texts: What's the meaning of "be with my share of women"?

texts:
From Friends(a very old American Show) Season 02, Episode 201
Context is that Joey came to talk with Rachel, and told her he could understand her misery. To let Rachel believe he did know her feelings, he said the following words:

I've been with my share of women. In fact, I've been with like a lot of people's share of women. The point is, I've never felt about anyone the way Ross felt about you.

From the dictionary, I learned that be with you / me means to understand what someone is telling you or explaining to you, but how to explain my share of women? What's the meaning of the whole sentence?


texts: "While asking" vs "Asking" vs "While I was asking"

texts:
A. While asking a previous question I was not sure whether to conclude by asking "A" or "B".
B. Asking a previous question I was not sure whether to conclude by asking "A" or "B".
C. While I was asking a previous question I was not sure whether to conclude by asking "A" or "B".

Are all of the above sentences grammatical? If so, how are they different in meaning and how can one avoid using "asking" two times?


texts:
I have a problem using those tenses in practice, or even analysing them in books or movies.

For example : A character says "I opened the doors" (well the doors are opened so he and his friends see that they are opened)

But it should be used Present Perfect so the correct answear is "I've opened the doors" (result they are opened)

Next example can be "I bought a car" - He is with his friends but they result is that he still has this car but he used "bought" in Past Simple tense

But he could also use "I've bought a new car" same thing ... So what should a do about that ?


texts:
What is the meaning of following sentence?

  He is highly thought of in racing.

  When the moderator mentioned his books, saying that they were highly
  thought of by scholars...

  She is highly thought of person.

  Festival is highly thought of.

When I looked it up in Cambridge Dictionary, it redirects me to another term "well thought of" ,which means

  considered by other people as good; admired, and approved of

On the other hand, Free Dictionary says it means "popular."

Although they are similar words in terms of meaning, I wonder how to use it correctly. Apparently not every dictionary contains a definition for the term so it may be archaic.

I wonder if I can say that it means "renowned" when it is used for people, while it may mean "popular" when it is used for things such as book, a play or song. Unfortunately the word popular does not connote good every time or recently because it may be said popular does not mean it is good quality, on the contrary it may mean the opposite, cheap and shallow.


texts:
I would like to know the difference between "I write" and "I'm writing". Yesterday I watched a film, and there was a sentence that ended "as I write." What surprised me is that the actor was writing. So why not "as I'm writing"?

In the film, the man who was writing did not play a writer.


texts: I want to know the what part of speech is this, the word 'fit' in this sentence

texts:
I saw the sentence

  I cried fit to bust.

But I don't know how the word 'fit' works in the sentence above.

I'd like to know what part of speech is this, the word 'fit' in this sentence, and the meaning of the sentence above.
Is bust a noun in the sentence above?
Would you like to tell me the answer?


texts: Differences between "confident" and "self-confident"

texts: What are the differences between  "confident" and "self-confident" since they both means that some has confidence in themselves?


texts: Is this use of "take to" grammatically correct?

texts:
Do the following sentences agree grammatically?

As per our religious teachings, we take to believe that God has created this universe.
Do I take to understand that global warming is a myth according to the study conducted by you?


texts: Introducing a proper synonym for "hanging organizer"

texts:
Do you know any proper word or phrase interchangeable or synonym for the following: hanging organizer

  Take metal cans, for instance, and imagine them in any number of uses,
  functional or purely as an art form. Can your eyes and mind see the
  potential metal case, bird feeder or other object in the simple cast
  off items? What about boxes or clothing? What might be done with
  these? Boxes can usually serve as new storage containers, and almost
  always serve as very imaginative forts for the kids, not to mention
  makeshift pet houses during colder weather. And clothing? Imagine
  taking old clothing and turning them into vests, hats, hanging
  organizers, or rag rugs. The only limit to using these items in
  other ways is one's individual creativity and daringness to try.


texts: I tend to automatically want to call officials and clerks "Sir" because I am usually their junior, but instead they are calling me "Sir". When is it appropriate to call someone "Sir" or "Madam" in a UK context?


texts: Verb with UP in the meaning "will be soon"

texts:
Here's my question)
Which verb can I use with UP to say that something will be soon? For example "Christmas's coming!" What can I put instead of "is coming"? Is it possible to use "keep up"?


texts: Seats reservation is open vs Seats registration is open

texts: If we are going to announce admissions in the coming days and we haven't announced yet, which Slogan will be proper to use in a footer? Reservation or registration?


texts: Is it correct to say “there was a long drive to ”?

texts:
Is it correct to say “there was a long drive to <somewhere>”? or should I say “it was a long drive to <somewhere>”?

I googled this term and I found this sentence:
"Although it is a long drive to get to, arriving at Elephant sands was amazing." http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowUserReviews-g316100-d1447545-r87275381-Elephant_Sands_Botswana-Nata_Central_District.html

So I presume "it" is more common, but is using "there" wrong, noticing the fact that "there" means some thing exists? I read about "it" that it refers to time and weather. But does it also refer to distance?


texts:
Leicester is seven points ahead of Tottenham.
  Leicester is seven points ahead before Tottenham.

Which sentence does better express the fact that the club from Leicester leads the Premier League by a margin of seven points.


texts: Is it correct to say "I was mistaking it with something"?

texts:
I was wondering if it is grammatically correct to say, "I was mistaking it with something"?

For example: some animal is coming from far away towards you and you think it is a cat. When it is near, you realize it is a dog; so you say to a friend "I was mistaking it with a cat!".


texts: Using gerund vs. of-phrase: Which is natural?

texts:
Consider these sentences:

  1) To make selecting values easier we've added a new style dropdown.

  2) To make the selection of the values easier we've added a new style dropdown.

Which is recommended? Why?


texts:
This is the biggest mushroom which I have ever seen.

"Which" or "that"? Which one is grammatically correct in this sentence?


texts: What is the exact meaning of this sentence

texts:
We selected this bicycle after we had tried several times.

Does it mean that we have tried it several times and then we selected this bicycle (this bicycle is tried several times then bought) or we tried several bicycles and then selected this?


texts:
I have an example
"I love it here in NY. It's too good."
I know that it should be "very good" or "so good" but I don't know why "too good" is wrong.


texts:
I made up the sentence "if he finished the task at X o'clock, he will come here not later than Y o'clock".
Can the sentence be correct in some context? According to rules, this isn't zero or first or second or third conditional.


texts: What do you call the document containing all of the details of a secret mission? I know the "mission briefing" expose the details of the mission, but what do you call the document and not the event where the details of the mission is being put forth? By secret mission, I mean a mission that has to be performed by a spy or a secret agent like James Bond.


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

  If trolls badger me, I have a comeback, ‘Oops sorry! Burnt my bridges there as well.’

It should be , 'I will have a comeback.Sorry!Burn my bridges there'.

Why the writer says , 'as well'?


texts: "Has someone smoked" vs. "Has someone been smoking"

texts:
If I come into a room full of smoke, should I ask:

  A: "Has someone smoked here?"

or:

  B: "Has someone been smoking here?"

I can literally see the smoke, but the person who was smoking has already gone.


texts:
This is no way to live out your twenties.
The meaning I'm going for here is "go through and was wondering if this was an alright usage of the phrasal verb live out.


texts:
I am writing a scientific paper and would like to ask if this sentence:

  These changes in complexity heavily worsened the results of many algorithms which were used up to now, because the color distribution now significantly changes in dependency of the camera's direction (plus lighting) and the orientation of the ball itself.

is correct?

Additionally I am not sure whether it should be which or that:

  (...) the results of many algorithms which were used up to now (...)

  (...) the results of many algorithms that were used up to now (...)


texts: "...waking up to each other’s warmth..." Is this phrase grammatical?

texts:
A couple waking up to each other’s warmth in the morning.

I think this sentence is grammatical. However, it only has 1 Google result. So, I'm wondering: is it grammatical?


texts: How to describe an event that was true in the past but not true any more?

texts:
I want to describe that I joined a newly opened college (it was new a decade ago, but no longer new). How to describe this to warn the reader that it is no longer new?

In 2000, I joined the newly (at that time) opened university XYZ.

Is the phrase [at that time] correctly placed? Is there any better alternative to warn the reader?


texts:
It's grammatically correct to say this overnight trip but is it possible to say This trip is overnight?

And what is the difference between

It happened overnight.

It happened over the night.


texts: Is it idiomatic "She is sitting with her hand / hands under the chin / the temple / the cheek", etc?

texts:
Look at these pictures & Is it idiomatic to say:

1- "She is sitting with her hand under the temple / chick" or "She is sitting with her temple / cheek on the hand"

2- "He is sitting with his hands under the chin" or "He is sitting with his chin on his hands"

3- "She is sitting with her hand under the chin" or "She is sitting with her chin on the hand"

4- "They are lying with their hands behind their heads" or "They are lying with their heads on their hands"

5- "She is lying with her arms over / above the head"

6- "He is lying with his arm over / on the forehead"

7- "She is lying with her hand over / on the forehead"


texts: what's meaning of "beating me by 2 seconds"?

texts:
What is meaning of beat me by 2 seconds?

In this link, there is a comment:

  +1 for beating me by 2 seconds

I am not understand the meaning, which friend can help me with that?


texts: Are three word phrasal verbs always inseparable?

texts:
I found this sentence from the internet

  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to keep up on the news while I was away on vacation.

I understand that it (keep up on) is inseparable.

However, I wonder about other three word phrasal verbs.

Can other three word phrasal verbs be separable?
Could you give me some examples?

And three word phrasal verbs always must to have an object, right?


texts: Correct way of asking a waiter to bring one more

texts:
Lets say I've had a small piece of butter and a small pot of jam coming with my breakfast. Now I'd like to ask one more. What would be the correct way to ask?

  Can I have one more for each of them?

  Can I have each of them one more?

Or how would a native ask for it?
Thanks


texts: Brother and sister while they aren't biological siblings - how to call such usage?

texts:
I'm looking for a word  or term that describes the way poeople use familial words to describe their friends, such as: "brother" or "sister" (while they're not really brothers and sisters from the same father or mother). Can I use the word "nickname" in this context?

I need to use this term in such sentence:

  Person A: This is my brother.

  Person B: Nice to meet you.

  Person C (not in front of person A): Is he really his brother or it's (=the word brother) just a (nickname? "affection word" / "fondness word"?)

I'm looking for (a) word/s to describe the usage of such words (brother & sister) in a context of friendship. "I didn't really mean that he's my brother, I used the word brother as a... (nickname?)"


texts: Is "along the way" parenthetical in the following example?

texts:
They dated for two years. Then(,) along the way, their love started to fade.

I wonder if along the way here is parenthetical or not. Is it the same as this structure?

  Then, without even noticing it, their love started to fade.

Or maybe it's up to me whether I want it to be parenthetical? And therefore add a comma after Then?


texts:
Is this sentence correct?

  Master thesis to obtain the degree Master of Science

I am really not sure about the 's here.


texts:
The alphabet letter combination ea makes 6 sounds: bread [bred], teacher ['tiːʧə], break [breɪk], idea [aɪ'dɪə], pageant ['pæʤənt], bearable ['beərəbl].

I know that that the fact that the same letter combination can be read in so many different ways is related to the history of the English language. And basically it's easier to consult a dictionary and just remember the correct way of reading.

But still why can ea be read in 6 different ways?


texts:
I have a question about the following sentences concerning the word much:

He is as hated as loved.
He is as much hated as loved.
He is as hated as much loved.
He is as much hated as much loved.

Do the use and non-use of word much make any differences?


texts:
Once I read a rule on the internet that if the second part of a sentence is a universal truth then don't change it to past.

For example: My teacher told me that the sun rises from the east.

But I'm not sure about the following examples whether it's right or wrong. Both sentences have different meaning to me

1: She told me yesterday that she was pregnant.

2: She told me yesterday that she's pregnant.

In the first example it sounds like she has already given birth to a baby and she's no longer pregnant.

In the second example it sounds like she still has some time to deliver a baby.

Am I right?
And sorry if it sounds silly to you.


texts:
It is from a BBC sports article. Here is the excerpt:

  The Briton, 28, used his left hand to telling effect throughout an intriguing affair, in which New Zealand's Parker displayed swift hands, movement and impressive durability.

What does telling effect mean there, and why was an article omitted before it?


texts:
The whole language of love had been corrupted by overuse. When I listened to the radio in the car, my love fed effortlessly off the love songs that happened to be playing, for example, off the passion of a black American female singer, whose accent I took on (I was on an empty motorway) while Chloe became the lady's 'baby'.

  Wouldn't it be nice
  To hold you in my arms
  And love you, baby?
  To hold you in my arms
  Oh yeah and I say, I do, I say I love you, baby?

  (Alain de Botton, On Love pp.75-6)

Is feed off an idiom as is said, “eat something in particular customarily. (Of is usually retained before pronouns (thefreedictionary)“? But it seems to be kind of strange in the context. So I got this guess: it is not an idiom but a construction of ‘feed + resultative prepositional phrase’. I mean his love fed/heard the love songs and got totally distasted for them. How do I have to understand it?


texts:
What is the grammatical role of the "lay" in the following sentence? It seems like a verb. But why it is not used like a third person form (lays) or "lay" is the past form of it?

  First, attention may be given to the doctrine of geographic causation.
  It stresses the decisive importance of the location on Moscow for the
  later expansion of the Muscovite state (the medieval state centered in
  Moscow) and includes several lines of argument. Moscow lay as a
  crossing of three roads. The most important was the way from the
  historically crucial city of Kiev and the declining south to the
  growing northeast.


texts:
This is a title form a June 5, 1904, text about the aeronautic race organized at the Saint Louis World's Fair. The content of the article is about Santos-Dumont, the Wright brothers and other real or possible contestants.

"Airships Arrive at St. Louis for, the Great Race of Aerial Hot-Footers."

I have found that hot-footer is an "invented derogatory term for a Mexican American" but it does not really fit the context of the article.


texts: Why the definite article in "in the gas state"? Why not "in gas state"?

texts:
From Chemguide:

  So, what is going wrong? The mistake is to look at only one part of a much more complicated process. The argument about atoms accepting electrons applies to isolated atoms in the gas state picking up electrons to make isolated ions - also in the gas state. That's not what we should be talking about.

Some time ago, I asked a similar question about "in infix form".

I quote from the answer:

  Because "infix form" is a non-count noun phrase. That is, it's not a phrase that would make sense in the plurality, such as referring to "the infix forms". There is only one infix form, and it is what you will be writing the expression in.

Would the gas states make sense in the plurality? I think not. To me, it sounds like referring to "the countries that produce gas". So, going by the plurality argument from that answer, it should be "in gas state".

But "in gas state" sounds strange to me. Is it because "state" is inherently more "countable" than "form"?


texts: Do we need the definite article before a specific place with a proper name, like "the La Scala Opera house"?

texts:
Articles are the worst (sorry, article fans).

I have trouble with article usage when I mention doing some activity in a specific place that has a proper name. For example,

  This play was presented at the La Scala Opera House.

Do we need the definite article there?


texts:
My mother was in her room while I made a mess in kitchen. So she came and helped me make food. Then she said

  “I am watching a movie”

But wasn't she helping me in kitchen? Could she have meant

  “I am watching a movie so don't disturb me by causing mess”?

Or did she mean

  “I am going to watch a movie as soon as I'm done with this”?

But if she did mean the second one then she'd say

  “now I'm watching a movie”

that too right after leaving the kitchen and not while continuing on with the activity.


texts: Is there an error in 'The second metric is the lack of violations'?

texts:
My advisor commented that I need to fix my English, please help me find the English problem here.

  The key indicator is an exploitable population. The more exploitable
  workers are the more likely they are being exploited. This means we
  need a way to measure each population’s exploitability. The second
  metric is the lack of violations.  This is not an indicator of a lack
  of exploitation; a lack of known exploitation may be an indication
  that a domain may be running under-the-radar.

He underlined

  The second metric is the lack of violations.

I don't see an English error here though I am a native speaker and he is a native German speaker so he actually learned English at one point where as I just 'know it.'

The comment was made with a sticky note in a PDF and I think he was on a transatlantic flight when he reviewed this paper; the sticky note looks like it is pointing exactly to "The second metric is the lack of violations." He marked "We need to know the domains, the expected rate of violations in each domain, and then the actual degree of violations in each domain." with the same comment.


texts: gone "on a nighttime visit" - is it a predicative or an adverbial?

texts:
“. . .when you're on the train home tomorrow, you're so -"  But
  what they were, they didn't find out. Hermione had turned to the
  portrait of the Fat Lady to get back inside and found herself facing
  an empty painting. The Fat Lady had gone on a nighttime visit and
  Hermione was locked out of Gryffindor tower  (Harry Potter and
  the Sorcerer's Stone)

Is the prepositional phrase a predicative expression over the Fat Lady, or an adverbial modifying the verb?


texts: "RULE sth OUT ON/OVER people's complaint"

texts:
Let's say a government of a country implemented an UNBENDING rule on its citizens that they should pay higher taxes than other countries. You hypothetically say:

  "if the government rule the high tax payment out over us, citizens here would organize a protest against it.

Or should it be:

Rule out the high tax payment on us

There is a fixed phrase for this and correct preposition to express is grammatically and to not sound awkward.


texts: But to follow (or) but follow (or) but following

texts:
I have a doubt on this sentence.

I hate it when i don't have any other choice but to follow...

(or) I hate it when i don't have any other choice but follow...

(or) I hate it when i don't have any other choice but following...

Which one is correct - to follow (or) follow (or) following ?

Please clarify...


texts: "If only he could know" vs. "If only he knew"

texts:
In the following sentences:

  "If only he knew about the surprise party that is awaiting him."

This one refers to a wish in the present -  and it is correct.

My question is about the following one, which I want to use "as is":

  "If only he could know about the surprise party that is awaiting him."

This one also, is about a wish which is not fulfilled, in the present.

Is it grammatically correct to use this second one as is, or is the first one preferred? Or maybe both are fine.


texts:
I am not sure what "prep" means in this sentence from an NYT article:

  As usual, the tidy nook was stacked with plastic containers of odds and ends, leftover prep from the night before, set aside for staff meal.

I thought it possibly means "prepared food," but this usage doesn't seem to be supported by dictionaries. What does "prep" mean here?


texts: "would" can be used to express the degree of certainty? Or it is always used under hypothetical condition?

texts:
I am wondering about "would" can be also used to express the degree of certainty.
Not any website shows any example sentences using "would" to express the degree of certainty only except for the under website.
https://medium.com/@gmbley/modal-verbs-levels-of-certainty-ba14047dd134
This site only shows "would".
Anyway, I have also read this previous Q & A (Would vs will degree of certainty),
According to this, "Would" is only used under hypothetical conditional sentence like Type 2 conditional sentence?
If yes, the under-mentioned sentences using "would" are also under hypothetical conditional sentences???

FYI: Those example sentences are from Collins, Macmilland, and Longman dictionary.


texts: Is the article 'a' in "How many petition a player can file?" correct usage?

texts:
Is this sentence is correct or not?

  How many petition a player can file?


texts: What is a baby doing if you must strive to change her?

texts:
My baby is making difficult to change her because of her movements.

Is the baby fidgeting (about)? Is she wiggling? Or is she even doing something else?
Which word is the right one? What are the differences in meaning?


texts:
Can you use plural nouns to avoid referring to specific nouns? Please see my example below:

  Packages will be delivered to the customers who have placed the orders.

If I write something like this, am I referring to general packages, customers, and orders? I'm not sure if I would want to use "the" since I don't want to refer to any specific packages/customers/orders. Is this sentence correct or is there some other way to express this kind of sentence?

EDIT:

Sorry, I must have been extremely unclear. Let me try this with a different example.

  You need to confirm each order with the customer who has placed it.

I want to generalize this sentence into a general instruction.

  You need to confirm orders with customers who have placed them.

If I write something like the sentence above, am I creating a generalized instruction that doesn't refer to any specific orders and customers?


texts: Is the past and prestent tense correct in this?

texts:
I like that you made it a point to bring me food before I started working this morning

Or should it be .. I like that you made it a point to bring me food before I start working this morning.


texts: it's an attempt to... but tweak... , to fit -- I have a problem comprehending that

texts:
Source: You Don't Know JS: this & Object Prototypes  by Kyle Simpson (2014)

Example:

  This mechanism is often called "prototypal inheritance" (we'll explore the code in detail shortly), which is commonly said to be the dynamic-language version of "classical inheritance". It's an attempt to piggy-back on the common understanding of what "inheritance" means in the class-oriented world, but tweak (read: pave over) the understood semantics, to fit dynamic scripting.

As I understand it, the part that begins with but tweak is just insertion text, kind of like a parenthetical statement. So, to fit dynamic scripting is the continuation of it's an attempt to piggy-back on the common understanding of what "inheritance" means in the class-oriented world (to fit dynamic scripting). What I have a problem with here is how exactly does that insertion text fit in with the rest of the sentence? What exactly do you think but tweak etc means? Is the author talking directly to me? Should I tweak the understood semantics? I don't fully grok the aspect it is used in.


texts: Indirect object, proximity, and ambiguity

texts:
As a lad I was taught that certain verbs such as "to say," "to describe," "to distribute," and "to explain" can take an indirect object only when it immediately follows a preposition, and that this indirect object can never immediately follow the verb.

New learners of the language are still being inculcated with this dictum, and it is quoted here and there. Today, however, a question arose about these two sentences:

  He explained to her what he meant.
  He explained what he meant to her.

According to the "rule," the first is incorrect and the second correct. Yet the second is ambiguous: it invites the interpretation that He explained to her his own significance in her life. The first sentence, which is unambiguous, violates the "rule."

Adding insult to injury, one of the expositions of this rule justifies it as follows:

  One reason for this may be to avoid creating sentences which are ambiguous or confusing.

Is the "rule" that prohibits an indirect object adjacent to these verbs less a rule than a Best Practice?


texts: How to advise someone about the danger of a television failling from his arms

texts:
Does the sentence "You drop the television!" express the purpose of advising someone about the danger (of the television falling from his arms) or the fact of not being able to believe that someone dropped the television?

The google translator suggest this answer: You drop the television! as a translation of «¡Que se te cae el televisor!» But it sounds like if you were dropping the television on purpose.


texts: "It is not always true that he ... " and "It is not true that he always" have the same meaning?

texts:
He like to plays outside on a fine day, but sometimes plays games at
  home.

I would like to describe this using "always", but am confused on whether which of the followings is better:

  It is not always true that he plays outside on a fine day.
  It is not true that he always plays outside on a fine day.

Do both have the same meaning?


texts:
Excerpt from Game Of Thrones, season 7, the unexpected, secret meeting of Lannister brothers: Tyrion and Jaime Lannister.

  Tyrion: Danaerys will win this war, you are (referring to Jaime) a military man, you must know there's no way around

What do the words in bold mean?


texts: What is the filling of the stapler called in English? (picture attached)

texts:
What is the filling of the stapler called in English? (you can see it in red circle in the attached picture).

I looked for this word in my native dictionary but I didn't find this word.


texts: Kids word for "lights shoes" (shoes that light up)

texts: What do kids in America call these "lights shoes"? Do they just call them "lights shoes" or is there any name kids would call them?


texts:
I don't understand the function of "coming" word in the sentence below.

  As they weigh the scale of monetary easing coming later this month.

Is it working as a gerund? and if so, why is it in gerund?

Could I rewrite:

  As they weigh the scale of monetary easing which is coming later his
  month.


texts: Ambiguous use of present prefect and present tenses

texts:
I want to know whether which usage of present prefect and present tenses are used correctly between these two sentences shown below.
Sentence one: He always passes all his exams even after he has spent time to practice playing basketball every night.
Sentence Two: He has always passed all his exams even after he spends time to practice playing basketball every night.
Thank you so much.


texts: Why "some one who 'incorrects my English'" "incorrects my English" is a word play?

texts:
According to the comment of Kent Anderson to this question:
https://workplace.stackexchange.com/q/44581/26185

Q: How to deal with a customer who “incorrects” my English?
the title to this question is superb ("incorrects my
English"). It does show a certain level of mastery of a language when
you can start playing with the words like that!

"incorrects my English" is a word play.
I'm not that good at speaking English, but knew of the phrase.
But didn't know that it is a word play. In how far it is?


texts: Is it correct to say: "sell/send/distribute throughout the United States."? The idea is that the person/firm sends/sells/distributes something to every city in the United States. I really want to use 'throughout' and I'm not sure which verb is suitable in that case.


texts:
Let's say your child had a lot of toys and all the toys were piled up into a messy pile.

Now you want to find a specific toy in that pile.

Is it idiomatic to say "Your toy is mixed into the pile (of toys)"?


texts: Verb meaning "compensate for falling behind schedule by working more"

texts:
Imagine one is behind schedule and then decides to work more than usual to compensate the delay, or the difference between where he is and where must be. Do you have a word or expression or phrase equivalent with the italic part?

In a hiking group, those who fall behind try and catch up with others. It looks as though catch up (with) is typically used with people, can we use it with plan, schedule, lessons etc.?


texts: Be going to or verb-ing in this context?

texts:
Here's a not very clear exam question, in my opinion at least, it asks to circle the correct answer in:

  It seems that our neighbors are (having/going to have) a party this weekend. This is our invitation.

What do you think?


texts:
The full phrase is:

  There was not one in all that assemblage but knew it.

This is from a book first published in 1906

My instinct is that it means “everyone in the assemblage knew”.


texts: "Help/let/make you get over nervousness" - which one is recommended?

texts:
Which verb would you recommend to use?

  Our course will help you get over nervousness.

  Our course will let you get over nervousness.

  Our course will make you get over nervousness.


texts: I am confused about the tense and the sentence structure here

texts:
If I couldn't get out of it could she come with me?

If I can't get out of it can she come with me?

Which sentence is correct as I want to use for if condition talking about future?


texts:
Conduit: a means of transmitting or distributing (Merriam-Webster)

Take this sentence as an example:

Ultimately, you become a fundamental conduit between the data teams and decision-makers in management.

I understand this means you are a channel of communication between them. But does it imply you negotiate between them and perhaps bridge their understanding gap? Or does it simply mean you pass information along without doing anything else?


texts:
What is difference between "put on" make-up and "apply" make-up??

Please explain with some sentences.


texts:
What's the verb for news anchors talking in front of television?
Doing a news cast, reporting don't really meet the definition. For instance, reporting doesn't make sense if you want to use it for news anchors who are just speaking their mind like Tucker Carlson.


texts: I have something urgent {need / needs} your help?

texts:
I want to ask for help from someone and it's quite urgent. What should I say?

  I have something urgent need your help?

or

  I have something urgent needs your help?

or even something else?

Thanks,


texts: Can "possibility" be used with the subject which is a personal pronoun

texts:
We have some possibility of canceling our trip next month, so we had
  better not book our flight yet.

Could you advise me on whether the usage of the "possibility" in the sentence above, which I created, is correct? I think this usage is incorrect, but found the opinion on this page, saying that this usage is possible.


texts:
In many situation such as:
A) If friend tells you about someone else that it's not clear to you who is the person that your friend talks about.

B) Someone calls you and you do not know who is this person.

In some languages,  the question will be translated into "Who is it?" using the pronoun it about a person(!). Is it the same in English,  or should we say "who is he?"?


texts:
Should that be placed here:

  On 12/10 the physician notes indicated that on evaluation the patient had a poor oral intake and her pain was not well controlled on Tylenol alone.

or here:

  On 12/10 the physician notes indicated [no pronouns] on evaluation that the patient had a poor oral intake and her pain was not well controlled on Tylenol alone.


texts:
I'm not at all sure if the sentence is correct (I really hope that you can understand the message I'm trying to convey):

  "I had no idea that I'd react to her texting him the same way I have
  when she has seen him"

I was hoping you could correct the sentence if it's wrong; and if not, suggest some other alternative sentences with the same meaning.

(I'm always looking to improve on my English, so I'd greatly appreciate it if you would point out any grammatical mistakes I've made in describing my question)


texts: Would "sorry my late" be a legitimate construction?

texts:
I am a non-native english speaker and I play an online multiplayer game where we send messages each other all the time. When I message someone and they take a long time to reply, it's not uncommon for me to receive "sorry my late" or "sorry my late to reply" at the beginning of their message. I got very used to this and started to say it myself, but now I wonder if this is grammatically correct.

When I stop to think about it, I guess that a correct phrase would be "I'm sorry for my late" or "[Please] Apologize my late", but "Sorry my late" seems just wrong...

So, is it technically wrong? Is it acceptable?


texts:
I don't trust him. My distrust in/of him is severe.

Which one is the right preposition: in or of?


texts: What is the meaning of "comprising the system"

texts:
In a thermodynamics book, I came across the following sentence:

  An extrinsic property is a property that is independent of the nature
  of the media comprising the system.

However, what does that mean by "the media comprising the system". Is it the media that the system lives, or the type of the media that the system has ?

Edit:

Media means medium in here.


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

texts:
The idiom by the skin of one's teeth is defined on Dictionary.com as:

  by an extremely narrow margin; just barely; scarcely

What does margin mean in the above definition? I've looked it up on OALD and it defines it as: the amount of time, or number of votes, etc. by which somebody wins something. However, the thing that confuses me is, reading the origin of the idiom on http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/83000.html, the idiom seems to be usually used in regard to a narrow escape from a disaster, and that appears to have nothing to do with winning like it's defined on the definition of margin from OALD. Or does margin here in the definition mean something else?


texts: Is this "helped + make" combination a form of subjunctive?

texts:
I saw the following sentence on this page: https://www.inc.com/video/minda-zetlin/4-habits-that-helped-make-warren-buffett-a-billionaire.html

4 Habits That Helped Make Warren Buffett a Billionaire

Is helped make a form of subjunctive or it is modal? I am confused by the form help + infinitive make. Why it is not made?

Based on what I read, a subjunctive is used in not necessarily factual information. So I am confused because the sentence feels like Warren Buffett is already a billionaire. Why is it not made?

Thanks for any help.


texts: What does (for the last day and a half) mean?

texts:
Lastly,I'd like to thank all of you for investing your time and your energy, and clearly your enthusiasm in this, participating in this workshop. For engaging in the dialogues that we've had for the last day and a half. And for your contributions to the discussion.

I came across this and wondered if it was a commonly-used idiom.

I'm not sure if it gives the sense of doing something enjoyable all day.

any suggestions ?


texts:
Without specifying the way they should develop this task, I was pleasantly surprised to receive from Nathaniel a model with notoriously outstanding quality since he decided not only to represent the landscapes but also each one of their soils in the scale model.

Should a comma be placed before since or in any other place? I am afraid this phrase is too long but I am not sure where to place a comma.


texts: "It is actually earphones" - is this correct despite "earphones" being plural?

texts: My friend asks me "What is this in your ears?" and I answer "It is actually earphones" Is it correct? Do I refer to them (earphones) as for a group of objects?


texts: Is 'spreading' a gerund or participle in "Some of other guests tried to damage Margaret's good reputation by spreading false statements"?

texts:
Some of other guests tried to damage Margaret's good reputation by spreading false statements.

In this sentence is 'spreading' a gerund or participle modifying statements.


texts: The meaning of "you catch the oar-thresh," etc

texts:
But in a little time we shall run out of the portholes as the water
  runs along the oarblade, and though you tell the others to row after
  us, you will never catch us till you catch the oar-thresh and tie up
  the winds in the belly of the sail. Aho!   Will you never let us
  go?" "H'm.
   What's oar-thresh, Charlie?" "The water washed up by the
  oars. That's the sort of song they might sing in the galley, y'know.

This is from “The Finest Story of the World” by Kipling.
I don’t understand the meaning below.
Would you kindly teach me?

and though you tell the others to row after us you will never catch us till you catch the oar-thresh and tie up the winds in the belly of the sail.


texts: What tense should I use for conditional phrase in a story written in past tense?

texts:
The story is written in past tense. The conditionals are possible and refer to a time in the future.

Joe was now stuck in this situation. He had two choices.
He can do this then he will...

or

He could do this then he would...

Another one I am having trouble is

Joe had now reached the river,
if he crosses the bridge then...

or

If he crossed the bridge then...


texts:
When he was attacked by a tiger, he ran away

  When being attacked by a tiger, he ran away

  When attacked by a tiger, he ran away

In these three sentences, what part of speech is "when"?


texts: The customer was prevented from spending money and (was?) advised to save a certain amount daily

texts:
The customer was prevented from spending money and was advised to save a certain amount daily.

Can the was in above sentence removed and the sentence still be grammatically correct ? Sorry this is a very basic question but I don't know what this 'concept' is known as in grammar so couldn't search for it on google and had to post it here on SE.


texts:
First of all, this is not a duplicate... E.g., have a look at these posts:

https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/137678/comparisons-so-adjective-adverb-as-or-as-adjective-adverb-as

"as ... as" or "so ... as" for comparison?

Anytime people on those posts talked about the use of 'so...as...', they said either that it can be used 'only in negative context' or that it can be used 'only with negative comparatives'.

Well, it is not clear to me at all what is meant by 'negative context/comparatives'... I am quite sure there was something significant omitted in the explanations. E.g., look at the following sentences:

  Like the coordinating conjunctions, it is perfectly fine to begin sentences with because, so long as you keep in mind that the goal is to avoid fragments.

(Source: https://ell.stackexchange.com/a/564/6697).

This sentence does not seem to contain any 'negative context/comparatives'.

  So foolish, unreasonable, or out of place as to be amusing.

(Source: the definition of 'ludicrous' on Oxford Dictionaries).

This sentence does not seem to contain any 'negative context/comparatives' either.

And this post was not meant to be derogative in any way... I am sorry if anyone got offended.

I have also left the exact URLs of most of the websites I have linked to (without having used the hyperlink function) so as to let the users see some information about the links given before having them clicked on the link.

(additionally, is 'before having them clicked on the link' grammatical? I am not a native English speaker and I'm trying to get a hang of some more advanced kind of structures).

Some justifications of the uses of 'so...as...' in the two given sentences would be appreciated (as well as some other grammar corrections present in this post, if possible). Thanks!


texts: Name for the action performed by this chef with a pan

texts:
If you look at this picture, you may know it is done by a chef who is holding the handle of the wok, and lifting it over the cook top while cooking.

What word or phrase could be used to describe this action?


texts:
Questions asked using past tense forms of Will/Can/Shall/Do, some examples like:

  "Would you mind...?"
  "Could you please...?"
  "Should I do...?"
  "Did you want any help?"
  "Did you want something?"

It seems people are using past tense forms in these sort of questions, when there is nothing wrong to use present tense for the exact same meaning.

Why is that?

Is this a hint of being polite or humble? Is there a grammar rule for this construct?

I know people wanted to refer me to modals but Do/Did is not one of them. And even if you are thinking about modals, and we know their usages, still the question is why the past tense forms are more polite compare to present tense forms? Whats the reason behind English where past tense forms mean politeness?


texts:
What do you call the negative character of a movie who usually has the lead role? I need a single word for that.
Does the adjective "negative" sound natural to you?
I also know the word "sinister". But I have no idea if it is colloquial or technical in this sense. I need a term which most people are familiar with, not a technical one.

Added:

In order to clear off some possible ambiguities, let's provide you with some movie/series actors who are all called negative to me:

The Batman Animated movie: the joker
The Mask: stanley ipkiss
The Breaking Bad series: Raymond Cruz - Both of the mexician cousins
The Game of Thrones series: Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister) - Jack Gleeson (Joffery Baratheon) - Aidan Gillen (Littlefinger)

I am looking for an adjective which can encompass all these characters.

The character in my question does not look pleasant to the audience at all. The viewer will often hate their character at the end of the movie. Sometimes, fewer actors/actresses accept such roles because of the negative feedback which can probably remain in the audience's minds. Such role can even make you hate the artist himself/herself for a long time.


texts:
You can move the drawer in and out easily because of its glide bars, but sometimes you pull it so hard and the drawer "goes off the track".

In everyday English, How to express "to pull the drawer open so hard that it falls off"?

Do we say "the drawer goes off the track" or something like that?


texts: How to pronounce /ʌ/ and /dʒ/ IPA phonetic symbol

texts:
I have developed a web app which trancripts English words into their literal phonetic form in Spanish, so you can read it with Spanish phonetics and it will sound like the English pronunciation should. As not all English sounds are available in Spanish I include descriptions for some of the phonemes. There are two of them which I'm not getting a fully clear description, /ʌ/ and dʒ/:
/ʌ/: Like Spanish "a" but pronounced from the bottom of the mouth
/dʒ/: Sound between "ch" and Spanish "ll" (which is the same as "j" in English)
Would like to read some suggestions on how to describe their sounds without referencing non Spanish sounds.


texts: usage of article in front of 'leap year'

texts:
I have read  a sentence .
''The year with an extra day is called leap year.''
I wonder why the writer did not use 'article'' in front of leap year.
Please explain it to me.


texts:
In the following sentence

By the year 2050, we will have 10 billion people on our planet. Linking this rise to the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of feeding the entire population in a sustainable manner is what got Varun Deshpande and Ramya Ramamurthy of the US-based Good Food Institute’s (GFI) India chapter started on creating their new podcast, Feeding 10 Billion. “Our food system is broken. The greenhouse gases emitted by industrial animal agriculture are more than the emissions by all forms of transportation combined. However, demand for meat continues to rise, and telling people what they should eat or guilting them into giving up meat doesn’t work,” says Ramamurthy, adding that the way forward is to offer people protein made in a better way.

got somebody on doing something I think this usage is wrong, because it is usually used as get somebody to do something/get somebody doing something.

Also I don’t understand meaning of the term India chapter started

I hope somebody help me. Thanks in advance


texts: How to express this idea that something doesn't matter as much as someone thinks?

texts:
Suppose there is a contract that states, I need to give 14 days' notice. But I want to give 13 days' notice, and I assume that the other person that contract affects is going to be fine with that. But then a third party says "hang on I though you needed to give more notice! We need to cancel our holiday!"

In Norwegian I could say:

  Det er vel ikke så nøye. (literally, "It is not so rigid")

meaning that I think that although it's technically a breach of contract, nobody is going to care enough to make a deal out of it, for the sake of one day.

Or let's say I am making a curry. The recipe calls for two teaspoons of chilli powder, but my preference is for spicy food so I use three. Then someone sees what I am doing and just reminds me what the recipe says. So I tell the guy

  Er dèt så nøye da? (literally, "Is that so rigid then?").

The implication is, that I think the recipe isn't gospel. So I can do what I like.

It doesn't need to be about contracts or laws, but could something like a recipe, that I don't heed because I like my food spicier or creamier or whatever. But it's usually a response to someone who's basically saying something like

"Hang on, the contract says this so you must do that."
"Hang on, you had to put exactly two teaspoons of chilli in that curry"
"Hang on, it would be wise to disconnect the electricity before you poke a piece of metal into that wiring"
"Hang on, the teacher said you needed to wait before opening the envelopes until he has finished handed them all out."
"Hang on, I'm sure you're breaking some law or other by ramming your van into that cow."

And you want to answer that you choose not submit because you trust others to be lenient, which means it's a point of flexibility.

Is there an English language equivalent to "det er vel ikke så nøye" that works in these cases?


texts: English usage: "Are we done?" and "He is gone"

texts:
"Are we done ? "
He is gone

I used to hear the above sentences from some of English speaking acquaintances. I was wondering whether theses sentences are grammatically correct or poeple are speaking it wrong. Kindly explain me.


texts: When should I use "that"? I'm not sure whether I should take it out or keep it in

texts:
Here are the sentences I'm trying to rewrite:

"No one will ever work hard enough to achieve something higher than what society has planned for them… well, 3 years ago I found out that this saying is completely false."

"Almost everyone told me I (that?) was going to be a nobody."

"It was crazy to think that a few years ago my best chance at life was becoming a customer service employee at Walmart, now I’m getting funding to build my ideas."

"This is what I want to contribute to Rice, the idea that no matter how low you feel or how many people tell you that “You suck”, your passion and drive will get you anywhere you want to go."


texts:
I'll be at my uncle's house just in case you need to reach me.
  I'll be at my uncle's house should you need to reach me.

Could you tell me what is the difference between those?

enter link description here


texts:
'There isn’t a day that goes by in which I’m not trying to solve a problem.'

Question: How do you use 'in which' here?
Are there any similar examples for the usage of 'in which'?


texts: "My apologies for have not been able to talk to you as I was at office."

texts:
Someone called me a hours ago and I was not able to talk to him as I was at office. Now, I receive an email from him and I want to reply it. How I can write him that I am sorry about not being able to talk. Is the following sentence correct?

My apologies for have not been able to talk to you as I was at office.


texts: Should I use “another” or “other” in this sentence?

texts:
Here are the sentences:

  There’s no other words for it.

  There’s no another word for it.

  There’s no other word for it.

I think the first sentence is right, the second is less preferred, and the third is wrong because “other” needs plural nouns.

Am I right?


texts: What is the best term to indicate people's opinions seeing something as "not important" and "less important"? Please help

texts:
I got trouble in determining any terms/noun phrases to describe the percentage of participants that answers "not important" and "less important" over several items which are distributed in my questionnaire.
What do you think about the following dictions to name the description above:
(1) Number of disapproval responses
(2) Disapproval rating
(3) Number of negative answers
Or, do you have any additional views regarding this naming system?


texts: have editorialized, criticizing... / have editorialized and criticized

texts:
Other papers have editorialized, criticizing the government for its
inflexibility.

This is an example of the word editorialize found in Collins English Dictionary. I would like to know if there's any difference in meaning between it and

Other papers have editorialized and criticized the government for its
inflexibility.

I know they are different sentence structures but the original sentence contains a participle clause criticizing the government for its inflexibility and participle clauses are also explained as some parts of their original sentence being reduced and that includes conjunctions.


texts: Can a noun clause be part of an adverbial phrase?

texts:
For example:

"He was punished for what he did to his brother."


texts:
I came across this term in Black Mirror S03E06 00:12:01. And I haven't found any explanation about it on Internet. The context is here:

  "So you were in Tech Crime?"

  "Digital Forensics. Computer murk."

  "What happened, you get bored of it?"


texts: Can the bold sentence be rewritten like this?

texts:
Today I read a paper having the paragraph as below.

Firms may be financed by their suppliers rather than by financial
institutions. There are many theories of trade credit, but few
comprehensive empirical tests. This article attempts to fill the gap.
We focus on small firms whose access to capital markets may be limited
and find evidence suggesting that firms use more trade credit when
credit from financial institutions is unavailable. Suppliers lend to
constrained firms because they have a comparative advantage in getting
information about buyers, they can liquidate assets more efficiently,
and they have an implicit equity stake in the firms. Finally, firms
with better access to credit offer more trade credit.

My focus is the last sentence, can it be rewritten as " firms with worse access to credit offer less trade credit"?


texts: meaning of "what that" and "be like to endure"

texts:
One can only imagine what that must be like to endure.

It is a script of Harry potter and the prisoner of Azkaban. and the whole sentence is, A dementor's kiss. One can only imagine what that must be like to endure.
I've studied that "what" is abbreviation of "the thing which (that)".
Then in this sentence, "what that" is "(the thing which->)what + that "?
I'm confused about the usage of "that" in this situation.
And I want to know about "be like to endure" .
I've searched it in dictionary, but I can't find proper definition.
Is there a meaning of "to endure"?


texts: How to say I fulfill the requirements with the word "satisfy"?

texts: I am applying to a job and I want to write a letter expressing that I'm the one they are looking for. I want to use the word satisfy but I don't know how to use it properly. Neither "I satisfy" nor "I'm satisfied" seem to mean "your requirements satisfy me", which doesn't make sense.


texts:
The government should extend cities’ sizes by providing the infrastructure required for this expansion.

Should I make it cities' size?

  The government should extend cities’ size by providing the infrastructure required for this expansion.

I am confused because a city has one size, however, the government will expand the size(s) of multiple cities.


texts: present and future continuous + conditional mood sentence correction

texts:
If I say this:

  If I am sleeping when he will be coming wake me up, please.

Will it be correct phrase or I should say another way?


texts:
When is it appropriate to use a with vacation?
For instance, I found these examples in the dictionaries:

You look tired — you should take a vacation.
When are you taking vacation this year?

What's the difference between the two sentences? Why one of them uses a vacation and the other simply vacation?
And then, when do you say go on vacation and go on a vacation?
(Examples from the COCA)

A: Where do you go on vacation?
B: The beach. I love to travel, but I don't get to much.

and

A: Kids, we're about to go on a vacation!
B: Hooray! We're going to Disney World!

I'm so confused!


texts: Why do we use "any X or Y" and "any X and Y" and are there any exception?

texts:
When we say things like:

  "They are brainwashed, they won't accept any fact or data that goes
  against their beliefs."

Why can't we say "any X and Y" instead of "any X or Y", it seems that both are equivalent depending on how you see things.

I feel we could interpret the sentence

  "They are brainwashed, they won't accept any fact and data that goes
  against their beliefs."

as

  "They won't accept any fact and they won't accept any data that goes
  against their beliefs."

and the other sentence as

  "They won't accept any fact or accept any data that goes against that
  goes against their beliefs."

meaning both sentence mean the same thing.

Is there a correct way to read these two sentences. I've never given too much thought about it, but now it's bothering me beyond belief.


texts:
He watched Pocoyo.

Pocoyo smiled in the cartoon.

He was imitating him smile.

  "I am imitating of Pocoyo smile."

  "I am imitating Pocoyo smile."

He said.

Do I need to add "of" after imitating?


texts:
So recently I've encountered the phrase "seeing it come to life" and while I understand its use and meaning, I do not understand the grammar behind it.
Why is it that the verb "come" is written as "come" rather than "comes"? "Comes" would agree with "it".


texts: Is the structure/construction of the sentence wrong? What can I tweak to correct the sentence?

texts:
This does not sound right.

  As the war progressed, the federal government came under immense pressure to establish a national system of labour offices, prompted by concerns over the shortage of manpower for the warfare and, more importantly, the threat of the post-war social upheaval.

I am trying to convey this:

  As the war progressed, the federal government came under immense pressure to establish a national system of labour offices. Such was prompted by:

  concerns over the shortage of manpower for the warfare.
  the threat of the post-war social upheaval (this was more important in creating the pressure).

I feel that "more importantly" is essential to the meaning and so I am not sure if I should set if of with a pair of commas starting right after "and". Apart from that, when I read the sentence and get to "...prompted by...", I forget everything that came before.


texts:
I am designing user interface for a job portal , candidates can view jobs they have applied for in the section "Applied Jobs" , also there is a sub section where they can view jobs they have already got selected by various recruiters .

I'm confused about English term that should be used for that particular sub section which shows jobs for which candidate was selected earlier .

  "Recruited jobs" will be correct term to use ?

Any help,
Thanks


texts: Comparison grammar in The Lord of the Rings

texts:
I was reading The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and I came across a sentence in which I don't fully understand its grammar.

  ..., and when they rose taller they seemed than mortal men.

I think I understand the meaning, but written in the grammar that I'm used to the sentence would be something like:

  ..., and when they rose, they seemed taller than mortal men.

I checked here to see if I could find some kind of exception or explanation to this, but I couldn't find anything similar.

Maybe this is not common but...

is it allowed?
my copy of the book got this wrong?
is it an old way of writing?
did the author take a poetic license?


texts: When talking about age, should "YEARS" or "OLD" be stressed in a sentence?

texts:
When saying:

  A lot of them are more than a hundred years old.

which word, "years" or "old", should be stressed?

And is each stress have a different meaning or not? If it's yes, what are they?

Because I heard a lot of people stressing either "years" or "old", so it causes me confusing to understand what kind of meaning they're trying to convey.


texts: Does one call "regular" men "Sir" in the UK?

texts:
I've lived in the US for a couple of years and ended up using "Sir"  when addressing "regular" men in a large range of situations (in which I would use  "Ma'am" if I was addressing a woman):

  [on the phone]
  — Hello, Sir (Ma'am), I'd like to speak to…

  [when someone holds the door / when cashier returns the money]
  — Thank you, Sir (Ma'am), have a good day.

  [when passing someone in the street (when relevant)]
  — Good morning, Sir (Ma'am)!

  etc.

However, Sir has in the UK another meaning: being the masculine equivalent of the Dame title.

I am thus wondering whether the previous example would sound idiomatic in the UK, or if, in the case it sounds weird, I should use "Mister"/something else instead (when the person is a commoner)?

(Reason for this is that my mother always told me that, in French, one shouldn't simply say « Bonjour », but « Bonjour Monsieur/Madame » instead — for it is more polite.)


texts: You are looking well VS You are looking good

texts:
My first concern: well or good?
My second concern: Why don't they write it in simple present? You look well !


texts: Why not "go to work by cars" but "go to work by car"?

texts:
Ok, this website said:

  You must put an article in front of a singular count noun.

But we got this example in this dictionary,

  Ex: we're going by car

According to the above law, a singular count noun can not stand alone , but we can say "cars" (plural count noun without article) to express "any car or all cars".

My question is:

is "I go to work by cars" wrong? or is it ok to say like that?

&

is "I go to work by car" idiomatic? (though it looks like wrong grammar)


texts: Is it a real phrase, 'to run on a reformist etc. agenda'? When trying to convey this meaning, it just pops up in my head, but I found very few matches on Google News (but one of them was on the Guardian). Is it the most natural way to say it? Is the phrase idiomatic?


texts:
Which one did you bought?

or

  Which one did you buy?

Is it okay to have two past-tense verbs in one sentence?


texts: Tense slip: "have done sth when I realized"?

texts:
Most of the confidences were unsought —frequently I have feigned sleep, preoccupation, or a hostile levity when I realized by some unmistakable sign that an intimate revelation was quivering on the horizon.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, emphasis added)

I think it's better to write "I feigned sleep.. when I realized..."

Thanks for the example in the first answer,
I feel ok about "when I have eaten apples I have gotten very sick"
but how about "when I ate apples I have gotten very sick"? what's the difference between this two?

A new question: To show that I still feign sleep when I realize an intimate revelation.
Isn't it better to say "frequently I have feigned sleep, preoccupation, or a hostile levity when I have realized by some unmistakable sign that an intimate revelation was quivering on the horizon."


texts:
The vanilla is a kind of flower, but in English, vanilla has another meaning, say 'vanilla neural network' or 'vanilla RNN'.

So, does 'vanilla' mean 'common' or 'normal'?


texts:
Which of the following sentences is more correct to say?

  "Do you dream of a perfect smile?"
  "Do you dream with a perfect smile?"


texts: What is the meaning of "modest in scope"?

texts:
this the context:

  this paper was modest in scope.

I think I understand it but I wanna be sure. I think the meaning of that is:

  the range of paper was limited.

Am I right and if not, can you explain the meaning?


texts: Difference between 'No choice' and 'No option'

texts:
Look at the following two statements:

  Why Microsoft Had no choice But To Purchase Nokia's Handset
  US now has no option but to attack Syria

I think that both imply compulsion. But is there any fundamental difference between the two?


texts: What does "In this matter acts for and on behalf of" mean?

texts:
This agreement is made on _______, by and between:

  XXX

  In this matter acts for and on behalf of YYY.

The above sentence is from an agreement, and XXX and YYY each refers to a name of a person (not sure) and company. For me, the bold sentence seems incomplete. Does this mean:

  The above person XXX acts for and is on behalf YYY in this matter.


texts: What does "in diminishing numbers" mean?

texts:
While most snakes are concentrated in the southwest area, they have
  extended north, east, and south in diminishing numbers and varieties.

What does "in diminishing numbers and varieties" exactly mean? Does it mean that "they have extended north, east, and south, and its numbers and varieties in those areas are diminishing"?


texts: Does the meaning of "at any cost" change depending on its position in the sentence?

texts:
it is vital to grasp that implementing this strategy should not be put, at any cost, ahead of other priorities.

The sentence above is meant to imply that there might be other priorities that demand more attention than implementing this strategy, but it seems, on and off, to me that the present form of wording will make the reader come away with just about an opposite impression possibly because of misusing commas. Am I right? If so, where should at any cost be placed? I'd also be grateful the original sentence is contrasted with:

  it is vital to grasp that implementing this strategy should not be put ahead of other priorities at any cost.

and

  it is vital to grasp that implementing this strategy should not be, at any cost, put ahead of other priorities.


texts:
Why in this word the ending s is not used? This sentence is from J.Cole's song January 28th.

  Cole is the hypnotist, control the game whenever he snap(s)
   That's every track


texts: My student asked me why he should use "makes me feel + adj" when he can explain the same meaning by saying "it makes me + adj". But I doubt both are the same. Am I correct? And what is/are the distinction/s between these two?


texts:
The recipe uses a large amount of pepper, and not just any pepper, but a special blend imported from India. (Merriam-Webster’s)
You have to be a member to go there. They won't let just any person in. (Merriam-Webster’s)
We don’t publish just any letters: we reject more than half of those submitted. (CGEL,p.383)

When we use free choice any in negative contexts, do we have to add an intensifier, just? From my mother tongue’s aspect, logically, it seems to be added to the free choice any. But the grammar book doesn’t say about that. Whereas the dictionary’s both online and its Learner’s paper book has bold characters for these two words - just any’s, seemingly saying they are a mate. Without any, don’t we use the expression, or does the word, just, only clarify the speaker’s intention of negating the free choice?


texts:
How can i know when to use -ing or -ed or infinitive without to?

We will soon have your car "going". (Why use "going"?)
It's nice to have people "smile" at you in the street (why use "smile"?)


texts: How does this use of 'has been of no benefits' works? What is the grammar behind such expression?

texts:
I have a piece of sentence where the use of 'of' in 'has been of' make it difficult to understand and to use:

The sentence is:

  "It is often argued that the act of sending a man to the moon has been of no benefits to the common people."

Could anyone explain it?


texts: Are this sentence grammatically correct?

texts:
The closer we study life, the more extreme places we find it thriving.

Is there a proposition "at" missing at the end of this sentence above, to express the places at which life thrives?


texts: "understandable" vs. "comprehensible" - is there a difference in meaning or style?

texts:
Can you think of any example sentences in which "understandable" and "comprehensible" are not interchangeable? Please give an explanation why they are not interchangeable in them (semantic, stylistic or other differences).

Various answers are highly appreciated.

In the comment section I have been asked: "why OP thinks they are different?"

There are several reasons for that:

The first one is rather banal: because understandable and comprehensible are two different words.
Because the dictionary entries of them (understandable, comprehensible) sound very similar but not equal.
Because the two dictionary entries neither refer to each other nor name the one word as synonym of the other one.
Because the first word has a Germanic base whereas the second one a Latin/Roman one - and it is well known that words with different bases often have at least stylistic differences.


texts:
What does 'failing' mean in

  If the --target-directory (-t) option is given, or failing that if the last file is a directory and the --no-target-directory (-T) option is not given, ln creates a link to each target file in the specified directory, using the targets’ names.

Also see https://unix.stackexchange.com/q/293514/674

Thanks.


texts:
What part of speech is the word "running" in "I kept running"?
I think it's a noun (gerund) but I'm not totally sure.


texts:
In Longman dictionary

  GRAMMAR: Word order • Already often comes at the end of a sentence:

  I knew that already.

  I was tired already.

  I have booked the tickets already.

  As well as at the end of a sentence, already can be used in the
  following ways:

  • Already can come before a main verb:

  I already knew that.

  • Already comes after ‘be’ when it is the main verb:

  I was already tired.

  ✗Don’t say: I already was tired.

  • Already comes after the first auxiliary verb:

  I have already booked the tickets.

  ✗Don’t say: I already have booked the tickets.

In Oxford dictionary

  also / as well / too

  Also is more formal than as well and too, and it usually comes before
  the main verb or after be: I went to New York last year, and I also
  spent some time in Washington. In British English it is not usually
  used at the end of a sentence. Too is much more common in spoken and
  informal English. It is usually used at the end of a sentence:‘I’m
  going home now.’ ‘I’ll come too.’. In British English as well is used
  like too, but in North American English it sounds formal or
  old-fashioned.

My question is that:

Can "also / as well / too" and "always" be in the same sentence?

Is it ok to say:

I have already booked the flight, too

I have also already booked the flight.

I have already booked the flight, as well


texts: Describing a group of children - year or years, old or olds

texts:
Is this sentence correct if I describe a group of children?

  Children 6-7 years olds.


texts:
"Nero played music while Rome was burning."

I just copied it from one English workbook for primary school. If it was watched, saw... I would take it as correct. This really bothers me, I cannot think of any grammar rule that this sentence makes correct, perhaps I am wrong.
I am confused since the book is for 7th graders and they are just about to learn the basic form like...a simple somehow 'interrupts' or 'stops' a long action in continuous form ( just basic like she broke her arm while she was skiing) it never occurred to me it actually is present participle....
It is why I mention see and watch as in 'I saw them playing, running..)
I still cannot grasp Nero one since there must be some other ways it to be described...yes that lack of connection...
Wouldn't it be easier to say that he played/was playing while watching the burning Rome?


texts: Can native English people comprehend "A Tale of Two Cities" without much effort?

texts: I am not a native English speaker. Recently I tried to read "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens. I gave up soon because I was not able to comprehend that book! I even tried to read the summary of the individual chapters and then read the book. It still didn't help. My question is whether Native-English speakers can read the book "leisurely" without much effort or is it a classical masterpiece which is little difficult to comprehend?


texts:
Is the word  Revocation is same as Suspension

Which of the following sentence sounds natural and correct.

  Tampering with system date and time settings would result in Revocation of your 30-day trial license.

  Tampering with system date and time settings would result in Suspension of your 30-day trial license.

Can i use permanent suspension?


texts:
what is the meaning of " go to a jury with" here?

  Many sensible readers, we fear, will think we owe them an apology for
  opening our columns to a controversy on such a subject as Spiritualism
  and thus treating as an open or debatable question what should rather
  be dismissed at once as either an imposture or a delusion. But even an
  imposture may call for unmasking, and popular delusions howeverabsurd,
  are often too important to be neglected by the wiser portion of
  mankind . Is there, in reality, anything, as lawyers would say, to go
  to a jury with? Well, on the one hand, we have abundance of alleged
  experience which can hardly be called evidence, and a few depositions
  of a more notable and impressive character. On the other hand, we have
  many accounts of convicted impostors, and many authentic reports of
  precisely such disappointments or discoveries as we should be led to
  expect.

from http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks03/0301051h.html


texts: I am not sure what the word is, because I forgot it, but I think for this question there might be several answers, and it depends on the context, there's the word that defines the crime of lying in court (like defamation), and I think there's the act of it, which may not be a crime depending on the context, but I might be wrong. Anyway, just help me remember the word, or just answer the question broadly without considering what I wrote above.


texts:
I got an email with the following content:

  I'm available next Tuesday evening if that works for you.

And I want to reply with:

  Yes, can we schedule it for 15:30?

But I'm not sure if the sentence is correct.


texts:
What is the difference among the following sentence or are they same?

  What I most detest is smoking.

  What I the most detest is smoking.

  What I detest the most is smoking.

  What I detest most is smoking.

Thanks in advance.......


texts: British equivalent of "Can I get a ... "

texts: BBC listed 'Can I get a...' as the most irksome Americanism. Then what is the most British way of making an order?


texts: at the last minute vs. until the last minute

texts:
Do you see any difference in meaning and usage in the following phrases:

at the last minute
until the last minute

To provide more details, here are two examples:

Do you usually book your holidays a long time in advance, or at the last minute?
Are you someone who puts things off until the last minute?


texts:
Could someone explain (in simple terms) which of the following are correct, and if they are correct, when to use them? Thanks.

  has seen
  had seen
  had saw
  has saw

Is this just a memorization thing? Thanks.


texts:
19:17

  “And so the rule what it does it does something really remarkable when you count backwards five four three...”

I want to know why the two words are repeated instead of saying the words this way:

  And the rule What it does is something really remarkable.

Is it kind of emphasis on the importance of what she is going to say? Or is a kind of questioning, then she answers?


texts: Should I use "we will" or "will we" with an "if" clause in speaking?

texts:
This video is speaking

  If we get the subway, we will be on time?

and giving this slide

Should I use "we will" or "will we"?


texts: is the verb "possess" a one-off or a prolong action? Say "He is possessed" or "He was possessed"

texts:
In oxford dictionary,

  [usually passive] possess somebody (literary) (of a feeling, an
  emotion, etc.) to have a powerful effect on somebody and control the
  way that they think, behave, etc.

  A terrible fear possessed her.

So, the verb "possess" in this meaning is a one-off or a prolong action?

Ok, let say, A ghost went into a soul of a man yesterday. The ghost is still inside the man at this moment.

So, we say "He is possessed" (if we think "possess" is a pro-long process. That is the process last from yesterday to now) or
 say "He was possessed" (if we think "possess" is a one-off process. That is the process happened yesterday only)


texts:
They had taken the path through the trees and, emerging from what had become a small wood, they marvelled at the open land , as that morning they had marvelled at sunshine in February, misty though it was. Nothing as tiresome as rain had spoiled their walk from the rail way station or their returning to it now. "I would have travelled a million miles for this afternoon." Miss Ceble summed up their outing as they approached the first line of bungalows on the town's outskirts.

Could you simplify the highlighted parts of this short passage?


texts: "To alarm someone about something" or "To alarm someone against something" to take a specific action

texts:
I would like to express the importance of a surveillance system in preventing urban disasters. First I present some facts about a certain tragic event, then I claim that a surveillance mechanism could have helped us prevent such a disaster and save lives.

Here goes my sentence:

  An effective surveillance mechanism could have alarmed us take necessary actions and eventually save those people.

but what I really wanted to was to stress that this mechanism has the ability to sense the overcrowding. I would like to say that it could have alarmed us against overcrowding. So the kind of sentence that I intend to build is closer to following in terms of content:

  An effective surveillance mechanism could have alarmed us against overcrowding, helped us take necessary actions and save those people.

But but I cannot find a way to formulate this sentence in a grammatically correct way.

I would appreaciate any help on constructing such a sentence.


texts: How to pronounce possession of "coach's umbrella"?

texts:
coach /koʊtʃ/

  umbrella /ʌmˈbrelə/

But how to pronounce "coach's umbrella"

This page said "The rules for the pronunciation of a noun with ’s are the same as the rules for pronunciation of plural forms of nouns."

So, Is /koʊtʃɪzʌmˈbrelə/ correct?

If it is correct, then "coach's umbrella" & "coaches' umbrella" sound the same.


texts:
I don't understand the use of "about" in the phrase "debate to have about the wisdom" - could it be removed without affecting the original meaning?
Sam Harris tweeted:

There's an important debate to have about the wisdom of kicking Trump off
@twitter. I still believe that it should have happened years ago and that we've paid a terrible price for the delay. But for the moment, all I want to say is:
Thanks,
@jack
.


texts:
What is the difference between a pub and a bar?

Based on this chat between two colleagues I could say bars and pubs are different in meaning.

A: Looks like we're going to a pub

B:  Easier to get to the bar at a pub

A : true. cheaper too


texts:
Can I use both examples or the second one is much better?

I wanted to drink and drank some water.

I was thirsty and drank some water.

If I change "water" to "beer", the first example will be much better to use, won't it?


texts: Someone who sits at the back of the classroom

texts:
Is there a word or a phrase for "a student who sits at the back of the classroom"?
I came across the word "backbencher" in some text but it was written by non-native speakers of English.
I'd like to know what native speakers think.


texts: Is there a standard way to read aloud fractions?

texts:
Common fractions have standard English equivalents, e.g.:

"One half" for 1/2
"Three quarters" for 3/4

But is there a preferred way to read aloud non-standard fractions?

The closest way I know of is to say one number is "over" another. For example:

"Three-hundred thirty-four over eleven" for 334/11

But that doesn't seem quite right to me, because one number being "over" another isn't really what makes a fraction, since that's notation.

Because of this I like to say:

"Three-hundred thirty-four by eleven" for 334/11

Sometimes I use the inflection "-ths" after any number, but I worry this sounds unusual. For example:

"Three-hundred thirty-four elevenths" for 334/11

But I worry this might be incorrect.

Should I say keep saying "by"? Should I start saying "over"? Is there an accepted standard way, or are these all respectable sounding alternative ways?


texts: The use of the verb "improve" in a sentence

texts:
The quality of products can improve by using robots.

  The quality of products can be improved by using robots.

In which sentence is the verb "improve" used correctly?

#2 seems better to me because "the quality of products" in the sentence is an object.


texts:
"...on the last - 3rd day of the 3-day trip."
Is this part of the sentence correct? What punctuation should I use?


texts: “It is true that smoking is bad. So is it that drinking is bad.”

texts:
It is true that smoking is bad. So is it that drinking is bad.

Is this construction possible?


texts: In Hindi, or most Indian languages, a literal translation would mean "She is being very sincere in writing it" or "she is not putting any pretenses". Does it mean the same in English or is there a better way of conveying that meaning?


texts: Difference between present perfect vs simple past

texts:
What is the difference between the following two sentences?
Are they interchangeable in formal writing?

Although the following two sentences may mean the same thing, I would like to know which is more grammatically correct. I think they are both grammatically correct but perhaps someone could shine some light.

The system has old records that have not been deleted.
The system has old records that are not deleted.


texts: How would you ask a person to remove one hand from a shirt?

texts:
My wife is studying nursing in Canada and she was puzzled the other day as to how to ask a patient to only remove a single hand from one of the sleeves. The entire sweater could not be removed because the other hand was connected to the IV. She managed to do it eventually with the help of gestures, but it's always nice to be able to explain something just using words.

I'm attaching a picture with a T-shirt, but we actually had a thick sweater with long sleeves.

Would anyone have any good suggestions as to how to properly explain it to the patient?

Some examples that I came up with that I don't like because they are probably confusing:

  Could you please remove your left hand from the sleeve?
  You can keep your sweater on, but we need to free up your left hand from the sweater.


texts: When one thing happened because of another thing and so on… way to express idea concisely

texts:
I am having 3 sentences and next comes because of the first one.

  Indeed, the absence of a segment causes a lack of graph edges which refer
  to that segment.
  The effect leads to a distorted cycle.
  As a result, a
  fault corner will be produced.

now, my problem is to make a one concise sentence telling all; so, here is my best try,

  Indeed, the absence of a segment causes a lack of graph edges which refer
  to that segment which then leads to a distorted cycle and consequently
  a fault corner.

my question is, a case like above (i mean one thing happened because of another actions and so  on..) what is the best way to explain. thanks.


texts: "1 + 1 should equal 2" or "1 + 1 should equal to 2"; which one is correct?

texts:
Which of the following is correct?

1 + 1 should equal 2.
1 + 1 should equal to 2.

"equal" or "equal to"?


texts:
We give an overview to knowledge representation.
  Our proposed strategy is based on knowledge representation

What is the best way to combine these two sentences?

For example, is it correct if I write it as:

  We give an overview to knowledge representation in which our proposed
  strategy is relied on.


texts: Does the expression "taking a cut" imply some sort of grift? If so, what's a neutral equivalent expression?

texts:
Does the expression "taking a cut" (to mean taking some financial commission) imply some sort of grift, or is it neutral? If it implies some sort of grift, what would be a neutral equivalent expression?

Usage example:

  When an academic researcher receives a gift funding from an industry partner, does the academic researcher's university take a cut, or does the academic researcher receives the entire gift funding?


texts:
Life is too short to regret of not “living your dreams” that ultimately “make your life”.

Is this sentence correct, or does it require corrections?


texts: What adjective do you use to describe a movie that is so sad that it is hard to watch? Can I describe that movie as heavy?


texts:
A: I don't understand.

  B: Of course you do/Of course you don't

That's the question, which one is correct in order to confirm what "A" said?


texts: Can I use word "entry" to describe persons who registered/entered for a program

texts:
There'are some volunteer programs, allow local students to register for. once their registration are approved, they can contribute there services.

How can I use a word (e.g. entry) to describe those people who are registered ?

Possible usage:

  There're 3 entries for program XXX. (There're 3 people registered in XXX program)

According to dictionary:

  Entry: list or total number of persons,etc.entered for a competition

I am not sure if this word can be used out of competition.

=========== UPDATED ==========

Perhaps the word volunteer is OK for this senario, but I'd like to emphasize the status of being "Registered", may applicant ? registrant be ok ?


texts: is "of course" a kind of preposition or fully adverb?

texts:
We all know there many kinds of preposition in english grammar such as:
Simple,
Double,
Compound,
phrase,
participle,

is "of course" a preposition or adverb?


texts: Does web-related English (or "Web English") constitute a dialect of English? Should I write technical documentation using Web English?

texts:
As we know, English exists in many dialects.
In another life, over 20 years ago, I spent a year and a half in Japan, teaching English. I was under no obligation to teach standard American English but I had no desire to mark my students exclusively on their grasp of standard British English, either.
So I did my best, whenever a discrepancy between the two emerged (in spelling or in common communicative phrases) to give my students both forms and recommend that they use whichever they were most comfortable with, but that they should endeavour to use either standard American or standard British on a consistent basis.
Two decades later and I find myself writing technical documentation for web-technologies.
It seems to me that the web has its own dialect, Web English, which generally resembles American English but isn't (because it will be used as readily by Australian or British English speakers as by US English speakers).
Hence we have:

color
background-color
text-align: center

But if we regard this as Web English (and I recognise that some will insist that it's not that - it's simply American English), should documentation also be written using Web English, to maintain consistency?
Normally I write using British English terminology and British English spelling. But, to maintain consistency, is it recommended that I write technical documentation in the same Web English as my HTML / CSS / Javascript?
E.g.

you can define the element's color with the CSS property color
you can define the element's background color with the CSS property background-color
you can center the text by giving the CSS property text-align a value of center

Tangential question:
If I do all that, what am I supposed to do with "parentheses"? Just use American English?


texts: Which word does the adverb 'usually' modify in 'In stories the witch is usually a homely woman'?

texts:
In the sentence

  In stories the witch is usually a homely woman

which  word does the adverb usually modify?


texts:
Can I switch "the" to "a" in this context?

  Tom: Can you play the video?
  Ann: Video? What video? (the person doesn't remember)
  Tom: We watched a video 10 minutes ago.

Is the last sentence okay?
As for a learner who doesn't have the articles in her mother tongue, I want to be sure.

Another question: go to a concert vs go to the concert


texts:
I said to him.
  I told him.

Why can't we use to after tell, when we are using to after say?


texts:
I've seen this sentence but can't translate it correctly.

  Whose go is it?


texts: How to write ordinal expressions in mathematical texts?

texts:
I was wondering if there is a rule or recommendation how to write ordinal expressions if instead of a number, we have a variable or a formula. For example, it is common to come across to the following cases in mathematical and computer science textbooks and papers:

The ith equation (i=1,2,3,...,n) is solved by...
Let X(n) denote  the best solution found in the nth iteration of the algorithm. We will form a set containing X(n) and all the solutions tested in the nth iteration.

If instead of i and n there were n-1 and i+2, how would we write that in English: n-1st or n-1th, i+2nd or i+2th? How would we deal with more complex expressions such as [n/5]? Is it possible to form such expressions at all or we need to rephrase the sentence?


texts:
From my textbook:

I wish the earthquake never happened.

Answer key: I wish the earthquake had never happened.

Can I say the following sentence?

I wish (that) the earthquake didn't happen.

If I could, what's the difference between them?

I wish (that) the earthquake hadn't happened.

I wish (that) the earthquake didn't happen.


texts: Is 'about' the correct preposition here?

texts:
A: Why did she pass out?
B: I think she's just a little nervous about flying.
She doesn't like flying. Is 'about' the correct preposition?


texts: Rule of thumb as to when the adverb "where" can be omitted

texts:
In the sentence:

  A place where people go to for entertainment.

the adverb where can be omitted so as to obtain:

  A place  people go to for entertainment.

Are there any instances where such deletions are not permissible?
It would be really helpful if one could provide some general guidelines regarding this issue.


texts:
Normally, prepositions require objects. However, someone told me the following is correct:

  The House of Representatives approved the budget, with 52 votes for, 16 against and 12 abstentions.

I'd like to know when such object-less prepositions are possible. Is the following correct?

  The House of Representatives approved the budget, with 52 votes for.

Compare the following, with "in favor" in place of "for":

  The House of Representatives approved the budget, with 52 votes in favor.

Are #2 and #3 equally acceptable?


texts: Is "any time between X happened and Y happened" correct?

texts:
What I'm actually trying to say is

  This problem would also occur if someone started buying a ticket any time between the data was collected and it was published.

Or would it be

  This problem would also occur if someone started buying a ticket any time between the time the data was collected and it was published.

Is there a better way to say this?


texts: "Why is it good that..." vs. "what is good about..."

texts:
Could you tell me if there is any difference in meaning between the question why is it good that... and what is good about...? For example:

  My parents say that is good that I don't have a family yet, but why is it good that I don't have it yet?

  My parents say that is good that I don't have a family yet, but what is good about the fact that I don't have it yet?

If there is none, then which one sounds the most natural?


texts: Comparatives and superlatives for compound adjectives

texts:
In a composition, I'm trying to make a comparison between three characters who, besides other unfavorable traits, are extremely rude and grabby. Choosing synonyms for the description, I faced the problem of using comparatives and superlatives of the adjectives ill-bred and tight-fisted.

Michael Swan says that some compound adjectives, such as good-looking and well-known, have two possible comparatives and superlatives - better/best-looking/known and more/most good-looking/well-known, but he still says "some compound adjectives", and I have found no other examples.

The question is:

What about the two which trouble me? Would it be correct and natural for a native English speaker to use "the tightest-fisted of the three" or "he's even iller-bred than the two", or will the use of more/the most with the compound adjectives like these be always a safe path?


texts: What's the meaning of conglomerate prayer?

texts: What's the meaning of this? Or what is the joint prayer that muslims/ Christians/Jews in their respective worship places do called? E.g we need to do a conglomerate prayer to please God?


texts: relative clause serving as subject or object

texts:
I learned that in relative clauses , which or that can serve as a subject or object in the clause ,
 but I found the following sentence confusing.

  I learned so much more from books than I ever got out of the things that they taught me at school.

Why is the sentence above considered correct?
The relative clause itself is complete already, with they being the subject and me being the object of the relative clause,  what can the relativizer that serve as here?


texts: Can I say "please IM me" as I say "please PM me"?

texts:
From Urban dictionary I verified that "PM me" means "private message" me. I thought "private message" is a verbing noun and it usually appears in group chat rooms where many people can see the message we send. When someone in the group decides to initiate a point-to-point channel with some particular guy also in that group s/he would say "please PM me" which means "let's have a private talk". Am I right?

What if two people are discussing something in a private channel(one to one) and one of them is vexed by something and doesn't reply to the other guy for a long time and the other guy says "please IM me when you are free" where IM means "instant message".

I found the sentence below from here.

  If Mike comes online, tell him to IM me.

Do native speakers say that way?


texts: "He gets angry when (he is) trying to explain the issue." Why is it okay to remove the "he is" part?

texts: I saw this structure in a few texts, and it made me wonder what is the grammar role of when in this sentence and why the subject and verb (he is) are absent. It doesn't fit any grammar structure that I know in English. I guess the part after when is an adjective clause but I'm in doubt since the clause lacks the subject and verb.


texts: The use of the phrasal verb "mess someone around" in context

texts:
Let's say there is a woman who wants to be in a relationship with a guy, but the guy isn't sure if he wants to be in a serious relationship with the woman. And because the uncertainty he has been seeing the woman for quite some time trying to know if he likes her enough. Can I say

  the guy is messing her around

to communicate the idea?
If it doesn't sound natural, what would a native English speaker say?


texts:
In "The Vampire of the Village" by G. K. Chesterton, an old actor was talking to Father Brown about his old friend, which was killed, saying:

He did not disappear! Maltravers never disappeared! He appeared: he appeared dead and I’ve appeared alive. But where’s all the rest of the company? Where’s that man, that monster, who deliberately stole my lines, crabbed my best scenes and ruined my career? I was the finest Tubal that ever trod the boards. He acted Shylock — he didn’t need to act much for that! And so with the greatest opportunity of my whole career. I could show you press-cuttings on my renderings of Fortinbras —

I can't get what's meant by "act much for that" and "And so with"?
Does it mean "he didn't need to act much to get that role"  "nor the greatest ..."?


texts:
Can I ask:

  'What your name is?'

instead of,

  'What is your name?'

Is #1 grammatically correct?


texts:
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and should old lang syne be forgot?

Does #1 mean #2?

auld lang sine or old lang sine means "the old days" according to Cambridge dictionary. [ Auld lang syne means "the old days" in Scots.]

[Auld Lang Syne means ‘for old time’s sake’. - Macmillan Dictionary]

Are 'the old days' the same as ‘for old time’s sake’?

And we'll take a cup o' kindness yet,
 for auld lang syne.

Q1: What is the meaning of 'yet' here?
 Q2: for aud lang syne is ________________ in plain English.
 What is similar to 'for auld lang syne' in easy English?

If 'for auld lang syne' is 'for days gone by,' to celebrate days gone buy, lets meet and drink kindly.  Is this the meaning of the words in the song?


texts: Are these two that-clauses complements for the same verb?

texts:
To believe that there’s order and I have a place in it, is just
  too scary, that if I’m not here doing what I’m supposed to do,
  nothing else will be right. (Kathy Holwadel)

There are two that-clauses. Are both the complements for believe?


texts: What is the difference between "If" and "When" in a conditional clause?

texts:
For these two expressions:

I will give it to you when I no longer need it.
I will give it to you if I no longer need it.

Let us say it is an object such as a book or a laptop or something similar.
Is there any difference between the meanings of these two sentences?


texts: Is it possible to say 'double deck', if we speak about a shelf in a train?

texts: Could you tell me , is it possible to say 'double deck', if we speak about a shelf in a train? Does this variant exist?


texts: When the answer of a question sounds crystal clear to you and you can answer without any further question

texts:
Imagine you have a conversation with someone else e.g. your friend and he wants to ask you about something which it's answer is completely clear to you.

There is an idiom in my language which says:

It is like a painting that... [Meaning that everything is clear to you and the facts acknowledge that...]

In the Cambridge dictionary I found a possible equivalent for the meaning in my question:

Example:

  Person A) Who do you think is better-looking, Jennifer Lopez or Jessica Alba?
  Person B) That’s a complete no-brainier! Jessica Alba is much better-looking.

However, I doubt if it (the idiom "no-brainier") is the most clear to what I am looking for.

I need to know find out how an AE speaker would say it?


texts: What is the difference between "debate" and "discuss"?

texts:
It appears to me that the meanings of these two verbs are the same.

Are they any different? If so, please tell me what is the difference between debate and discuss.