texts:
My OB/GYN wanted to put me on artificial hormones and painkillers,
which scared me at age twenty-one to twenty-two. I refused and just
suffered with it.

Source: Your Body in Balance. Neal Barnard, MD
I read the great answer here but I'm still unsure about this one. Does "suffer with" here means "put up with" and "tolerate", or is it the same as "suffer from"?


texts:
I was wondering if someone could let me know which one of the following self-made sentences sounds more natural in the way that it could be more understood not only by well-educated people of English language:

  a) I had an outpatient surgery 1 hour ago.

  b) I had a same day surgery 1 hour ago.

  c) I had an ambulatory surgery 1 hour ago.

Meanwhile, I'm not sure if they are natural structurally. If so, then please let me know how a native would call fast and easy type of surgeries?

P.S. I think they are very scientific terms which are rarely used in everyday conversations to indicate what I'm going to say.


texts: "You came even though you're sick?" Do these mixed tenses make this grammatically incorrect?


texts:
Is the word "spurts" the correct one when we mean small bursts of something?

Can we apply this word to anything other than fire? To electricity for instance?


texts: Meaning of 'to have/possess a ready tongue'?

texts:
I can guess the meaning of 'possessing a ready tongue' in the following sentence, but surmises aren't reliable!

  The man who is set on securing reforms will generally prefer an ambitious windbag to a man who desires the public good without possessing a ready tongue.

By the way, 'to be set on doing something' means to be determined to do something.


texts: Can I use a definite article although a listener don't know what it is?

texts:
If there's the apple I bought yesterday, and I'm gonna eat the apple, can I say "I'm gonna eat the apple" although a listener don't know what apple it is?

For example, as in "I'm gonna go to the bank", I can say "the bank" although a listener don't know what bank I'm gonna go.

What about the apple?


texts: are they roughly the same: "Please don't twist / tangle / entangle the 2 strings"?

texts:
Let's say a kid is pulling 2 car toys with each of her hands holding each string attaching to each car toy as the below picture

He may "twist / tangle / entangle the 2 strings".

are they roughly the same if we say: "Please don't twist / tangle / entangle the 2 strings"?

  twist[transitive] twist something (into something) to turn or wind strings,
  etc. together to make something longer or thicker

  They had twisted the sheets into a rope and escaped by climbing down
  it.

  tangle (something) up to twist something into an untidy mass; to
  become twisted in this way

  She had tangled up the sheets on the bed as she lay tossing and
  turning.

  entangle: to make somebody/something become caught or twisted in
  something

  be/become entangled (in/with something) The bird had become entangled
  in the wire netting.


texts:
From BBC News:

  The US, Japan and South Korea say they have since defied the ruling.

In this sentence, there is a strange "since" that I cannot understand. In my view, "since" means from a particular time until the present, but what does the word "since" here mean? In other words, I even cannot understand the structure of the sentence. Can anyone tell me? Thanks a lot!


texts:
In "The Worst Crime in the World" by G. K. Chesterton, Father Brown went to a modern pictures gallery to meet his niece, while he met a man he knew:

  “I didn’t know,” said Father Brown, smiling, “that you were a patron of the New Art.”

  “I didn’t know that you were,” retorted the other. “I came here to catch a man.”

  “I hope you will have good sport,” answered the priest. “I’m doing much the same.”

  “Said he was passing through to the Continent,” snorted the solicitor, “and could I meet him in this cranky place.” He ruminated a moment, and said abruptly: “Look here, I know you can keep a secret. Do you know Sir John Musgrave?”

Does "have good sport" here mean sort of "good luck"?

And does "Said he was" mean "it was said that he was" or "he himself said"?


texts:
Example sentence:

  If someone is scared,  he tries  to  keep his head down while he listens  to others.

But I know head down means  going south. So did I write the sentence  correctly?


texts:
Is this sentence right? "There needs more education for pedestrians dealing with cyclists." Where is it used (by native speakers)? What's it subject?

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41036581


texts: Is this the correct way to wish a friend luck?

texts:
This is a very simple question, but I just wanted to determine if the following statement is correct or not when we want to wish a friend luck who is going to do a presentation on a conference.

  Wishing you the very best of luck with your presentation.


texts: State owned company v.s. publicly owned company?

texts:
I read this news on CNN's website. Here's a quote from the news:

But it's also a tricky balancing act. While Chinese President Xi Jinping has long favored state-owned firms over private ones like Alibaba and Ant, analysts point out that those state companies are not nearly as adept at driving productivity and innovation as their publicly owned counterparts.

I think what it's trying to say is private companies are better in terms of driving productivity and innovation than state companies. But here in the news, it says 'those state companies' are not as adept as 'their publicly owned counterparts'.
I looked 'state-owned company' and 'publicly owned company' up. As far as I could tell, they both mean companies owned by the goverment.So I'm confused as to whether this sentence is correct.
Thanks in advance for any help.


texts: Does 'yield' still agree with 'the subject' in 'measures can be undertaken that yield/s positive outcomes?

texts:
Good day, does 'yield' still agree with the 'subject' in the following sentence? The place of the modal verb 'can' is confusing.

  Some people contend that measures can be undertaken that yields positive outcomes

(Here the subject is 'measures' followed by modal verb 'can', and then, 'yields' is in singular form because  measures-can (subject-verb agreement) already agreed.

Or should it be

  Some people contend that measures can be undertaken that yield positive outcomes

(measures-yield) as (subject-verb)


texts:
I can't seem to find the verb in this sentence. May I ask where it may be?

  The symptoms can be so intense that they become debilitating, distinguishing those who suffer from the disorder from those with normal anxieties.

Thanks in advance!


texts:
We use Present Simple when the thing that will happen in the future time. But can we use Present Simple when no time is specified.

For example:

What happens to him after that?
Choose what happens to him.


texts: A speakers' club/ a speakers club/ a speaker's club

texts:
I attend ''a speakers' club'' or ''a speakers club'' or ''a speaker's club''.

Which one is correct and why?
What do others mean?


texts: "equals 0 or 1" vs. "equals either 0 or 1"

texts:
What is the difference in meaning between

  i equals 0 or 1.

and

  i equals either 0 or 1.

?

I think both are grammatically correct, but I'm not sure if they have exactly the same meaning.

One example of "either… or…" structure from oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com:

  Well, I think she's either Czech or Slovak.


texts:
Uncle Vernon made another funny noise, like a mouse being trodden
  on.
  (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)

Can on at the end of the sentence be dropped?


texts: What does 'pull it off' mean in the context?

texts:
I saw this sentence from a comment for this article.

  She can afford it and she has the body to easily pull it off. The liberals hate her because she's attractive, smart and takes care of herself.

I know 'pull off' could mean 'succeed in achieving something'. But I am not sure how it could fit in this context, and I need some explanation based on the context.


texts:
What does it mean exactly when somebody says:

  A couple of wrinkles were ironed out.


texts:
Let's consider such a dialog on a social network:

  "Yesterday a guy sent me a photo of his unshaven legs!"

  "Oh, legs is/are just a stupidity, it could've been much worse."

Can I reply like this and should it be is or are?


texts: A proverb to imply two people cannot get along together

texts:
For two people who usually don't get along and often argue for any insignificant matter or in general don't see eye to eye, there is a proverb in our language which says:

  Their water does not flow in the same stream.

Etymology: the religeous story behind this proverb goes back to the time of the prophet Moses when the twelve brothers couldn't reach to an agreement about the source water and Moses made twelve devided sources for each one so that they had no any other reason to fight together!

I have already found a couple of equivalents in English for this concept through my researches which I will list them below:

  They will never go in double harness!
  They're not in line!

Please let me know how usually a native speaker would imply there is no mutual understanding between two peopple?

Please note that, the proverb/expression in my question should be so neutral and multilateral that it could be used to describe the quality of two people who had even chimistry between them, but now they................


texts:
I have a question about "from" here:

  Is there life on Mars? According to images from NASA, the latest news suggests that there is evidence of intelligent design on the Red Planet. Reportedly, pictures obtained from the Mars Curiosity rover show what appears to be a high-pressure valve, the kind seen in old designs made on Earth. However, others believe the imprints seen on the surface of Mars are FROM arms or hammers from the robot probe.

"From" is usually used to denote original location of a physical object.  An "imprint" is not physical object.   So, the phrase "imprints seen on the surface of Mars are from arms or hammers from the robot probe" seems wrong.  Would replacing it with "imprints seen on the surface of Mars are made by arms or hammers from the robot probe" be better?


texts: But just so I know, is either way hard? (translate)

texts:
I can't understand this phrase.

I have two way:

He/she want to understand it is hard to do or not
He/she know what it is way is simple


texts: Is the sentence "pay some in cash" understandable?

texts:
I was in a store yesterday and I decided to get rid of all my coins,
so when I was at the checkout counter, I told the clerk that:

  Can I pay some in cash and the rest by card?

The clerk said that he doesn't understand me, and I thought maybe the sentence was incorrect and not clear in meaning.

What's the right way to construct the sentence?


texts:
What is the correct answer in the second example need or do?

A:"I need a holiday."
B:"So need/do I."


texts: How does this sentence sound? Is it awkward?

texts:
For some reason, this sentence sounds awkward.
I'd appreciate any suggestions
My positive attitude and smile, which are my strengths, brought upbeat energy to the volunteers and made me very popular.
Thank you!


texts:
(1a) Most of the students in the chess club come from elementary and high schools.
(1b) Most of the students in the chess club come from elementary and high school.
(2a) Most of the students he tutors are in elementary and high schools.
(2b) Most of the students he tutors are in elementary and high school.
The word, school, is both uncountable and countable. I am not sure whether I should use the singular or plural form.


texts: What does this 'where' mean in this context?

texts:
“It is an art where you’ve got to deal with the demands
  of every day but at the same time place it strategically
  at the heart of what the company is doing.”
  — Jeroen
  Tas, group CIO of Philips 5

I have problem in where meaning. I think it mean "what".

EDIT: Does the sentence mean "deal with demands of every day and also place it at the heart of what the company is doing in"?


texts:
In the following sentence, is the indefinite article necessary? The word "case" is a countable noun, and I expected an indefinite article in front when it's used in singular form.

If you purchase this book without a cover you should be aware that this book may have been stolen property and reported as "unsold and destroyed" to the publisher. In such [a] case neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this "stripped book."


texts: "Ongoing therapy in order to get a better mental health is a good idea."

texts:
Ongoing therapy in order to get a better mental health is a good idea.

This sentence makes perfect sense to me, but looking at the definition it says "ongoing" is not a verb and is an adjective meaning "progressing", so am I misusing the word ongoing and is there a word that sounds similar that means what I mean to say?


texts: What do you call something that is in parity or quasi-parity?

texts: For example, I want to say "Male/Female parity", but I also want to cover cases where there are slightly more male or female (35vs49), but saying "Male/Female parity or quasi-parity" is way too long-winded. Is there a better way to say this?


texts: 'health treatment' - a valid expression?

texts:
I would like to speak about treatment for various illnesses, physical and psychological.

Would the expression 'health treatment' be commonly understood?

So far, it is not a widely used expression. However, 'mental health treatment' is.

What's your stance as a native English speaker?


texts:
What's the difference of meaning for this phrases:

By 6 o'clock. I will be finishing the lesson.
By 6 o'clock. I will have finished the lesson.

I am making an english exercise and I think that these 2 options are valid to make the phrase correct. Anyway, I don't know whats the correct answer.


texts: "call injustice" or "call it injustice"?

texts:
It is from Crash Coursd US history. It is at around 8 minute and 25 second. The context is the host dosn't get a question right and he says:

  It is ridiculous. I call injustice.

Why didn't he say I call it injustice?


texts: Sarcasm through words like "yay" and "thanks"

texts:
The other day I came across an interesting usage of yay.
Context: a YouTuber was reviewing a book in which the author painted a too optimistic picture of how the future might look like, she paraphrased a passage from the book then said:

So....yay?!

which reminded me of a kind of similar way to imply sarcasm:

So....thanks? I guess.

I am really curious to know if there are other words which can be used similarly.


texts: Use of present perfect vs past simple in an exercise

texts:
In a lesson on Present perfect at A2 level I have this exercise (an interview with a basketball player):

  Q: How many points have you scored this season?

  A: Only 25. But we have not played many games yet. I'm happy because many good
  players _____ (join) the team. Last month we bought a fantastic new Brazilian player.

What tense should I use for join there and why?

(edited to provide more context)


texts:
Which sentence would be better while writing the adress of my house ?

  My house is two house beside the the green buiding.

  My house is the second house beside the green building


texts: Can "traffic" be used as a shortened form of "traffic jam"

texts:
I heard somewhere that in English-speaking countries folks use just "traffic" instead of "traffic jam" and that it is used as widely as "see you" for "see you later".
Now I tried to Google it, but have not found any evidence of it.

So is it common to say "traffic" instead of "traffic jam"?


texts: When do you use determiner "The" before a proper noun?

texts:
I've been translating some stories from my mother tongue (Spanish) to English, but I have struggled with certain titles, for example:

La Siguanaba in English would be the Siguanaba. This is a unique spirit.
El Cadejo in English would be the Cadejo. This can be considered as a species because there are two of them, but only two.

My concern is the following, Cadejo and Siguanaba are proper names from mythical beasts/spirits. However, I'm not sure if I should treat them as regular proper names in the stories (Siguanaba or Cadejo without the), or "the" determiner should precede the name as in Spanish.

Thanks for your time.


texts:
A phrase similar to "empty talk", but is intended at propagandizing or praising someone?

I forgot the phrase, but it was something talk, but I don't remember what that adjective was. Does someone remember?


texts: "All the beach bodies were sold out"? Can a body be sold?

texts:
I've watched a video of Trevor Noah (Obama Calls For People To Vote Early In The Wake Of Postal Delays | The Daily Show With Trevor Noah, ~3:56), and get confused this sentence: "but then all the beach bodies were sold out".
Noah explains that some people believe Trump is slowing down the US Postal Service in order to discourage voting by mail. A clip plays in which Obama encourages citizens to vote early to avoid problems. Then Noah says

America really is an upside down place. The Black president is telling everyone to vote early, and the white president is trying to make sure everyone's late.
And Obama's right—waiting until the last minute never works out. Like that one year I waited until July to get my beach body, (crying) but then all the beach bodies were sold out."

As I understand, "beach bodies" means hot man/women in the beach, how can he say "all the beach bodies were sold out"? The bodies cannot be goods to be sold, can anyone please help me with explanation? thanks a lot.


texts: present progressive with always that does not imply annoyance?

texts:
What is the difference between

I am always coming back

I always come back

I know that always+present progressive can be used to show annoyance but in this example I don't think it is the case and I know present simple is for regular  actions, habit  that we do every day.

I looked on the web and found that in the first example always means "constantly" and in the second "each" time. Do you agree with this explanation?

I would have thought that I always come back means constantly and "forever true" and am always coming back means that this is a" repeated " action but it has duration and won't last "forever".


texts:
I need your help please.

What is the meaning of "from within" and when can use it?

For Example, I met the following sentence when I was reading an article :

  A column segment is a column of data from within the rowgroup.


texts: article usage. to order a cake on a plate

texts:
What article should I use in this phrase
They oreder(ed) a cake on a plate, and stay(ed) to the end
What are the possible variations in meaning and form?


texts:
I remembered to lock the door.

When I use remember this way, does it always imply that I actually did the action. Maybe I can use it in the sense "didn't forget" -- I just remembered to do something, but didn't do it. For example:

I remembered to call him, but the phone was broken so I couldn't do it.
I remembered to take the medicine but decided not to.


texts: What similar words can I use for 'chemistry' in the context of sports?

texts:
Consider this expression:

Chemistry between player X and player Y helped their team to win the championship three times in a row.
Even though team X has got tons of great players, still they never win anything as there is no chemistry between their star players, they all play individually.

Can anyone suggest similar words to 'chemistry' in this context?


texts: “...were discovered floating...” <—-Why ING?

texts:
In March 2013, more than 16,000 dead pigs were discovered floating in tributaries...

I don’t understand why -ING is added for “floating”? What grammatical term does it related to?


texts: What does 'pulling out all the stops' mean?

texts:
I don't grasp the following sentence:

  "After years of raking in huge sums of oil money, these days Saudi Arabia is pulling out all the stops to raise cash. "

What stops do they mean?


texts: Is there a word for the censored part of a video?

texts:
Sometimes, TV shows censor people's faces with pixels that hide the details, I am wondering if there's a noun for that, because I am trying to say something in an idiomatic way, but I find it hard without being able to refer to it.

For example, look at this sentence:

  They removed the censored part, thereby showing the face of the
  person who decided to speak in anonymity.

Censored part sounds odd in this context, so is there a better alternative?


texts: Can "the cleaning" mean "clothes that have been washed"?

texts:
If one says
"pick up the cleaning", does this mean "go to the laundry and pick up the clothes that have already been washed and dried"? I didn't find such a meaning of "the cleaning" in online dictionaries.


texts: Can the articles be omitted (in those 2 cases)?

texts:
I have two sentences where I am not sure, whether I can omit an article or not. This is maybe bordering on stylistic choice:

"The rising sea quenched the fires of the last great war and the remnants of yesterday became islands in an ocean of oblivion. And

last shelter for survivors clinging to life." [No article]
the last shelter for survivors clinging to live."
one last shelter for survivors clinging to live."
a last shelter for survivors clinging to life."

"A world without pastures, without flocks, without

a god."
god."

Notice: I'm not using God as the Christian name/adress for the God (like "please, God, help me"), but referring to it as Generic term, like

a town without (a) maior
a story without (a) hero
a crime without (a) victim

In German the articles would be omitted in those cases.


texts: "Check back in the New Year" -> does that mean January, or any time next year?

texts:
I read the following sentence:

  We are looking in to creating a new hands-free model. Check back in the New Year.

Does that imply that more information regarding the new hands-free model will likely be released in January, or any time next year?


texts:
I've heard native speakers say something like “get down on their level”. I am wondering if it's OK to say "get down to their level"?

"Get down on one's level" or "get down to one's level"?


texts: Question concerning a prepositional phrase

texts: In the prepositional phrase : "Who did you give your number to?" Is the TO at the end of the sentence absolutely necessary?


texts: "boomed the headlines" in the middle of two quoted sentences?

texts:
How should I parse the bold part of sentence?

  "Tall people more likely to get cancer", boomed the headlines, "Higher cancer risk for tall people".
  Source: Am I more likely to get cancer because I'm tall? - BBC News

Shouldn't it be "which has been boomed the headlines"?


texts:
There are many dogs breeds such as golden retriever, poodle, pug and many others.

I would like to know the most common word used to refer to some dog that has no defined breed. I tried a translation of a common term used in my native language and I've got: mutt and pooch.

What of them are actually used?


texts: "If + would" conditional in present perfect tense

texts:
Is it allowed to use the "if + would" conditional when speculating about a polite request that could have taken place in past? I know that the would structure can be used to make a polite request, but can it be used for making one in the past as well?

  If he would have told me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.

Also, may I use this construction in the past perfect tense?

Example: If he "would had told" me what he wanted for lunch, I would have cooked it for him.


texts: What is the difference between "make lunch" and "make a lunch "?

texts:
I always thought that the only correct is make lunch or cook lunch. But in this video at 30 minutes and 32 seconds a native English teacher is saying that it is possible to say

  I am going to make a lunch

and

  I am going to make lunches.

He doesn't explain the difference though. What is the difference? For that matter, can I say

  I am making a breakfast?

If so, then what would be the difference between make breakfast and make a breakfast?


texts:
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/shaky-start-ukraine-turns-eastern-offensive-around-224521910.html

  Analysts say the dramatic turnaround is down to a combination of growing professionalism and ruthlessness from Kiev's forces on the one hand and the shifting nature of the support that Russia is giving the rebels.

How do you understand that expression?


texts:
Call me any time after 12pm.

Call me anytime after 12pm.

Are both sentences grammatically correct and mean the same thing?
I looked into their differences, and there aren't any, other than how it is any time that is always used with prepositions. If I'm not wrong, both sentences are correct and acceptable in formal writing.


texts: Who made tomorrow and one out yesterday?

texts:
In the lyrics to Money Never Build a Mountain by Ronnie Davis, which is an old Reggae song about God the Creator, there is the line

  Who makes tomorrow and one out yesterday?

I couldn't quite parse that line. In general, the rest of that page is carefully transcribed so I don't think it's a typo or anything like that. But on the other hand I couldn't find an entry in wiktionary for "one out", or a fitting entry for "one".

So what can "one out yesterday" mean?


texts:
I have to be presenter of teamwork done for American owner.
I haven't done it yet.

I would like prepare several sentences for correct to use.

Have all joined? Have all saw my screen ?
You can see - I many times use it. Maybe, are the alternatives?
Here it looks like - And I will show how something to work
Is it look for you well ?

p.s maybe you know other general sentences ?


texts: How does the "Dalai Lama walks into a pizza shop..." joke work?

texts:
On YouTube, there's that famous joke the Dalai Lama didn't understand — and neither did I. It even made headlines in my part of the world, and on some of the sites I frequent, yet nobody ever bothered to explain it. I am at a loss. I suppose pretty much every non-native speaker will have trouble getting it.

  The Dalai Lama walks into a pizza shop and says "can you make me one with everything?"

Is this some sort of pun? Double-entendre? A top-voted comment on YouTube says, "The joke is based on ambiguities of an expression, not the ideal joke to crack with a foreigner." Well, duh. Thanks for nothing. I looked up every single word of it in several dictionaries, including can, shop, one, make, with, walk, and each of these has a multitude of meanings, and I have no idea how they work together to create something funny.


texts:
Now, I happened to be reading the Wiki about Sylvia Plath, who was a "suicidal poet".

And I am afraid I don't understand what the use of the word "raft" at the title.

Quote ( from Works part in Wiki )

  Plath wrote poetry from the age of eight, her first poem appearing in the Boston Traveller.[2] By the time she arrived at Smith College she had written over 50 short stories and published in a raft of magazines.

Could someone help me?


texts: possible alternative for "she doesn't want me to see the kids"

texts:
For the sentence:

  She doesn't want me to see the kids

Is this form correct too? :

  she wants me don't see the kids

Any difference or preference?

Thanks


texts:
Is the following two sentences grammatical? The first sentence read a bit strange to me, but English is not my first language, appreciate for view of a native speaker :)

  My main research insight is, rather than spending an enormous amount of time to get an optimal result, to develop algorithms that get suboptimal results at a significantly faster speed.

or

  Rather than spending an enormous amount of time to get an optimal result, my main research insight is to develop algorithms that get suboptimal results at a significantly faster speed.


texts:
I wrote this sentence:

  "Don't know if it was written intentionally. But I came across a piece of writing from a reputed source, where "antisocial" is written where "unsocial" would be appropriate."

Is it ok to use "where" twice in this sentence? Does this sentence make any sense?


texts: Can I use "As presented in the report,..."?

texts:
I'm writing an academic report and wondering if this sentence is ok:As presented/discussed in Report No. 2, the Insured has fully complied with regulations on fire safety.

"As presented/discussed" in this context seems grammatically wrong.

Any help would be appreciated.


texts: Singular or plural when both can be true

texts:
What is correct verb here, is or are?

I know a bunch of people who is/are responsible for the act.

I think bunch and people are both singular. But together plural  So how to write the sentence above.


texts: What does 'the Twelfth' mean in Article 7 of the US Constitution?

texts:
I first encountered the sentences below on p 121,  The Words We Live By: Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution (2004; but the newest edition dates at 2015) by Linda Monk.  I rewrote the numerals using digits to ease reading.

  [ Source: ] The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.

  Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the 17th Day of September in the Year of our Lord 1787 and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names, [...]

The date is already stated as September 17 1787. So to what does the bolded refer?


texts:
Am I using the expression "A different kettle of fish" correctly in the below example sentence?

  The first semester subjects were easy to learn. But the second
  semester was a different kettle of fish.


texts: "By doing [something], you are [something]." - Is the structure correct?

texts:
I have phrased the sentence below awkwardly, I assume:

  By numbering the examples, you are a genius.

I want to know how it can be fixed to fit a proper and clear structure. And I suppose it would be more natural if it was stated like this:

  You are a genius by numbering the examples.

I think of that structure as if-statements but when they actually happen, not if they were to happen, like:

  If you numbered the example, you would be a genius.

Also, would "consider" fit in the sentence?

  By numbering the examples, you are considered a genius.


texts: By-Election and Special Election and Wiki

texts:
By the way, I have one more question from this article.

Strictly speaking, is the idea that the word by-election is mainly spoken in the U.K and the word special election is mainly used in the U.S not necessarily a "fixed" idea? Because the Wiki of these words says,

  By-elections, also spelled bye-elections (Ireland only) (known as special elections in the United States and the Philippines, and bypolls in India),

  By-elections are held in most nations that elect their parliaments through single-member constituencies, whether with or without a runoff round. This includes most Commonwealth countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Pakistan, as well as non-Commonwealth countries such as France.[3] In the UK a writ for a by-election must be issued within three months of a vacancy arising.[4]

But the writer is using these 2 terms randomly sometimes calling the election as by-election and sometime as special election.

I know this is not a so important question, but would by any chance the description of the Wiki be probably not necessarily universal?


texts: Is "the disease yellow fever" a correct name?

texts:
The source:

  In Reed's case, it was the disease yellow fever, but this idea allowed William C. Gorgas to abate the transmission of yellow fever and malaria in the construction of the Panama Canal.

It seems like these words don't fit together. The structure is "the NOUN + ADJ + NOUN." To me it would sound better if it were: "the yellow fever disease," "yellow fever the disease."


texts: How can I describe the glass stuck diagonally and those in a straight row?

texts:
I'm not able to find proper words to describe these three pictures:

If I try to describe them myself, then my sentences would be:

[.........]
Glasses are in a straight row.
Imperative: Keep these glasses in a straight row.
The yellow glass stuck in the middle diagonally.
Imperative: Stick the yellow glass diagonally.


texts: Are modal verbs, e.g. transitive or not?


texts: What’s the meaning of might in the sentence?

texts:
“Mr. Brocklehurst, I believe I intimated in the letter which I wrote
  to you three weeks ago, that this little girl has not quite the
  character and disposition I could wish: should you admit her into
  Lowood school, I should be glad if the superintendent and teachers
  were requested to keep a strict eye on her, and, above all, to guard
  against her worst fault, a tendency to deceit.  I mention this in your
  hearing, Jane, that you may not attempt to impose on Mr.
  Brocklehurst.”  Well might I dread, well might I dislike Mrs. Reed; for
  it was her nature to wound me cruelly; never was I happy in her
  presence; however carefully I obeyed, however strenuously I strove to
  please her, my efforts were still repulsed and repaid by such
  sentences as the above. (Jane Eyre)

What’s the meaning of might in the sentence, and what are these two clauses meaning?


texts:
I have left home long time and not returned to home.
I can say

  I have not been home for long time.

But I think I can't say

  I haven't been home for long time.

Because "haven't" means something have not completed. "be home not completed"  sounds strange.


texts: Why is "don't you" pronounced "dontcha"?

texts:
When I watch movies sometimes I feel the pronunciation for don't is not /dəʊnt/ or /doʊnt/, instead it's something similar to /doʊntʃ/. For instance here:
Don't you see
I wonder is this something specific to American accent?


texts:
Why some people use could instead of can (in the simple present tense)
For example,

Could you open the door?


texts: "This way" or "like that" or "thus"-- which is most natural?

texts:
Here are three sentences:

Take the prescribed pills and this way you will be fit very soon.

Take the prescribed pills and like that you will be fit very soon.

Take the prescribed pills and thus you will be fit very soon.

Which of these sounds most natural to a native speaker?


texts: 'a narrow vocabulary' versus 'a restricted vocabulary': do both collocations exist? which is commoner?

texts:
Do both collocations 'a narrow vocabulary' and 'a restricted vocabulary' exist?

And if they do, which is commoner/more common?


texts: What is difference among "come" "come up" "come over" and "come around"?

texts:
Would anyone explain the differences among the followings phrases, please?

"come" to your place
"come up" your place
"come over" to your place
"come around" to your place

I'm now personally designing a VERY CASUAL leaflet for customers in order to spread my business.  I am a (Japanese) professional photographer (living in Japan), and will visit customers places (not only their home/houses but also schools, kindergartens, stadiums, grounds, halls, dog-runs, etc) in order to take photos of their child(ren) or pet(s).

Then, I would like to use one of the above word/idioms on my leaflet saying "If the calculations are correct, when we come (up) to your place, you're gonna see many wonderful xxxx ....." by modifying Dr Emmett Brown's line from Back to the Future.

This sentence will be shown with quite quite small letters, only 5 points, on my leaflet.  Therefore it would not need to have any advertising effect at all.  Yes, it is just like a decoration on its design.


texts: When talking about circles, a "circle" refers merely to a line in the shape of a circle, whereas "disk" (or "disc") refers to a "filled circle". Is there a similar distinction for squares or rectangles?


texts:
The man lost control and skidded off the road, crashing straight through the side of the police station. A police spokesman added: "He was unhurt, which is more than can be said for the car and the police station."

What does the phrase "more than can be said" mean? Were the car and the station badly damaged or not? Thanks.


texts:
A long time ago, when I was in school they told me that basic vocabulary has 2000 words. I'm not sure about the number but I'm very interested about the list.

Do you have any idea where can I find a list with the basic vocabulary words?


texts: How many children do you have? What if you can guess that THEY are adults?

texts:
This actually happened with me. As I moved into my new apartment, the society was also new to me. There is an old couple (aged above 50, I guess). I asked the elderly person (after I became a bit familiar with them) how many kids he has. And he coolly replied, "Two sons, but they are not kids anymore!" Both of us laughed but this triggered a question to my mind.

His answer is valid. How many kids do you have? This means now. The answer is 'NONE' because those two sons are not kids anymore!

What should be an alternative way to express this question?

  How many kids/children did you have? ~ but then this means they are dead  How many adults do you have? ~ lol!

A neutral question that works for sure...

  How many sons and/or daughters you have? ~ But we generally don't ask this. How many kids/children do you have? is way more common.


texts: Is there a single word for "able to be expensed"? Expensable and expensible do not appear to be in any dictionary I've seen, but I'd swear I've seen them used.


texts: Difference between "good at" and "good in"

texts:
Can anybody help me by explaining the difference between the
usage of "good at" and "good in"?


texts: What does "pray in" to church mean here?

texts:
I'm back again with a new Hitchens question.

First of all, I couldn't decide whether I should post the question here or to the Christianity site. But it seemed like a grammatical question to me. So here it is.

  Every week, at special ceremonies in Mormon temples, the congregations meet and are given a certain quota of names of the departed to “pray in” to their church.
  This retrospective baptism of the dead seems harmless enough to me, but the American Jewish Committee became incensed when it was discovered that the Mormons had acquired the records of the Nazi “final solution,” and were industriously baptizing what for once could truly be called a “lost tribe”: the murdered Jews of Europe.

Hitchens talks about what Mormons do for the ones who lived before them to help them find salvation. They basically baptize them retrospectively.

First of all, I'm confused by the preposition to in this part of speech. If it wasn't there, it would make perfect sense to me (Mormons are given a list of name to pray for in their churches.) Moreover, pray in is given in quotation marks which suggests to me that there is something special about it.

I've looked up "to pray in" and found to pray in aid which means (according to Wiktionary),

(intransitive, now rare) To resort to the help (of); to call on the support (of), especially to help prove an argument.
(transitive, chiefly law) To ask for the help of (someone or something) in pleading a case; to make use of, adduce (something) in defence of a case, argument etc.

I'm not sure if this phrase has anything to do with my question but it's the closest thing I could find. Now I'm more confused.


texts: What is the word for 'haphazard' in the context of wardrobe?

texts:
Lets say I have a friend who always has his stuff scattered around the whole room or his wardrobe haphazardly, What word should I use to describe the state of the room or the wardrobe.

  He should do something about his room, It is so ..... that it is impossible for anyone to stand in there,


texts: Which is correct: "grammar rules" or "grammatical rules"?

texts:
Which is one is correct English: "grammar rules" or "grammatical
  rules" ?

In my opinion, "grammatical" means "conforming with the rules of grammar".

Thus, "grammatical rules" should literally mean "rules which conform to the rules of grammar". That is surely not the definition of "grammar rules".


texts:
Only 2.4% of the 113th Congresss were Asian-Americans; by one count,
  fewer than 2% of state legislators are.

What's the meaning of "by one count"?


texts: Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Progessive?

texts:
How long _______ there? (work/you)

Which tense to use. A) Present Perfect Simple, or B) Present Perfect Progressive?

  A) How long have you worked there?
  B) How long have you been working there?


texts:
In season 1 episode 13 of simpson a news anchor says

  There is an overturned melon truck on the interstate. Oh it's a mess.
  There is lots of rubber neck in gandmelon wrestling going on, so
  expect delays--

What does the bold part mean?


texts: When generally talking a concept, should I use plural or singular?

texts:
Person A is trying to distinguish towns and cities with concrete examples.

  A: "What are the famous towns in the UK or Ireland?"

  B: "Well in the UK, you have cities like London, Manchester, Edinburgh
  and Cardiff among others."

  B: "While Irish cities aren't as famous but Dublin, Cork and Galway
  are some of them."

  B: "Towns aren't really as famous outside of their countries."

  A: "Sorry for misleading. I meant any town, not necessarily a famous town."

Person A uses both plural and singular, are those 2 uses both correct?

similar situation

  Imagine you are planning to visit another city or town. What type of place do you look for?


texts:
If 'two eggs each roll' means 'two eggs roll,' then 'two eggs roll on two desk each' can mean 'two eggs roll on two desk'?
I know it can mean 'each egg rolls on two desk' or 'two eggs roll on each desk,' but it also can just mean 'two eggs roll on two desk' as 'two eggs each roll' mean 'two eggs roll'?


texts: a jack of all trades is [a] master of none

texts:
I'm wondering why the indefinite article "a" is not in the standard version of the proverb:

  A jack of all trades is [a] master of none.

I'd appreciate your help.


texts:
Harry looked down at his empty gold plate. He had only just realized how hungry he was. The pumpkin pasties seemed ages ago.
  (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)

It seems like ago is the peripheral modifier (CGEL,p436) as the examples in Webster’s. What I’d like to know, now, is if ages ahead can be a possible noun phrase that has peripheral modifier as above?


texts:
Quantitative refers to measurement of quantity.

Qualitative refers to measurement of quality.

???? refers to measurement of added value.

Here are my sentences. Feel free to refine my thinking...

Performance is activity. It is measured quantitatively
(how much).
Results are the effects of activity. They are measured qualitatively (how well).
Value is how results cause something else to be perceived. It is measured “valutatively”]


texts: A term for reaching the height that an airplane is going to keep at during most of the flight

texts:
What's the right expression in English to describe an airplanes' reaching the height that it is going to keep at during most of the flight?

For example:

  -- Excuse me, stewardess, can I have some Champagne?

  -- Oh, certainly! Except you need to wait a bit till we ___________________.

1) till we get the height?

2) till we finish taking off?

3) till we get to the right altitude?

or what?


texts:
Source: The DHCP Handbook, 2nd Edition by Ralph Droms and Ted Lemon (2003)

Example:

  Thanks to Kim Kinnear for all his hard work on the failover protocol and for putting up with all my suggestions, some of which may have been useful. Thanks to Edward Lemon, Sr., and Robert Dickerson, my grandfathers, for never believing something couldn’t be done and letting a little of that attitude rub off on me (would that it had been more). Thanks to my grandmother, Leone Lemon, for trying to teach me to be considerate.

I'm trying to understand that thing in bold, but I just seem completely unable to. Could you please help me pick it apart piece by piece so that it is clear what exactly is going on there in terms of grammar? The would that part is especially confusing to me.


texts: Can direct be used correctly as an adverb, and if so how is it different from directly?

texts:
I read this on the web:

  "International students can apply direct to the University of Western Sydney."

How can "direct" which is a verb acts as an adverb? Is it possible ?  Although I think it might be a noun here.

If it is an adverb then what is the difference between it and "directly" ?


texts: Have or had, if you were speaking hypothetically?

texts:
So, here's the sentence:

  They usually ask: if you were stranded on an island, what’s the one thing
  you’d wish you had?

So is it have or had in this example, and why? (if it even makes a difference)


texts: imperative and adjectives; "drink the tea hot" vs "drink the hot tea"

texts:
I'm a native speaker of English.

Consider these two sentences:

  Drink the hot tea!
  Drink the tea hot!

Sentence 2 seems to be an instruction of how to drink the tea ("Drink it hot. It's not tasty if it's cold"), while with Sentence 1, the word "hot" seems less important ("Drink the tea!" matches the meaning somewhat closely).

Grammatically, what is happening in Sentence 2?

(Another pair of sentences might be: "Enjoy this coconut water chilled" (which was what was written on my actual container of cocunut water, yesterday), vs "Enjoy this chilled coconut water")


texts:
HAVEMANN countered this by turning the condemning word around and presented MARX as a “revisionist par excellence”

And what does it mean to turn the condemning word around?


texts: Any alternatives of using 'Despite..' or 'In spite..' or 'Having worked..' in my context?

texts:
I don't want to use words like despite, in spite and Having worked on for the below sentence. It looks clumsy and repeated(if I use Having worked on..) to me. Please let me know about any suggestion.

  Despite of being an embedded and desktop application developer I have also worked on web technologies and Photoshop designs both as a hobby and as a profession.


texts: Reduplicated usage of "my": what does this mean?

texts:
Popular music is a good entry into language learning and many usages naturally reflect prose (non-lyric)  usages. David Bowie sings "my my" in the song Beauty and the Beast and  Ariana Grande sings "my my my my my..." in the song called Adore by Cashmere Cat, featuring Ariana Grande.

This got me thinking about prose uses of my as an exclamation. As in

  My, it's a beautiful day.

But what about repeated use of my, as in

  My my, look who's here.

What does repeated use of my mean? Is it different from single use?

Does this come from oh my god or oh my?


texts: The verb "to overlook" embraces the opposite meanings?

texts:
One of the meanings of the verb to overlook is "to provide a view of" (the chateau overlooks fields of olive trees), when it gives you the possibility of seeing. The other meaning is "to fail to notice," (I have overlooked the key fact), when you lack the possibility of seeing.

How can one term include two opposite meanings?


texts: "can't" versus "couldn't", what is the difference?

texts:
That can't be Obama at the door, it's too early.

That couldn't be Obama at the door, it's too early.

What is the difference between them? Are they almost the same?


texts: What does "under the standards of" mean here?

texts:
I read a sentence in a chapter in my book which was:

  The proclamation that was issued under the name of Bahadur Shah appealed to the people to join the fight under the standards of both Muhammad and Mahavir.

Could the noun "standard" mean "flag or banner of a military organization" figuratively in this context? But then I thought "under the standards of" would have been an established idiom but I could not find any mention of it.  So I want to ask whether my surmise is correct. For those who don't know, Mahavira and Muhanmad are deities in Hindu mythology.


texts: Name for a person who is awareness about an issue/subject

texts:
For example there is "observer" for somebody who professionaly follows a subject.
What about awareness? (I mean a word in the meaning of imaginary word "awareness+er")


texts: Is "slip of an object" a personification?

texts:
On an ordinary day, you might miss this slip of a shop wedged between a veterinary clinic and a grocery store in Paris' popular Bastille.
NPR: The Last Razor Repairman In Paris

a young and slender person, a slip of a girl

The word seems to be used for people. Can it be used for objects? Is there a rule that prevents it to be used on an inanimate object? Can we use it in poetry, why and when?


texts:
I am reading a sentence:

  Also, a tuple is always an ad-hoc structure: It’s difficult to ensure that two tuples have the same number of fields and the same properties stored on them.

ad-hoc's explanation in Oxford Dictionaries
Created or done for a particular purpose as necessary.
Origin:  Latin, literally ‘to this’.

So the sentence could be rewritten as:

  a tuple is always such a structure: ...

I have strong intention to write professional english or at least look like that way.

Is it fancier to use 'ad hoc' instead of this or such ?


texts: how long combined with simple present perfect

texts:
Is it grammatically correct to use how long with simple present perfect?

  How long have you driven?


texts: How to identify the sound of an "A" without altering the spelling of the word?

texts:
I have the word "Carr" (short for the name Carrie).

Is there a way to write the 'a' so that a person reading the word 'Carr' would pronounce it like care ('kær), opposed to pronouncing it like car (kɑr)?

Something like Càrr, Cárr, Cãrr, etc...?

This is for an English-Speaking company name.


texts: How a great candidate looks from your perspective?

texts: I am sending the upper question to a recruiter. I am trying to ask him what makes a great candidate.


texts: Would you categorize this sentence in active or passive voice?

texts:
Is this sentence in active or passive voice?
"The book I tore is in pieces.".
Is the book the subject here or is it 'I'? If the book is the subject, what's 'tore'?


texts: What could be a nice word to use in the title of my presentation slide which represents failures?

texts:
Background: I have done a scientific project as a part of my graduation program and now I want to present my work through presentation slides. There were some techniques which didn't work and meant I had to employ other techniques. I want to name those techniques on a single slide, but I am unable to find a suitable title for that slide. I don't think that I should use "Challenges" as the title, because I think that that would only be suitable for techniques which posed some problem to me but I managed to solve them somehow.

What should be the title of the slide on which I present the techniques that failed?


texts: What is his mark Vs. What mark does he have (school mark)

texts: Well, the question is in the title. I should translate one phrase and I don't know the right answer. What is his mark? or What mark does he have? Which one is correct? What the difference between them?


texts:
What is the difference between these two sentences:

  The expected result meant that he anticipated winning $100.
  The anticipated result meant that he expected to win $100.

Both mean waited for something in the future, but...?


texts: Is this sentence "It is not not made by hand " correct?

texts:
It is not not made by hand

There are two "not"s here. Is this sentence right?  If yes, what kind of sentence is it?

More example in [corpus][1]

[1]: http://corpus2.byu.edu/glowbe/ ,and you type"not not" in it, you can find there are  lots of examples here.


texts: "Kindly notice that" or "Kindly note that"

texts:
Sometimes I received emails start with "Kindly notice", and other times "Kindly note", I checked the two meaning on the dictionaries and it seem both of them can be verb and they have similar meanings.

  Dear, Kindly/please notice that we changed .....
  Dear, Kindly/please note that we changed .....

  notice (verb): to see or become conscious of something or someone. link

  note (verb): to notice something / to give your attention to something by discussing it or making a written record of it. link

Which one should I use in when I write emails? and what is the difference in meaning? Are they interchangeable?

Note: there are some posts on the internet regards this, but there are conflicting views.

In the same context, should I use:

  I noticed there are some changes on the system ...
  I noted there are some changes on the system ...


texts: Does "How much time" mean the same as "How long time"?

texts:
One of the lecturers in our university is not a native English speaker (as I am not as well) and he asked

  How much time do we need for such an experiment?

I know that the correct way is: "How long ..." or "How long time do we need for such an experiment?"

My question is whether or not it's a mistake to say "How much time"?


texts: A humorous response to a 'good old days' sentiment

texts: If someone paints an excessively rosy picture of the past, what are some possible sarcastic or humorous  responses in English? In my native language I could say something  like 'sure, and the grass was greener', or 'the sun used to be brighter'. I wonder what phrases are used in English for this purpose.


texts:
Can I cut through here?

  Can I walk through here?

And:

  He cuts through my yard everyday.

  He walks through my yard everyday.

Are "walk through" and "cut through" equally likely in this context? I mean I've read both of them being used in this context, so what sounds better?


texts:
My wife bought some cakes (I don't know what the cake is called) for my son as shown in the above picture. There was some cream (butter or milk or whatever) inside the core of each cake.
Normally, he was supposed to eat the cake with its butter together. But he put his finger into the core of the cake and ate the butter separately, which smeared butter all over his hands.
How to express to eat something all together without eating each parts of it separately?
For example, can we say "please eat it as a whole"?


texts: help say something like this "I don't saw the toothpick on food and get choked"

texts: I need to construct a sentence but I don't know the right way: "I don't saw the toothpick on food and get choked"


texts: An English Song/Poetry With Differrent Grammatic Structure

texts:
The other day, I have watched the movie King Arthur Legend of the Sword and, in it, there was an energizer song that includes some words and structure with which I am not familiar. Here are the lyrics:

Young man came from hunting faint, tired and weary
What does ail my Lord, my dearie?
Oh, brother dear, let my bed be made
For I feel the gripe of the woody nightshade
Men need a man would die as soon
Out of the light of a mage's moon
But it's not by bone, but yet by blade
Can break the magic that the devil made
And it's not my fire, but was forged in flame
Can drown the sorrows of a huntsman's pain

Firstly, I haven't understood the bold sentence (for I feel...). Because woody nightshade is a species of a plant. Why it causes gripe of King who hunted.
Secondly, I haven't understood "But it's not bone, not yet blade". Where is "it" refer to? and "what is meant by "by bone".
Finally, I haven't understood who is the subject of "can"s. Please help me to understand.
By the way, here is the link of the song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGnfFW-vyzU&ab_channel=WaterTowerMusic
Thank you so much.


texts: What do you call an actor's lines in a movie as a whole? Because a script involves more than lines (and for more than just one actor). I'm not sure whether 'role' and 'part' work.


texts:
It is telling to note that the language of exclusive territoriality in disputes such
  as this one originates with local authorities.

What's the meaning of "it is telling to note that"?


texts: Using present perfect tense with "today"

texts:
Can I use the present perfect tense with this week, this month, this year, or today?

For example,

  I've spoken to her today.

  She's been in Paris this year.


texts: No one thinks/no one think- which to use in given context?

texts:
No one, not even the doctors, think you're in trouble health-wise.
No one, not even the doctors, thinks you're in trouble health-wise.
Is the first sentence grammatically incorrect because the verb think doesn't go with the "no one" preceding the first comma? Or are both sentences right? Or is it the second one that's grammatically incorrect?


texts: What word to use to mean that someone accidentally hindered someone?

texts:
Here is the context:

  The goalkeeper was trying to catch the ball, but a fellow player accidentally hindered him from doing it.

Is there a word in English meaning be in someone's way accidentally and by the way is the expression hinder someone accidentally natural?


texts: How do you describe someone who is always open to propositions?

texts:
My girlfriend is an amazing person that is always OK with any suggestion: she would be pleased by any place I prpose to visit, any idea of movies. She likes all kind of music, or all genre of movies. Her answer to "In what restaurant do you want to eat?" is invariably "Anything is fine to me."

It is not that she has no opinion or judgement. She will tell you (without complaining) if she disliked a movie, or something. She also can stand on her political and philosophical position. When things are set down, she will enthusiastically and dynamically participate. It is not like she has no taste and is just a follower, but more that she loves so many things that she cannot decide and any proposition would fit her.

How would you call such a person?

My thought so far:

Open minded does not seem to apply since an open-minded person is someone that accepts other people's opinion. She is open-minded when it comes to try new things but it doesn't fully describe her behavior.
She's definitely undecided but I would like something that depicts her positive mood.
Not sure if easygoing applies here.
She is of course not an easy girl ^^


texts:
I am English learner and got a simple question for choosing singular and plural.

When I tried to write "Human rights" with plural verb in the sentence, I felt awkward (It can be awkward because of my own language base.):

  People who belong to group B tend to think that human rights of prisoners are not neccessary.

Should I use human rights with a plural verb or singular verb?
Or, should I use human right with a singular verb instead?

Thanks for your help! :)


texts:
From Cambridge Dictionary grammar tutorial

  Most of the differences between the English of the UK (which we shall call BrE) and the English of North America (which we shall call AmE) are vocabulary differences and differences in pronunciation and spelling. However, there are some differences in the way grammar is used. Almost all of the structures in this book are used in both varieties, but there are often differences in how common a structure is in one variety or the other. There are fewer differences in writing than in speaking.

Does "both varieties" refer to BrE and AmE? If yes, they are varieties of what?

Does this mean the same thing?

  ... Almost all of the structures in this book are used in both BrE and AmE ...


texts: Can I say "I was born in a place but bred in another place" instead of using "born and bred" in pair?

texts:
I am wondering If I tell people that I was born in Melbourne but bred in Sydney,  will the people think that I am married and have many children in Sydney?
Because when someone "breeds" then it implies that "they have babies", and then people mistakenly think that I have many babies. (But I am a student. I have no sex experience, I am not married either)

My original idea is to tell them that I grew up and received my education in Sydney since after I had moved from Melbourne to Sydney.
But, because I think it is cumbersome to say "I grew up and received my education in Sydney since after I had moved from Melbourne to Sydney", I want to use a few words which will help me express the same idea, but my English is not good enough, so I could only come up with this sentence:
"I was born in Melbourne but bred in Sydney"


texts: Is it correct to say: "to seat on each side of X"?

texts:
Example sentence:

  I suggested we choose a seat at the back. Sitting on each side of
  the barbacue stove, we ordered pork belly, beef liver, and lamb
  slices.


texts: what's the meaning of "take me off the speaker"?

texts:
Carl, take me off the speaker. Did I tell you that these are house
  seats?

I found this line from the movie, 'as good as it gets', and I'm curious about this phrase 'take me off the speaker'. I guess it means 'turn off the speaker mode', but I don't get how it makes such meaning.


texts:
Chains, of volcanic islands called archipelagos, provide evidence that the hotspot stays in place as the tectonic plate passes over it.

  A) NO CHANGE
  B) Chains of volcanic islands, called archipelagos,
  C) Chains of volcanic islands called archipelagos
  D) Chains, of volcanic islands, called archipelagos

I incorrectly chose B thinking "called archipelagos" was a non-essential element. However, C is correct because "chains of volcanic islands called archipelagos" is a complex noun phrase.

So my questions are:

  1) Is it true commas should never separate elements in a complex noun phrase?
  2) Is there a good way to identify them?

Furthermore, would this be correct?

  Chains of volcanic islands, also known as archipelagos, provide evidence that the hotspot stays in place as the tectonic plate passes over it.

Does adding "also known as" set it off as a non-essential element?

Thank you


texts: I worked, I've worked, I have been working. I need some clarifications

texts:
Could you help me with these sentences:

I lied to her. (I'm just making a statment)
I've lied to her because the truth would have hurted her.

Second example:

I have been working at Google for 10years. (Meaning I am still working there)
I've worked at Google and it was nice.(I don't work anymore)
I worked at Google. (Not sure about the difference with the previous one)

I'm learning the different tenses and it isn't so easy for me. Any help would be welcome.

Regards,


texts: meaning of "take the country out of Salem"

texts:
I'm reading Lawrence Block's memoir, in which he writes about his experience of living in a very nice inn in Spain with his wife. They suspect the owner of that inn is a gay man. And their conversation goes:

"What on earth is that perfectly charming fellow doing running this perfectly charming inn out here in Spain?"
“You don’t suppose–––”
“No question.  He’s wearing keys.”
“Well, he’s in the hotel business,” I said.  “There’s all those doors he has to be able to open.  And maybe wearing keys means something different here.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Jesus,” I said, “how do we do it?  I guess you can take us out of the West Village, but you can’t take the country out of Salem.  I’ll tell you something.  I don’t care how he got here. I’m just glad this day is coming to an end."

I don't understand the part of "how do we do it?  I guess you can take us out of the West Village, but you can’t take the country out of Salem". I mean, how do they do what? And what does "you can take us out of the West Village, but you can’t take the country out of Salem" mean?


texts:
What does "to the flood of..." mean? Does it mean "Among many..."

  This might not be a fair comment since it’s only been five days since Apple Card debuted. But the word on the financial street is none too encouraging. To the flood of credit cards issued by banking and financial institutions are those from tech firms such as PayPal, Square and Venmo (which is owned by PayPal). And now, Apple.

Source: https://www.ibtimes.com/samsung-google-release-own-credit-cards-after-apple-card-experts-say-no-2780975


texts: Could you help me write this letter formally

texts:
I need to write this letter which introduces the person from our project to UNDP to get his/her payments. The letter includes the name of the person, the amount he/she is going to receive and his/her job title in our project.

Can I write something like this?

  "Dear sirs
  This letter is to introduce Mr/Miss Jones who works as the translator in our project and has accomplished the following codes of the action plan. Please release the payment.
  Enclosed you may find the terms of reference and the action plan"

I know "please release the payment" is stupid. I'm not native so I don't know how to formally write letters, especially to UNDP.


texts: "With war come deaths" vs "With war comes deaths"

texts: Which is the correct form of verb here? what is considered the subject in this case?


texts:
I've just written on another SE site:

  My problem is that I can't ignore a file whose name I don't know

and I keep wondering whether there's another word for whose in this case. Somehow it sounds overcomplicated to me (I'm not a native in English anyway)

Some other questions such as Can we use WHOSE for things? (or should I use 'that' or 'which'?) explains that I can use this word but, Could I use another word as an alternative?


texts:
When do we refer to last as previous or earlier? Does last stand instead of previous or earlier in the examples given below?

Last time I saw you, you had black hair. (the previous time)
Your last score was much better than your new one. (earlier or previous score)
Over the last few years people have become more violent. (earlier years)


texts:
The difference between Leibniz and Schopenhauer is that the former is optimistic; the latter, pessimistic.

I don't think the part after the semicolon is an independent clause so how can a semicolon be used?


texts: Is this sentence grammatically correct or not?

texts:
While reading an article I came across this:

  After the process has finished it is not possible to know where it was running.

Is this sentence considered grammatically correct or not?


texts:
Is the word Mom here considered as that person's mom or is a person called mom?

Just wait until Mom sees this!


texts:
I know a little bit about the suffix -tion. It is usually added to verbs.
Examples:

-domination (from dominate),
-admiration (admire),
-deviation (deviate),
-ejection (eject).

"Exemption (exempt)" has a 'p' in the '-tion' form, because the verb form also has a 'p'. "Preemption (preempt)" also has a 'p' in both forms.
But "assumption" from "assume", the verb has no 'p'  (like it's not "assumpt") and the noun derived from it has a 'p'.
It threw me off while I was thinking of the nouns and verb forms that are related. Why is there a 'p' in "assumption" but not in "assume"?


texts:
Reading the story An Egyptian Hornet by A.Blackwood, I am not sure what to make of the following sentence:
(for the context, a reverend hopes for a hornet to sting his enemy):

“May God forgive me!” ran subconsciously through his mind. And side by
side with the repentant prayer ran also a recognition of the tempter’s
eternal skill: “I hope the devil it will sting him!”

While I understand the words, it does not make much sense to me and would appreciate some help with understanding its true meaning. Thanks a lot


texts:
As I guess, the word 'sir' is to call a man whose position is higher or whose age is older. For example like school principal (and I am a student of the school). And one day when I was watching a movie, I heard the actress playing a station employee called a man who was buying a ticket 'sir'. So I think 'sir' is also used to call a stranger.

But what I wonder is, I am learning English and there is a male teacher. And I learned that I can just call teacher his/her name. So I am kind of confused because when to use the word 'sir'. I'd like to know appropriate situations to use that word.
Only relationships between teacher-student / clerk-costomer / superior - subordinate?


texts: do a bit of a level set on some suggestions -- meaning?

texts:
Example (short audio clip):

  This is intended to be enough to get you moving with the core implementation of this idea. Just stay aware that you may have other classes in the same general area. So take a look to see if you've got any extra functionality options that'll be useful in the situation you're working in. Now, we still have a few more data structures to cover before we can regroup and do a bit of a level set on some suggestions and best practices with all of these.

Not sure how to understand that.


texts: "Chanctonbury Ring rode their crest—a scudding ship, hull down before the wind" - meaning

texts:
I have learned that Chanctonbury Ring is an old fort, but it does not make it easier for me to understand the following (From A.Bierce's story):

Far away the line of Downs swept the horizon, like an arriving wave.
Chanctonbury Ring rode their crest—a scudding ship, hull down before
the wind.

From what I have been able to find, "riding the crest of something" means to enjoy it. But how can a fort enjoy something, even metaphorically?
Could it be that because of the windy weather that the author describes earlier? But then, what does the "hull down" mean?


texts: What is the word pronounced in this video?

texts:
I'm curious about the words pronounced at 0:46 - 0:48 exactly
in this video:

  If you add a lot of metatags to a page, it XXX you

What are the XXX words ?

I can understand that it means like "causing harm".


texts: Which proforms have "Tom" as antecedent in "When Tom won, his friends cheered for him"

texts:
When Tom won the talent contest, his friends cheered for him.

In this sentence, what is the pronoun that matches the antecedent Tom?  I suspect it is "him", but can it also be "his" in this case?


texts: Does "will" always become "would" in the past?

texts:
1)

  Tom: I will phone you on Sunday.

  Me: Tom said he would phone me on Sunday.

2)

  I decided I will go to the library. (today)

  I decided yesterday I would go to the library. (tomorrow)

Do I always have to change will to would when put a statement in the past? What if I say: "I decided yesterday I will go to the library." or "Tom said he will phone me on Sunday."


texts: Can an infinitive phrase serve as an object complement noun?

texts:
Please help me understand. Can an infinitive phrase function as an object complement noun?

I.e. The teacher told her student to stop complaining.

What is the function of the words ‘her student to stop complaining’?

Teacher (subject, nominative) told (verb, transitive) student (Direct Object?) to stop complaining (Infinitive phrase acting as an OCN?)

Or is ‘her student to stop complaining’ an Infinitival Clause acting as a Direct Object?


texts: Why can't I use empathic do in present perfect?

texts:
He hasn't told me anything.

  He doesn't have told me anything.

  She has arrived.

  She does have arrived.

While with the possessive have I can use the empathic do:

  He does have a car.

  She does have a cat

I know I might sound dumb but I just asked it out of curiosity :3


texts: 'Could I...?' for permission or request?

texts:
I know we can use 'could I' for permission. Can we use it for request, too? Actually I'm saying this because I read this question:

  Could I have your address?

I think it's not asking for a permission. It's more of a request. Am I right?


texts: Collective 'they' for singular subject: socio-linguistic impact

texts:
As an introduction to my question, this is a more-than-useful reference:

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/words/he-or-she-versus-they

In my days I was taught (English as a foreign language) that, referring to a singular subject whose sex is undetermined, e.g. a reader, a walker etc., the matching pronoun should be masculine.

How would nowadays react an native English speaker to such a usage to the extent he (!) feels he does have to abide by 'political correctness' —an ironical term, to be sure?


texts:
The sentences below are taken from here.

I am confused about the usage of articles in the following sentences:

One tabloid, commenting on the plot of a well-known television soap opera, writes about the ins and outs of life on the fictitious square where the characters are supposed to live.
The television critic of another tabloid reviews a show that he thinks fails in its ambitious aims.

Why in the first sentence in the phrase "on the plot" the definitive article is used? It seems to go against the grammar rules known to me. Indeed the plot has not been mentioned before and is not known to a reader, so the indefinite article should be used in such cases, shouldn't it? Interestingly later in the sentence in "of a well-known television soap opera" the usage of the indefinite article is fully in line with the rules as the opera (as well as its plot) is not known to a reader at this time.

Why in the second sentence the author uses again "the" in "The television critic" despite the fact that the television critic has not been mentioned before? The indefinite article would be more appropriate, wouldn't it? And again in "reviews a show" the indefinite article is used in line with the rules as the show (as well as the critic reviewing it) is new to a reader.


texts:
Which preposition is correct when approach is followed by doing something?

  An efficient approach of|to learning is doing things that are interesting while lazing.


texts:
So, I was on facebook, and i came across this status some guy had put up.
It read, and I quote "When the person you're with tries their hand at writing and aces it."

So, I was wondering whether it'd be "....writing and ace it" instead of "Aces it"


texts: What do you call a group set up to undermine a political argument?

texts:
I have come across the following political phenomenon recently and I can’t find the right word for it.

Imagine a group of people (say an ethnic minority or gender) who campaign against their mistreatment by the government.  Now imagine the government secretly  sets up another group populated by people of the same minority (or gender) who supposedly are campaigning for the same cause. But in fact their job is to undermine the arguments against the government and so to discredit the original group of complainants.

What do you call such a group?


texts: Present perfect. Why this thing even exist?

texts:
Woman: You already did me.
Man: That’s what she said.

It has been taken from the TV show "The Office":
https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/66c0aa66-00e0-4512-8845-52abaac9ffb0
Why she is using Past Simple Tense whereas "Already" refers to Present Perfect Tense?
Would there be a mistake if she said "You have already done me".


texts:
But for your help, no boys(boy?) would have succeeded in a competition like this.

I don't know why but boy sounds better to my ears here perhaps because of no one , no body. Is it fine to use boys here ?


texts:
Is 'closing on mortgage loan' not equal to 'paying off all debts'?

Here is a quote from this article:

  Russians find it odd that Americans call themselves "homeowners" from
  the day they close on a mortgage loan. For Russians, ownership only
  begins after all debts are paid off.

I am a bit confused here. Does 'closing on mortgage loan' not mean 'all debts are paid off'?


texts: "National coverage" or "nationwide coverage" which is more correct? for instance "we have a national coverage of three locations"


texts: 'Hello everyone' Vs. 'Hello everybody' Vs. 'Hello all'

texts:
In the specific context of self-presentation in front of the audience, what's the politest or most natural way to approach the whole audience and begin the self-representation?
I think about three choices:

"Hello everyone. My name is Leonardo..."

or

"Hello everybody. My name is Leonardo..."

or

"Hello all. My name is Leonardo..."

N.b. instead of 'hello' I may use the phrases "Good morning" or "Good evening" or "Good afternoon". If it matters for the answer, please let me know.


texts: Use of 'beginning' when talking about a past event

texts:
Is this sentence grammatically correct?

  Organised by the Charitable Giving Association, it involved hundreds
  of people from all walks of life, beginning on December 25th and
  lasting for three days.

Is this a correct use of 'beginning' and 'lasting'?

When I speak the sentence above out loud, it sounds correct, but if I take the last part and use it in a simpler sentence, it starts to sound wrong to my ears:

  It was a great event, beginning on December 25th and lasting
  for three days.

The sentence is in the past tense, so therefore it would be appropriate to use 'began' and 'lasted' instead, but is it OK to use the forms above?


texts: What's the meaning of "dump" in the context of "adrenaline dump"?

texts:
What's the meaning of the noun "dump" in the context of "adrenaline dump"?

  It’s an adrenaline dump, nature’s way of preparing my body for fight
  or flight. And it can be very difficult to control or deal with. The
  primal nature of a grappling competition (after all, we are literally
  getting ready to try and choke someone unconscious) amplifies the
  bodies’ reaction. My hands are literally twitching a little bit as I
  type this, just visualizing the moments before a match begins.

I checked dictionaries and I don't understand what meaning of the noun to choose between the ones that exist there. (Cambridge dictionary- dump. Oxford dictionary- dump)


texts: I know that you can say that “a crowd surged forward.” However, can you say that “I surged forward”? Can the verb “surge” be used in reference to a single person?


texts: Present perfect continuous and past continuous

texts:
A:"This lesson was so boring, the teacher has been talking/was talking all the time.
  B: "How would you know, you have been sleeping/were sleeping all the time".

If the lesson had just finished and we were heading out which would be better?


texts:
What do you call the cord that stretches tents that are nailed to the ground?

I am talking about the orange cords we see in the picture above. They seem to be nailed to the ground and seems to be stretching the tents. What do you call those things?


texts:
What does "cresting with" mean? Does the phrase "already cresting with Brexit and T" mean "already being very busy in dealing with Brexit and T"?
Simply a guess here. The definition of "crest" seems to be "reach the highest level". I am not sure.

We did the business quickly: getting Bannon’s support for a Theresa May visit to Washington a week after inauguration. To spin out the meeting, I asked him about rumours of his links to some of Europe’s far-right parties: the Front National, Alternative für Deutschland, Lega Nord. Bannon feigned surprise at the question: “of course” he was talking to them. They were part of the great populist wave that was sweeping over western democracies, capitalising on the complacency and corruption of ruling elites, and already cresting with Brexit and Trump’s election. Next stop would be a victory for the Front National in the French elections in May 2017.

Source: The Guardian
Will Joe Biden be good for Britain? Here's what my time with him in Washington taught me


texts: Question-tag structure for "needn't have +p.p

texts:
How to form the tag question for sentence like this:
She needn't have studied English.


texts: What does "See me" mean when written on a student's assignment?

texts: What does the  phrase "See me" mean?  This was written on the student's finished assignment.


texts:
What is the meaning of "pull it over"?

I work in a meat factory where we were cutting meat, and my co-worker, who was on the other side of the table, gave me a command "to pull it(the meat) over" as his side was filled with cutted meat; I got confused, because the phrase is used by police to stop the car to the side.


texts:
What is the right way to ask a question in terms of its word order?

first:

  What the impact it has?

  What the name it has?

  What the taste the water had?

  What was the taste of the water?

second:

  What the impact does it have?

  What the name it does it have?

  What the taste the water did have?

  What the taste of the water was?


texts:
we would see the Sun on his journey, crossing between the building
tops from our side over to the RPO Building side.

Does it simply mean "roofs"? So why "tops" and not "top"? Or why building and not buildings?
Could you explain it to me?
The fuller text:

when we were new, Rosa and I were mid-store, on the magazines table
side, and could see through more than half of the window. So we were
able to watch the outside – the office workers hurrying by, the taxis,
the runners, the tourists, Beggar Man and his dog, the lower part of
the RPO Building. Once we were more settled, Manager allowed us to
walk up to the front until we were right behind the window display,
and then we could see how tall the RPO Building was. And if we were
there at just the right time, we would see the Sun on his journey,
crossing between the building tops from our side over to the RPO
Building side.


texts:
Robin Hood was a character who ________ from the rich and ____ to the poor.
a. stole/ gave
b. was stealing/ was giving
What is the write answer and why?


texts: "I hope all’s well, and absolutely. " Meaning

texts:
I have been stalking a bit one of my colleagues so that she would answer 4 of my e-mails that were asking her how our ongoing project was going forward.

Two weeks after, she sends me an e-mail update where I believe she was a bit pissed off... She started by writing the following :

  Hi "MopMop",

  I hope all’s well, and absolutely. We have an [...] project ongoing and budget to plan.

I wanted to know what she meant by the "and absolutely". I really have issues communicating with that women see other post here and I would like to know if she told me that because she is annoyed of my behavior or it is just an expression that I oviously don't get..


texts:
Which of the following sentences is correct?

  a) Doctor said two kids choked to death due to inhalation of mud.

  b) Doctor said two kids were choked to death due to inhalation of mud.

According to me b) is more Correct as we should use auxiliary before verb.


texts: Use of helping verb in interrogative sentence

texts:
Look at these two examples:

Why did Dolores try to flood the forge?

Why Dolores tried to flood the forge?

Is the second example grammatically wrong as the helping verb is not used before the subject in the interrogative sentence? What is the exact rule for constructing this type of interrogative sentences?


texts:
My question is about the use of present perfect tense. To my knowledge this tense is used for the actions that have started in the past and continues up until now. I have questions about different cases for the same thing:

Lets assume that I went to another country for a vacation and I stayed there for a few days. Now today is my last day in that country and now I will return and I am calling a taxi and the receptionist in the hotel asks me how my trip was and I answer him: It's been lovely to be here or to stay here /It was lovely to be here or to stay here

I am in the airplane waiting to go back. Now another persons asks me the same question and which tense should I use?

I have returned and I arrived at my home country. For example my father asks me the same question and which tense should I use?


texts: What does "better you than me" mean in this context?

texts:
Harry felt restless. He wanted Quidditch Through the Ages back, to take his mind off his nerves about tomorrow. Why should he be afraid of Snape? Getting up, he told Ron and Hermione he was going to ask Snape if he could have it.

  "Better you than me," they said together, but Harry had an idea that Snape wouldn't refuse if there were other teachers listening.

I searched it on the web, but they say differently about the phrase.

The free dictionary says:

  better you than me

  set phrase I'm glad that I don't have to experience what you just
  mentioned having to do or go through. A: "My boss is making me come in
  this weekend to do an inventory of the entire store. It's going to
  take forever!" B: "Wow, better you than me. I'm going to a baseball
  game this weekend!"

But according to this site:

  'Better you than me' basically means that I don't care about you( as long as it doesn't affect me)

There seems to be a slightly different interpretation for the phrase. The latter is more closed to the context I quoted here.

What's the correct way to understand the phrase?


texts:
I know there are 2 questions in my question but....
Why did the person email me "I did not forget you" when I had  written in a previous mail "don't forget me please, I still need these books". Why did he not answer "I have not forgotten you"? There is a present relevance in my question.
When I reported  his answer one week after he said it, shall I write he said he did not forget me or he had not forgotten. I think the second choice is the best because the fact of not having forgotten started before he said it.


texts: Is this correct: "A strong voice for your interests"

texts:
We choose "For a strong voice for your interests" as a slogan for a trade union election.

Is this correct English? It sounds strange to me, especially "interests" in this context. Would "Concerns" be a possible alternative?

What do you think?
Thank you for your help.


texts: Phrase meaning: every now and then vs every once in a while

texts:
I would like to know whether there is a difference in meaning of the following phrases:
1. Every now and then;
2. Every once in a while.
I know that they both mean occasionally, but is that all? There are no any other differences?


texts: Singular-plural confusion, need clarification

texts:
I've just read this and thought it sounds a bit weird: "There was no significant difference in the rates of sepsis, shock, surgical wound infection...in dementia patients compared with non-dementia patients"

I do realize that the author was applying "was" to "difference". However, should the author have applied it to "rates" instead? --> "There were no significant difference(s?) in the rates of sepsis, shock, surgical wound infection...in dementia patients compared with non-dementia patients"

In addition, should it be "difference" or "differences"?

Thank you for your kind attention.

Howard


texts:
My friends laughed at me when I said "nice dress man" because "dress" is used for only females. Is this correct? I was always thinking dress is just synonym of costumes and clothes. Is there any gender specific usage of "dress"?

In India girls/woman use word "dress" to differentiate from the traditional dresses that women wear like saree, lahenga, chudidar, ghaghra etc., so anything other than Indian traditional clothing is called "dress" including Ts and Jeans.


texts:
If I have a transmitter that sends one packet in time T, which of the following sentences are correct and why? Please let me know if there a grammar rule for this.

T  is the taken time by the Transmitter to send one packet.
T  is the time taken by the Transmitter to send one packet.
The Transmitter's taken time is T.
The taken time of the Transmitter is T.


texts: What is the origin of "brake" in "press brake"?

texts:
A press brake is a machine tool for bending sheet and plate material, most commonly sheet metal.

But why is it called brake? Why not press sheet bender? How did it come to be called brake?

I looked up brake in the Etymology Dictionary, but its explanation does not seem to cover the "bending" sense of the word:


texts:
Is it correct to say

  "My daughter will be waiting me on the Dulles Airport lobby"

or

  "My daughter will be waiting for me on the Dulles Airport lobby"?


texts: Any idioms about "You never wake a people who pretend to be sleeping"

texts:
I would like to know, when you ask someone for something, but he ignore it all the time, and pretend he didn't know your request. Any idioms I can use?

Thank you in advance.


texts:
You say or write something that make others upset and they start to criticize you very hard.
This particularly often happens on a social network.
Say, you posted on Facebook saying that "women should stay at home taking care of children and not going to work". A lot of feminists felt upset  with your comment and they start to criticize you.
Just imagine that in the past, there was a man who said God was not real and the crowd threw stones at him when he was escorted on the street by the authority.
In Vietnamese we say "you have been being stoned for that" (translated literally).
Is it correct to say "you have been being stoned" to mean you are criticized very hard by many people?
Note: it must carry the meaning that "a lot of people have been criticizing that person".


texts:
"He knows about Nick's interview tonight, so he leaves and returns with all my favorite foods: Manchego cheese and chocolate truffles and a bottle of cold Sancerre and, with a wry eyebrow, he even produces the chili-cheese Fritos I got hooked on back when I was Ozark Amy."

p.390 Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

What information does the adjective wry give about the protagonist's eyebrow? Can someone please try and explain this or perhaps even show me an image of the situation? Thanks.


texts: Can we speak of "Microsoft himself"? - "... the man who brought Microsoft to Nepal is now at Microsoft himself!"

texts:
I found this on a facebook comment.

  Great to see the man who brings Microsoft to Nepal is now at Microsoft himself!

Besides brings, is this grammatically correct?

I feel that Microsoft himself is incorrect. But I don't know.


texts:
I'm curious to know whether the usage of "have to" is normal in the progressive, especially in clauses.

Having to finish this project today I had to stay up late at work.
I hate travelling with a lot of luggage. Having to carry all that stuff along doesn't please me.


texts: One of my friends who has applied to a university told me "I hope I'm successful!". How can I respond to that? Is it correct to say "I'm sure you will be fine"? Any better suggestions?


texts: Which is correct - "Do you have..." or "Have you..."?

texts:
Example:

  [1] Do you have an English book?

  [2] Have you an English book?

Which of the two sentences is correct in terms of language and use?


texts: What does "a smaller number of people" mean?

texts:
I understand every word in this sentence but I can't understand why the author wrote so. Can anybody explain it for me, please, maybe in terms of economics or something like that?

"Debt is a major risk for countries with aging populations, particularly once working age populations start to decline, as the debt burden will need to be financed by a smaller number of people," he said.

Source: http://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/19/emerging-asia-risks-growing-old-before-becoming-rich.html


texts: Does the term "dwelling" indicate living "inside"

texts:
I am writing study about habitat preferences of bats. It examines tree-dwelling (inside cavities) and foliage roosting bats.

My problem is to find the right term which is able to incorporate both groups. I was thinking that tree-dwelling bats is maybe the right word.
But I have doubts if "dwelling" does not indicate that animals use space "inside" of the tree.

Are tree-dwelling bats defined as all bats which use trees ("inside" in cavities and "outside" by hanging on branches), or it is reserved only for "inside" living animals?


texts: Is saying "It is more plausible to believe" correct?

texts:
I want to say to someone, who thinks Muslim communities are hiding ISIS members of their own accord, that the more believable scenario would be that those communities are under ISIS's control and constant threats that they have no choice.
So is it correct to use the word plausible like this?

  Wouldn't be more plausible to believe that these communities are under
  ISIS's control?


texts:
How do you say 0.01%?

I heard this from NBR which starts at 04:06

Nightly Business Report

Does he say

  one, one hundred percent

or

  one, one hundredth of percent?


texts: How to express the order of running program?

texts:
Start program B after program A is over.
  Start program B after program A finished.

Which one or other not mentioned here is the best way to express my meaning?


texts:
Does the bold part of the sentence sound idiomatic for native English speakers?

  The flaws include but are not limited to defect of this, defect of that, ...


texts: Is the word "did" a verb or a helping verb in "I did the best I could."?

texts: I think "did" work as a normal verb in this situation, but I'm not sure about it. I would like to have your opinion. Thank you!


texts: What't the meaning of "thrive on" in this context?

texts:
I found this sentence in a book about anxiety and how to treat it. The author here is speaking about the fight-or-flight response of human body (see here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fight-or-flight_response ). I don’t understand the meaning of the first sentence. What does it mean «thrive on adrenaline» here?

  Many of us thrive on adrenaline in fight-or-flight mode based on life-style, external demands, or the way we react to stressors. Although welcomed at moments of need, unmanaged excessive demand of adrenaline can drive imbalanced expression, which results in anxiety, panic attack, worry etc.


texts: Comprehension of just getting to the bit where

texts:
We were in the playground acting out Vending Machine Mum the other day and just getting to the bit where she's making my bed while I'm completely not helping at all.

This is some in cartoon. I want to comprehend the bold part : Can we replace the bold part with 'being sorry because' ?
cf Meaning of "I'm just getting to the good part"


texts:
Is the "first postoperative day" means day after the operation or on the same day of operation?

The worst pain intensities since surgery, rated on the first
postoperative day by 50,523 patients, were compared for 179 surgical
groups.

As a non-native English speaker, I found it ambiguous.


texts: "Because of" and "Due to" after adjective

texts:
I am aware that this is an old question, been discussed

Are "due to" and "because of" equal?
Usage of "due to" and "because" - are they interchangeble?

Having "due to" is more adjectival, although I am not that particular, but what if the word in front is adjective?

e.g.

Climbing that mountain is difficult due to its height, or
Climbing that mountain is difficult because of its height.


texts: How often do you buy (a new car/new cars)?

texts:
With a quick Google search it is clearly evident that the singular version (a new car) is more fitting than the plural one (new cars) in the questions below. Bear in mind the question is addressed to the average person.

Singular:

  How often do you buy a new car?

Plural:

  How often do you buy new cars?

The question is can either one be used, and if so which is more natural?


texts: Can we say that her new mobile phone costs her twice more than the one she bought last year? Is there a problem with the grammer? Compare it with ‘twice as much as…',which one is better? Thank you for your answer.


texts: Is it OK to refer to the name of an applicant in a recommendation letter by his/her family name alone?

texts:
I am writing a recommendation letter to support an employee's application for graduate schools in Canada.
For example, if his name is Kai Kang,where Kai is the given name and Kang is the family name.As I have seen for multiple times in a lot of news reporting, such titles as "Why Trump wants you to be afraid of high speed trains" ,"Mattis right to disagree with Trump on Syria, top Pentagon official says", and so forth, can I refer to him by the family name "Kang" alone?
Can I refer to him in the the following way:

  Kang has strong communication skills,which could be seen from Kang's popularity with his teammates, and this made it very easy for him to acquire the needed support to succeed.

I know it's grammatically correct but does it sound weird or rude to refer someone in a recommendation letter in this way? Of course, I know him pretty well.


texts: Tense when saying "This is the first time I"

texts:
This is the first time I ate sushi.

Since "this is the first time" is in the present perfect tense does the verb "ate" have to be in the present perfect tense also?


texts:
I'm sensing that it's not a real service but rather some specific play on words.

As shown in the image.


texts:
Do native English speakers use any idiomatic expression for 'far from a specific topic or an area of activities'?

  Some ratings are based on summarizing opinions of people far from business and politics.


texts:
Considering the example

  In cases of this kind the State is bound to protect the rights of all who are within its dominion,

which is the exact meaning of "in cases of this kind"

1) in all cases of this kind

2) in some cases of this kind

?

I choose the first one, but have some doubt.


texts:
The main question is how to tell them apart?

I've heard two main explanations from native speakers:

Because can't has that t sound in it.
Using the context

To what I think:

Yeah, no way in earth you can tell that t most of the times. If the pronunciation is right and there's no background noise, it's mostly audible. But that's a big if.
Well, sometimes it's obvious, but too many times it's just not. Precisely because of what the verb is used for it could either be one or the other in the same context or situation.

Now, I know you can say cannot, which makes perfect sense, but I don't see people using it much.

And on top of that I need to ask why. Why are them too phonetically close? Who would do such a thing?

For someone who has been brought up with english, imagine a language that had "yes" for yes and "yess" for no. Kind of silly isn't it?


texts: Why is there not a preposition (an "on") between the verb "debut" and the date in this sentence?

texts:
I read this sentence:

  Now, at last, Arctic Deeply will debut Dec. 8, and Setrakian says she is "extremely excited.1

I don't know exactly why it is not "debut on Dec. 8". I reckon it's an acceptable expression without a preposition "on" here, but I still wonder if it's acceptable in all cases to omit a preposition between a verb and a date.

Can I say sentences like "I'll leave (for the next city) Dec. 8"?

What about "I'll quit Dec. 8" ,"I'll start Dec.8", and "I'll renounce Dec. 8"? Are there different interpretations with two or more possible meanings?

Is that usage kind of informal?

1. USA TODAY