texts:
Website definition and example for context.

Use a comma near the end of a sentence to separate contrasted coordinate elements or to indicate a distinct pause or shift.
Example provided:

  The speaker seemed innocent, even gullible.

The speaker seemed innocent (complete sentence) with even gullible added on.  But what about this example; is this the same usage?

  It was what she feared losing the most, life.

The sentence: It was what she feared losing the most (is this dependent?)

Otherwise the rule is do not use the comma to separate a verb from its direct object; but you can use a colon or m-dash.  I wasn’t sure if the sentence was independent or dependent.

As you could say:

  She faced many fears, but death was the worst; it was what she feared losing the most.


texts: Double complement: moving the indirect complement after the verb

texts:
See these examples:

  I give apples to my parents

  I give my parents apples

When changing the indirect object to a pronoun:

  I give apples to them

  I give them apples

When changing both objects to pronouns:

  I give them to them

My question is, for this last case, can we say:

  I give them them

And even when changing only the direct pronoun, can we say:

  I give my parents them


texts: Expressions to refer to some point in the future

texts:
Which of the following expressions is idiomatic and\or grammatical?

  I think I will be busy until I become 45 or something. By that
  time, my children will be mature enough to depend more on themselves.
  I think I will be busy until I become 45 or something. When the \
  this time comes, my children will be mature enough to depend more on
  themselves.
  I think I will be busy until I become 45 or something. At that
  time, my children will be mature enough to depend more on themselves.


texts: It was explained or it has been explained?

texts:
I don't known which of the following I should use, because it translates with the same words.

It was explained to him that nothing else could be done!

It has been explained to him that nothing else could be done!


texts: Hello guys I wanted some tips on how to improve my vocabulary without sounding too weird. I'd hate to sound like a robot. Do you guys have any suggestions?


texts:
In a situation of learning steps that need pre-skills in order to learn following skills, for instance, I must learn A first then I can learn B.

From above situation, I could say,

  B require A.

I know this would be fairy easy to use passive voice (A required by B), but I still wonder is there any verb to describe the above situation,

  A ???? B.


texts: My car has/had not made that kind of noise before

texts:
Which is one grammatically correct?

  After I got my car repaired, I noticed it started to make funny noises
  which it had not made before/ which I had not heard before.
  After I got my car repaired, I noticed it started to make funny noises
  which it has not made before / which I have not heard before.


texts: Meaning of "He saved two people on two occasions"

texts:
a. He saved someone on four occasions.

Does that mean he saved the same person four times?

b. He saved two people twice.

c. He saved two people on two occasions.

In (b) and (c) did he save four people in all?

If he saved two people in all, did he save each person twice or once (one per occasion or the same two both times)?


texts:
How are you feeling today?
Bad

The second sentence, does it have a name, is it a one-word response?


texts:
In England, according to a new law, older people do not have to retire unless they are
mentally or physically incapable of working.

Is the sentence above can be a direct replacement for;

The new law in England allows older people to continue working as long as they are physically
or mentally able to work.

In the first sentence it says a new law,
in the second the new law.
(This is not a reading passage or something like that) I wonder they both have the same meaning or not.
Thank you.


texts:
My sister and I vowed to study English hard when we got back to the U.S. (this family is traveling across the world)

At first glance, I thought the vowing process in that
sentence occurred after they came back to the U.S, but it turned out that promise was made when they were traveling.
At this point, I began to wonder. If that’s the case, shouldn’t “get” be used instead of “got”? My friend argues “got” should be used since the sentence is past tense, but idk it just seems awkward to me.
If so, how would you write a sentence that actually means they made the vow after they came back to U.S.?
I just don’t get how that sentence means they vowed to study English while they were traveling since it just seems like he and his sister vowed after they were done traveling.


texts: How can I describe the position of a gate compared to the other one?

texts:
There is a street that goes from south to north. To its right side, there is a walk path, and then a pedestrian gate, directly facing on the walk path. There is also a car gate which is
farther east than the pedestrian gate (i.e. its distance from the roadside is higher). It can be accessed from the walk path too.

When I talk of the position of the car gate compared to the pedestrian gate, what word/phrase can I use to describe it? May I say it's inner respect the walk path?

From the point of view of people who are driving a car, and coming from north, this is what they see.

Moving closer to the car gate, it appears like this.


texts: Can I write "nonsensual data" for data that makes no sense?

texts: I am worried that "nonsensual data" might come across as data that does not have a lot of erotic vibe....


texts: Can infinitives be used as the direct object after ditransitives?

texts:
Can infinitives function as the direct object after ditransitives?
Please give me some examples.

  Their fathers advise them to study.

  They asked me to bring some food.

  Could you ask her to copy this letter for me?

  She begged him not to leave her.

  They believe him to be dangerous.

  The colonel commanded his men to charge.

  You've convinced the director of the program to change her
  position.

  He encouraged his friends to vote for him.

In the above sentences, do the infinitive phrases (in bold) function as direct objects or object complements?


texts:
What do we call the hair that hangs loose on the neck below the ear?
Tresses?

As can be seen in the image:

https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/tresses?q=tressesOxford dictionary says: tresses= a woman’s long hair... What about man's hair of such style?


texts: Is it okay to use "key words" as two separate words to indicate "keywords"?

texts:
I have a guideline document that lists a number of "keywords" just under its title. Can I use key words instead of keywords?

  Key words: monoclonal antibodies, drug development, clinical trials.

or it should always be keywords in this context?

  Keywords: monoclonal antibodies, drug development, clinical trials.


texts:
The Council's ethnic and religious breakdown included 13 Shias, five Sunnis, five Kurds (also Sunnis), one Turkmen and an Assyrian.

It's from here on Wikipedia.

update: I was wondering why "break" and "down" have anything to do with "division into categories". Or I just can't consider "breakdown" as "break" and "down" separately?

Thanks.


texts:
In the sentences below, can I use a singular noun or must the nouns of the sentences be plural, and if so why?

  He likes hamburgers.
  She likes lions.

Are these sentences wrong?

  He likes hamburger.
  She likes lion.


texts: "Who would you rather had won" is this correct?

texts:
Which of these sentences is correct?

"Who would you rather had won?"
"Who would you rather have won?"
"Who would you rather have win?"
"Who would you rather had win?"

I can find instances of people using all of these on Google, but some are more common than the others, but why?

Personally, I'd go with the first one, it seems the most appropriate, but I'd like it if someone can tell me if it is correct or not.

Also, if I chose to respond to that question with this sentence, would it be correct?

"I would (have) rather that either A or B won"

Also also, should I have a "have" in that sentence or not, I don't see how that changes the sentence in any way, but I'm curious to know if it does.

Thanks


texts:
Someone has messaged me:

  — Happy vacations.

Are the following replies correct?

  — Now it would be good.
  — Same to you too!

Or it should be

  — Same to you too!
  — Now it would be good.

I want to sound like, as he has said so, now my vacations will definitely go awesome.
What should be the proper reply?


texts: "Should you require X, you are to advise us by date Y"

texts:
When someone says:

  Should you require X, you are to advise us by date Y

— does that also mean that I am to advise them even if I do not require X? Or does that only say that advising them is only needed if I require X?


texts:
I can't figure out whether this is a proper sentence

I am an Engineer having knowledge in ..
Or Is it proper to make it two sentence like
I am an Engineer. I have knowledge in...


texts:
It's a line in Star War Rogue One.

- You are a hard man to find, Galen.
- But farming...
- Really? Man of your talents?

What does "Man of your talents?" mean?

Is man a verb or noun here? What does man mean?


texts: What does "put a squeeze on them" mean in this case?

texts:
I was listening to one of my favourite songs, but since English is not my mother tongue, usually I do not understand all the words, mostly because I listen to hip hop.

I searched for the meaning of "put a squeeze on them", but I am still not sure what it means in the following music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GPrXkyJrTc

Be careful: it is real hip hop!


texts:
I am always confused about when to use "at" and when to use "on" in spoken/written English. Consider some examples:

  I cant access the file at the path x
  I cant access the file on the path y
  He is not present at his desk.
  He is not present on his desk.

Which sentences are correct grammatically?


texts: A comparison between "expand", "propagate" and "promote"

texts:
Imagine a country's president giving a speech against making other culture's rules widespread and emphasizing that we have to stick with our own ancient traditions. He is highlighting his opinion that some bad policies and decisions in country's macro-management has lead the youths to face a big cultural downfall.

I was wondering if you could help me to find the best choice from among my listed choices below:

  By doing these actions they are ............ an alien culture among our youths.

  a) promoting

  b) propagating

  c) expanding

Based on dictionary definitions, they all work, but for me the best choice is 'b'. What do you think on it?


texts: It's from a wide, thick spectrum of cream

texts:
At video on minutes 9:20
https://youtu.be/MnlPfvx7Cgg?t=559
The speaker mentioned "top 'cream' of Singapore"
I found the definition of "the cream of sth" the best of a particular group of things or people: (source) but in the video at 9:28 that say

"it's from a wide, thick spectrum of cream -

which do not seem to be in the form of "the cream of sth"
Is there a more comprehensive dictionary that I can look up to explain the usage of cream in "it's from a wide, thick spectrum of cream"?


texts:
Just want to know the difference between 'packaged' and 'prepackaged' as adjectives.

I came across the term 'prepackaged meal' as a synonym for TV dinner, and this made me wonder if the prefix 'pre' is somewhat redundant. According to dictionary definition 'Prepackaged' means the food or goods sold have already between packaged/wrapped before display. Yet Cambridge Dictionary gave the same definition to the adjective 'packaged' - "sold already prepared in a container, usually one made of paper or cardboard".

So what exactly is the difference and why people use the term prepackaged instead of packaged to describe TV dinner?

Personally I think 'package' already has the connotation the prefix 'pre' offers, so what's the point of adding it?


texts: There are some threads that once pulled unraveled/unravel the whole sweater

texts:
Sentence <1> is from oxforddictionaries.com, which I think is incorrect, the correct sentence according to me is <2>

1> There are some threads that once pulled unraveled the whole sweater.

2> There are some threads that once pulled unravel the whole sweater.

If 1 is correct, kindly tell me how?

EDIT: I am editing this question as I am not getting my confusion resolved.

1> There are some threads that once pulled unraveled the whole sweater.

This sentence according to me should be having 'were' instead of 'are', because unraveling of the sweater is already done.

2> There are some threads that once pulled unravel the whole sweater.

This sentence informs the reader that in a sweater there are such threads.


texts: What's the meaning of "turn up" in this context?

texts:
The following is a passage from this article:

  Tablets have been turning up steadily at restaurants over the past few years, and not just in places with a triple chocolate meltdown-centric bill of fare. Two years ago, Chicago Cut Steakhouse introduced an app to “allow our customers to search by varietal, vintage, price and more,” and servers provide iPads for patrons to browse it. Similarly, Celebrity Cruises uses iPad menus for its on-board guests.

Does turn up referred to above mean definition #110h from Dictionary.com:?

  to come to notice; be seen.


texts: "worth it doing sth." or "worth doing sth."?

texts:
"It'll be worth it reading this book"

or

  "It'll be worth reading this book"?

From what I learned in school, I will prefer the latter. But the former is one that tempts to burst out of my mind. I asked if it's natural to say the former on a language exchange app and I got serveral native speakers marking it as natural.

Are they both correct?


texts: Infinitive vs Present Participle in this sentence

texts:
I had an English test today, which had a question like this -

  The king had many occasions ________________ (experience) the power of the writing on the paper during his reign.

Just for context, here's the part just before the sentence —

  Once a king asked a hermit for a powerful talisman. The hermit gave him a ring containing a folded slip of paper and asked him to open it whenever faced with an extraordinary situation, be it a tragedy or a triumph. The talisman, the hermit told the king, would keep him grounded and would help him keep his head in any situation.

And here's what's after —

  The paper had on it a simple line: "This, too, shall pass."

I wonder what can be filled in the blank. Is to experience correct? Or is it experiencing? Or both? Please also explain why.


texts: How to describe the difference between on demand and on the fly?

texts: One of my colleague suddenly asked me this question. As an IT person, I know roughly what is on demand and on the fly, and inside my gut I feel that on demand and on the fly are two different things. But because they're often used together, I have a hard time to describe to him what exactly the difference between them. In the simplest definition possible, I feel like on demand is the way user requests the content, and on the fly is the way the system delivers the content to the user. But I still feel something is missing or inaccurate. I feel like on the fly indeed has intersection with on demand, but they also have their own separated things. But I can't quite grasp what are those. Please help. Thanks.


texts:
Is correct to say "how is" in a phrase which the subject was mentioned before?

  It also showed me how is to ...

or

  It also showed me how it is to ...

With "was" I would put the "it" but that is automatic for me. I don't know if that is incorrect, is it?


texts: In a CV - I taught vs I was teaching vs I had been teaching

texts:
If I need to make a point in my CV to describe myself (after I quited my job as a teacher) what should I say (and I am trying to stress my role or qualification here) ?

I was teaching my students academic oral language in the context of various content areas.

I had been teaching my students academic oral language in the context of various content areas.

I taught my students academic oral language in the context of various content areas.

I think 1 and 3 is ok but I am not sure of 2


texts: I have a little bit confusion in the following answer that is given in a book

texts:
Violence takes a heavy toll and affects public life ____ .

Options - Best/worst/hardly/rarely.

Answer is "Best" .

But how can it be instead of worst????


texts:
From God of small things,

When Estha and Rahel's mother got married, her father-in-law gifted the young couple a car as a present. Now the sentence is:

"He gave the young couple a custom-painted, powder-pink fiat as a present which after the wedding he drove off in himself, with all the jewelry and most of the other presents that they had been given."

So, does "drove off in himself with jewelry"  part mean that he took the car back and used it and jewelry stuff by  himself or he (father-in-law) drove them (new couple) from wedding place to their new home in the car with all other stuff. Or am I missing something? TIA


texts:
'I am to go'
'To' is with 'go' here like working as an Infinitive
I am to go.
or it is with 'am' like 'am to'
I am to go.
Same question for 'supposed to + verb' and ' have to+ verb'.
I know when to use these sentences and the meaning it gives....but I don't understand its structure.


texts: Past Perfect tense in "if clause" type 3

texts:
"If he had come here yesterday at 5 p.m., he might have seen his sister."

What does this sentence mean and which situation do I imagine with this sentence?

Do I imagine the situation that he came here at 5 p.m. or I imagine that he had already come, already came here at 5 p.m.? The Past perfect is a bit confusing in type 3 conditionals.


texts:
Can I omit "that" in the following sentences?

1: It was such a terrible experience that I will never forget it.

2: It is such nice weather that I would like to go to the beach.

Thank you very much!


texts: Can "although" and "however" be used together?

texts:
I know that a sentence does not contain both "although" and "but" at the same time.

Niall has also pointed out that the following sentence is wrong:

  Although some of the plots are transcendental, the justice deeply rooted in people's mind, however, will surely applaud for the victory of him.

As DamkerngT. mentioned in the comment, after changing the word order of "however", the following sentence can be correct:

  Although some of the plots are transcendental, the justice deeply rooted in people's mind will, however, surely applaud for the victory of him.

Is it true that I have to change it to get a correct sentence? And what is the grammar term for "however" in the second(correct) sentence?

Thanks


texts: Is it ok to say "past participants" instead of "past participle"?

texts:
Past participle : the form of a verb, typically ending in -ed in English, which is used in forming perfect and passive tenses and sometimes as an adjective, e.g. looked in have you looked?, lost in lost property.

If you google "past participants". google propose "past participants of verbs" , is this correct, more generally

Is it ok to say "past participants"  instead of "past participle"


texts:
I cannot get what she says in the audio track:

  http://s9.picofile.com/d/8351599092/2f362c97-d44d-4aa7-acfb-f1503cbb7d9c/Untitled_01.m4a

How can I understand such a quick speaking, in general?


texts:
Battery is a criminal offense involving unlawful physical contact,
  distinct from assault which is the act of creating apprehension of
  such contact. -Wikipedia

I searched online to find the difference between battery and assault, and rather left, being more confused.

What does 'creating apprehension of such contact' mean?

So battery doesn't accompany the physical contact but instead trigger the fear or threat of the physical contact?

If it is, I'm even more confused because, as I know, batter means to hit something.


texts: In/at when we're talking about being physically present somewhere

texts:
I was in her housing complex yesterday.

I was at her housing complex yesterday.

I was at college when you called.

I was in college when you called.

In both cases, I'm talking about physically being present there. So, which preposition should I use in both cases?


texts: "Currency" correct phrase: Currencies of rich countries are stronger/higher

texts:
Which is the correct way of saying that rich countries have higher/currency than developing nations? It goes something like this:

  Usually, Currencies of wealthy countries are stronger than less economically advanced nations, thus, rich countries reap the benefits from such exhange rate.

Or

  Usually, Currencies of wealthy countries are higher than less economically advanced nations, thus, rich countries reap the benefits from such exhange rate.

Colloquially, stronger currency is correct RIGHT? But it doesn't right to my ear when your main point is the money...


texts:
In the prologue of George R. R. Martin’s book A Game of Thrones, Will says:

My mother told me that dead men sing no songs

Does this phrase have other connotations, or does it mean they simply cannot sing because they are not alive?


texts: Word or phrase which means "to defend oneself by shooting"?

texts:
When someone is defending himself by shooting at someone with a weapon. The enemy doesn't necessarily has a weapon, there may be a certain threat for the person defending himself.

So, we have a person who wants to defend himself by shooting at someone or an animal.

Is there a word or phrase in English that would describe this situation precisely?

I thought of 'shooting back' or 'firing back' but it's not clear from the definitions in some dictionaries whether I can use any of these in my situatuion.

EDIT:

I'm trying to translate a story which is about a man being under drugs who sees creatures and wants to shoot them (they are angels). It has a catchy title which I'm trying to translate as accurate as possible. Since they're angels and he is being overdosed I want to preserve the whole meaning of the story in the title (It's not being said but I think they want to take him with them).

It's a fiction, no need to bind it with laws.

Would 'shoot out at angels' fit?


texts:
In the following sentence I am confused about the function of used to being used with a verb to describe an action that occurred and finished in the past.

Sentence: I used to drink coffee every day.

Question: Is used functioning as a verb here with to drink as its full infinitive object?

The word used is classified in the dictionary as an adjective, but another web site states that used+to+verb act together as a verb phrase.

Thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.


texts: the Title Game - the game for the title of winner or loser?

texts:
I understand "the Title Game" as "the game in which competitors vie for the title (of being winner or loser)"? Am I on the right track?

The College Football Champion Not in the Title Game
The University of Connecticut led the way in shutting down its program in deference to coronavirus precautions. Most of the Huskies’ peers lacked the courage to do the same.

Source: NYTimes


texts:
Anyone who would speak with authority on the poets of the Renaissance must have a broad aquaintance with the writers of classical antiquity.

Here, I think there should be "Anyone who will speak" at the place of "Anyone who would speak". But I don't know either first one is wrong or right. Please explain.


texts: "that crazy of an idea" vs "that crazy idea"

texts:
Source

  In the 1940's, a psychologist named Abraham Maslow challenged old ideas of psychology with a revolutionary claim. He claimed that all humans are inherently good. Sure, it doesn't seem like that crazy of an idea, but it was for his time. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of human psychology, such as Freud did, Maslow focused more on the positive. He focused on the potential of each person.

So my questions are:

I guess in the above context "that crazy of an idea" refers to the idea that says “Man is a wolf to man”. I wonder if I am right?
I can't understand in the above context "his" refers to whom.
I don't know what is the difference between "that crazy of an idea" and "that crazy idea".


texts:
Someone has told me like this:

"be free and grow into the future not the past."

what message he want to give me?


texts:
Which one is the right way to use as a document title, product name, or in any other "isolated" manner?

A bee that can fly and is purple. Not trying to imply it can

The second seems to imply someone is flying in the purple.

The first to me just does not sound right...


texts: Pronunciation of the /h/ sound at the end of “yeah”

texts:
Do native speakers pronounce "h" when saying "yeah"?

Someone says yes, and someone says no.

Maybe it's not a standard question, but I am wondering. Maybe it is pronounced with aspiration?


texts:
Days after the Berlin Wall fell, [something happened].

What does "Days after.." mean? Does it mean "A few days after.."?


texts:
I have a question about the usage of the phrase "keep any shape" here:

  Liquids, says Bauman, do not keep any shape for long and are constantly prone to alteration.

I looked up a dictionary, but did not find the phrase "keep any shape" or "keep shape".  I then tried finding a sense of the verb "keep" that would fit this usage, but found none.

Could this usage of "keep" be scientific lingo?


texts:
I have used two sentences in a informal letter in IELTS exam - at the beginning and at the end of the letter. But I'm doubtful about that two sentences(below) because they are without a subject.

  Hope everything is going well with you. [at the start]
  Looking forward to see you soon. [at the end]

I also have another doubt about the second sentence. Should it be:

  Looking forward to see you, Or looking forward to seeing you

Can you please tell me if those two are acceptable in an informal letter?


texts: For sentence of “She uses to her advantage” , why can a VT "use" accompany with a PP "to her advantage"?

texts:
The original sentence is "she has this apparent innocence which, I suspect, she uses to her advantage."   (Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary, 4th).

I understand that "she has this apparent innocence" == Subject + transitive verb + Object;

"which" guide as an Attributive clause;

"I suspect" is a parenthesis;

However,  I have a little confused with the sentence "she uses to her advantage",

Because "I" is a subject, "uses" is a transitive verb, why can a transitive verb accompany with a prepositional phrase, "to her advantage"?

I remember that the transitive verb only accompanies with one or more objects such as a Noun, a to-infinitive and some kinds of clauses but not a prepositional phrase.


texts:
How would it be possible to indicate you have passed 2 days in the hospital and in those days they had gave me an IV and in a nonstop manner? Does the sentence below make any sense to you:

  I was on a drip at the hospital for 2 days.

This is where I found the term on a drip

I didn't find any reliable source which can acknowledge the meaning. I don't remember when or when, but once I heard or read it somewhere and took it down to a piece of paper up to know. Asking this question I was going to make sure if the term works in this sense and I had got the meaning correctly or not.

I had a look on the similar thread, but there was no any indication to the idiom I was looking for. You hit 5 hits when you search the word "drip", but there is no similar idiom like what I was looking for. I mean: "to be on a drip"!


texts:
I have confusion about the exact difference between these two words. I understand that both are used to choose only one condition/situation/thing out of many, but it seems they have different meaning.

For example in following:

  I categorically deny the allegation.
  I explicitly deny the allegation.

I think "categorically" applies to the "allegation", denying a particular allegation, but "explicitly" applies to subject (I here), denying allegation very clearly. Is that correct?

From Oxford Living Dictionaries:

  Explicitly: In a clear and detailed manner, leaving no room for confusion or doubt.
  She has explicitly rejected the theory of patriarchy.

  Categorically: In a way that is unambiguously explicit and direct.
  I categorically deny any involvement in any fraud.


texts: Is hyphen always necessary in Joint-Stock Company?

texts:
Is the hyphen always necessary in "Joint-Stock Company", or is it a matter of taste? May usage vary from company to company?

Ngram gives this:


texts:
Nowadays, computers have become useful facilities at home. Whereas, they also bring a harmful impact to young students of those who use it frequently. Thus|So I believe their demerits overwhelmingly exceed their merits if too much time is spent on it.

In this writing, which one between thus and so is an appropriate linking word that should be used to connect the last two sentences?


texts: Single word for a person who always follows their own principles

texts: I need a positive word to describe a person who usually sets a lot of rules for himself and also for others and always adheres to his rigid principles. For example, a man who is always punctual, keeps promises, avoids what he thinks they are hamful to his health, so on.


texts: Is this sentence grammatically correct? does x or y

texts:
Does behaviorism or cognitivism better explain learning?

how would you phrase it differently


texts: A word to refer to a spoiled person who just use fashion clothing or brands

texts:
In Portuguese we have the slang 'coxinha' to refer to a person who is spoiled and live by using fashion clothing and products of famous brands.
Is there a word in english for that kind of people?


texts: What is the difference between "come up" and "come over" in the sense of physical motion?

texts:
What is the difference between come up and come over in the following contexts?

  One of the dishes I ordered was missing, so I asked the waiter to come up/come over.

  A police officer came up to/come over to me in the street.


texts:
I have a problem understanding some sentences in RC. Below is a part from one of the RC passage:

  Critics have long been puzzled by the inner contradictions of major characters in John Webster's tragedies. In his The Duchess of Malfi, for instance, the Duchess is "good" in demonstrating the obvious tenderness and sincerity of her love for Antonio, but "bad" in ignoring the wishes and welfare of her family and in making religion a "cloak" hiding worldly self-indulgence. Bosola is "bad" in serving Ferdinand, "good" in turning the Duchess' thoughts toward heaven and in planning to avenge her murder.

Questions

In the second sentence, I don't understand the part making religion a "cloak" hiding worldly self-indulgence. Could you explain what it means in the sentence?
In the third sentence, I don't understand the part in planning to avenge her murder. It is confusing whether this avenge is part of Duchess' thought or Bosola's plan.
Do the words good and bad in second and third sentences mean the quality of personality or the ability to do something?

Thanks for your help in advance.


texts:
Do the phrasal verbs in the title only mean "to add up"? Or can they mean "any mathematical calculation"?

Like:

  This price works out at(comes out at) $30 per week.

Or should it only be:

  The fares work out at/comes out to $500.

Is it natural to use it for any mathematical calculation like division, multiplication or subtraction?


texts:
There is no break in the conversation where you can go: "All right
  then" . You know It is just going on and on without a break in the
  wall.

(Context: He is complaining about a friend who constantly call him and speak without taking a break or giving him a turn to talk.)

What does "a break in the wall" mean. Is it a fixed phrase? Why not just a "without a break in the conversation" ?


texts: The word scans can be used with (has or have)

texts:
Please which sentence is more accurate grammatically:

Here is a list with all the scans that has been done till today
Here is a list with all the scans that have been done till today

I Googled "has been done" and "have been done" and the results came close. Which one is more accurate?


texts: The usage of 'of' to indicate date. Do I need 'th' or not?

texts:
Which is correct,

29th of September
or
29 of September?
or both are correct?


texts:
What's the difference between "got used to" and "was getting used to"?
I got used to driving on the left.
I was getting used to driving on the left.


texts: Past progressive or past simple with still

texts:
He believed that the modern inhabitants still kept/were still keeping themselves apart from the rest of mankind for the very same reason.

I chose were still keeping  because of still, because if you add  still it means that the professor expected to find the famous inhabitants who at the time of the expedition were still keeping themselves,even if they hid for a long time, they were still hidden at the time of the expedition.
But the answer is still kept. Why?
https://en.islcollective.com/resources/printables/worksheets_doc_docx/the_expedition_-_narrative_tenses/verb-tenses-past/1020


texts:
I recently found this sentence below.

  Staff email on Outlook appears to be have malfunctioned.

Now I'm just confused. Is it the abbreviation of "appears to be to have malfunctioned" or anything? How could be a verb(be) followed by another verb(have)?


texts: Struggle to be sure about the subject of this sentence

texts:
I have an assumption but I am not pretty sure.
Does 'no difference' is the subject of the next sentence?

If so, how can it be a subject with no + difference?

  The result was that no difference between base-oriented and object-oriented software could be measured over maintainability.

EDIT:

As @relaxing indicates that I actually want to know the subject of the subordinate clause,so we have found that!.

So again, how can it be a subject with no + difference?


texts: Is it clear and idiomatic to refer to one of different meanings of a word as "one piece of meaning"?

texts:
Oxford Dictionary (https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/just) gives a bunch of definitions about “just”

there are 3 sub-items in 4th item, one of them is pointed out by blue rectangle in the following image.

I referred to each of sub-items as each piece of its different meanings in another post (The usage of "just": with meaning of "only and not involving anyone or anything else"), is it clear and idiomatic?


texts:
I already and understand Wikipedia on 'valediction and user 'Manoochehr' 's answer on ELU:

  As reported by Oxford Handbook of Commercial Correspondence:

  [1.] If the letter begins with Dear Sir, Dear Sirs, Dear Madam, or
  Dear Sir/Madam,
  the COMPLIMENTARY CLOSE should be "Yours faithfully".

  [2.] If the letter begins with a personal name, e.g. Dear Mr James,
  Dear Mrs Robinson, or Dear Ms Jasmin, it should be "Yours sincerely".

Yet why's faithfully used for unnamed recipients, but sincerely for the named?
 Namely (pun intended), why do the unnamed expect faith, but the named expect sincerity?


texts:
I was reading the ranking of news sources by popularity in the US which is local TV, national network news, online news, radio news, local newspaper, national newspaper.

I don't understand what national network news exactly is. I searched it online and it gave me a name of a weekly newspaper, National Network. But isn't it again a kind of national newspaper? That aside, it wasn't written in capital letters on the list so I figured it's probably not the newspaper. What does it mean? What means of media is it?


texts: Are there other examples for the subdivision with definite articles

texts:
[i] Use ‘at’ with points of time in the day: at dawn
[ii] Use ‘in’ with parts of the day: in the morning (Longman)

They are saying that prepositions, at and in, are selected by their complements’ meaning: that is, exactly when or a period of time. So it has ‘at’ in [i], while ‘in’ in [ii]. And in the same line, it needs not to be a definite article in [i], it seems. Then, do we have to have the article in [ii] for subdividing a period of time, like as subdividing cake into pieces? If it’s the reason why ‘the’ is used, are there any other examples for the subdivision with definite articles?


texts: When someone/an animal hides and waits for their/its enemy/prey

texts:
Please imagine a troop of soldiers which are hiding and waiting for their enemies to arrive to their hiding place so that they could suddenly attack the enemies!

Or

Let's suppose an animal which is doing the same action and waiting for its prey to arrive to attack and hunt it.

Is there any single verb or an idiom / expression in English which can encapsulate these quite similar actions in English?

Unfortunately, despite my searches, I didn't succeed in finding any particular word to describe this action.

P.S. I have already seen the similar threads, but they disn't contain the information I need.


texts: How to interpret "South by Southwest" in SXSW Film Festival

texts:
In March 1987, The Austin Chronicle staffers Roland Swenson, Louis
  Black, Nick Barbaro and booking agent Louis Meyers organized a
  regional music festival in Austin, Texas named "South by Southwest,"
  named by Black after the 1959 spy thriller film North by Northwest.

  From https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/south-by-southwest

How to interpret ""south by southwest" here? Is it related to the location of Austin where the festival is held? What effects do the organizers want to acheive by naming it after the Alfred Hitchcock film North by Northwest?

I understand of all the compass points, there is no point called "south by southwest". A pretty similar one is southwest by south.


texts: What is the difference in meaning between purge and cleanse?

texts: What is the difference between purge and cleanse?


texts:
In any other family than mine, my right is being ignored.

In my family my rights are being ignored at a very high level, more than in all families.

If not how could I change number 1 to be like number 2 exactly.


texts: Is the use of “one” as a gender-neutral pronoun current use in English?

texts:
I’d like to know whether the use of “one” - as a gender-neutral pronoun — is used by native speakers often.
For example: “One should always tell the truth, if one wants to be respected.”
Is this a current use or considered old-fashioned?
I know we can say “Someone should always tell the truth, if they want to be respected”
However, I really want to know if the “one” is used nowadays for advice, general statements, or whatnot.
Thank you very much!
(Btw, I am looking for something current, but also formal in order for me to use this in essays or whatever.)


texts:
I could not find the word "oilscape" in OneLook.
It appears to be like "landscape": Land + scape (and now "oil + scape). In this light, oilscape seems to mean the landscape of oil. I am not sure.

Surreal Californian oilscape wins climate change photography award
This unreal landscape captures the environmental price of intensive oil exploitation paid by a desert in Kern County, California. The image was taken by David Gardner and won a prize at the 2020 BarTur Photo Award

Source: New Scientist


texts: Why, speaking of a colonoscopy, does it say “they put it UP your bottom”?

texts:
This is a piece of dialogue about a colonoscopy from the series "Outnumbered" s03e03:

  — Yes, but how does it get inside your insides?

  — Well, they put it up your bottom.


texts: Subject inversion in the correlative comparative construction

texts:
Found this line in The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (ch.13 #4.6)

  The more conditions I impose, the less likely is he to agree.

The chapter doesn't say why the inversion was used here. My best guess is that it has something to do with the subject-auxiliary inversion's optional triggers, but I'm not sure. Does it have something to do with 'to agree'? Will it still be grammatical as 'the less likely he is to agree'?

The other examples given are normal:

  The older he gets, the more cynical he becomes.
  The more sanctions bite, the worse the violence becomes.

Any help? Thanks.


texts:
Longman dictionary defines “abet” as: to help someone do something wrong or illegal.
Oxford dictionary: abet somebody: to help or encourage somebody to do something wrong
That's what I learned until I came across the following sentence:

The photo editing software is sure to abet my odds of winning the photo competition.

There's also the explanation that it means "to encourage or support a behavior or action.
So, do you use the word positively as well?


texts: What does "dramaturgical" and "mediatized" mean in this context?

texts:
This is the abstract of Revisiting the flipped classroom
in a design context by Coyne, Lee & Petrova.

  After explaining our experience with a flipped classroom model of learning,
  we argue that the approach brings to light the dramaturgical and mediatized
  aspects of learning experiences that favour a closer connection between
  recorded content and “live” presentation by the lecturer. We adopted the
  flipped classroom approach to learning and teaching in a class of over 100
  postgraduate level university students, some learning at a distance, and run
  over two successive years. This article describes the format of the lecture
  recordings, class activities and assessment method. We also describe the
  outcome of course evaluation, and present what we learned from the process.

I looked up the meaning of dramaturgical and mediatization and yet I'm still struggling with what is meant starting from dramaturgical to the end of the sentence. Your explanation would be much appreciated.

Merriam Webster lists these definitions for mediatize:

  transitive verb

  1- to bring (a prince or state) down to the rank of mediate vassal from that of immediate vassal of the Holy Roman Empire :  annex (a state) to another
      a mediatized prince — Cyril Connolly

  2- to put into a middle or intermediate position :  make instrumental or subordinate

  intransitive verb

  1- to act as mediator

  2- to become a mediate vassal of the Holy Roman Empire

none of these definitions could help me figure out what for God's sake these mediatized aspects could be. To me, dramaturgical is less troublesome as it seems to mean relating to the techniques of drama but then again what does play making have to do with a flipped classroom model of learning? And yes I understand what flipped classroom is. I FEEL LOST


texts: How can I say "my constructed sculpture has a bready!! structure"

texts:
I want to say :

  my sculpture is constructed of bread.

I searched and found there is not the word of "bready", as well as I could not find a formal word for description. I just want an adjective to describe my structure.


texts: Modal verbs. Could+simple infinitive or could+perfect infinitive?

texts:
Studying the use of the modal verb "can" I was confronted with a problem whether I have to use could+simple infinitive or could+perfect infinitive in this case:
1) "Nobody could make greater impression on me that you did."
2) "Nobody could have made greater impression on me that you did."
Can I use both variants or there's a difference in meaning?


texts:
Suppose there are two persons in a room and one person wants to take a selfie of themselves, but cannot because the other one will be in the photo. So will it be to correct and natural to use hinder in the following sentence?

  The man is hindering her in taking the selfie.


texts: "whom...from" vs "from whom..." - positions of interrogative pronoun and preposition

texts:
Are both following sentences correct? If so, which one is more usual?

Whom did the attacks come from?
From whom did the attacks come?


texts:
There might be a problem here:

  Warren said the U.S. has seen no indication of Ukraine firing back into Russia, and there have been no reports of civilian casualties. He said the number of Russian troops along the border continues to slowly but steadily increase. Close to 12,000 are there now.

Is "there" dangling, because it seems to refer to the areas along the border between Ukraine and Russia, but no explicit reference to such exist in the paragraph?  Would editing the second sentence in the paragraph like this:

  ...He said the number of Russian troops in areas along the border continues to slowly but steadily increase...

be better?


texts:
This a stanza from the song
Talkin' karate blues by Townes Van Zandt:

  I said, "I believe I better go check another place"
  he said, "Ha so, Yankee don't like my race"
  I said, "Now there's a mistake man, and that's true
  I've been for you you japanese all along
  you japanese just can't do no wrong
  and I thought you got mighty dirty deal in World War II."

But I'm not sure what it means. After that been is there any hidden verb?


texts: Verb for how much space a file takes up?

texts:
When I was a kid my dad used to say (in Norwegian):

  This file weighs four megabytes.

Or maybe one could say

  This file consumes four megabytes.

Or simply

  This file is four megabytes.

But somehow I'm not sure.

What are some good verbs I can use for this?


texts: "as they were farther back" meaning in this context

texts:
After a few hours the road began to be rough, and the walking grew so difficult that the Scarecrow often stumbled over the yellow bricks, which were here very uneven. Sometimes, indeed, they were broken or missing altogether, leaving holes that Toto jumped across and Dorothy walked around. As for the Scarecrow, having no brains, he walked straight ahead, and so stepped into the holes and fell at full length on the hard bricks. It never hurt him, however, and Dorothy would pick him up and set him upon his feet again, while he joined her in laughing merrily at his own mishap.

  The farms were not nearly so well cared for here as they were farther back. There were fewer houses and fewer fruit trees, and the farther they went, the more dismal and lonesome the country became.

  The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

I don't understand the meaning of "as they were farther back" in this context. Can someone help me out?


texts: Word for describing that something can be mandatory, recommended or optional

texts:
(Note: This question is marginally related with this one.)

I am looking for a word to describe how obligatory something is. It may be mandatory, recommended or optional (given the context, more categories could apply).

The best options I have in mind are quite verbose:

  These words reflect how binding/obligatory/mandatory a feature is.

  These words reflect whether the feature is mandatory, recommended or optional.

I would like to use a single word that reflects that quality. A header that could cue in any of these values, if that's clearer. But I find these options jumping between awkward and plainly wrong:

  These words reflect the bindingness of a feature.

  These words reflect the obligatoriness of a feature.

Is there a simpler or more common word for this concept?


texts:
If you show a picture to a three-year-old and ask if there is a tree in it, you will likely get the correct answer. If you ask a thirty-year-old what the definition of a tree is, you will likely get an inconclusive answer.

Longman says:

  not leading to a clear decision or result  OPP  conclusive :
  The evidence against the two men was inconclusive.
  A coalition government was formed after inconclusive elections.

What could be the answer of the child to be an inconclusive answer. I mean what is the meaning of inconclusive answer in this context? does it mean unclear and ambiguous? because I don't think that we want to get a decision over the answer of the child!

I also request for an example.


texts: 'How is it that Maynzie consistently punches above his weight?' means 'How come that Maynzie firmly pulls women who are better looking than him? '?

texts:
I have found in Macmillan Dictionary the following:

  to punch above your weight means 'to pull or pick up someone who's better looking than you'.

As an example gives the following question:

  How is it that Maynzie consistently punches above his weight?

I do not understand the meaning of that question. Can I say that it means:'How come that Maynzie firmly pulls women who are better looking than him?'


texts:
I remember when first I heard "I should go to school" the phrase was odd to me. We don't say "I should go to the / a / my ... school", school has no article, then I think it is the sign that the whole phrase "go to school" is a verb. right?
it is just an example and I think such phrases are much more.
Other examples are:

Go home
Get back to work


texts:
I want to speak like George W Bush's accent and like cowboys.

Example:

  Y`all and Howdy?

I would die for this accent. I sincerely love this accent over cockney one.


texts: What is the difference between "hug" and "embrace"?

texts:
What is the difference between hug and embrace?

Hug:

  Squeeze (someone) tightly in one's arms, typically to express affection.

Embrace:

  Hold (someone) closely in one's arms, esp. as a sign of affection: "Aunt Sophie embraced her warmly".

Is it only about strength or are there more subtle differences I don't quite grasp?


texts:
Does "retained two attorneys" mean "kept two attorneys in place"? If so, does it imply (the two attorneys) "in order to monitor"? Or "in order to help"?
Pierce Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht and Davidoff Hutcher & Citron
On November 9, 2019, during the Ukraine scandal, Giuliani retained two attorneys with the Los Angeles law firm Pierce Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht which has also represented George Papadopoulos and Tulsi Gabbard and one attorney with the New York law firm Davidoff Hutcher & Citron who previously represented Michael Cohen.
Source: Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudy_Giuliani#Pierce_Bainbridge_Beck_Price_&_Hecht_and_Davidoff_Hutcher_&_Citron


texts: Should we use article "the" before pronouns. (he, she, them, it etc.)

texts:
I was reading news and I suddenly read something which did not sound natural to me. I was sure that I had already read the same thing (article the before pronouns) before as well somewhere, but this time I want to confirm it. My question is, can we use article the before pronouns? (he, she, them, it etc.)

  I read this on a news website:

  The change of stand on the part of the Campa Cola residents, who had
  been resisting the authorities since Friday, came after meeting chief
  minister Prithviraj Chavan. He asked the them to comply with the law.


texts:
She is very arrogant because she comes of/from a rich family.

of is the correct preposition here. But how does using from here makes it grammatically wrong?


texts: What is the meaning of the following sentence. I didn't understand the way sentence is constructed

texts:
“Psychotherapy would not only reflect a nihilistic philosophy but also, even though unwillingly and unwittingly, transmit to the patient what is actually a caricature rather than a true picture of man.”
Excerpt From: Viktor E. Frankl. “Man's Search for Meaning.” Apple Books.


texts:
Australia is now spending over $40 million to combat the deadly virus, but it hasn't silenced the critics, who say the response has been underdone and tardy, or hushed calls to send the military.
  (Aussie ABC, here is the part, 'or hushed calls to send the military, of ABC)

When you pronounce ‘send the,’ do you cancel/delete /d/? Or do you fuse/combine /d/ and /th/ together?


texts: Idioms or phrases to describe continuous occurrence of bad things

texts:
Are there any idioms or phrases to describe a continuous occurrence of bad things, but after a lapse of time. For instance, a man was killed, leaving his wife and son. Few months later, the wife was diagnosed with cancer. And after a year, her son passed away.
I am thinking of using the idiom it never rains but it pours. But i have also read
on stackexchange that this idiom is better suiting a scenario where bad things happen one after the other in a quick succession


texts: After the verb "will", we must use another simple verb

texts:
I'll meet you in the city, that is, I will if the trains are running.

I am wondering why after will, there is no verb.


texts:
I have a piece of exercise requesting me to make sentences about a businessman's changing fortunes. There are some of these sentences:

  Alexander won a small fortune in a casino when his luck was good.
  Alexander lost a fortune in a business that went bankrupt.

I think that the two fortune in these two sentences mean an amount of money, but I don't think fortunes means amounts of money in the phrase changing fortunes. I've seen a lot of news' titles contain changing fortunes and there are even a book named this phrase. What does it mean in the request of my homework?


texts:
Is the below sentence correct? I feel be (is) verb is missing.

  Why this moralising conclusion?


texts: Why is there no definite article in front of the word "wind" in the phrase "little eddies of wind"?

texts:
Why is the article "the" missing from the noun "wind" in the following excerpt?

  Outside, even through the shut window-pane, the world looked cold. Down in the street little eddies of wind were whirling dust and torn paper into spirals, and though the sun was shining and the sky a harsh blue, there seemed to be no colour in anything, except the posters that were plastered everywhere.

1984 by George Orwell.


texts:
Are the following examples, infinitive clause following passive voice, be understood to be in order to? If not, what do they mean?

  The machine was needed to speed the process.

The machine was needed in order to seed the process?

  The information required to make a decision is not provided yet.

The information required in order to make a decision is not provided yet?

  He was asked to resolve the dispute.

He was asked in order to resolve the dispute?

  He was believed to use our sympathy to reach his goal.

He was believed in order to use our sympathy to reach his goal?

Changing to to in order to helps me understand sentences better, so I am wondering if that works in most cases.


texts:
i got the meaning of the word  " slate " :

1.a dark grey rock that can be easily divided into thin pieces, or a small, thin piece of this used to cover a roof _ http://dictionary.cambridge.org

but ican't understand it here :

  now let's change the slate and imagine another scenario

_How the power of attention changes everything: Jeff Klein at TEDxGrandRapids


texts:
The tribunal recommends that the dept reassesses the appellant within 18 months.

Is this obligatory, a suggestion or  mandatory?

Is the department obligated to reassess within the limited time?

Or is it just a suggestion and the department can reassess anytime, even after 6 years?


texts: What is the correct one of these two sentences?

texts:
I'm trying to understand if the both sentences are correct, and if they are, what is the difference between them.

  Her mother is more modest than her.

  Her mother is more modes than she is.

For me, they look the same but I am not sure about it, and I don't have any lead  to check it except to ask here.


texts: Have I correctly phrased this sentence in future perfect?

texts:
You will have painted the walls by now.

Have I correctly phrased the sentence above?

It may have two possible answers or explanation:

  You certainly have done it recently.
  You probably have done it or may did not it yet.


texts:
I am having a difficulty parsing the following sentence extracted from a Cambridge IELTS reading passage.

  It has been noted by teachers that children engaging in active travel
  arrive at school more alert and ready to learn.

For the that-clause:

subject: children engaging in active travel
verb: arrive
adverb: at school

Why can "more alert and ready to learn" be placed at the end of the sentence? Which type of grammar is it?

Normally I would write this sentence like below:

  It has been noted by teachers that children engaging in active travel
  are more alert and ready to learn when arriving at school.


texts: There is a lot of code vs There are a lot of code

texts:
Which is correct?

  There is a lot of code (our program consists of)

  There are a lot of code (our program consists of)


texts: What is the difference between Past simple and Past perfect

texts:
I cleaned my room after I got up.

  I had cleaned my room after I got up.

In the above two sentences, though there is a difference in the tenses used- the former being in simple past and the latter in past perfect- I am not able to deduce any significant diff. in their meanings. Are both of the sentences correct, and can these be used interchangeably. Please explain.

Another example:

  British invaded India in 1947

  British had invaded India in 1947

Thanks :)


texts: Shouldn't there be an auxiliary in: “found itself taken by assault”?

texts:
Why was an auxiliary verb omitted before the past participle "taken"?

Maogamalcha, which a little before had boasted of being impregnable, and had laughed to scorn the vain efforts of the emperor, suddenly found itself taken by assault and undergoing the extremities of sack and pillage.

From History of the Sasanian Empire by George Rawlinson


texts: Giving emphasis for one things saying other thing is not focused by the community

texts:
I want to write the following idea in my abstract:

  The vast majority of works on building model reconstructions from
  aerial data mainly focus on roof modelling, but not façade models.

BUT I feel, but in this sentence is breaking the flow of the sentence. In this type of situation, how can we avoid the awkwardness and get a smooth sentence?


texts: In “run out of food by night” is “by night” part of the “out of food” PP?

texts:
In the sentence:

run out of food by night.

“out of food” will be one single PP.
“by night” will also be a PP, but will it be part of VP or will it be inside the "out of food" PP?


texts: What does "drink like a professional" mean in this context?

texts:
Scott Fitzgerald

  always drank like a professional, collapsing the arc from charming to churlish early on.

This sentence is from a review by P. Green of ’Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald’ in The NY Times.

Does it mean he drank a lot and alcohol turned him "from charming to churlish"? I am not sure.

And how to understand “early on” here?


texts: I have question about use of "would" in this context. Is it referring to a repeated action or habit?

texts:
I took out the word would in number two. I am wondering if you could only paraphrase both number 1 and number 2, so that I may understand the use of the word would here and how using that changes the meaning of the sentence in this context.

Many years of failed and successful experimentation by many scientists followed before penicillin would be recognized as a useful medicine. It was not until after 1938 that penicillin would undergo mass production and be used worldwide as a helpful antibiotic. Penicillin was the first antibiotic discovered and is still in use today.

Many years of failed and successful experimentation by many scientists followed before penicillin recognized as a useful medicine. It was not until after 1938 that penicillin underwent mass production and be used worldwide as a helpful antibiotic. Penicillin was the first antibiotic discovered and is still in use today.


texts:
Another important advantage with the Mobile Miner is the fact that it can produce tunnels at the same cost as drill and blast, but the efficiency is higher due to the continuous excavation.
  Another important advantage of the Mobile Miner is the fact that it can produce tunnels at the same cost as drill and blast, but the efficiency is higher due to the continuous excavation.

The Mobile Miner is a mecanical rock-cutting system, or more generally, a mining machine.
I have had the impression that of is followed by the word advantage. Why here with is used?


texts: "My work finishes at 8" or "I finish work at 8"?

texts:
Which one of the following sentences is correct when I want to say that my workday is over at 8?

  My work finishes at 8.

  I finish work at 8.

If both are equally natural, which is more common?


texts: What is the English word for the tests that are made by a memory of people?

texts:
Almost at any university that I know, the students have stockpiles of tests that made by other student that already did those exams and all of the questions from exams was restored by them (I mean that they wrote the questions based on their memory because it's forbidden to picture these exams, then the only way to share it with others is by the memory...)

What is the word for that in the English students jargon?
My friend told me that it's called "Restorations" but he's not sure about that. In my language dictionaries there is no reference for that meaning.


texts: Why is "He is the kind of person who, if he had lived ..., people would not have been able to categorise him." ungrammatical?

texts:
Could anyone explain why this sentence is considered ungrammatical?

You often hear quite literate people saying hideously ungrammatical things such as: "He is the kind of person who, if he had lived in the 19th century, people would not have been able to categorise him."

Source: Melvyn's rules for the conversation game (article from the Independent)


texts:
And except for those at the tippy top, shareholder value isn’t a
  meaningful goal that excites and engages them.

I searched online dictionaries but I didn't find a good definition for"tippy top" especially one relates to the Text above.

So could you please explain it to me?

The fuller text:

  A sense of purpose. People want to feel as if their work matters, that
  their contributions help achieve something really important. And
  except for those at the tippy top, shareholder value isn’t a
  meaningful goal that excites and engages them. They want to know that
  they— and their organizations—are doing something big that matters to
  other people.

https://hbr.org/2014/11/being-happy-at-work-matters


texts: Can we use E-mails instead of E-mail addresses?

texts:
Is it correct to abbreviate E-mail addresses to E-mails?

Is one more formal than the other?


texts: What's the grammatical construction of "this book has built into it different ways"?

texts:
Most students come to Greek with varying degrees of apprehension. Their enthusiasm often wears down as the semester progresses. This book, therefore, has built into it different ways of encouraging them...

How should one understand that part in a bold type grammatically? To my mind what this is trying to say is that the book has different ways of encouraging students built into it. But the author for some reason changes the word order.


texts:
I don't want to create a situation which was there last time

This doesn't sound idiomatic? How to make it better?


texts:
does "aqueous" is an adjective for "gases"? what is the meaning of "aqueous and atmospheric gases" in this context?

"Question: Will utilitarianism make any discoveries in other locomotive
directions?"
"Yes; look out about these days for carriages and travelling saloons on
country roads—without horses, without steam, without any visible
motive power moving with greater speed and far more safety than at
present. Carriages will be moved by a strange and beautiful and simple
admixture of aqueous and atmospheric gases—so easily condensed, so
simply ignited, and so imparted by a machine somewhat resembling our
engines, as to be entirely concealed and manageable between the forward
wheels. These vehicles will prevent many embarrassments now
experienced by persons living in thinly populated territories. The first
requisite for these land-locomotives will be good roads, upon which with
your engine, without your horses, you may travel with great rapidity.
These carriages seem to me of uncomplicated construction."


texts: How can speaking and listening in English work?

texts:
For example, you say to me

  My eye is sick

But I heard

  My I is sick

I have read a 'homonym' article but it just show the words that have same sound on speaking. How to distinguish one word with another that has the same sound?


texts: "There is" or "There are" a man and a woman?

texts:
There is a man and a woman standing nearby the drugstore.

or

  There are a man and a woman standing nearby the drugstore.

?


texts:
Once I visited one of my English-speaking friends' village. And my friend was showing me round their garden. Suddenly I asked him:

What is this flower called?

He said:

It's called ABC.

Then, I was silent, I had no idea as to what to say -- should I have said:

okay, thanks or something else.

just to express I got what he said.
How would a native English speaker have replied?
Thanks in advance.


texts: Clarify some things from the song by Elton Britt - Uranium Fever

texts:
I need your help with the song by Elton Britt - Uranium Fever
I don't understand some things in this song.

What does "sold my cad" mean?

Well, I don't know, but I've been told
Uranium ore's worth more than gold
Sold my Cad', I bought me a Jeep
I've got that bug and I can't sleep

The phrase "Has done and got me down"

Uranium fever has done and got me down
Uranium fever is spreadin' all around

"That bug's done caught me and I've been bit"

Well, I ain't kiddin', I ain't gonna quit
That bug's done caught me and I've been bit
So with a Geiger counter and a pick in my hand
I'll keep right on stakin' that government land

Thank you for your help.


texts: meaning of the phrase "great move" in context

texts:
It is from this article. Here is the context:

  Fury beat Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015 to become the lineal champion and remains undefeated after 27 fights, while Wilder has won all 40 of his fights - 39 by knockout.
  "It's a dare to be great move," Fury added. "Two fights, 10 fights - it doesn't really matter. I can't lose this fight.

What does he mean by great move and why an article is omitted before the phrase?


texts:
Do we say 'He should lie low from the public or social media until the scandalous case has been resolved'?
Would 'stay away from' is the better option?


texts:
I came across this word in South Park,S04E12,20mins18secs.
The context is

  I'm as gay as a gymnast on shore leave.

I'm sorry that this sentence might be some offensive.


texts:
What is the error in the following sentence

  We are meeting today afternoon to discuss the matter and reach a compromise.

I think it should be today in the afternoon but in according to my book it should be we are going to meet

But I think there is no problem with this part of the sentence we are meeting today


texts: thatched-roof huts - wrong position of words?

texts:
There is correct pattern to say complex adjectives: adjcective+noun+ed. For example: green-eyed, tall-stalked. But in my book I have stumbled onto word "thatched-roof" with words other way around. Can you explain to me why? The text is:

They were barefoot, wore hardly any clothes, and some wore bones through their noses. Dr. Howlett explained that they lived nearby in a village of thatched-roof huts, and the missionaries were learning their language and telling them about Christ.


texts:
Can I use the phrase common sense like that?

The United Kingdom can reverse #Brexit...if it wants to. The statement of the Court of Justice of the EU makes common sense.


texts:
Studying abroad is the wonderful thing that we must think about.

Is "that we must think about" a relative clause?
Please explain to me.


texts: Online resource for the IPA pronunciation of placenames in the UK and Ireland (example: Lough Beagh)

texts:
My mother has a paper dictionary with the IPA pronunciation of very many placenames in the UK & Ireland.  I think it's from the 1960s and she bought it when she studied English at university in The Netherlands.  Is there an extensive online resource describing the pronunciation of placenames in the UK & Ireland?

For example, for Lough Beagh, I'm guessing something along the lines of /ˌlɒx ˈbeɪ/ in analogy with Lough Neagh, but analogies are an unreliable guide in placename pronunciation (in particular since Lough Beagh is apparently also known as Lough Veagh), so one really does need a complete list.  Googling gives some results which appear untrustworthy; for example, pronouncenames.com says it is pronounced /nay/ but I find that hard to believe; I've never heard an open front unrounded vowel followed by a close front rounded vowel and it's very different from /'beɪ/, but perhaps pronouncenames.com by "nay" means there is no pronunciation available.  Otherwise Google mostly lists articles with "X British place names hardest to pronounce" etc.

(Of course, many place names, including Lough Beagh, have Gaelic origins, which does not make it easier to figure out the pronunciation)


texts: How does the following sentence should be read?

texts:
The final three months of the year see a dramatic fall in precipitation, to a low of about 10mm in December, and a steady drop in temperatures back to the January average.

the passage is from the writting sample considered to be 9 band which describes the climograph given above.  My question is that, does the final clause in bold have to be considered along with the begining part of the passage (The final three months of the year see) and as a result it should be read and construed as ; "The final three months of the year see a steady drop in temperature back to the January" ?

Actually my aim is to determine what the exact role of "back to" here is? Is it verb of the subject - "a steady drop" or adverb modifier of "a steady drop" ? Looking forward to having your responses.

p.s - Don't know how to tag this question so it would be appreciated if anyone edit it and add releated tags.


texts: Can "singular form" be used with the phrase "individually for each"?

texts:
I found the sentence below on the Internet. I think this is written by natives.

  Target achievement scores are set individually for each student.

I would like to know whether the plural form "scores" is used to indicate there are multiple subjects such as math, science, etc. If there is only one subject, should this sentence be written as follows?

  The target achievement score is set individually for each student.


texts: 'know' transitive or not in this sentence

texts:
By the Oxford dictionary, 'know' is a intransitive or transitive verb in "have information" meaning. Example:

  I do not know how many years of life are before me.

Is the verb 'know' transitive here? I think that 'how'-based subordinate is a prepositional object. How to correctly distinguish transitive and intransitive verbs without vocabulary?


texts: “It has been a tough day” vs. “it is a tough day”

texts:
We have discussed Present Perfect versus Past Simple in "It has been on the news" vs. "it was on the news". Now I'm asking about Present Perfect versus Present Simple.

I know that the sentence in Present Perfect, "it has been a tough day", implies that the day is still going. But would it not be much easier to say "it is a tough day"? Because if a day is tough, you just say that the day is tough.

What does using Present Perfect add to the statement?


texts: wrote the words to "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear"

texts:
For example, in eighteen forty-nine, a religious leader from Massachusetts wrote the words to “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.”
--VOA Learning English

Does the phrase mean there was already a song - melody - and he put his own lyrics to the song?


texts:
Imagine an empty warehouse. You drive along the wall inside the warehouse and then you swing in the corner of it. Is there a way to describe taking a corner not going around it but inside it? Is this possible:
He swung along the corner.
?


texts:
There are following rules about articles:

  a - introduces a person/thing we haven't identified before
  the- introduces someone/something that is unique.

What happens if I'm going to mention the unique thing for the first time in my conversation?

  I have the microwave oven in the kitchen.

(the only microwave oven in my kitchen)

Or:

  I have a microwave oven in the kitchen.

(I haven't mentioned it before, this is new information for my friend).


texts: Is the word liberal used properly in this sentence

texts:
A friend once told me, when you're lost you're liberal and when you're liberal you can go anywhere

Is "liberal" used properly here?


texts: What is the correct usage of "deems fit" phrase?

texts: I want to convey the feeling that "do whatever you feel is the best"? How should I incorporate the phrase "deems fit" in my sentence?


texts:
Sentences that "Talent goes by", "... passing us by".

What is the "function" of "by" in sentence?

Why to use "by"?


texts: "He is one of those writers who have/has won the Booker prize"

texts:
He is one of those writers who have/has won the Booker prize.

which is correct: 'has' or 'have'?

And why?


texts: What is the meaning of the phrase "that work forces" in Rage Against the Machine song Killing In The Name Of?

texts:
The first verse of the song “Killing In The Name Of” by Rage Against the Machine is:

Some of those that work forces,
are the same that burn crosses

What is the meaning of the phrase "that work forces"? How are these words grammatically structured?


texts:
Does "with efficacy rates and trials delaying official take-up" mean "because of its efficacy rates and trials that had delayed the official take-up (what does "take-up" mean here? Cambridge Dictionary defines it as "how much people start to use or accept a service, or sometimes a product, that has become available to them" and I don't know how to match it to the context.

New Scientist tweeted 21m ago:

Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine criticised by US regulator the Food and Drug Administration, with efficacy rates and trials delaying official take-up


texts: While, when or as to describe for regular actions

texts:
I am trying to find a proper word to use in the following sentence.

  While I am creating a schematic I always try to check every single
  part several times

Or

  When I am studying I always try to focus on the subject and don't pay
  attention to anything else

I hope the idea is clear. I want to describe something that I do regularly and put emphasis on an action (positive one).

Please suggest the best choice.


texts: Making a sentence more concise and formal?

texts:
I want to express this following meaning:

  I tutored several students for xxx course and the students I tutored got better scores than average, specifically 17% better than the class average.

I wanted to put this on my resume and it should start with a past tense verb, the format should be like:

  Provided tutoring for a second year course about xxx


texts: 'I had me a boy': how can we use two subjects?

texts: I listened to  a song which started like "I had me a boy." Why are there two subjects, I and me?  Or why did they use I and me?


texts: "Blot something" vs. "Blot dry something"

texts:
Is there any difference between saying:

"blot something"

And

"blot dry something"

If synonymous, should one be preferred over the other? "Blot dry" sounds like a tautology but I've seen some documents using it (mirror).


texts:
Example with a context (How to Write Doc Comments for the Javadoc Tool):

  If you must document implementation-specific behavior, please document it in a separate paragraph with a lead-in phrase that makes it clear it is implementation-specific. If the implementation varies according to platform, then specify "On " at the start of the paragraph.

A few months ago I asked a similar question on this forum and somebody said that it is absolutely necessary that there be an article in front of the noun when you use the expression according to something. So, my question to you is does the way they have it written in that tech article sound totally wrong to you? I think I've seen many situations where the article was omitted. I don't even know what to think.


texts: Using the nouns "triumph" and "victory" in business or politics and in sport area

texts:
I have researched a lot and unfortunately, didn't find any source that could provide me with reasonable advice so that I could chose between the two nouns triumph and victory. I really have no idea where to use each one and why. In order to clear it (at least a little) I had to make some examples. Please let me know which choice (doesn't) work(s) in these examples and why:

In business/politics:

  1- Signing of this contract was a great ................ for (me / our company.)

a. victory
b. triumph

  2- That agreement was a tremendous diplomatic............. for France.

a. victory
b. triumph

In sports:

  3- The team returned home in..........

a. victory
b. triumph

  4- Do you remember the Spain’s 3–2 ............ (over / against) Russia in last night’s game

a. victory
b. triumph


texts: Contentment or Satisfaction, which is mostly in use?

texts:
Please have a look at the below Google Ngram image,

I like to use Contentment in my sentences, but the image shows that the word Contentment has the least usage now a days.

So please help, is the word Contentment still in usage or I have to use the common word satisfaction always?

Advance thanks for your help.

Sorry for my bad English. English is not my native language.


texts: to / at / on certain level / point / degree

texts:
I would like to say

  I have become acclimatized to medical terminology to / at / on certain
  level/ point /degree after having worked for years with health workers.

What I try to say is that I have limited knowledge, not an expert level but it is kind of more than average or layman.

Which ways would be correct to say?


texts: "I have sent it to X too" vs. "I have sent it to X also"

texts:
I have sent this e-mail to Aman also.
I have sent this e-mail to Aman too.

Which one is correct? What is the exact difference between the two? Please explain.


texts: Why is there a definite article in the idiom "adding fuel to the fire"?

texts:
"adding fuel to the fire"

Should there be no articles in this idiom? Can someone give an explanation as to why there is one?


texts:
She has a heavy makeup.

  She has a light makeup.

What is the antonym for heavy makeup?


texts: Use of 'but' in sequence of relative clauses, absent any contrast? (1910 US)

texts:
Source: p 7 of 35, Citizenship in a Republic (a speech), by Theodore Roosevelt

One notable passage on page seven of the 35-page speech is referred to as "The Man in the Arena":
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

For brevity, I denote this 'man in the arena': lionheart. I guess that but serves as a conjunction here. Yet which definition applies? No 'contrast' (Defn 1 ), 'impossibility' (Defn 2), or 'a response expressing a feeling such as surprise or anger' (Defn 3)  exists,  seeing as the preceding relative clauses are already
exalting this lionheart. So why use but? What would change if but were omitted?
Footnote: I was reading this when I lighted upon this passage.


texts: Is this grammatical: "Relax while you're closing your eyes to me"?

texts:
I  understand what this means. But, I cannot figure out if this is grammatical or not because of to me:

  Relax while you're closing your eyes to me.

Do you close your eyes to someone when you close your eyes in front of him/her?

Is it idiomatic?

  Relax while you're closing your eyes in front of me.

makes sense to me,  but not when to me is used.


texts: How should I make a (double-)negative sentence using "could have + past participle"?

texts:
If I want to say this sentence using could have plus past participle, then how should I say that?

  You were capable of not going there, but you went.

Is it correct to say:

  You could have not gone there.

PS:
I know that if I want to say that you were capable of going there, but you didn't go there, I can say:

  You could have gone there.


texts: Difference "he didn't be a doctor" and "he wasn't a doctor"?

texts: What the difference between "he didn't be a doctor" and "he wasn't a doctor"?


texts: What is the difference between "solution of problem" and "solution to problem"?

texts: Could someone explain, please, what is the difference between "solution of problem" and "solution to problem"?


texts: Are there two meanings to ”I saw the same car as her car in the garage”?

texts:
I saw the same car as her car in the garage.

I couldn’t understand which car is in this garage the car I saw or her car? Are there two meanings in sentence?


texts:
Are the following sentences grammatically correct?

The destiny is not changing even we want that.
Unavoidable destiny by God is the truth we cannot change it.
The actions we take sometimes determine our destiny .


texts:
Now, I'm oriented toward learning engineering and then using it actively in practice.

Does this sentence make sense? Is it grammatical?


texts:
Can you replace an "all" phrase with an "every" phrase and use both in the same sentence? Is it alright to say:

She had removed all the thorns from his heart, that is, every regret of the past, and he could not forget that.

To say "all the regrets" instead of "every regret" would sound repetitive, wouldn't it?


texts: Leaders had taken or took shelter at the church

texts:
Mr. Miller and the other dissident leaders took or had taken shelter at the church last month after the authorities ordered their arrest.

In the above sentence I marked the answer in my exam as had taken but the answer was marked as wrong and took is the correct option. I believe both are correct with the only difference in the tense they would make. So in such cases , where we find both the options correct which one should be the best option to mark your answer?


texts: Is this sentence grammatically correct? I was just playing a video game(Grand Theft Auto) and I said to myself "Why does the driver always have to be me?" and it sounded kind of weird to me. Can I say this kind of sentences?(Some similar sentences: "Why is the winner always you?", "The idiot is him here", "The winner has to be me in the next tournament" etc.) Or do I have to say "Why do I always have to be the driver?", "Why are you always the winner?", "He is the idiot here" and "I have to be the winner in the next tournament" instead by stressing the pronouns?


texts: Why is a comma needed before the following like simile?

texts:
It looked weird, like having a garden inside your apartment.

I thought the comma was optional in cases like these. But I searched for "it looked weird, like" on Google and almost every result had a comma.

Why is this? Is the comma really optional in cases like these?


texts: Is "get the basics straight" a valid idiom?

texts:
I somehow have in my mind, that

  "get the basics straight (first)"

is a valid phrase/idiom in the meaning of, that someone needs to understand the basic concepts of something or get to know the basic facts of a situation, before he can further follow up on something.

While (in my mind) this sounds perfectly good - Google only has 14,900 results for it, which makes me think, that it doesn't really exist in proper English at all.

Is it correct and just not widely spread, or is there any related idiom which has the above mentioned meaning?


texts: Why do we use much prettier but not much interesting?

texts:
Here is the passage from the text I've just read:

  I think this material is much prettier than that, don't you?

  Well, the design is more interesting and the colors are brighter.

I wonder, can we say much interesting instead of more interesting in this situation?

It says much prettier but then it says more interesting which confuses me a bit.

Thank you for your help in advance!


texts: Is "lay down" a phrasal verb or just a verb + preposition?

texts:
Is "lay down" a phrasal verb in the question:

  Why don't you lay down for a while and get some rest?

or just a Verb + preposition?
I checked the Longman "Phrasal Verbs" dictionary, there's a section for "lay down" but the definitions didn't have anything to do with resting. What I found in  the dictionary:

LAY DOWN:

to officially establish a rule or way of doing something.
to stop fighting, or agree to give up your weapons.
to tell someone very firmly what they should or should not do, especially in a way that annoys or upsets them
to establish something that will develop in the
future

I'm just wondering if "lay down" really acts as a phrasal verb in the question I posted or not. Any suggestions are appreciated!


texts: Can I say "I have been living there since 2001 but I don't live there now."?


texts: "The only thing that’s clear is you were hired to stand up here and tell us lies,” one person shouted."

texts:
The only thing that’s clear is you were hired to stand up here and tell us lies,” one person shouted.

My question is how do we use more then one finite verb in a single clause in one? That is, were these all verbs are used in one clause.


texts: What state does "being overwhelmed" actually imply?

texts: Does the state of being overwhelmed actually tend to express physical or emotional fatigue? or it could be both?


texts:
It is common to use an en-dash when we use same or opposite term such as cell–cell, Iran–Saudi Arabia, etc.

My question is: "Can we use an en-dash for Iran–Gulf?"

We all know that the Gulf is not a country.


texts: Two relative clauses modifying a single noun

texts:
I wrote:

  An online video is taken by a camera placed in a specific position, monitoring the pallet cars.

I think the bold parts are two relative clause modifying "camera". Is it correct? Is it a normal structure for a sentence?


texts: Idiom or phrasal verb meaning "give in his efforts"

texts:
I'm facing to a little problem.
To improve my English fluency I decided to learn some phrasal verbs, and practice them by writing short phrases.
But here we are, it seems for me that the phrase below isn't as we can say "English"

  that's not after few tries the student should give in his efforts.

The meaning of "give in" is stop trying. I agree that it may have several different significations

All of all, does my question is grammatically correct?


texts: British way to say £1.99 and €1.01 and €1.01

texts:
Are the following usages correct in BrE?

£1.01

One pound one.
One pound and one pence.
One pound one pence.
One pound and one.
One one

$1.01

One dollar  one.
One dollar and one cent.
One dollar one cent.
One dollar and one.
One one

€1.01

One euro one.
One euro  and one cent.
One euro one cent.
One euro and one.
One one


texts: Meaning of " They wanted to know each other less than they wanted to agree. Harmony! To be each other."

texts:
This text is from The Children's Bach by Helen Garner.

In the street there was a dusty summer wind, a morning not quite hot enough. If they walked shoulder to shoulder, if they sat side by side, it was in order to become the world’s audience instead of being obliged to perform their personalities for each other. They bought tickets, they travelled. Their mutual curiosity was intense, but oblique. They watched one another witnessing the world: how two fat businessmen examined as merchandise the girl who pouted and pretended to read the paper in the café window with her skirt up round her thighs; how the waitress in Myer’s mural hall crossed the vast room with both arms high above her head and a dirty tablecloth hanging from each hand; the hippy boy on the tram who bought a ticket to St Kilda and announced to the other passengers, ‘I must go to the sea. To the ocean’; the girl whose lips moved as she read a book called Tortured for Christ. The world divided itself for them, presented itself in a series of small theatrical events. ‘Now,’ said a woman to a man at the busstop, ‘I’ll tell you the whole story. See the thing >was that . . .’
What was the thing? They pointed out these eventlets to each other. They did not discuss or pass judgment, but defined themselves against the attitudes revealed by the unwitting characters in these dramas. They wanted to know each other less than they wanted to agree. Harmony! To be each other. They examined clothes in shop windows.

Does the whole part in bold mean: "they compared their attitude with other people's attitudes and knew themselves better, and because they wanted to be friendly (to be in harmony) they did not want to know each other very well"? Maybe in this case they came across some differences that made their relationship cold. They need harmony to be with each other.
I asked this question in the forum literature stackexchang but nobody answered so I asked it in this forum.
Maybe there is something grammatically I do not understand it. I have not seen the use of less than like this.


texts: "Tell them that I receive nobody" in Chekhov's play meaning

texts:
I was at a theater last night and the play was "The Bear" by Anton Chekhov.
I heard this peice of dialogue in there

  Who's that? Tell them that I receive nobody.

The way I interpreted this sentence was

  I don't want to see anybody at the moment. I need to be alone.

So firstly, is my understanding correct? Secondly, is this old English and no longer used?


texts: How do I make adjectives from names of regions? California → Californian. Easy. Zabaykalsky Krai →?

texts: Is there some universal rule? Do I even need to add any suffixes? Maybe, I can use those proper nouns on their own, as modifiers, can't I? I see three options: 'Zabaikalian voters' (or 'Zabaykalskian'?), 'Zabaykaksky Krai voters', 'Zabaykalsky voters'. Which one is correct? If none, how do I say that then?


texts:
Should I say

  "We have lived and grown up together"

or

  "We have lived and we have grown up together"

or

  "We have lived and grew up together"

?


texts:
I will pay for the meal as often as you make the reservation.

This sentence is from a test. The task was to correct a mistake. I thought the mistake was "for the meal", it had to be "for meal" (like "for breakfast").
But the correct answer is

  I will pay for the meal as long as you make the reservation.

I understand this sentence and the special usage "as long as" meaning "only if" ("I'll pay for the meal only if you make the reservation").

But I still wonder if it is really wrong to use "as often as".

I'll try to explain my confusion.

The expression "as ... as" usually used to emphasize an adjective/adverb.
So for example there is the sentence "I'll wait as long as you need", here "as long as" has a literally meaning - "duration", "as much time as you need" rather than condition-meaning "only if".

So "as often as" might mean literally "every time" (is it correct?)

I'll say "hello" as often as I see/meet you == here "as often as" means "every time"

So I think the sentence

  "I will pay for the meal as often as you make the reservation."

means,

  "Every time you make the reservation, I'll pay for the meal".

Can it be this way?
Or is the situation so odd/weird, that can't be in a real life? Is this the reason (unreality) why "as often as" can't be used in this case or is it still a grammar mistake?


texts:
Please take a look at these sentences

1)A lot of people have tried to find out what happened to the captain  and the crew of Mary Celeste.

Why is it not "have been trying"  because we still don't know the reason and people are still looking for an explaination .

2))The ship's disappearance is often linked to Bermuda triangle

Why present and not present perfect because people have been looking for an explaination for a long time and this explaination (bermuda triangle) seems to be quite old.


texts: What do I call the presentation of the final result of my research?

texts:
My situation: I have done the research and before I defend my dissertation I have to make a presentation of the final result. I am having difficulty finding the right term for this seminar. In my native language, we normally call it "the seminar of the final result" but that sounds too long in English. My research is considered to be done when I have passed this seminar/presentation, then it can be published. When I fail, I have to change the topic and start it from the beginning. The audience is the commissioner of supervisors.

Can I say "seminar result" for the presentation that is conducted before a dissertation is published? Or can  I only use "final seminar"?


texts:
I have completed the certification program, but after 24h I do not have the badge yet?
Can you assist?

Is is correct word formation and can I express my thoughts in better more natural American language?


texts:
in a reporter in NME magazine have a question "Are you biased?". This reporter talk about race and problems about racism.

Thanks!


texts: I have climbed/been climbing a mountain?

texts:
I have climbed a mountain and I have reached the top, but I am exhausted. Should I say:
"I am exhausted because I have just climbed a mountain", meaning I have reached the top and therefore the action has been completed, there is an ending or
"I am exhausted because I have been climbing a mountain", meaning I am focussing on the duration of the activity and the effort even though I have reached the top.


texts: Paraphrase (not define) the word "psychedelic"?

texts:
NEW YORK — Perry Ellis is not a brand that makes men nervous or causes them to titter. Even if a work-a-day guy doesn’t wear Perry Ellis clothes, he probably recognizes the name from those times he has wandered through a department store looking to stock up on dress shirts. Perry Ellis is not niche; it is mass. And its creative director, Michael Maccari designed a spring 2016 collection that was welcoming to a wide swath of men. Board shorts, crewneck sweaters, lean — but not tight — suits. Rich colors but nothing too psychedelic.

Could you paraphrase (not define) the word "psychedelic", here, please?


texts: Is "to have xx systems achieve xx-level" easier to read than "to achieve xx-level of xx systems"?

texts:
From this book "Deep Learning and Convolutional Neural Networks for Medical Image Computing"

  Finally, I identify the remaining knowledge gaps that must be over-
  come to achieve clinician-level performance of automated medical image
  processing systems.

Is "to have automated medical image processing systems achieve clinician-level performance" better than the original one?


texts:
When we type the password incorrectly to log into the website, the prompt is "Did you forget your password?".

However, I think it's the current situation so it might be better to say "Do you forget your password?".

Or, might it be better to say "Have you forgotten your password?" since you forgot your password in the past and its effect is in the present.

Can someone help me?


texts: Story telling: me and SHE (or) me and HER?

texts:
Usage (1)

Me - "You're beautiful."
She - "Thank you. You're so kind."

Usage (2)

Me - "You're beautiful."
Her - "Thank you. You're so kind."

Which one is correct please?


texts:
The sentence goes,

The question is, "How does the race question fit in as an overlay to all of this?" And when we talk about the prosperity society, was that truly a prosperity society in terms of distribution?

I'm doing a transcription FYI, so I kind of need some help with it. Does 'race question' need single quotation marks? Do quotation marks end after the first question? Is the second sentence even a question?


texts: Can "would be able to" be rephrased as "could" every time?

texts:
I think 'could' has a lot more meanings than 'would be able to' does. But is it possible that one can consider that all the usages of 'would be able to' can be rephrased as just 'could'? In other words, does 'could' include 'would be able to'? (if you can ignore the slight politeness differences)

If not, could you make some examples for me?


texts: What is the right way to ask the number of your spectacles?

texts: Here people ask like this what is the power of your eye or what is number of your spectacles is it right way to ask.  What is the way to ask the eyesight. Describe it.


texts: Can 'hardly' convey two opposite meanings based on its location in a sentence?

texts:
Is there a semantic difference between these two sentences?

  I defended the case quite hardly.

vs.

  I hardly defended the case.

For my understanding, these two sentences have an opposite meaning. The first sentence means: 'I vigorously defended the case.' and the second means: 'I did only defend the case very little.'. Most discussions I found on this center around the meaning of 'hardly' itself, but I get the feeling, that it actually means what it says in the first sentence. Maybe because of its position in the sentence?


texts: Is there any difference in pronunciation between the words "fiancé (a male)" and "fiancée (a female)"?

texts:
I see no difference between transcriptions above-mentioned words, and what words / variants would be better to use in those meanings?

fiancé /fɪˈɑːnseɪ/ /fɪˈɒnseɪ/ /fɪˈɒ̃seɪ/ - ODO
fiancée /fɪˈɒnseɪ/ /fɪˈɑːnseɪ/ /fɪˈɒ̃seɪ/ - ODO


texts:
What are another ways to ask "what is her name"?

Can I ask What is she named or something like that?


texts: Is "I was used to come here ... " grammatically correct?

texts:
I lived in the United States from 2013 to 2014. When I was living there, I went to a church every weekend. I will visit the USA and come to this church next year. When I get there, someone will probably ask me: Is this your first time here?

What would be the correct way to reply? For example:

  No, I was used to come here when I lived in this country.

I forgot what kind of tense or structure to use in order to talk about something I've done frequently in the past.


texts: Is it "look further into the matter", "look into the matter further" or " further look into the matter"?

texts:
A. I will look further into the matter.

  B. I will further look into the matter.

  C. I will look into the matter further.

Which is grammatically correct? And Is there a difference in meaning?