texts:
When to use "the" before a date?

I came across   the following sentence:

  It dates back to the 6th century BC.

When I looked up when to use the before dates, I read an example sentence from Cambridge Grammar online resources. It says it is correct to write :

  Today is the 7th September

Avoidably I am confused when to use the with dates and what does it mean? It is about style?

PS : I know there is already a bit confusion or maybe we can call it varieties of writing dates in terms of format because of regional differences and how to write a date was asked before so I will assume the following formats are standard ones. However, if you think the use of the is part of varieties of writing dates, you can include this point with giving different formats.

American English : September 7, 2016

British English  : 7 September 2016

There is another thread asked regarding this issue on ELL but the answer is not enough , when we compare it with Cambridge Grammar online resources

There is another thread on ELU on general rules of writing formats.


texts: What's the meaning of "break your legs"?

texts: One of my friend told me to break my legs before entering the examination hall...I was confused with her words! How am I supposed to sit for the exam if i broke my legs? Or maybe is it kind of idioms/phrases?


texts:
The author died before he could finish his novel.

The author died before he could have finished his novel.

In which sentence is the correct usage of the past tense of the modal verb?


texts: "sorry to interrupt" vs. "sorry for interrupting"

texts:
Ronald is talking with Anthony. All of a sudden, Kenneth runs over here and says

  "sorry to interrupt, the boss just gave a job to Anthony which is quite urgent"

or

  "sorry for interrupting, ..."

which one should Kenneth say?

Ngram Viewer shows both are common.

What are the differences between "sorry to keep you waiting" and "sorry for keeping you waiting."? gives a nuanced difference in context. How about the example of Kenneth?


texts: What does "that's cooking/smoking" mean?

texts:
I'm watching a video about 100-meter sprint, On YouTube - Why It's Almost Impossible to Run 100 Meters In 9 Seconds | WIRED@About 4:17 they said

  That's cooking.

  It's smoking.

What does it mean?


texts: to or for. which one should I use in this sentence

texts:
I am confused what should I write?

it is threatening to them.

it is threatening for them.

however, to is appropriate for me because I am indicating them


texts:
There was one question in my English exam that made confused me.
Instruction: Rewrite this sentence in another way so that it means almost the same as the first one

Tom is the best tennis player in the club.

→ No one else in the club can ...
I wrote: No one else in the club can play tennis better than Tom.
But my teacher didn't agree and said my sentence was wrong. She corrected: No one else in the club can play tennis as well as Tom.
Is there any difference between my sentence and my teacher's?


texts: 'To lower/raise the blinds' or 'to draw the blinds?'

texts: I'm an English learner and I'd like to know which verb should I use when using the word venetian blinds. Do you say 'to raise/lower the blinds' or 'to pull the blinds up/down?' or 'to draw the blinds'? + What would you say if you just wanted to turn the slats - would you say something like 'Close/open the blinds, please.'?


texts: "Went" or "go" in "I saw Kyoko went/go out of city hall."

texts:
I saw Kyoko went out of city hall.
  I saw Kyoko go out of city hall.

I thought 'went' is the correct answer
Why it has to be 'go'?
Can anyone explain this to me


texts:
Inflation is hovering at 3 percent.

Inflation is hovering at around 3 percent.

Inflation is hovering around 3 percent.

Do these three similar types of usage make a difference in the meaning of the verb? (even if it's slight)


texts: Word suggestion for "slamming against the wall"

texts:
I have a very clumsy habit of getting my arm slammed/rammed against the wall. It happens more often when I suddenly get down the bed and rush past my bedroom door. It is just that my feet doesn't get accustomed to the sudden movements after sitting in the bed for an hour or two long. My friends often ask me "Do I get beaten at my home?" and I am actually quite perplexed by that question, but the thing is, I am not beaten. I just have this habit of getting my arm bruised somehow or the other and then people regard it as abuse.
How do I convey this sentence effectively:

It is nothing major. I just slammed/rammed/ran (into) into the wall on my way out of the house.

Should I continue using the highlighted word, or is their any compact term (scientific or colloquial or formal) to highlight my situation without leaving a doubt in their mind? I mean I don't want them to build a negative thought about my family.


texts: Do sentences two and three convey the exact meaning as the first given sentence?

texts:
1) I wonder how you came up with that.

Do both the following sentences convey the exact same meaning as the one used above? Are they both grammatically correct?

  2) How you came up with that, I wonder.

  3) How did you come up with that, I wonder.


texts:
I have a question about the meaning of these statements:

  1a- The most effective method in developing and improving health
  is considered to be daily exercises. (Original)

  1b- The most effective method  developing and improving health
  is considered to be daily exercises.

  1c- The most effective method to develop and improve health is
  considered to be daily exercises.

  2a- He is wrong in saying, "Jack is stupid" . (Original)

  2b- He is wrong saying, "Jack is stupid" .

  2c- He is wrong to say, "Jack is stupid" .

Can I use the other versions instead of the 1a and 2a? Do 2b and 2c mean the same thing as the 2a version, and likewise with 1b and 1c?


texts: What does "in pipeline" mean in this context?

texts: According to a dictionary, "in pipeline" means "already been planned or begun". But I am not sure if it's what it means in this graph. Does "In Pipeline" mean preparing/planning to become one of its customers?


texts:
“Yeh could’ve died!” sobbed Hagrid. “An’ don’ say the name!”
  “VOLDEMORT!” Harry bellowed, and Hagrid was so shocked, he stopped
  crying. “I’ve met him and I’m calling him by his name. Please
  cheer up, Hagrid, we saved the Stone, it’s gone, he can’t use it. Have
  a Chocolate Frog, I’ve got loads…”  (Harry Potter and the
  Sorcerer's Stone)

“Do not use I’ll [instead of “I am doing”] for something you decided before.”
(Essential Grammar in Use).

Consulting this, ‘I’m calling’ implies he’s already decided he would call You-Kow-Who by his name. Am I right?


texts:
With the word "rephrase" which preposition do we use "as" or "to"?

You can rephrase this sentence as...
You can rephrase this sentence to...

Or some other preposition? Or maybe this whole way of saying it is non-idiomatic?


texts: Meaning of the word "otherwise" in context

texts:
Here it is:

  A healthy body is often described as a well-oiled machine. Like a machine, it’s made up of otherwise fixed segments given mobility by joints.

Does that mean that a human body is fixed in a differnt way than machines are?


texts: The usage of verbs tenses - Past Simple, Present Simple and Present Progressive

texts:
We all know that:

  Present Simple - for facts and routine

  Past Simple - Facts and things in the past

  Present  Progressive - For something that is happening now

But sometimes, it bugs me, because some sentences seems to have the same meaning if I either use simple present or present continuous.

For example:

"he's drinking his coffee" - he's still having it, but, If I say:

He drinks his coffee  - it would be kinda strange, because he is not drinking a coffee anymore. So, would it be better if I use a past tense?

Like: He drank his coffee? Because he's not like drinking it anymore (it seems a complete action)

Can you guys explain me the differences among them? And how a narrative in the present Simple is possible?

Probably my interpretation is incorrect. And I do want to get rid of the problems I have with the present tenses...  It's so confusing
Can you guys help me?


texts: Which of these sentence is correct given the subject of the sentence?

texts:
Which of these sentence is correct?
“I am a person who likes their hair”
(we conjugate with “person” we use “their” as a gender-neutral pronoun or do we put “his?”)
“I am a person who like her hair”
(I am a girl, so I conjugate with ‘I’)
Could you tell me if we conjugate with “person” or with “I”?
Other sentences could be:
“I am a person who follows their/his dreams”
Or...
“I am a person who follow her dreams”
My question is more, if we conjugate with the word “person”, how does “person” need to be conjugated?
( I am confused with that singular “they” and if we must use it with words such as “person”, “someone”, “somebody”...)
**seeking something grammatically correct!!
Thank you ever so much!


texts: Why are "software", "advice", and "information" uncountable?

texts:
Sometimes in English I encounter words which are uncountable, while they may be countable in my native language causing some mistakes in my sentences, and I wonder why they are uncountable.

For example "software"; we look at any application, *a software (as it is used by software companies)

  *I developed a software

  *It is a software to edit pictures

Or "advice", it could be countable too, pointing to any useful sentence or point one could say:

  *That was a good advice

  *As a friendly advice

  *There were many good advices in this story to learn

Or "information". Now, I can't remember, but you may count more such words, if you have a problem with them.

I know the following is grammatical in English:

a piece of software
a piece of advice
a piece of information

but in these cases piece just looks redundant. One day, could "piece" be omitted, and these uncountable nouns become countable? Why are "advice" and "information" uncountable when in many Romance languages they are not?

  I'd like some information about train times please.

  Although 'information' is countable in many languages, it is uncountable in English. (British Council)

Do you know words which were once uncountable but later become countable?

I would like to understand why some nouns are uncountable in English while in other languages they are not.


texts:
Consider these pairs of sentences. What are the differences in meaning between them? Provide a context and say how you would demonstrate these differences to students.

  I’ll buy one when I have the money
  I’d buy one if I had the money.

  I wish to see you
  I wish I could see you


texts: A large vase (lays / is laid) in the corner of our front hallway

texts:
A large vase lays in the corner of our front hallway.

  A large vase is laid in the corner of our front hallway.

Which is the right sentence?  Should I use lays or is laid?


texts: what is the difference between compassion and sympathy?

texts: I don't know how to distinguish the difference between compassion and sympathy. can you tell me how to tell with some examples?


texts:
It might seem a trivial question but it occured to me whlie I was writing for an assignment.

I know if I put a pair of in subject place, I should use a singular verb e.g. A pair of shoes is there. Does it work the other way around too?

What subject suits this sentence, a singular or plural one:

  .... is/are a pair of shoes.

This is confusing for me because on the one hand when you point at some shoes actually you're showing something that is originally a plural noun so it must be addressed as plural. On the other hand we want to use a pair of which is singular. So which is correct?

  It's a pair of shoes.

  They're a pair of shoes.


texts: Are even greater in number, or are even greater in numbers

texts:
Which use of number / numbers is correct, and why?

  Future estimates of the program’s second pilot phase are even greater in number and reduced impact on Alaska’s pristine environment.

  Future estimates of the program’s second pilot phase are even greater in numbers and reduced impact on Alaska’s pristine environment.


texts: difference between "start with", "start" , "begin with" and "begin"

texts:
When I was asking a question on Academia, I came up with this question:Should I use "start with" or "begin with"
If I use "begin with", what will be the difference between "begin" and "begin with", and likewise for using "start with" and "start":
(1): How to begin with the meeting with my former teacher...
(2): How to begin the meeting with my former teacher...
(3): How to start with the meeting with my former teacher...
(4): How to start the meeting with my former teacher...


texts: Where should I write "equally" in this sentence?

texts:
Where Should I write the word "equally" in this sentence in order to show that the number of tasks on all devices is the same?

  Results indicate that this approach distributes tasks between devices.

Should it be like this:

  Results indicate that this approach distributes tasks equally between devices.


texts:
a. He told me a good improbable story.
b. He told me a good, improbable story.
c. He told me a good and improbable story.
Are all of the above grammatically correct and correctly punctuated?
Is there a difference in the meanings?
It seems to me that (b) and (c) mean the same and they mean that the story was good and it was improbable.
(a) seems to be saying that as improbably stories goes, his story was a good one. Maybe it was not good per se. It was good when compared with other improbably stories.
Would you agree with that?


texts: Where I can learn more about the uses of " I guess "?

texts:
You guys think u could help cite/recommend me some good reliable source or resource where i can learn more about the different uses of the phrase " I guess ",  ( like the most common and informal ones) whether it's used in/with a statement or as a reply,etc.

Note: I refer a native speaker's answer.


texts:
What do you call a team which has a reasonable solidarity between its members/players?
The only word that comes to mind is coherent, which is something derived from the noun "coherence" and subsequently absolutely different with "solidarity".

For example, please imagine a soccer team which its players are quite harmonized and have a good cooperation and teamwork together. All the players know any other teammate's qualities and can easily find each other on the field. They have quite the same target and as the saying goes all play for one and one plays for all.

What adjective is used to describe such a team?


texts: Could you wish him a [get well soon] for me

texts:
I have a friend of a friend who is sick.

If I directly talked to the sick person I would say:

  I wish you would get well soon.

But I want the first friend to tell the second one.
So something along the lines:

  Could you wish him a ... for me?

If it was his birthday I could say:

  Could you wish him a happy birthday for me?

So how do you ask someone, to tell his friend that you wish him to get well soon?


texts: The indefinite article - which sentence is correct?

texts:
There is a big and comfortable bed in my room.

or

  There is a big and a comfortable bed in my room.


texts: Will Tom have to go to hostel or Will Tom has to go to hostel?

texts:
I thought Tom is singular thus I should use has rather than have.
Here are two sentences.

Will Tom have to go to a hostel?

Will Tom has to go to a hostel?


texts:
In every 5th song someone sings about saving someone (for me it feels like this).

For example in the songs:

Ty Dolla $ign - Saved

Oasis - Wonderwall

Does it have religious or sexual mean?


texts: And/But with the use of several adjectives

texts:
In the process of writing a letter, I have always had trouble in choosing between "and" and "but" when dealing with adjectives describing a person or a situation.

Let me use an example to illustrate where I lack understanding: which of the following sentences would be the most appropriate?

"This person is smart, confident but also humble. Therefore she should be able to... etc"
"This person is smart, confident and also humble. Therefore etc..."

All the adjectives used here aim to have a meliorative function. However "humble" aims to balance the "smart" and "confidence", therefore I would like to use "but" to accentuate this aim to counterweight.
Nevertheless my English teachers have told me that "but" only provides a strict contradiction which is not what I aim.

I would be grateful for new opinions in order to shed light on this topic. Thank you very much!


texts: Is it possible to use a bare infinitive for the object of an "of"?

texts: For example, "I described the scene of him drive away."


texts:
Is there any way to link these two clauses? (I overthought it, so my brain suddenly went blank)

(in these examples: Amy is a child going on a trip, accompanied by two families of friends who are also going on the trip)

  Two other families were also going on this trip. The parents agreed to look after Amy.

Can you link them like this, using 'in which'?

  Two other families were also going on this trip, in which the parents agreed to look after Amy.

How about another structure?

  On this trip, the other travelling families' parents agreed to look after Amy.

Do any of these make sense? Does the third one do a bad job of introducing? If yes, how can I improve it? Any help would be appreciated!


texts: How is the word 'meme' pronounced in english? Or how would a native pronounce it?

texts: As a spanish native I've always pronounced putting emphasis in every single letter, but when it comes to english... I have no clue of how to say this word.


texts:
I was reading a question from another SE site — I fell for the sugar daddy scam:

So, long of the short. They offered to pay off my meager credit card debt. I was able to cancel all the payments but one. […]

What does “long of the short” mean?


texts: What does this sentence with "but for" mean?

texts:
He would have faced a prison sentence but for mitigating circumstances.

Is it an incomplete sentence?

'Mitigate' meaning-make less severe


texts:
They should remove toxins from their bodies.
  They should remove toxins from their body.

I am confused about these two sentences above.
I think the first sentence is correct because 'their' means more than one person and the body must be more than one.
However, I wonder if their bodies could mean each person has more than one body.
The reason I ask this question is because of the sentence below.

  Frogs spend most of their life in water.

If 'their bodies' is correct, Should 'their life' in this sentence be 'their lives' because 'frogs' is plural?


texts: understand structure and meaning of noun phrase

texts:
Need recognition occurs when an individual senses a difference between what he or she perceives to be the ideal versus the actual state of affairs.

I bolded the noun phrase "what her or she perceives to be the ideal".

I understand what will serve as the object of perceives ,
and I am guessing that the infinitive to be the ideal is a object complement instead of a purpose adjunct.
 So in the example sentence , since what is understood to be between "perceives" and "the infinitive clause(to be the ideal)" ,to be the ideal will be the complement of what.

Which means that the noun phrase can be interpreted as :
He or she perceives what, and what is the ideal .

Is my understanding above correct?


texts: What's the meaning of “snapped” in “she snapped harder than ever”?

texts: Who can explain me what is the meaning of this quote “she snapped harder than ever”? I’m Portuguese. I can’t understand what is “snapped”.


texts:
I don't understand what the meaning of then is in this sentence.

  When a function is defined, it stores the scope chain then in effect.


texts: "5 metres away", "4 metres high"--- are these correct?

texts:
If someone asks me:

  How far and high can you throw the ball?

Can I answer with:

  I can throw the ball five metres away and 4 metres high.

Are the question and the answer natural to the ear of a native speaker?

Thanks in advance.


texts: What does "It's about damn time" mean in this article?

texts:
Excerpted from the Atkantic:

  “It’s about damn time,” McSally said in a statement Thursday about the Pentagon’s decision. “We are a country that looks at people as individuals, not groups. We select the best man for the job, even if it’s a woman.”

What does she mean of "It's about damn time"? Why is the equality of gender related to time?


texts: "What went wrong?" Vs. "What did go wrong?"

texts: I came across the phrase "What went wrong?" and I doubt if it has a correct form "What did go wrong?" or it would be already not idiomatic in this way. Is it idiomatic to use "What did go wrong?"?


texts: When to use article (a) and not using article , also using article (the)

texts:
Based on information from police report you are a traitor.
  Based on information from the police report you are a traitor.
  Based on information from a police report you are a traitor.

Which is right and which is wrong and what is the difference?


texts: is it grammatical to say "what happened that..."?

texts: I have been using this construction "what happened that...", that clause being a relative clause, for so long. Now come to think of it, it doesn't sound grammatical. I mean, that clause is a relative clause, which requires an antecedent. But what clause is already a fused relative construction, or a noun phrase. Where is the antecedent?


texts:
Do both sentences below share the same meaning or are they interchangeable?
(1) How did we get onto this subject?
(2) How did we get into this subject?


texts:
The mom had prepared some food for her son before he left.

The mom had prepared some food for her son before he was going to leave.

The mon had prepared some food for her son before leaving.

Do these three have the same meaning? (the son left?)

I think the first one "before he left" means "before he (would) left" because "leaving" happened after "having prepared", but we can't use "would" in the sentence.

And I think in this sentence:

That girl who had meetings the next day would eat some food first. ("had meetings" should mean "who would have meetings")

But in this sentence we can't say if the girl attended the meeting. (Maybe after dinner, she slept overtime. So how can we define?)

Thanks a lot!


texts: Could anybody explain the context at which the following if clauses are used?

texts:
If I were driving the car I wouldn't be on the phone now.
If I had been driving the car I wouldn't have been on the phone.


texts:
The weather segment on the TV news from a production of TVOntario. Produced in association with Television Language Training Inc. in co-operation with Canada Employment and Immigration Commission. (12CDS) To view A 24 minute sample of this video go to: https://youtube.com/watch?v=IaYSVoJoqIE
Weatherman: Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Here is today's  weather forecast. It's not very good; I'm afraid there's a storm coming up.
Man: Oh, you said, you predicted there would be sunshine for the rest of the week.
Weatherman: Well, you can never be sure what's going to happen anyway. Don't interrupt. As I was saying, there is a storm coming up because there is warm air moving from the south which is meeting cold air from the north.
Man: So, that's why we have storms. Warm air is meeting cold air?
Weatherman: Yes. As I was saying... what was I saying?
Man: You were talking about the storm.
Weatherman: Oh, oh, yes. There's a nasty storm coming, I'm afraid.
Man: Which means that it'll be stormy and windy and rainy with lots of thunder and lightning?
Weatherman: Yes. Cloudy, rainy, windy, with lots of thunder and lightning. Would you sit down? Who's doing this weather forecast, you or me?
Man: You are. You are the weatherman, so take it.
Weatherman: Thank you. And now for today's temperatures.

What does "so take it" mean in this conversation?
Does it mean "so continue"?


texts: "Didn’t you think she should have had a doctor" — why "should have"?

texts:
From To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus is defending a man who allegedly raped and beat up a girl (named Mayella Ewell) in her house. Her father states that he was returning home when he heard his daughter screaming. He ran up to a window and saw that man raping her. Realizing that they weren't alone, the man ran out of the house. Atticus is questioning Mayella's father.

  “Let’s see, you say you ran to the house, you ran to the window, you ran inside, you ran to Mayella, you ran for Mr. Tate. Did you, during all this running, run for a doctor?”

  “Wadn’t no need to. I seen what happened.”

  “But there’s one thing I don’t understand,” said Atticus. “Weren’t you concerned with Mayella’s condition?”

  “I most positively was,” said Mr. Ewell. “I seen who done it.”

  “No, I mean her physical condition. Did you not think the nature of her injuries warranted immediate medical attention?”

  “What?”

  “Didn’t you think she should have had a doctor, immediately?”

Why does Atticus say "should have had" instead of "should have"? As far as I know, the modal "should" isn't usually backshifted in past contexts. For example:

  "You should tell him what you know."
  => She said I should tell him what I knew.

This can be said at any time, as far as I know. This post on WR also supports this idea.

My guess is that the "should have" in the above excerpt refers to the moment Mr. Ewell ran up to his daughter after he saw her being raped. While (or after) running for Mr. Tate, Mr. Ewell should have thought, "She should have had a doctor (back then when I was in the house)."

In other words, I think the "should have" here is comparable to the past perfect tense (had + VERBed).


texts: Please suggest me the correct sentence - "as they need" or "as they will be needed"?

texts:
I need help regarding this two sentences bellow. I am not sure which one is correct, or if either sound fluent. Please tell me about the correct grammatical rules.

We will write various configurations later as they needed.
We will write various configurations later as they will be needed.

Thanks in advance.


texts: Understanding "How iPods dish out media to go."

texts: How do you understand the phrase how iPods dish out media to go?


texts: Adverbs of emphasis in the spoken language

texts:
There are some adverbs of emphasis in the spoken language that I find really interesting.

Examples :

Badly, Awfully, Terribly = To a great degree.
(I wanted it so badly.) , (It's not terribly common.)

Royally = Utterly. (He screwed up royally.)

Literally = Virtually. (He was literally millions of miles ahead of the other runners.) source

Officially : (I'm officially cold now.)

I'm so curious to know if there are similar adverbs of emphasis even if they are regional.

[EDIT]
SarahT's answer was great, that was exactly the kind of adverbs I was looking for. I'd love to see if there are more adverbs like these in the spoken language.


texts: Questions with "do" vs. "do not" -- is "not" required?

texts:
I read an example of the term "ipso facto" in Merriam Webster Dictionaries which was:

  If we refuse to tolerate bigotry, do we become, ipso facto, as intolerant as those whom we condemn.

I think there should have been "not" after "do" in the example. I suppose that the example's speaker is asking this for a kind of confirmatiom, meaning that if we refuse to tolerate bigotry, then there remains no difference between us and them. Am I right?


texts: So I'm doing a challenge where my friend says I cant eat the salad dressing ,as it like a junk food and junk food = fast food but since there's a difference between them. I wanted to know if salad dressing is a fast food or not.


texts: Please help me with this sturcutre, designed to

texts:
Please help me to understand out the structure of the following sentence:

  if appropriate, you should consider formulating national and regional
  action plans, incorporating timetables, targets and provisions for
  funding, designed to enhance enforcement of CITES, achieve compliance
  with its provisions, and support wildlife-law enforcement agencies.

(https://stag.cites.org/sites/default/files/document/E-Res-11-03-R17A.pdf )

Here, I don't understand what "designed to enhance..." is.
Is this modifying something before the phrase?
Or is it acting like an adverb?


texts: Can you guys help me out with the correct usage of "To consult"? Very often, I've seen people using "to consult with someone or something." If you could please give me some examples, that would be great. Please advise.


texts: Directory website category - Singular or Plural

texts:
I am creating a directory website having multiple categories and sub-categories.

I am confused about whether I should use category name singular or plural?

Example:

Should I set category name

Industry or Industries
Food and Beverage or Foods and Beverages
Real Estate and Building or Real Estates and Buildings
Financial Service or Financial Services
Business and Service or Business and Services


texts: "I've started my preparation(s) for..." or "I've started preparation(s) for..."?

texts:
Could you tell which of the following sentences sounds the most natural and why?

I can't go out today. You see, I've just started my preparation for the final exam.
I can't go out today. You see, I've just started my preparations for the final exam.
I can't go out today. You see, I've just started preparation for the final exam.
I can't go out today. You see, I've just started preparations for the final exam.


texts: 'in order to meet her' VS. 'to meet her' any difference could be?

texts:
I went there in order to meet her VS. I went there to meet her.

Could be any difference?
I think my question should be more specific.
'in' is a preposition and 'order' is a noun. I know 'in' but 'order' has many meanings.
What does the 'order' here mean as a noun?
I see some people explain on this site 'in the intention to to do something', then the 'order's meaning is 'intention' but I couldn't find the meaning in any ordinary dictionaries.


texts: interpretation of 'I stayed some days' --- 'for some days straight' or 'on days for a total of some days'?

texts:
A stand-alone sentence, 'I stayed some days' --- if 'some' in this sentence were restricted to meaning 'an unspecified number of,' which would it mean

I stayed on days for a total of an unspecified number of days, or
I stayed for an unspecified number of days straight

?


texts: Why do you say 'He has it' but 'Does he have it'?

texts: I tried looking up the difference between has and have and it generally has to do with plurals, but that doesn't seem to be changing in this case. Why do you use have in one case and has in another?


texts: What do you call a communication in which both sides can be affected?

texts:
I am describing 'client-server-clients' architecture.
This means that all the sides can send data to each other via the server.
It is used in software that consists of PC application, server and mobile application.

So, how to say it right in this way: PC application and mobile application are ... ?


texts:
What is meant by center of someone's universe?

I read this sentence:

  Her young son is the center of her universe.

But I couldn't figure out the meaning.


texts:
Can I use "had" for the future when something scheduled in the future is postponed?

  A) what is your plan tomorrow?

  B) I had an interview tomorrow, but they postponed it to next week. So I am free tomorrow.

Is this usage of "had" wrong?


texts:
You are already familiar with the structure of "noun+to+verb".

  cake to make, house to stay in, a city to go to, man to kill, hamburger to eat

...etc.

We know that there are certain abstract nouns which are followed by to as in

  attempt to go, decision to make a cake,  order to retreat, tendency to use the weapons

..etc

And we can see easily that to used in the middle between certain abstract nouns and verbs does not have got the role it has in the former examples.

In "decision to make a cake" I understand that to is explanatory of the decision and explains what the decision is.

I don't understand it in this way, "decision itself will make a cake", also logic easily says sth abstract can not make a cake.

Once I was confused with these certain abstract nouns and finally came to realize that they are special abstract nouns followed by "to" and I had to accept them as they are.

Let's come to my question.

In first example "cake to make", I do understand that cake is in passive role, and object.  What if I just write "decision to make".  Does decision still have got the explanatory role?  If so, how come?  It suggests nothing... Or at this point, must we apply the logic present in the first examples to this case?

I mean, is decision in the position of cake grammatically?

In "cake to make", cake is object and the one effected by the action.  In "decision to make" is it like "there is no decision made but a decision must be made"?

If you are willing to answer my question,please firstly write, as a native speaker, how does it sound to you regardless of your linguistic background, then you are more than welcome to mention about grammatical aspects.


texts: Past simple or past perfect in a subordinate clause

texts:
Could you please have a look at this paragraph:

  Last Friday I arranged to meet my boyfriend at a restaurant. I arrived
  first and because it was pouring with rain, I went inside. After an
  hour my boyfriend arrived! His clothes were soaking wet and he was
  covered in mud. Apparently he had been waiting at a bus stop when a
  car had driven straight through a puddle and had splashed him
  from head to toe. The driver had refused to let him on the bus and he
  had been walking ever since. He couldn't stay at the restaurant
  soaking wet so we had a take away at home instead.

Now could you explain to me why in the fifth sentence (the one that begins with Apparently) drive and splash are past perfect. I think we should use past simple in both cases because they are in the subordinate clause. Am I wrong?

And another example:

  I had been working in the garden for an hour when I heard the phone
  ring. It was Jamie. He was driving down to London on business. I had
  gone out in the garden when he left, so he had only been gone an
  hour. I knew he had some problem.

It's left, not had left. Please explain to me the difference between these two examples.


texts:
Can somebody please explain to me the difference between the words "hunk" and "chunk". From what I understand, a chunk refers to a separate part of something. But as per the Merriam-Webster, a hunk is

a large lump, piece, or portion

, so basically the same as a "chunk". However, both words do not appear in their mutual synonym lists. Are the sentences

He ate a chunk of his chocolate bar.

and

He ate a hunk of his chocolate bar.

synonym? If not, what makes the difference?


texts: Is "ciao" equivalent to "hello" and "goodbye" in English?

texts:
I'm from Vietnam, and I'm learning English. I remembered someone said "Ciao" to me once.  I wondered if they could speak Vietnamese since "Ciao" is the same as "Chào" in Vietnamese.
After that, he explained to me that "Ciao" can also be used in English conversation, it is the same as saying "hello" or "goodbye"...
But my understanding of that conversation may have been flawed since I am still learning.  I also never see "Ciao" in English speaking and writing.
Can we use "Ciao" in English? And when can it be used?


texts: Is the adjective or noun form of 'pathogen' needed in this phrase?

texts:
Is the adjective or noun form of 'pathogen' needed in this phrase:

  Seed-borne fungal pathogen infection on the rice crop is an interesting subject of research.

Pathogen or pathogenic?

"Seedborne pathogenic fungi can greatly affect seed quality
and cause diseases that impact seedling production in
nurseries. Management strategies for the control of various
seedborne diseases are based on the epidemiology of the
diseases and the biology of the host and pathogen. This
paper provides a brief review of seedborne fungal problems
that affect conifer seeds and discusses established and
potential control practices." source.


texts: "they have the same" + plural or singular form?

texts:
If I want to say that 2 (or more) balls have the same size, I say:

  they have the same size

But is it also correct to say this?

  they have the same sizes

If it is, when would you use it like this?


texts: "to be" vs. "being" after adjective (and why)

texts:
Which sentence is correct, and why?

1) It's awesome being by the water.

2) It's awesome to be by the water.


texts: Is there any conceptual difference between these kinds of sentences?

texts:
Read out the sentence.

  Read the sentence out.

  Read the sentence aloud.

  Read aloud the sentence.

  Bring the boy out.

  Bring out the boy.

What exactly is the difference between these kinds of constructions?


texts: an adverb describing something you do with total satisfaction

texts:
he ___ accepted the fact without any skepticism nor arguing.

I tried searching but it didn't help because I couldn't describe the word correctly.


texts: Could you simplify or paraphrase "the informed consent of study subjects"?

texts:
The Kefauver-Harris Amendments enacted in 1962 were groundbreaking in their attempts to ensure the safety and effectiveness of all new drugs on the U.S. market. The amendments gave the FDA specific authority to approve a manufacturer's marketing application before a drug could be available for commercial use. Firms now had to prove safety and provide substantial evidence of effectiveness for the drug's intended use. The required evidence had to consist of adequate and well-controlled studies. The amendments helped establish rules of clinical drug investigation and the informed consent of study subjects. The amendments also required that drug-related adverse events be reported to the FDA.

What kind of consent would be called an informed consent? Could you also paraphrase the sentence in simple English?


texts:
I want to write the next sentence, but I don't know what preposition I should use.
I cannot work "in" my part job anymore due to my back problem.


texts: An expression of [noun] is [noun] -is it without/with article?

texts:
In day-to-day conversation, we often use the phrases this way...

  Whatever it is, game is game   Whether you like it or not, gift is gift  Believe it or not, record is record

In all these expressions, do we use an indefinite article? Or, it's okay without it? In either case, how? Why?

  Whatever it is, a game is a game   Whether you like it or not, a gift is a gift  Believe it or not, a record is a record.

Or, is this acceptable?

  Whatever it is, a game is game (no article second time?)


texts: Present perfect with since: starting and ending times of a finished past event?

texts:
I started reading at 9:00AM and finished at 10:00AM. The time is now 11:00 AM.

Which is correct to say?

  I have read the book since 9:00 AM.
  I have read the book since 10:00 AM.
  I had read the book since 9:00 AM.
  I had read the book since 10:00 AM.


texts:
I saw this sentence while doing my homework:

  It is still a mystery that how all the birds escaped.

In this sentence, must the ‘that’ be deleted?


texts: If you came earlier, I could go there. (Past vs Subjunctive mood)

texts:
If you came earlier, I could go there.
The sentence could be interpreted below.

You didn't come earlier and I could not go there (past)

It looks like you are not going to come earlier but if you come earlier, I can go there. (Subjuctive mood)

Which one is correct?


texts: Confused in the usage of only in a sentence

texts:
I only stare at pretty girls

  I stare only at pretty girls

One of the answers helped me understand using only in different sentences but I am unable to figure out the exact difference between the two sentences.
They look similar, but do they mean the same?

Also, in the link, one of the sentences was " I teach you only enough to help you pass the test". Is the sentence used only colloquially or can it also be used
formally.


texts: If gone in "has been gone" is an adjective, how do I know that dispatched in "has been dispatched" is a past participle?

texts:
What structure is this sentence is?

  He has been gone four hours now.

If 'gone' is an adjective and the sentence is in present perfect, then how will I know that 'gone' is an adjective. For instance, in this sentence,

  "It has been dispatched."

'dispatched' is a past participle and not an adjective.


texts: Do natives use "to be" to describe future tense?

texts:
Any data to be processed by this application is suggested to be kept
  under this directory.

I found the sentence shown above on Stanford University's website. I would like to know whether the following sentence differs in meaning from the sentence above.

  Any data that is/will be processed by this application is
  suggested to be kept under this directory.


texts: What does "I'm sad but that's cool, right?" mean?

texts:
I came across the sentence

  "I'm sad but that's cool, right?"

Does the "that's cool" part mean that

  "I'm sad but it's fine, right?"

Or

  "I'm sad but being sad is cool, right?"

Thanks!


texts:
Is it correct to use the verb "ring" instead of "call" even if I am using a mobile phone?

As far as I am aware, "ring" can be used in that sense and was widely spread with dial phones.


texts:
In an English grammar book I saw two sentences:

  Tim isn't working hard today. He's taken the day off.

Although it is ridiculous to argue with a grammar book :) in this case I would suggest using an indefinite article:

  Tim isn't working hard today. He's taken  a day off.

Am I correct?


texts:
Do the following self-made sentences have any semantic difference or they are conceptually identical:

  We must help the underprivileged classes of our society.
  We must help the underprivileged segments of our society.


texts: The age and weight of the person is/are known?

texts:
I am not sure whether to use singular or plural forms of the verb in the following example sentence:

  The age and weight of the person is/are known.

Thanks for any advice.


texts: Must a complete sentence precede a colon?

texts:
Take this sentence:

  I want the following: butter, sugar, and flour.

The part of the sentence that appears before the colon seems to not contain a noun; I seems to be an object, want seems to be a verb. There seems to be no object. It seems like it is a fragment? It seems all right to not place complete sentences after a colon... So maybe what goes before a colon doesn't have to be a complete sentence either?


texts:
The dictionary says "Sallow" is about complexion/face. Can we extend the same to talk about body in general?

Eg., Her body grew sallow


texts: Natural way to use "same as" + relative clause

texts:
I'm concerned my sentence may sound awkward

  In many cases we want to give the same set of directories as we give to -L to -rpath

when I want to say

  In many cases, if we want to give directories A, B and C to -L, we want to give A, B and C to -rpath, too.

especially because of the repeated "to" and the long object. How can I rewrite the above sentence for more clarity?


texts: Can a phrasal verb be considered an expression?

texts: I know that 'to bang on about something' is a phrasal verb but can it also be considered an expression?


texts: Is it better to use article "a" or not with "sore throat"?

texts: More often one thing happens to us, that is, your throat is sore. So we may say "I have a sore throat". But somebody also say "I have sore throat." So the article "a" here is necessary or not? If necessary, why?


texts: he or she vs their when using 'one' as a pronoun

texts:
Mindfulness allows one to cope with their daily challenges.

Is "one" correct with "their" here?

I want to know if it is okay to user their (instead of he or she) when using 'one' as a pronoun.


texts: Is this sentence correct? "I'm working in a way that is unrelated to weekend and holidays."

texts:
Mainly I'm working in my home with my laptop, so I take day-off when I need it. When I want to explain this, I say

  I'm working in a way that is unrelated to weekend and holidays.

But I feel there is a more easy-to-understand expression.

How would you say if you were me?


texts:
How would you like your coffee?

‘How do you like your coffee?’ can have a couple of meanings as said in here. When a modal verb would is used instead of do, can the sentence be meaning variously?


texts: Why is there a comma in "'I'd like to be as rich as Marco,' he thought"?

texts:
This is a sentence from a story I was reading:

'I'd like to be as rich as Marco,' he thought.

Why is a comma used after the word 'Marco'? Can you please explain the grammar behind that?


texts:
Which one is correct? If both, what is the difference?

Could you tell us what kind of noise does it give off?
Could you tell us the kind of noise it gives off?


texts:
Is it "in" or "on "?

Where is the ball?

It's in the pool.

Note that : The pool is full of water and the ball above the water.


texts:
I know that's a really weird question but really interesting I think.

In French, we say héhé when we're kindly (like a friend would do) making fun of someone or something. We could also replace it by a ❤ emoticon like to tell to the person that we said it [what we said just before] kindly.


texts:
The other day, I did it so that I can make dinner.

The other day, I did it to make dinner.

The other day, I did it so that I could make dinner.

Hello there. I was wondering about the verb make that’s been used in the first sentence. I feel like the verb structure of the first sentence is the exact same one in the second sentence. However, using so that makes me feel weird about it.
Shouldn’t it be like the third sentence I’ve mentioned? Like, I did it so that I could/would/.... I saw the first two from a native so I’m probably wrong. Is there a problem with me third sentence?


texts:
Ginsberg and Power were friends and, briefly, lovers. The piece is both raw and complex in thinking through their friendship and how we mourn.Source

What does this "in" mean?

As a sidenote, I don't know how the lover is used here. Is the word used like this in a friendly meaning? Not a serious love relationship?


texts: Like tomorrow never comes VS like there is no tomorrow. Do the sentences have contextual difference or they are interchangeable?


texts:
Let’ s assume I’m in the bakery and I said something like that: “Today we celebrate Fat Thursday in Poland. I’m sure many Polish people will come up/show up/ come by/ another verb.(?)”

I have no idea which verb fits here.

Can I use “show up” when somebody appears unexpectedly?
I was told it is used when you were invited to a wedding or a meeting etc.

Note:

My American friend advised me to use:

to come by or to stop by =  => intent

to show up = to appear, as if by invitation or coincidence

My mom just showed up at my door!  What a surprise!

My mom came by today to give me a cake.


texts:
The hunter waited silent and motionless beside a breathing hole where he had seen  a seal the day before

why not was waiting as the wait is not completed, the seal has not been there yet

englishlab.net/hp/quiz28_mixed_tenses_4_active_passive_story.htm


texts:
Then she changed her desk into a pig and back again. They were all very impressed and couldn't wait to get started, but soon realized they weren't going to be changing the furniture into animals for a long time. After taking a lot of complicated notes, they were each given a match and started trying to turn it into a needle. By the end of the lesson, only Hermione Granger had made any difference to her match; Professor McGonagall showed the class how it had gone all silver and pointy and gave Hermione a rare smile.
–– Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

They are saying be changing is a progressive. But in this case, it’s rather imply they’re unskilled in Transfiguration. Is this what it means, and is the progressive really a expression to denote some ineptness?


texts: What does the phrase "Elven for AI" mean here?

texts:
Please help me figure out the meaning of the phrase Elven for "AI" in the following text (not available online):
Grimes has a fascination with AI. So much that the “Æ” in her son’s name is Elven for “AI”.
The text is about a woman who has created a lullaby with the help of AI. Please note that her son's name is X Æ A-Xii.
I know that the word Elven means "relating to an elf", but am confused about its relevance here.


texts: Do I need "as well" in the end of this sentence?

texts:
I have the following sentence.

  The deadline for problem 2 is Sept 1st.

  Moreover, since there is no class nor office time on Friday, I extend
  the deadline for problem 1 to Sept 1st as well.

I feel really uncomfortable with the second sentence. First of all, should I write "there is no classes nor office time" or just "class"? Also, do I need "as well" in the end of second sentence?

Moreover, if you have any other suggestion to make this sentence sounds better. Please let me know!


texts: Feelings she hardly (recognize, or recognizes)?

texts:
I'm confused what verb is correct.

  Feelings she hardly recognize.
  Feelings she hardly recognizes.

Is the verb 'recognize' for 'she' or for 'feelings'?


texts: An old game for 3 players, the earliest records of which date back to

texts:
There is a game older than 3000 years. I would need to write it the way that the earliest records (or mentioning, notes?) are from that time.

  Something like: X is a game for three players with the earliest
  records appearing around 1500 B.C.

But it does not sound that much right.


texts: Is it "beat three men off" or "beat off three men"?

texts:
beat someone/something off

  succeed in resisting an attacker or an attack.

This is the definition of the phrasal verb, but I am wondering if you say "beat three men off" or "beat off three men", I don't know which one is correct and the most idiomatic and I don't even know if they mean the same thing.


texts: I would like to know which sentence is correct

texts:
Which of these sentences is correct?

  Could you please help me with your name

or

  May I please know your name


texts:
What is the difference between these two sentences? Is there a big differences? Which one is correct?

  A: I have been working on this project since last week.

  B: Since last week I am working on this project.


texts:
Despite the prepositions opposite to each other, I suppose that either sentence is correct. Of course, I have googled, and the first is way more common, but what will a native grammar-savvy say?

Any objections?

  Lift sanctions on Russia

  Lift sanctions off Russia


texts: Do I have to use “about” in the following sentence?

texts:
Do I have to use “about” just like number2?

The book you told me sold out in one day.
The book you told me about sold out in one day.

[ You told me the story. ] -> [ The story you told me was great. ]

Can't I make the sentence like this without 'about'?


texts: makes the high cost of convenience "seem" - should it be "seems"

texts:
I had read a sentence in a magazine:

  Staying connected is what makes the high cost of convenience—an average
  of $3,300 a year for the Moore's plan—seem well worth it to them.

Should "seem" be replace by "seems"? Since "Staying connected" is a single noun.


texts:
1) 'got to be' instead of 'are'

  You got to be kidding me

  INSTEAD OF

  You are kidding me

.

  2) 'bare to be + gerund' instead of 'bare infinitive'

  We can't be cutting corners anymore

  INSTEAD OF

  We can't cut corners anymore

Question:

  Why the 'to be' verb is used in these sentences?


texts:
If someone is tired, then they slept for a while. After waking up, can I say to them: I hope you are "reinvigorated"?
The meaning, I hope they restored their energy from last night example. If not, what is the perfect usage of the word?


texts:
I often hear people say "you look good in that shirt"

But recently, I have heard a native speaker say  "that shirt looks good on you".

So:
what is the difference between "that shirt looks good on you" & "you look good in that shirt"?


texts: what does it mean - "spoiling" in the following sentence

texts:
According to the dictionary, "to spoil" means "to destroy/ruin" or "to treat well".

So what does "spoiling" mean in the sentence of "she is not spoiling for a fight"? (as in "she is baited to have a fight, but she is not spoiling for it".)

I interpreted it to mean "to treat well". But if so, I would have written it as "she is not spoiled for a fight". Or did the author use it in the context of "to destroy"?


texts: Can "In a timely manner/fashion" describe a noun?

texts:
I want to use the phrase "in a timely manner" like this:

  Such a timely manner answer!

It is supposed to function as an adjective that describes the noun "answer", but I find it awkward beside the fact that I didn't find a similar structure on the Internet.

According to the result, it comes at the end of the sentence as a standalone phrase:

  This answer came out in a timely manner.

So, can I use it as an adjective? And, can "fashion" and "manner" used interchangeably in the phrase?


texts: Describing stomach related common problems

texts:
I did some research on how common stomach related problems are described in English, and made some sentences. Would you please look at them and let me know are they all correct and sound natural to you?

My stomach is growling.
Why does my stomach growl even when I'm not hungry?
What can I do to prevent my stomach from growling?
What makes my stomach growl?
My stomach is killing me and I feel like I’m going to puke!
What is causing my stomach burning?
My stomach is bloated.
My stomach is upset.

I really did hard work and tried my best to make all possible sentences related to this issue.

Is there any other word which is commonly used to describe stomach related problems? Can you provide an example sentence for each word?


texts:
In a sentence:

"In situations like these, you will succeed, you always did."

vs

"In situations like these, you will succeed, you always have."

Is one of these wrong/more correct than the other?

Or does it simply change the meaning? And if it does how?


texts: "There he and his friends come." or "There come he and his friends."

texts:
Let me start with basic pattern that is followed;

  When the subject/topic is a pronoun only: There he comes.
  When the subject/topic is not a pronoun: There come his friends.

How about the merger of both a pronoun and another pronoun and/or something else?

For example;

  There he and his friends come.
  There come he and his friends.
  There his friends and he come.
  There come his friends and he.
  There you and he come.
  There come you and he.
  There he and Muhammad come.
  There come he and Muhammad.
  There Muhammad and he come.
  There come Muhammad and he.

With that many possibilities mentioned above, I wanna know if any or all are correct.

P.S. What rules follow, if any!? ^^


texts: 'Page not found' is popular web response phrase. What grammar behind such a use of verb 'find' is? For me it's expected to read 'Page is not found' or 'has not been'.


texts: Meaning of the phrase "you guys" in context

texts:
It is from Crash Course Film History. It is at 6 minute and 15 second.

  Ticket sales were falling, and studio executives were in an outright panic. Studio executives like money, you guys.


texts:
From a sentence written by a student:

  It was my first time to visit China.

It sounds wrong to me, but using visiting only sounds slightly better. Which one is correct?


texts:
From Primal Fear (1996)
Edward Norton's character is explaining how he ended up an altar boy:

  I was begging on the street, up on the Wacker Drive. Bishop Rushman
  came by in his Cadillac. He saw me and he stopped. He took me into
  Savior House. I work as an altar boy. And I sing in his choir.

What exactly does "Savior House" mean? Is it just a figurative name of a church, "God's House" or there is such a term in USA. I was thinking it's something like a alms-house, but it's not correct for sure


texts: What does "quite as ... as" mean in the two sentences?

texts:
Here are sentences from The Marvelous Land of Oz and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland:

  The child had no playmates, so he did not know that boys often dig out the inside of a "pumpkin-jack," and in the space thus made put a lighted candle to render the face more startling; but he conceived an idea of his own that promised to be quite as effective.

  They very soon came upon a Gryphon, lying fast asleep in the sun. 'Up, lazy thing!' said the Queen, 'and take this young lady to see the Mock Turtle [...]'; and she walked off, leaving Alice alone with the Gryphon. Alice did not quite like the look of the creature, but on the whole she thought it would be quite as safe to stay with it as to go after that savage Queen: so she waited.

OALD gives three relevant definitions of quite:

to some degree (British English)
to the greatest possible degree
to a great degree; very; really

I believe the first meaning doesn't fit the context, but I can't decide which of the last two should be used and how. Can they both mean much more effective and much safer respectively?

I guess so because of the fact that there are phrases like twice as ... as, and I think we can just put quite in the place of the twice but kind of keep the way the twice modifies the adjective between the as's.


texts:
Can someone please explain what is subject and object in this sentence?

  'You must do what the boss tells you'

The Boss is the subject and you is object, is it or is it not?


texts: It's so long vs its been so long - What's the difference?

texts:
Does this make a difference in the meaning in the following sentence if been is included before so long?

Which one of it is correct?

  a).It's been so long since we had a meeting that I've forgotten.

  b) It's so long since we had a meeting that I've forgotten.


texts: what does " Whatever one’s definition, few could doubt that" mean?

texts:
Since then, diplomacy has evolved greatly, coming to mean different things, to different people, at different times, ranging from the elegant (‘the management of relations between independent states by the process of negotiations’: Harold Nicolson) to the inelegant (‘the art of saying nice “doggie” until you can find a rock’: Wynn Catlin). Whatever one’s definition, few could doubt that the course and consequences of the major events of modern international diplomacy have shaped and changed the global world in which we live. It is the purpose of this book to introduce the general reader to the subject and study of diplomacy, from an historical perspective.

i think it means: everyone can reject every definiton, and there is not only one definition" am I right?


texts:
broken (adj) that has been damaged or injured; no longer whole or working correctly

  a broken window/plate

  a broken leg/arm/bone

  pieces of broken glass

  How did this dish get broken?

  The TV's broken.

  They opened the bag and found a broken bottle.

Look at the picture

This is a plastic tube that is cut in half with scissors.

Normally, we say "broken plate / bowl / cup" for non-plastic things that drop.

A plastic tube can never split apart if you drop it. You can only damage it by cutting it apart with scissors, for example.

is it idiomatic to say "the plastic tube is broken"?

or do we say "it is split apart"?


texts: Why the indefinite article in "Their campaign mounts in fury as a free Europe crumbles"

texts:
From The Imitation Game (2014), more spefically, from a WW2-era newsreel snippet inserted into the movie to keep the viewer up to date with the events:

  "The German Army has fanned out across Europe, From Poland to Serbia, Lithuania to Denmark, Norway to France. The Nazi flag now flies from more than two dozen national capitals. Their campaign mounts in fury as a free Europe crumbles". (The newsreel is in an "old newscaster voice", clearly framed as contemporary with the events; there is some black-and-white historical footage being shown while this voice pronounces the words.)

Why a free Europe and not the free Europe? Everybody knew what the word Europe meant, and everybody knew what the free Europe was: it was the part of Europe not under the Nazi rule. Why introduce it all over again with the indefinite article?

I feel that the indefinite article might be okay here, but I would like to be able to explain this usage to someone else.

Maybe we could read the sentence as a shortening of

  Their campaign mounts in fury as the part of Europe that is a free Europe crumbles. ("partitive use" of the indefinite article?)


texts:
I've encountered similar situations many times and I am at a total loss regarding the actual meaning of the phrase.

Here's the example/reference:

I ask while chatting with my friends

  "Not attending class then, I guess?"

And they reply with a simple "No". Knowing their behaviours, I know that they are NOT going to the class but I can also take the reply to mean this:

  No, your guess is wrong. I will be attending the class.
  No, I won't attend the class.
  No, I am attending the class.

The first and third have the same meaning, but sound a little different to me (because of volition).

Question

I know that my question in such cases ("Not attending class then, I guess?" in the example) is the one causing all the confusion but then, how would I go about asking it?


texts: What is the word for giving advice or suggestions to make something better?

texts:
I would like to give some advices to a client via email, but I don't know what to write in the subject to make it formal.

I don't know if I should use advice or suggestions because I think that would be informal, and this client needs to feel respect from me.


texts:
In the following dialogs are both "like" and "(it's) not like" used correctly in the answers?
If yes, do they both mean the same?
What is the difference if there is one?

  A: She says she's going to help you with your work.
  B: Like I need her
  help!

...

  A: She says she's going to help you with your work.
  B: (It's) not like
  I need her help!

Is it that "like" contains a bit of sarcasm but "it's not like" doesn't?


texts: Why is the past tense used in a clause related to the present

texts:
The background is that I was doing C1 tests and got wrong the following:

  It's time you ____ up your mind.

As it seems right to me, I wrote "make". However, the answer shows "made" as the correct answer.

Why is the past tense used?

I could understand the ussage of made if the word "already" was in the sentence. But it is not.

Thank you in advance!


texts:
Walt thought I was crazy. In 20 months, he had gone from being head of a small $7.5 million (sales) medical development business to
  manager of the chemical and metallurgical division, one of GE’s
  biggest and most profitable businesses, with $500 million in
  sales.

Hi, there. The sentences above are an excerpt from the book Jack: Straight from the Gut by Jack Welch. I have looked up the meaning of "business" in several dictionaries. It seems that "business" is a countable noun only when it means "company".
Longman Dictionary

But from the excerpt, "businesses" here doesn't mean "companies", which makes me really confused. Besides, does these two "business" in the excerpt mean the same?


texts:
At the restaurant I had X and Y. They were out of this world!
At the restaurant I had X and Y. It was out of this world!
X and Y are two separate dishes. Now in the first sentence, the usage of they seems fine and correct. But in the second one, the usage of it to describe two different dishes does not. But, if it, instead of meaning, two dishes, meant the whole eating experience, then that makes the sentence grammatically correct in regard to the previous statement again, right?


texts: The use of the verb "predict" in the simple present tense with a verb in the past simple tense

texts:
It is from this video. It is at the beginning.

  The Big Bang Theory predicts that all matter, time and space began in an incredibly tiny, compact state about 14 billion years ago.

I am confused because as dictionaries say predict used to say that an event or action will happen in the future, especially as a result of knowledge or experience. How can someone predict the past?


texts: " a university has hectic schedules" or "universities have hectic schedules"?

texts:
I think in order to describe a general situation, both the plural of countable noun and adding indefinite articles before the countable noun could work.
So is it ok for me to use both to convey the meaning that the general universities have hectic schedules?

A university has hectic schedules"

or

Universities have hectic schedules"?

However, I don't think the first one is quite right.


texts: Why wasn't this text written in the simple past?

texts:
If the following verbs in bold talk about actions in the past, why we don't use the simple past instead?

  Tom and Della were a young married couple. Every morning Tom used to
  kiss Della and set off for work. Della used to stand at the window and wave good-bye. In the evening she used to welcome
  him home and ask him to tell her about his day.

For instance:

  Every morning Tom kissed Della and set off for work. Delia stood at the window and waved good-bye


texts: I saw a scene in Sons of Anarchy yesterday, where Jax wears sunglasses vs where Jax was wearing sunglasses

texts:
Is it correct to say: ''I saw a scene yesterday where Jax wears sunglasses''

or is the only correct form: ''Where Jax was wearing sunglasses''

I was in doubt whether the first one is okay to use.


texts:
Could someone please explain to me the difference between "I have to get" and "I got to get"?
I have to get some sleep now, so let's talk tomorrow, okay?
I got to get some sleep now, so let's talk tomorrow, okay?


texts: What is the exact difference between "stimulate" and"challenge"?

texts:
Considering these, would you please show me what you feel when you are to distinguish between these verbs semantically? I mean eventually what is the difference between challenge and stimulate, with respect to the links and sentences which I have provided?

The MacMillan Dictionary defines stimulating as

  making you feel interested

and has the example sentence:
She found her new job challenging and stimulating.

The Free Dictionary entry for challenge includes the definition:

  To summon to action, effort, or use; stimulate: a problem that challenges the imagination.

Slovar-vocab.com entry for challenge under section II lists:

  3 . SOMETHING DIFFICULT to test the skills or abilities of someone or something SYN stimulate

with the examples:
I’m really at my best when I’m challenged.
challenge somebody to do something
Every teacher ought to be challenging kids to think about current issues.


texts: Is there a more idiomatic way of saying "continue your love"?

texts:
Continue your love doesn't make any sense. It sounds like what someone would say if he had a really broken English, so I am wondering how I could say it better. By continue, I mean resume your love, as if it was interrupted by some life event in the past.

For example:

  The two died and then resurrected on the same country to ___ their
  love from past lives.


texts: How do 'bings and dings' and “Call me Ishmael” relate?

texts:
Source (15% down the page): 'Serious reading takes a hit...', by Michael S. Rosenwald, April 6, 2014

  Word lovers and scientists have called for a “slow reading” movement, taking a branding cue from the “slow food” movement. They are battling not just cursory sentence galloping but the constant social network and e-mail temptations that lurk on our gadgets — the bings and dings that interrupt “Call me Ishmael.”

I recollect that Call me Ishmael.” is the first line of Herman Melville's novel Moby Dick, which I've yet to read. I interpret the last sentence to mean that modern IT, especially audible alerts and warnings (the bings and dings) interferes with reading.  Yet why did this author cite this quote? What are the significance and import?  I sense some deeper implications that I missed. Or is the author simply implying that modern IT precludes a reader from reading even the second sentence of a literary classic?


texts: How do you say "yes you can" in the given situation?

texts:
I work at an online shopping website.

One of the buyers, whose account used to be restricted and was reinstated again, left an inquiry about whether he can make purchases with his account again or not.

Since his account is not blocked or restricted anymore, he can use his account like any other buyers.

So, what should I say to the buyer to inform that he can use his account now, and make purchases again?

Actually, I need to write email to the buyer. But I’ve never written business email before and I am not a native English speaker, so I don’t know what the proper response is for that situation.


texts: Do we need to conjugate the verb or to use the infinitive in descriptions of actions?

texts:
I often struggle in technical articles with whether I should conjugate the verb in incomplete sentences like:

Some options are available:

Answering: Result in opening all gates.
Ignoring: Switch lights off after two minutes.

In the first case it could be a shortcut for "This results in ...", but in the second case there are multiple possibilities: "To switch lights ...", "This switches lights ...", "You switch lights ...".
I wonder if such form relates to a well known use of the language (which has a name), and/or if some standard rule applies.


texts:
I see the word "strong" refers to a group of army in two contexts:

In this post:

  We're now a sub of nearly six hundred thousand strong

In this context the word "strong" refers to the subscribers of the subreddit.
In this game:

  Here we go loading up for a huge strong

Here the word refers to a group of army about to be dropped to the opponent's base.

But Oxford Dictionaries doesn't count this as a meaning of the word. Is this the case the dictionary hasn't caught up the usage of the word? Can it be used as a noun?


texts: Is "The pond is deep and looks black" a parallel structure?

texts:
I wonder if I need to change it to "The pond is deep and it looks black."
Is the original sentence fine?
Can someone help? I still haven’t got any clue yet


texts:
What is the difference between above two sentences?

Would you let me know, why did you go there?
Could you let me know, why did you go there?

I guess would is kind of  expecting a yes or no answer, whereas  could is asking for an explanation as an answer.
Am I right with my guess?


texts: Is it clear and natural to ask the usage by saying "is A with B"?

texts:
A post that talks about the usage of "complement" uses this title

Is "complement" with fact, opinion or both?

in this pattern is A with B
Which was trying to ask whether the word "complement" should be used only with fact, opinion or both.
Is it clear and natural to say it that way?

Note: "complement" there is not used as a term. In other words, "complement" in that context is with the meaning of "Something that completes, makes up a whole, or brings to perfection", rather than a Grammar term.


texts: "Leave the door open" vs "let the door open"

texts: Can I mean "May I leave the door open?" by asking "May I let the door open?" in any context? I know that there is, of course, a difference in meaning in both of the sentences, but I'm just wondering if I can ask "Should I let the door open?" to mean "Should I let the door at its default(open) position?"


texts:
I want to say that railways is most commonly used form of transport in the country.
Am I using the word "ubiquitous" correctly to convey the meaning?

  City X is not accessible directly by rail (which is ubiquitous in the country / most commonly used mode of long distance transport in the country) and is known for its extreme climate.


texts: spat defiance at the West -- meaning of "spat defiance"?

texts:
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/russians-march-defiance-west-display-unity-144938502.html

  In a typically fiery speech, populist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky hailed Putin for reclaiming Crimea from Ukraine in March and spat defiance at the West over sanctions imposed in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine.

How do you understand that phrase?


texts: the difference between 'danced ritual' and 'dancing ritual'

texts:
Some use 'dancing ritual'

  Third, the king was an active participant in the dancing ritual; he
  did not sit at a high place looking down while others performed the
  ritual.

  The drumming and dancing ritual was a new dimension to the way of life
  of the Africans.

  The blast occurred as devotees gathered for a dhamal, a dancing ritual
  central to the mystical Sufi tradition of Islam.

Whereas others use 'danced ritual'

  It is not easy to read the excitement of a danced ritual into
  prehistoric drawings.

  In this particular danced ritual, everything has to be exact.

  Dancing is the oldest and most elementary form of spiritual
  expression; it is magic in the form of a danced ritual.

What is your take in terms of difference?


texts: Why singlular + use instead of plural + use? (Eg. "drug use" instead of "drugs use")

texts:
This question is probably asked over and over again, but I cannot come up with keywords that can clearly describe this question to a search engine.

One of my friends has this fill-in-the-blank question on their test:

  "Why has student spending become a greater concern over the last few years? Because there is a trend of ____ use."

The correct answer is "credit card use," but my friend got it wrong for using the plural form and writing down "credit cards use," and my friend is curious as to why this is wrong. I cannot remember a quantitative grammar rule that defines this other than that my language intuition tells me it is wrong. Can anyone give a quantitative explanation?


texts: What does "His mouth is set in a grim line" mean?

texts:
I've come across with the sentence below:

  David’s mouth is set in a grim line.

The word grin means:

making you feel worried or unhappy
looking or sounding very serious
very bad, ugly, or unpleasant(informal)
ill(informal)[1]

But I don't understand what the phrase exactly means. Does it mean "David looks seriously"?

So, could you please expain it to me?

Note: David is an attorney.

The fuller text:

  Riley hears Gwen’s scream, and despite her own immediate fear, tears up
  the stairs. The others are close on her heels. She arrives at the open
  doorway to Candice’s room.The first thing she sees is Gwen with her
  face buried in David’s chest, to her right, and then, beyond them, the
  body on the floor. [...] Riley can’t bear to look at the body anymore;
  she turns her attention to the others instead. Bradley is staring at
  Candice as if he’s seen a ghost, grabbing the edge of the desk to
  steady himself.
  David’s mouth is set in a grim line.
  Gwen, beside him, has her hand pressed hard against her mouth, trying
  not to throw up. Ian mutters, “Dear God,” and stands flat-footed, as
  Lauren pushes past him to the body. She moves to pull the scarf loose,
  touching Candice’s neck. “Get back, everyone,” David commands harshly.
  “There’s nothing we can do for her.”

[1]https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/grim


texts: "A rumor circulated among the staff that he was being promoted to Vice President ." Is the part 'that...President' an adjective clause?

texts:
If I re-frame the sentence as : "A rumor that he was being promoted to Vice President circulated among the staff", it seems that the part 'A rumor that he was ...President' is a phrase.
The answer given is :

The original sentence is a discontinuous noun phrase.

My question is why isn't it an adjective clause in the original sentence? Isn't there proper verb form present in the portion I mentioned in the question?


texts: Quoting a sentence containing a quote: Which quotation mark should I use?

texts:
In American English, the quotation mark normally used is the double quotation mark.

  Edema asked, "Am I an alliteration addict?"

When quoting text, which quotation marks should I use?

Single quotation mark for the external one, and double quotation mark for the other one

  Edemo said, 'Edema asked, "Am I an alliteration addict?"'

Double quotation mark for the external one, and single quotation mark for the other one

  Edemo said, "Edema asked, 'Am I an alliteration addict?'"


texts:
Does the following make sense?

  "Nowadays, there are many more electronic pieces of equipment and
  devices than there used to be."

  "I like the museum. It was more interesting than I expected to be.

  "I like the museum. It was more interesting than I expected it to be.

  "The more you are tired, the more mistakes you might make".


texts: A polite way to let people go in front of you in a checkout queue

texts:
How can you politely tell someone standing behind you in a checkout queue that they can go in front of you?

For example if they have only 1 or 2 items in their trolley and mine is full, or if I forgot something and have to go back to get it.


texts:
Here is my sentence:

  This is a wonderful movie sharply picturing the challenges and questions many children face during their childhood.

Is this correct? I know a photo can "picture something" but what about a movie?

The context: The movie approaches questions about sexuality and identity.


texts:
The drag performer, whose real name is Tom Neuwirth, developed a consistent lead as voting progressed, and ended up with 290 points.
  More than 50 points behind, The Netherlands came second with 238 points, with Sweden in third on 218.
  The “bearded lady”, as the 25-year-old is known, had stirred controversy especially in some eastern European countries.
  But no fewer than 13 countries gave her a maximum 12 points.

When saying no fewer than 13 , does it mean at least ?
Is it just about stylish writing ? Or they are somehow different?


texts:
Please can you tell me which sentence is correct.

As the invoice had been outstanding for several months/ from 31 March 2015 to 30 September 2015 (today is 9 November 2015) the company accrued the additional charges.

or

As the invoice was outstanding for several months/ from 31 March 2015 to 30 September 2015 (today is 9 November 2015) the company accrued the additional charges.

The invoice had been unpaid since 31 March 2015 and then paid on 30 September 2015 hence "had been outstanding" seems to be more appropriate. For some reason, "was outstanding" sounds better. Please help!


texts: What does “would” mean in “I wouldn't be surprised”?

texts:
What does I wouldn't be surprised mean?

“Do you think they’ll get married?”  “I wouldn’t be surprised.”
You know, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the top executives lose their jobs.
You know, I wouldn’t be surprised if they decided to get married.
I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that she’d left that job by now.

I thought would was used only in the so-called “second conditional’s” then portion, the part after the if portion, so I am surprised to see would being used with present, future, and past.

When and where can we use this phrase?  How can you use would outside of the so-called second conditional?


texts: Why we use "to this" instead of only "this"?

texts: Why do we use "to this" when we say something like "if you are listening to this" and not just "this" without "to"? For example "to" is not used when we say "if you are reading this".


texts: Possibility OF doing or TO do something?

texts: Is there any difference between the two?


texts: The use of the sentence structures "there is"/there are" in context

texts:
Tell me please if the following sentence is correct.

  John asked me if I had something to eat and I told him that there were eggs.

Is it necessary to specify where those eggs are? For example:

  There are eggs in the kitchen.


texts: What does the phrase "moody, rock-inflected soundtrack" mean?

texts:
Please help me figure out the meaning of the phrase "moody, rock-inflected soundtrack" in the following sentence:

  In the game meet the neighbors, and tend to gardens—all while
  listening to its beautifully moody, rock-inflected soundtrack.

The sentence is from an offline description of a game.


texts:
Lionel Robert Jospin (pronounced lee-oh-NEL roh-BAIR zhoss-PAN) was born on July 12, 1937, into the Protestant family of a Socialist schoolteacher in Meudon, on the western edge of Paris. He was delivered, according to family legend, on a couch raised up on a set of the complete works of Voltaire to make it easier for the midwife.
The Bay Ridge Towers, two tall brick co-op buildings at the northern tip of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, offer their residents two vast parking lots with an unusual feature. Although they are level with the buildings, they sit about 30 feet above a low patch of land, raised up on rows of giant pillars.

I'm not sure, but it seems using the verb "raise" (raise, raised, raised) as an intransitive verb is rather common among journalists, albeit oxforddictionaries.com has substantially no entry for this kind of usage.
Other dictionaries says that using "raise" as an intransitive verb is a dialectal form.
My question is: Can we legally use "raise" intransitively as well as newspapers induce to think?


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

texts:
If I want to write a question like,

  What does "*" mean to you?

can I write the word without any articles?

For example, should I write

"What does "an old friend" mean to you?" or,
is it okay if I write "What does "old friend" mean to you?"

I'm confused with this because there are more search results with "what does "opportunity" mean to you" than "what does "an opportunity" for you," while "what does "a promise" mean to you" has more results than "what does "promise" mean to you."

I'd appreciate it if somebody could explain this for me.

Thank you!


texts: Correct form of an article in these sentences:

texts:
I was just wondering if you could help me with the articles(the, a, an, nothing) in these sentences:

  1) (The article) night is quiet. Let's go for a walk.

  2) They are going to stay at (the article) hotel.


texts: Difference between "remedy", "heal", "cure" and "treat"

texts: These words relates to Health category. I think these words are really confusing and I don't know how to use them correctly. Can you show me what are the differences between these words?


texts: Differences between competent and competitive

texts:
I understand from dictionaries and web research that both terms can mean capable, of a person. Do they tend to carry other important meanings in this sense?

Is competent used often enough in daily life that it's useful to learn? Is it particularly formal, colloquial, strong, or literary?


texts: Is it appropriate to use "disclaimer" to disclose affiliation?

texts:
On Smack Exchange there's a rule that one must disclose their affiliation should their post refers or recommends an external product service, so it's all too common to see these postscripts on SE:

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Example Service or Example Company.

However, I'm confused when I see such a statement:

Disclaimer: I am the creator/owner/maintainer of Example Product.

Per my understanding, a "disclaimer" is a declaration that one cannot make a reference to the said product or service, thus discharging one of possible liabilities. It looks absurd to me when a "disclaimer" is used when someone is affiliated.
Is it a correct use of the word "disclaimer"? If not, what would be an appropriate word for this purpose?


texts: (Hard / difficult / tough) (choice / decision)

texts:
Let's say one is in a dilemma i.e.
a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives:

I was wondering which collocation is not a fixed one in natural and idiomatic English to define such a situation;

Collocations of the word "choice":

That's a difficult choice.
That's a hard choice.
That's a tough choice.

Collocations of the word "decision":

That's a difficult decision.
That's a hard decision.
That's a tough deciaion.

To me, they all work with slight shades of meaning.
Please kindly correct me if I'm mistaken.
PS. I know there is some semantic nuance between the words and the listed combinations. I just want to make sure whether they all work together or not.


texts:
I have a book that says we can use will and would for a habitual action. For example,

  Everyday Jane will come home from school and ring up the friends she's just been talking to.

Does this sentence make sense? I used to refer that book when I have a problem but now I dont trust it because I've never seen people write that way. I think the only possible way to express a habitual action is,

  Everyday Jane comes home from school and rings up the friends she's just been talking to.

If the "will" version is correct, then is there any difference from the "present simple" version?


texts:
I have learned past perfect recently, and I am trying to test myself with it.

  I was having a shower at 7pm yesterday, because I had worked very hard, and I got very dirty.

Is this past perfect sentence correct?


texts:
A few seconds later, they were there, outside the third-floor
  corridor – and the door [into the room that is protected by the
  three-headed dog] was already ajar.  (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's
  Stone)

Having climbed up a set of staircases, we can expect we meet a hall that is the entrance of certain corridor, or the corridor itself. Then what is ‘outside the corridor’?


texts: Which should I use in this sentence: a piece or apiece?

texts:
I'm having some confusion regarding the use of "a piece" and "apiece" for a sentence I've written for a fiction piece. Have I used "apiece" to mean "each" correctly here?

Context: I want to convey that both A and B sent a team of two each.

  Both A and B would send a team of two apiece to the house where the girl was being kept. Each team would then discuss how to rescue the girl and act accordingly.


texts:
What is the pronunciation of "species"? I know they have the same form whether it be in the singular or the plural form.

Both in the singular and plural forms, it is pronounced the same?


texts: Fear FOR something vs fear ABOUT something

texts:
All these problems make me fear _____________ my children’s future.

Out of 'for' and 'about', is either word more appropriate than the other to be filled in the blank.

The source of this (stand alone) question is a test I've already taken and gives the answer as 'about'.


texts: Meaning of "Who should I say is calling?" + Grammar structure

texts:
I have problems with this sentence. First of all:

  What does "Who should I say is calling" mean?

Does that mean:

  To whom should I say is calling? Or it means: Should I say who is calling?

And also I have problems with the grammar structure, in the second clause:

  Who should I say is calling? , Shouldn't the second clause have a subject, like " [...] It *is calling**?

Also: Is this stuffy English? Does this sound right to you? Or old-fashioned?

Thanks a million.


texts:
How shall one say I would so something against you so that you couldn't hold your head up out of embarrassment [meaning that I will disgrace you.]
Does my self-made sentence below sound natural to indicate this message or a native speaker would not say it in that way:

  I will do something to make you not able of holding your head up high in front of the public.

I would appreciate it if it doesn't sound idiomatic and natural, someone could recommend me a close idiom especially in AmE.


texts: Should-I-go-left-or-right confusion when you're walking past someone- is there an expression for that?

texts: You know the confusion that happens when you're walking down the street, there's someone coming from other direction, you decide to go (your) left they decide to go (their) right, and then you decide to go (your) right then they decide go (their) left and so on? Is there a standard expression that describes that situation? What would a native English speaker say?


texts:
I am often confused about the construction of clauses with to.

  I saw that there was not much water left in the bottle, so I picked it up went to the kitchen refilled it.

Is this a possible contraction of the previous sentence? Is it acceptable?

  I picked up the bottle to refill it.

Similarly, is the following sentence acceptable?

  I saw the show to talk about it next morning at work.


texts: Using bare infinitive with verbs such as "see", "watch", etc.: Present tense or Past Tense?

texts:
I know using the bare infinitive after verbs such as hear, see, watch, etc. conveys  a different meaning from using the present participle (verb+ing):

  I watched him climbing over the fence ( Climbing wasn't finished at the moment of speaking)
  I watched him climb over the fence ( Climbing was finished at the moment of speaking)

I noticed the majority of the Grammar books use past tense to explain the aforementioned difference. Personally, I think that is quite rational because the bare infinitive implies a completed or finished occurrence. This means that event belongs to the past. However, I have a problem conceiving similar sentences in the present tense. For example:

An uneasy feeling comes over me as I watch him walk towards the revolving doors.

The questions is:

  If the bare infinitive implies a completed action, then why should we use the present tense to talk about that event? (the event is in the past).

  We can say that:

  An uneasy feeling came over me as I watched him walk towards the revolving doors

Added info 1

If you think my "climbing" examples are irrelevant, you can check Cambridge Advanced Grammar In Use, page 60, Unit 30, Section D or just check this link

Added info 2

My question is from the logical point of view. I think the act of "seeing" is instantly. Therefore, it is not rational to say "see" a "completed process" but, "saw" a "completed process".


texts:
What is 'to have a run in' in this sentence:

  I was one of 5 white kids in my school growing up. Every black kid had a run in. I never did. Luck? My good behavior? Neither.

There is no much context, it is a part of that twit.


texts: Can a relative pronoun give information about words in a prepositional phrase?

texts:
He was the most prominent of the French artists who welcomed
photography as help-mate but recognized its limitations

Does who (relative clause) give information about 'him' or 'French artists' ?

These writers reflected the opposition of a section of the cultural
elite in England and France to the cheapening of art which the growing acceptance and purchase of camera pictures by the middle class
represented

Does which give information about 'cheapening of art'?
And does in England and France modify the cultural elite or the opposition?


texts:
What does “kill on the sawdust” mean here?

‘I thought killing was easy for you,’ said Laurent. His voice was rather quiet. ‘I thought you did it without thinking.’

‘I’m a soldier,’ said Damen, ‘and I have been for a long time. I’ve killed on the sawdust. I’ve killed in battle. Is that what you mean by easy?’

-Captive Prince, Volume 2 by C. S. Pacat


texts: Meaning of 'such' in "Such was her astonishment"

texts:
Here's the context

  "Her heart leaping into her throat, she tiptoed into the salon. Such was her astonishment at seeing Mike chatting with her boss that she leaned against the wall, incapable of making another move."

Is this a phrase or what? Could it be used in other forms as well?


texts: Why "What could have changed you so?" = "What changed you?"

texts: I thought like "could have PP" is always what describes something that was able to be done but actually didn't.


texts: Which phrase should be used, in future or in the future?

texts:
In the following sentence, which phrase should be used, in future or in the future.

  Please be punctual in future/in the future.


texts:
I have read a sentence:

  my school needs better facilities for carrying out scientific experiments

is not it supposed to be:

  my school needs better facilities to carry out scientific experiments

because the aim is to carry out scientific experiments and for aims 'to' is used


texts: What is the exact place for the definite article in the following sentence?

texts:
Which sentence is correct?

I could not find "Les Misérables" among all the books.

I could not find "Les Misérables" among the all books.

I am confused about the correct place of "the" in the above sentences.


texts:
looking at English magazine, I found a example.
Colby grew up "on" a cattle ranch in Texas.
why not "in"?  ranch is a place, isn't it?


texts:
I want to write a code comment that means "every line in this file must be shorter than N". I wrote this:

  No line in this file shall be longer than N

...then considered using "must", which is more commonly used:

  No line in this file must be longer than N.

Intuitively, for some reason, I read the first as my intended meaning ("lines must be shorter than N"), but the second as "lines do not have to be longer than N), which is different.

I don't know of any rule that would give these two sentences different meanings, it is just how I intuitively parse it. I guess that I am wrong about at least one of them.

Do these two lines have the same meaning? Do they mean "every line must be shorter than N", or "lines can be shorter than N"?


texts:
Compare these two: Explain the acceptable English sentence relating to focal or tacit knowledge.
1. They went for Dinner.
2. They gone for dinner.


texts:
Can anybody explain the structure that takes place here. Is it correct and why is "would" there? What kind of rule could be there?

The full phrase was:

  I guess I am a little bit disappointed he would say that.

It was used as an opinion on someone's comment in a video (doubt that I can reference it due to having lost the link). The meaning is perfectly clear, though the grammar rule which allows to use "would" in this case is still a mystery to me.


texts: Is it correct to say "preselecting examination"

texts:
I am applying for a scholarship and I need to write an application letter for the preselections. I filled the subject field by
"Application for [name of the scholarship] scholarship preselecting examination"

But then I get confused when I start searching for "preselecting" in the dictionary, I can't find any name or adjective under this title, thought I think I need one for the expression to be grammatically correct. Can you help me to clarify my confusion? If "preselecting examination" is wrong, what is the correct word, knowing that I try to translate the french expression "concours de préselection".

Thank you.


texts: If I can skype someone, can I chat someone?

texts: I can say I've skyped someone. But when referring to chat, such as ICQ, is it correct to say that I've chat someone, with the meaning that I've sent someone a message on chat?


texts: Is this a case of a parenthetical remark?

texts: "He finished it before his 20th birthday." Should I apply the rule about parenthetical remark here and put 20th between two commas or it's not thecase here?


texts: structure of "alternative to people sleeping on the streets"

texts:
Consider this sentence

  There must be an alternative to people sleeping on the streets.

I understand the first half "there must be an alternative", a simple there be + sb./sth.

I also understand the use alternative to + sb./sth.

I don't understand the structure of the remaining part. I guess the whole part "people sleeping on the streets" could be called reduced relative clause, and "sleeping on the streets" functions an adjective that describes people. However, directly convert the present participle to a relative clause does not seem to work.

  There must be an alternative to people who are sleeping on the streets.

Note: I understand the meaning of the sentence, I just don't understand the structure.


texts: With the suddenness of night-time eruption in a chicken-coop

texts:
I didn't understand the meaning of this sentence -

  Then, with the suddenness of night-time eruption in a chicken-coop, a group of women burst out of the fort.

I guess night-time eruption means the fall of night. But what it has to do with chicken-coop, when there is no mention or occurrence of such thing in the context?


texts: Is it OK to write or say "as well as" + to infinitive?

texts:
Screening is done in order to prevent injury and muscular-skeletal complications as well as to improve performance methods.

Typically I don't remember "as well as" being followed by other than noun or pronouns. Nevertheless, is it OK to write or say "as well as to ..." as in the above example?


texts: Would you tell me if "in the driveway" functions as adjectives in the sentence "The car is in the driveway"?

texts:
From The McGraw-Hill Handbook of English grammar and usage, 320p

  Adjective prepositional phrases are prepositional phrases functioning as adjectives to modify nouns. For example, in the
  sentence The car in the driveway belongs to my aunt, the adjective
  prepositional phrase in the driveway modifies the noun car.

In the NP, "in the driveway" modifies the "the car". Like the preceding, in a structure level The car is in the driveway, can we say that the prepositional phrase "in the driveway" moidifies "the car", or does it modify a linking verb "is"?


texts: Which one is common "they are leftover cigarettes" or "they are cigarette butts"?

texts:
Look at this picture.

Do we say "they are leftover cigarettes" or "they are cigarette butts"?

  leftover (adj): that has not been eaten or used at the end of something

  Use any leftover meat to make a curry.

  butt (noun) the part of a cigarette or cigar that is left after it has been smoked

  an ashtray full of cigarette butts

Ngram does not show any data on "leftover cigarettes".

In addition, what if you have a cigarette & you smoked by 20% of it, then stopped smoking, you will then come back to smoke the rest. What to call a cigarette that has been smoked by 20%? a butt or a leftover cigarette?

Loot at the cigarette that has been smoked by 20% below:

Also, about cigarette anatomy, look at the picture below:

What to call the part of a cigarette that does not contain tobacco, the yellow one which may contain some wool or cotton, do we call it "the filter" or "the butt"?


texts:
My teacher has a sign in his room that says:

  The English Language is a Challenge: This is why "Fish" can be spelled "Pheti"!

Is this true or is just to confuse students?