texts: Which words require "go" and which "grow" as a linking verb?

texts:
Which words go with go and which with grow as a linking verb?

  bald
  impatient
  bad
  mad
  gray
  bored
  old
  blind
  calm

Our teacher says that The linking verb go is used for colors and bad adjectives like bald, deaf, blind, etc. but we also use grow for impatient. Then how can we decide which one to use?


texts: Help to understand this sentence "Harry grinned into his pillow, ..."

texts:
Harry rolled over in bed, a series of dazzling new pictures forming in his mind's eye….He had hoodwinked the impartial judge into believing he was seventeen.…he had become Hogwarts champion…he was standing on the grounds, his arms raised in triumph in front of the whole school, all of whom were applauding and screaming…he had just won the Triwizard Tournament. Cho's face stood out particularly clearly in the blurred crowd, her face glowing with admiration….

  Harry grinned into his pillow, exceptionally glad that Ron couldn't
  see what he could.

There are few things I don't get from that sentence:

What does "grinned into his pillow" mean? Is it his face burying into his pillow while grinning or something?
Why did Harry feel exceptionally glad that Ron couldn't see what he could? Is it because Harry felt shy about it?

Can anyone help me to understand it?


texts: Which is correct: Betty and he are friends or Betty and him are friends? Please explain. Thank you

texts: Isn't it him is an object pronoun and not subject pronoun. Why do we need to use Betty and him and not Betty and he? Please explain. Thank you.


texts: Is "what the hell" considered offensive?

texts: Is "what the hell" used as just an expression, or is it considered offensive? In what situations is it "okay" to use it? If it is offensive, is there a more "polite" alternative which expresses the same feeling?


texts: can we use "trip over the floor" to express "you fall because your flip flops, sandals, etc have too much friction on the floor"?

texts:
Ok, this is the symptom that people who wear flip flops or sandals have.

That is flip flops or sandals have too much friction on the floor.

So when a person in flip flops etc walks, they may fall or nearly fall because the flip flops have strong friction on the floor & may cause a force that stops that person moving forward, but since the person is walking so he has a momentum of moving forward.

These 2 opposite forces may make him fall down.

  trip [intransitive] to catch your foot on something and fall or almost fall

  She tripped and fell.

  trip over/on something Someone will trip over that cable.

  (figurative) I was tripping over my words in my excitement to tell
  them the news.

  trip over/up Be careful you don't trip up on the step.

So, may I say?

My toddler tripped over the floor in her sandals

People often trip over a cable or a step, I am not sure if people do trip over the floor?

We may say "trip on the floor" but that may cause confusing because people may think "trip over a cable on the floor"


texts:
I don't know if she loves me.

Vs

  I don't know if she loves me or not.

Could we use only if in the above sentences, without the use of "or not"?

What's the difference in their meaning?


texts: Using "would" multiple times in a sentence?

texts:
Is it OK to use "would" this many times in a sentence?

  "I remember how I would always wish the creative writing class to end quickly so that I wouldn't have to show the teacher what I wrote."


texts:
If I don't care about my husband whatever he does or whatever he says, can I say to him "You are out of my mind"?

I got a hint from "out of sight, out of mind", but something strange is that 'out of one's mind' means 'insane'.

Is that correct?


texts: Is it right to use the verb Make in "Pig kidneys make the best breakfast (s) ever"?

texts:
I was watching some video on youtube and a person in it said:

  Pig kidneys make the best breakfast (s) ever.

Now, I what I couldn't help thinking about whether how he used the verb make where he did was grammatically correct.
Is it?
And one more thing I want to know is whether to use breakfast here, or breakfasts.


texts: I am having a conversation with some international learners of English. I am assuming that the term equipment is singular and plural. A chat friend insists that the term equipments is the appropriate term to use, when speaking about this word. The other speaker is using British English in our conversation. I appreciate any feedback that I receive. I have also heard the word furnitures used.


texts:
While writing the thesis, google docs proposed me to use "can originate" instead of "can be originated". Seriously, is there any difference? I am not a native speaker, that's why I am asking. The full quote is below.

New genes can be originated from existing ones when previously
independent genes are joined together and expressed as a single unit.


texts: Should I use “so”, “such” or “such a” in this example?

texts:
Teo has been in the US for only three years, but his teachers say he has learned to speak perfect English in _____ short time because he's so happy at school.

Firstly I use "such" following the structure that my textbook taught me: such + adjective + uncountable/plural noun (+ that)
I applied this structure since I thought "time" is an uncountable noun. However, apparently, the answer is "such a".


texts:
The aim of this paper is to clarify that uniform asymptotic stability is equivalent to exponential stability for the half-linear differential system.(https://advancesindifferenceequations.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s13662-015-0494-7)

The purpose of this contribution is to clarify that such algorithms need proper calculation of the update direction in undermodeled situations.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1474667015323521)

Does "to clarify" here mean "in order to clarify"? In other words, is "to clarify" a purpose infinitive in (1) and (2)?


texts:
My dictionary tells me that wrangle means to dispute angrily. But what does wrangle mean in this sentence? My guess is that Barry had raised lots of snakes before.

  Barry had wrangled snakes before, Roberta told the Tulsa World, which is why he was confident he would be able to remove the rattler from the road.


texts:
Source: p 48 , The Law of Contract, 5 ed (2012), by O’Sullivan and Hilliard

  For example, if my (happily married)
  wife and I sit down to carefully decide who should pick up the kids from school on
  which day, and I say that I will do it on Mondays and Tuesdays if she does it on the other
  weekdays, it does not appear to my wife that I intend our arrangement to impose legal
  obligations upon either of us. It is not a situation in which we believe that there will be
  further negotiations following which we enter into a legally binding arrangement; we
  never intend there to be a contract at all.

Since 'intend' can be transitive, why there? Why not simply write 'we never intend a contract at all'? My Googling produced p 214, Oxford Modern English Grammar, by Bas Aarts which I don't understand:

  The grammaticality of the following example [38] also shows that the
  postverbal NP position cannot be filled by an argument of INTEND.

  38 I certainly intend there to be an increase in ranger and warden ser-
  vices to ensure that responsibities are exercised by those who have
  the new right.

  As noted before, there (along with dummy it) is meaningless, and
  cannot therefore be a semantic argument of the verb that precedes it.


texts: What does it mean to say, "It does not always pay to customize an experience."?

texts:
The statement is taken from here. Here is the context:

"Stick to the integrity of your design. The market will constantly push you towards cheaper, easier, less difficult to accomplish. It does not always pay to customize an experience."

Does it mean "It is not always profitable to follow the trend."?


texts:
Consider the following:

The furniture makers in those early decades of the 1600’s were known as “joiners,”
for the primary method of constructing furniture, at least among the English of this
time, was that of mortise-and-tenon joinery.

I wonder, what is the grammatical function of "constructing" in the sentence? Is it grammatically correct? Because, I think when we use gerunds, we have to put the name before the gerund: "furniture constructing"
If it was like "furniture construction", would it change the meaning?


texts: What are the correct synonyms for “tangible”?

texts:
However, the growing popularity of Agile practices begs the question of whether they can be applied to the development of tangible physical products and services too?

physical
measurable
innovative


texts: How to find out what the mistake is in this sentence

texts:
I have the following sentence. One of the bold words is used in a wrong way, so what is the mistake and how to correct it?

That is spurred the great explorations of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries was the desire to find a more expeditious route to the spice supplies of the Far East


texts: Is it natural to use the verb "read" on its own not metioning what someone read?

texts:
Is it natural to use the verb "read" on its own not mentioning what someone read? For example:

  Person A: Did you read yesterday?

  Person B: Yes, I read a lot yesterday.


texts:
I am not quite sure yet but is it mandatory to use the Past perfect when clarifying which action occurred first by using signal words such as "before" and "after", or would it be grammatically correct if I were to use the past simple instead?

He had asked me for help before you did.(Past perfect)
He asked me for help before you did. (Past simple)


texts: The meaning of "doubles" in the sentence

texts:
This New Crib Ad from IKEA Actually Doubles as a Pregnancy Test — Like, for Real

The sentence is came from an article, I have no idea what does the word "doubles" mean there.


texts:
In "The Song of Flying Fish" by G. K. Chesterton, the author was describind the dreams of someone, saying:

  Boyle, being young, was naturally both the healthier and the heavier sleeper of the two. Though active enough when he was once awake, he always had a load to lift in waking. Moreover, he had dreams of the sort that cling to the emerging minds like the dim tentacles of an octopus. They were a medley of many things, including his last look from the balcony across the four grey roads and the green square. But the pattern of them changed and shifted and turned dizzily, to the accompaniment of a low grinding noise, which sounded somehow like a subterranean river, and may have been no more than old Mr. Jameson snoring in the dressing-room.

What's meant here by "pattern", I mean how "pattern" can turn to "noise"?


texts:
Since I was first learned English, I know that any number greater than 1 comes with s for plural (except for some exceptions like Mice and Feet).
6 Cars, 2 Trees, 3 Dogs, 9 Years

So if someone ask me how old are you I will say 6 years old

but when I read a report in news website I find they say
a 6 year old boy (not years)

so when to remove the plural s?


texts: 'I wish I met her now .' Is this correct?

texts:
Sometimes 'wish' subjuctive makes me(non-native speaker) confused. So, which is correct?
I live here, she lives abroad. Somthing happend now, so I want to talk to her. In this situation:

a. I wish I could meet her now.
b. I wish I met her now.

I love her. I want to meet her more often, but can't (she lives abroad). So in this situation:

c. I wish I could meet her more often.
d. I wish I met her more often.

I think a,c are correct. How about b,d? Are b,d also correct especially in grammar?

addition----------------------------------------------------------------------------

In 'English Grammar and Usage by Leech', the author says "when the verb after "wish" is an action verb, the wish refers to the future and we use "would" or "could" instead of the Past Simple":

I wish the weather was warmer. (state)
I wish the weather would get warmer. (action)

In 'Cambridge English Grammar in Use', the author says "We use I wish...would... for actions and changes, not situations. Compare:

I wish Sarah would come. ('come' is action verb. So I wonder is "I wish Sarah came" wrong?)
I wish Sarah was(or were) here now. ('was, were' are state verbs, so past simple is ok.)
I wish somebody would buy me a car. ('buy' is an action verb, so I wonder is "I wish somebody bought me a car" wrong?)
I wish I had a car (had is a state verb, so past simple is ok.)

Also someone(English teacher) says:
If the verb after wish is an action verb, use 'would' or 'could' instead of the past simple. It refers to the future.

For example:
 (Everyone changed out of their uniforms to casual dress except you)
 I wish I had changed clothes.
 -This refers to the past, and your regret that you didn't do something.

(It's hot and you're wearing sweats)
 I wish I could change clothes.
 -This talks about the future and refers to the action of changing.

These examples all described states:
 I don't have a dog - I wish I had a dog
 Today is Friday - I wish it were Saturday
 I speak English - I wish I spoke French
 I can't drink milk - I wish I could drink milk

So any verb that is used as an action requires 'would' or 'could.'
ex) I wish I changed my appearance. (not ok)
I wish I could change my appearnce. (ok)

This is why I asked this question. Meet(met) is 'action verb', so are 'b, d' correct or not?
In addition, is "I wish Sarah came" correct or not?
Is "I wish somebody bought me a car" correct or not?

I'm so confused now. English is very tricky. T.T


texts:
Can I form a question using this format:
Must + sub. + to + inf.

My teachers said that I could say "must you to drive a car on the right side in England?" as it refers to a law. Is it right?


texts:
Halsey, who is scratching the neck, met by Nimitz. Later it was declared Halsey is suffering from shingles.

  Nimitz: Guess you don't like the chokers either.

  Halsey: I'd get grease on that thing just trying to button it up.
  Makes me look like a damn waiter.

What does it mean, "button it up"?

I find this line in movie Midway 2019.


texts: Is it correct to omit the indefinite article after the colon sign from the title of a scientific paper?

texts:
I am wondering if it is correct to replace,
Learning English Language: A New Policy For Using Ell.stackexchange
by
Learning English Language: New Policy For Using Ell.stackexchange


texts: Can "it's" be omitted in the following case?

texts:
She wriggles herself closer to me. (It's) Definitely not my imagination
  playing a prank on me.

I wonder if you can omit "it's" in situations like these (at least in informal writing).

I checked Google Books and found only one instance of this usage. But I still have some doubts. That's why I'm asking here.


texts:
"He is having a cell phone" - is wrong.

Instead we use:

  "He has a cell phone".

However, both A and B below are correct:

  A) "We are having a class"

  B) "We have a class"

Why?


texts: "the biosimilar principle" vs. "the biosimilarity principle"

texts:
From an EMA guideline:

  This guideline lays down the non-clinical and clinical requirements for monoclonal antibody-containing medicinal products claimed to be similar to another one already authorised, i.e. similar biological medicinal products (biosimilars). The studies described here should be planned with the intention to detect any potential differences between biosimilar and reference medicinal product and to determine the relevance of such differences, should they occur. A biosimilar mAb should be similar to the reference mAb in physicochemical and biological terms. Any observed relevant difference would have to be duly justified and could contradict the biosimilar principle.

Is it acceptable to write biosimilar principle? I think that "biosimilarity principle" is the correct form, and I use "biosimilarity principle" in my translations.


texts: "Help toward reaching a goal": Why use "toward"?

texts:
I've read this from Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

  avail: help toward reaching a goal

The word "toward" confuses me. Why doesn't the author use "for" or "in"?

  avail: help for reaching a goal

  avail: help in reaching a goal

The underlying question is what's the difference between "toward," "for" and "in" in this context.

Thanks in advance.


texts: Definite article + possessive case :"Stanford's online offering of course X" vs "The Stanford's online offering of course X"

texts:
Which of the following is correct?

  Stanford's online offering of course X.

vs

  The Stanford's online offering of course X.

Can we use the definite article before possessive 's?


texts:
Alex beckons me to come nearby.
Alex beckons Sam to come nearby.
Alex beckons Sam to follow him.

Does beckons fits well in the above sample sentences or I should better use 'signals' instead as below? I want to mean Alex uses his hands to gesture, so I thought signals doesn't mean the use of hand gestures but beckons does.

Alex signals me to come nearby.
Alex signals Sam to come nearby.
Alex signals Sam to follow him.


texts: Asking smb so that you have a picture of you and them

texts:
Here is a situation: I see a celebrity and want a picture of me and him or her taken.
Can I ask them using following questions?

Can I take/have/get a picture with you?
Could we get a picture?

What are common and idiomatic ways of asking? (By the way, is this last question correct? I'm not sure if there should be the "the" before "common" in this case.)


texts: The meaning of "that's saying a good deal"

texts:
"And if you thought you saw anything there, understand that there are
  more illusions in a tinker's cart that there are in the rest of the
  world. And that's saying a good deal, for it' a shadow of a dream."

This is from ”The Story of Mona Sheehy" by Lord dunsany.

I can't understand  the meaning of
"that's saying a good deal"

I am glad if somebody strong text would kindly teach me.


texts: How to describe this kind of "highlight" in a video?

texts:
I want to describe some amazing (little) part of a video, although it may not be directly related to what the video want to convey. From my current search the word highlight is used for articles. So for video is this word still the best one I should pick?

What I want to describe is, for example, during a performance of a dancer, there is a bird flies across, above his head. I want to describe that bird flying across part, as you can see it's not related to what the video want to convey (dancing).

I found a word seems to also work: Can I say that that bird in my example stole the show? What other phrases might be better or more appropriate?


texts: Why do they use "its" in reference to "borrower in the following sentence?

texts: Credit risk has two components.The first is known as default risk, or default probability, which is the probability that a borrower defaults—that is, fails to meet its obligation to make full and timely payments of principal and interest, according to the terms of the debt security.


texts: What is the purpose of capitalization? how are capitalized words read?

texts: I know that proper nouns are capitalized but why is it even necessary? are all capitalized words read in the same way as non capitalized ones?


texts: "A realistic-looking novelty gun" -- meaning of novelty?

texts:
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/cleveland-crowd-protests-over-boy-shot-police-001423280.html

  Several hundred people marched down an exit ramp and temporarily blocked rush-hour traffic on a busy freeway on Tuesday while protesting a police officer's fatal shooting of a 12-year-old boy who had brandished a realistic-looking novelty gun.

How should I understand novelty gun?


texts:
Are this words similar because for what ive seen on tv they mean to let your body flexible or something like that
“Stay limber and don’t fight against the flow”
“(Someone is about to be carried upside down) Go limp”
“Close the air suply of the animal until it goes completely limp”


texts:
At last the play began again, but the
  audience had lost interest. One man shouted,
  “People of Paris! This play is not amusing.
  Nothing happens! I thought we were going to
  select the Pope of Fools. In my city of Ghent,
  this is how we do it: A crowd such as this one
  gathers. Then anyone who chooses puts his
  head through a hole and makes an ugly face.
  The one who makes the ugliest face is chosen
  Pope. That’s it! It’s a lot of fun, I tell you.
  Shall we choose your Pope of Fools this way?
  It will surely be more amusing than watching
  any more of this boring play.”
  The audience clapped in agreement.
  Someone broke the glass out of a small round
  window. Then people started putting their
  heads through the empty circle of stone.
  Every human expression was seen. Men and
  women, young and old, scholars and
  shopkeepers—all got in on the fun.

Dose it mean all people enjoyed seeing those funny expression?


texts: How to use "For as long as I can remember"

texts:
I want to say I've been having a problem being in a relationship with a girl  since I first started to have a relationship with a girl. Can I say like this?

  For as long as I can remember, I've been having a problem being in a relationship with a girl.


texts: "Someone wiped his dirty hands on my towel."

texts:
Recently, I came across the following sentence:

Someone wiped his dirty hands on my towel.

My questions: why using "on"? Why not to use "with"?


texts: "after he was cleared of killing at center of hit documentary"

texts:
Making a Murderer's Brendan Dassey is 'scared' of outside world says his mother as clock ticks down to freedom after he was cleared of killing at center of hit documentary.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3770899/Making-Murderer-s-Brendan-Dassey-s-mother-speaks-time-son-s-conviction-overturned-saying-s-excited-released-scared-facing-outside-world.html

I am not able to fully understand the phrase "at center of hit documentary". It seems as if this phrase was related to the part "killing" but it does not make much sense.


texts: "Have done ... and have done ..." or "Have done ... and done ...."

texts:
I'm trying to write a sentence that lists the two things I have done. What should the verb following "and" be?
Example:

I have written a poem and have read a book

or

I have written a poem and read a book


texts: Does "what makes him good" mean that he asks why?

texts:
How to respond to this situation?

A friend asks you what makes him good at speaking a foreign language.

I want to ask about the meaning of "what makes him good"

does it mean that

He's good at speaking a foreign language and he wants to know why OR
He asks about how to be good at speaking a foreign language?

Thanks a lot ..


texts: Does "in and out of places" idiomatically mean mental institution?

texts:
From the movie Behind the Candelabra:

  Liberace: So, Scott, do you have any family left?

  Scott: Oh, no, not really. My mom's been in and out of places, you know, for my whole life.

  Liberace: Oh, really?

  Scott: And I have two sisters and a brother, and then four half-brothers and sisters from two different fathers. Most of them live with their fathers. The rest of us, like me and Wayne, we were sent to state-run homes and then Mom would come get us and we'd live with her for a while, then... she'd have her troubles again and they'd have to put her away

Although I understand what Scott is saying, I wonder if "in and out of places" is idiomatic or if this usage of "place" is idiomatic, because when Scott says "in and out of places", Liberace seems to immediately understand what he means. I can't seem to find this usage in dictionaries.


texts: Which is correct, Facilities Management Agency, Facilities Management Company or Facility Mangement Company?

texts:
I would like to know which one is suitable and correct from both language and business perspective.

  Facility management (or facilities management or FM)

I found it on Wikipedia. What is the difference between Facility and Facilities?

  Agency [google's definition]: a business or organization providing a particular service on behalf of another business, person, or group.

As far as I know, FM provide service on behalf of building developer and it is more like an agency.

Why most FM company call themselves as a company and not agency?

And if they are providing services to separate complexes, why don't they use Facilities Management instead of Facility Management?


texts: Is there any difference between those two sentences?

texts:
I'm aware of what possibly means, but I was wondering if the following 2 sentences have, to some extent, different nuances.

Here's the situation; 2 friends are talking about a woman they ran into during an office party.

"When the time will come?"
"When will the time come?"


texts: Help to understand a sentence from a tv show

texts:
I saw this sentence in the subtitle. However, I am unsure if it is correct grammatically.

  I dreamt I was snorting blow off of Tom Jones' ass.


texts: Are there three clauses or two in this one sentence?

texts:
Are there three clauses or two in this one sentence from the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald:

  Blinking away the brightness of the street outside my eyes picked him out obscurely in the anteroom, talking to another man.

Is it, for example:
 1. Blinking away the brightness of the street outside.
 2. my eyes picked him out obscurely in the anteroom.
 3. (he is) talking to another man.

If so, one comma misses, after outside.
But, F. Scott Fitzgerald knew better!

I can't review - A clause is a group of words that includes a subject and a verb - "Blinking away the brightness of the street outside my eyes picked him out obscurely in the anteroom"
How you would have explained to me?


texts: Which one is right? "The assassination by the US of Iran's most powerful general" or The assassination of Iran's most powerful general by the US"

texts:
While I was reading the news today on bbc.com, I came across the following sentence.

The assassination by the US of Iran's most powerful general caused tensions between the two countries

The way it is written sounded a little bit odd to me linguistically. If I were to write the sentence I would say "the assassination of A by B caused tension" because this sounds better to me.

But in the bbc editor says "the assassination by B of A caused tension". And this sounds a little bit different.

And I am confused. So which one is correct? or are both structures correct in terms of good english?

1-"the assassination of A by B caused tensions."
2- "the assassination by B of A caused tensions."

Regards,


texts:
Is "any" really necessary in the following sentences? If I omit in the sentences will that be grammatical?

Here are some examples:

1- When I reached John's home, I heard the barking of dogs. I asked john if there are (any) dogs in his house because I am scared of dogs.

2- Are there (any) ghosts in the world? What's your opinion, John? I don't believe there are (any) ghosts in the world.

3- Are there (any) humans who are immortal and can do anything they want.


texts: Interpretation and meaning of ""They were speaking to each other halfcircular words at the semiround table."

texts:
I translated a sentence to English:

  "They were speaking to each other halfcircular words at the semiround table."

In original language, this sentence is:

  "Разговаривали друг с другом за полукруглым столом полушарной лексикой"

I thought a half-circular word is a word that was said as hint, just in general, like beating around the bush, nothing concrete.

I want to understand how people could perceive it. What picture could people see when reading the sentence?


texts:
I see the marketing on selling dictionaries "350,000 entries and meanings", I searched in the dictionary and I get
An entry is:

The description is too general, what is an item in a dictionary?
What else is written other than words? Only words
What else is printed other than words? Are there is a variety of charts, drawings, and images?


texts: Could a conditional cause confusion between hypothetical and what happened?

texts:
I have a scenario where I would normally use a second conditional like this:
"If I wanted to, I could do this and that even now". Now from the context it was somewhat implicit, that it was something I could do, if I wanted to. So I ended up with something like "Like I said, I could do this and that" (with silent if I wanted to).
Is that the right conditional? And if so, how does listener know what I meant by "I could do this and that"?
Could they mix up between:

I could and I actually did, and
I could (I had and maybe still have the option to), but I didn't?


texts: What is an umbrella term for all sorts of urban development from road construction to tree planting?

texts: In Russian, there's a word 'благоустройство'. I'll give you its official definition (I kinda google-translated it but why not, it will do): "A set of works (on the engineering preparation of the territory, the construction of roads, the development of communication networks and water supply, sewage, energy supply, etc.) and measures (on clearing, draining and landscaping the territory, improving the microclimate, and protecting the air basin, open water bodies and soil from pollution, sanitary cleaning, noise reduction, etc.) carried out in order to bring a territory into a condition suitable for construction and normal use for its intended purpose, creating healthy, convenient and cultural conditions of the population." I would add that the word, uncountable, can refer not only to the process but also to its physical results (paving, trees, decorations, etc.). How could the term be rendered into English?


texts:
Let's say you are asked by your teacher what is your favorite fruit, then you say:

  "my favorite fruit is grape/grapes"

Which one is correct in terms of the general selection according to what I have just written here? Because I have just seen a website which he/she exemplified "my favorite fruits are grapes" this confuses me a bit now.


texts: Is there a difference between therefore and "for this reason"?

texts:
They acknowledge that tasks that attempt to test a certain executive function such as memory have some variability amongst them, for this reason they used factor analysis

I know the sentence contains some jargon, so I will try to explain the logic as best as I can. The variability among the tasks is why they use factor analysis, however it most certainly is not the only thing they could have done. Is there a difference between therefore and for this reason in such a situation. My intuition tells me that therefore implies more certainty that this is the only possible effect.


texts: Difference between "career progress" and "career progression"

texts:
The definitions of "progress" and "progression" are very similar in the Merriam Webster Learner's Dictionary.

  Progress: [noncount]

  1  : movement forward or toward a place

  2  : the process of improving or developing something over a period of
  time

  http://www.learnersdictionary.com/definition/progress

  Progression:

  1  : the process of developing over a period of time

  2  : a continuous and connected series of actions, events, etc.
  :SEQUENCE

  http://www.learnersdictionary.com/definition/progression

In this article about women’s career progress, the writer sometimes uses ‘career progress” and other times uses “career progression”.  What is the difference between them?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/pragyaagarwaleurope/2019/06/28/is-the-workplace-culture-stalling-womens-progress/#49458a222001

  Is The Workplace Culture Stalling Women's Progress

  Perhaps surprisingly more senior women report greater challenges to
  career progress

  These unconscious biases are manifested into unintentionally exclusive
  behaviour that can damage women’s career progression opportunities:

  Double standards at the root of women’s career progression challenges.

  While blame is often put on maternity leave and work-life balance
  issues, research shows the extent to which unconscious gender bias in
  UK workplace culture can hamper women's progress.


texts: What does the word "line" mean in this paragraph?

texts:
I'm not sure if the word "line" in this paragraph means "words"?

  Thus, after Grendel’s death, King Hrothgar speaks sanguinely of the future, which the audience knows will end with the destruction of his line and the burning of Heorot.


texts: the meaning of "all these others " in the context and the sentence meaning

texts:
I am confused of the meaning of "all these others " in the context.

  So continuing with ice ages, we've looked at the Pleistocene Ice Age up through the so-called Little Ice Age in Europe, but today I'd like to talk about a controversial hypothesis that Earth went through tremendous ice ages before all these others between approximately 600 and 700 million years ago during a geologic period that's known as the Cryogenian.


texts:
Which one is correct and why?

I think to blame you in this case is not right.

Or

I think to blame you on this case is not right.


texts: Articles in "The peptide chain is known as the backbone, and the "R" groups are known as side chains."

texts:
From Chemguide:

  A protein chain (with the N-terminal on the left) will therefore look like this:

  The "R" groups come from the 20 amino acids which occur in proteins. The peptide chain is known as the backbone, and the "R" groups are known as side chains.

Can we say "as the side chains" instead? After all, there's 'the' before 'backbone'.


texts: Is there any difference between those two sentences start/begin?

texts:
Between the two following sentences, what is the difference?

  "I began to feel a lump in my stomach."

versus

  "I started to feel a lump in my stomach."

I found out that most likely begin means it already started while start means it will start in a future moment.


texts: Why aren't articles used in which or what questions? (For example: What flavor would you like?)


texts: What does "know where your commode's at" mean here?

texts:
From the movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. On a career day at school, a parent speaks to the class about his job.

  A parent: I'm happy that Waffle House was okay with me coming here to talk to y'all about my day-to-day. And, y'all, that's pretty much, in a shell what it's like to manage a Waffle House. Ma'am, I don't know what else you want me to say to them. And I'm also gonna need to know where your commode's at.

  Teacher: Okay, let's give him a round of applause. Thank you.

That line is supposed to be him addressing the teacher, but what does it mean here? Commode being a piece of furniture doesn't seem to make the sentence make sense.


texts: Why "come blundering by", not "come blunderingly by"?

texts:
They(Hobbits) possessed from the first the art of disappearing swiftly and silently, when large folk whom they do not wish to meet come blundering by; and this art they have developed until to Men it may seem magical.

It seems to me that "come blunderingly by" make more grammatical sense as the adverb blunderingly modifies the verb come.  I don't understand why the author had used the adjective form 'blundering' here.  Any idea?


texts:
In the following sentence, it seems it should end up with "like it" or "like there". Why the both of "it" and "there" have come together?

  I have been to Washington several times, and I like it there.


texts:
I have a question. Is it correct to combine a singular and plural form of a word this way?

For this purpose, the Manager should agree with the security officers (a) codeword(s).

My problem is that the indefinite article is in the parentheses simultaneously with the "s", so I would read this as "Codeword" or "A codewords".
I couldn't find examples of the same construction on the Internet but I often see it in documents of the company I work in.


texts: "Well I think it’s one of those times, the older or the experienced criticizing those with a little experience."

texts:
Does it sound natural in a conversation? And what about in a written language?

Well I think it’s one of those times, the older or the experienced criticizing those with a little experience.

In this sentence, gerund clause(nominal phrase) “the older or the experienced criticizing those with a little experience.” modifies the noun “times”
I think putting nominal phrase after nouns modifies the nouns, isn’t it true?


texts:
I feel sometimes "in" seems to be used in the same way as "during", but it's hard to know if that's exactly the case, because the complement is not an event per se.

For example:

  Michael collapsed in a shrill cry.

  The building collapsed in an explosion.


texts: Is "'ve to" instead of "have to" correct?

texts:
I need your help. So, "have to" instead of "must" is correct, but can I abbreviate this with 've to?

Is this a mistake, or can I use it so???


texts:
You have been sent this message because you signed up to receive a weekly newsletter.

This message has been sent to you because you signed up to receive a weekly newsletter.

I assume that the above sentences have the same meaning. Are they really interchangeable? Is not there after all some stylistic or semantic difference between them?


texts: Does the word "that" give a possibility to simplify a Past Perfect sentence?

texts:
I'm talking about the past and then I make a digression farther to the past and start adding had before every verb. And I want to say this:

There had not been many people that had been disappointed with their assignments.
There had not been many people that were disappointed with their assignments.

Which way to say that is correct? Does the first verb perhaps establish the tense and after that you can take a more simple way to say it?


texts: I don't understand the sentence of "people have grown used to wasting water"

texts:
I don't understand the sentence "people have grown used to wasting water". Does it mean that the people who were used to wasting water have grown?

The original context is:

  "Unfortunately, the world's supply of water is under threat. People have grown used to wasting water, and changes in the global climate mean that droughts and water rationing are becoming increasing common."


texts: Difference between "fast food" and "junk food"

texts:
What is the difference between "fast food" and "junk food"?

Are they the same or not?

"Are they used in the same way?"


texts: Is "what can I make of something?" grammatical?

texts:
I gleaned a new phrase "what do you make of something" sometime ago(from a Australia TV show). I am wondering if I can say "what can I make of something". I have searched the google and yahoo, I can get several recommendations while entering "what do you make of" and "what do you make" but I can not while searching "what can you" or "what can I make" or "what can you make".

Is the saying "what can you/I make of something" natural to you?


texts:
The last story I heard was that Alan Mc Gee (boss label) had tried to organise a come-back concert. After hearing about the plans, however, the band had gone to the studio and burned all the tapes they had ever recorded, then demolished everything in the studio. By the time Mc Gee got there, the studio was a smouldering ruin.
burned and demolished are past simple. Past perfect "had gone" expresses the intention (they have gone to burn and demolish)
Is it a possible explaination ?


texts: Should verb "is/are" stay before or after a pronoun in the end of the question?

texts:
Such sentence for instance: Who knows what creatures are these?.
Text editors correct this as Who knows what creatures these are?.
Which is right or both?


texts: Why has comma been used after "been" in this sentence?

texts:
I read an example in Merriam Webster dictionaries which was:

His son has been, in politics a nonstarter.

Why was comma used after "been" not after "in politics"? Because in this sort of sentences, we usually use it after a complete clause to introduce another clause.


texts: contained and contained in, and some other translation issues

texts:
Below, you can see page 85 of ST_Lite_JxE081_v00.02 .It is a Security-Target (a document that indicate some security specification of an IT production) for JCOP Smart cards.

TSF = Target Security Functions

I can't understand the sections that I marked.

In the second line of first marked item: "the application package contained in the information to which the evidence applies", which one is true?

the application package is in the information (I mean the information containing the application package) or the information is in the application package (I mean the application package containing the information.)?
what is the meaning of "to which the evidence applies"? the evidence applies what? information or application package?

And also in the second marked item, I can't understand it!

"to recipient given at the time when the ..." means that : the evidence are verify for recipient? the evidence are from recipient? please explain it for me.


texts: What is this building you are seeing/viewing on the map - which is correct?

texts:
What is this building you are seeing on the map?
  What is this building you are viewing on the map?


texts:
An excerpt
Outdoor adventure:

  From the stately flanks of its Cascade volcanoes to the stony shores of its myriad waterways, the region offers an unmatched wealth of all fresco activities.

What is "fresco activities"?


texts: What's the meaning of 'sb.'s heart fails'?

texts:
Merriam-Webster,
fail, verb,
1c. to stop functioning normally
the patient's heart failed

But there is an example in Longman that says:
His heart failed and there was nothing we could do to save him.
Which means his heart stopped working completely and he died.

So is this a sudden incident, or a continuous condition (= having heart failure)?

Thanks :-)


texts:
English isn't my mother tongue. I'm familiar with the notions of infinitive and gerund but I sometimes just don't know which of the two should be used in combination with which verb.

Thomson and Martinet [1986] provide some verbs that may take either infinitive or gerund without changing the meaning (advise, allow, ...).

I am looking for a list of verbs and the allowed construction (gerund/infinitive/both). Ideally this should be a text-based list so I can search it on my computer without having to use the internet.

[Thomson and Martinet, 1986] A. J. Thomson and A. V. Martinet, A Practical English Grammar, Oxford University Press, isbn: 0-19-431342-5, 1986.


texts: A problem regarding determiners as the object

texts:
In an editorial I found a sentence.

  It notes that East and South Asia have the highest number of deaths due to air pollution; by one estimate, it killed about 1.24 million in India in 2017.

Here 1.24 million is just a number. By extension can it be also used to mean 1.24 million people. Are these types of constructions correct?

Thanks in advance


texts: Do I need a comma before "perhaps" in the following case?

texts:
Maybe what you saw was a wild animal? A deer or a raccoon or a monkey(,)
  perhaps?

Do I need the comma before perhaps?


texts:
The boy was beaten by his mother for stealing money.

  The boy was beaten  for stealing  money by his mother.

Which sentence is better?Are there differences between these two sentences?


texts:
How can I correctly capitalize this e-mail title: Unable to Log In to System

For bonus points, what are the parts of speech for the short words? I'm having particular difficulty with the word "to".


texts: Is Sherlock Holmes good to study English?

texts: The novel was first published over 100 years ago. Its English might be quite different than it is now. The question is this: Will reading it help me to improve my English?


texts:
I'm developing an application in English language but my English is not very good.

The application consists in to load a text file, specify a prefix and a suffix, then when the file is loaded and the prefix/suffix are set, the user needs to click in a button to prefix and suffix all the lines of the textfile.

The problem is I don't know how to name the button to perform the action of Prefix and Suffix the text.

To understand it better, if I have an application which cuts some text, then the button name to perform the action would be "Cut the text", if I have an application to copy some text, the button name would be "Copy the text"

In this case I don't know which is the correct verb to Prefix and Suffix, maybe the correct verb would be "Affix the text"?

I'm from Spain. In Spanish there exist a verb to Prefix, but I think doesn't exist any verb to Suffix a word, and neither to Prefix and Suffix at the same time, but maybe I'm wrong.

  UPDATE:

Screenshot to understand the scenario

Full resolution: http://i.stack.imgur.com/AI2ri.png


texts: "The meanings of A and B are pretty much the same" vs. "The meaning of A and B is pretty much the same"

texts:
The words "lovely" and "wonderful" are synonyms. So, should I say

  The meanings of "lovely" and "wonderful" are pretty much the same

or

  The meaning of "lovely" and "wonderful" is pretty much the same

A tutor uses the latter whereas the former seems more grammatically correct. I understand people can't care about the grammar too much while they are speaking. I'd just like to know if my understanding about that grammar is right.


texts:
Merrian Webster dictionary defines Submission as either:

1.An act of submitting

Condition of being submissive.

However in the synonyms, the list is "compliance, obedience, subordination".
It seems there is an emphasis on the second meaning. As a native speaker, do you feel so? or not?

I am wanting to use this word for the first meaning. For example after I send some info to a server, I want to say that was a "XXX info submission". Do you consider appropriate, and if not please provide options


texts:
Off they went to look for him in the forest,
  and there atop a tall bael tree  was their friend, sitting tight.

In this sentence, what does "there" refer to, "atop a tall bael tree" or "in the forest"?


texts: Word for a city that usually absorbs lots of immigrants?

texts: There are cities in the world that accept immigrants because of various reasons. For example the city I lived in, Mashhad, absorbs immigrants because of religious reasons. People like to be there because they want to be near their important religious person tomb. So what is this kind of city called?, A city that many people liked migrating to and migrated to it through the history.


texts: Is the term 'law enforcer' acceptable? I don't see why it shouldn't be, but I haven't come across it, in contrast to 'law enforcement officers'. Of course, you can usually use 'the police', but it wouldn't include other state agencies like the national guard and so on. That's why I'm seeking some umbrella term, preferably the one that is less bulky than 'law enforcement officers'.


texts: "Strict with punctuality" vs. "Strict about punctuality"

texts:
How would the meaning change, if we changed the prepositions in the following sentences? The following were extracted from Longman Dictionary Online.

  This company is very strict about punctuality. ( with)

  The Trumps are very strict with their children. (about)


texts:
I have a question about the usage of "among"

among friends
among a group of friends

Does "among" make "group" redundant?


texts: Personality trait for "someone who waits to find who's in a position of power and then gets behind them"

texts:
The question :)

Bonus points if the word implies that they try not to antagonize anybody. It's like a guy betting on the horse that's winning, but keeping his options open about changing his bet


texts:
Would rather (but not would prefer to) is also followed by a past tense when we want to involve other people in the action, even though it has a present or future meaning. Study the following:

a.Shall we go out for dinner tonight? ~ No, I'd rather we ate at home, if you don't mind.

b.My rephrased:  Shall we go out for dinner tonight? ~ No, I'd rather we eat at home, if you don't mind.

I have extracted the italic parts from a grammar site, but would you tell me if the bold part is correct, too? If so, what is the difference between a. and b. semantically?


texts: What is the tense of the "to infinitive"?

texts:
(1) He seems to have asked her to arrange an interview.
(2) He seems to ask her to arrange an interview.

I understand that the phrase to have asked in the sentence (1) is past tense, which means the act of asking has already occurred.  But I am not sure about the tense of the phrase to ask her in the sentence (2).
How should I understand the sentence (2)?  He seems, that sounds like present tense but what about the tense of the phrase "to ask her"?  Is it present tense or future tense?  Could you help me clarify it?  Thank you always.


texts: I know the "as well" at the end of a sentence is the same as "too" but I'm wondering if it sounds natural enough in informal conversations (in American English).


texts: Present Perfect but with specifying the time in the past

texts:
I know that when I use such words like yesterday, last year, in 1984, I have to use Simple Past but not Present Perfect.

I visited my mother yesterday.
I have visited my mother.

But what if I want to use Present Perfect to say about some previous action that has effect now and I want to add extra information about the time when it happened? Can I say:

I have broken my leg yesterday. (is it correct?)


texts:
You shouldn't be jealous of the likes of her.

Is this a correct construct? Sounds unusual to me but I am unable to find any error. Google search returned some similar sentences.


texts: meaning of the word "have" in it is past form in context

texts:
It is from Crash Course US history. It is at 8 minute and 10 second. Here is the contex:

  Taney ruled that black people "had for more than a century before been regarded as beings of an inferior order...".


texts: An adjective to describe a man who acts and treats like a real man or like a woman

texts:
What adjective shall I use in the following sentences:

  1) Girls like him because of his................ behavior/treatment. [the quality of acting like a real man, speaking in a manlike tone, treating like a man etc.]

a) masculine
b) man-like [self-made term based on what we say in our language]

here I guess "a" sounds better.

  2) Girls dislike him because of his................ behavior/treatment.

a) feminine
b) womanish

here I think "a" works better.

Thank you.


texts: Words to start how a mentioned task is performed

texts:
Consider this pattern

  It is possible to do X, .....(To do so/For this purpose/To do this/To achieve it.. ?) the user must....

What are proper words for this purpose?


texts: When everyone looks bad to a bad individual

texts:
In my language, there is a saying which says a bad person would habitually consider everyone to him/herself just because his essenزe / nature is not clear. I have found a proverb in my dictionary of proverbs and colloquialism, but I need to get a confirmation if it works in today / modern American English or it is somehow odd to you. Meanwhile I would be thankful if you could give me some other suggestions:

  All things look yellow to the jaundiced eye.


texts:
He writes a crystalline prose (source)

I find this countable usage of "prose" from the Oxford Dictionaries very unusual. I have never seen "prose" used countably. In contrast, several dictionaries list "prose" as a mass noun and all the examples I have seen in other dictionaries indicate that "prose" is a mass noun, e.g.:

  She writes beautiful prose. (source)

A search on Google for "a beautiful prose" has only hundreds of hits and most, if not all, of them are false positives as "a beautiful prose writer/style". Can "prose" really be used uncountably? Is "a beautiful prose" idiomatic? Or is that a mistake in the Oxford Dictionaries?


texts: "Please Find Attached or "Please Find Enclosed" in a formal email?

texts:
In email writing, when we are attaching any document, what is the correct, formal and more polite way to write:

  Please find attached "Monthly status report" PDF for your reference.
  Please find enclosed "Monthly status report" PDF for your reference.

Also, should we write the name of the file attached with format ect .ppt, .pdf, .docx? Sometimes I use PFA ... Is it correct?


texts: Which sentence is grammatically correct and why?

texts:
You have done well and you will be promoted soon.

or

  You have done well and you will soon be promoted.

Please explain why? What's the difference in their meaning?

EDIT: I asked one of my friends and he gave me a vague theory that adverbs of time should come before the verb if they occur before it. In this example, the time "soon" should come before "be promoted" because the time which is appropriate for his promotion would come before his manager signs his promotion.

If anyone has ever heard of such a rule then kindly enlighten me.


texts: "...he heard Laucile say" (instead of says) can be correct?

texts:
Is the following text has a mistake or is it correct?

This book say "say" about 3rd person singular, apparently instead of "says", but I'm not sure if it is a typo or it's acceptable in such kind of literature (it is a professional book) or maybe I miss here a grammar rule.

This is a phrase from a book so called "Discovering Fiction Level 1 Student's Book":

  One day he overheard her talking about him with a friend. Lucile was
  saying:

  "other men live in things and events and emotions and the future. but
  he seems to know that living is something else..."

  What else? This friend interrupted curiously.

  and he heard Laucile say: "Well, of course every one knows, really. But he lives it too.".


texts:
Tell me please which one of the following sentences sounds the most natural.

  Can I help you somehow?

  Can I help you in any way?

What I am trying to convey is a willingeness to know if there is a way I can be helpful.


texts: What does "divided highway" written on a white regulatory sign mean?

texts:
When it appears on a regulatory sign, what it means and what should I do, is the thing I have a great deal of difficulty with.

This is one of those signs I came across - Divided Highway.

What does it mean?

Many thanks in advance.


texts: Describing a past event with present tense

texts:
I borrowed this fake example from the other question (in my revisions).

  I saw a girl dancing at a club. [At that moment] I thought she (is/was ?) so attractive that I (can't/couldn't ?) help but ask for her phone number.

After introducing the clause with At that moment or even without it, should I use is or can? what is the general rule? Are there other occasions that I can use present in past?


texts:
How do you call those financial announcement from a public company which are not regular (neither annual nor quarterly, ...)

"Urgent" report? "Untime" report? "Irregular" report?


texts: "There is somebody" + verbing or + to verb?

texts:
I looked up "there is somebody" in Corpus and found two sentences

In short, unless there is somebody willing to take the risk of
speaking up for it....

there is somebody to protect the reputation of each defendant
who is in the court...

I understand the first sentence has omitted "who is", that's the reason for using "willing", but I can't analyse the structure of the second sentence. Can you please help me to understand the use of "there is/are sbody/sth".


texts:
I forgot the verb for proceeding with/despite difficulty, when talking about a process. It's '[something] ahead' (but you may feel free to offer something without 'ahead'). Like 'forge ahead' but with a different meaning. Like

Since the autocrat's ouster, the reforms in the country are [verb]ing ahead [along?], and the reaction sentiment is getting stronger.

or, a bit different

We hit a few snags, but the project is [verb]ing ahead.

In both examples, it's proceeding with difficulty. The difference is the first sentence stresses difficulty (the reforms are slow, people get disillusioned), the second proceeding (it's coming to fruition nonetheless, everything's fine).


texts:
Instead of shaking her hand, kiss her on the cheek.

Why do we say "the" instead of "a"?

If we say "the", which cheek are we talking about? Shouldn't it be "a"?


texts:
I saw a new comic on xkcd http://xkcd.com/1602/ and understand that I don't get to go to the linguistics club.

I Googled the word 'sesquiannual' and some say that it means it 'happens every one and a half years' - every 18 months, and some say it means it 'happens one and a half times a year' - every 8 months. So I need help.


texts:
when to use base or based in sentences
Currently having trouble understanding the differences between using base or based and their meaning

I base my decisions on...
I based my decision on...

For me (1) means it is applied to the present past and future (basically unchanging situation or repeated situation)

and (2) is just the past.

Can anyone confirm if i am correct and additional example will be helpful.


texts:
Thinking about how on and in are used:

we

  go on vacation but don't go in vacation
  speak on a topic but don't speak in a topic
  think on it, but don't think in it

and we

  fall in love, but not, fall on love
  drive in a car, but not, drive on a car
  speak in a language, but not, speak on a language

but we also :

  fly on a plane and fly in a plane
  ride on a bus and ride in a bus
  sit on a chair and sit in a chair

On usually refers to being in contact with the surface of something, and in usually refers to being surrounded by something and so would be mutually exclusive, however the last three examples contradict this.

Except through repeated usage, is there a way to anticipate what the exceptions might be?


texts:
Mr. Gilmer asked him one more question. “About you writing with you
  left hand, are you ambidextrous, Mr. Ewell?” “I most positively
  am not, I can use one hand good as the other. One hand good as the
  other,” he added, glaring at the defense table. (Harper Lee, To
  Kill A Mockingbird)

The speaker says he is not ambidextrous, and at the same time he says ‘I can use one hand good as the other.’ Isn’t this the explanation of ‘ambidextrous? Would you explain why his remark isn’t contradictory?


texts:
Imagine this situation.
You have a machine that is going to do some packaging
The output of this processes are packages
How do you call the "raw material" that you use for packaging?

Now, I can see that this can be very ample, for example if there are already plastic packages ready to be filled and sealed, I would call those "packages" too, but what if the raw materials before packaging are not already formed packages but a large piece of plastic (that somehow the machine folds and seals forming a fully formed "package")

In the original documents (in other language) they are called "packaging paper" but I am not sure what a native english speaker would call it.


texts:
People who make me feel bore/bored
  People who make me bore/bored

In both of the sentences which word can go properly "bore" or "bored" ?


texts:
Is this a correct sentence?

  A nice statement that we can not agree on it more.

I used to use: Can't agree more. But the above use is new to me.


texts: Which options is correct? "I studied at / I was educated at / I was up at / I went school"

texts:
Which is preferred when I want to say about a university studies?

I studied at / I was educated at / I was up at / I went school


texts:
I was wondering, if I want to point out to someone that me and another specific group of people are fans of something, should I use the pronoun "us" or "we" in conjunction with "fans"?

Example:

  After the announcement last night, we/us fans can finally rejoice upon his return to the team.


texts: Is "incubate for 10 min" fully synonymous with "let sit for 10 min"?

texts:
Example sentences:

  Incubate the solution at room temperature for 30 min.

  Mix by vortexing and let sit for 10 min at room temperature.

Are these two expressions fully synonymous? Can "incubate" be used with solutions that contain no living organisms, or does it always imply that something living is being maintained or propagated under the mentioned conditions, per Wiktionary's sense 1:

  (transitive) To brood, raise, or maintain eggs, organisms, or living tissue through the provision of ideal environmental conditions.

Can one use use "incubate for 10 minutes", say, when describing a drug preparation procedure, in which the drug substance is inanimate matter?

As an aside, what are other widely-used alternatives to "let sit for 10 min"?


texts:
I ran across a question in a grammar test that was asking for a
particular sentence, and supposedly the required answer is
the first sentence given below, but not the second one,
which they’re calling wrong:

If I read this book, I will be able to get a lot of knowledge.
If I read this book, I can get a lot of knowledge.

Aren’t both of those right? Don’t they mean the same thing? What’s
“wrong” with the second version? What is the difference between
can and will be able to in those two particular sentences?
Are both right?

Note that I do not want to learn the difference between can and
be able to in a general way, because I’m pretty sure I already know
that. My problem is that I find the alleged explanation for why only
sentence one not sentence two is the correct answer to be utterly
unsatisfying:

  Can I definitely get a lot of knowledge? No. The condition
  that leads to getting a lot of knowledge is reading this book,
  but I might not read this book.

I don’t understand.


texts: What does "and then yeh gotta find yer way" mean here?

texts:
Harry : "Why would you be mad to try and rob Gringotts(Wizards' bank)?"

  Hagrid : "Spells-enchantments," said Hagrid, unfolding his newspaper as he spoke. "They say there's dragons guardin' the high-security vaults. And then yeh gotta find yer way - Gringotts is hundreds of miles under London, see. Deep under the Underground. Yeh'd die of hunger tryin' ter get out, even if yeh did manage ter get yer hands on summat."

This is from Harry potter and I don't understand the meaning of that highlighted phrase. I mean, I do know the meaning of 'find someone's way' literally, but I don't know WHY is Hagrid saying that. Is it like "You'll be able to find out how you can get there, Harry."? ... It's like an irrelevant phrase in my opinion and It seems more natural without it..

I looked up the dictionary and found another meaning : come to a place or a situation by chance or without intending to, but I guess it's not appropriate here, neither..

Is this kind of confusion also because of my lack of english? or is it just my lack of understanding in reading?


texts:
We can detect these lower-energy photons using what are (is?) sometimes called night-vision goggles or cameras.

Why don't we use "is" instead of "are" behind "what" of the sentence?


texts:
Two days before the case was down for hearing the advance reporter of
  an important syndicate obtained an interview with the Duke for the
  purpose of gleaning some final grains of information concerning his
  Grace's personal arrangements during the trial.
       "I suppose I may say this will be one of the biggest affairs of its kind during the lifetime of a generation," began the reporter as
  an excuse for the unsparing minuteness of detail that he was about to
  make quest for.
       "I suppose so — if it comes off," said the Duke lazily.
       "If?" queried the reporter, in a voice that was something between a gasp and a scream.
       "The Duchess and I are both thinking of going on strike," said the Duke.
       "Strike!"
       The baleful word flashed out in all its old hideous familiarity. Was there to be no end to its recurrence?
       "Do you mean," faltered the reporter, "that you are contemplating a mutual withdrawal of the charges?"
       "Precisely," said the Duke.
       "But think of the arrangements that have been made, the special reporting, the cinematographs, the catering for the distinguished
  foreign witnesses, the prepared music-hall allusions; think of all
  the money that has been sunk — "

  from The Unkindest Blow, a short story by Saki

What would they do in the music-hall?


texts:
The only threat to her comes, paradoxically, from within her own ranks. Since the second world war, the centre-right camp in German politics has had a peculiar arrangement: the Christian Democrats appear on ballots all over Germany except in Bavaria, where a “sister party”, the Christian Social Union (CSU), takes the CDU’s place. The two are independent but by convention campaign together in federal elections and form one group in the Bundestag.

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/convention

I found 2 main definitions:

  [ C ] a large formal meeting of people who do a particular job or have a similar interest, or a large meeting for a political party:

  [ C or U ] a usual or accepted way of behaving, especially in social situations, often following an old way of thinking or a custom in one particular society:

Which one does it fit better in this case?

Source: http://www.theworldin.com/edition/2017/article/12596/permanent-chancellor


texts: implied if-clause in conditionl sentences

texts:
Suppose you see a mistake while reading something and say:

I would have used another word.

Which is the implied if-clause?

if I were the author

or

if I had been the author

If you see a friend who bought an unnecessarily expensive cellphone and say:

I would have bought a lower-priced model.

Which is the implied if-clause?

If I were you

or

If I had been you


texts: a morning greeting: is it "morning", "g'morning" or neither?

texts: Not a native English speaker and poor at distinguishing shortened expressions, I am not sure if native English speakers indeed say "Morning", or "G'morning", in addition to the formal expression "GOOD (accented) morning" or "(plain vanilla) good morning".


texts: Does the "by which" give correct meaning

texts:
What clause should I use to express following idea correctly?

  After that, polygon edges are extended and intersected by which leads a closed polygon.


texts: "Purchase demand" or "purchase request": Which one is correct?

texts: I just describe some thing need to buy when it not enough to use, for example: we have not enough equipment to performance testing activities, I need to submit ”purchase demand/request form” to manager. But I’m not sure that purchase demand or purchase request which one is correct in my sentences.


texts: What does "Bid my blood to run before I come undone" mean?

texts:
The following quote is a part of the song "Bring me to life" by Evanescence. Would you please tell me what it means? (I'm aware that not all lyrics are necessarily grammatical, yet was wondering how native English speakers understand it.)

Bid my blood to run
Before I come undone

Full lyrics found here, and the music video here.


texts:
I ask in an international context, and NOT only for New York. I'd cherish a picture to visualise the definitin. For example, NY Times fails to define the word, whereas the dictionaries appear conflicting and vague. Even Straightdope's apparently catholic answer hedges with the word apparently?

2.3. [North American] Any urban or suburban area bounded by four streets
4. [countable] (North American English) the length of one side of a piece of land or group of buildings, from the place where one street crosses it to the next
NY Times only worsens my confusion: 'North-south' implies 1 mile = 20 blocks, but this differs from 'The distance between avenues'? What are 'short blocks' and 'long blocks'?
Straightdope.com: Apparently the answer to the question hinges upon which city, and within that city, what is defined as a block.


texts:
Let's say you see someone at a restaurant that you thought was out of town. You think: "I thought he was out of town."
Why do we say, "I thought he was out of town" rather than, "I thought he is out of town"?

Is it because the first verb in the sentence, "thought," is past tense so the second one has to match? I thought this might be the right way to think about it since it is technically okay (not in this context, but in another) to say, "I think he is out of town." In this example, the first verb is "think" (present tense), and the second verb follows suit.


texts: How long have you (been having or had) driving lessons?

texts:
A friend of mine is having driving lessons.

Can I ask him both?

  How long have you been having driving lessons?

or

  How long have you had driving lessons?


texts:
Should the definite or indefinite article be used in the following? The target in question is mentioned for the first time in the passage, yet it seems to be quite specific.

  Currently, the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Bureau of Energy (BOE) has come up with a new two-year plan to promote the installation of solar PV facilities such as rooftop solar panels and ground-mounted solar panels. It aims to meet a/the target of 3.7 GW by the end of 2019, and 6.5 GW by the end of 2020.

I'd appreciate your help.


texts:
In this post, I read the following sentence. (The post is visible to Meta Stack Overflow 10K users and moderators.)

  You've also got a 16 users ignoring you and still manage to consistently get enough 10k users to flag you.

I remember I have seen a similar sentence where a was used as in "a twenty cars."

Can a be used to mean about?


texts: I've got an email about rejecting the sponsorship letter. Is it polite to reply with "Noted and thank you for your kind assistance in this matter." ?


texts: Why is there a definite article in the phrase "jump in the air"

texts:
I must admit, that despite having spoken English for quite some time, i still cannot grasp all the intricacies of articles. My native tongue just doesn't have them, and they continue to perplex me.

The phrase "jump in the air" seems to stand out as something unusual. One is not jumping into the tank with some specific air, but instead is just jumping upwards, whatever air one meets there is quite irrelevant and unknown.

I have read this, which was very helpful, but i don't believe is relevant in this example. Would one consider "jump in the air" to be an idiom? If so, that would explain it.


texts: 'The child was sobbing,every so often gulping in large draughts of air into his aching lungs.'Is that sentence correct?

texts:
I found in the novel 'The ladykiller' of Martina Cole the following sentence:

  The child was sobbing,every so often gulping large draughts of air into his aching lungs.

Then I wrote the following sentences:

  1)The child was sobbing,every so often gulping in large draughts of air into his aching lungs.  2)The child was sobbing,every so often gulping large draughts of air in his aching lungs.

Are my sentences correct?


texts:
I am a little confused about the usage of a comma in sentences with conjunctions.

For example:

  Dairying is concerned not only with the production of milk but with the manufacture of milk products.

Can we put a comma before but?

Can we say "Dairying is concerned not only with the production of milk, but is concerned  with the manufacture of milk products."? Or must there be an it after but in this case?

Or is the original sentence wrong at all?


texts: The use of nearly similar words - Until and unless & each and every

texts:
This is the first question I had asked here. But things went in other direction and ultimately, I moved to this board as advised.

The question:

I have heard this from many. They use 'each and every' and 'until and unless' in one sentence. Is this usage correct? How?

See this -

  I want each and every one of you to follow the instruction.

  I want every one of you to follow the instruction.

Also,

  First of all, you have to understand what she means.
  First, you have to understand what she means. - “First” is always the first among all, right?

This is surprising (but confirmed)

  The word 'revert' does mean back in most of the cases still, using revert back is correct!

If we could convey the message by putting just one word, why go for redundancy?


texts: The best part of the movie 'is/are' the quirks - Singular or Plural?

texts:
Though inclined toward the plural, I want to confirm whether the auxiliary verb here should be plural.

  The best part of the movie is/are the quirks -from smart flashbacks to character twists at the witty set-pieces.

What does that verb refer to? '....the best part...' (and so singular) or '....the quirks...' (and so plural)?

Is is incorrect? How?


texts: Adverb of manner placement in relation to adverbs of place and time

texts: Where is the adverb of manner placed in a sentence in relation to adverbs of time and place? Is there an order like [place] [time] [manner] if you end up using multiple adverbs? Otherwise, what is the logic to their ordering?


texts:
It is unbelievable that such conditions could have existed so short
  a time ago

Could anyone help me understand the structure of this sentence in particular the highlighted area?


texts:
In this following sentence:

  The boy is running?

Is the word "running" a gerund? If so, why does this make sense? Why does the sentence structurally make sense?


texts: Is this sentence missing the relative pronoun "that"?

texts:
He will support whichever candidate wins. (source)

This sentence strikes me as missing a relative pronoun. I thought it should read:

  He will support whichever candidate that wins.

Per relative pronoun rules, I thought "that" can be left out when it is the object of a relative clause, e.g. "Take whichever book you want.", not when it is the subject.

In order to parse the first sentence, I am trying to think of an equivalent for the adjective whichever. Dictionaries have "no matter which", but this substitution seems to work with such sentences as

  Whichever (No matter which) job you take, starting out will be hard.

But not with the sentence at issue. So how should I understand the structure of that first sentence? Am I correct in saying it is missing "that"? What would be a working multi-word equivalent for whichever (so that I can better parse such sentences)?


texts:
Recruiters prefer candidates to show a focus in their job applications.

Do we need “a” here? What would change if “a” were removed?

After all “focus” is both countable and uncountable noun.

Some dictionaries list it as uncountable, but still use indefinite article before it:

  uncountable noun
  If you say that something has a focus, you mean that you can see a purpose in it.
  Somehow, though, their latest album has a focus that the others have lacked.
  Suddenly all of the seemingly isolated examples took on a meaningful focus.”
   Source: Collins

The sentence comes from “Objective IELTS advanced” (Test folder 10: listening).

  Recording script:
  “…Most recruiters well be uneasy if you’ve applied for jobs as varied as an accountant, a teacher and a sales executive: they’ll suspect that you lack the necessary focus, and they won’t expect you to be interested enough in the work, or determined enough to succeed. …”

  Sentence completion task:
  “Recruiters prefer candidates to show a focus in their job applications.”


texts: stemming a bond selloff - what does "stemming" mean here?

texts:
Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-24/obama-says-russia-s-ukraine-aggression-challenges-order.html?cmpid=yhoo

  Ukraine’s government pledged to meet all its debt obligations, stemming a bond selloff triggered by warnings from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and BNP Paribas SA that the war-torn country may overhaul its debt.

What does stemming mean in this sentence?


texts: Why would uncle Vernon speak tongue-tying curse?

texts:
But Hagrid simply waved his hand and said, “About our world, I mean.
  Your world. My world. Yer parents’ world.” “What world?” Hagrid looked
  as if he was about to explode. “DURSLEY!” he boomed. Uncle Vernon, who
  had gone very pale, whispered something that sounded like
  “Mimblewimble.” “But yeh must know about yer mom and dad,” he
  said. “I mean, they're famous. You're famous.”

It's from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, chapter 4, The Keeper of the Keys.

Does he curse Hagrid to lose sound? Does the word "Mimblewimble" sound like anything meaningful with it, so that he would choose to say it? It can't be a coincidence. I'd like to know what's the idea that comes to mind when hearing 'Mimblewimble'.


texts: Difference between "document" and "documentation"

texts:
I usually see these two words especially in the context of programming.

I see both words being used in similar situations.

Can any one tell me the difference?


texts: What's difference between 'have' and 'have got'?

texts:
For example,

1) I think you have a wrong number.

2) I think you've got a wrong number.

Is there any difference between the two sentences above?


texts: "remember visiting" vs. "remember to visit"

texts:
Remember is one of the verbs which we always put to + infinitive after it:

  I always remember to do my homework.

But actually not always. This sentence is an exact example of what I mean:

  Do you remember visiting Church of the Holy Sepulchre?

or

  Do you remember to visit Church of the Holy Sepulchre?

I think the first sentence explains the meaning of your visiting to the church I really ask if you can remember that visit you made.

But think about the second sentence, it really asks if you remember to do what I've advised you (visiting the church)

I think it depends on meaning. I have to say that the first sentence is more accurate, which gives the meaning clearly.


texts:
Blake: That watch costs more than your car. I made $970,000 last year. How much you make? You see pal, that's who I am, and you're nothing. Nice guy? I don't give a shit. Good father? Fuck you! Go home and play with your kids. You wanna work here—close! You think this is abuse? You think this is abuse, you cocksucker? You can't take this, how can you take the abuse you get on a sit? You don't like it, leave.

In the above dialog, I don't understand what he means saying " if you wanna work here, close". What does close mean here?


texts: How can I make my sentence sound more natural?

texts:
I am talking about a scene in which we see a dead mother and her son, who were killed by ISIS, and I want to criticize those who don't show any reactions to this crime, just watch that scene. I want to ask them indirectly: "Don't you have conscience? Why don't you show any reactions?" I thought I could use this sentence, to covey my thoughts:

  Whose conscience can remain indifferent in the face of such a heartbreaking scene?

I want to focus on "conscience" in this sentence. Can we use the phrase "whose conscience" at all and does it convey what I'm trying to say?


texts: Article usage in "I want to see ____ (beauty, nature)"

texts:
I want to see _______
  A) beauty of nature
  B) the beauty of the nature
  C) the beauty of nature

Which one is correct and why? I have posed this question just to seek proper explanation for the answer.

I think B is correct but I don't know why? Only an intution.


texts:
For example, you can say:

Within two minutes of the game

But you can also say:

By two minutes of the game

Which is correct? Are they interchangeable? If they are not interchangeable, what is the difference?


texts: Is "too few" equivalent to "not enough"?

texts:
Kindly, consider the image below:

Can I say for the glass in the middle: "too few water" instead of "not enough water"? Are they equivalent in meaning?


texts: Is it correct to say "You're sitting sideways in the stroller. Please turn to face forwards / Please turn to face straight ahead"?

texts:
Look at the picture.
Is it correct to say:

You're sitting sideways in the stroller. Please turn to face forwards / Please turn to face straight ahead!


texts:
“After doing some complicated calculations and working out, I finally found the answer [......] 137.68638”

(a) of

(b) that is

(c) , which is

(d) to be

(e) —  (a dash)

Which option(s) are acceptable for filling the space in that sentence? I am of course most tempted to say ‘the answer of 137.68638’ as it’s the simplest construction, but I need confirmation whether it’s correct usage. Here is another example: “The answer of XXX for that question seems a little too low.”

Edit: Apparently ‘of’ would be a viable option if I had used the indefinite article instead of the definite article. This leads to another question of mine- why is ‘AN answer of 137. 68638’ correct even though it’s specific?


texts: Do I need "a/an" or "the" in this sentence?

texts:
Suppose that I have submitted a job application.
And now I am waiting for the result.
Do I say
      "I am waiting for an answer from the company"  or
      "I am waiting for the answer from the company" ?

Which article do I use?


texts:
As a step to renovation he has decided to replace old furniture by/ with new one.
I'm little confused in this sentence .
can you describe it ?


texts: a month out / a ways out -- use of "out"?

texts:
Example (audio):

  Let's do a search. And let's pick the one that's closest to me. We'll put a check mark next to that. And click on "next". And now I select my date. I recommend that you try to schedule your exam at least a month out. And the reason I say that is sometimes testing centers are very busy. It's difficult to get in tomorrow or this week or next week sometimes. Things tend to book up. So, let's go a ways out. Let's say I want to register for October 15. I can select a time. I'll say 9 AM. Once I select a time, I click on "select appointment". It says my appointment is selected.

What can you tell me about the use of out in these two examples?


texts: Which variant of transformation is the right one?

texts:
The sentence is given:
They could easily win the game.

I must transform it using the word "chance". Which one is right:

They had every chance of winning the game.

or

They have every chance of winning the game.

To me, it's obvious that the right variant is 1. But The keys say it's 2.


texts: What the difference between these two examples with infinitive and gerund?

texts:
1) He has just finished writing

2) He has just finished to write


texts: Could you simplify "status parameters" in this passage, please

texts:
Likewise, the evolutionary approach predicts that the biological and anatomical differences between men and women will result in different preferences for partner selection. For example, human biology dictates that women need help and protection during pregnancy, and that their fertility is time-limited. Therefore, it makes sense that men who can provide protection will be deemed attractive to women, and that young—and hence fertile—women will be attractive to men. Indeed, studies show that when it comes to long-term relationships, women overall emphasize the importance of status parameters while men find female youth highly attractive.

Source: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/insight-therapy/201412/laws-attraction-how-do-we-select-life-partner

I have my doubts as to whether it is reffering to the wealth and powers a man might have, also whether it is reffering to marital status.


texts:
It is not necessary to initialize variables. However, it is not a good practice to do so.

I'm not sure if the sentence i wrote convey the meaning i intend to. What is understood from the sentence above:  'it is good practice to initialize' or 'it is NOT a good practice to initialize'

any help appreciated. Thanks!


texts: "Until Monday" includes Monday or Excludes Monday?

texts:
When saying simply "until" it includes or excludes what mentioned after it?

For example:

  You should make registration until Monday.

  "It's best to avoid full-body bathing until the second day after
  surgery"


texts:
this story is written by my 6 years old son :

  Once upon a time there was a world of programming and it had a game called minecraft , it was with programming but a glitch happened and it created a monster called  a creeper , and that's how they got into minecraft .

I am asking about ( it was with programming ) Can he change it to ( it was a programmed game ) or ( it is a programmed game ) ?

as he means that the game was written using the java programming language .


texts:
I came across this sentence in a book:

  Until the machinery has been installed, the plant wasn't able to begin production.

Is this grammatically correct?

I think the first clause should use either the simple past or the past perfect, because it talks about something in the past:

  Until the machinery had been installed / was installed, the plant wasn't able to begin production.


texts:
Which sentences are correct?

  It was raining most days.

  It was raining on most days.

  It was raining most mornings.

  It was raining in most mornings.

I've seen most as a determiner used both with and without prepositions. And I couldn't find a rule on what usage is correct.


texts:
I have to go now. I have to leave now. I have to study Englsih.

Can I stop after "have" for a moment?
I have (a few seconds later like 2~3 and continue to say) to go now.
Or Do I have to say the whole thing "have to": I have (a few seconds later like 2~3 and continue to say the whole thing "have to") + have to go now.
In other words, 1. I have+(2~3sec pause)+to go now. 2. I have+(2~3sec pause)+have to go now.


texts: Can I say 'washing machines freed housewives’ hands from doing laundry'? (Definition of 'doing laundry'?)

texts:
According to online dictionary, launder refers to wash/ to wash, fold and iron. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/launder

I think the word 'laundry' is from the word 'launder'. When we say 'I'm doing laundry', maybe we are putting washed clothes on a line. Washing machine freed people's hands because we don't have to handwash all clothes, but we still need to put them online and iron some of them.

So I'm not sure whether I can say 'washing machines freed housewives’ hands from doing laundry'. Will people get the idea that I mean 'so they don't have to handwash everything'? Thank you!


texts: Does "Until when" sound natural for native speakers?

texts:
In some languages such as my native languages (Kurdish and Persian), when we want to ask about the exact limit point of time for something, we use two words which are exactly equal to this two words in English: Until When?

For example, we say:
Until when do I have time to finish this project?

I would like to know how much this way of asking is natural in different English speaking countries? Or if it sounds pretty weird to you, please tell me how you say the above sentence in English.


texts: Keep/ be quiet in order to ask someone to stop talking

texts:
When someone  is talking a lot and I want that person to stop talking, can I use:
Please keep/be quiet.

Why am I confused? Because someone  told me that "keep quiet" is used to ask someone to remain quiet while they still are,that is,continue that state to "remaining quiet". So is the use of "keep quiet" natural to ask them to stop talking?

Thank you:);)


texts:
From Deadpool Killustrated:

"AND I LEFT YOU A LTITTLE FAREWELL PRESENT FOR AFTER I'M GONE."

Why there is a FOR there? "And I left you a little farewell present after I'm gone" is a complete sentence for me, but with an additional for, I am confused by its structure, for who or for what?


texts: Meaning of "I am supposed to meet a friend in 1 hour"

texts: "I'm supposed to meet friend in 1 hour" what does this sentence exactly means  and what is the role of the word "suppose" here.


texts:
1)After you go through the book, please return it to me.

  2) After you have gone through the book, please return it to me

What is the difference in meaning of these two sentences? Which sentence is correct and why??

  3)After she was signed for the movie, she went to AVM Studios in Chennai where Rajinikanth was in a photo shoot.

Why "was" is used here??? Why not "After she had been signed for the movie"?


texts: Passionate to dance vs passionate about dancing

texts:
I was going through one of the famous dance celebrity's Instagram profile today and the Bio wrote

  "Passionate to dance"

I know, Passionate about dancing is correct, but is passionate to Dance also the correct usage ?


texts:
In the Longman Exams Coach software, about "let somebody in on something" the following definition was given:

  to tell something that is secret or only known by a few people

Also, some example sentences:

  ▪ TV chef Raymond Blanc lets us in on the secrets of his kitchen.

  ▪ Would someone mind letting me in on the joke?

What are the synonyms for that phrase?


texts:
You should believe me

You should believe in me

Both of two are  natural ?
When i intend to say that you should  trust me


texts: Word that means "a music-band that uses computer-synthesised instruments"

texts:
Years ago, I read in a newspaper about a band that uses only instruments synthesised by tablet computers. They used a particular term for such a band. But now that paper is lost.

Can anybody tell me what word is used for a music-band that use computer synthesised instrument.


texts: Should I use "will" or "would" in "election that would/will take place in 2018"?

texts:
After having drunk seven beers, he announced his candidature in the presidential election that would/will take place in 2018.

I am not sure whether to use "will" or "would". The main clause is in the past but there is referred to the future so I am leaning towards "would". Am I right?


texts:
A gerund (often known as an -ing word) is a noun formed from a verb by adding -ing. ... Not all words formed with -ing are gerunds.

Is there an example of noun ends with -ing but it's not a gerund?


texts: Is ending a sentence with a preposition acceptable?

texts:
When I learned English at school, I was taught that I should not end a sentence with a preposition.

Is it correct to end a sentence with a preposition?

To avoid starting a sentence with a conjunction, I don't write sentences similar to "I miss you. And your kisses." Is there a similar way to avoid ending a sentence with a preposition?


texts: I don't get the meaning of the "most compelling imagery"

texts:
Efforts to model the appearance and dynamics of the real world have produced some of the most compelling imagery in computer graphics.

But I don't get what the "the most compelling imagery" means in this context?
Can someone explain the meaning of these words in more simple English?


texts:
People angry with the high prices were protesting.

Can we use adjective after noun without verb to be like the example above?

Can you tell me what grammar rule is it?


texts: “is made” vs. “was made” vs. “has been made"

texts:
I have a car that is made by Benz
  I have a car that was made by Benz
  I have a car that has been made by Benz

Which sounds natural? So confusing.


texts: What is the difference between "I should be given..." and I had to get..."

texts:
It was a case in which I paid money and I got more change than I should have. (For example I gave him a banknote of 50 Euro while I have to pay 41 euros and he gave me 10 instead 9 euros). Then what is the difference between the following sentences:

  "I should be given 9 euros but you gave me 10 euros."

  "I had to get 9 euros but you gave me 10 euros."

What are the difference between these two sentences?


texts: What do you call a sung syllable without any meaning?

texts:
Example of this are:

"Nanana na na nana... I am happy, nana na na"
"Lala la la la la. We are the gnomes. lala la la la"

Is there a word for this? I thought it was a onomatopoeia, but I don't think they are, or at least they belong to a different subclass.


texts: Is "I have got a pencil" appropriate here?

texts:
A teacher passed out pencils to all the students in the class and said,
"Has everyone got a pencil?"

The students answered,

  (a) I have a pencil.

  (b) I have got a pencil.

  (c) I have one in my hand.

  (d) I having a pencil.

Is the usage of have in these sentences technically correct?


texts: Can "be borrowing" mean "have borrowed but haven't returned"?

texts:
My dictionaries have a few example sentences that contain the verb borrow in the progressive aspect:

By then, she was borrowing more money just to service her debts.
Today Continental European languages are borrowing words from American English.

It seems to me that both of these mean "the action of borrowing is being done".
Can I use "I'm borrowing five books from the library" to mean that "I currently have five books from the library (and I have to return it before the due date)"? If not, what phrase is appropriate?


texts: What age does this 'golden age' indicate?

texts:
"I enjoy, I suppose, the 'golden age' book. That's very much what I was trying to do in these books - to take that finite number of suspects, the genuine whodunnit style, but make it very contemporary, bring it up to date, and make sure this is a credible person with a credible back story for nowadays." (BBC)

When she, J.K. Rowling, says, ‘golden age’, is it a common noun for specific field’s golden era: in her context, detective stories being flourished? Or when you speak the phrase, do you have any special period in mind?


texts: Is there a word for a secret/truth hidden in plain sight? Like something that should be obvious to someone who is highly educated or intelligent, but is hidden from ordinary people, because they can't see it even if it's right there in front of them (figuratively speaking).


texts: How do I comprehend the structure of this statement?

texts: The social obligations that scientists have as distinct from those responsibilities they share with all citizens comes from them having access to specialised knowledge of how the world works, not easily accessible to others. (source)


texts:
Why Lifetime-Value-based Pricing Just Plain Rocks

what does "Plain Rocks" mean?


texts: "get round/around to " meaning and its origin

texts:
Get around to <something> means: to do <something> after you have intended to do it for some time.

First Question:
Can we say "when you can get around to it."? Or is the meaning of "can" already hidden in the idiom?

Second Question:
Where does its meaning (the one mentioned above) come from?


texts:
Can I change "in gaining weight" into "when S + V" form?

  The availability of different types of food is one factor in gaining weight.


texts: "To die being hit" vs "to die from being hit."

texts:
What the difference between the two? Which is more commonly used by native speakers of English?

Example:

  It’d be tragic, don’t you think? To die (from) being hit by an apple.”


texts:
I find the singular/uncountable usage of "dress" strange in this sentence.

  Expansive skirts on fashionable dress of the period proved the perfect blank canvas to showcase chintzes lush with pomegranates and lotus flowers à la Indiennes. (source)

According to Macmillan Dictionary, "dress" is a mass noun only with reference to "the clothes that are typical of a particular place, time in history, or occasion", such as "military dress." This is also supported by Cambridge Dictionary, which has more examples of "dress" as a mass noun. This sentence apparently does not fit this usage. I thought it should be

  Expansive skirts on fashionable dresses of the period proved the perfect blank canvas to showcase chintzes lush with pomegranates and lotus flowers à la Indiennes.

Is the original text mistaken?


texts: Elegant word to 'kill' the chicken for cooking

texts:
In some countries, they raise chickens to eat. And they treat guests with the chicken they raised. To prepare the chicken, the host has to kill and clean the chicken to cook.
But it's quite scary to say to the guest I killed the chicken just before for the cooking. The guest might lose the taste immediately.
Is there a word that is less hostile and more elegant than 'kill'?
I could think of the words 'butcher' and 'slaughter'. But with those words, I tend to imagine those horror movies with vicious killers. (Or is this my wrong imagination?)
How could I express the 'killing chicken' in a less hostile way?


texts: Is it acceptable to use "For example" and "e.g." interchangeably

texts:
As a general rule I know that I should maintain consistency if I choose some style, etc.

But I am not sure about this: Is it acceptable to use the phrase "For example" and "e.g." interchangeably in the same text?


texts: What's grammatically wrong in this question: "Why China has less population than India?"

texts:
Why China has less population than India?

Shouldn't it be like:

  Why has China less population than India?

OR

  Why do China has less population than India?


texts:
Chong Wei's B sample being tested, faces agonising wait for result.

What does the "being" means in the sentence above?
Is it means the sample is still testing?

Reference: thestar.com.my


texts:
Which one is more appropriate?

  It is more important to maintain success than achieving/to achieve/achieve success.

  It is more important to maintain than achieving/to achieve/achieve success.

  It is more important to maintain success than achieving/to achieve/achieve it.


texts: Meaning of ",that I've gone to sea, or have died of the rot." in the following sentence?

texts:
What is the meaning of ",that I've gone to sea, or have died of the rot." in the following sentence (Source: The Great Big Elephant and the Very Small Elephant ),

  Early one morning a telegram arrived for the Very Small Elephant. It
  said:

  COMING TO VISIT FOR THREE DAYS STOP

  ARRIVING TOMORROW AFTERNOON STOP

  LOVE GREAT AUNT MATILDA

  "Oh dear, oh dear," said the Very Small Elephant.

  "Oh dear, oh dear," cried the Very Small Elephant.

  "Maybe I should just telegraph her back and say she can't come, that
  I've gone to sea, or have died of the rot."

Does it mean "The Elephant wish that the aunt will not come. So, the elephant want to telegraph her back and say she can't come because the elephant have gone to sea or the elephant have died to rotten elephant." ?

Does " ,that " mean " because that " ?