texts: Is "side of the hill" the same as "shoulder of the hill"?

texts:
From The Hobbit,

  The tunnel wound on and on, going fairly but not quite straight into the side of the hill—The Hill, as all the people for many miles round called it—and many little round doors opened out of it, first on one side and then on another.

As I understand, we can refer to any part of a hill below the top but above the foot of the hill as side of the hill. Another word for this is hillside.

I just started reading a translated version of The Hobbit, the one I got several years ago (around the time the LOTR Trilogy was still in theaters), and to my dismay, one of every two or three sentences was mistranslated one way or another in my opinion. But that is not my question here.

My question is about the term shoulder of the hill.

Tolkien's the side of the hill was translated into the shoulder of the hill. Considering other difficulties that arose because the translator's choice (she chose the word "เนินเขา" in Thai for hill--meaning small mountain, but could also mean hillside too), I think it is fair in this case to translate side of the hill as shoulder of the hill. But I still think that side of the hill and shoulder of the hill are not quite the same thing anyway.

But maybe I might be wrong. Maybe, to native speakers, "side of the hill" refers to exactly the same part or the same area of a hill as "shoulder of the hill". I am interested in the meaning and usage of both terms in English. (Please do not mind about the translation, I provide it as background information of my curiosity only.)

Do they refer to the same area? Or do they have subtle differences in meaning?


texts:
I want to know what ‘We’re met.’ means.
Does this have a different meaning of ‘We meet’?
I want to know in which case do English speakers use that kind of sentence.


texts: "I just know that..." or "I just knew that.."

texts:
If I want to refer to the time about two minuites before now, which one should I use?

I just know that...
I just knew that...

or either one? Click to view the N-gram


texts: Can someone explain the structure of this sentence for me?

texts:
I've come across this sentence while reading an economic report:

  "Stocks climbed on optimism Mexican tariffs will be avoided."

And got confused about the structure of this sentence. I'm not really sure which are the subject and verb. If 'climbed' is the verb then do we need a preposition between optimism and Mexican?


texts:
There was an Asia Minor and an Asia Major located in modern-day Iraq.
  Classical antiquity

We use "an" when the word is starting with a, e, i, o, u. (e.g. an elephant) Second rule is if the word pronounced directly a, e, i, o, u we cannot use "an". (eg. a unicorn)

Asia in this case starts with a, and is pronounced directly as a.


texts: The blue one's car is burning AND The blue ones' car is burning

texts:
Can we use the possessive "'s" for "one"

  -I am seeing a green guy and a blue one.

  -The blue one's car is burning

Is it correct?

The same about pluraul:

  -I am seeing green guys blue ones.

  -The blue ones' car is burning

Correct?


texts:
Which one is correct?

It is not matter.
It doesn't matter.

Can we use the first form?
Is the "matter" a noun?


texts: What can the phrase "form of life" mean?

texts:
Source

In cricket, most commentators use the phrase form of (his/her) life for describing players which are in form and doing good.

Source

In this source, a player has been called in the form of the decade.

I wonder if these phrases mean that they are in the best form that(in which) they have ever been throughout their life. In that case, why don't they say something like this?

  He is in the best form in his life.


texts:
Is there any rule governing the order of adjectives, when we use consecutive adjectives? For example, is the order of the adjectives in the following sentence correct? I mean the order of "his, some, other"

Then, it was copied on parchment, with his some other texts.


texts: Use "than" or "then" in this sentence as response?

texts:
Is it "play better than" or "play better then" as response to "we can't lose this"?
Now I am writing stuff to meet the quality standards of posts.


texts:
I think I quite understand about “too+adj+to” like:

Anna is too young to drive. (She cannot drive)

But I saw a sentence:

A: My family’s not like yours. We seem to spend all day Saturday fighting about where we’ll go on Sunday.

B: What about your dad? Doesn’t he make the final decision?

A: Certainly not…he’s too busy trying to come up with an excuse why we shouldn’t go anywhere.

B: Oh, doesn’t he like getting out of the city?

I wonder why we can put “trying” after “busy” (adjective) since the structure must be “too+adjective+to”.

Or can we put something else after the adjective in this case?

And what does the sentence above mean exactly?  Does it mean “he is too busy and likes or tries to come up with an excuse why we shouldn’t go anywhere” ?


texts: What is the difference between "get" and "have"?

texts:
I am going to have you arrested.
  I am going to get you arrested.

  I am going to have you punched.
  I am going to get you punched.

Both are logical and grammatical right? If yes, what's the different?


texts:
I once encountered a lady who seemed to come from America or the United Kingdom. When I asked Are you an American? she said no. I was reluctant to ask if she is an English because it sounded very strange. I learned from this answer that it would be right to say Are you English? but it also sounds strange to me. I know it might be right. I wonder if I can say Are you a British?
I learned from the dictionary that both British and English represent the British people or the people of England. They are both plural nouns.
Are there native ways to ask if a person comes from England? Is this question right? Should I ask if a person is one of the British (or English people)?


texts: Meaning behind the sentence “I can put up with him to live“

texts:
I have watched the film Ip Man 2 in English a couple of days ago and I am still confused about the meaning of a specific sentence:

  I can't let the foreign devil look down on us. I can put up with him to live but can't let him insult Chinese martial arts.

Basically, the "foreign devil" is a boxer called Twister who is fighting against Ip Man. The person speaking is Master Hung.

So I know that to put up with sth/sb means to accept or tolerate something or someone, but I don't know what is meant by “to live“.

Does it mean that the person speaking can live with him but can't tolerate that he insults Chinese martial arts?

I have already looked at example sentences but “to put up with sth/sb“ has never been followed by  “to + verb“.

Edit: The whole context would go like this:

  I can't let the foreign devil look down on us. I can put up with him to live but can't let him insult Chinese martial arts.

Basically, the foreign devil is a boxer called Twister who is fighting against ip man. The person speaking is master hung. So master hung says: “I can't let Twister look down on us. I can put up with him to live but can't let him insult Chinese martial arts."


texts:
Dictionaries did not help me. Collin's writes tomato sauce = tomato ketchup but not vice versa. There tomato ketchup is ketchup flavored with tomatoes. Furthermore, ketchup is sauce!

MM says ketchup is sauce and so does OALD. Times of India has good note on that but is understood and written by a non-native and so not sure.  Wikipedia says ketchup is a table sauce. Phew!

What I understand (looking at the ingredients) - tomato sauce contains no garlic/onion in any form whereas tomato ketchup has them.

Enlighten me please.


texts: Regarding the use of the word: to abide by

texts:
I have a problem with the following paragraph:

  As a free and democratic country, continuously striving to be a role model for the world, it is America’s moral obligation to stand for The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was proclaimed in 1948. Thus, it is America’s responsibility to abide by the proposed fundamental human rights.

Is using the verb: to abide by, justified in this context. Frankly speaking, it seems like it is semantically wrong.


texts: Meaning of “the picture outraged polite society”

texts:
What does mean this sentence? Does it mean:

The picture is outraged by polite society.

or Polite society is outraged by the picture.

  the picture outraged polite society


texts: What is the difference between "high-pitched" and "high-pitch"

texts:
I have noticed many compound adjectives with an "ed" ending, such as "snowed-under" or "three-legged". It looks a bit weird since I have also saw words like "high-price" and "high-quality" in some essays.

Is there any difference between those with and without an "ed" ending? Is there a principle about it? Or is it just somewhat idiomatic?


texts: Correct slang term for "overturn/lay" server by load?

texts:
What is a correct slang term for "overturn/lay down" server by load?

(also would be interested in professional term)


texts: How to use "never" with Present simple tense

texts:
I learned that we could use "never" with present perfect tense about experiences in someone’s life. However, I don’t understand when we use never with other tenses like present simple tense.

I never eat avocados.

I have never eaten avocados.

Could you tell me that above sentences have the same meaning or not?


texts:
The tiger, who died promptly before James died, was a/the representation of James.

It is a sentence made in my head. If I say "the" here, even if I have not mentioned this representation to anyone before, I think it will imply that there is only one representation.

But if I say "a" there, I think it will imply that there are several more representations. However, on the other hand, I think it also can be used, for this idea is introduced for the first time.

Which interpretation of mine is correct?


texts:
I have read that we use "have been" with the present perfect continuous as in the formula [has/have + been + present participle], e.g.,

  You have been waiting here for two hours.

But sometimes I read sentences formed as [has/have + been + v3], e.g.,

  the forest has been cleared .

I am confused about what the second formula is and in which cases we should use it.


texts:
As though he were praying.

As though he was praying.

Which is the correct one? What is the difference?


texts: Difference between "kindly" and "please"

texts:
Manager to player

  Kindly practice every day

  Please practice every day

Teacher to student

  Kindly wipe the blackboard

  Please wipe the blackboard

Student to teacher

  Kindly give me a blank paper

  Please give me a blank paper

Sister to brother

  Kindly pass the butter

  Please pass the butter

Which is correct usage in the above contexts?


texts:
A quote from The Economist:

  Yet Exxon and the other oil supermajors are more vulnerable than they look.

What if we insert a zero article in THE's position before the "other":

  Yet Exxon and other oil supermajors are more vulnerable than they look.

Would the meaning change from "Exxon and all (each and every) supermajors besides Exxon" to "Exxon and some other oil supermajors (but not necessarily each of them)"?


texts: Meaning of "inverse mold" in indirect 3D-printing

texts:
From "Printing Technologies for Medical Applications":

  Indirect 3D printing has also been used to make and customize scaffolds for human mandibular reconstruction to create implants with materials which are easily printed[34]. Indirect printing consists of printing the inverse molds of the required configurations, and then casting the materials into the mold cavity[34]. In one report, gelatin was printed to make molds in the shape of the mandibular condyle.

I don't understand the meaning of "inverse" here. Why not just "mold"?

In 'direct 3D printing', we just print the organ, but with the indirect technology, we print a mold for that organ.

If we mold will be inverse, we would not be able to cast the material inside it, because the mold will already be in the form of the organ. A mold for making a mandibular condyle should be just 'mold', not 'inverse mold', IMHO.


texts: What exactly does "due" mean in the expression "with all due respect"?

texts:
What are the synonyms for "due" in the following sentence?

Definition:

  with (all) due respect: (spoken) used when you disagree with someone or
  criticize them in a polite way:

  Dad, with all due respect, was not a very good husband.


texts:
In the following sentence:

  We see pulses of light each time the beam sweeps past the Earth.

What is the grammatical role of "past" and what does it mean?


texts:
Hercule Poirot (1989-present)
This fussy Belgian sleuth first appeared in Agatha Christie’s novel The Mysterious Affair At Styles in 1920.

Question: Is "at styles" translated like "at styles of films in that period of time" or "At Styles" is a place or name of a city or town?


texts:
According to the Oxford advance learner's  dictionary risk is often succeeded by of. But in the sentence

Failure to take sustainable and urgent measures will inflict long-term harm on public health, affecting children even more by putting them at higher risk for diseases.

(source)
'risk' is succeeded by for. Is this grammatically correct?


texts:
Which option fits best in the following question.I cannot see any difference in meaning.

  We seldom had the ____________ to get out for an evening in town.

a. opportunity

b. permission


texts:
If company is going to sell new product on the market and it will happened next month.
Is it better to say:

Our product will be introduced in the market next month.
Our product will be launched in the market next month.


texts: "I wouldn't want to around the amount of people at that pool party even before the pandemic."

texts:
First of all, I would like to know what differences do the use of won't and wouldn't make in any sentences, and what kind of meanings (wouldn’t) would conveys in the following sentence.

  I wouldn't want to around the amount of people at that pool party even before the pandemic.


texts: "understood" vs "have understood" after an explaination?

texts:
Now here are two questions: The first one is how to ask the question
"Did you understand ?" or "Have you understood ?" and the second one is how to answer "I understood" or "I have understood" ?


texts: "I don't after the position" or "I am not after the position"

texts:
Is this sentence correct?

  I don't after the position.

I think that this is the correct sentence:

  I am not after the position.

Please let me know why the first sentence is wrong.


texts:
Here's the context:

I have gone on a trip and am staying at a hotel. I'd like to ask how much money I have to pay for the swimming pool in the hotel.

  I'd like to ask how much money it costs me to use the swimming pool.

Can I omit 'money' here?

  I'd like to ask how much it is that I use the swimming pool.

I feel I can use it this way, but I'm not sure.

  I'd like to ask how much money I have to pay for using the swimming pool.

I feel comfortable saying it like this.

Am I right in thinking that all of these sentences are correct?


texts:
What's the difference between came/were in below case:

  I was reading our old conversation before you came online

  I was reading our old conversation before you were online.


texts: Why is it "Server Side Include" instead of "Server-Side Include"?

texts:
Thanks to Lambie I recently learned that compound adjectives are hyphenated, for example server-side request forgery.
When looking up server-side include(s), it appears that most places write this without a hyphen. To me, it seems that server-side modifies include(s), functioning as an adjective. Someone even made a redirect from server-side to server side on Wikipedia. Microsoft also speaks of Server Side Include. The Indiana University does the same.
What makes this situation different from server-side request forgery?


texts:
I have read in grammar books that  a comma is usually used when making a complex sentence. For instance:

  If you keep talking to your mother like that, I will have to teach you manners.
  Although she is smart, I won't give her the job.

On the other hand, I have also read that a comma is not needed when the independent clause comes first except when the dependent clause is a "non-defining clause". So,

  She likes soap operas, which I find boring.
  They finished the job on time, which they rarely do.
  That house,which is for sale, belongs to a German family.
  I won't let you go to any parties anymore  if you keep telling me lies.
  She is really shy whereas her sister is really talkative.

I made up the above sentences, so they may sound not really natural or even wrong in terms of meaning, but the grammar aspect is my goal here.

Last but not least, I wrote the following sentence:

  I'm willing to help her although she has always been very rude to me.

But somebody corrected it like this:

  I'm willing to help her, although she has always been very rude to me.

I thought that a comma was not needed when the independent clause appears first. (Except the non-defining clause case)


texts:
Which one is correct?

I just sent them an email
I just have sent them an email
I just sent them the email
I just have sent them the email

Suppose I need to say this to my colleague, who is also in recipients list in this email? I'm clarifying this because as I think this should lead me to conclusion that email is pretty concrete thing and  as my colleague probably knows what I'm talking about I should use the... (but on intuitive level I'm not sure)


texts:
Charlotte (referring to the children): They're huge. What have you been feeding them?"

  Martin (the father): They are from good stock on their mother's side.

This is an extract from a script of a movie "Patriot".

I found a word "stock" in the dictionaries. among lots of different meanings, I found this: the original type from which a particular race, family group etc, is derived. I thought that's what it should be. What do you think?


texts: Difference between 'a place good for' and 'a good place for'

texts:
Take a look at these sentences:

a. This is a place good for business.
b. This is a good place for business.

Is there any difference between the meanings of the above sentences?


texts: Buy products from or buy products on amazon

texts:
Does "buy" verb has dependent preposition or you just apply appropriate preposition?

  You can buy products from amazon (website)

  You can buy products on amazon (website)

Which is correct?


texts: Is sometimes "how I shall" = "how shall I"?

texts:
"I shall certainly hoodwink the archbishop, and how I shall enjoy doing it!"

This is a quote known to be said by Mozart. A couple of books on him have this sentence somewhere in them.

What confuses me is the latter part of the sentence, how I shall enjoy doing it.

To me, neither is that grammatically right nor does it make sense to me, unless I assume that has the same meaning as how shall I enjoy doing it.

Or is there a different way to translate it?

Thanks.


texts: Is there any wrong with the sentence,'The visit was treated with respect and given ten dollars'

texts: Whether the subject must be changed to 'the visitor'


texts: Can 'that' replace 'which' in this sentence?

texts:
Is which  a non-identifying relative pronoun because of the preceding Pride and Prejudice?
Or, is it an identifying relative pronoun in the following first sentence? If so, it can be replaced with that.

At 39, Jane Austen published her masterpiece, Pride and Prejudice,
which was to become one of the most popular novels in English literature.

In the following sentence, that is used in place of which.

The ultimate life force lies in tiny cellular factories of energy,
called mitochondria, that burn nearly all the oxygen we breathe
in.

called mithochondira precedes the relative pronoun that.
What is the difference of using relative pronouns between the two sentences?


texts:
I want to be a neurological surgeon who make the disabilities able.

The question I have is about whether I can use "make the disabilities able" to describe that I want to reconnect the patients' nerves and make them stand up as they wish.


texts: Resume - Adding a line which shows "have access to so-and-so individual"

texts:
I am trying to include a bullet point on my resume which says the following:

  I can reach out directly to the senior GM if required.

or

  ... have a sort of direct access to higher management when the need
  arises.

Basically what I'm trying to say is that I can pick up the phone and ring the GM if I have an issue and that they'd be happy to listen to what I have to say.

Could you please suggest a way to phrase this statement, for a bullet point?

What I thought of using is

  Stakeholder management - direct access to senior  GM

but I'm unsure if that makes sense.


texts:
Example:

  Finally, don't worry about damaging the computer. Unless you do something really stupid-such as throwing a glass of Coke into the computer while it's running-you won't hurt your PC. The only component that you could conceivably
  damage-if you don't count chips zapped by the homicidal static electricity-is the hard drive. The platters inside it are spinning at a breathtaking rate within fractions of a millimeter from other parts that could, if jostled, collide like race cars on Memorial Day. But don't worry. This is going to be a midnight run.

What are they talking about? What is a midnight run?


texts:
What is the difference between "dissatisfied with" and "dissatisfied about"? Which is more common?

I am dissatisfied with/about his fooling me.


texts: New to English Grammar: Why is this sentence correct. Anyone please explain

texts:
Incorrect Form: Joan walks slowly so that her children can keep up with her.
  Corrected Form: Joan walks slowly so her children can keep up with her.

To me this sentence seems to be correct but the word "that" creates an ambiguity. It was given in the exercise but no explanation was given. It might be quite simple, but kindly help because I am just starting to learn English grammar.


texts: 'Isn't this a standard?' vs. 'Is this not a standard?'

texts: I know that the first sentence 'Isn't this a standard?' is grammatically correct, but sometimes I have encountered the usage like 'is this not a standard?', putting not behind the subject this. Is the second sentence form acceptable? If it is acceptable, is there any difference in their tone?


texts:
She regards negotiating process with customers as her special preserve.

Preserve as defined by various dictionaries mean to save, to reserve etc but I don't think it relates any how to the meaning conveyed in the above given sentience so what does special preserve mean in the above given sentience ?


texts: Place of present participle in a sentence

texts:
The officer stuck a label on my bag ,reading my name.
The officer stuck a label reading my name on my bag.

Preliminary knowledge : I have a label on which I wrote my name.
My first question is that in which sentence above is the place of the expression in bold correct?


texts:
On a website, it was written:

  Nobody will put up with you, but me.
  No one will love you, but me.

Is the use of "but me" natural?


texts:
I ran into this:

  This year´s World Tourism Day highlights the global potential of tourism for socio-economic development.  With more than one billion international tourists now traveling the world each year, tourism has become a powerful and transformative force that is making a genuine difference in the lives of millions of people.<Source>

I know what "potential" mean and what "global" mean but about their combination, I feel not sure.


texts: Does “would” indicate intent but not possibility?

texts:
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but if "would" implies intention but not possibility, then, generally, it must only refer to persons not events. If such is the case, then this sentence, "Would it be right to kill innocent animals?" must be rewritten to sound like,"Is it right to kill innocent animals?" Are both examples correct?

If "would" could also indicate possibility, then why is the following sentence wrong?
"I wouldn't be surprised if he would win the contest."

follow up question:

If my understanding is true, does it also apply to "will", such that the sentence, "The next world war will happen in the next three days", be rewritten to sound like, "The next world war probably starts in three days"? Please enlighten me on this issue.


texts:
Person A: Did they eventually  sign to a booking agency?
  Person B: Yes, but after I had stopped managing them

I just would like to know if past simple would be possible and is past perfect here to explain that the band sign to a booking agency because but they did not have a manager to establish a strong link between them


texts:
Question:

  When the athlete knew that he brok the record, he was delighted.

If I change this sentence into "participle clause",

  Possible answers:

  1.Knowing that the athlete broke the record, he was delighted.

  2.Knowing that he broke the record, the athlete was delighted.

Which is suitable? Thanks in advance.


texts: How can I say "concept association" in journalism?

texts:
Is there a specific name for when a journalist or a news network alters the order of news for any purpose?

I know for example on networks (at least in some countries) owned by some politician the news order is altered so that "good news" are near (in chronological order) to news about that politician, while bad news is mixed with news about some competitor.

I was searching on google for an article about that tecnique, but unluckily I can't find any because if I search for "Journalism topic association", the only search results are about Journalist societies.

I think I miss some word that could help me in the search. Thanks


texts: "Are not" or "not be"--- what should I use?

texts:
Two sentences to be considered are:

It's not bad if you rob but are not robbed.

It's not bad if you rob but not be robbed.

To me, they both mean the same and the latter one seems a bit more formal.
What's the opinion of a native speaker?
Thanks in advance.


texts:
This is a quote about Bracken fronds:

"Bracken fronds have full body and great lift"

"Lift" is normally a verb - what does it mean in this context when it appears to be a noun? The only nouns listed in Collins dictionary are an elevator or a boost to mood or confidence.


texts:
I’ve got two sentences here using with or while

I’m feeling great this month while all my bills are paid in advance.
I’m feeling great this month with all my bills are paid in advance.


texts:
I need to translate a childish insult "turbo-dweeb" (from English to Russian), and I'm a bit confused about the word "turbo".

There's a calque of "turbo" here in Russian. But if used as an insult, it sounds a bit outdated, like something said by a "cool kid" from the 90-th.

Does it have the same flavour in English, or is it neutral?


texts: Is the expression of my descendants or my future generations correct?

texts: Is it natural to say my descendants or my future generations. If not what word can substitue for them? Thanks.


texts: We are hoping ( for?) a good monsoon this year

texts:
We are hoping a good monsoon this year

Is the above sentence correct ? Actually this is a sentence improvement question and actual sentence was We are expecting a good monsoon this year. My book replaced expecting with hoping but don't we need to use preposition for with hoping in above sentence ? Or it's all right to use it without preposition ?


texts:
Do you know why "will/would be doing" is used instead of "will/would do" in the following? This use of the progressive seems alien to me.

If you quit your job, you will be doing something stupid.

You would be doing me a great kindness if you agreed to help.


texts:
In the following sentences, there is probably an aspectual error.
Wouldn't that error rather be in:

'I wish I went to the party, which I had been invited to last week.'

than

'I wish I had gone to the party, which I had been invited to last
week.'

?
For me, "I wish I had gone..." absolutely fits in, making the order of events perfectly correct and suitable.
Note: The only reason I have made this OP is because my professor, who is NOT a native English speaker, claims the opposite. He probably mistook subjunctive [mood] meaning for the literal meaning of the past.


texts:
Two mortal years in which nothing had been accomplished.

Why do we need the preposition in in front of  which?
Is two mortal years the object of the preposition in and does the preposition in act as a modifier for accomplished?

  They talk about other bright young things to whom they referred by nicknames.
   Keep the Aspidistra Flying, George Orwell (1936)

Same question , why is the preposition to placed in front of whom?
Does it follow the verb referred or the phrase referred by nicknames

"talk about other bright young things whom they referred to by nicknames"
or
"talk about other bright young things whom they referred by nicknames to" ?


texts: Should any liquid be swallowed, seek medical advice immediately

texts: How is this sentence imperative or whatever? It looks like interrogative in the first half then imperative in the second half.


texts: “How great it would be” vs “how great it would’ve been”

texts:
What's the difference between their meanings and which one is correct?

Imagine how great it would be if i wasn’t sick yesterday

Or

Imagine how great it would’ve been if i wasn’t sick yesterday

Thanks in advance


texts: Is 'to' needed here: Jane's mother will come [to] pick her up soon. ”

texts:
Jane's mother will come to pick her up soon.
  Jane's mother will come pick her up soon.

The kid Jane is being looked after at her grandparents' home. In a hour, her mother will arrive at the house to pick her up. What's the most appropriate way to express this?


texts:
Usually, we see the following sentence:

  Hello Eric, could you please tell me why you are here?

But I am wondering if this one is ok too:

  Hello, Eric, could you please tell me why you are here?

Why is it ungrammatical or grammatical? Could you explain?


texts:
My boss replied me that "You misunderstood my point"
and he is right, I misunderstood him and then he continued writing to me explaining what he exactly want me to carry out the work.

So I want to reply him that sorry for misunderstanding and now I understand what you want me to carry out .

Is it OK to reply in such a way?


texts: What does “Hashtag blessed” exactly mean here?

texts:
In the movie “Alexander and his worst day”, Alexander’s elder brother says:

  “I'm dating the hottest girl in school. I'm getting crowned at prom,
  and once I get my license tomorrow. I kind of have everything I've
  ever wanted. Hashtag blessed, you know.”

What does “hashtag blessed” mean here? I conjecture it has the same meaning with “God blessed”, but why use “hashtag”? Does it mean: I was labelled by a hashtag which was written by God “I bless you” ?


texts: Should I use the present form of every verb after a did? Example: I didn't find anything misplace vs. I didn't find anything misplaced -> misplaced vs. misplace


texts: A word that means a huge amount of technical emigrants

texts:
I am looking for a word that means a huge amount of technical emigrants.

I came a cross a term I don't remember anymore; I believe it means when talents are leaving the country.


texts:
German NPs are marked for case, which signals the role of the NP in a
  phrase (e.g., sentential subject, direct object, nominal complement,
  etc.). Although an entire NP will bear a particular case, it is
  typically the determiner (or adjective) in the NP rather than the N
  itself that is inflected for case.

I think in above paragraph (from book German: a linguistic introduction page 119) the verb bear means to show something; to carry something so that it can be seen. Is it correct?


texts:
As I know, we could use “for” with perfect tense to talk about a period of time. However, I am still not sure how to use “for”.

Could you tell me which sentence below is okay? I don't know I should use only one "for" or two "for"."

I have been waiting for a bus 20 minutes.

I have been waiting for a bus for 20 minutes.


texts:
I used to think Will was used for future and  Present Progressive for ongoing actions but recently I came across a site(forgot to save the link) which states that present progressive can be used for describing action taking place in upcoming time.

For example-  I will go to market to buy groceries tomorrow.

I am going to market to buy groceries tomorrow.

My questions is:
 Is there any difference in meaning among these two?

and if there is then what is it?


texts: conditional sentences: "will" vs. "would"

texts:
I guess I somehow understand the rules in Cambridge Dictionary grammar tutorial on conditional.

I am sure which of those rules fits this kind of situations.

  If kids don't dress very well, people would judge their parents.

  If kids don't dress very well, people will judge their parents.

A friend told me the former one is correct but didn't explain why.

Could someone please give a hint about the rules/conventions of it? Thanks in advance.


texts: What is the meaning of "remember doing something"?

texts:
Here are some sentences; the third one and the fourth one really confuse me

I remember to make cheese. (I remember this thing, I will do it later)
I remember making cheese. (I have made some cheese, and I remember it)
I remember the making of cheese. (Does this one mean I have already made some cheese?)
I remember cheese making. (Cheese making is made by gerund, a compound noun, does this one have the same meaning with the second one?)


texts: The first city that **put** into effect ... Why *put* instead of *puts*?

texts:
The first city in the United States that put into effect major plans
  for the clustering of government buildings was Washington.

I think the word "put" should be added "s" because of the first city. I think it's a singular noun, but the solution says that there is no need

Thank you


texts: What do you call these large signs hung from the ceilings? We often find these at the airport, sometimes, instead of one large sign, we have 3 large ones next to each other with the directions to various places. Is there a specific word for these, I would be very much surprised if they were just called signs.


texts: Is "ima" spoken or only written? How casual is it?

texts:
I recently had a friend text me "ima go to [the local pub]. U in?" I understood it just fine as meaning "I'm going to", but being an old fogey, I'm not sure if this is just txtspk or if ima is something people actually say.

Is this just a texting abbreviation? If people really say this, how common is it and where is it mostly used? For instance, can I say it at the office, like "Ima get the spec to you by Thursday." Or is it more casual than that?


texts: Ambiguity between oral and visual definitions of 'observe' and 'remark'?

texts:
observe = 1. Notice or perceive (something) and register it as being significant
  2. {reporting verb} Make a remark

  remark = 1. {reporting verb} Say something as a comment; mention
  2. {with object} Regard with attention; notice

1. How do you resolve the ambiguity  for these two verbs, if context doesn't suffice? I ask in general, but here's an example from p 593, First Principles, by Herbert Spencer:
[Based on the para above which is cited below, I guess the antecedent of his as 'Mr. Guthrie']

  His
  next chapter begins:—

    It will have been observed that in the preceding part of this criticism
    I have employed the term 'matter in motion,' and have avoided the use of
    the word 'force,' although it appears so prominently in the pages of Mr.
    Spencer's work. This has not been accidental. but by design, indicating indicating
    as it does one of my main criticisms of Mr. Spencer.

In this example, does Mr. Guthrie mean that the reader ought to have noticed his diction (eg employment of 'matter in motion'), or that Mr. Guthrie wrote about his such diction?

2. What are some formal terms describing this issue?


texts: What's the difference between "do to" and "do with"? I often find the verb "do" followed by "to" and by "with" as well. But I can't make out the difference between their usage. Are they interchangeable to use?


texts:
here is the dialogue from "the office season 9." and I totally don't understand what it means. Please help me. I don't know the Dwight's line.

  Pam: That sucked. He didn’t apologize. There’s no talking to that guy.

  Dwight: Oh, your little feelings party didn’t work out, huh? Who won the hugging contest? No, let me guess, everyone tied for first.

  Pam: We should just take him down.


texts: What are some techniques that helped you with reading speed?

texts: I've lived in the States for three years and generally satisfied with my English skills. The only thing that frustrates me is my reading speed. Despite reading various things required by the school and on my own over the years, I never find reading in English to be as fast and effortless as in my first language. My natural reading speed is around 250 WPM but it takes a considerable effort for me to decode the text and therefore I couldn't read as fast or as deep (because my mind is mostly occupied with decoding the meaning) as I would like. To those that overcomed this problem, what helped? Thanks in advance!


texts:
I am confused which one of the below sentences is correct.

1.Mohan works in the Hotel as a waiter.

2.Mohan works as a waiter in the Hotel.


texts:
In sports there are three podiums for the first three top positions.

Based on it, in Persian we have some phrases (metaphors) like:

  The success podium = Success

  Reaching the success podium = Succeeding

  Standing on the success podium = Succeeding

  The pride podium = Success

I would like to know if such phrases are meaningful in English or if there are some equivalent phrases for them?


texts: "the most X" or "most of the X" in this sentence

texts:
I wrote:

  In the worst case, when the most patterns are defined using either “Parent” or “Common Ancestor” options, a sub-tree of the DOM-tree must be revisited after visiting some nodes, which are assumed to be all the nodes in the worst case.

I am talking about specific patterns and nodes. So, I thought maybe it should be:

  In the worst case, when most of the patterns are defined using either “Parent” or “Common Ancestor” options, a sub-tree of the DOM-tree must be revisited after visiting some of the nodes, which are assumed to be all of the nodes in the worst case.

Are these two sentences equal? I think the second sentence is what I want because I am talking about specific nodes and patterns, but are there shorter ways to say the bold phrases without ".. of the .."?

Can "the most patterns" be equal to "most of the patterns"? I think no, since the "the" in the former indicates the top group of something general...

Besides, How can I avoid repeating "in the worst case" in the sentence above?

Can I shorten the last part to:

  In the worst case, when most of the patterns are defined using either “Parent” or “Common Ancestor” options, a sub-tree of the DOM-tree must be revisited after visiting every node in the worst case.

I want to say the some nodes in the worst case are assumed to be all the nodes.


texts: What does the slang "Breaking Bad" actually mean?

texts:
I heard this mentioned on the show that has the same name but the Portuguese translation is scary: The Chemistry of Evil .... What the real sense that the writers of the show wanted to go with this "slang"?

  breaking Synonyms: breach, cracker, fracture, offscourings,
  break, rupture, disruption, breakage, burst, fracture, break, breach,
  breakage, cracking, transgression, trespass, offense, breach,
  infringement, eruption, rash, outbreak, acne, boil, bankruptcy, smash,
  ruin

  bad Synonyms: poor, mean, perverse, evil, wicked, mean, flagitious,
  felon, ill, bum, dark, unpleasant, nasty, disagreeable, distasteful,
  seamy, unfavorable, adverse, contrary, inopportune,
  unsuitable, untimely, inconvenient, importunate, harmful,
  detrimental, injurious, prejudicial, deteriorative, bottom, less,
  inferior, under, inelaborate, severe, harsh, stern, grim, strict,
  deficient, faulty, wanting, lacking, scanty, sore


texts: word meaning - main course special vs. main course

texts:
What's the difference between a main course and a main course special at a restaurant?

I'd appreciate your help.


texts: "Put a spoke in sb's wheel" Vs "Throw/put a (monkey) wrench in the works"

texts:
The English expressions:

  throw a spanner in the works

  put a spanner in the works
  throw a (monkey) wrench in the works

Mean: to do something that prevents a plan or activity from succeeding:
Example: The funding for the project was withdrawn so that really threw a spanner in the works.

and also:

  To put a spoke in someone's wheel
  Meaning: to make it difficult for someone to achieve something they had planned to do
  Example - His letter really put a spoke in our wheel.

My questions:

1) Based on all the mentioned explanations, these four expressions mean so close that I cannot distinguish them. I wonder if you could give me a hand to differentiate between them.

2) Is it normal if I use throw a spanner in the works regarding a specific person and say: throw a spanner in [someone's] works or throw a spanner in the works of [someone]?

3) I would be appreciative if you could also help me to regionally devide them so that I discover which one is widespread in which country (AE and BE.


texts:
I'm looking for an expression or a verb describing the feeling you get or the situation when you tell a joke and nobody laughs.

  Oh man, last night I cracked a joke and noone even smiled at it. I [the expression/verb]

I think it will be OK if I say, "I got embarrased" (although I'd like to make sure it's OK to be used here) but I'm interested in a kind of informal and casual way to say that.

I thought I goofed up might work but it seems it's more about a mistake but when you tell an old joke or simply your joke is not that funny as you thought can't be really a mistake.


texts:
Sometimes I come across sentences where adjectives is used and act like adverbs (?) . Usually they are placed at the end of the sentences. I understand them perfectly but grammatical structure seems interesting to me. Could you clarify the exact function of these adjectives ?  I copied some of them down below.

1- I was lying half asleep on my sofa.

2- He lies motionless under white sheets in a bedroom

3- They burned the ants alive.

4- Bring him back alive.


texts: Zero article before countable nouns in context

texts:
I have happened upone it in last episode of Crash Course A&P. It is at 42 second. Here it goes:

  Now, it becomes the business of your cell-mediated response, or cellular immune response. And that is where stuff gets serious. Where (a) cell fights (a) cell.

Tell me please why no article was used before the word cell there.


texts: The meaning of "information shortcut" in this text?

texts:
Brewer and his colleagues identify generalized trust in other nations,
  or international trust, as a key component of public opinion about
  world aﬀairs (Brewer 2004; Brewer et al. 2004; Brewer, Aday, and Gross
  2005). Tey defne this form of trust as follows:

  International trust [is] a generalized belief about whether most
  foreign countries behave in accordance with normative expectations
  regarding the conduct of nations. Citizens with high levels of
  international trust see the realm of world aﬀairs as a friendly
  environment where trust and cooperation among nations are the norms;
  in contrast, citizens with low levels of international trust see the
  same realm as a hostile environment where all nations strive against
  one another for advantage and readily defect from cooperative eﬀorts.
  Put another way, international trust is a standing decision to give
  other nations the beneft of the doubt, an assumption that most
  countries are of good will and benign intentions. (Brewer et al. 2004,
  96)

  Brewer and his colleagues conceptualize this “standing decision”
  as a cognitive heuristic, or information shortcut, comparing it to
  both social trust (or interpersonal trust) and political trust (or
  trust in government). Te former, a generalized belief that one can
  trust strangers (Uslaner 2002), provides individuals with a
  “standing decision to give most people—even those whom one does not know from direct experience—the beneft of the doubt” (Rahn and
  Transue 1998, 545). Te latter, a generalized orientation toward
  government based on normative expectations of its operation, likewise
  oﬀers individuals “a simple decision rule” for deciding how much
  beneft of the doubt to give government (Hetherington and Globetti
  2002, 254).

I couldn't find the phrase "information shortcut" in the main dictionaries online. What is its meaning?


texts:
In my prepositions chapter I found an example sentence

  He sat watching far on into the night

I don't understand this bold part


texts: Is "I have posted the letter last week" grammatical?

texts:
Is this sentence grammatically OK? Take a look at this sentence:

  I have certainly posted the letter last week. I wonder why it hasn't arrived yet.

So what is the problem with this sentence?
I took a look at the answer sheet. At the first part of the sentence, the modal verb "have" is incorrect. What's your idea?


texts:
I don't understand the meaning of "will have to do" in the following paragraph. What does it mean?

"However, whatever significant portion of Earth's satellite will be visible Sunday, July 21, will have to do for everyone joining in at the Hamptons Full Moon Fest shindig starting at 6 p.m."
-- Article "Hamptons Full Moon Fest at Gurney’s Inn", newsday.com (July 21 2013)


texts: Somebody please explain this line broadly. Tenses and Meaning

texts: We deliberately stripped out everything that might get in the way of leaning whatever it is we're working on at that point in the book.


texts: Can "project is lead by" be ever correct?

texts:
Knowing that Lead-led-led, I find this sentence wrong (from a book available on Google books):

  The project is lead by an alliance of three partners, comprising the
  GI, the FIZ Karlsruhe (a provider of scientific online information
  services) and Springer- Verlag..

Shouldn't there be "led by"?


texts:
Check this.

  And now, for the lover of modern and post modern art, there's the
  Centre Georges Pompidou, which is home to France's National Modern Art
  Museum. When first constructed, the daring and strange architecture of
  Centre Georges Pompidou had Paris residents in a heated debate.

What is the meaning of "had" in the above context? What can be used instead of "had" in that context? I guess it means "led to". Am I right?


texts: omission of a subjective relative pronoun and be verb

texts:
The 4-year-olds often chose to look at the marshmallows while waiting, a strategy that was not terribly effective.

Can I omit "that was" in the sentence above?


texts:
As a general rule, a sentence that begins with noun A and noun B should be followed by a "plural" form of the verb. For example, May and Tom are good students.

However, which verb should be used in the following example?

Example

  The diagnosis and management of disease X require/requires an
  extensive ...

As in the first example, the original sentence can be broken into

  May is a good student.

  Tom is a good student.

  May and Tom are good students.

Following the logic,

  The diagnosis of disease X requires ....
     The management of disease X requires ....

Shouldn't the diagnosis AND management of disease X be followed by require? Or is there any difference between the diagnosis and management of disease X and THE diagnosis and THE management of disease X, in which the subject in the former is considered singular and that in the latter is plural?


texts:
Mechanical testing provides information about the suitability of a material for its intended application to help companies design products that will perform as expected.

Does "will" here implies the writer's opinion about what seems to be definite in the future or the writer is making a guess or prediction about the future?

We will also recommend both corrective and preventive actions to reduce future risk of failure and optimize performance.

I think "will" here implies the writer's commitment to recommend both corrective and preventive actions to reduce future risk of failure and optimize performance.

A: Have you decided what you are going to do with the car?

B: No. Father thinks it’ll cost a lot of money to fix.
Concerning B, what would it mean with "B: No. Father thinks it WOULD cost a lot of money to fix."? Should we say WOULD because "fixing" is hypothetical? Or should we say WILL because the situation is real here?
If WILL, does it imply WILL prediction or WILL definite(sure) future?
Thank you.


texts: "A law, by following which weather changes" is correct?

texts:
I'd like to say that there is a law and weather changes by following this law.

I mean the law determines how weather changes in future.

Is it possible to say "there is a law, by following which weather changes"?


texts: What is the difference between "pronounced" and "noticeable"

texts:
I have encountered "pronounced" a couple of times, but still wondering what it means exactly. I checked these dictionaries for this word: Longman, Cambridge, and Oxford, but in none of them, they touched upon any synonyms such as "noticeable" or "remarkable" except for Cambridge Dictionary, which only mentioned marked.

Nonetheless, many dictionaries define this word with noticeable and other added words, but this intrigues me even more because this demonstrates that these words were in the author's mind when writing the definition of this word, yet they didn't name them as synonymous.

Furthermore, I've searched the internet for them, and there was no answer as well.
To summarize, is there any difference between words "pronounced" and "noticeable"? IF so, what are they and their usage in contexts?


texts: How to say "Let me take you for a ride" without indicating malice?

texts:
He took him for a ride. This is a phrase used to indicate cheating.

But I want to say to my child that I will take her for a ride in my car. How should I say this?

Can I say - "Let me take you for a ride in the car"?

Can I also say - "Let me take you for a ride"?


texts:
I know that we use "To + Verb" and "For + Verb-ing". But I heard this in a talk show(below) and I have been wondering whether it is right or not.

My muscles are not for show, they are for my survival.

If this is correct, could you please give a explanation about this type of syntax? And what about this one?

My muscles are not for showing, they are for my survival.


texts: why has "was" been omitted in this sentence?

texts:
We could just see the train approaching in the distance.

This sentence has been taken from Cambridge Dictionary. To know the meaning of "approach" I searched in this dictionary and I found this sentence.

If this sentence would be written in the following way, it would seem natural to me.

  We could just see (that) the train was approaching in the distance.

I cannot understand why "was" has been omitted. In which cases this sort of omossion is allowed?


texts:
I've made the following sentence:

  I prefer doing things alone to with someone else.

Is that sentence correct? I also tried to replace that someone else with big company as follows:

  I prefer doing things alone to in a big company of people.

I tried to say that If I had a choice to join to a group of people and do the things with them I wouldn't do that and do the things myself.

Is it correct ot say so?


texts:
In an email a friend of mine wrote to me:

  I got a couple of books from a friend on math  and what not.

Can anyone please tell me what does what not mean here? If there is any meaning.


texts: PRONOUND PLUS 'TO +VERB" OR "PREPOSITION +VERB-ING

texts:
I know it this sentence is wrong but i need an explanation.
RIGHT : I hope you would help me in letting him understand.
WRONG:  I hope you would help me to let him understand.
RIGHT: Adults should support them in deciding their future careers.
WRONG: Adults should support them to decide their future careers.
i hope someone can help me


texts:
A vocational college diploma in Russia contains a sheet where some particular features of your education course are listed: date of enrollment, date of completion, what exams you took to enroll, etc.

One line reads as "Production-work (professional) practice: ______" and looks like this:

In a particular diploma being translated by a fellow translator, this line is filled out this way, in a clumsy translation:

  Production-work practice: compliant with the speciality profile

The Russian original is

  Производственная практика: по профилю специальности.

The meaning is, the student has passed internship, or, probably more correctly, "industrial placement". He worked for a period of time at a plant. The work that he carried out was "in line with what he was taught at the college".  Maybe if the student's industrial placement was at some plant worthy of specific mention, the particular plant would be named, but what we have is a kind of general-purpose phrase.

What would be an appropriate English phrase to put in that document? Would this fit:

  Industrial placement: in agreement with the curriculum.


texts: Is the following sentence in the passive voice?

texts:
I'm curious if the sentence below is in the passive voice and if the tense of the passive is correct.

  The Pediatrician will want to see whether the grasp of your baby is
  being developed well.

If it is passive voice, is it possible to rearrange this sentence into the active voice?


texts: why "have written" in "The message I asked to have written on the cake for my daughter's birthday was not readable"?

texts:
The message I asked to have written on the cake for my daughter's
  birthday was not readable.

I do not understand "have written" in this sentence.

"The message I asked to write on the cake" makes more sense to me.

What is different between "ask to write" and "ask to have written"?

Thanks in advance.


texts: Plural or singular when referring to a team

texts:
The Lions are a shadow of their former self.

  The Lions are a shadow of their former selves.

I am not sure if both are correct, because technically you can say "their self", but something tells me I might be wrong on this. What do you think?


texts:
I had this MCQ question one day when I was studying for my exams:

  All the proceeds from the fund-raising event _________ going to be donated to charity.

The two MCQ options that I debated on was
1) is
2) are

I chose are, which was the incorrect answer, unfortunately. However, I am puzzled on why is is the correct answer. According to here, it says that proceeds are plural nouns (and the are in that was corrected by Grammarly) and plural nouns should be used with a plural verb, which is are.

But, according to here, proceeds (money) is uncountable and that uncountable nouns must be used with a singular verb, which is is.

Which is correct?


texts:
Is it correct to say:

  1) I've lived in London for five years.

Or

  2) I've been living in London for five years.

I think second one is correct because we use present perfect continuous for actions started in past and is continuing in present.


texts: The difference between "use up" and "run out of something"

texts:
Consider these two sentences:

I have used up all my pencils.
I have run out of pencils.

Which one, if either, is better? What is the difference? In what context should I use  each one?


texts: What does productive means in this sentence?

texts:
Charlie: Let's see what's on the wires.

  Joane: Why can't you wait for newspapers like everybody else?

  Charlie: 'Cause I think it's productive to know today's news today.
  And it makes me one day smarter than you, which I enjoy as well.

Productive word used in land areas, like productive land means fertile lands which means farmer will get when he use that land. but context is about newspaper & information stuff.


texts: Anything wrong with "She would definitely drive to work if she had a car."?

texts:
She _________ definitely drive to work if she had a car.

would 2) should 3) might 4) shall

An English quiz I took recently included the above question. I thought both "would" and "should" could fit into the blank, and chose "would" anyway, but the answer was "should".
Is there anything wrong with "She would definitely drive to work if she had a car."? Or is there any reason that "should" better fits in the sentence although "would" is also okay?


texts: Which of the two is correct, the employees or employees?

texts:
The code-based approach to office ethics enables [ the employees / employees ] to know up front what is morally required and expected of them at work.

Which of the two is correct when it means employees in general?  Could you help me clarify it?  Thank you always.


texts:
I have following construction.

  Although most of the RTGs work rely on external sub-graphs, they
  are not able to represent every incidence.

Here RTG stands for Roof Topology Graph (RTGs plural case)

I am confused with the rule of most of xxx and doubted that whether it should be corrected as or not

  Although most of the RTGs work relies on external sub-graphs, they
  are not able to represent every incidence.

any comments please.


texts:
What is more common in AE?

  He made a goal.

  He scored a goal.

So is "made" or "score" used in soccer? I mean which one is more  common?


texts:
The same problem seems to arise if God and His purposes are offered as
the ultimate explanation of the value and meaning of our lives. The
idea that our lives fulfil God's purpose is supposed to give them
their point, in a way that doesn't require or admit of any further
point. One isn't supposed to ask "What is the point of God?" any more
than one is supposed to ask, "What is the explanation of God?"

[What does it all mean? - Thomas Nagel, Chapter X]
I've got two questions to ask.

Is "the point of God" God's aim?
What is the difference between "explanation of God" and "explanation for God". In the context above, does "explanation of God" mean "description of God"?

Many thanks


texts: Is it normal to reply Yes/No to an “A or B” question in English?

texts:
Below is from Assimil French:

  French version:

  "Voulez-vous aller tout de suite à votre hôtel ou voulez-vous passer au bureau d'abord ? "

  "Non, je veux déposer mes affaires d'abord."

  English version:

  "Do you want to go immediately to your hotel or do you want to go (pass by) to the office first?"

  "No, I want to drop off my things (affairs) first."

So in French, when facing an "A or B" question, one can reply No, to reject "B" and take "A". Is it also so in English? Previouly I always thought that one can't say "Yes/No" to an choice question as it'll confuse people.


texts: Which is correct tense to be used with last year?

texts:
Which sentence is correct ?

  a) Last year, Court had convicted him for murder.

  b) Last year, Court convicted him for murder.

I have received answers that Both of my sentence constructions are correct and can be used as per context. But I have learned that perfect tense can not be use with timeline in this example it is Last year.

I am sharing below links to support this

https://www.englishgrammar.org/common-mistakes-verbs/

https://www.englishgrammar.org/correct-sentences/


texts: Does "determination condition " make sense?

texts:
I am trying to explain a flow chart.

  In step 1, a determination is made whether the temperature is above 10 degree Celsius. If the determination condition is met, the process proceeds to step 2 where...

After I searched on Google, I found that the word "determination condition" is commonly used by non-natives, but hardly used by natives.

I know that "If the temperature is above 10 degree, the process proceeds to..." is better, but I want to use such an expression as "the determination condition is met" if possible.


texts:
Let's say I traveled for 6 hours and 40 min. How should I write that?

  6 hours and 40 min

or

  6.40 hours

or

  6.40 min

or

  6h.40 min


texts: What does "delete" mean in this context (learning languages)?

texts:
I encountered the following phrase at the beginning of Chapter 5 in Kato Lomb's book "Polyglot - How I learn languages":

  Chapter 5: How to Study Languages

  "HOW CAN I learn English, Russian, French, German, Spanish (delete as appropriate)?" I often hear this question.

The meaning of "delete" is to remove something, but I do not quite understand what is supposed to be deleted here. The only "objects" here are the languages listed in the sentence, but this does not seem to make sense to me to delete them. Could you please explain me this phrase?

Any help is very appreciated.


texts:
The Duke of Falvertoon was one of those human hors d'oeuvres that
  stimulate the public appetite for sensation without giving it much to
  feed on. As a mere child he had been precociously brilliant; he had
  declined the editorship of the Anglian Review at an age when most boys
  are content to have declined mensa, a table, and though he could not
  claim to have originated the Futurist movement in literature, his
  "Letters to a possible Grandson," written at the age of fourteen, had
  attracted considerable notice. In later days his brilliancy had been
  less conspicuously displayed.

  from The Unkindest Blow, a short story by Saki

What is the role of "those"?

What is the differende between "one of those human hors d'oeuvres" and "one of human hors d'oeuvres"?


texts: In behalf vs on behalf. Which one is used more?

texts:
I'd like to know which one of the following is used more and is the corrected form in speaking.

Could you go to the meeting in behalf of me?
Could you go to the meeting on behalf of me?


texts:
1.The sun shining bright and the pale blue sky forming a backdrop of the Sacre Coeur, Carl stepped into his future as a traveler and observer.

2.He won his favorite competition, the long jump, and brought home another Gold medal for the United States — the most fitting conclusion to his brilliant career in track and field.

Is it just the lack of a subject in the noun phrase in 2 which distinguishes it from the absolute phrase in this example?

The example in 2. doesn't have a strong relationship with the main sentence so they're not disimilar in that respect.

What is the head word of the absolute phrase? It has two subjects 'sun' and 'sky'.


texts: present participle constructions after prepositions

texts:
Is the following sentence correct?

The cartoonist wants to draw attention to poverty in India in showing that people do not have toilets of their own.


texts: can help but be involved or can't help but be involved?

texts:
And at this crucial time in our lives , when everything is so desperate , when every day is a matter of survival , I don't think you can help but be involved.

Shouldn't it be "cannot help" but be involved? is this a typo?


texts:
The Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary defines transverse as placed across something and gives the following example sentence and synonym:

  A transverse bar joins the two posts.

  -> Synonym: diagonal

I am wondering whether diagonal and transverse  would mean the same if the former were used in the example sentence.

I'd appreciate your help.


texts: usages of obstacle, interrupt, and obstacle

texts:
Obstacles such as the tress avoided us to see the sea.
The trees were obstruct our view of the sea.
The trees interrupted our view of the sea.
I am wondering whether the bold parts could mean the same thing.
Other than that, would you correct the first sentence in a way that it could mean the similar meaning like the two other sentences.
In addition, would you please learn me other synonym for the following?
our view of
Any help would be greatly appreciated


texts:
What is the difference between the following?

I am lonely
I am alone

'Lonely' and 'alone' both are adjectives and adverbs, that is why I am confused.


texts: "giant stone blocks that [weigh/weighs] several thousand kilograms each"

texts:
The Egyptians built the pyramids out of giant stone blocks that weigh
  several thousand kilograms each.

Weigh or weighs, which one is correct?

Some teacher give the following answer

  The Egyptians built the pyramids out of giant stone blocks that weighs
  several thousand kilograms each.

The Egyptians built the pyramids out of stone blocks. Each block weighs several thousand kilograms.  The blocks in the sentence is the plural form of block, not a singular word.

My question:

Let's not talk about whether "weigh" is appropriate here.

My confusion is that since the verb that follows the relative pronoun must agree in number with the word that comes immediately before the relative pronoun, if "blocks" are plural, then it must use "weigh" which contradicts with "each".

So, I guess "blocks" is a separate word, other than a plural form of block. I checked some online dictionaries and some of them support my view.

Could a kind professional on this area give an answer on this questions?  Your clarification is very much appreciated!


texts: How to understand "twice as long and three times as hard"

texts:
Well, soon we got the name out of the way. Asalamalakim had a name twice as long and three times as hard.

I really can get neither the concept of the bold parts nor the meaning of the latter part, especially the adjective hard.


texts:
In a comment I said:

  Yeah, I was looking for this (about "you just wait and see!"); I hear it a lot while watching cartoons
  with the kids!

I wasn't confident of (on?) which one sounds natural, until checking with Google ngram (watching cartoon,watching cartoons,cartoon,cartoons). Am I right in choosing "Watching Cartoons" which shows up 20 times as much compared to "watching cartoon"?

By the way, in the context above, is it confident of or on. With Google ngram, on is barely noticeable, and of is almost all there is.

Note: You may want to take out cartoon and cartoons for the other curves to be clearly visible.


texts:
When I read the book Breakfast at Tiffany's, I encounter a sentence in the following context:

  Oh, he’s not my idea of the absolute finito. He tells little
  lies and he worries what people think and he takes about fifty baths a
  day: men ought to smell somewhat. He’s too prim, too cautious to be my
  guy ideal; he always turns his back to get undressed and he makes too
  much noise when he eats and I don’t like to see him run because
  there’s something funny-looking about him when he runs. If I were free
  to choose from everybody alive, just snap my fingers and say come here
  you, I wouldn’t pick José.

  From Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote Page 76

What does the phrase 'the absolute finito' mean here? I have done some research that 'the absolute' can be a noun phrase which means 'something that is perfect or complete' . But what is the meaning of finito here? Is it an adjective which means 'finished'?


texts:
I wonder how would you talk about a voice breaking in young males - around the age of puberty?
This is when they lose their high-pitched voices and start to produce deeper sounds.
What shall I say:

  1- His voice has gotten manly.
  2- He has gotten a manly voice.

I am quite confidents there should be an idiom/expression for that, while once I heard something like that; though I cannot recall.


texts:
She forces him to help steal the money, then she blackmails him and takes it for herself.

First he said that he was right leaning, now he's saying he is left leaning.

He'd lost all his money on the pools, not that he cared about losing anyway.

It overstays its welcome by 20 minutes or so, just long enough for us to begin to feel restless.

Do any of these sentences require a period instead of a comma, and is so acting as a conjunction in the last example also.

Not sure with using 'just' in terms of it being a dependent clause?


texts: Except for me / except on me / except me

texts:
I was using panaroma to take a picture and it worked except my face was little distorted.

Is it grammatically correct to say

"Panaroma worked except for my face"

Or should it be

"Panaroma worked except on my face"

Or

"Panaroma worked except my face"

It'll be really helpful if you could explain to me why which one is right or not.

Thanks!


texts:
I am reading a post here on how Google and Zynga set and achieve meaningful OKRs (Objectives and Key Results).
In the post there is one paragraph saying:

If you’re finding your team sets quarterly OKRs only to trash them each quarter given a brilliant mid-quarter discovery, you’re either:

a 2-sigma team that repeatedly launches industry leading core features every quarter despite not initially planning them
setting OKRs not “worth doing” as evidenced by repeated willingness to ditch them
unfocused and need more operational discipline

What does the word "trash" mean?
What does the phrase *"given a brilliant mid-quarter discovery" * mean?
What is the exact meaning of the first sentence?


texts:
What is a difference between a friend of mine and my friend? Both are equally fine at any settings? Can this lead to any confusion or misunderstanding?

This question is different from how to use apostrophe s or of. As these two are quite common expressions in spoken English, the difference is beyond the range of how to use possessive forms.


texts: Can I say "The results may change according to how much time you spend in the quiz"?

texts:
I am designing an English test for my students. However, I'm not a native speaker.

I want to design a quiz that can judge a student's result not only by his/her answers, but also by how much time he/she spent in that quiz.

What's the best way to express this?

Can I say

  The result(s) may change according to how much time you spend in the quiz

(BTW, should we say "result" or "results" for a quiz?)


texts: He is coming straight [ to \ for \ at ] me

texts:
We generally use to for showing movement.

  He is coming straight to me.

But Cambridge dictionary says:

  The dog seemed to be coming at \ for me.

Can I use to instead?


texts: When should I use the infinite `to´ at the end of a sentence?

texts:
When should I use the infinitive "to" at the end of a sentence? For example:

My father said that I have to clean the bathroom, but I don't want to.

Or can I just say

My father said that I have to clean the bathroom, but I don't want.

Feel free for giving some examples.


texts: What is this keyboard called in English?

texts:
I need to know what this non-QWERTY keyboard is called in English,
i.e. the one with the grouped [ABC] and grouped [DEF] etc.

EDIT I have asked this question just to know how do I enable this
[ABC] keyboard on my smartphone (if this is possible at all).


texts: What is the right word for a visitor visa to Japan? a Japanese visitor visa?

texts:
How should I properly refer to a Temporary Visitor's Visa used to enter Japan as a visitor?

Is it:

  a Japanese visa

or:

  a visa to Japan


texts:
China Move to Cut Duties on U.S. Imports Lifts Auto Stocks

“Last week, events seemed to conspire to throw the truce into disarray, but the underlying incentives of both sides at the moment are to try to maintain that truce,” said Freya Beamish, chief Asia economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics Ltd.

be to do something

There are 4 meanings of "be to do something". I think it's

  used to talk about arrangements for the future

here.

I can't understand how "incentives" can be arranged to "try" to do something?
I think only people (or such kind of things) can "try". I also can't understand an "arranged" "try".


texts: What is the difference? : resolve vs solve

texts:
What is the difference between the verb resolve and solve?

  We have problems to solve.
      We have problems to resolve.

When do you use one and not the other?


texts: "Thanks to" - is it a preposition or a conjunction?

texts:
Thanks to this treatment, her condition has improved.

The railway system is in chaos, thanks to the government's incompetence.

Both these sentences are from macmillandictionary.com.

Is thanks to used as a preposition in the above sentences?
Why the comma is used in the sentences?
Is thanks to ever used as a conjunction?


texts:
In an example that Swan provided, he used to be in a that-clause after a wish. Here is an example:

  All the staff wish you weren't leaving so soon.

My question is, could we use to do rather than to be there?

  All the staff wish you didn't leave so soon.


texts:
He …. a mill in this town.

Options

a) have b) has c) is having

My approach:

I am confused between "has" Vs "is having"

I choose 'has' because because it denotes the action that he has a mill in the past and he is still having it.

Am i right in my approach? Please correct me if I am wrong.


texts: One of my friends received lots of beautiful gifts on her birthday and she thanked by saying this. So what is the difference between just saying' Thank you so much 'and 'Thank you so freaking much.'


texts: Is correct the usage of simple past in the very moment of the speech?

texts:
Douglas Robson, USA TODAY Sports cites Maria Sharapova: “All respect to Simona. I thought she played an unbelievable match today”.

Simple past expresses an event that happened in the past and ended there without any consequence in present or later. According to this I would understand the above sentence as if Sharapova “thought she played…”, but now in the present, in the very moment of her speech she thinks no more, or at least we don’t know for sure whether she still thinks or doesn’t think anymore.

I don’t want to question the grammar here which is fine, but the semantic.

Shouldn’t she say?

  I think she played an unbelievable match.

As I said here, I don’t know much about clause’s tense agreement, but according to this link the construction:

  I think she played an unbelievable match.

is grammtically correct too.


texts:
I wonder if you could explain me it's possible to replace

Must we go out today?

into

Is it obligatory for us to go out somewhere today?

Are both sentences idiomatic?


texts: Word for combining a score/value/etc. into another one

texts:
What word can be used when we want to say that we combine a score/value/etc. into another one? For example, "we combine the scores of the test into the overall score of the user."

Some possible candidates may be: combine, integrate, interpolate, mix, fuse, and merge.


texts: Stepped off (it/of it)/out (of it) to search the floor

texts:
An elevator arrived and two police officers stepped off (it/of it) to search the floor.
An elevator arrived and two police officers stepped out (of it) to search the floor.
In the two sentences would it be natural to include "it" or "of it" or do they work fine/better without?


texts:
I came across it in this video. It is at 49 seconds.

  On earth we deal with flush toilets if that is available, hopefully, to you. You do what you need to do, then you clean yourself up, and then it is onto the remainder of the day.

What does "it is onto" mean?


texts:
What could be meant by worse in sentence "the smell of sweat and worse"? Can it be puke?

Here is some context:

  Her eyes shimmered with tears of self-pity. For years, she thought,
  she’d honestly believed nothing could be as bad as prison—the sound of
  cell doors locking shut, the smell of sweat and worse, the menial
  work, the disgusting food.
  Excerpt from Hideaway by Nora Roberts

Thanks!


texts: It was A productive week or it was THE productive week.?

texts:
It was A productive week.
  It was THE productive week.

What is the correct way to say and why?


texts: What's the meaning of "you’re genuinely not coming through here"?

texts:
You’re genuinely not coming through here. There are always ethical
choices around any work...

I know the meaning of come through, but I don't understand the sentence in relationship with the text below.
Could you please explain it to me?
The text is here:

‘What you’re emphasizing here, Paul,’ Mr Capaldi was saying, ‘is how
any work we do brands us. That’s your point, am I right? It brands us,
and sometimes brands us unjustly.’ ‘That’s a very smart way of
misunderstanding my point, Capaldi.’ ‘Paul, come on,’ the Mother said.
‘I’m sorry, Capaldi, if this sounds impolite. But frankly? I think
you’re deliberately misconstruing what I’m saying.’ ‘No, Paul, you’re
genuinely not coming through here. There are always ethical choices
around any work. That’s true, whether we get paid for it or we don’t.’
‘That’s very considerate of you, Capaldi.’ ‘Paul, come on,’ the Mother
said again. ‘Henry’s just doing what we asked him. No more, no less.’
‘It’s no wonder, Capaldi – Henry, sorry – a guy like you would
struggle to understand what I’m saying here.’

The Klara and The Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro


texts: What are the differences between "lively", "alive" and "living"?

texts:
Which one is correct or more accurate?
"A lively child" or a "child who is alive"?
When you want to say a person is not dead and he is normally living in his country, for instance, what do you say?
What is the difference between "live" and "living"?

I know this is a broad question, but they are similar terms and I really am confused between them all.


texts: Scheduling a phone call: how to express my available slots

texts:
In a business scene, we often need to deal with something more complex than some of introductory "business English" texts.
More often than not, it isn't as simple as

  John: Would Tuesday suit you?
  Paul: That's fine with me.  Thank you.
  John: Thank you.  Talk to you then.

For example, suppose I'm arranging a phone call with someone outside our company, possibly in another continent.  I have to tell (perhaps via email) when I'll be available for a call and the condition can easily be as complex as:

It's Wednesday afternoon right now here in Tokyo.
I'll be available for a phone call for the rest of this week and the next week.  (I'm not sure about my schedule for the week after next.)
I'll be available only after 1pm every day.
Except, I'll be only available after 3pm this Friday and before 5pm on Tuesday next week.

How do native speaker write for this?
In case we use email for arrangement, a single, long and detailed email is preferred over exchanging short ones over and over again.

Update

Native speakers never bother to use a bullet list like the above for arranging a call in a business scene, for good or bad.  I'd like to know "plain English" to express the same thing.  I don't need comments like "But bullet lists can actually be better than 'plain English'..."


texts:
He entered the room smiling.

I think the participle 'smiling' acts here as an adverb. When he entered he was smiling.

I saw him smiling.

Here the participle 'smiling' acts as adjective when we consider the participle describes him i.e he was smiling . But it can also be an adverb when we understand the meaning that I was smiling when I saw him.

What is the participle acting as? I'm totally confused.

My second question is can a participle that acts as an adjective be placed after noun or pronoun? Which meaning do I take?


texts:
Quote:
Walden or Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau, 1850.

To a philosopher all news, as it is called, is gossip, and they who edit and read it are old women over their tea. Yet not a few are greedy after this gossip. There was such a rush, as I hear, the other day at one of the offices to learn the foreign news by the last arrival, that several large squares of plate glass belonging to the establishment were broken by the pressure-news which I seriously think a ready wit might write a twelve-month, or twelve years, beforehand with sufficient accuracy. As for Spain, for instance, if you know how to throw in Don Carlos and the Infanta, and Don Pedro and Seville and Granada, from time to time in the right proportions - they may have changed the names a little since I saw the papers - and serve up a bull-fight when other entertainments fail, it will be true to the letter, and give us as good an idea of the exact state or ruin of things in Spain as the most succinct and lucid reports under this head in newspapers: and as for England, almost the last significant scrap of news from that quarter was the revolution of 1649; and if you have learned the history of her crops for an average year, you never need attend to that thing again, unless your speculations are of a merely pecuniary character. If one may judge who rarely looks into the newspapers, nothing new does ever happen in foreign parts, a French revolution not excepted.
The end of the quote

My questions are:
1. How I'll know when to use "need" like modal like here "you never need attend to that thing again"?
2. Is there some reason why Grammarly create red line beneath "need" like it fails and suggested 'to need'?


texts: How to describe holding a child with hands in such a way that the child doesn't touch the ground?

texts:
How would little children ask their parents in English to hold them with their hands in such a way that the children are fully in the parents' hands and are not touching the ground with any part of their body?

I was thinking of "Mommy, please, hold me with your hands", but then I thought that one can be held with hands (by someone) while still standing on the ground - like hugging.

My second guess was "Please, carry me with your hands", but carrying implies not only holding something or someone but also walking, while what I want to describe is a situation, in which the parent would be standing (like, for example, a mother and her daughter are standing and watching a street clown's performance and the girl can't see the clowns because of the crowd, she asks her mom to hold her with her hands).


texts: Difference between "due to" and "on account of"

texts:
What's difference between the following words:

  "due to"

AND

  "on account of"


texts: She looks best or Looks the best in this sentence: "She looks ________ in bright, vibrant colors, like red and pink"?

texts:
Do I have to put "the best" in this sentence:
"She looks best in bright, vibrant colors, like red and pink." if not so why?
This is from the Cambridge dictionary


texts: Is the same meaning between using relative pronouns and adjective in sentence?

texts:
I want to find a car which is white in a house which is red.
I want to find a white car in a red house.

Are two sentences above the same meaning?


texts:
irregular-verbs-examples

The link above describes some irregular verbs that require helping verbs (i.e., she had begun work before I arrived). I am trying to confirm whether one can choose to use a helping verb in the past perfect tense or if on has to one hundred percent of the time.

Another great resource for this kind of thing is:

tense-cheat-sheet

Like I've shown, I've done the research...would just like some clarification. My question is:

Yes or No: Is the reality of the English language that some verbs will have helping verbs in the past perfect tense and others will not?


texts: Is there a difference in meaning between "go to the seaside" and "go to the sea"?

texts:
Let's say I am going on vacation. And I am planing to spend my vacation by the sea. Is there any difference between the following sentences?

  I am going to the seaside.

  I am going to the sea.


texts:
Do these have the same meaning? What would be the best version in your opinion?
▪After saying something, I sit, look at the water and drink it using my right hand in three breaths to quench my thirst.
▪After saying something, I look at the water and drink it using my right hand in three breaths to quench my thirst while sitting (down) .
▪After saying something and looking at the water, I drink it using my right hand in three breaths to quench my thirst while sitting (down).
▪After saying something, I sit and use my right hand to drink water to quench my thirst, stopping 3 times to take a breath and look at it (OR and look at the water).
NB: The reason of using "in three bretahs" is that I am pausing three times to take breath while drinking water. Is there any better phrase that I can use instead of it for sounding more natural?


texts:
I had a party last night, but the party finished too early for me to drink enough to call it a night.

I had a party last night, but the party was finished too early for me to drink enough to call it a night.

I think both of them can be used here and they are the same meaning, but I just wanted to double check.


texts: (Grading vs Rating vs Marking) Which one fits better when its about a number?

texts:
Please check the wording below.

How would you mark/rate/grade me from 1 to 10?

(By "How" I am asking about the number he is going to give me not the process.)


texts:
I do not eat fast food.
I don't eat fast food.

What is the difference between them?
In everyday speech, we use #2. Can't we use #2 in a formal writing at all? When we say #1, what is the difference compared to #2? Is #1 stronger in meaning than #2?


texts:
I am unable to make out what the actress said in this AAMI Insurance Ad: Prove who's the better driver! #driverduels (Before the other actor said "What are the chances?")

I would appreciate if anyone can tell me what she said.


texts: Can you explain these unusual phrases in English to me?

texts:
Source

I am a non-native speaker.I've always had formal English learning.There're a few things which confuse me in English being spoken informally.

  For more information please turn to your backside…

What does the writer intend to say by this?Is it refers to Modi standing behind them(the prince and the princess)?

  He replies, ‘Oh bloomin ‘eck brilliant! You Indians speak English all right.’

Now the writer says this is ungrammatical and it was 'rather inevitable' we would learn English.What is the ungrammatical thing and what is the meaning?


texts: I'd rather not "something-something" meaning

texts:
I encounter a phrase: "I'd rather not see abbreviations in method names".

I wonder if it is a polite way of expressing yourself? If I were to use it wouldn't I sound like I'm a boss?


texts:
Could anyone tell me which of these is correct?
The intro to this song is played on A guitar
                                   OR
The intro to this song is played on THE guitar.
Thank you in advance :)


texts: Please tell if this correct or incorrect and why. This is what I was taught but it sounds so awkward. "He has been eaten the apples."


texts: What does "the jury is out on that one" mean?

texts:
Martin Amis has accused Jeremy Corbyn of lacking a sense of humour. The jury is out on that one. Either way, a good joke is more than just a political skill, it is also humanity’s last line of defence.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/oct/30/martin-amis-jeremy-corbyn-humour-jonathan-coe

Will you help me with understanding the bold passage from the above sentence? I am not able to find out the meaningful interpretation.


texts:
I have seen people use,

  Who have come through this pain.

Instead of,

  Who have came through this pain.

Why even after "have" , "come" is used and not "came" ?


texts: rise in prices such  occurred [relative pronoun?]

texts:
I have come across the following sentence : 'There is a general rise in prices such as occurred in the late 60's'. I would like to know whether the word 'as' is functioned as a conjunction or relative pronoun.

Is the word 'such' an adjective modifying the word 'prices'? if so, can i put 'such' in front of 'prices'?

One more example: 'As can be imagined, estimating the value of properties on a regular basis can be a large task' Is the word 'as' a relative pronoun or conjunction?

Thank you


texts:
1. I hate them calling her fat.

  2. I hate their calling her fat.

Which one is correct and which one is not ? Or do both work under different circumstances ?

Please answer with explanation. Thank you. And by correct I mean grammatical and appropriate for formal writing.


texts: Why is the form "Did she have a big family" correct but "Did she has a big family" is not?

texts: Why do we say "Did she have a big family" though "Did she has a big family" looks like the correct form? Could someone explain to me why we switch has to have in questions like that?


texts: Difference between "within" and "inside"

texts: I am Indonesian and I think my English is bad especially when it comes to vocabulary. One day I ran into the words within and inside. I opened Google Translate, translated both words into Indonesian, and the meaning was the same. It said "dalam". So what is the difference between the two?


texts: What is the meaning of "There ain't a durn thing"?

texts:
Big George talking to William Blake about hair.

  Your hair is soft. It's like a girl's. By God, it is soft. Now how do
  you get it that way? See, this old stuff of mine, it just Well, it's
  just like old barn hay. There ain't a durn thing you can do with it.


texts:
What does "Rabid, rabid" mean in this image?
Thank you


texts: I haven't already covered vs. I haven't covered yet

texts:
What is the difference between these two pertaining an activity that is not covered or already covered.

  I believe I haven't already covered this global warming topic. (Teacher)

Vs.

  I believe I haven't covered this global warming topic yet. (Teacher)

Is there any difference? Such as the time it played out or something?


texts: Are three dots (...) used to indicate only ellipsis?

texts:
I googled it and found out that three dots (...) in English means "ellipsis",

But in my language, we use three dots quite commonly not only when we use ellipsis but also in the title of an article, and it can have a different connotation depending on each situation.
So title could be like "Youth are struggling... What are the reasons?"

Can I also use three dots like this in the title of an English article?
Or three dots are only used when indicating ellipsis?


texts: Come to think of it vs Now that I think about it

texts:
Are 'now that I think about it' and 'come to think of it' used in the same way.
According to a dictionary:

1) Come to think of it is used for adding something that you have just remembered about a subject that you are talking about. For example- 'I love getting her letters. Come to think of it, I haven’t had one for a while.'

2) Now that I think about it is used when you want to change your mind. For example- 'I used to think that a dry fall was a good thing, but now that I think about it, some rain is better than nothing.'

But in real life do people use them interchangeably or is it really used as mentioned above?


texts: "the distinction of ..." or "the distinction that..."

texts:
The following is August 13's SAT question of the day.

Part or all of the following sentence is bold typed; beneath the sentence are five ways of phrasing the bold typed material. Select the option that produces the best sentence. If you think the original phrasing produces a better sentence than any of the alternatives, select choice A.
A Raisin in the Sun won for its author Lorraine Hansberry the distinction of being the first African American to receive the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award.
(A)of being the first African American to receive
(B)to be the first African American receiving
(C)of the first African American to receive
(D)that she had been the first African American to receive
(E)that she was to be the first African American having received

A hint is given for this question

Note that the sentence describes a particular distinction won by Lorraine Hansberry.

And the answer is

Choice (A) is correct. It avoids the errors of the other options by using the idiomatic “distinction of being” to express what the play “won for its author Lorraine Hansberry.”

I think (D) is incorrect since it indicates that the winning the award happened before the publication of A Raisin in the Sun. Am I right?
As for the other options, to me they seems all correct. Could someone tell me why they are not?


texts:
I'm trying to figure out when should I use "guess on" and "guess about".

I've gone through Cambridge Dictionary but got nothing about that.

Inspired by Ngram Viewer, I make up the following contexts.

context 1

In a classroom, the teacher asks the students to answer a math question while nobody really knows the answer.

  teacher: just give me a guess

  student: my guess on that question is ...

context 2

A and B are talking about the housing prices

  A: what's your guess about the housing prices next year?

  B: because of the pandemic, the housing prices will drop a lot.

In context 1, the preposition is used "on" as the answer is known while the answer is unknown in context 2.

Is my understanding correct?


texts:
I am not a native English speaker. I am an undergraduate student in ELT. This is my first year, and I confuse sometimes. So my question is this:
"Review the beliefs of Victor, Sweet, and other reformers in the late nineteenth century presented on page 10. To what extent do these differ from your own? "
Why do we use "to" in here?


texts: In a question like "How are you?", the pronoun is after a verb (to be) and I know that after verbs it's necessary to use objective pronouns. Then, which one is correct: "How is he?" or "How is him?"?.


texts: Sweep with a broom or sweep my eyes across?

texts:
In the song Viva La Vida by Coldplay, it says:

  I used to rule the world
  Seas would rise when I gave the word
  Now in the morning I sleep alone
  Sweep the streets I used to own

How can I determine if the sweep there means "sweep the streets with a broom" or "sweep my eyes across the streets"?


texts:
What is the verb that describe sand dropping across a face or a wall?

I first looked for dripping but it seemed that dripped is only used for liquids.


texts:
During a conversation in chat I wanted to say

  Your current version of the project is not bad. The question is how good you want it to be.

And then I thought: Is it right to use the question without question mark and inversion?
I read and heard a considerable amount of English and the phrase seemed okay, but I wasn't completely sure.

Based on this info, I finally decided that it was right.

Am I correct?


texts:
I am having trouble understanding the mistake in the following sentence.

  Our country is blessed with more educated people than any other country, and we have arguably most number of graduates on the globe.

Which of the following is correct?

  a) we arguably have most number of graduates on the globe.
  b) we have arguably most number of graduates across the globe.
  c) The original statement

Also is there a rule that states where should 'arguably' should be kept in a sentence?


texts: How to ask someone's ethnic background without being sound racist?

texts:
How to ask someone's racial/ ethnic background without being sound racist?

For example, you met someone in a cosmopolitan city where most people come from different background although they were born and raised in that country  and speak the same language natively, you want to learn about his/her ethnic background ?

1.Direct Question

  Would you mind if I asked your ethnic background?

2.Question with referring to

  Do you have any Italian kinship? You know a lot about Italy.

In case someone may be half Italian , half other ethnic or only his grandpa/ grandma may be Italian.


texts: "This extreme..." or "This extremely..."?

texts:
I know that this question can be applied to other words in their adjective and adverb forms. But as I came across "extreme", I'm specifying my question about it.

I have found them both possible according to Google search and Ngram. So, when do we use it as an adjective and adverb?

Example sentences:

  This extreme/ly bad habit of yours is so annoying.

And

  Don't remind me of that extreme/ly hard experience.

I learned that adverbs come after verbs to describe them, but the above sentences don't describe their verbs, and as "extremely" means "very", it seems reasonable to come as an adverb since "very" would fit well. However, it would be logical for them to function as adjectives since they describe the nouns that follow them.


texts: How should I say it if I want someone to read an article?

texts:
I was reading an article and that was about good teaching. So I wanted to say something like,

1. I wish if I could get my teachers to read that article, that would be worthwhile

2. I wish if I could make them read this, that would be worthwhile

I like to express that I wish to drag my teachers come to this link and read this. So what will be the best way to say this with any grammatical suggestions for correction? First I wanted to say, I wish if I could get them read that post. But I think read can't be an Adjective.
I am looking for helps form Native speakers. So, this is it.


texts: 'Here' as subject..... Grammatically correct or not

texts:
Can I say  :  "Here are your shoes" ( if we've found the shoes here )? Can 'HERE' be used in this way?
 And can I say :  "Here these are" (just like : "here it is")?