texts: Which are other collocations meaning "to fill in the gaps"?

texts:
Is there any synonym of the phrase "to fill in the gaps"?
The context is "to bring new information".

I mean not in the situation when one is studying and fills in one's gaps of knowledge, but just the contrary, for example, when a person writes a book on a subject to bring some new information that fills in the gaps of the knowledge on that subject for others.


texts: Usage of gerund instead of simple tense with "after": "after I have breakfast" vs. "after having breakfast"

texts:
Are the following two answers totally equal in meaning?

What are you doing? I'm doing my English homework. Do you do your homework in the morning?

  Yes, I do English after I have breakfast.
  Yes, I do English after having breakfast.


texts: Word for the person who drives the train

texts: What is the specific name given to the person who drives the train? Is there any other way of calling the name despite calling them as engineer or engine driver?


texts: What is the basic difference between these two?

texts:
1) I have seen everything today

  2) I saw everything today

How is the first line different from the 2nd please explain?


texts: How does this "varying with age..." phrase relate to the rest of the sentence?

texts:
I understand the meaning but I don't fully get the grammatical point of bolded phrase; If "varying with age and the nature of the forest" is adjective phrase for the noun, "the precise number of layers", the bolded phrase becomes with no verb to me which I cannot understand the relation of it with previous sentence.

  Careful analysis of the above-ground material reveals that it is arranged in a series of layers, the precise number of layers varying with age and the nature of the forest.

Biogeography: An Ecological and Evolutionary Approach


texts: What is the issue about "You are welcome" and "You're welcome"?

texts:
Recently, I came across a comment where a native English speaker stated that it is not "you are welcome" but "you're welcome". It was a side-comment as the original post wasn't about their difference; thus, there wasn't any further explanation for that.

I have always thought there isn't any slight difference between the two versions such as in other sentences with contractions with the verb be except that they would show more emphasis on it when it is in its full form.

After searching about this, I've ended up with one possible reason why "'re" may be more preferred than "are" in that specific phrase. It is because it's more usual to be used among natives. Ngram supports that too

So, is it a matter of being usual and unusual? Or does it have other issues that make it not a phrase to use when expressing thankfulness?


texts: The past simple of "gaslight" – "gaslighted" or "gaslit"?

texts:
What is the past simple of the term gaslighting as a verb – "gaslighted" or "gaslit"?

Would it be correct to say:

  That person gaslighted her

or:

  That person gaslit her

Note: There is a related question on ELU.


texts: What do you call the sounds of a crowd talking, moving, laughing, etc?

texts: Like in video games, if you go into a town, there's the ambient sound of a large crowd playing in the background. What do you call such sounds? I completely forgot what it was called.


texts:
We use the adjective 'forbidden' for a thing that we must not use. Can a person be forbidden for a thing?
Like, can we say:

People abiding by law are forbidden for jails.

Does this sentence make sense? Please note that here 'forbidden for' refers to "protected from".
Secondly,
See: My doctor has forbidden me sugar.
Subject+ forbid+ indirect obj+ direct obj
Here: https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/forbid
So, what about this:

Law forbids jail those people who abide by rules.

Subject+ forbid+ indirect obj+ direct obj


texts:
They are pressurised by me.
They have been pressured by me.

Please explain I don't know the meaning or usage


texts:
I thought about this recently.

  I have thought about this recently.

  I was thinking about this recently.

What tense should i use?


texts: Please, explain to me the correct answer in the task

texts: I had to choose from words much, many, too much, too many. Why isn't my answer correct? What was the right variant and why?


texts: "It's standing in the front": describing position of objects in line

texts:
In our school, the school buses are parked in a line, from where the children board their respective buses.( according to where they live). So if someone has to tell about the position like the first bus, second, third ....... last bus etc., how can it be expressed naturally?

The first bus:

  1.)L-1 stands in the front.

  2.)L-1 is the first bus.

Second, Third and so on (except for the last bus)

  3.)L-2 stands behind L-1.

  4.)L-9 is the second last bus.

  5.)L-9 is the second bus from the last.

Last bus:

  6.) L-10 is the last bus.

  7.) L-10 stands at the back.

  8) L-10 stands in the last.

Do all of these sentences sound natural? If not how should they be used so that they sound natural?

P.S.: Can "stand" be used with buses or should  "parked" be used?


texts:
I asked a related question about excessive use of "and" or "or" to relate sentences. Here I would like to make it more general and ask for alternatives which can be used to relate sentences.

For example, I have the following construction:

  Such anchors are less affected by the modifications and revisions in the layout and they are less tailored to a specific website template.

I thought how can I remove the "and" and use other relations. Then I thought of these sentences:

Such anchors are less affected by the modifications and revisions in the layout. At the same time, they are less tailored to a specific website template.
Such anchors are less affected by the modifications and revisions in the layout, meanwhile, they are less tailored to a specific website template.
Such anchors are less affected by the modifications and revisions in the layout. Moreover, they are less tailored to a specific website template.

....

First, I would like to know if my constructions are OK?

Second, to ask for some general rules for relating sentences which can be used in replace of "and".


texts: Present Simple vs Present Continuous in "It happens because ice ____ (FLOAT) into the Atlantic Ocean."

texts:
I've come across a grammar task for English Exam preparation.
There goes a text:

  A survey by the Japan Agency for Science and Technology shows that Arctic ice is melting (Present Continuous is used to stress changes happening around now, as far as I understand) at a far quicker rate than anticipated.

  ... Now there is also less sea ice in the Arctic Ocean. It happens because ice ___________ (FLOAT) into the Atlantic Ocean.

Can I use Present Continuous in that gap to show that the state of floating ice is not typical for the region so I could imply the changes happening around now? Or is it better to use Present Simple to imply that the fact is true in general?


texts: The battery is 34% charged(or is 34% ), the battery decreased by 4%

texts:
If the battery percentage indicator shows "34%", what will a natural way to express this idea?

  My phone's battery is 34%..

  My phone's battery is 34% charged.

Should "charge" be added in the end? Is there a more natural way to express this idea?

And after a while the phone's battery drains a bit. So what sounds natural:

  My phone's battery decreased by 4%.

  My phone's battery drained by 4%.

Is there a shorter and better way to express this idea?

And what about the battery increasing when put on charger?

  My phone's battery increased by 4%.

Is there a more natural way to express it?


texts: What does "Don't take my words at face value" mean?


texts: Never having p.p. vs. Having never p.p.?

texts:
Recently I have encountered 'Having not p.p.', which puts not between having and p.p.
In fact, I was taught to put not before having p.p.
And BBC Learning English confirms it.  Which is the definite grammar rule?

Negative participle clauses are also possible, in which case not
normally comes before the -ing form or past participle:
Not having had a shower for two days, I was desperate to get to the
bathroom.

BBC Learning English


texts: "All these expenses are incurred by me" or "for me"

texts:
Context: We went to tour for official purpose. We to submit actual bills to office for reimbursement. We filed all the bills and have to written on top of that to notify that these expenses belongs to three of us.

  Theses expenses are incurred by me and Mr.A

OR

  These expenses are incurred for me and Mr. A

Which one is the correct usage?


texts: Does listening to English learning clips help to improve "Listening" skill?

texts:
I want to improve my listening skill in order to understand speaking of native English speakers. For this I have searched  in the Internet and Youtube clips and finally figured out listening to English conversations, movies, clips etc might be very helpful for improving this skill.

So, I am here to ask a couple of questions related to this matter.

Does listening to same clips over and over again help or I should listen to new one once I am done with previous one?
How many times at least should I listen to audio files per day? (How long time should I spend per day?)
What should I do when I have stuck somewhere in the video (cannot parse what they are talking)? I should go ahead or I should not until understand all prior part of video

I have already noticed that this question might be off-topic because of its opinion-based nature, if this is so, please tell me the right Stack Exchange site which this question is on-topic at.

Note that my primarily focus is on American English not any other types of English.

Any answer would be highly appreciated, thanks in advance


texts:
Lets say I am at a table with my friend across from me and he takes out his phone and puts it on the table. And the phone is the only phone on the table. How do I refer to it: with it or that? For example:

  Is it your phone?

  Is that your phone?


texts: Best approach to read English books for non-English speaker

texts:
I'm student in computer science field and all my books wrote in English, so I'm not enjoying reading books that I don't understand most of their meaning, I always open google translate to understand as much I can.

But this not useful at all, and it's so pain.

How i can improve myself with that or mastering reading books in English like I do with my native language?


texts:
What is the proper word for “entry fee”?

Let’s suppose A and B are negotiating on something. However, A has trust issues with B, so A things that B is not sincere in negotiation. Because of this, A wants B to pay him some “entry fee” before the negotiations even takes place to prove B’s sincerity towards negotiation.

Now, please tell me, what is the proper word for this kind of “entry fee”?


texts: When is disinformation the better term to use than misinformation?

texts:
According to this Wikipedia article,  disinformation is misinformation that is purposefully and intentionally disseminated. Does this term qualify for state media controlled by dictators like Hugo Chavez or Muhammad Gaddafi?

Is disinformation the correct term to describe the manufacturing of fake news and the distribution of it through media channels? Is misinformation the outcome of it?

I hope my question makes sense. I am trying to educate myself on the topic.


texts: Is this retirement wish appropriate to a senior lady?

texts:
A retirement wish on retirement card from an new employee to a senior lady that does not have a lot of connection at work. Does it look appropriate?

  All the best for your amazing retirement! Enjoy the new chapter in life, enjoy the years ahead!

The background is:
a guy's words to a senior lady;
a new employee to a lady that does not have a lot of connection at work.

my concerns were:
not to be over excited;
not to be rude;
and be polite and natural.

Does it look appropriate?


texts:
If you need an example, you can use this one or make your own one, it doesn't matter.

  A hurricane hit the Atlantic coast. Florida fared (the) worst with estimated damages of more than $50 billion.

There's no point in an article there. None! Articles are linked to a noun (apart from cases like 'the rich', 'the poor', etc. where it makes collective nouns). Is there a noun? None! And yet, there are more search results in Google News for the second option (though still only several thousand). What I want to figure out is which option complies with the grammar rules: putting the article between 'fare' and 'worst' or not doing so? Please give a satisfactory and convincing explanation if it's the former option (I see no point in using 'the', really). As I understand it, 'worst' here modifies the verb 'fare'. The part of speech that modifies verbs is the adverb. Whether superlative adverbs take 'the' or not is unclear for me. On the one hand, in the Longman dictionary, I see this. Note that it's not classified as an idiom.

  You know him best – you should ask him.

(from here)

On the other hand, on the ef.com I see this:

  Everyone in the race ran fast, but John ran the fastest of all.

  He played the best of any player.

(from here)

Now, the question is, why the ef is it so? Is it because of 'of all' and 'of any player' respectively? But in the Longman example, 'of all' is also implied.


texts: Why would changing 'are' render the sentence grammatical?

texts:
Question: Identify the one bold word or phrase that must be changed in order for the sentence to be correct.

  Some religions have none deity but are philosophies that function instead of religions.

A) have none

B) are

C) instead of

D) religions

Its correct answer is (B). "are" must be instead of "no". Why?


texts:
The crazy thing is this record took a total of 9 days from initial idea to having a pressed record in our hands

Why "to having" and not "to have"?  Is it the same as in" I am not used to doing it. In this case" to "is a preposition, we can take off the word"having" the sentence is still understandable.


texts:
My question is about passive voice for intransitive verbs like "go".
"A great deal of trouble was gone through to ensure their safety" is the correct
sentence in prepositional passive form.


texts: What does "The minification process creates a file that is optimized for browsers to read and process" mean?

texts: These rules encourage liberal spacing for improved developer readability. The minification process creates a file that is optimized for browsers to read and process.


texts: What is it called if a thing have different descriptions of the same phenomena?

texts:
Does anyone know what it is called when a thing have different descriptions of the same phenomena?

Some would say it would be called "paradoxical", but that would be if a thing had opposite descriptions of the same phenomena.

In this case it is not opposite, but just different or semi-opposite but not completely opposite.


texts: Evaluate and measure, which one is appropriate when refer to people?

texts:
Which one is appropriate?

How do you evaluate yourself?
How do you measure yourself?

Can someone explain what is different between them? Please give me much example as possible.


texts:
The original sentence is:

  Post-hoc test performed on the subjects data revealed 6 homogeneous
  subsets which could be roughly illustrated as follows…

In which I am wondering whether I should insert a comma before "which":

  Post-hoc test performed on the subjects data revealed 6 homogeneous
  subsets, which could be roughly illustrated as follows…


texts: Can I say: Be/ have/ do a BBA in Finance

texts:
Can I say:
I'm a BBA/an MBA.
I have a BBA/an MBA.
I'm doing a BBA/an MBA.


texts: An ENG-GER dictionary (there seem to be no entries in monolingual dictionaries) tells me that it is a power connection, but search results from Google and Google Images let me assume that the term is used only for outdoor purposes, and especially for camping sites. Is this correct or what else would be an appropriate meaning?


texts:
It can't have gone : I will explain this sentence. We do not know where it go or not. And I strongly believe that it still stay.

When I know correctly, then following is possible ?

  I placed my wallet here. But it disappeared. It can't have gone with legs (1).

Frequently we say "It goes since it has leg ?" or "It fly because it has wings ?" when our things are disappeared. Here we know the fact that wallet can not have legs so that we can use (1) ?


texts:
Is it correct to say, the profits show improvement by time

Does it mean here that profits increase year after year?


texts:
I, Dave, confirm that I have read the document thoroughly and accept your offer letter.
OR
I, Dave, confirm that I have read the document thoroughly and accepted your offer letter.
OR
I, Dave, confirm that I have read the document thoroughly and have accepted your offer letter.
Which of the foregoing sentences above is acceptable, and why?


texts:
What have you been doing this week while you have been at home?
Have you been baking or have you been washing the car? Let us know!
Do these imply multiple baking and washing sessions?
If they don't imply multiple sessions can the present perfect simple be used in this context?


texts: What's the meaning of "you got a point" and "take some money off of them"?

texts:
From Friends S02E14

  ROSS: Monica, if you want, I can lend you some money.

  MONICA: No no no, if I couldn't pay you back right away then I'd feel
  guilty and tense every time I saw you.

  ROSS: Oh OK. Well then why don't you, uhh, why don't you borrow it
  from mom and dad? You feel guilty and tense around them already. You
  might as well make some money off of them.

  CHANDLER: Ya know, the man's got a point.

I have two questions:

For the sentence make some money off of them, why did it add a preposition of? It's weird to me. I'm more familiar with make some money off them, because off already has a meaning of "from someone", which don't need an extra word of to emphasize again.
From the dictionary, I found that get a point means score a point, which is absolutely used in some competitions or quizzes. Is it a humorous way to say what the man said makes sense, or is it just a common expression to convey the agreement with someone?


texts: What does "a Sunday run" mean in "It's a Sunday run to go there"?

texts:
I read the conversation below:

  Excuse me, where's the City Library?

  It's a Sunday run to go there. You'd better take a taxi.

I didn't understand the meaning of "a Sunday run". I guess it means a long way or a long distance, but I am not sure about it. I have retrieved some usage of "Sunday". There are a lot of phrases with Sunday, such as Sunday painter, Sunday punch, Sunday school truth, low Sunday, etc. They have nothing to do with Sunday.

Does Sunday run mean "a long distance run"?


texts: Is the sentence used by this person grammatically correct?

texts:
"You need a closet to store all that attitude of yours."

So, I was scrolling through facebook and I came across this comment made by some person. And I kept thinking about whether it was grammatically correct. Oh, and the person the comment was intended for was a really arrogant person.
So, what does the sentence mean? Is it grammatically correct?


texts:
Assume I come to see an apartment for rent. And I may not be able to reply to the landlord at the spot whether I decide to move in or not. (Scenarios like this including hesitating whether to  buy something when shopping.) I normally say "I will think about it and reply you no later than this Friday".

But how do native American speakers express this?


texts:
The sentence, "Where has he got the diamond?" was written as a translation to a Russian sentence: "Откуда у него взялся алмаз?"

I think it's wrong. The Russian sentence means that the speaker is curious of how come the other person has a diamond (posseses one).

I'd say it is closer to, "How come does he have a diamond?"

I was thinking of changing the original to, "Where did he get the diamond?" but it sounds like the speaker is curious of where the person got it rather than how come he has it.

Also, can gotten in the original sentence give that meaning?


texts: How to use 'as ... as' and 'so ... as' in comparison.

texts:
I have read some articles about the subject on this web pages but I am not sure.

Did I understand it correct?

  not as adjective as - when we compare the same things (the same kinds)

E.g.:

This apple is not as nice as that apple.
This apple is not as nice as that apple.
I'm not as tall as Anna.
My mother is not as old as my father.

  not so adjective as - when we compare different things (different kinds)

E.g.:

This apple is not so nice as that orange.
I'm not so tall as the horse.
My grandmother is not so old as the wardrobe.
My head is not so big as the melon.
I'm not so intelligent as a dolphin.

  as adjective as - when we compare the same things (the same kinds)

E.g.:

This apple is as nice as that apple.
This apple is as nice as that apple.
I am as tall as Anna.
My mother is as old as my father.

  so adjective as - when we compare different things (different kinds)

E.g.:

This apple is so nice as that orange.
I am so tall as the horse.
My grandmother is so old as the wardrobe.
My head is so big as the melon.
I am so intelligent as a dolphin.

Thank you for help.


texts:
In a Quora reply, a poster writes that he sent a letter to someone looking for a pen pal:

  In any case, I wrote a lovely little letter to a British boy by the name of James Brown (which sounds like a fake name used by a sex offender). And my new mate James Brown wrote back.… And let me tell you, it was a real treat.…

  And so, I wrote back. I even called him ‘Jim’ instead of James.

  As we were a couple of letters deep, it felt like the right time to
  elevate the friendship.

Actually I have never heard the word deep used in such a context before and I tried to find example sentences but nothing came up.

I'm not sure if deep here indicates the action of exchanging letters like when we use the preposition "in" to indicate the action of doing something in sentences such as

  I lost interest after I had been a couple of pages in.

Is using deep in that sentence correct?


texts:
If I use being instated of had been, does it change the meaning of the below mentioned sentences?

A) Neighbors said that the cat had lost its way after it had been chased by a group of dogs.
B) Neighbors said that the cat had lost its way after it being chased by a group of dogs.


texts: "Didn't choose {to be born/to have been born}"

texts:
Didn't choose to be born
  Didn't choose to have been born

The second one doesn't sound right to me, but something about it looks plausible. Which one is the right one, and why?


texts: Which verb to use when there are two compound subjects where one subject is possessive noun?

texts: Sarah and Ann’s sister is/are away on an important assignment.


texts:
I found some sentence in the online newspaper;

  The Chilean flamingo chicks started to hatch on July 18 with 13 more arriving since then.

Does it mean some chicks arrived on the 18th and after they arrived 13 more chicks have arrived?


texts:
I wish I had continued to run for longer.
I wish I had continued to run longer.
I wish I had continued to run more.

What is the difference between these, especially semantically?
In my view, the adverb more is cover term, isn't it?


texts: Pejorative name for a person who brazenly tells a lie

texts:
I'll set a scene here: James owes me $20. When I asked him about it, he said that he had already paid back. So James is a ____? Google told me that thick-skinned and callous could be used here but I'm not sure if it sounds natural.

Thanks!


texts: what to use? future tense or present tense after where

texts:
In the example the move on Y axis will not be started until I switch
  the toggle into the position where input 4 will be set to Low.

or

  In the example the move on Y axis will not be started until I switch
  the toggle into the position where input 4 is set to Low.


texts: Help formulate a question to the positive sentence with "to have"

texts:
What would be a question to a positive sentence:

  You have to eat before workout.

If you put it as:

  Do I have to eat before workout?

does it mean that to have is not a modal verb in that context?


texts:
I felt there's a similarity in meaning and words could be used interchangeably when I tried to use the words in sentence, for example:

My motivation to attend the course / meeting / study ..
My purpose to attend the course / meeeting / study ..

In both of these examples, my reason to attend something is being stated.

From definitions, I got from Google there also seems to be some correspondence between them.

Purpose: the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.
"the purpose of the meeting is to appoint a trustee"
synonyms: motive, motivation, grounds, cause, impetus, occasion, reason, point, basis, justification..

Motivation:
a reason or reasons for acting or behaving in a particular way.
"escape can be a strong motivation for travel"
synonyms:
motive, motivating force, incentive, stimulus, stimulation, inspiration, impulse, inducement, incitement, spur, goad, provocation;

If not, how these are different? What about the word 'Objective'? Does it relate more to a purpose or motivation?


texts:
I need to tell my son that I will close the door and come with you...Which of the below two sentences is more appropriate..

1.will close the door first and then go..
2.Will get the door closed first and then go.


texts: Using adverbs or adjectives before "present participle adjectives"

texts:
I am not sure about the difference between using "ly-formed adverbs" and using "sole adjectives" before "present participle adjectives".

I think in the first sentence "relentless"   qualify "beating heat" , in the second sentence "relentlessly" qualify the "beating" ?

  1-The relentless beating heat was beginning to confuse me. (sole
  adjective)

  2-The relentlessly beating heat was beginning to confuse me.
  (ly-formed adverb)


texts:
The parcel sends to USA, Italy, Australia and Japan which not up to 2kg is equal to 2kg. Source

Obviously the verb "send" is here used as an intransitive verb, no examples of which I could find that I could see in the OED. Is it fair to say, then, that this usage lies outside the common acceptation of the word?


texts: Which of the two is better? Past simple vs past continuous

texts:
As in the title, which of the two is better:

  During the last economic crisis, many families lived from hand to mouth.
  During the last economic crisis, many families were living from hand to mouth.


texts: is it correct to say "Why are you twitching your eyes"?

texts:
My friend has a weak eyesight and is unable to see properly. Whenever he has to read something, he contracts his eyes.

Suppose I want to ask him about this habit, is twitch the proper word to use in this situation?


texts:
'To whom it may concern' : I've always thought that it referred to this current  writing
(directed at the party whom this writing may concern). Am I right?

If so, then technically, does it  lack an antecedent? Why not specify the real noun?
For example: 'to whom this  cablegram/facsimilie/letter/memorandum...  may concern' ?


texts: What does "subject to" mean in this sentence?

texts:
I'm reading a book and found this sentence.

  Bitcask offers high-performance reads and writes, subject to the
  requirement that all the keys fit in the available RAM, since the hash
  map is kept completely in memory.

I don't quite understand the meaning of subject to in it. I looked it up in the dictionary, but I still not sure I understood. In the example sentence, does it mean Bitcast does meet the requirement that all the keys fit in the available RAM?


texts:
At my university, located in Sweden, the division of X is a sub-part of the department of Y. My colleague, a native speaker, claims that this is entirely wrong; he says divisions should be the largest unit.

Is a division normally a smaller unit than a department, a larger unit, or can it be either way?


texts: Reporting the existence of some particular public place in a city

texts:
Which of the following sentences is better?

  There is one museum in this city.

  This city has one museum.


texts:
I want to express myself as a very dedicated person and I follow the guidelines very well.

Can I use this sentence to express that behavior?

  I can follow through well on instructions


texts:
Before Lieutenant Tillis could give him instructions, Oscar had
already locked onto to the next set of cars...

The Cyber Shadow - Page 134
Vincent Lopez
Found inside – Page 134
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Cyber_Shadow/6ny7DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22locked+onto+to%22&pg=PA134&printsec=frontcover
Is "locked onto" and "locked onto to" the same thing? I am not sure why I see this construction often. It seems to be ungrammatical to me.


texts:
Rosy has / an urgent work / at home / today / No Error

I am trying to find an anwer to this sentence. Most of my friends say there aren't any errors, but a few say 'an urgent work' has an error.


texts:
He was out of control. Throwing things, banging… banging his head… He
  opened the car door when I was doing seventy, nearly killed us both.

The speaker is his mother and he has a developmental disorder.

what does 'doing seventy' mean?
She was driving at the speed of 70km/h?

Help me to understand it!
(My native language is not English. Please be kind to me. :-))


texts: What does 'where' refer to in this relative clause?

texts:
Robots are mainly used in working with  automatic machines in mass production industries, where the same task must be repeated.

I want to know the place 'where'  refers to,
in mass production industries or in working with
automatic machines in mass production industries?


texts: I'm looking for synonymous and antonymous expressions of "go easy on spices" and "go overboard with spices." Can you think of others?


texts: How to express "to slide out of your hand"?

texts:
In the dictionary

  slip [intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) to slide out of position or out of your hand

  His hat had slipped over one eye.

  The fish slipped out of my hand.

  The child slipped from his grasp and ran off.

  (figurative) She was careful not to let her control slip.

Look at this picture

Should we say "He may slip out of / from the cliff" or "His hands may slip out of / from the cliff"?

Another picture

Should we say "the children may slip out of their dad's hands"?

Or this one which we often see in films, a man may be hanging from his friend who is trying to grip the man's hands to prevent him from fall deep onto the ground.

What should we say in this situation?


texts:
Which one is correct?

  Sitting on a Sofa
  Sitting in a chair

Why we say "in a chair" but "on a sofa"? I always heard "on a sofa."
Why this difference?


texts: At the structure "to see + object + pp", what does the pp mean?

texts:
The people said to him, “To-morrow you will be hanged.” It was not very pleasant news, and besides, he had left the tinder-box at the inn. In the morning he could see through the iron grating of the little window how the people were hastening out of the town to see him hanged.

This is a part of the fairy tale "The tinder-box".

At the bold part, what does that "hanged" mean?

who had been already hanged
who was being hanged
who would be hanged
All of the 1,2,3 are possible, depending on the circumstances.

Thanks for your help in advance.


texts: Referring to temporal processes in the second half of a sentence

texts:
Is the second part of this sentence used properly?

  He usually plays tennis very well, but today he is playing bad.

Should the second half of the sentence say "plays"? We consider it as temporal process, don't we?


texts: May I use 'both' with a negative --"Both didn't go"?

texts:
Both didn't go.

Is it a correct sentence?

Actually, I have read that both is not usually used in a negative clause. Use a clause with neither instead.


texts: Can "each of which" be reduced to "each"

texts:
I wrote:

  Regular expressions can be used to match several patterns, each of which is enclosed in parentheses.

Could it be:

  Regular expressions can be used to match several patterns, each enclosed in parentheses.

How about:

  Regular expressions can be used to match several patterns, where each pattern is enclosed in parenthesis.

Update:
Example:

([0-9]+)-([0-9]+)-([0-9]+) to match 12-04-1975

The above expression contains three patterns, each enclosed in parentheses.


texts: Waiting your comments how to use with verb on below sentence

texts:
Q.  I ____  john and Liz after school tomorrow.

  A. am meet
  B. am meeting
  C. met

  Q2. My sister ____ john and Liz after school tomorrow.

  A. Is meet
  B. Is meeting
  C. met

Herewith I attached 2 questions from one Korean student's exam.
Actually these were very weird in case of mine also can't choose anyone of them.

Why there isn't D. (will meet) as I thought.

I'm waiting your brilliant comments about the above sentences.


texts: Term for making fun of somebody else's weakness when you have the same?

texts: Is there a term or an idiom for something similar to pointing at somebody else's weakness when that person has the same weakness?


texts: is "I am free since tomorrow" grammatically correct?

texts: Are there better forms for that sentence? "I am free starting from tomorrow" . Also, do suggest the conditions under which I can use 'since'. Thanks!


texts: A question such as "Why make it bigger if it works as is?". How is this question understood better?

texts:
A question such as "Why make it bigger if it works as is?".
This usage has "as is" in this sentence.
It looke a bit confusing.
Is there any word omitted?
What is the purpose of this kind of usage?
========
I have some response to comment below
How about using "does" insteas of "is"?
that is,
A)"Why make it bigger if it works the way it does now?
or
B)"Why make it bigger if it works as the way as it does now?
Are both A) and B) acceptable and correct in grammar?
How is this question understood better?
==============
I looked up Practical English Usage also.
I guess that "as" can replace subject.
It sounds like an explanation of how as is used.
that is easily understood.
https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/511019/than-and-as-as-subject-singular-or-plural


texts: How to ask someone to make the level of the sound of a radio or a T.V higher?

texts:
If I'm watching the T.V with my friend or somebody and I want to ask him\her to make the level of the sound of the T.V or radio higher, How to express that soundly?

Could I say, "could you make the radio louder"? Is that ok? How to say that in everyday language?

By the way, What is better, The sound of radio (even if it's a human who is talking throw the radio) or the voice of a radio?


texts: How to identify complements that make verbs semantically complete?

texts: The verbs are: "sleep", "eat", and "put". Then, I need to figure out example sentences for each...


texts:
Are prepositional verbs transitive verbs?
I ask that because some prepositional verbs can become passive verbs and the “object of preposition” can become the “subject” of passive prepositional verb.


texts: How can I remember the difference between "lay" and "laid"?

texts:
I often confuse lay and laid.  For instance, in selecting the appropriate word in these contexts:

  She lay/laid a hand on his arm.
    He lay/laid across the bench lazily.
    We lay/laid down our heavy load.

Is there a common mnemonic for remembering which to use, and when?


texts: What's the meaning of 'about' in this sentence?

texts:
I found this sentence and I have no idea about the usage of "about" here. Can you please explain the meaning and usage of "about" in this sentence?

  This is not what people would have wanted to hear, but this was my experience of the war. It was training and transfers and even more training. It was about weekend passes and my first visit to California beach, where I laid eyes on the Pacific for the very first time.


texts: Correct usage with definite article/titles

texts:
https://blog.inkforall.com/appositive
In this example from the resource:
1)The dermatologist, Dr Miller, looked me over from head to toe.
Does the removal of the definite article 'the' change the subject 'the dermatologist' into a title combined with the name instead of two subjects in apposition.
For example:
Dermatologist Dr Miller looked me over head to toe.
or
The student, Sarah, was the best in class versus
Student Sarah was awarded for her efforts.


texts: Does "an example to other team members" refer to members of the same team or of different teams?

texts:
What's the exact meaning of the sentence 'This is an example to other team members'?

This is an example to the members of other team or This is an example to other members of the same team?

Can anyone explain a little bit?


texts:
Which is correct:

"Select a computer where you want us to send your file"
"Select a computer that you want us to send your file to"

Is there any less wordy way to express the same thing?


texts:
I know that to make friends with somebody is idiomatic in English.

But in India I hear people saying

  I want to make friendship with you

I think native speakers do not accept make friendship with somebody. I do not know whether it is grammatically correct or not.

But I think the following sentences are grammatically correct.

  I want to be your friend.
  I want to start friendship with you.

I want to know know other possible expressions with regard to make friends

I herewith attach a link which shows the usage.


texts: Quotes about "it is easy to do something important for one day, but hard to do it repeatedly for a long period of time"

texts:
I wonder if there are any English quotes like

It is easy to do something important for one day, but hard to do it repeatedly for a long period of time

I do know "Rome is not built in one day" but I feel like it only emphasizes of achieving something through patient. The quotes I want should emphasize the difficulty of being patient for a long time as opposed to short time.
I won't mind if it is long or it is translated from another language in the appropriate way.


texts: What is the difference between "get through" and "go through"?

texts: Is there any difference between "go through a door" and "get through a door"?


texts: When bunny Judy said: 'I know a thing or two about being a jerk.' Did she mean she was sometimes a jerk too?

texts:
In the movie Zootopia, when Judy came back to her hometown after quitting her job, she met fox Gideon Grey, who bullied her when she was a little girl, by pushing her down and scratching her face. But fox Gideon Grey was not the bad boy any more, he apologized to Judy for what he had done, and confessed he was a major jerk at that time. Then Judy told him

  I know a thing or two about being a jerk.

My question is: what did Judy exactly mean?

She wanted to tell the fox that being a former cop, she knew a lot about what would a real jerk look like, and the fox was not a jerk at all.
She wanted to tell the fox that everyone could be pissed off and make mistakes, including herself (I guess she was implying she hurt fox Nick’s feelings), so what Gideon had done was not a big deal.

Would you kindly tell me which answer is the right one? Or they are both wrong?


texts: How to break down this GRE complex sentence

texts:
That such a ____ of precedent would be countenanced was itself
  unprecedented in the court, a bastion of traditionalism.

I am practicing for verbal test in GRE therefore its very important to break down a complex sentence to simple sentences and moreover its better to guess a word for the blank space.

What bothers me is that the above sentence has "would be" and "was" in a complicated way.  Can you please how to  break down the sentence therefore I can easily understand the sentence and guessing  for the blank would be easier.


texts:
Which is the correct wording?

  patent claims drafting

or

  drafting patent claims

For example:

  A: Drafting patent claims is a difficult task.
  B: Patent claims drafting is a difficult task.


texts:
1)We peered out from the window at the tanks passing through the streets.
2)No one wants to walk in bare feet across the frigid floor to peer out the window at the icy rain slanting down in the early morning gloom

Why does in the first sentence "from" go before "the window" but in  a latter example it is omitted?


texts: Do I have to use “do” in any “wh-” question?

texts:
What did you say?
What you said?

What did you wear?
What you wore?

Where did you go?
Where you go?

I know that sometimes in English, people do not use “do” in “wh-” questions. I have heard somewhere that people do not use “do” when the answer is a proper noun or a unique thing. Am I right?


texts:
As far as I'm concerned, when you cause something to be done more quickly, you are expediting it; but I remember at the time of the high school's chemistry course I got familiar with another word, "catalyst / catalyzer" which was a substance which could expedite the a chemical reaction's process.
Then I think these two verbs can be always used interchangeably. E.g. I'm sure the following sentences sound idiomatic and natural and they mean exactly the same thing:

  Whereas he has some friends in high places, I expect him to catalyze the success process.
  Whereas he has some friends in high places, I expect him to expedite the success process.

Do you confirm it?


texts: Is there any modal verb to show possibility in present?

texts:
In my language there is a modal verb which can be used for present possibility but in English as far as I know we have to rely on words like possibly,perhaps,maybe etc

We use the modals could, might and may to show that something is possible in the future, but not certain

And could have,might have for past possibility

But what about present possibility?


texts:
Can we use 'suffer' in passive form?
For example:

  Our skin can be suffered from spots .


texts: Is this a grammatical noun phrase structure?

texts:
This effect can be rectified by the government conducting a publicity
  campaign.

Is this a grammatical structure? the government is the subject, so what is "conducting a publicity campaign"?  I guess the whole phrase after "by" is a noun phrase, isn't it? If not what is this structure called?


texts: "a" or "the" article before a compound noun

texts:
Avoid including words that are clear from a/the file type or otherwise obvious.
Not recommended:
presentation_for_google_summer_of_code_2011.ppt

Recommended:
summer_of_code_2011.ppt

(The above sentence, as I understand, could be rewritten as "Avoid including words that are clear from the type of a/the file or otherwise obvious.")
This is an excerpt from my manual about naming files. Which article should I use, a or the? I know that if I talk about a specific file, I should use the, but it doesn't directly answer the question itself.


texts: The meaning of "The boat was low to the water."

texts:
The boat was low to the water. - What does it mean? Does it mean that only a small part of the boat was under water? Or does it mean that the boat deck was near the water level? Or something else?
Thanks a lot for your help.


texts:
I will break your vase.
  I will break your vase!
  I'll break your vase.
  I will break your vase.

Which one is stronger in meaning between Sentence 1 and Sentence 2? Is it #2?
Between #1 and #4, #1 is stronger than #4, isn't it? In #1, the subject has a strong volition than #4. Is 'will' #4 just a simple future? Or does 'will' in #4 have a volition weaker than as in #1? What about # 3? A contracted form is used here. In #, does the subject have a volition weaker than #1?


texts: "In the 1970s, Viking space probes may have etc." - help for understanding

texts:
I've read in the biology book the following sentence:

  In the 1970s,Viking space probes may have picked up some microbes that
  emitted CO2."

I'm not sure if this sentence is grammatically correct because the word probes should be in the past simple tense rather than in present simple tense. Am I right or it's grammatically correct?


texts:
Source:http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/mrsfunnybones/kohinoor-and-other-british-gems/

  We eat a few more raspberry scones and switch over to discussing the great poet Rumi and Shams of Tabriz and when I say that back home, we often refer to him as Shams Tabrizi, she retorts, ‘You Indians are obsessed with the British, want to rhyme everything with Angrezi — affected lot!’

Meaning of bold part?

The sudden use of 'affected lot' is also not clarified?


texts:
The belief that the art of the novel can be discussed and evaluated only after its narrative techniques or "devices" have been identified and enumerated launches novel theory into an Adamic ecstasy of naming.

I have no idea what this phrase really mean.


texts: What is the meaning of "right there"? Does it mean "inside that thing"?

texts:
I'm watching a comedy movie called Bad Trip (2020). There are 2 male friends riding in a car. One of them who is in the passenger seat picks a DVD snap case and the driver, owner of the car, says: "That's my favorite movie right there, man."
Does "right there", in this context, mean "inside that DVD snap case" or something different?


texts:
What does "grabbing a stick on the beach" mean?

  After a long day of sunbathing and cooling off in the ocean, George Smith took a lone walk along what appeared to be a deserted beach.   Finally, George came upon a “another shorter, square-cut man,” who thought he too was alone and grabbed a stick on the beach and began drawing in the sand. George was awestruck, as he had surely encountered his idol, Picasso.


texts: Something that is contrary to the society convention

texts:
As you know well, in so many cultures (especially eastern ones,) having a child from a boyfriend or a girlfriend and generally from someone who is not married to you, is denounced and disapproved by many people.

Also, as you know, almost in every culture people call such a person with some specific qualities and use vulgar language about them! (At least that's the way is was in the past.) (Regardless of whether this is good or just a wrongdoing.)

I would call such behaviors "contrary to the social convention" in a specific society (, while usually in that society everyone is well aware about the routines and customs of a particular matter like having a child from someone.)

Convention:

  A usual or accepted way of behaving, especially in social situations, often following an old way of thinking or a custom in one particular society.

Now, I was wondering if the sentence below can be indicative of this matter in natural English. If no, then I wonder how shall I imply this message.

  Having a child from friend (who you are not married to) is contrary to the social convention.

Thank you.


texts: How to say that numbers are not accurate

texts: Let's say there is a graph showing that the prices on coffee are going to grow with 5,00% anually. How can I specify that the growth might as well be 4,70% or 5,10%?


texts: Is "firsthand smoker/ first-hand smoker" standard English?

texts:
I was wondering if  "firsthand smoker" or " first-hand smoker" is a standard formal English or I should use "active smoker".

When I looked up "firsthand smoke", "first-hand smoke", "firsthand smoking" and  "first-hand smoking" on Google Ngram, only "firsthand smoke" is shown up on the results. However, there are many websites using the collocations I mentioned above when I looked them up on the Internet.

I also would like to ask why at least "firsthand smoking" is not used in books?

Oxford Dictionary  shows only "first-hand"  without any reference to smoke.


texts: May there be any cases where collective adjectives are allowed to be used without the preceding definite article?

texts:
One of Truman Capote's short stories, The Thanksgiving Visitor, starts with "Talk about mean! Odd Henderson was the meanest human creature in my experience. "

I take it that the "mean" in the exclamatory sentence is a collective adjective referring to a group of mean people, but shouldn't collective adjectives be always preceded by "the"? If yes, what could be the reason for the author's omitting it? If no, what may be the cases when "the" could be omitted before a collective adjective?


texts:
I'm reading Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson and came across the following sentence. It's taken from chapter 69, "The General":

  It is physically impossible for him to get out of the turret. Even if
  he could, it would just lead to his getting arrested.

I'm not sure but the highlighted his in the sentence seems incorrect to me. In my opinion it should be replaced by him or the "getting arrested" should be changed to "arrest". Could someone, please, explain this to me?


texts: What does 'that of' mean in this example?

texts:
My other day job is that of the father of two.

What does 'that of' do here? Is it necessary to complete the sentence?


texts: Is it correct to say “the number of X ... totaled/amounted to Y”?

texts:
I bumped into this sentence in IELTS writing task 1:

Male students studying philosophy at University of Cambridge in 2001 numbered 50

My question: Can I use "amounted to" and "totaled" instead of "numbered" because I notice that I can write:

The number of male students studying philosophy at University of Cambridge in 2001
totaled/amounted to 50


texts: Pronunciation of "sure" in American English

texts:
I saw that "sure" can be pronounced [ʃʊər] or [ʃər] in the dictionary.
Here's my audio: https://clyp.it/4gdwhi24 First I pronounce it [ʃʊər] then [ʃər]

I don't know which one should I use, or is this more of a preference? or a difference between regions? some Americans pronounce it [ʃʊər] and some [ʃər]?


texts:
I know of the idiom around the block, but I'm having some doubts as to whether I can use it in certain ways. More specifically:

Can I use it in a phrase like "This is not your first time around block", to indicate that the person has done this before?
If yes, then how informal is it? I mean, can I write to a colleague about a certain task something like "Since this is not your first time around the block, you know what this task involves"? To give you some context, in our workplace we're quite friendly and not too formal with each other.


texts: What are the patterns of Be-, A-, Pro- prefixes?

texts:
Giving un- prefix reverse the meaning of the word come after. undo/do, unfair/fair, undying/dying.
I wonder how does these prefixes below modify the original words. Do they have any pattern?

Be- bewitch, beknow, befall, behold, befriend, begone, ...
A- amiss, amass, arise, atop, afar, amid, alight, abash, await, ...
Pro- proactive, provoke, ...


texts: What is the meaning of "objective tendency"?

texts:
When I am reading Philosophy and Simulation, I encountered the phrase:

  "objective tendency"

But I could not understand what the phrase means? Could you give me a synonym of this phrase?

  To understand how this works let's imagine two bodies of water at
  different temperatures. The moment we place these bodies in contact
  with each other energy will flow from the body with higher temperature to the one with lower temperature, the flow continuing until the temperature difference disappears. In other words, the difference in
  temperature will display a tendency to average itself out . Thus, saying
  that a body of water possess a certain temperature, and that possession of that property defines an enduring state, implies that departures from that state are constantly being counteracted by an objective
  tendency.


texts: Can I add ‘if’ before ‘they’ in the sentence?

texts:
Did you know they were coming by air?

Can I add ‘if’ before ‘they’ in the sentence above and is it usual to delete ‘if’ before ‘they’ ?


texts: Use of "being" without "to" in passive construction

texts:
I look forward to being interviewed on the current affairs programme.

It is in passive construction, hence to has been placed before being. Am I right?

  How could she think of the baby being born in the house?-AY Byatt, 1985.

Does this sentence contain passive construction? I think it does. If it contains a passive construction, why to preposition has not been placed before being? It would be better if I got some sentences similar to this sentence, containing being+past participle without the preposition to.


texts:
In optics, why is "lens" not "len" used?

Why is "lens" used as a singular not plural?


texts: What does the sentence mean: How does he smell?

texts:
How does he smell?

Does that mean how the he will smell other things or how himself smells?
For example: If there is a dog who doesn't have a nose and a person asks the owner the above question.


texts:
What is the difference between part and a part?
What is the difference between these two sentences?

  He was a part of the team.
  He was part of the team.

I heard that part means a member and a part means a role (in a play or something). Is this right?


texts: The use of to study or studying in this context

texts:
So i came across this sentence and the correct answer is this:

Nathan didn’t like it when we suggested studying instead of going out.

Personally i would have put to study instead.

Was just wondering why this sentence is supposed to use the verb studying instead of to study


texts: How can I get rid of my Indian accent and sound more neutral/native

texts:
I have recently moved to Canada and I feel I often end up having to repeat myself because of my typical accent. I am attaching a link to a very short audio and would love to know what can I do to fix my accent. I understand pronunciation differences like t,d and the likes. But keeping those in mind and yet it does not seem to do the trick for me. I try to follow the suggestions with those specific vowel pronunciations and t and d pronunciations but still end up sounding pretty much the same.

Attached a short audio:
https://voca.ro/dJbxaNePunb

Would love to know what can I change to sound more native/neutral.


texts: How to ask my optician check my eyes for glasses in proper english?

texts:
How can I ask my optician for an eyes check for myself in proper English. I am thinking something along the line of

Can I have my eyes checked?

or

I would like to have an eyes check, please.

What would be a natural and grammatically correct way to ask?

English is not my primary language. So, I am not sure what is the most appropriate way to ask.


texts: 'verb-ing' or 'to verb' after the verb 'continue'?

texts:
Which form of the verb is correct after the verb "continue"?

  If police didn't arrest him, he would continue robbing.
  If police didn't arrest him, he would continue to rob.
  (These sentences are written by me.)


texts: "past simple" vs "past perfect"- "told me that he lost ... " or "told me that he had lost ..."?

texts:
Consider this test from CAGIU [Section 5.2, question number 5]:

  The boy told me that he .................... his train ticket and didn't know how he would get home.

had lost
lost
1 and 2 both are correct.

The answer is had lost, the first option.

If we can avoid using past perfect when the chronological order is clear, then why we are not allowed to do so in this example? In my opinion the chronological order is clear without using perfect.

Am I wrong?!

If the reason for using past perfect is something else?


texts: Improving a sentence without changing its idea

texts:
Here is my sentence,

  regular objects can be geometrically modelled by intersecting ridges
  themselves and also with other boundary segments.

I feel this "themselves" degrade the quality of sentence or idea. I want to tell that objects can be modeled by intersecting ridges and ridges, and also ridges and other boundary line segments.

Is there  any other way to explain this idea?


texts:
I'm often confused the participle clause used in English grammar.

He broke his leg and he went home. (= Having broken his leg, he
went home.)
He had broken his leg and he went home. (= Having broken his leg,
he went home.)

Here my doubt is for both past simple and past perfect can we use perfect participle(having broken)??


texts: What does "educated at university" mean, exactly?

texts:
"Educated at university" seems to be a British English expression. I wonder does it necessarily mean that someone "educated at university" or "educated at Oxford University" (for example)...

(a) necessarily graduated from/received a degree at the named university,
(b) can it only imply the person graduated from the named university,
(c) can it mean that the person studied there and left (either to another uniniversity or simply dropped out), without having graduated,
(d) can it mean a current "undergraduate" or "graduate" student (or their BrE equivalents) at said university?

Also, the expression can apparently be used for "University High School, Melbourne." Is this because the name of the high school begins with "university," or can the expression "educated at" apply to any high school? And whatever the case with high schools, I've the same 4 questions about a student "educated at high school" as I do above for "educated at university."


texts: what noun does the pronoun "they" represent in this academic text?

texts:
In this theory I treat the historical work as what it most manifestly is: a verbal structure in the form of a narrative prose discourse. Histories (and philosophies of history as well) combine a certain amount of "data", theoretical concepts for "explaining" these data, and a narrative structure for their presentation as an icon of sets of events presumed to have occured in times past. In addition, I maintain, they contain a deep structural content which is generally poetic, and specifically linguistic, in nature, and which serves as the precritically accepted paradigm of what a distinctively "historical" explanation should be.

Source: Hayden White: Metahistory, p. ix.

I would like to ask you to tell me what noun the pronoun "they" represents in the bold sentence. The most logic possibility seems to be "historical work" but it is in the preceding sentence in the singular form so I hesitate.


texts: "As often as I can" vs. "As often as I can really"

texts:
Consider this conversation

  Question: "How do you often wear jeans?"

  Answer1: "As often as I can really."

I guess the answer is grammatically correct. I don't really understand the meaning of "really" here, though I understand the meaning and the usage of the adverb "really" in general.

What's the difference between that one and the following?

  Answer2: "As often as I can."

Does Answer1 convey more emphasis than Answer2?


texts: Do native English speakers notice when non-native speakers skip the word "the" in sentences?

texts: I always wanted to know if you folks notice when someone is skipping articles during a basic talk?


texts:
A movie narration goes:

  The gold crescent moon hangs from a metal brace. Behind it is a lit church steeple. Stained glass windows are faintly lit. Carved statues march up the side of a building. (source)

I have never heard "march up" used to describe sculptures adorning a building. The phrase seems to make some but not a whole lot of sense as I assume the sculptures are immobile and thus can't exactly "march". I can see them line up the side of a building. What does "march up" mean here exactly?


texts: Become interested in what you're doing very much

texts:
I'm trying to express the following idea:

Imagine that I started working on a project and the project turned out to be so interesting that I spent almost all my free time to work on it. How can I express it in a way that is shorter?

  When I started working on the project I _____


texts: Are British words jarring in US English?

texts:
In particular, I don't mean mere alternate spellings like colour, honour, but words that are entirely different: using lift instead of elevator, fridge instead of refrigerator etc.

What is the common outlook on using them in plain informal speech in the US? What are the chances they won't be recognized at all? Will they be seen as pretentious? Weird? Unwelcome?


texts:
-- Where’s your luggage?
-- I haven’t got __________ A. One B. Some C. Any

I thought the answers were A and C both, but it’s C. Why not A?


texts: Why can't I write a space between "an" and "other"?

texts: Every time I have a space between them my answer or question gets edited. This answer suggests it's not a big deal.


texts:
It is normally the case that a determinerless countable noun is in the plural if it functions as an object, as in "to change jobs," but the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English has the following sentence:

We need to reduce costs, so with this end in view, the company is switching supplier.

Someone said this is an error, and the correct form is "switching suppliers."
But is this an accidental error, or is it intentional? If it is intentional, are there any other similar examples? Also, if "to switch supplier" and "to switch suppliers" are both correct, what makes them different from "to change jobs"?


texts: "Plays no games" vs. "doesn't play games" or "Says no words" vs. "Doesn't say words"

texts:
I wonder if there is a grammatical or stylistic difference between these contexts :

  He plays no games.

vs.

  He doesn't play games.

  He says no words.

vs.

  He doesn't say words.


texts: ''Had you better ........ than/or.........'' in positive questions?

texts:
I had watched a tutorial about the use of ''Had better'' in positive questions.

İt was mentioned that ''Had better '' is used in positive questions to ask which option is better?

EG;

a)Had you better stay here than leave? (asking staying or leaving better?)

An American native speaker said that this sentence (Had you

better......than..............)  is odd to him.

I wonder ,is this structure ok for native B.E speakers?

or the other option

b)Had they better talk or be quiet?


texts:
A variety of toys is made at the company called ZYD.

Or

  A variety of toys are made at the company called ZYD.

I'm confused which one to use. Explain please.


texts: a glass of milk , two glasses of milk which one takes singular verb and which one plural?

texts: milk is uncountable but when uncountable nouns is placed in a countable container then it becomes countable . So , when i use a glass of milk it becomes countable but either it is singular or not please help me. Also help me either two glasses of milk is singular or plural countable and which verb it will take .


texts:
Talking about job offers what is the best/right/usual way to say it:

To make an offer
To extend an offer

Is there any difference? Thank you.


texts: What is the meaning of "funky fresh fly flava"?

texts:
In English Crime-Drama movie Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999), Sonny said this words to Ray Vargo

  The rappers got names like that - Snoop Doggy Dogg, Ice Cube, Q-Tip,
  Method Man. My favourite was always  Flavor Flav from Public Enemy. He
  got the funky fresh fly flava.


texts: What's the problem with "Colonization hundreds of years ago is held accountable for such situation"?

texts:
I wrote the following sentence.

Colonization hundreds of years ago is held accountable for such situation.

I think I have used "hundreds of years ago" as a modifier of "colonization" while it is primarily an adverb used with verbs. Is my assumption correct, or there are other problems?
A better alternative I can think of:

Colonization taken place hundreds of years ago is held accountable for such situation.

What are your recommendations? If "hundreds of years ago” is not an adverbial phrase, which grammatical role does it play?


texts: Should I use who or which? "a nurse is someone who/which always helps sick people."

texts: Is it "a nurse is someone who always helps sick people." or " a nurse is someone which always helps sick people."?


texts: what is the "ordered" of "De Lima ordered arrested by RTC" in news headline

texts:
De Lima ordered arrested by RTC link

From this answer

I somewhat understand of Headlinese. However, I still don't understand ordered. I mean, I can understand was is omitted in following sentence.

  De Lima (was) arrested by RTC

But in the sentence, two past participles are arranged side by side. I tried to study Headlinese but I couldn't find answer clearly.

Could somebody make a perfect(normal) sentence from the headline? I read someone said it can be various cases. Then could you make some sentences which is possible to suppose.

So far, my best attempt is that

  De Lima (was) ordered (to be) arrested by RTC

I'm not sure, though.

Thank you in advance.


texts: Expression similar to "I went past some point"

texts:
Consider these sentences:

  I was traveling by bus the other day, and I was a little distracted at the time, so I failed to notice when my stop came. I realized it 20 minutes later and by then bus had travelled 5 miles.

Is there a word or an expression to describe going past your destination because of some negligence or being absent-minded?


texts: How to say "nothing in particular" in this context?

texts:
What Job would you like to have 10 years from now?

  I hope to be my own boss and have my own business because I am too old
  to be an employee.

  What kind of business you want to have?

  Nothing in my mind now..I don't have a specific plan...it is just a dream.

I'm not sure whether I used "nothing in my mind" correctly, and I mean that I don't know what I will do.  What can I say instead?


texts:
Yesterday I looked at the record you sent me last week. I saw on the sleeve that you wrote/had written "no payment is necessary for you" but I had paid 50 usd through discogs to get it.

So it would be nice to make me a refund of the postage

Is it better like that

                   in fact :

                             I had paid for the record  past perfect

                             you wrote the message  past simple or past
                             perfect

                             you sent       past simple

                             looked saw the message    past simple

                            ask for a refund

I am not sure  if I can write "had written" instead of "wrote" because of "had paid" that comes next. if both are past perfect we can't know which comes first


texts: How a noun is considered to be specific?

texts:
I learn to use "the" when I need to be specific.  But I am confused as I am not sure what is the meaning of being specific?  specific to the context I guess.
For example:-

High income will not make one happy.
I am talking generally about "high income"

The high income did not make Costa happy.
I am using "the" because the income is specific to Costa.

Did I get that right??


texts:
I'm wondering whether the definite article is necessary in the following:

  John is such a dark horse. Who would have thought the shy boy in (the) class would become the CEO of a multinational business?


texts: What's the neutral term for a woman who is not a mother?

texts:
For married women, this scheme is very helpful.   For unmarried women, this scheme is not useful.

These sentences are clear because we have a term unmarried. I face difficulty describing the same thing whilst talking about the herb that increases the breast milk (of course, in mothers) but then it does not mean that women who are not mothers cannot use it for the breast enlargement.

  [Herb] increases the quantity of breast milk in mothers but non-mothers can also take the herb as it helps multiplying the breast tissues resulting in a natural breast enlargement.

I'm not talking about a woman with infertility. I just want to refer a woman who has no issue/child. To make you all understand, I have referred her to as a non-mother. I don't want to use unmarried as it does not serve the purpose.

I can write ... "breast milk in mothers but women in general can also take the herb..." but then it's paraphrasing. I need the term, if available.


texts: Is "considered" a linking verb? Considered + adj or considerably + adj?

texts:
I'm confused by these two sentences. I don't know if they're both grammatically correct.

They have produced a new solar panel that is considerably more innovative than any other of its kind.
They have produced a new solar panel that is considered more innovative than any other of its kind.


texts:
Don’t talk aloud in the library.

Can I use ‘aloud’ or not, in the sentence above? From my Koran English dictionary, except ‘(idiomatic) cry [shout] aloud,’ they don’t use the word to denote ‘in a loud voice,'  or it is archaic. And I can tell that it could be expanded into ‘laugh/groan aloud’ from Longman. Could it be further expanded into ‘talk aloud’?


texts:
The question is simple but I would like to understand the principle governing the choice of prepositions in the following examples.

I know it is not correct to say, for example

1) *I have come here for starting a business. (should be - to start)

2) *I have come here for telling you about it. (should be - to tell)

However, these are fine (I suppose, correct me if I am wrong)

3) I have come here for fishing.

4) I have come here to fish.

Why is it that it is wrong to say "have come here for starting a business" and why is it that 3) and 4) are OK? Do 3) and 4) mean different things?


texts: What do we call the process of cutting pencils down to expose more lead?

texts:
We call the following a pencil cutter.

But what do we do with it? Do we cut the pencil? Cutting the pencil sounds odd to me, like it means actually we are cutting the pencil into pieces which is not something we do. So what do we do with it?
EDIT- In case anybody is in doubt what I mean to ask, here is an image of the process I want to know about.

What is this process called?


texts:
Live bacteria are not present in all yogurt brands.

Does it mean "live bacteria are present in some yogurt brands, but not all" or "there is no bacterium in any yogurt brand"? Or does it depend on the context?
I know that "All yogurt brands do not contain live bacteria." seems to mean "not all yogurt brands contain live bacteria". But what if "all" does not appear at the beginning of a sentence but appear after some preposition such as "in"?
I often confuse this. How should we distinguish between "partial negation" and "complete negation" effectively? I have searched for this, but the answers are quite different.


texts: This sentence make me confused about what it is expressing. Is it saying I want to make you become better at studying but the use of word yet is weird, so am I understanding correctly?


texts: Is the use of "why it is" in this sentence correct?

texts:
The following is an excerpt from this NYT article ( 9th paragraph). It is a comment that senator Romney made over Trump's decision to pull back the U.S. troops.

  Critics in both parties condemned the president’s approach. Senator Mitt Romney, Republican of Utah, said that by sending Mr. Pence and Mr. Pompeo to Turkey, Mr. Trump was trying to fix a problem of his own creation.

  “It’s very hard to understand why it is the vice president and secretary of state and others are going to talk with Erdogan and Turkey,” Mr. Romney told reporters. “It’s like the farmer who lost all his horses and goes to now shut the barn door.”

Shouldn't it be why is it instead of why it is?

  “It’s very hard to understand why is it (that) the vice president and secretary of state and others are going to talk with Erdogan and Turkey,” Mr. Romney told reporters. “It’s like the farmer who lost all his horses and goes to now shut the barn door.”

If why it is is indeed the construction he used, then shouldn't there be a that in his expression?

  “It’s very hard to understand why it is the vice president and secretary of state and others that are going to talk with Erdogan and Turkey,” Mr. Romney told reporters. “It’s like the farmer who lost all his horses and goes to now shut the barn door.”

Essentially, is he saying that he can't understand (figuratively) why it is those specific people that are going to negotiate with Turkey (he sees them as  unqualified), or that he can't understand why they are even bothering to try to negotiate with Turkey (perhaps because he thinks Turkey will be irresponsive to their demands)?


texts: What are here the meanings of the following words "ride trails on mountain sled", "go touring with sport trail" and the others?

texts:
Here is a link to the text's website https://finntrail.com/blog/snowmobile-types/. Here is a small paragraph:

You may ask yourself… “can I still ride trails on my mountain sled?” of course! It just won’t be the best in class. “Can I still go touring and ice fishing with my sport trail sled?” of course! “Can I go mountain riding with my touring sled?”

I'm not a native English speaker, I'm a translator and I'm translating it from English and these sentences are quite weird to me, so would you please explain it in easier words if it is possible? I did not really get what is a mountain sled, sport trail sled and touring sled is. Are these the types of snowmobiles or what?
And if we are talking about types of snowmobiles I understand what is a mountain, touring and utility snowmobile but what is sport trail I just do not have any idea. Can I say that sport trail is just a sport snowmobile?


texts: Off being used to say "not to live on a certain place"?

texts:
I've seen some sentences with off to apparently say "not to live on a certain place"

For instance:

  We live off the campus

  I used to live off that farm,but after my grandpa invited me...

  I live off the Main Street.

My question is: Do those sentences respectively mean:

  We don't live on the campus.

  I didn't use to live on that farm, but [...]

  I do not live on the Main Street


texts: When can we omit "does" in the question sentence

texts:
I am learning Duolingo English course, I saw a sentence like this:

  Who uses the wheels?

But should we use something below?

  Who does use the wheels?

What's difference between two? When can I omit the word does in a question sentence?

Thanks

Jake


texts: Difference between "stumble up to" and "stumble to"?

texts:
I have a question on an expression "verb + up to".

In the following sentences, which one is better?

  He stumbled to a woman in the bar.

  He stumbled up to a woman in the bar.

what is the subtle difference between them?


texts: Infinitive and geund differences in usage

texts:
1) It started to rain.

  2) It started raining

My grammar book said both are correct and both have almost same meaning. What are the nuances in their meanings?


texts: It's/I'm acting in your best interest/interests

texts:
The plural version is more common according to Google ngram. It is also used as an example in Cambridge's dictionary.

  It's in his interests to keep careful records

However, I would like to know whether the plural and the singular versions are equally perfect to use without sounding unnatural.

If there is any difference, of course I would like to learn about it.

Singular:

  It's/I'm acting in your best interest

Plural:

  It's/I'm acting in your best interests

Google ngram is provided for both with "your" and without:

your best interest,your best interests,best interest,best interests


texts: Grammar and role of the word "protected"

texts:
What is the role of the word "protected" in the following sentence?

She kept her money protected in a safe.

I mean, she is the sub., kept is the v. and ... so what about the word "protected"?


texts: Meaning of "tasting only what was to come."

texts:
I thought the four-week voyage would never end. So eager was I to reach
  Africa that at times the ship seemed caught in the water like a leaf endlessly
  turning around in a pool. I ate my chocolates, read my books, dined, and
  chatted with the other passengers, but my mind was always sailing ahead of
  the ship. Would I be able to rebuild Tumaini? Would the lives of the Kikuyu
  and Masai be safe in my hands? Would the Kikuyu and Masai trust me? One
  day I answered the questions one way and the next day another way. I was
  like the leopard at the moment before it springs, tasting only what was to
  come.

Dose The whole sentence in bold mean: I was like a leopard that still has not jumped to his prey and did not know what his prey is and at last taste something that he hunt??

Source:
Listening for Lions by
Gloria Whelan


texts: What is correct sentence to ask, How much money or how many money?

texts:
What is correct sentence to ask,

How much money
How many money
How many dollars

In case of singular noun we use much, but is money singular?
I'm a bit confused need help here.


texts: A majority of us are hiding THEIR or OUR feelings?

texts:
I'm not sure which is the correct option in sentences like these ones:

Each of us has to learn how to express their/ our feelings.

majority of us are hiding their/ our feelings.

"Their" sounds slightly better to me, but still I am confused.
Any help will be greatly appreciated!


texts: Difference between "mover" and "shaker" in "mover and shaker"

texts:
What is the difference between “mover” and “shaker” in “mover and shaker”?

I first checked the OED and they seem similar to me.

  OED

  Mover:

  colloquial (originally U.S.). A person who initiates events and
  influences   people; a dynamic and influential person. Chiefly in
  mover and shaker

  Shaker:

  a. One who or something which shakes (in the transitive senses of the
  verb). Also in mover and shaker, shaker and mover (U.S.), a person who
  influences events, a person who gets things done.

Then I checked the origin of “movers and shakers”. This website does give an explanation for “shakers”, but not “movers”.

  By 'shakers', O'Shaughnessy didn't mean…..but simply those who shake
  the foundations of conventional thinking by the strength of their
  imagination and vision.

  https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/movers-and-shakers.html


texts:
In "I'll have a large please," "a large" means "a large cup of something."
Is it correct to say "I'll have two larges please"?

I'd appreciate your help.


texts: Is there a good replacement for "both" in this sentence? (Which refers to three items.)

texts:
This sentence refers to three items:

  You can bring both the smartphone, laptop and power bank charger in
  your hand luggage.

I've seen from this answer that "all" is more correct when referring to three or more entities. However, "all" doesn't work in this sentence.

Is the sentence alright as it is?
If no, can I replace another word for "both"?
Or, do I have to restructure the sentence completely?


texts:
Is it considered informal to omit "that" in "so ... that ..."?
What would style guides say about the following?

  John is so intelligent (that) he can learn any language in two months.

If this omission is used alongside a formal structure, would a stylistic mismatch arise?

  The building is of such size and grandeur, (that) everyone feels great awe when they first see it.

Some style guides, notably The New Fowler's Modern English Usage and The Cambridge Guide to English Usage, both claim that should be retained in formal contexts involving compound conjunctions. Examples are offered below:

  What would he do now (that) he had missed him in Toulouse?

  The heat was up so high (that) almost everyone took off their coats.

  We were so exhausted (that) we didn’t care.

  They would be there provided (that) we did all the catering.

Do you agree with their judgments on these sentences? If so and if you still think that can be omitted in formal contexts involving compound conjunctions, could you provide some working guidelines about its omission?

I'd appreciate your help.


texts: Stress in words like confluence, influence, finance - noun vs verb

texts: I'm looking for a right way to stress words ending in -fluence in American English. There should be a change of stress depending on whether it's used a noun or verb. Also, in "finance" I stress the 1st syllable as a noun, but 2nd as a verb - am I right?


texts: Are "Prepositional Phrases" mostly adverbials, at times adjectivals

texts:
It seems that phrases are viewed in two ways: one of function; other of construction.

It somehow dawned upon me that, barring the "infinitives" all prepositial phrases(PPs), whatever be its components, are mostly adverbials in function, if not used as a subject in a sentence. Here are certain representative, though not exhaustive, examples to drive home my point.

He came 'to me'.

This will last 'for ever'.

He is 'about to go'.

He is ignorant of 'how to swim'

It depends 'on how you do'

What do you know 'regarding this'.

The book is 'on the table'.

So is it correct to view PPs as mostly adverbials?

However, such PPs, when governing a noun/pronoun do they become adjctivals?


texts: I cannot say anything definite/definitely about it

texts:
I cannot say anything 'definite/definitely' about it

which is correct?

I know many people usually use 'definite' in this sentence.
I cannot find sentences used 'definitely' in that situation.

is there any reason we couldn't use 'definitely'?


texts: Can you say that something "interferes with someone's doing something"?

texts:
In a gerund and infinitive exercise, there is the following conversation:

  Annie: My parents finally bought me a new TV, but it has a V-chip.

  Bea: What's that?

  Annie: It's something that blocks violent shows so that I can't watch
  them.

  Summary: A V-chip interferes with Annie's watching violent shows.

Having studied English for a long time, I find the usage of the verb interfere in this context to be cringe worthy and unheard of. I want to know if I am wrong and if I could use the verb "interfere" in such context.

I have looked it up in many dictionaries, there is no sentence example or a sense that I found that the word interfere  could come in such context. It could be used such as in these sentences:

  Smoking and drinking alcohol interferes with your body's ability to
  process oxygen.

  Anxiety interferes with children's performance at school.


texts: What is the meaning of "I do believe it. That's what I don't believe."?

texts:
Peter telling about his life to Regina:

  Peter: Well, in this highly competitive world when a man has no
  profession, there isn't  much choice so I began looking for people who
  had more money than they needed including some they'd barely miss.

  Regina: You mean you're a thief?

  Peter: Well, that's not exactly the term I'd have chosen but it sort
  of captures the spirit of the thing.

  Regina: I don't believe it.

  Peter: I can't really blame you now.

  Regina: But I do believe it. That's what I don't believe.


texts: “Play Ping-Pong with the designer”, real Ping-Pong or not?

texts:
One reason manufacturers like Ligne Roset or Vitra charge significantly more is the involvement of a top designer, Mr. Breitling said. “You’re investing time and money in playing Ping-Pong with the designer because they have a vision.”

I guess it does not mean the real Ping-Pong game.Then what does it mean？ Does it have something to do with "they have a vision"?
More context:

Thinking of sofas as interchangeable is wrongheaded, apparently. Magnus Breitling, director of product management for the chair maker Emeco and formerly with Vitra, the Swiss furniture company, set me straight on the subject of luxury sofas.
“There’s a lot of intelligence that goes into the product, not just in construction but in sourcing,” Mr. Breitling said. “The effort and time is much higher than with a typical Macy’s or Ikea couch.”
But then again, so is the price. One reason manufacturers like Ligne Roset or Vitra charge significantly more is the involvement of a top designer, Mr. Breitling said. “You’re investing time and money in playing Ping-Pong with the designer because they have a vision.”
Do I really want to spend an extra $5,000 to underwrite someone’s creative process? I may fall victim to designer names with clothes, but not sofas.


texts: Can an infinitive replace a comma in a conditional sentence: "If you need help to call somebody."

texts:
Are these two sentences the same sentences in meaning?

If you need help, call somebody.
If you need help to call somebody.

I want to know whether these two sentences are the same sentences in meaning.
Please, help me.


texts: What are the differences between "pass for" and "pass as"?

texts:
These towering men could have easily passed for hardened soldiers.

  These towering men could have easily passed as hardened soldiers.

I was told that these two sentences basically mean the same thing. Is this the case? Also what's the difference in meaning if there's any.


texts:
If I want to thank someone because mntioned a good subject, which one would be the best and why?

  Thanks for pointig great note.
  Thanks for noting great point.

Or are these basically the same?


texts:
"I can't believe it. My girl's left me. She's fucked of with some nextman."

I saw the sentence from Urban Dictionary. I'm not sure what the phrase "fucked of" means. I looked it up, but I haven't found it defined in any dictionaries I consulted. Any ideas?


texts: The right word order in sentence with what is

texts:
I have the following three sentences:

  1/ We will show what is the relation of this parameter to other
  existing properties.

  2/ We will show what the relation of this parameter is to other
  existing properties.

  3/ We will show what the relation of this parameter to other existing
  properties is.

I think that 2 is wrong. I strongly prefer 1/ but I do not know if it is correct. 3 is surely correct but it sounds cumbersome.


texts: What is the difference between I had been and I was?

texts:
I would like to know the difference between I had been and I was, in these two examples.

I had been a teacher for years but now I am a writer.
I was a teacher for years but now I am a writer.

If there anything wrong in the examples please correct me?


texts:
Therefore, in order to properly follow the tutorials, a recent compiler is needed.

What does above sentence mean?
Are in order to and properly same?


texts: Is there an English equivalent for the Italian saying "It's another pair of sleeves"?

texts:
In a meeting an Italian told a puzzled English audience: "It's another pair of sleeves".

It's an Italian way of saying: "it's another thing", or "this new argument is something different or off topic". The phrase could be used to remark that the new argument is something different or off topic. I don't think it can be used for pointing something unique.

In the context of the meeting it was used to note that the new argument was about a completely different thing with no connection with the previous one. The expression comes from the medieval use of interchangeable sleeves in woman dress.

There is some similar colorful way of saying this meaning ?


texts: The meaning and the usage of the expression "Dare I say..."

texts:
Macmillan dictionary says:

Dare I say:

  Used when you are saying something that you think other people may not like:

This famous novel is a little, dare I say it, dull.

Or as Longman says:

  Spoken - Formal --- It is used when saying something that you think people may not accept or believe:

I thought the play was, dare I say it, boring.

And the same goes with other dictionaries. But although I have read all the definitions, still I don't know:

Is it used in current English or not (I have never heard an American uses it! Perhaps it is mainly BrE!) Please let me know about it.
I don't really understand its meaning. Is it used as an apology before a predictable possible insult/annoying statement/disapproving comment etc.?
Can we use "I dare say" instead of "dare I say"?

Added: I read the similar thread before posting my thread to the forum. But "dare I say" and "I dare say" are two absolutely different concepts that I found it necessary to be considered separately.

Meanwhile, @Damkerng T. mentioned that:

  Dare I say (it)  mainly British  spoken formal [**it is not clear that the statement is understood / used by Americans too.]

He also mentioned:

  Used when you are saying something that you think other people may not like. -- [but it doesn't convey what would be formed in a native speaker's mind after hearing this statement!]

Also he said:

Typically, I personally don't say either I dare say (sometimes written I daresay) or dare I say (it).
Instead of "I dare say", I usually say these:

I would say ... (or I'd say) - I use this to express my opinion, without much assertive -- [I don't find these two phrases "I'd say" and "I dare say" the same!]


texts: Two adjectives with different meaning for the same noun

texts:
Summer and Winter vacation are compulsory in our schools.
  Summer and Winter vacations are compulsory in our schools.

which one is correct? As summer vacation and winter vacation are different, shouldn’t we use plural word “vacations”?


texts: Is "shouldn't" closest in meaning to "shall not" or "ought not"?

texts:
I have written this statement:

If he yells at you again then don't put up with it, ok? You shouldn't be afraid to stand up to him.

I'm not sure how shouldn't will be perceived here.

1) Is shouldn't closest in meaning to "shall not" or "ought not" here?

I don't want the latter. I could have written "don't be afraid to stand up to him" but thought it would be repetitive to use "don't" again. And using "shall not" would not be natural, would it?

2) Is "you shouldn't be afraid to stand up to him" the same as "don't be afraid to stand up to him" or is it not as strong in meaning?


texts:
I've just listened to the song "perfect" by Edd Sheeran, and in one of the sentences he says:

  We are still kids, but we're so in love

  Fighting against all odds

  I know we'll be alright this time

  Darling, just hold my hand

What is the meaning of word "odd" in this context?

For me, by the context the meaning should be a noun but by the checking Cambridge dictionary as well as the Oxford dictionary I didn't find any meaning of noun for this word. Then what should it be?


texts: How to phrase this question in proper English?

texts:
Cutter send his guards to kill Aramaki. So Guards rain(rain means
  firing more bullets) their bullets on Aramaki's car. But Aramaki step
  out of the car alive & kill those guards with his gun. How Aramaki still alive with so many bullets fired on him?

Note: Cutter not present at the location of firing takes place, he is somewhere & ordered his guards to kill him & also I used the word guards here, There are not actually guards & but they work under Cutter's command.

I want to phrase this question in proper English.


texts: What does "deemed election" mean in the context of Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)?

texts:
Deemed Election by Former Spouse:

  The DD Form 2656 does not require a former spouse's signature. To prevent that former spouse from being at the mercy of a retiring servicemember who does not elect former spouse coverage,10 U.S.Code § 1450(3) authorizes the former spouse directly to elect former spouse coverage.The former spouse may do this deemed election within one year of the order requiring former spouse SBP coverage by completing a DD Form 2656-10, Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) / Reserve Component (RC) SBP Request For Deemed Election.

  Military Divorce Guide

I think election just means selection or choosing. But I cannot figure out what deemed means, although I know deem means judge, as in "this will be deemed unnecessary". I think deem in this context is a legal term, but I cannot penetrate its meaning. Wikipedia confirms it is a legal term:

  Deem in law is used to treat something as if it were really something else or it has qualities it does not have.

But I still don't understand what deemed election is.


texts:
Which one is correct:

  Where are you come from?

or

  Where do you come from?

As we know, the first question is grammatically incorrect, but my supervisor in Egypt insists that it's right!  Could you please give me the right answer and explain why it's the right answer?


texts: Particular question about "as" preposition

texts:
I want to know the difference between these 2 sentences.

As a mother, I warn you.
Like a mother, I warn you.


texts: meaning of the phrase "at any one time" in context

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Here it goes:

  As I mentioned in the eating section, 7 to 14 days of a keto run is the most I would suggest at any one time.

Does the author mean always by that?


texts: "relevant for our purpose" or "relevant to our purpose"

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I wrote the following sentence

  We use a subset of XPath axes which are relevant for our purpose.

To check its validity I searched the phrase in google (I always do that trick)

"which are relevant for our purpose " : 62000 results
"which are relevant to our purpose " : 122000 results

Then I doubt which of the phrases is correct or if they mean differently?

When can "to" and "for" be used alternatively?


texts: What are the proper ways to use "age and "aged"?

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So, I have recently written a school assignment in English and I was wondering what's the correct way to say:

In the beginning of the 19th century, one-third of the millworkers aged from seven to twelve.
In the beginning of the 19th century, one-third of the millworkers were between the age of seven and twelve.
In the beginning of the 19th century, one-third of the millworkers were between seven and twelve.

My teacher doesn't approve of the first example that I have listed.


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I'm in trouble with the following sentence:

  How was/were the meals you had while you were gone?

I think "How were" is correct, but why is "How was" wrong?

Please explain.


texts: Is this sentence grammatically correct? How should I write it with a different beginning?

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The situation was that Person A (she) implied something (probably that he was an idiot), via a look, that offended Person B (he). So, Person B turned away from her while huffing. The vibe was lighthearted.

So, I wanted to describe all that in a sentence, and ended up writing,

"Offended by the implication behind the stare, he huffed, turning away from her."

Can I use this? Should it be "implication" or "implications"? Should I use " her stare" instead of "the stare"?

And if the sentence had to start with " Taking offense... " how would it be written?


texts: Should I used "submits" or "submitted" after "We used to wait"?

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I have one confusion with one sentence structure. We know that we can use any tense with present tense, future tense and past for only past. But in this case I am really confused. If someone told me about this, that would be really helpful.

We used to wait till someone brave submits his exam papers.

Is it ok or I should have used "submitted" instead of submit?


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Can "both ... and ..." combine prepositional phrases?
For example

His performance is a pride both for himself and for his country.


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Here

  They are related to each other being the descendants of James.
  They are related to each other as being the descendants of James.

In sentence no.1 "being descendant of James" is a participial phrase adding relation to two individuals, but the sentence sounds awkward to me, whereas the sentence no.2 sounds correct to my ears but I feel there is unnecessary repetition of "as" and "being"(we can use one of them).

I am no native speaker so, I could be wrong. The first one was used on family tree table or pedigree table which is a legal document.


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When should I use the preposition of and when can I omit it?

Let say, I have the following pair of sentences:

  Development of the high quality software…
  Development the high quality software…

Are these both sentences correct?
Are they equal?
Which one of them is better from the stylistic point of view?

Is there any difference between the rules when we're talking about the complete sentence or just short statement? For instance:

  Development of the high quality software is a critical for the company.   (Responsibility:) Development the high quality software

Another similar cases:

  Learning the new language
  Learning of the new language


texts: I wrote the sentence "We will go as long as the shops open." on my English test in the context of we don't know if the shops will open and if they won't, we won't go. My English teacher said that is grammatically correct, but that the 2nd part lacks something. I disagree with her. Do you think she's right?


texts: Why is this possessive, not objective case?

texts:
"Oh yeah, an' I still haven't got (IO) yeh a birthday present." . .
  . . . . “Tell yeh what, I'll get (1) yer animal. Not a toad,
  toads went outta fashion years ago, yeh'd be laughed at - an' I don'
  like cats, they make me sneeze. I'll get (2) yer an owl. All the kids
  want owls, they're dead useful, carry (3) yer mail an'
  everythin'." (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)

(1) and (3)’s yer may be ‘your.’ But (2)’s yer can’t be ‘your’ because of the next ‘an.’ So yer of (2) needs to be indirect objective, yeh, just as in (IO). Might there be some good reason for the writer putting yer in (2)?


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No one likes change (but babies in diapers).
No one likes (diaper) changes.
No one likes (diaper) changing.

A. Why does #1 use the word change without articles?
B. How does each differ from each other meaningwise?
C. Which one is most natural?


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The form Shall I is used to make offers, in general. For example

  Shall I help you?

and one would answer

  Yeah, help me

but what's the full answer? I mean, with a question like

  You will go for meat, won't you?
  Short answer: Yeah.
  Full answer: Yes I will.

But shall as a second person has another meaning

  Shall I help you?
  Yes you shall. <-- it's no more a suggestion: I'm requiring you to do that.

and using Yes you will still sounds imperative. Therefore, is there a full answer to that form as there is for normal verbs like do, will, be and so on?


texts: Is there any difference between "ask about someone" and "ask after someone"?

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Is there any difference between ask about someone and ask after someone? For example:

Kate's skipped the past two classes. The teacher asked about her.
Kate's skipped the past two classes. The teacher asked after her.