with "stick ice-creams"?

This is what I mean:

(That ice-cream on the spoon)


texts:
What's the difference between:

  I have toast with jam for breakfast

and

  I have toast and jam for breakfast.

Can they mean the same? Can the second sentence mean that all the ingredients are eaten together or is it done separately?


texts: Can I use the verb 'forgo' in this context?

texts:
Cambridge says:

  forgo (v.) to not have or do something enjoyable:
  I shall have to forgo the pleasure of seeing you this week.

So, can I use the verb forgo in this context?

For example, if one beats me and I don't want to beat him back, then can I say I 'forgo' him?


texts: Can We Move the Position of a Reduced Relative Clause?

texts:
The train now arriving at Platform 3 is the 4.20 to Paddington.

Can I move the position of reduced relative clause like this?

Now arriving at Platform 3, the train is the 4.20 to Paddington.
The train is the 4.20 to Paddington, now arriving at Platform 3.

And can we omit a comma like this?

Now arriving at Platform 3 the train is the 4.20 to Paddington.
The train is the 4.20 to Paddington now arriving at Platform 3.


texts: What do you call illegal or unaccounted money in politics?

texts: Suppose, there's a legally allowed limit which a person seeking election can spend on his campaign. Money receivers and donors are disclosed, a legal campaign account has its limitations so a politician uses unaccounted money which can exceed legally reported expenditures by several times. In Russian, there's a phrase that can be literally translated as "a black cash register" (or, less literally, "black funds"). In English, can I say 'under-the-counter cash'? If not, how can I say otherwise?


texts:
Some unknown guy punched Brendan. Brendan appeared before V.P Trueman.

  V.P Trueman: So you didn't know this boy?

  Brendan: No sir, never seen him.

  V.P Trueman: And he just hit you?

  Brendan:Like I said, he asked for my lunch money first. Good thing I
  brown-bagged it.

In google, Brown-Bagged is related to sex, but here context is so different.


texts:
Is the following use of signal to stop natural?

  John pulled over to the side of the road when he saw a policeman signaling to stop.

If it's natural, what does it mean and how does it differ from "signaling him to stop"?

A related question is whether to insert the preposition to or for between signaling and him.


texts:
What is the meaning of the following sentences:

What answer would that be ? (Is it imagining or asking or what? What's the possible meaning and use of this sentence?)
He is a farmer but it wouldn't mean that he's laborious. (why "wouldn't" has been used here instead of using "doesn't"  meaning here?)

While reading through articles in internet i've found those two sentences. But, I can't say where they were exactly.

I would appreciate your answer. Thank you.


texts:
Let's say you making a clarification statement with a colleague...

  ''I'd like to clarify this ___etc____ so I won't be misunderstood.''

Is this grammatical?


texts:
I have already asked the question “X won't Y” (able/willing) vs. “X doesn't Y”, and now I want to extend the question to further meanings/usages of will (according to the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary).

So, the question is if the following example sentences can be rephrased by plain verb forms instead of will. And if yes, is there any meaning difference between the original and rephrased version of the sentence?

Meaning: ALWAYS

  Accidents will happen.

  Fruit will keep longer in the fridge.

vs.

  Accidents happen.

  Fruit keeps longer in the fridge.

Meaning: ORDER

  Will you stop being such a pain?

  You'll go upstairs and you'll go straight to bed like your father told you!

vs.

  Stop being such a pain!

  Go upstairs and go straight to bed like your father told you!

Meaning: ABLE

  This quantity of lasagne will feed six people.

vs.

  This quantity of lasagne feeds six people.


texts:
It is about unreal situation in the past.
We didn't take our friend with us to the party because he was not at home, so I said to him.
If you had been at home, we would have taken you with us.
Or
We Would have taken you with us if you had been at home.


texts: Is it natural to ask "how many times have you done something" the most?

texts:
Could you tell me if it's it natural to ask how many times have you done something the most? For example:

How many times have you trained the most in a day?

If it's not natural, is any of the following examples natural?

What is the most amount of times you have trained in a day.
What is the record amount of times have you trained in a day.

What is the most natural way to ask that?


texts: Why isn’t the pronoun “it” placed after But?

texts:
THE SOURCE: NY times

  Poland sent soldiers to fight alongside Americans in Iraq, but is nonetheless one of the few countries still hosting North Korean workers over Washington's objections.

Why doesn’t  the preposition “it” get placed before "is"? To make it go like this:

  But it is nonetheless...

Is it a kind of ellipsis?


texts:
In programming the null pointer is a pointer that is equal to 0. I.e. it is a pointer with a concrete value equal to zero. It is the only one of course. So I suppose we should always say:

  the null pointer

But many people use

  a null pointer

So what is right?

For example:

  Set the pointer to a/the null pointer. (Assign your pointer, which is not null a/the null pointer, i.e. make it equal to a/the null pointer.)

What article should be used?


texts: Leave or leaves in "you don't want to see your little bird leave the nest"

texts:
I was watching an episode of big bang theory and someone told his mother
"you don't want to see your little bird leave the nest".
Why he didn't say leaves?


texts: What is meant by the phrase "surface supplies"?

texts:
I read a sentence in "The Hindu" which was:

In the case of water, the imperative is to stop the contamination of surface supplies by chemicals sewage and municipal waste.

How should  the phrase "surface supplies" be comprehended?


texts: What she was doing here OR What was she doing here

texts:
which one is correct?

  "I don't know what she was doing here"

Or

  "i don't know what was she doing here"

I would appreciate any help.


texts:
What is "new people" in this sentence?  The sentence is:

  Meeting new people is hard

Here "meeting" is a gerund/noun and the subject of the sentence, "is" is the linking verb and "hard" is the adjective but what is "new people"? Is it an adjective? Could anybody explain please?


texts: Why can't you say don't instead of won't?

texts:
Our textbook says,

  A: "I have to go shopping this afternoon."
  B: "Don't forget the bread."
  A: "No, I won't."

About the last sentence, why can't you say "No, I don't."?

i.e. Why is "No, I don't." not acceptable in this case:


texts:
His works were praised by many literary critics as fresh, inventive
  approaches to the form of the novel. Others, however, dismissed his
  works as simple retelling of local tales, full of unwelcome liberties
  taken with the details of the well-known story lines.

I am having problem with the bold part. My understanding is that his work is being criticized by some people because the work is written too freely (without following the novel forms that were used to be followed) and this "free (=liberty)" was combined with details of well-known story lines. Am I understanding it correctly?


texts: Is "I really liked its theme" the only acceptable alternative to "I also very much liked its theme" in this exam question?

texts:
I really enjoyed the way the fashion show was executed and I also very much liked its theme.

  Its theme conveyed.
  I really liked its theme.
  No improvement.

It's my exam question and provisional answer key suggests option 2. But I can't understand what's wrong with 1&3.


texts: Why is "in the shape of ellipse" ungrammatical?

texts:
This is a TOEFL question:

  The orbit of a celestial body is usually in the shape of ellipse.

The solution says that the word "ellipse" is ungrammatical, but I don't know why. I think that word is not wrong, and doesn't need to be corrected. Can anyone explain this to me?


texts:
Each mandrel yielded in two 125 × 125 mm2 plates which were ground and cut into samples of 120 × 7 x 2.5 mm³ for tensile tests.
Is here "yielded" used in the meaning of "produce"? As the result, each mandrel produced (gave) two 125 × 125 mm2 plates....


texts: What does the phrase "late game" mean here?

texts:
Please help me figure out the meaning of the following sentence from the description of the game "Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes":

Recent updates to the late game allow your Empire team to go to the next level courtesy of a revamped Mod system that gives players even more agency over how their characters turn out.

I am confused by the phrases "late game" and "next level".

One of the answers received on another forum suggests that the phrase "late game" means "final part of the game". My confusion is that if the phrase "late game" means "final part", the phrase "next level" must mean "new height" because there can be no next level (in a literal sense) if the player is in the final part. However, I am not sure about this.

Is it possible that the phrase "new level" concerns rich customization options available to players?

Thank you for your time.


texts: When a cartoon character talks to its creator

texts:
I was watching Family Guy where the Griffins were stuck in a traffic jam. Peter looks far ahead to see what's going on and he notices that the road hasn't been drawn yet. He looks up and shouts something like, 'Oh come on what are you doing you guys up there?!' The next scene shows the cartoonist falling sleep on his desk; hearing Peter screaming, he wakes up, apologizes and keeps drawing the rest of the road.

Is there a word or phrase for when a cartoon character talks to its creator?

So far I've found 'breaking the fourth wall', but the problem is I see it refers to the character communicating to the audience, not the people backstage.


texts: Desiring something possible with the help of an unseen force

texts:
To get beauty is my desire. But I will get it only if some other force helps me to get this. And, of course getting beauty is possible too. Now in such case which of the following fits best?

  I wish I got beauty.

OR

  I hope I get beauty.


texts:
Most of the time, the simple or progressive present tense is not used in the main clause, when there is a since clause:

  Correct: I have been here since morning.
  Correct: I have been waiting here since morning.
  Incorrect: *I am here since morning.
  Incorrect: *I am waiting here since morning.

But sometimes the non-perfect tense seems alright, as in:

  1: Last night you were so pale, but You are looking so much better since morning.
  2: Last night you were so pale, but You have been looking so much better since morning.

I think the first sentence indicates that the situation is changing (the person's getting better and better).

And sometimes the non-perfect tense sounds even more eligible, as in:

  You are the first student to get an A from that teacher since 2010.
  ? You have been the first student to get an A from that teacher since 2010.

So, when exactly can/should we use a non-perfect tense with since?


texts: (Why + can) - Is it a possible structure?

texts:
If I said:

  It can be insecure since it has two possible ways of getting forged.

Then, would it be possible to ask the question like this:

  Why can it be insecure?

I find it unnatural and maybe incorrect too. So I have searched if "can" can come in Wh-questions, and the answer was that it can with (What, When, and Where). I'm not totally sure if they have stated those as examples or as the only possible cases.

Here is the link of the article.

I can think of other wordings of the question in which they will convey the same meaning of the original one:

  1) Why is it possible to be insecure?

  2) What is the reason behind its possibility of being insecure?

But I want to know if that exact structure is correct or not.


texts: What is the sum of money you get when you have done a job for which you were given an advance

texts:
Let's say I took on a job, for example, driving a truck loaded with goods from one city to another. When I agreed to do the job I was given an advance in order to pay for fuel etc. And when I finish the job I will receive the rest of the money that we agreed upon.

My question is, what do you call that "rest" sum of money that I was given upon completing the job?


texts: What's the meaning of "to his hard drive"?

texts:
Such is the life of a writer,sending off the most personal thoughts
  possible to his hard drive.


texts:
Tell me please which sentence is correct.

  Wipe the benches after use!

  Wipe the benches after using!

I guess the following ones is correct, but too long.

  Wipe the benches after you use them!

  Wipe the benches after using them!


texts:
Whatever he aspired to achieve, they were hindered by his jealous stepbrothers.

  Whatever he had any aspirations to, they were hindered by his jealous stepbrothers.

How 'they' is ambiguous in both the sentences... As far I can tell 'they' is referring to 'whatever he aspired' so how can it be ambiguous as there isn't any other noun? Or actually is there here vague reference of a pronoun being said as an ambiguous reference to some other pronoun?


texts: What is the general rule of parsing a long sequence of numbers?

texts: I used to just read the digits, but some native speakers do it in a different way. They read it 2 by 2. So my house number (1234) would be "twelve thirty-four", and my apartment number (567) "five sixty-seven". When I pay my bills the cashier lady told me the amount due ($121.05) was "one twenty-one dollars five cents". But I've yet to hear anyone read their phone number in this fashion - they just read it digit by digit. So what is the general convention of reading a long sequence of numbers in English?


texts: Why is it "arrived in" and not "arrived to" or "arrived at" in the following sentence?

texts:
This is the sentence:

  He’d miss Japan once he'd arrived in/at/to Hawaii.

A native English Speaker told me that it was in. I found that strange, because I always see "arrived at" and "arrived to," but I rarely see "arrived in."


texts:
Which one is correct here?

1 Having been disturbed, he left the house. OR

Being disturbed, he left the house .

2  Being disturbed by the children, the old man left the park. OR

Having been disturbed by the children, the old man left the park.

Having been deprived of their homes in the recent earthquake they had no other option but to take shelter in a school. OR

Being deprived of their homes in the recent earthquake they had no other option but to take shelter in a school.

Rule I follow : when we talk about things of past, we use "having been", and for conditions which still exist we use "being". I don't know if it is entirely correct or not. But "being" and "having been" always confuse me. There may be cases when both are correct. So I need more explanation.

Thank you


texts: Where is the verb "be" in "This page intentionally left blank"?

texts:
"This page intentionally left blank" is a common sentence at the start of books/documents. I know it is correct, but why is it not expressed as "This page has been initially left blank"?

Is there a term to describe this phenomenon in English grammar? A useful link for further study will be appreciated. I have already read this relevant Q&A.


texts: By college, I understand as a school or a university. How to make sense of the College in the term 'Electoral College'?


texts:
Could you help me understand the following sentence:

There was not a line in her countenance, not a note in her soft and
sleepy voice, but spoke of an entire contentment with her life.

At first, I understood Every line in her face, every note in her soft and sleepy voice, said that she was entirely satisfy with her life
but my friend told me that it means

There was no line in her face, no note in her soft voice, that expressed that she was entirely satisfied with her life"

What is right and why?


texts: What does "one or two generations removed from the real pioneer days" mean?

texts:
My mother and the other women I knew as a child, just before World War II began, were farm women, one or two generations removed from the real pioneer days, gentled and domesticated by the time I came among them. (From ACT)

Does the text in bold modifying "farm women"? And what does the bold text mean anyway, “removed from the real pioneer days"?


texts:
Can I use this construction to mean "Know better than to do something"?

  You know not to interrupt when someone else is talking.

=

  You know better than to interrupt when someone else is talking.

Or does the first structure not exist?


texts: Sarcastic response using "accept bootstraps"

texts:
Saw this response on GoFundMe: "I want to donate enough to really help you out, but I can't figure out how to get GoFundMe to accept bootstraps"

I assume it's sarcasm but I don't get it - what does he mean by "accept bootstraps"?


texts: What's the difference between "mind" and "spirit"?

texts: For creating a paper about personal development in German, I use some English studies. I often find the words "mind" and "spirit" which have an identical German translation in online dictionaries. How can I best describe the difference?


texts:
I want to describe something like below,

  I can't ignore the emotion on people's face, I mean, those people who are important to me.

But it seems like I'm a cruel person, that's not true, I found a stranger in a sad mood, I would like to comfort him or her, to make she or he feel better, but here I want to stress that people who are important to me, I value their emotion very much.

So guys, how to say my meaning in a concise and accurate way?


texts: Is the use of "glows into life" in this context an example of wordplay?

texts:
For this text:

  I’m about to knock on the glass, but your laptop screen glows into life: Suddenly here’s our son’s hazy face, bringing you news from across the ocean.

It seems that "glows into life" is used in two ways at the same time:

The laptop screen lights up, bringing the narrator back into the reality and life. Because of what the narrator has described in the beginning of this novel, it makes someone feel like the narrator is in a very good place, such as fairyland or heaven.
The laptop screen lights up, becoming alive like a human being.

Is this an example of wordplay on the part of the author?

Excerpted from David Mitchell's novel The Gardener:

  Through the kitchen double-doors I watch you eating supper – carrot and coriander soup – and leafing through Country Living Magazine, dreaming of houses uncluttered by reality, by half a lifetime of memories, perhaps. But my, how well you look. White hair endows you with the demeanour of a friendly witch. Our geriatric radio – a wedding-present from my brother – is twittering away to itself. I’m about to knock on the glass, but your laptop screen glows into life: and suddenly here’s our son’s hazy face, bringing you news from across the ocean. What a world. He’s just had scrambled eggs and tomatoes for breakfast, he says, his course is just awesome.


texts:
We have November, so favorite topic to discuss is Christmas, already.

So, I realized, that favorite Christmas dish in USA is turkey.

But, I know, that turkey is also eaten on Thanksgiving day.

The twist is, that in my language (Czech), we have two words which translate back to English as Turkey. Basically one word for male and another word for female.

After having jokingly discussion about whether Americans eat male first and then female, or the other way around, I became too curious and need to ask.

So, in general, do Americans care about sex of the turkey they have on their plate?

P.S.: I can imagine this question being asked also either on Travelling or Cooking. I decided to ask it here, because the root question is language usage. But feel free to migrate it, if you feel my decision was wrong.


texts:
If someone asks about how much did you get or how many did you get about a total amount then will it be correct to say like this?:

  Now we know how many of how many tasks have been completed.

  How many lessons of the number of lessons you did?

and

  How much money of how much money did he get?

  How much money of the number of money did he get?


texts: "would you like" or "how would you like"?

texts:
Tell me please the difference between the following sentences!

  Hello there, how would you like a ticket to one of the most influential form of mass communication the world has ever known?

  Hello there, would you like a ticket to one of the most influential form of mass communication the world has ever known?

In this video the presenter used how. At first, I had thought that the presenter meant something like: In what way would you like me to provide a ticket..., until I looked up the phrase in this dictionary, which says that it basically means to offer something, except you think someone will like. But I still cannot see the difference, and how the word how can make it.


texts:
Which of the following two sentences is correct?

  There is one primary station and multiple secondary stations.

  There are one primary station and multiple secondary stations.

I think the first one is correct. But I don't know the reason.


texts: When do I use 'of' after 'little', 'some', and 'lots' and when can I omit it?

texts:
I think most of these sentences are correct:

A little bit of bread.
A little of bread. (Is this correct?)
A little of that.
A little time gone.
Some of that bread.
Some people.
Lots of work.
A lot of work.
Lots more.

If so, when do I use of after those words? (little, some, lots)


texts: Can a parenthesis come between a "to" and its infinitive?

texts:
Is it okay for a parenthesis to come between to + infinitive, or should it stay as a one-part whether it's before or after the parenthesis?

  I began to, when it left me and disappeared, desire it

And I wonder if it's the same case with used to + infinitive:

  Where are my dreams when they used to, however I go, go


texts: What is an adverbial clause of this sentence?

texts:
I am learning English grammar. And I was doing exercises of replacing adverbial phrase with adverbial clause. And I am unable to replace adverbial phrase with adverbial clause in the following sentence:

"with a view to early retirement he saved his money."

First of all please explain what this sentence is saying. And what can be adverbial clause of this sentence.?

Thanks


texts: Useful transitional phrases for scientific writing

texts:
I am writing a scientific paper at the moment and need a hint for some formulations...

I already got some sentences/phrases for my paragraphs:

At first our approach was...
Due to the performance issues...
In addition to that...
Additionally...
In our cases...
Those optimizations, which are essential...
For calculating this problem...
Furthermore a problem was...
Besides there is the another solution of...

Could you supply some more synonyms or other ideas for starting a paragraph?

Would something like Next I want to point out... be correct?


texts: "Have waited" vs. "did wait" vs. "have been waiting"

texts:
My friend is waiting for me at bus stand; I arrive and I want to ask him about the time he waited for me. How would I say?

  How long have you waited for me?

  How long did you wait for me?

  How long had you waited for me?

  How long had you been waiting for me?

  How long have you been waiting for me?


texts:
What phrase is acceptable to say to someone who taught you something new?

In my native language if someone taught you one thing new that you didn't know before (for example: he corrected me for a mistake and explained me a new rule to avoid it) then we tell him something that can be translated into: Tank you, I've became smart/er or "Thank you. Iv'e got smarter." Then my question what is the parallel phrase in English? (Maybe, "Thank you I('ve) learnt something new", will work?)


texts:
what is the meaning of "under his own initials" in this context?

  Mrs. Fox and her three daughters began public sittings in New York in
  the spring of 1850, at Barnum's Hotel, and they attracted many curious
  visitors. The Press was almost unanimous in denunciation of them. A
  brilliant exception to this was found in Horace Greeley, already
  quoted, who wrote an appreciative article in his paper under his own
  initials. A portion of this will be found in the Appendix.

from http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks03/0301051h.html


texts: Is this sentence, 'try to relieve her by lightening her mood', correct?

texts: Is this sentence, "try to relieve her by lightening her mood", correct, and if so, what is the difference here between lighten and relieve?


texts:
Lines from One Direction Song Steal my Girl:

  I don't exist

  If I don't have her

  The sun doesn't shine,

  The world doesn't turn,

  Alright (alright)

Are these lines grammatically correct? What do they mean? What kind of conditional sentence it is I can't make it out.


texts:
No one knew much about sleep.

In this sentence, what does "about sleep" modify, the verb "knew" or the pronoun "much".

If I change this sentence into passive,

  Not much about sleep was known.

(Or)

  Not much was known about sleep.


texts: Shouldn't I use verb in base form when I use did?

texts:
I took an online class at English Live and the teacher told that the correct phrase is "What subject did you taught as a teacher?".
Isn't it "What subject did you teach as teacher?".
Why did she use taught? She said that I should use verb in past tense, but I'm using "did", shouldn't it be in base form?


texts: Can I say "exercise to a better health"?

texts: Can I say "exercise to a better health" instead of "exercise for a better health"?


texts:
I received a letter, saying something.

Is the word 'saying' a gerund or participle? It bugs me all the day.


texts: Unable to understand the extact meaning of 'OR' in a sentance?

texts:
I'm applying for a home loan and there is an sentence which is quite confusing for me. Please help me to solve this confusion. Here is the sentence -

As per the same, the maximum amount of loan towards the cost of land can be allowed up to 50% of the project cost or the eligible limit, whichever is lower, and the balance amount of limit will be available towards construction of house.

My doubt is that what does - "50% of the project cost or the eligible limit" mean ?
For eg. if project cost is 100 and my eligibility is 60 then am I eligible for 50 or 30 ?


texts: "I wouldn't want to..." vs. "I didn't want to..."?

texts:
I wouldn't want you to do that
  I didn't want you to do that

We use "would not" to talk about repeated past actions that are not true in the present, and "did not" for actions completed in the past.

If both sentences are about the past, what is the difference in meaning between them? I'm quite confused.


texts: Changing a question between active and passive voice

texts:
How do I say

  Did you fed my fish?

in the passive voice?

How do I ask

  What's drawn?

in the active voice


texts: how to express century and what is the meaning of them

texts:
We have both 1900s and 1900's to express 20th century. What is the difference between these two expression?
For example,

  in the early 1900's marine biologists realized that if new measures were not taken...,

In this case, does 1900's refer to the period of the year of 1900 or the span from 1900 to 1999?


texts:
Moaning Myrtle was crying noisily in her cubicle, but they were ignoring her, and she them.

I guess it just means she was ignoring them too. But I have never seen this kind of structure before. Is it common? Any other examples for this kind of structure? What does it truly mean?

-- From Harry Potter.


texts:
I was wondering if "could" and "should" can be ambiguous in these contexts:

I could have done it - meaning either "I had the chance to do it but I didn't" or "I might have done it but I don't remember if I really have" (there is a possibility that I did it)
I should have thrown it away - meaning either "I needed to have thrown it away but I didn't" or "I must have thrown it away but I don't remember doing it"

I'm however unsure if "could/should" can be used in such a way.


texts:
Today I got confused with the sentence:

  "When was he hung and they freed?"

How should it be said if I want to use only one auxiliary verb?

  1) When was he hung and they freed?

  2) When were he hung and they freed?

Please, explain this to me


texts: English equivalent of a Spanish expression that translates to "iron fist, crystal jaw"

texts:
There is an expression in Spanish Puño de hierro, mandíbula de cristal whose English translation is iron fist, crystal jaw. But that doesn't make sense to an English person (I suppose) because I used that in a conversation with a native English speaker and she did not understand. English is not my first language so I don't know the correct equivalent.
That expression refers to a person who can insult others (thus "iron fist" which means that he can hit someone easily) but the same person in question can't bear it when someone else insults him (thus "crystal jaw" which can mean that when someone hits them, their jaw easily breaks).
Does such an expression exist in English?


texts: "forms of beauty which later became immortal in breathing marble" - breating marble?

texts:
Reading a story by H. P. Lovecraft, I am unsure about the meaning of "breathing" in the following:

There he would meditate upon the visions that filled his mind, and
there devise the forms of beauty which later became immortal in
breathing marble.

The only thing that comes to my mind is that the sculptures were lifelike as if they breath?


texts: "Last seven years" or "Past seven years"

texts:
Regarding time, years, which of these two words — last or past— should be used to state tense of time passed?

  Sister Esther and her family have been members of our church for the last/past seven years.

In this particular sentence which word would work best? And what would their respective meanings convey?


texts:
What is the difference between 'He can’t read or write.' and 'He can't read and wirte.'?
Don't both sentences mean same sense?
On the English-Korean dictionary, I found that 'He can't read or write' mean 'He can't do both reading and writing.'.
As far as I know, 'or' mean 'only one' of many things that connected by 'or'.
I'am very confusing!!!

Off-topic but, It's terribly difficult for me to make sentences to ask questions... :-(


texts:
In formal English can we replace and with ","?

  Traditional UK food is fish and chips and roast beef and roast potatoes with Yorkshire pudding.

Can we re-write it as following:

  Traditional UK food is fish and chips, roast beef and roast potatoes with Yorkshire pudding.


texts: "That the Earth is round" vs "The earth being round"

texts:
A friend of mine recently got this question wrong on a test, but the teacher apparently wasn't able to explain why they got it wrong (at least not clearly).
The question is:

  __________ is a known fact today, but it was considered a dangerous lie when it was proposed.

  The Earth is round
  That the Earth is round
  The Earth being round
  Knowing that the Earth is round

The correct answer is (2), but most students found (3) to be an acceptable answer as well. Personally I also found (3) to be acceptable, though I instinctively think (2) is a better answer, which is of no help to my friend.

Can someone explain exactly what is grammatically wrong with the other choices?


texts:
What does "the architect" mean in football (soccer) context?
MISS! More sharp play has City bearing down on goal once more. Silva is again the architect, driving forward unchallenged before finding Aguero on the overlap to his left. The Argentine elects to aim for Cech's near post, but miscues and sends his shot straight to the Cech's feet.


texts:
Is it common to remove auxiliary verbs from questions in spoken English?

the following is a subtitle from The Verdict movie.

  Frankie! Frankie, you all right?


texts: The differences between 'take after' and 'look like'?

texts:
What is the exact meaning of every sentence?

I look like my grandmother.

I take after my grandmother.


texts: Time - How to say that a time range is not very large/ small?

texts:
For example, when talking/writting to someone about when I'm available.

  This week I'll be available on Friday from 5PM to 6PM.
   I know it's
  not a very wide/range range/lapse but...blahblah

1) What's the correct way to express "very wide/range/lapse" when talking about time?

2) The same but saying that it's small instead of saying it's not large.

3) Are there commonly used expressions to say the same both in formal and informal contexts?


texts:
Could a sentence like this one below be proper?

"She was sleeping or in some other state of repose."

'Was' forms the past continuous tense in this case, can it still work as a normal verb - to be - in the following part of a sentence?


texts: On the wallpaper is a horse - is the sentence correct?

texts:
On the wallpaper there is a horse.

Is the sentence correct or must I change it somehow?

In other words:

Is there any difference between these sentences?

There is a picture of a horse on the wallpaper.
On the wallpaper there is a picture of a horse.

My question relates to a phone screen.

Does the sentence beginning with "On" sound artificial to you or is it perfectly correct?

Could I write?:

  On the phone screen there is a wallpaper of a horse.

  On the phone screen there is a horse wallpaper.

or

  On the phone screen is a wallpaper of a horse.

  On the phone screen is a horse wallpaper.


texts: Wondering what the word "bear" mean here

texts:
This faith (religion) bears a strong bond to the nation Turkey.

Based on my perception it has nothing to do with a close relationship !


texts: "Via a phone call" or "with a phone call"?

texts:
In an email signature I have

  Please keep in mind that scheduling is best done via a phone call

or would it be better to write “with a phone call”?
Customers want to use email to schedule appointments with me and it is much easier when they call me, so what is the best way to get that point across without sounding like a brat?


texts: "something just not come easy" -- correct grammatical structure with implied meaning

texts:
Would it be right to say

  Fame and glory just not come easy.

meaning "someone should work hard to become famous"?


texts: Past tense or present perfect in this sentence?

texts:
I'm just wondering if in the following sentence I have to insert a present perfect or a past tense form of the verb give:

Explorer James Cook explored the east coast of Australia and ... (give) New South Wales its name.

It should be in the present perfect ("has given"), shouldn't it? If yes, why, if no, why not?

Thanks for your answers!


texts: Can I describe the time like "eleven thirty hours"?

texts:
I'm reading now "Inherit the Stars". In the book there is a expression like this:

  "Make it round about eleven thirty hours," Gray advised.

Normally the "hours" is skipped, right?

Is this expression right English? Or is it just kind of SF language?


texts: Why do people sometimes use BE instead of Am/Is/Are?

texts:
For example, In the lyrics of the "Pumped Up Kicks" song you can see this:

"He be coming home late, he is coming home late"

I assume that "he be coming home late" has the same meaning as "He comes home late", meaning that this is what normally happens?

Or is it just the same as "he is coming home late", which means his coming home late at the moment of saying that?


texts: which one is correct "Let this process to be completed"

texts:
Which one is correct?

  Let this process to be completed.

or

  Let this process to complete.


texts:
Which word out of "for" and "to" should I use in the following sentence:

  The board has issued roll number slips to/for private candidates.