texts: Which's suggested in the article? - Test 3, Q22, by Mark Shepherd

texts:
From Mastering the National Admissions Test for Law by Mark Shepherd, page 144, the last two sentences of paragraph two:

    ...Even before this period, there is evidence that the
    unemployed were more likely to report themselves as retired or permanently sick
    when unemployment rates were high, as both an economic and psychological coping
    strategy. These factors may have resulted in a healthier profile for the ‘officially’
    unemployed in such areas...

Question 22, p.145:

  It is suggested in the article that:
  (a) Not everyone who is unemployed reports themselves as such
  (b) Not everyone who is sick reports themselves as such
  (c) More people report themselves as unemployed than actually are
  (d) More people report themselves as sick than actually are
  (e) None of the above

From the answer key, p.236:

  (a) CORRECT. In the third paragraph it is said that ‘there is evidence that the
  unemployed were more likely to report themselves as retired or permanently
  sick when unemployment rates were high’. This implies that not everyone
  who is unemployed always reports themselves as such.
  (b), (c), (d) INCORRECT. This is not considered in the article.
  (e) INCORRECT. See above.

I answered (d), but why's it wrong? Doesn't the quoted part prove (d)? Did I misread something?


texts:
How do I use least and less? for example, can I say this? This is a novel I'm writing and the character who says this phrase is supposed to be ignorant and immature.

  Come on, hop on my back and try to make this the least silly possible, I don't want the girls to see this.

or

  Come on, hop on my back and try to make this the less silly possible,  I don't want the girls to see this.

or

  Come on, hop on my back and try to make this as less as silly possible,  I don't want the girls to see this.


texts:
A friend who accompanies/accompanying a teenager on a shopping trip may pick out the clothes that he or she decides to purchase.

Does who accompanies/accompanying a teenager on a shopping trip act as an adjective to modify friend?

  A friend (who accompanies/accompanying a teenager on a shopping trip) may pick out the clothes that he or she decides to purchase.

Is it the "friend" who will pick out the clothes or "a teenager" who will pick out the clothes"?

And what does he or she represent here, does it mean the friend or the teenager?


texts: Does "take the wind out of someone" imply exactly the same thing as "take the wind out of someone's sails"

texts:
I came across a sentence like below (Reference)

  It took the wind out of me.

I know that the phrase "take the wind out of someone’s sails" means to make someone feel less confident, usually by saying or doing something unexpected.

I am wondering if "to take the wind out of someone" implies the same as "take the wind out of someone’s sails" in general?


texts: Redundancy caused by the peculiar structure of a sentence

texts:
This is from "The Call of Cthulhu" by H.P. Lovecraft:

  The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the
  human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island
  of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not
  meant that we should voyage far. The sciences, each straining in its
  own direction, have hitherto harmed us little; but some day the
  piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying
  vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we
  shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the light into
  the peace and safety of a new dark age.

It seems that "and of our frightful position therein" stands for "and terrifying vistas of our frightful position therein", However, it seems a bit improper, because we're basically saying "but some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality and will open up such terrifying vistas of our frightful position therein.", which is extremely redundant, and perhaps ungrammatical. Is this the case? What do you think about this?


texts: What is the add-addition equivalent of edit?

texts:
"The addition of so many accounts will be difficult".

How would I say this if had to replace "addition" with "edit"? I know modification would mean the same thing but I want to know how will I construct this sentence if I had to use "edit".


texts:
Let's say it's the first paragraph of a book. Should it be written with definite articles:

  The gun pointed to his brow, Mark stood silently looking at the table and the thickly carved turkey.

Or with indefinite articles(?):

  A gun pointed to his brow, Mark stood silently looking at a table and a thickly carved turkey.

The logic behind the latter is that the reader doesn't yet know what: gun, table or turkey it is exactly.

Here's the first sentence from King's The Gunslinger

  "The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed."

But the reader doesn't know which man in black, which gunslinger or desert.

How does such narration differ from what we, learners are taught. Which is, if it wasn't previously mentioned you'd use indefinite article.


texts:
So I was shopping with my friends and found a nice shirt that I wanted to buy then asked my friend sayin “Will I buy this?”

So, my question is, is ‘Will’ able to be used in this kind of context? Or does ‘Should’ sound better?

I also want to ask you which sentence is the better one?

  Will I do this for you?
  Should I do this for you?

Thanks in advance


texts:
Does "Let's put X off until next week" mean dealing with X during next week or before next week starts?
"The" shouldn't follow "until" in the sentence, should it?


texts: How to inform the link of a scheduled online meeting in formal emails?

texts: I am writing a formal email to someone to send him the link of a scheduled online meeting. I have already acknowledged him before about the meeting. I can not figure out the most appropriate and formal way to say "Here is the link for tomorrow's session"


texts:
I'm trying to re-write published newspaper articles for practice writing.

The original reads:

  We seem to forget that we all have some rights over the government. The government has come into being primarily to serve the needs of the
  citizen, which he as an individual or as a member of a small community
  cannot take care. It is important we have an accountable government.

I wrote:

  We seem to forget that we all have some rights over the government. The government came* into being primarily to serve the needs of
  a citizen, which he as an individual or as a member of a small community cannot take care. It is important that we have an
  accountable government.

I really don't understand why "that" is correct the first sentence and not second?


texts:
I was discussing with some people about which form is more correct regarding a Municipality, or other territory divisions.
For example, regarding to a map of the municipality, is it more correct to use:

"Map of the Municipality of Lisbon"
"Map of the Lisbon Municipality"
"Lisbon Municipality Map"

Or are all of them correct?
Which one would be used in a formal/informal context?
Couldn't find much about it online, besides example usages of the forms.


texts: Is there a name "-phobia" for fear of tape? For example duct tape, tesa film and stickers

texts:
I heard there are people who are afraid of tape, such as duct tape, tesa film and stickers.

I tried to find the name of the symptom, but I couldn't find it.
Is there a medical term for it, like "-phobia"?


texts: Finding the money isn't easy or money being found isn't easy?

texts:
Finding the money isn't easy.
It isn't easy Finding the money.

Is it possible to use passive gerund 'money being found' instead of 'Finding the money'?
e.g:

money being found isn't easy.
It isn't easy money being found.


texts: What is the difference between "them" and "them all"?

texts:
The OALD gives two examples using them all.

  I cut them all a piece of birthday cake.

  I cut a piece of birthday cake for them all.

Is there any difference between using them, and them all in those sentences? Is it just a matter of informal speech?


texts:
Which one is the right format?

Who is the man who is Jane talking to?
Who is the man who Jane is talking to?


texts: Is the following present perfect tense correct?

texts:
I have been to Madrid in 1990.

Is the above present perfect tense correct?

Why or why not?


texts:
Does that literally mean 'a talk about books'?

Here is where I saw that word.

  Whatever he feels, he can put into language. And no mere commonplace language, either, but out-and-out book talk - and bristling with metaphor, too- just bristling!


texts: Is it correct to say: "out of nostalgia for [someone]"?

texts:
I'm a bit unsure because I didn't find that usage on Google.

Example sentence:

  She came back to New Work out of nostalgia for Mark.


texts: Where is the/a hospital/post office/hotel/park?

texts:
I am new to this town.

Where is the hospital/post office/hotel/park?

Where is a hospital/post office/hotel/park?

Where can I find the hospital/post office/hotel/park?

Where can I find a hospital/post office/hotel/park?

Can you compare "the" and "a" before these nouns? Which are correct? If all of them are correct, what is the difference?


texts:
Context: Mike is at a party on the fifth floor of a building. There's an open view down to the fourth floor, and an open spiral staircase leading down there and not further. Mike gets into a fight with someone and decides to leave.

Mike flips them off and heads off downstairs.

Mike flips them off and heads off down the stairs.

Mike flips them off and heads off down the spiral staircase.

Could I use all these three sentences without problems? Which one would you use in the context?


texts:
I've always pronounced “chase” with a z sound instead of s.
This will go with the rule that s is pronounced z if it is between 2 vowels.
I see anyway that the correct pronunciation is with s.
Chase - Cambridge Dictionary
Is there a reason or rule for that?


texts:
Speakers of languages such as Italian and Spanish tend to have difficulty pronouncing the 'I' in words such as it and is correctly. For example, they might pronounce "it is" as "eat ease."

Are there any good exercises that can help them pronounce the 'I' correctly?


texts: How to treat the verb after 'work' when treating 'work' as a plural

texts:
I want to refer to several studies (which I call it work). It is plural. I am not sure whether I should use s with the verb after it or not?

Previous work shows that ..

OR

Previous work show that ..


texts:
The storm left the whole town a wilderness.

What does this "leave" mean here?

It sounds like the usage of "leave him a billionaire."
Am I right?


texts: "He was too busy to work at a factory" - Is this sentence correct in grammar?

texts:
I know this sentence is correct.He was too busy working at a factory.

but I wonder whether this sentence is correct and natural. (specially in grammar)
He was too busy to work at a factory.


texts: Can 'look after', 'take care of' and 'care for' be used interchangeably in this context?

texts:
Here's the context:

I'm advising my students to keep their bodies clean to prevent themselves from diseases, lice, et cetera.

Of the three following sentences that refer to the importance of the practice of keeping themselves (and their living areas, where possible) clean in order to prevent illness, disease, et cetera, which is grammatically the best?

You have to look after your hygiene.
You have to take care of your hygiene.
You have to care for your hygiene.


texts:
If I ever told you I like apples: I lied.

or

  If I ever told you I like apples; I lied.


texts:
Let's say a general is making a promise to the public about criminals, and he say:

  I will absolutely catch criminals, with the best of my abilities, wherever they go

Or

  I will absolutely catch criminals, with the best of my ability, wherever they went

My questions are: is 'abilities' correct over 'ability'?, and if 'go' is the correct word over 'went'


texts: Understanding “Later I was to appreciate how far it fell short of the reality”

texts:
As was suggested there, I'v moved my question in here. I'm expecting to get some distinct references to grammar [if it is possible] to make my thoughts clear / sticking to rules

I understand the following sentence by context, but I have questions about it.

  Later I was to appreciate how far it fell short of the reality

My questions are:

What is the form of "I was to appreciate" (where infinitive is used) in English. Why isn't it "I appreciated" ? (The reason I ask is because I would never say it the way it is in the quote)
For the part with "how far it fell short..." why are "far" and "short" used together?  They are usually considered antonyms (to some extent). I would just say: "How far It fell FROM the reality"


texts: Meaning of "would" in "Japan Would Make Akihito Emperor, but She Called Him ‘Jimmy’ "

texts:
Does the "would" in this context :

  Japan Would Make Akihito Emperor, but She Called Him ‘Jimmy’

mean :

  Japan accepted to make Akihito Emperor

?

Source: The headline of this newspaper article.


texts: Which word fits best? Synonyms: Portrayals, representations, images?

texts:
I am obliged to translate theme of essay into english.

Which one is the best? Are they close synonyms and one can use them interchangeably? Can they be used in plural?

Wordnik says that:

image - A vivid description or representation.
portrayal - A word picture of a person's appearance and character.
representation - A description or statement.


texts: Can I put reflexive pronoun between between the verb and the preposition in phrasal verb liven up?

texts:
I'm going to liven myself up a little by going for a run.

I found the above sentence from Cambridge Dictionary, and can I rewrite the sentence as I'm going to liven up myself a little by going for a run?

I know when the direct object of the phrasal verb is a pronoun (like it), you cannot use the inseparable way. That means we have to put the pronoun right after the verb. But for a reflexive pronoun, is the rule same? Is my rewrite correct?


texts: If clause with both sentences in simple past

texts:
Knowing the standard rules for if clauses I have always wondered whether some speakers just use the if part as if (no pun intended) it were a non-conditional sentence.

I am just watching a movie and have the following example:

  If you knew then why did you...

where the speaker finds out that the other person had known that the victim was innocent but still punished him despite this knowledge.

So obviously both things happened in the past - not only grammatically but actually.

My question
When is this non-standard form used? Is it informal? Is it American English (they sometimes say things like "If I would..." and this is also an American movie)? And how is this form called grammatically?


texts:
Is the sentence below correct?

  He sent you here, did he?

I have learned that in English the first form of the verb is used with did.

  Did he send you?

Even I feel the sentence below is correct:

  He has sent you here, has he?


texts: "And that in itself for some was a statement" meaning

texts:
In the Wikipedia article of Freddie Mercury[1], we read:

  "[Mercury] was a 'scene-queen,' not afraid to publicly express his
  gayness, but unwilling to analyse or justify his 'lifestyle' ... It
  was as if Freddie Mercury was saying to the world, 'I am what I am. So
  what?' And that in itself for some was a statement." In an article for AfterElton, Robert Urban stated: "Mercury did not ally himself to 'political outness,' or to GLBT causes."

But what does that line mean? A statement of what? Could you also please tell me what does "causes" mean in this context? I looked up a dictionary, but didn't find an appropriate meaning, except "social goal" or "purpose". Thank you.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Mercury#Sexual_orientation


texts: Is there any differences in two sentences?

texts:
Here are two sentences below.

I would have taken a lot for her to say that.
I would have taken her a lot to say that.
The position of 'a lot' makes the difference?


texts:
I feel like I've seen a grammar rule somewhere that explained like, "You must answer could questions with the modal can". But I've seen quite a few cases that are opposite, such as...

  Q: (turns on AC) Could you feel the cool breeze from outside?

  A: Yes! I could really feel it!

Is it just a trivial grammar misuse that even natives make all the time, or does 'could' have some other usages for it, or does the word 'really' neutrallize(?) the hypothetical senses of could here?


texts:
I found this book the most interesting.
According to a book, the should be removed. Why?
Shall I have to mention that of all the books that I've read so far, this one was the most interesting? (or even here "the" has been wrongly placed before "most")
what about the use of "the" before most in this sentence.
He is the most intelligent student of this class. (Correct I think)


texts:
In my book, I came across with this sentence:

  The result of the match was ............... as far as human self-esteem was concerned.

(The context is about a chess match between a human and a machine; the human wins)

There are two possible word choices:

salubrious
facetious

At the end of the book, the correct answer is given which is salubrious.

Questions:

1): I cant figure out the highlighted sentence completely. Given to the context, I can guess the author want to imply a surprising fact which is the victory of human being over a computer in a chess match. Am I right? Would you help me to understand the sentence?

2): Why is salubrious the correct answer as matter of the fact that facetious has some humorous or amusing connotation  which concurs with my thoughts about surprising content of the sentence.


texts:
The location should be locked-off and secured to maintain
  cleanliness.

I couldn't find the meaning from dictionaries. Does "locked-off" mean "isolated"?


texts:
I've seen this sentence in a text :

"I would always have liked to have..."

It's weird to me, I feel it would be better if I say this way:

"I would have always liked to have..."

What's the proper place for 'always' in third conditional sentences? Can it be both?
Thank you!


texts: opened off the school library; opened to where?

texts:
The room set aside for the guidance department at Winterdown Comprehensive opened off the school library. It had no windows and was lit by a single strip light.
  (The Casual Vacancy, J. K. Rowling)

When the room is opened off the library, does it mean that the room’s door is opened onto the library - opened outward? Or is it contrary - opened inward? Or is it quite different from both mentioned?


texts:
What's the difference between Smarten up and Wise up? is telling someone to wise up the same as telling them to smarten up?

For example:

  You need to smarten up and do your job better.

  You need to wise up and do your job better.


texts: One of my friends once said “At least you didn’t be diplomatic.”. It somehow felt a little unsettling. Is “didn’t be” acceptable? Is it grammatically correct?


texts: Would "I deeply hope I could be recognized." be more polite than "I deeply hope I can be recognized."? Do the 2 sentences express similar meaning?


texts: Which is correct or natural, "over a range" or "within a range"?

texts:
I created the following sentences:

  The room temperature can be adjusted within a range set by the room owner.
  The room temperature can be adjusted over a range set by the room owner.

According to a result of Google search I made, it seems that natives use the second one more frequently. However, I am afraid that "over" may be misinterpreted as "beyond".


texts:
I understand the usage of opt to (do something) and opt out (of something), but I'm a little confused about opt vs opt for. For example:

  Which Subjects did you _____?
  I _____ philosophy; he, however, was thinking of ______ criminology.

What is the correct usage in the above sentences, opt or opt for?


texts: How to identify absolute phrases, and use them properly?

texts:
Absolute phrases seem to be crucial for constructing sentences. I do understand it. But sometimes I get confused, when is see one in a sentence.
 "We abandoned the car in a narrow street by the mosque and Sam entered the shadowy doorway of some great tenement house, half of which consisted of shuttered and bared offices with blurred nameplates."
                                                                                In the above example. The term "Half of which consisted of shuttered and bared offices with blurred nameplates". Is it acting as an absolute phrase(which I think is modifying the one coming before it), having a noun and its participle?  Or is it an independent clause incorrectly attached to the another one?
 I read somewhere that absolute phrases uses non-action-verb  participle, how to tell if one is an action verb or not? "Consisted" is an action or non action verb?


texts: Is "like" here a conjunction or a preposition?

texts:
I'm sure you have heard something like, "You can do anything you want."

Is "like" a conjunction here?


texts: Rules for pronouncing prefixes and suffixes

texts:
I'm hoping 'this' is the right place, as my attempt on the Linguistic site failed miserably (it was moved to the ELL site, here -> Phonetic transcription of English prefixes and suffixes).

In case 'reasons' are required; I'm wanting to look at rhyme (true/near) and minimal pairs (true/near) (amongst other things) in both British and American English (I want to look at Canadian, South African and Australian later :D).  Though I have a large list of words, I'm missing the pronunciation of many inflections.  I thought I'd look at some dictionary entries, and noticed that many don't include transcriptions for inflected forms.
Apparently (according to comments on Ling.) this is because the pronunciation is generally standard.  I find this a little questionable - just looking at pluralisation shows three different pronunciations, and one of those creates an additional syllable.

I've found some general "rules of thumb" - but I'm left wondering how reliable/accurate they are.
I'm not expecting there to be rules without exception - but I'd like an idea if I'm looking at occasional exceptions, or lots of them.

* -s
    + [p] / [t] / [k] / [f] = 's'
    + [b] / [d] / [g] / [l] / [r] / [w] / [m] / [n] / [v] / [y] = 'z'
    + [tʃ] / [dʒ] / [s] / [z] = 'iz' (+additional syllable)
*-ed
    + [p] / [k] / [θ] / [f] / [s] / [ʃ] / [tʃ] = 't'
    + [b] / [g] / [ð] / [v] / [z] / [ʒ] / [dʒ] / [m] / [n] / [ŋ] / [r] / [l] = 'd'
    + [t] / [d] = 'əd' or 'ɪd' (+additional syllable)

Are such rules fairly consistent?
Can I apply them with a fair degree of accuracy?
Are there established/known exceptions (or better, sub-rules for exceptions)?
Any idea on how to identify whether a past-tense verb should have ''əd' or 'ɪd'?
Are there such rules for Prefixes as well as Suffixes?


texts:
I was scrolling through, and I confused when I saw this post, I dont understand Why " to be returned" used here.
What tense is it ?
What's that "to" for ?
We see end of the cartoon's " To be continued " And it means next episode will come, I mean it is future tense. But here I dont think this text is implying to future time.
.


texts:
The immigrants settled in the Midwest.

How to rephrase the sentence in passive voice? Should it be:

The Midwest was settled by the immigrants.
Or
The Midwest was settled in by the immigrants.

The point is, should I add a preposition "in"? Because "in" exists in the original sentence. But it seems to be correct without "in", because I found such an example in the dictionary:

  This territory was settled in the mid-1850s by German immigrants.

Notice the preposition "in" goes with the time "mid-1850s", not with "settled". Why didn't it add an extra "in" after "settled"?


texts:
I know that compound nouns can be made up of two or more words and linked using a hyphen. My 3-year-old apple-pie (boy) always asks me "What is it?" and sometimes "What is this/that?" and it's really annoying.

I wish to use the compound noun "what-is-it" in the plural form and say:

I'm so tired of his what-is-its.

Is this the correct plural form for such a compound noun?

I'm confused since different compound nouns are pluralized differently.

mother-in-law = mothers-in-law
court-martial = courts-martial or court-martials (both are accepted)
forget-me-not = Forget-me-nots
filler-in = fillers-in
run-in = run-ins

Does "what-is-it" change according to the first rule - When a noun is hyphenated with a preposition, the plural is formed on the noun or second rule - When neither word of a compound is a noun, the plural is formed on the last word?


texts:
I got up and opened the door.

Whether the given sentence is "Compound" or "simple".

I am really confused to distinguish between them.

Kindly, give me some hints to explain the difference between them.


texts: Usage of quantifier with an indefinite pronoun

texts:
When an indefinite pronoun is modified by a quantifier, does it always come after indefinite pronoun?

Eg: "Nothing much happened today".


texts: What is the difference between two sentences?

texts:
What is the difference between

  "This bad drawing of a dog is not acceptable for your project"

and

  "This bad draw of a dog is not acceptable for your project"

?


texts:
I am writing to my boss about just completed task.

  The document has been created and tested. The same was delivered to client.

Here what should be Used had been or has been. Since in second sentence I am using past "was" So I am confused


texts: Exercise keeps me in good shape : Is this sentence correct?

texts:
I've seen this two sentences im my country's English dictionary.

  I exercise every morning to keep myself in good shape.

  It's important for him to keep in good shape.

So i became curious if i can use the sentence below :

  Exercise keeps me in good shape.

Or, should I write the sentence like this? :

  Exercise helps me keep in good shape.


texts: What does this sentence mean: "We've gotten too good at pushing our own buttons."

texts:
A neuroscientist who specializes in eating behavior and obesity say: "We've gotten too good at pushing our own buttons".
This structure is very strange to me: have gotten + adjective + at + gerund.
Does the sentence refer to the fact that today we are surrounded by such hyperpalatable foods that we can not stop eating?


texts:
Pope  Gregory  XIII wanted to make a better plan. It  was  easy  to  take  10  days  away  from  the  calendar.  This  made  it  right  with  the  sun  again. There was still a problem: how to keep the calendar right in the future, year after year.

In this paragraph, what does "right with" mean?
Does it mean "without delay" or " at the same rate of the sun"?


texts: Which part of the sentence does "for about 1.4 million pounds" modify?

texts:
The Martins sold their house for about 1.4 million pounds.

I have two explanations of the this sentence:

(1) The Martins sold their house in order to get about 1.4 million pounds.

(2) The Martins sold their house which cost about 1.4 million pounds.

So I wonder which explanation is correct? How to understand "for" here?

Likewise, there is another sentence alike:

  The doctor was prepared to do the operation for a large sum.


texts:
When you are invited to the party from your boss and would like to join, is it appropriate to say "I'm in"? Does it sound too casual in a business setting?

I'd like to know more formal ways of saying.


texts: Help parse "I’ve lost the top off my shampoo bottle."

texts:
Consider:

  The 3rd entry for top in macmillan:

  I’ve lost the top off my shampoo bottle.

I fully understand the meaning of this example, but I'm not quite sure of what syntactic role off my shampoo bottle plays in it. In Chinese we don't say it like this. We would simply say "I’ve lost the top of my shampoo bottle."

It doesn't look like a preposition phrase modifying the top. It doesn't act as an object complement to me, either.

Meanwhile, is it OK to say "I’ve lost the top from my shampoo bottle."？


texts: Difference between "believe in" and "believe"

texts:
What's the difference between "believe" and "believe in" in the following sentences?

  I.
  Kate: Hey, John, do you believe in black magic and astrology?
  John: No, I don't believe in all those things.

  II.
  Kate: Hey, John, do you believe in black magic and astrology?
  John: No, I don't believe all those things.


texts: "Why didn't he make the decision?" versus "Why hasn't he made the decision?"

texts:
Which auxiliary verb should I put in a question like this and why?

Why didn't he make the decision?
Why hasn't he made the decision?


texts: Is it usage of passive form of past perfect tense : "She had been born with a congenital heart problem"

texts:
Is it usage of passive form of past perfect tense:

“She had been born with a congenital heart problem”

I got this sentence structure from Murakami's short story. Please explain to me.


texts:
People work hard, often too hard for money

Is this sentence correct?

Is "often too hard" a verb phrase?


texts: What do you call candidates in elections who don't actually have a chance to win and only create an illusion of competition?

texts: In Russian, there's a phrase which can be literally translated as 'a technical candidate' that refers to people who are allowed to elections only to serve as, put bluntly, election props that create a false impression of multiple competing candidates when, in fact, it's only one pro-government candidate and a few no-names no-one ever heard of. Don't confuse it with the similar but different term 'spoiler candidates' who are allowed to the ballot to poach some votes from undesirable opposition candidates (for example, by having the same last name, or a similar party name, or by having a similar alleged ideology but no real electorate). I've also come across the term 'a stalking horse candidate', but I don't have a clear idea what it means and it doesn't seem it's what I'm looking for. What do you say instead of 'a technical candidate' in English?


texts: What does the word "bust" mean in the phrase "housing bust"?

texts: I somehow know the concept (the housing crisis that happened in the US), but I don't know the exact meaning of "bust" here.


texts: Let me know about sound-producing flatus

texts:
I want to know that the flatus which produce sound is said to be _______.

In other words, when someone farts but produce sound with it, that action is said to be (a) ______?


texts: One day I [do something] and another day I [don't]

texts:
Could somebody help to understand if it is possible to use the phrase in the title in situations when you change you mind on certain subject, for example: "I can't decide on my future career. One day I dream of becoming a doctor, and another day I want to be a pilot." I wonder if I need to use preposition 'on' in this case.
Thanks for your advice.


texts: Why is there no perfect tense in this context?

texts:
"Come on, Hermione," Ron muttered desperately.    Hermione had
  fought her way across to the stand where Snape stood, and was now
  racing along the row behind him; she didn't even stop to say
  sorry as she knocked Professor Quirrell headfirst into the row in
  front. Reaching Snape, she crouched down, pulled out her wand, and
  whispered a few, well- chosen words. Bright blue flames shot from her
  wand onto the hem of Snape's robes.  (Harry Potter and the
  Sorcerer's Stone)

It seems that Hermione had knocked into the front of row behind Snape, and then raced along the row until she reached Snape. If this is right, why is there no perfect tense after the semi-colon?


texts: What does the sentence "How bad could it be?" mean here?

texts:
Please help me figure out the meaning of the sentence "How bad could it be?" from the following text in the description of the app Dadish 2:

Your naughty little sprouts have shown up to your job unannounced and
need help getting out of trouble. How bad could it be…?

I am wondering if the said sentence can work as a fixed idiom.
There can be two possibilities. One is that the situation couldn't be worse. Another is that the author wants to know about the scale of the difficulties faced by the author.
Here is a description of the app from Google Play:

He’s a dad, and a radish, and he’s back in his biggest adventure yet!
After an impromptu “Bring Your Kids To Work Day” goes awry, Dadish
sets off to find his missing children. Along the way he’ll wade
through swamps, ride rockets, climb a big tree, and even visit outer
space!


texts: Is it a continuation of infinitive or the verb of subject?

texts:
He gives examples to illustrate his life with friends in the past and
  express his feelings about his life now.

  He gives examples to illustrate his life with friends in the past and
  expresses his feelings about his life now.

In the above two sentences, the singularity or the plurality of the verb express changes the context.

I believe both are fine, just need a confirmation and/or a rule to back it up.

Is express a continuation of infinitive to illustrate or the verb of He, or could either be the case?


texts: In spoken English, is it correct to reply with a verb phrase in its simple present form?

texts:
In spoken English, is it correct to reply with a verb phrase in its simple present form when the speaker omits the subject? Or the phrase should be used in the corresponding tense.

Example 1

  A: What have you done recently?

  B: Hang out with friends. (Option 1)

  B: Hung out with friends.(Option 2)

  B: Have hung out with friends.(Option 3)

Example 2

  A: What did you do yesterday?

  B: Go to the movies. (Option 1)

  B: Went to the movies. (Option 2)

Example 3

  What are you doing?

  B: Play games. (Option 1)

  B: Playing games. (Option 2)


texts: Question about the tense of "is" in "We are sorry that we thought it is well-known"

texts:
Yes, Smith's paper is a classic. We are sorry that we thought it is well-known and did not cite it.

I do not feel secure with the tense here. After the verb 'thought', is 'is' okay? Or should it be 'was'?


texts:
In my daily report, I would say

  I have finished my last work task and waiting for a new one.

But I think "wait" is not positive. Is there any alternative for here?


texts: She couldn't come vs. she couldn't have come

texts:
What is the difference between "couldn't come" and "couldn't have come"?

When we compare the below two example sentences:

  She couldn't come to the party.

and

  She couldn't have come to the party.

Is there any difference in their nuance and meaning?


texts:
Me, I’ve got a date with a dame who winks neon, serves bourbon,
  lives light, loves rough, and lets me have all the best lines. (BBC.
  Radio 4)

Does the bold-faced part mean she winks and becomes neon, or she winks of the type of neon?


texts:
I have the following sentence:

  It shows up when any organization or preset settings are saved.

It uses any with a singular noun (organization) then comes a plural noun (settings), should be followed by 'are saved'? Or should I rephrase to:

  It shows up when any organization or preset setting is saved.


texts:
I'm looking for an expression. Let me explain:

I have a meeting at certain time. What I want to say is that I will be there in time, but not before. I'll be there too close to time meeting.

I would excuse myself to not arrive with more than enough time. I was thinking in something like I'll arrive in time or just in time (which both would be true... I guess), but those expressions look to me that I will arrive some time before the meeting.
For instance, if the meeting would be at 19:30, I'll arrive at 19:29 or even 19:30, but I will be there, anyway.


texts: please, explain "the" in "the school assemblies"

texts:
Please, explain to me the usage of "the" in the bold in the text:

  The other kids could mutter all they want and make fun of him, but Chad knew they wished their dads were as daring as his. The school assemblies that Bruce Michaels spoke at each year were always the most popular and talked about.


texts: What does listening between the lines mean here?

texts:
Listen carefully?
Between the lines

"You have to always be listening, and listening between the lines, to your customer,” Perlman says.

Source: CNBC


texts:
He [Climbed / Climbed up] a tree

Does using climb or climb up in the above sentence makes any difference ? I think the only difference is while using the latter one one is specifying the direction i.e. He is going up on the tree e.g. If it was He climbed down the tree one mean to say he came down from the tree, but while using former one (just climbed instead of climbed up )it is not explicit but implicit that he is going up on the tree. Is there any other difference than this ? Or is it incorrect to use climb without up/down ?


texts: Meaning of "I know it's over 'cause my feet have hit the cold floor"

texts:
We listened to the song "Made to love" by Toby Mac in my classroom. Unfortunately, we could not understand the phrase:

  I know it's over 'cause my feet have hit the cold floor
  Check my reflection, I ain't feelin' what I see
  It's no mystery

So, we could not understand why does he talk about his feet and cold floor. We thought that it was an idiom, but we did not find something similar to it. I will be very grateful for explanation.


texts:
We think of a day as being the time from when we wake up to the time we go to sleep. Exactly when a person wakes up and goes to sleep is not important.

Shouldn't the phrase, think A as B, means A equals B? A day should be some kind of 'time', not "being the time"?


texts: What does the phrase "to spin the Payload Event Wheel" mean here?

texts:
Please help me figure out the meaning of the phrase "to spin the Payload Event Wheel" in the following sentence from the description of the game FRAG Pro Shooter:

Starting in November for five days, take part in the Payload Mode
Event; there’s a special bundle available with event tickets to spin
the Payload Event Wheel, along with one or many big chests.

Also, I am confused about the phrase"along with one or many big chests". Does the phrase mean that the special bundle is available along with chests? Or are bundle and chests two separate entities here?


texts:
We have the structure "cup your hands" meaning "to make a shape like a cup with your hands".
It seems like we don't have the structure "cup your arms" to mean "to make a shape like a cup with your arms".
Do we have a phrase to express "to form arms in a shape of a cup"?
For example, "cup your arms together so that I can throw the ball into them"?


texts: repeat, repetitive and repeated distinction when being adjective

texts:
Rahm Emanuel, the embattled Democratic mayor who faces demands to
  resign over continued citywide gun violence, turned the blame onto
  criminals and repeat offenders during a Monday press conference.

I think repeat is an adjective in this context, because according to Free dictionary, repeat:

  adj.
  Of, relating to, or being something that repeats or is repeated: a repeat offender; a repeat performance of the play.

Repetitive and repeated can also be adjectives. I'm curious how to distinct these three words, repeat, repetitive and repeated?

For example, repeated attempts to kill him VS repetitive attempts to kill him VS repeat attempts to kill him?

Any thought?


texts: Which future form do we use in 'I am [to buy] that flat'?

texts:
This sentence is a bit confusing to me. Can you please tell me the correct answer to it and why not the other choices?

  I _____________ that flat. It's small and the kitchen is awful.

  A) am not buying
  B) am not going to buy
  C) will not buy

I feel that all the answers fit in their own context!

Thanks for any given help.


texts: Definite article before name of languages

texts:
Should I use the definite article before name of languages?

(the?) Persian language
(the?) German language
(the?) Arabic language
(the?) Russian language
(the?) English language

Some language name may also refer to other things, so you need language word after their name.


texts: Why use "like" In the question "What is a typical home like there?

texts: I found this Question in a student book and I can't understand why not "What is a typical home there?"


texts: How should I use "go + present participle"?

texts:
I read some activities are commonly expressed in English by "go + present participle."
However, I found a sentence like "Let's go ride a bike!" and I am wondering which sentence I should use.

  Yesterday, I went riding a bike.

  Yesterday, I went ride a bike.

  Let's go riding a bike!

  Let's go ride a bike!


texts: how to say : "Pole street lights and wall street lights" (?)

texts:
It's a picture description, I just have to mention the two kinds of "Lampposts"
 (on a pole and on wall) connected with a conjunction "and". How can I do?

I tried:
"Pole street lights and wall street lights"/
"Lampposts and wall street lights"/
"Street lights on pole and on wall"


texts:
Example:

  Because all that progress has been made in baby steps. All science progress is 99% incremental – a tweak in design here, a bump in power there, a goose to speed over here, all occasionally given a huge, mind-bending boost by a theory of evolution, the unraveling of DNA, or the invention of the laser. The big developments might pull in the headlines like a black hole, but it's the constant small, day-to-day improvements that have the most immediate impact on what we do. In this chapter we'll look at some less-than-monumental ways in which computer storage – always the laggard in computing speed – has constantly improved by tids and bits.

What do you think this expression means? Searched in the dictionaries and couldn't find anything that at least remotely talked about the word goose as it's used in the example above.


texts:
I read this in a book:

"The letter was dated December 1, 1834, and had reached him the next day in Brunswick, Maine, where Longfellow was professor of languages at Bowdoin College."

The Past Perfect :
The grammatical form used for an action that had already finished when another action happened.
First was the action of dating the letter, then the action of reaching him. So, shouldn't it be like:

"The letter had been dated December 1, 1834, and reached him the next day in Brunswick, Maine, where Longfellow was professor of languages at Bowdoin College."


texts: Is it "take the pillow off your bed" or "take the pillow from your bed"?

texts:
Could you tell which of the following sentences sounds correct and natural?

Please take the pillow off your bed and put it on the floor.
Please take the pillow from your bed and put it on the floor.

What I'm trying to say is that I want the person to remove the pillow from their bed.


texts: "wish you have sweet dreams" and "hope you have sweet dreams" -- are they grammatical?

texts:
I hear people say, or read people write, stuff like:

(I/we) Wish you have sweet dreams
(I/we) Wish you have a good day
(I/we are?) Wishing you have a Happy New Year!

are these grammatical? Why or why not?
What if the verb "hope" is used instead of wish in those sentences?

(I/we) Hope you have sweet dreams
(I/we) Hope you have a good day
(I/we are?) Hoping you have a Happy New Year!

Are they grammatical? Why or why not?


texts: Use of "its" versus "their" when using "each" in a sentence

texts:
To describe my question, I'm going to use example sentences:

  The group saw that there was a need to make the necessary revisions to
  tailor it to each institution before the model could be applied, taking into
  account their particular size and other conditions.

Vs.

  The group saw that there was a need to make the necessary revisions to
  tailor it to each institution before the model could be applied, taking into
  account its particular size and other conditions.

First of all, am I grammatically allowed to say 'their' instead of 'its' when I've said "each institution"? I know that sometimes 'their' is used in the singular sense... but barring this case, would it be grammatically correct/possible to say 'their' when the association is with "each institution"? In other words, I'm unsure if when I've said "each institution" that I'm forced to work with the concept in the singular in latter parts of the sentence, even though it would obviously imply multiple institutions if the grammar associated with the use of "each" is neglected.

Secondly, and this is quite related to the first, I am wondering that if I say 'their', that it is actually referring to multiple institutions (plural) even though this is not explicitly stated the way the sentence is written; by simple deduction in the mind, it can be seen that it would be multiple institutions.

Thirdly, is there something not so right about the way these sentences are written? Particularly with respect to the use of 'particular' and the singular 'size' when there are multiple institutions. I've used the singular basically because each institution has only one size, not many, but could plural also work?


texts:
The context:
Our manager is always complaining us about using private phones during working hours. However, whenever our General Director is out of the office. This manager keeps using his phone or doing private things the whole day. Supposed that,
if he criticize us next time, can we say

  You're not capable of criticizing us because you are also using your
  phone all day long.

I'm not sure if it is correct  and natural or not. Could you help me?

About the context, actually I just made it up to speak my mind easily. I might not dare to say that to my manager :)). I will use your suggestions in another similar context with another person.


texts:
Finn's room.
Finn takes his walkie-talkie and speaks into it --
Finn: Joel? Joel, are you there?
Joel's room.
Joel answers/responds/replies his walkie-talkie (1) --
Joel picks up his walkie-talkie and answers/responds/replies (2) --
Joel: I'm here.
Questions:

Can I use 'answers', 'responds', and 'replies' in both sentence (1) and (2)?

Which of them would be most common to use?


texts: Is the future continuous correct here? 'I'll be waiting for her response.'

texts:
Here is a context : I wrote an email with request to person A, but she hasn't replied. So, I decided to ask the same person B. Person B replied that she can't help and I should ask person A.

Now I want to reply to person B. Is it ok ( both polite and formal ) ?

  I wrote to A few days ago, but she hasn't replied. I'll be waiting for her response. Thank you anyway.

Especially, I am not sure whether use of future continuous is correct and if it is polite enough.


texts:
1.If I didn't have a laptop, I would have to find somewhere I can work on the computer.

  2.If I didn't have a laptop, I would have to find where I can work on the computer.

  3.If I didn't have a laptop, I would have to find the place where I can work on the computer.

  4.If I didn't have a laptop, I would have to find the place I can work on the computer.

  a. I feel like going to where I'd get to meet a lot of people.

  b. I feel like going where I'd get to meet a lot of people.

  c. I feel like going to somewhere I'd get to meet a lot of people.

  d. I feel like going somewhere I'd get to meet a lot of people.

  x. You can park your car close to where I live.

  y. You can park your car close to the place where I live.

Which one do you find the best here? Or is there any difference in meaning?
I've always had a hard time figuring out which one is the best. I'm totally okay if you just say like (1,b,y)


texts: What reasonable context could there be for this sentence: *I have raised my kids well*?

texts:
A tutorial gives this example:

  I have raised my kids well.

What might be a reasonable context for this sentence? Have the kids have grown up?


texts: It's not the first time + someone do something

texts:
I read this,

  It’s not the first time Biden has voiced this
  Trump-is-terrible-but-Republicans-are-OK sentiment.

And I find this sentence structure almost always is that "... not the first time" connects verb present perfect tense but with some exceptions,

  I want to say this is not the first time I represented a witness in a
  criminal case.

Is this a mistake? Or who can explain it to me why it should be perfect tense behind "be not the first time"?


texts:
Can 'Incur' be used for something positive? Dictionary.com defines it as "to come into or acquire (some consequence, usually undesirable or injurious)". The key word in the definition here is "usually".

Does that mean that it is acceptable to use 'incur' for something positive? Eg. "doing this will incur a benefit"

Thanks.


texts: Is there a word for dark, cave like and claustrophobic?

texts:
I'm looking for an adjective to describe a basement which is dark, cave like, and claustrophobic.
Is there a word that I can use which comes close to give the feeling of those three words?


texts: Do "once a year" and "once in a year" mean the same thing?

texts: I've seen  people using the phrase once a year but I wonder isn't it should be once in a year. Are they both the same and acceptable?


texts: Is the following sentences grammatically correct? "He has three brown rabbits and I have two white (ones)."

texts:
I have questions about "one".
Is the following sentences grammatically correct?

He has three brown rabbits and I have two white ones.

He has three brown rabbits and I have two white.


texts: "Chances of (doing) something" vs. "chances at (doing) something"?

texts:
Could you tell me if chances of (doing) something and chances at (doing) something mean the same? For example:

Your chances of/at getting a place at the college are high.

I would have thought that the use of the preposition at was incorrect there, but Rachel used it instead of of in the 14th episode of the 6th season of Friends. Here it is:

Rachel: All right, all right, well you just blew your chances at dating Bob!

Is it standard in America to use at with chances?


texts:
As I know ‘my room be cleaned ‘ is passive
The meaning is ‘my room cleaned by someone else.’

So I confused the sentence->
Would you like to have your room cleaned now?

Why isn’t this sentence be ->
Would you like to have your room ‘be’ cleaned now?


texts: I was reading an article about the difference of empathy and sympathy. But it started with a sentence, "The terms empathy and sympathy are often confused, and with good reason." Why is that there's no "a" after "with"?


texts:
which question implies that we are asking about the days of the week and which one inquires about today's date?

What day is it?
What day is it today?
What's today?

Is there a more common way native speakers would ask these questions?


texts:
In this sentence, do I need "the" in front of the word following:

  This problem became evident during following few months.

or:

  This problem became evident during the following few months.


texts: How to parse "It might be possible for a single woman to be accepted as a foster parent"?

texts:
It might be possible for a single woman to be accepted as a foster
  parent.

I have two explanations:

(1) (A single woman to be accepted as a foster parent) might be possible. = That a single woman can be accepted as a foster parent might be possible.

(2) For a single woman , to be accepted as a foster parent might be possible.


texts: When a company launches a new product do they "come out" with a new product or do they "come up" with a new product?


texts: an adjective that makes condition "unbreakable"

texts:
I need an adjective that, when applied to the word "condition", makes that condition "unbreakable".
In the text below the word "necessary" is used. Is there a better adjective in English for such case?

Somehow it has become a rule with time that anyone in our group who is
stating a problem that he or she assumes to be taking place in our
company must also provide at least one way of solving it. But why? Why
should having a ready solution be a necessary condition for
stating a problem? Anyone must feel free to bring up a problem even
without having any idea how to solve it. In fact, if you already know
how to fix a problem, then it doesn't look like a problem to you and you don't  really feel the need to state it. However, the very
reason why someone would would to state a problem at the meeting is
because they don't know the solution while other members may.


texts: Eliminating problems or the eliminated problem?

texts:
Could you tell me which one is appropriate?

Eliminating problems by transferring the blame to others is often called scapegoating.

The eliminated problem by transferring the blame to others is often called scapegoating.

Thanks!


texts:
It has had pernicious, copycat consequences: just last week, China
adopted the same approach in sanctioning British lawyers and
parliamentarians merely for investigating as possible genocide the
mistreatment of the Uyghurs,” he said.

I think that as possible genocide here means a treatment which can possibly amount to a genocide.
I couldn't find a similar example in dictionaries. Is this phrase a common one?


texts: How to spell out a telephone number that's from a remote area of the country without misunderstandings?

texts:
I just moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. My phone number's area code is from Massachusetts.

When I need to tell someone my phone number, I start to spell out the digits:

  one-two-three,

At this point, the other person often points out that I need to tell them the area code. Because they're unfamiliar with my area code, they mistakenly think that I skipped it.

How can I go about spelling out my phone number in one go? Is there a common way to mark the area code when speaking out loud, or just "area code: 123, the rest is: .." would be the most succinct way?


texts:
I think this sentence is grammatically incorrect, but I am not sure what the author lacks here. Can somebody help me?

Signals from Washington that it was prepared to take further action against the Syrian government if it thought it was using chemical weapons was the main driver, with uncertainty about forthcoming elections in France also simmering.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-markets-idUSKBN17B135?il=0


texts: Can a sentence begin with the word "Advocates"?

texts:
I am currently writing up a persuasive essay, one of the sentences is as follows.

  Advocates and non-advocates of change, we must show reconciliation towards the rightful owners.

My advisor mentioned that you cannot start a sentence with advocates. As far as I know, advocate is a noun, even adding an s makes it a plural noun. So why am I not allowed to start a sentence with advocates? Is it the context itself?


texts: What is a word I could use to describe someone who is tired of war?

texts: I was thinking of something along the lines of war-ridden but it just doesn't seem right...


texts: Performing movements/motions in order to show-off or attract audience

texts:
I was wondering what do you normally call performing some movements / motions which attracts the audience by a motorcycle / bicycle / car / plane or the movements in martial arts (like karate) or in soccer when a player is doing with a ball?
Please have a look on the following images and let me know which single verb is used to describe all these actions?

I wonder which type of movements / motions they are doing?


texts: present perfect Vs present prefect continuous

texts:
Complete the following exercise:

  I am learning English. I ____________ English for six months (Learn).

I know that present perfect and present prefect continuous are used to talk about actions that started in the past and still continuing until now. In my grammar book, though, it says that the answer is have been learning. Why?

I have read :

https://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/pastperfect.html
https://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/pastperfectcontinuous.html


texts:
Noise, when benign in nature, much conduces to the amelioration of spirits. In a coffee house, say, what may explain that buoy in the bosom, that warmth, that sense of security, yea, assurance, of one's not being an island as we say, but that higgledy-piggledy gabble in the surrounds of one's solitary table which may well otherwise give rise to aggravation, blessing one with an illusory sense of company? The choice of place matched with one's purpose is essential; contemplation by a babbling brook, in a moderately bustling cafe, etc. is most wise, whereas on the other, to do the same in some public fair or other is a disaster to the very end of the intended action. One's purpose, therefore, decides the friendliness of the noise.

What does the highlighted part mean? How can you explain the grammar of it?


texts:
Is everything okay at your place?
Is everything okay in your place?
Is everything okay on your end?
Is everything okay at your end?

In the first example, are both the sentences grammatically correct?

In the second one, is the first sentence more appropriate than the second?


texts:
I was reading the book "Essential Grammar in use" Third Edition by Raymond Murphy.

In page no.56, there were some questions about using Past Tense and Present Perfect Tense. In that, one question confused me a little. I've given it below,

  The washing machine was broken, but it's OK now. It __________ (repair).

My answer at first sight was "was repaired" (wrong answer) because I thought the action was completed in the past.

But the correct answer given in the book was "has been repaired". It confused me a little. However, I understood it later that the action's result "It's OK now" has been related to the present. So the answer "has been repaired" seemed correct to me.

However I always confuse this below examples,

  "I sent an email to you yesterday."

  "We despatched a parcel to you yesterday."

vs.

  "I have sent an email to you."

  "We have despatched a parcel to you."

The first one should be the most common or correct answer. But what's wrong with the second one? Can I use it? Because the mail sent / parcel despatched has some connection with the Present, because it hasn't reached them yet.

Also please clarify, whenever I use Past tense, Is it always required to tell the time of action? Eg. "I sent an email to you yesterday."

I have already asked similar questions here. But still, I have some little confusions. As a non-native English speaker, most of the time, I think that something I did in the past has some connection with the present moment and I feel like I need to use " Present Perfect".

Please help me. Thanks in advance.

Update:

This question has been marked as duplicate. The other question was also asked by me. However this one is different & more in detail than the other question. That question was about the time markers (yesterday) with Present Perfect tense. But this is about no time markers, but I'm asking that, is it OK to use Present Perfect tense when the action was happened some hours ago however the action is still connected to the present moment.


texts: The sentence "I just have noticed now [...]", tense and adverbial constructions

texts:
The phrase

I just noticed now [...]

seems to be quite common, as a google query reveals. However, I am wondering why is simple past used here, and also why not "justly" instead of "just"?
Should it not be present perfect, i.e., "I just(ly) have noticed [...]"?
Surely, using "justly" sounds strange, maybe this is the reason why this is somehow an exception to the rule? Or is there any other explanation? Also for the tense used?


texts: Can we start sentence with direct object? with or without comma?

texts:
"What you dream of achieving, you have to first bury and forget before you start working on it."

Is this sentence grammatically correct with direct object at the beginning? also, do we need comma or not?

thx


texts:
I know that dead is an adjective.

however, in two sentences,

He is dead
Dead man is over there.

I am confused of property of adjective.

It seemed that 1 used as predicative adjective, whereas 2 used as attributive adjective.

Am I right..?


texts: Note "that" or just Note? How may I improve this sentence?

texts:
I have the following sentence:

  Note that by equation (1.1) for each point x belongs to set A there exists at least 2 points y in set B(x), and we need to make a measurable selection form
  it so that the set B(x) remains measurable.

First of all, should I use "note that" or just "note"? "for each apple" or just "each apple"? "exists" or "exist"?

Moreover, do I use "it" correcttly? By "it", I wish to refer to "at least 2 bananas"

Thank you!


texts:
If I want to state a number of statements/sentences, and I have said the first one, then I want to say the next one, what would the correct preposition be that will indicate moving from one sentence to the next one in the speech?

I think both prepositions are valid, and each one has its own indication:

  Now to the next sentence.

I think it means I now will move from the previous sentence to the next one.

  Now for the next sentence.

This could mean I now will get to the next sentence and talk about.

According to Ngram (without any noun after "next", or else there wouldn't be any plot to show), both are used.

What I found in my search:

  Listen carefully now to this next statement.

I think "listen" is used implicitly in my examples, so would that make "to" the only possible, correct preposition for such structures?


texts: What is a good verb that describes that pain is happening suddenly and is sharp? I am not sure if there's a verb that checks these two condition, so if you can't I would like a verb that checks one or the other as a condition.


texts: "One of them" or "one of which" in this case?

texts:
People have so many questions, one of which is...
People have so many questions, and one of which is...

Which one would sound better in this case? Personally I feel that the second one would keep the flow of the sentence coherent but I just don't know if it is grammatically correct or not because "which" is a relative pronoun here but since the conjunction "and" is added shouldn't it be changed to "one of them"?


texts:
Suppose a friend advises you too much and you don't like it; you are tired and say to the third person who is a common friend for both of you. You begin to complain and say:

  There you go, on his high horse again

I need to know if in the sentence above we can use 'are' instead of 'go' or not?


texts: How do you pronounce the phrase: sleep tight

texts: when you pronounce the phrase: "Sleep tight." do you stress both words equally? Is the 't' aspirated when the word "tight" is pronounced or it doesn't need to be aspirated?


texts: What do you call a bypass between two organs?

texts: Let's say we surgically made a bypass that goes from the bladder to the large intestine, don't ask me why we would do that. How would you call it? A "bladder-large-intestine" bypass? I have no idea how we refer to a thing like that. It seems we would use a phrase instead of a term. How would you do it?


texts: How necessary is using the perfect past in the given sentences?

texts:
I had bought myself a phone, and then one day, it got stolen.

  I bought myself a phone, and then one day, it got stolen.

Is the meaning of first clearer than the second?
Is there a difference in both the sentences' meaning?
Is using the past perfect necessary here?


texts: Can we use more than one 'and' to connect the items in a list?

texts:
Ms. Silver had been talking about different habitats. While she
  talked, she pointed to posters on the bulletin board labeled THE OCEAN
  and THE RAIN FOREST and THE PRAIRIE. Then she talked about the
  different names for the specific places animals live, their homes. She
  mentioned nests and webs and caves and dens and burrows.

I read the above paragraph on Page41 in the book the Year of Billy Miller. I found out that the writer used more than one 'and' in his writing to connect the items in a list. As far as I know is that when you are linking more than two items, you usually only put and in front of the last one.

What is the purpose of the author using and to connect all items? Is it kind of writting skill to emphasize the sentence? I have checked the similar question, but it seems to me that the two questions are a little different.


texts: "If Google was a guy" or "If Google were a guy"?

texts:
I learnt

I was
You were
He/She/It was

So "If Google was A Guy".

But there is also the song "If I were a boy".

What is right and why?


texts: I had a kind of feeling this might happen. (what is object?)

texts:
I had a kind of feeling this might happen.

a kind

feeling

[a kind]noun of [feeling this might happen]noun phrase
I wonder which object is correct.


texts: A comma before "and" with a dependent clause

texts:
We've removed one complexity, and introduced a different one which turns out to be worse.

Could somebody explain whether it should be a comma before "and"? The author is a native speaker, but as I know, there should be no comma, according this one

https://www.grammarly.com/blog/comma-before-and/

article on Grammarly. (Since "and introduced a different one which turns out to be worse" is a dependent clause, not an independent one).


texts:
Pretending to do things he can hardly do while others look at him in awe(,) is his thing.

Should there be a comma there? If so, what are some other similar constructions where you'd use a comma?


texts: Could someone please explain this example of the usage of "just" when expressing agreement, or give another easy example?

texts:
Oxford Dictionary 5 (https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/just) gives this definition about "Just"

  Expressing agreement.

and gives this example

  A: “Simon really messed things up.” B: “Didn't he just?”

Does the guy B mean Simon did worse than messed things up?


texts: I thought it was the other way around vs I would've thought it was the other way around

texts:
"I'm the chick and Chandler's the duck."
  "I would've thought it was the other way around."

These sentences are from the television show Friends.

I think instead of the second sentence, using I thought it was the other way around is not wrong.

I don't know exactly what is different between that two sentences in terms of meaning.


texts: Usin a proper preposition in this sentence

texts:
I have decided not to go back to (in?into?) Tax.

Meaning:

I had worked in the Tax department before,but have decided not to do the Tax work anymore.

Is the last sentence grammatically correct?


texts:
How to fill the gap "Musician should teeter on the brink of ___ while playing."

error
mistake
failure

Is any of these alternatives more "idiomatic" for the expression?
The meaning of the sentence above is that a musician should constantly risk a false note. He should be at the edge of his abilities and try to go beyond that. If he doesn't, he cheats the audience.


texts: Formal connectors of results ("in this way", "hence", "thusly" and "as follows")

texts:
In the following examples, are the terms ("in this way", "hence", "thusly" and "as follows") synonyms sufficiently formal to be used in academic work with a sense of result?

  In this way, as this process occurs...
  Hence, as this process occurs...
  Thusly, as this process occurs...
  As follows, as this process occurs...


texts: "There will be a translated clip tomorrow." equivalent to "There will be a clip that is/was/has been/will have been translated tomorrow."?

texts:
Can I reduce a relative clause like down below?
For example:
Right now, there is no translated clip.
I say,

"There will be a translated clip tomorrow."

Can it be equivalent to

"There will be a clip that is/was/has been/will have been translated tomorrow."

By the way, which one is correct? is or was or has been or will have been?


texts: Questions regarding a suspected dangling modifier

texts:
I recently came across a sentence that goes “As a father, it's my job to respect my son's opinion.” In this sentence, the prepositional phrase “as a father” is describing me (the noun “I”). However, this prepositional phrase is not placed right before the noun “my”. Is this sentence ungrammatical? Is there a dangling modifier?

I have another two sets of examples below. Am I right that e.g. 1 is correct whereas e.g. 2 is ungrammatical (ungrammatical in the sense that there is a dangling modifier)?

  E.g. 1 As a politician, Johnny should not respond to citizens on the other side of the political spectrum in this way.
  E.g. 2 As a politician, the way Johnny responded to citizens on the other side of the political spectrum  was unacceptable.

How about this set of sentences? am I right that e.g. 3 is ungrammatical whereas e.g. 4 is grammatical?

  e.g. 3 As a die-hard fan of Barack Obama, it is my honour to have a personal chat with him.
  e.g. 4 As a die-hard fan of Barack Obama, I am honoured to have a personal chat with him.


texts: Confusing usage of ‘met’ in this sentence

texts:
I don’t know why there is the word “met” in this sentence:

"But as always, he did check it met with our approval too."

What pattern or structure is it?


texts:
I often go there in the evenings.

OR

  I often go there in evenings.

Which sentence from the above two is correct?

(Note: My book says "in the evenings" is correct.)


texts: Is 'boarding the plane' more formal than 'getting on the plane'?

texts:
When I go to an airport, the airport announcement announces 'boarding a plane' than 'getting on a plane'.
Because they say in public places all the time, I start to feel 'boarding' is a more formal word than 'getting on'.
Let's say I talk with a friend and the friend asks me what I'm doing.
If I say,

I'm boarding a plane.

Does this make the mood a bit unfriendly?
Instead, do I have to say

I'm getting on a plane.


texts:
My another post uses the expression "complete list".

A meta post uses "full list". So, I guess "full list" is idiomatic.

The question is,

Is "complete list" also idiomatic?

Are those 2 interchangeable in this context?


texts: Is the book "Practical English Usage" sufficient for achieving native-like English? I want to know as much as a native speaker does


texts: Is "some of Mr. Trump’s own allies fear the failure to follow through was taken by Iran as a sign of weakness" grammatical?

texts:
Does the following construction make sense with regard to grammar?

  Some of Mr. Trump’s own allies fear the failure to follow through was taken by Iran as a sign of weakness.

Shouldn't there be a noun phrase before was taken instead of the verb phrase?

Source: The fourth paragraph of this newspaper article.


texts: Computers: what is the difference between load and loading?

texts: Please, tell me if a noun load and a noun loading are interchangeable? Can I say "fast document load" or "slow image loading"? Are these two words synonyms?


texts: after + doing vs I did, which one is correct or better?

texts:
It was my first time to do something after +

  graduating from university
  I graduated from university

Which one is better?


texts:
I'm very confused about this sentence. Can anyone explain it to me in detail?

  I don't want to know how you did it.


texts:
I need to ask "Can you hear me?" I want know if someone can hear me or not.

How can I say this using other words?


texts: Gerund phrase after the preposition "in"

texts:
In this page, http://www.ucblueash.edu/now/2016/03/07/let-us-hear-you-student-survey/, the first sentence says:

  Students – We need your help in letting us know why you attend UCBA, how you rate your experience, and how we can make improvements for the future.

"letting us know why you attend UCBA" is the gerund phrase I am interested in. So I have some questions:

Is the gerund phrase in this case called an object of the preposition "in"?
If we will remove the preposition "in", what will it be called now? Just a normal noun?
So if there is no "in" before the gerund phrase, what is the correct term to call the gerund phrase in the sentence?

For questions 1 and 2, according to a user here, https://ell.stackexchange.com/a/58097/19539, using "in" in many cases is not necessary. For example, "Thank you for your help in cooking dinner" could also be written as "Thank you for your help cooking dinner". So my last two questions are related to the correct term to use if there is "in" and if there is no "in". If there is no "correct" term for that, at least the "common" or "usual" term instead.


texts:
I am listening to Econ Talk with Thomas Sowell (Uncut).

At around 0:10, I think he says "Economics and liberty" but "and" sounds almost "n".  Is this common?

At around 0:25, is he saying "links and other information" or "links to other information"?

Again, the sound between "links" and "other" sounds like "n"


texts: What does "in its absolute stakes" mean in this context?

texts:
Below is an excerpt from The Economist.

  But climate change is an increasingly dangerous context for all their worlds.
  To understand that context, it is important to understand all the things that climate change is not. It is not the end of the world. Earth is a tough old thing and will survive.

  Climate change is, though, a dire threat to countless people - one that is planetary in scope if not in its absolute stakes. It will displace tens of millions, at the very least; it will disrupt farms on which billions rely; it will dry up wells and water mains. ... The longer humanity takes to curb emissions, the greater the dangers and the sparser the benefits.

I guess "planetary in scope" here means the effect of climate change is so big that it's almost affecting the entire planet. (am i right?)

but I don't understand what "in its absolute stakes" means here, especially because I can't tell what definition in the dictionary "stake" means in this context and also I'm not sure if "it" indicates climate change here.

What exactly does the phrase mean?


texts: Why does this sentence have to be inserted in C?

texts:
The passage below is part of an article about evolution of birds. And I had to choose where the sentence:

  “Furthermore, migration allows birds to avoid climates that are too hot or too cold during certain seasons.”

has to be placed in the paragraph.

  A. Flight provides numerous benefits. B. It enhances hunting and scavenging; many birds consume flying insects, an abundant, highly nutritious food resource. C. Flight also provides ready escape from earthbound predators and enables some birds to migrate great distances to exploit different food resources and seasonal breeding areas. D.

I chose D as the answer without much thinking because it seemed like an obvious choice to me but the book says the answer is C.
Can you explain to me why the sentence has to be inserted in C?


texts: What's the difference between 'catch' and 'catch at'?

texts:
There are two expressions below:
1. A drowning man will catch a straw.
2. A drowning man will catch at a straw.

Please, tell me the difference between the two sentences above in meaning.


texts: Isobel,whose brother he was..or...was he

texts:
What is the grammatically correct clause?

Isobel,whose brother he was,(had heard the joke before.)  or
Isobel,whose brother was he,(had heard the joke before.)


texts: What does "for ten percent of the time" mean?

texts:
There is a sentence:

  The study has also found that being sad for ten percent of the time is actually good for you. Let's face it. We can't be happy all the time.

I don't understand the meaning of "for ten percent of the time".
I wonder if it refers to once out of ten times. That is, it's good to be sad once in a while.
I'm not sure if my understanding is correct or not. Could you explain this, please?
This sentence is from BBC Learning English.


texts: Present perfect progressive VS present perfect simple

texts:
I've encountered this sentence in my Cambridge grammar handbook:

How long ___(you/have) that bad cough?

I used Present perfect continuous while there is mentioned only Present perfect simple in the answers. In my view, both of them are right; I would say "how long have you been having that bad cough?' to emphasize the temporarity of the action which has been lasting for short period, time around now(2 weeks, for example.)
I would say "how long have you had that bad cough?" if I knew that this state of health is permanent for the person(he has suffered the disease for several months, for  example).

Could you tell me whether I am right or not?


texts: Form of a verb in a direct object of an introductory verb:  +

texts:
What is the form of a verb in an infinitive subordinate which is direct object of a verb:

to-infinitive,
bare infinitive,
conjugated verb,
or gerund?

For example would we say:

I see the company to collapse?
I see the company collapse?
I see the company collapses?
I see the company collapsing?

Thank you in advance for your help.
P.S.: Possible relation with: 'to-Infinitive' and subordinate conjunction 'that'?, but I'm not sure.


texts: Comma location in: "But he has," wailed the servant, "to be the culprit!"?

texts:
The context
There is a servant who is accusing another man to be a culprit of some petty  crime. I am not sure whether the comma should be there or not.(Please see the alternatives below.)

First form: "But he has," wailed the servant, "to be the culprit!"

Second form: "But he has," wailed the servant ",to be the culprit!"

Third form: "But he has," wailed the servant "to be the culprit!"

It would be really helpful if someone could clarify.


texts: "to do an investigation" or "to make an investigation"?

texts:
The investigation the detector is going to make/do to find out who
  committed the crime.

Which is more idiomatic, to make or to do an investigation?


texts: What's the difference between the usage of different and other in these contexts?

texts:
Source

  The journey is called off, replanned for some other time.

Source:A School Prospectus

  The school has well equipped computer labs. The students use the facilities to develop software, which are not useful only to the school but also to other organisations.

In the second sentence, I believe comma is unnecessarily used.

What difference would it make if I replace other by different in these sentences. I believe different is a must for the second sentence in place of other
.


texts: "regardless whether" vs. "regardless of whether"

texts:
But for statistical purposes, a 14-year-old boy who works at least one hour a week is officially considered employed, regardless whether he is paid.

Is "of" obligatory after regardless in regardless whether, or, as the Chicago Tribune's journalist writes, one can decide if using it?


texts: Can I reduce this paragraph using the past continuous and the conjunction "When"?

texts:
Here's the paragraph:

  I worked in the bank for a specific period of time in the past. One day my
  wife and I knew each other. Of course, that day was during or within
  that period of time.

Can I simply say this sentence to give the same meaning?

  I was working in the bank when I met my wife.

I know that continuous tenses express a specific period of time (ex: working for an hour or a couple of hours continuously and without interruption or stopping). Can they express that I worked in the bank for months or years as I did in that sentence? Is using the past tense after "When" gives the same meaning of "One day"?


texts:
How can I express the idea with accuracy in the situation: I had thought that something would be easy to do but the result literally exceeded my expectations.
Which sentence would be more accurate to express the idea:

" I didn't expect cooking shrimps would be so hard"
" I didn't expect cooking shrimps to be so hard"
" I didn't expect that to cook shrimps would be so hard"
" I didn't expect that cooking shrimps would be so hard"

Is there a better way to express the idea besides these ones?


texts: "Sometimes I feel I will burst from the inside"

texts:
I encountered this phrase in a questionnaire:

  Sometimes I feel I will burst from the inside

I do have a vague idea of what this might mean. But is it something that a native speaker would say? And if yes, what would they feel like when saying that?


texts: "is very low quality" vs "has very low quality"

texts:
Which one is correct?

This question is very low quality?

or

This question has very low quality?

or

This question has a very low quality?


texts: How to shorten a sentence with nested relative clauses

texts:
I wrote:

  After calling the function on the child nodes, the Match function is called another time to match further rules. This time, the rules which depend on the values of the variables set in the function calls are retrieved.

I used a cascade of relative clauses. Is it normal to have such cascade in an article? How can I rephrase it so that it be shorter?
 as an extreme example consider

  the rules that depends on the variables set by the functions called on the strings given by a user who is assigned a task which is ....

Second, is it "in function calls" or "on function calls"?

Third, should I say variables set in the function calls or variables that might be set in the function calls. Because maybe no variable is set in the function calls.

Update: I might be able to shortcut the dependency by:

  ...This time, the rules whose (related, dependent, used) variables were set in the function calls are retrieved


texts: What do you call someone who tells jokes that nobody laughs at

texts:
There is this similar question When you tell a joke and nobody laughs about how you feel if you be in such a situation, but I would like to know the words on the other side:

What do you call such a joke?
What do you call the person who said such a joke?
How do you describe your feeling of hearing such a joke?
What may you say to that person?

In Persian, I can think of a tasteless joke, a tasteless person, a cool or cold or light or happy person!, I felt cold, I felt freezed, ....you may say him "laugh on water!", especially if the joke was targeted to tease you...

Then don't get excited if a Persian said you "you are very cool",... hahaha was it cool? hahaha ...


texts: I've taken a picture of a cow. Someone asked me: "did you take a picture of cow?" (he wasn't sure what animal it is). Should I reply "I think so it was cow" or "I think so it was a cow"? (my answer is to confirm his guess about kind of animal)


texts: Is it grammatically wrong if "collected" is deleted from the sentence?

texts:
Squids collected from North coast ate fish, whereas this food item was absent in the stomachs of squids collected from South coast.

Is it grammatically wrong if collected is deleted from the sentence?


texts: Difference between "It's time for him to learn" and "It's time he learned"

texts:
Are these below sentences the same?

It's time for him to learn

It's time he learned

Source: A forum thread and movie subtitles
Movie is in Hindi but there are subtitles in English


texts: Which of these nouns should the verb agree with?

texts:
While I understand the basic grammar rules of the verb used in restrictive clauses, I came across many sentences like the example below, supposedly written by a native speaker (?).

  Disease A is due to mutations in the X gene that result in ...

I thought the verb "result" should be "results", as the noun immediately in front of the relative pronoun "that" is gene, which is singular. Understandably, the clause is actually used to describe the "mutations", so it also seems correct to use "result", not "results".

Which verb is correct?


texts: there was an accident on dam neck road / there was an accident at dam neck road

texts:
How do you determine when to use which proposition? (in on at...)

Its easy to say I'm sitting on a box or in a box

But sometimes its confusing

Like for example, do you say
-I'm in school
Or
-I'm at school

-there was an accident on this road
Or
-there was an accident at this road


texts: What is the difference between the two questions?

texts:
Is man not extremely foolish, to be unable to see this?

How is that different from

  Is man not extremely foolish if he is unable to see this?


texts:
A quote from Salinger's Zooey:

  He put his cigar in his mouth, and, with his right hand, up in the
  treble keys, he began to play, in octaves, the melody of a song called
  "The Kinkajou," which, somewhat notably, had shifted into and
  ostensibly out of popularity before he was born.

Does it mean that he struck two similar notes at the same time, with one note an octave higher than the other?

P.S.
What if a player adds his second hand to strike four similar notes across four octaves, would that also be "playing in octaves", I wonder?


texts: Is it correct to say "Translation of over 50 documents in various topics."?

texts:
So, I work as a trasnlating documents from one language to another.
And, I want to say I have translated over 50 documents in various topics in a bullet list
Is this correct? "Translation of over 50 documents" sounds very awkward.
"Translation of over 50 documents in various topics."?


texts: What to call a thing such as a balloon or tire that is in the process of losing its air inside it: It is deflating?

texts:
in‧flate /ɪnˈfleɪt/ verb     1 Image of inflate[intransitive,
  transitive] to fill something with air or gas so it becomes larger, or
  to become filled with air or gas

  It took us half an hour to inflate the dinghy.

  Her life jacket failed to inflate.

  de‧flate /ˌdiːˈfleɪt, dɪ-/ verb

  1 [intransitive, transitive] if a tyre, balloon etc deflates, or if
  you deflate it, it gets smaller because the gas inside it comes out
  OPP inflate → go down, let down

  Register

  In everyday British English, people usually say an object goes down
  rather than deflates:

  It looks like the air bed has gone down.

Look at the picture

What to call a thing such as a balloon or tire that is in the process of losing its air inside it: "the balloon is deflating"?

And this picture

"the balloon is fully inflated"?


texts:
What is more common in America:

  You're driving in the wrong lane.

Or

  You're driving on the wrong side (of the road)

Here is the car driving in the wrong lane or on the wrong side?

And what about this one:

So is it "wrong-lane" or "wrong" side?

Can these be used interchangeably? If yes then which one sounds more common?


texts: Must an article come before this sentence?

texts:
Absence of timely treatment of arthritis can worsen the symptoms of the disease.

According to Grammarly, the article 'an' or 'the' ought to be used at the start of the above sentence.

  The noun phrase Absence seems to be missing a determiner before it. Consider adding an article.

Is this absolutely necessary?

I remember noticing quite a few contexts which use this style of writing: dropping articles at the beginning of the sentence (alas, I cannot remember where). What is an expert's take on this?


texts: I sent "ballistic" in official meeting and I am from the middle east!

texts:
First I am not a native english speaker
Today there was a meeting with the tech hardware department where i work
One of that department suggested that I should have another meeting with the title of "implementation ballistics"!!
I checked the meaning of the word ballistics as the only meaning I know is linked to ballistics missiles!
and it was as I knew just linked to missiles
I checked with one of my colleagues and she said she heard "ballistics"
so "ballistics" it is.
I sent the meeting invitation to all titled "implementation ballistics"
1 minute later my manager sent me, do we need guns?!
and asked me to change the meeting title.
Which I did.
My question, Is there any other meaning to "ballistics" that can be related to technical hardware or any other meaning that we did not get?
Considering I am from the middle east, this meeting title could cause me lots of trouble
so an answer will be appreciated


texts: Is there a word or phrase for a time period in which you find yourself unable to make any progress?

texts: I am sure this has happened to most people. For example, you start learning playing tennis, and for the first few month you progress steadily. However, after a certain period of time, you are in a phase where it is hard to improve anymore. Not that there is no room for improvement, but you simply can't for no reason. Then maybe after another few month, you start to improve again. I want to know whether there is a word or phrase that describes the second phase where you find yourself unable to improve for no reason?


texts: "...and be borne along with it, he knew not whither..." meaning in the context

texts:
Reading an old story from Ambrose Pierce, I am not sure about the ending of this (long) sentence:

After performance of this pious rite Haita unbarred the gate of the
fold and with a cheerful mind drove his flock afield, eating his
morning meal of curds and oat cake as he went, occasionally pausing to
add a few berries, cold with dew, or to drink of the waters that came
away from the hills to join the stream in the middle of the valley and
be borne along with it, he knew not whither.

I assume the "be borne with it" refers to the water - but not sure what it means. The last part, about whithering, I am not sure what is the exact meaning.


texts:
"Sailing to the tune of our fate"

The 'to' doesn't sound right, what might be its replacement?
Can any other world replace the word tune in the sentence?


texts:
I read that when you specify the reason you are moving somewhere
you can use at or in.

So for example this sentence should be considered fine (please,
correct me in case I'm wrong):

  I went for a coffee at my parents.

According to this logic could I say :

  I went on a trip at the zoo?

Or maybe it doesn't sound natural and you would
use a different sentence?


texts: Do we reply "approve" or "approved" in an approval request email?

texts:
If you were to approve the following email:

  Dear Tom,

  Kindly requesting for your approval on the enclosed content.

  Regards,
  Bob

What would you write?

  Approve.
  Regards,
  Tom
  Approved.
  Regards,
  Tom

And why would you choose one over the other?


texts: a single word for "much in a short period"

texts:
I came across a word for that meaning once but it just slipped my mind. All I remember now is this incomplete example

Regular exercise is better than ...... strenuous exercise.

I'm not sure if the word I saw is an adverb, because I don't remember the exact example. I'm glad with any words regardless of parts of speech.


texts: "I will remain for you as..." or "I will remain to you as..."

texts:
Imagine some tourist trip is over and the members of the travelling group are to go back to their homes in different countries and they know that they will most likely not see each other anymore. Two members are saying their farewell words to each other. One of them is saying: "You will always remain for me as a very hilarious guy, and I will probably remain for you as the most boring person"
Is using "for" here correct or would "to" be better?


texts: When using "opposite to", is a corresponding word necessary?

texts:
Which sentence is grammatically correct to invite friends to my house? In particular, I want to know whether "exit" after "opposite to" is necessary.

  When coming to my house by train, please get off at ABC station and
      use an exit opposite to the stadium.
  When coming to my house by
      train, please get off at ABC station and use an exit opposite to
      an exit that is located closer to the stadium.


texts: What is the difference between "high possibility" and "high probability"?

texts:
I am aware that when some someone says that there is a possibility of something happening, that means that there is a chance that thing might happen. And when they say that there is a probability of something happening, that means that thing is likely to happen. But it gets complicated for me to feel the difference when the words are collocated with the adjective high. For example:

  There is a high possibility that he will get the job.

  There is a high probability that he will get the job.

I cannot see the difference. Is there any?


texts: what can i say to my colleague when I get off work

texts: when I am going to get off work. What could I say to my colleague who is still working and ask why he haven't get off work.


texts:
What do you call when the teacher calls out the students' names in the classroom in order to see who's present or absent? Are these options correct? Which is the preferred form in AmE?

Call the roll - AmE

Make the roll call - AmE

Take attendance - AmE

Call the register - BrE


texts: How to use the verbal phrase "take place"?

texts:
Is it correct to use the verb phrase "take place" with "the video" or "the documentary" or "the film" for a subject, just like "the story" or "the scene"?
Thank you.


texts:
John works at a company.
He had a business meeting with people from another company, and that's where he first met his wife.
When people ask him how he and his wife met, can he say, "We met at work"?
Even when they work at different companies and usually don't work together?


texts:
What's the meaning of strode in the following context?
If you define it as to move with or as if with long steps it doesn't  make any sense. I looked every possible definition for stride in dictionaries but none of them makes any sense here!

  My father’s family came from Moravia. There the Jewish communities
  lived in small country villages on friendly terms with the peasants
  and the petty bourgeoisie. They were entirely free both of the sense
  of inferiority and of the smooth pushing impatience of the Galician or
  Eastern Jews. Strong and powerful, owing to their life in the country,
  they went their way quietly and surely, as the peasants of their
  homeland strode over the fields.


texts: Adverbs which are used to convey that one thing happens as the result of another thing or to introduce a logical result or conclusion

texts:
I think all the adverbs bellow mean the same and can be swapped in every context depending on whether the context is formal or informal; in the manner that in formal speech and in written English we can use:

  Therefore → (More formal than so or rather a little bit fancier)

But one cannot use the following adverbs in colloquial English and if not, the sentence will sound odd or awkward to native hearer (I mean if someone uses one of the adverbs bellow in colloquial speech); so you can find them mostly in academic papers or in lectures given by e.g. professor and so on:

  Consequently
  Accordingly
  As a result
  Hence
  Ergo

Although the following adverb means the same like the adverbs above, but it is far more formal in comparison with the above-mentioned adverbs:

  (Very formal) → Thus

And the most common and informal equivalent for these all which easily can be found in everyday English is 'so'.

Do you agree with me?


texts: "The new generation will grow up believing that the kind of language they see on tv and social media is how arguments should be framed." Now my question in which way "is how arguments should be framed" is used?


texts:
There is this quote from "How I Met Your Mother":

  When I get sad I stop being sad and be awesome instead.

Why can you use "be" in this sentence? Doesn't it have to be:

  When I get sad I stop being sad and (I) am awesome instead.


texts: Preposition before noun phrases - omission of "in"

texts:
I have seen in some cases prepositions are omitted before some noun phrases. And it's explained that those phrases are actually an adverb phrases. But I know a simple thing. If the head of the phrase is a noun, it's a noun phrase. If the head of the phrase is an adverb it is an adverb phrase.
For example -

Look both ways before crossing the road. [both ways is a noun phrase, where the head is ways, but still there is no preposition.]

He approached me in a friendly way. [a friendly way is a noun phrase, where the head is way, but as expected unlike sentence #1 it's preceded by the preposition in. And I have never seen this phrase is used without a preposition. I believe dropping the preposition is wrong, according to the grammar.]

She made a pickle a different way from her mother. [a different way is a noun phrase, where the head is way, but strangely there is no preposition before it. But I have seen examples of a different way used both with prepositions and without prepositions. I think the preposition here is optional.]

Now from these example sentences I have tried to demonstrate my problem/confusing area. My question is -
1. When a noun phrase is used as an adverb phrase?
2. When before a noun phrase the placement of preposition is obligatory (like sentence #2)? And where it's optional (like sentence #3)? And where placing the preposition is wrong (like sentence #1)?


texts:
The first lesson I learnt as a soldier was never to underestimate the
  enemy.

Here are my questions regarding the above sentence:

Can the to in the above sentence be dropped?
Can I replace to underestimate with underestimating?

I'm not sure whether this sentence is in the same construction as All I have to do is (to) dream, where to can be dropped.


texts: "{This / That} is the essence of our brand."

texts:
Since I’m not native English, I was hoping that someone could help me out with the following question.

I have a slogan that says:

  When people envision… , they think of…

  That / This  is the essence of our brand.

I’m not sure which of the two (that / this) is the best choice to use here, and would love to know why one is better than the other.


texts: Does these have same meanings: "I was born" and "my birth"?

texts:
"I was told years after I was born that..."
"I was told years after my birth that..."

What should I use? Which is correct?


texts:
I had to get off the bus 5 miles from where I was supposed to.

  I had to get off the bus 5 miles away from where I was supposed to.

Here, do both the sentences mean the same?
Does away hold any real significance here?


texts:
My little son brought me an old ten-dinar bill and suggested I put in my wallet. I told it him it is no good anymore and thought I'd say:

  it'd just clutter my wallet.

Is the expression is natural English?
If not, how would you say it?