texts:
Example with a context (Yahoo news story: Dissent in Putin’s Russia Just Got More Dangerous):

  A law passed earlier this year and signed by President Vladimir Putin made it illegal for Russian citizens to associate with groups designated as undesirable, and also made it possible for Russian prosecutors to have a group so designated with no trial or open process.

Slightly reworded, this is what the sentence says: now Russian prosecutors can have groups designated as undesirable with no trial or open process. What do you think have somebody with no trial or open process really means? How do you exactly understand that?


texts: What's the difference between good in math and good at math?

texts:
I see both forms, but I've seen in one of the answers here that you use "good in math class" and "not good in math", which is probably not quite true, or is it? Which is it?

I was not gonna ask the question, but after seeing the answer I got more confused.

Here's the link:

What is the difference among 'good at' and ' in, with,for'?


texts:
Please look at the following two sentences.

He was supposed to be home by now.

I understand this means we are talking about now.

He was supposed to have been home by now.

Does this  mean he is home now? Or does it mean he came, stayed and left before now?  I don't understand when I use this sentence and what difference  there is  between #1 and #2.


texts:
I'm curious about a certain sentence construct that I've seen in different contexts. I'm talking about sentences in the following style:

A * doesn't a * make.

(* being a wildcard). For example:

A good camera doesn't a good photographer make.

A google search for that specific sentence construct yields several results. However, the placement of the verb at the end of the sentence seems to be a grammatical error to me.

Is this construct grammatically correct? Is it archaic? Is it derived from a famous quote? Or is it just plain wrong?


texts:
Someone has been eating my porridge.

Is it same with Someone ate my porridge.


texts:
If you had been my child, I would have demanded that such an irresponsible teacher be fired.

It is the subjunctive mood, I suppose. Why every verb in the sentence in the past, but be is in the present?


texts:
Which is correct?

  There is a hundred of people in the hall.

OR

  There are a hundred of people in the hall.

a hundred means one hundred but determiner ‘a’ is singular. Which verb should be used, is or are?


texts: "Cthulhu Fhtagn" - is there a rule how to pronounce artificially created words?

texts:
There are many such words in a fiction literature, including Jabberwocky, Cthulhu, Kilrathi, and many others. Of course, the authors intended to make these words appear most uncommon to an English reader, and it must have been a deliberate attempt to make the pronunciation unclear.

Being an English learner, I, most likely, have read those books translated to my language, so it is very possible that my pronunciation is somewhat spoiled (even if my language uses Latin alphabet).

An obvious way is googling for each individual word to see how it is suggested to pronounce each one. However, this is not the case if you are involved in a spoken discussion. You simply have no possibility to search.

So, is there any simple, mnemonic rule how to pronounce an arbitrary artificially created word?

Update: I see close-votes on this question, so I have to explain myself.
Not knowing how to pronounce a word may lead you to an embarrassing situation.
Actually, a comic below illustrates very well what happens if you pronounce R'lyeh wrongly:

image from here


texts: Today, I was talking to my friend. She is very good at English. During this conversation, she said, "I am on THE bus". I think, she has misused the definite article. In my opinion, it should have been, "I am on A bus". Because this is the first time she said anything about this bus. On the other hand, I know that she generally travel by bus.


texts:
outdoor motorbike park

underground motorbike park
A place is used for parking mostly motorbikes or bicycles, sometimes some small cars, and it can be outdoors or underground.
Is it correct to say "go to the bike park" or "go to the motorbike park" instead of "go to the car park"?


texts:
It rains a lot in Tokyo.
  We/They have much rain in Tokyo.
  There is much rain in Tokyo.
  Tokyo has much rain.

I don't think 4 is correct or at least I've never heard it.
However, some teacher at school(not native) seems to teach 4 as well.. now I'm confused.


texts: Transcript of Nightly Business Report on June 1, 2016

texts:
I am reading the transcript from NBR.com

There are some sentences that I did not understand.

  Growth is seen weakening in the U.S. to below 2 percent and there was a little change in the sub part over to Europe and for Japan.

  The OECD even slashed its forecast for China but it nearly a half a point to 6.5 percent. The OECD calls it a low-growth trap.

It sounds like

...subpar outlooks for europe and for japan....

...slashed its forecast for China by nearly a half point to...

or

...slashed its forecast for China by nearly a half of point to....

You may watch the video which starts with 01:48

Nightly Business Report - June 1, 2016 - YouTube:

Also you may read the transcripts from NBR.com

Transcript: Nightly Business Report – June 1, 2016

Thanks for your reading


texts:
Look at this excerpt from the global ethics of tourism code:

  It is the task of the public authorities to provide protection for tourists and visitors and their belongings; they must pay particular attention to the safety of foreign tourists owing to the particular vulnerability they may have;
  they should facilitate the introduction of specific means of information, prevention, security, insurance and assistance consistent with their needs. (source)

I do not understand the meaning of prevention in this context? How is it different from security?


texts:
Is use of "enter" in the following sentence correct grammatically and conceptually?If it is not , kindly suggest ways to make it clearer.

  The chamber is open at the bottom in order to enter incident wave.

  "in order to admit the incident wave" is OK?


texts: Can I define (substitute for) the word 'albeit' as 'regardless'?

texts:
We hear a song from our past and are transported back to a memory from long ago, albeit a good or a bad one

link to the sentence


texts: Positive, comparative, superlative and... is there a fourth?

texts:
I'm wondering whether English has something beyond its superlative degree. In my language we call that "túlzófok", it literally translates to "exaggerative degree."

I'm wondering because I often hear and read phrases where the much more is used before the comparative, e.g.

  much more stronger

but this is grammatically incorrect. Still, whenever I hear or read something like this, I can't help but think of our "túlzófók" and how people who use a phrase like this may have a similar intention, they may want to exaggerate. I don't know however if that's the case or if it's just something some people do as a habit and without any particular reason.

So, does English have an actual, non-arbitrary way of exaggerating adjectives in a way which is comparable to the superlative, or if it doesn't, has it ever had anything similar?


texts:
They are more accepting to the idea of John rather than the idea of Peter.

  They are more acceptance to the idea of John rather than the idea of Peter.

What I wanted to say is that they could accept the idea of John better, compared to the idea of Peter. Which sentences above are grammatical and have made a right usage?


texts:
The council appears to be guilty of the illegal sale of houses that were not its to sell in the first place. (CGEL,p.471)

I don't get well what role this phrase, to sell in the first place, takes. I'm about to incline to think that 'to sell' is a modifier for 'its'; 'in the first place' is an adjunct. Is this right?


texts:
Usually the article the is omitted before nouns when we refer to an object with its general meaning.

Example bedroom, home, temple, school

But when we talk about any specific object it cannot be omitted.

I think the following two examples are correct but their meaning is different

  I went to the temple with my parents, my aunts and my cousins.

  I went to temple with my parents, my aunts and my cousins.

But in the first sentence we are talking about a specific temple and in the second one any temple in general.

Am I right?


texts: what's the difference between "alliance" and "coalition"?

texts:
The two words alliance and coalition seem to have the same general meaning:

  a group of political partners with similar aims

Is there a difference between them? Are there clear-cut rules as to when one would be preferred over the other? Or are pretty much interchangeable in just about any context?


texts:
Currently reading this article,, the second paragraph says,

  As North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs have become more adventurous, a worrying possibility has begun to emerge. There’s a chance that—at some point—the North Koreans might want to combine the two testing programs, by putting a live nuclear warhead on top of a ballistic missile. That means, assuming all goes as it should, the missile would fly downrange to its appointed target zone, and the warhead would detonate in the atmosphere. That sort of test—an end-to-end test of the full weapon system—would be a convincing demonstration that Pyongyang had crossed the critical bridges: that it had a long-range ballistic missile with the throw-weight to carry a nuclear warhead, a warhead able to be placed atop the missile, and a re-entry vehicle that could survive the stresses of re-entry.

My research, by all go, as here means "full of activities" or "very busy" (British informal).

I don't understand this sentence (painted by black and especially bold italic part "assuming all goes.")

Could you help me what "assuming all goes" mean, and the meaning of the sentence?

Thank you for your kind support.


texts: Wondering what the difference is between "much less" and "let alone"

texts:
Good luck getting the city to do anything, much less file an injunction. The mayor is very pro-business and it won’t look good if he tries to shut down any business that could bring revenue and jobs to this dying town.
  Good luck getting the city to do anything, let alone file an injunction. The mayor is very pro-business and it won’t look good if he tries to shut down any business that could bring revenue and jobs to this dying town.

I have to say the number one is actual text taken from ESlPOD.COM
It was my intuation that the " much less" here means " let alone".
Source: http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=15193106


texts:
Please help me to choose the right verb.

  Its inside and outside is/are the same.

If you would please explain your answer a bit.


texts:
Correct one?

1) Nepotism, a practice that has existed as long as mankind permeates our society, from business to politics.

2) Nepotism, a practice that has been existing as long as mankind permeates our society, from business to politics.


texts:
Suppose there is an honorable contest. This contest is organised into different levels. There is a regional level and then is the national level.

Suppose I had contended in the first level and secured success in it. Then I am eligible in the next level.

I have to articulate this in a word both formally or colloquially. I need help to do it.

  I have qualified the first round
  I have been qualified for the second round

Which one of the above is the right usage? New parallel words are also allowed.
If the second sentence is correct, how do I formulate the second one?


texts: What does the word “potential” describe, “products” or “impact”?

texts:
Has an assessment been conducted to evaluate potential products impact due to this nonconformity?

This is a sentence written by an American . I would like to know what does the word “potential” describe,  “products” or “impact” ?


texts: What do you call the act of preventing a business from continuing?

texts:
Shake And Shake was a Ponzi scheme and the SEC closed the business.

The SEC closes Shake and Shake after repeated fraud allegations

Is "close" the only word, or is there a better way to say this?


texts:
There is another common business type of partnership 51% / 49%.

Would it be correct to say “to” instead of the slash sign while speaking, like:

  51% to 49%

If “to” is wrong, please correct me.


texts: What does "pfft" mean in American English?

texts:
Person 1: You're an idiot.

Person 2: Pfft


texts: Which is his name: the Fat Friar, Fat Friar?

texts:
Then something happened that made him jump about a foot in the air - several people behind him screamed.
      "What the ––?"
      He gasped. So did the people around him. About twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to one another and hardly glancing at the first years. They seemed to be arguing. What looked like a fat little monk was saying: "Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance ––"
      "My dear (i) Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost –– I say, what are you all doing here?"
      A ghost wearing a ruff and tights had suddenly noticed the first years.
      Nobody answered.
      "New students!" said (ii) the Fat Friar, smiling around at them. "About to be Sorted, I suppose?"
      A few people nodded mutely.
      "Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" said (iii) the Friar. "My old house, you know."
      "Move along now," said a sharp voice. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start."
  (J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)

What is the ghost’s name: Fat Friar, the Fat Friar, or other something?
The first thing that arose in my mind is his is ‘the Fat Friar’, just as these names: the United Kingdom, the Philippines, which give referentiality/defiteness on united kingdom and Philippines. But there being three types of calling, I’m not sure if my guessing is proper.


texts: I usually write very long questions which come not to be understandable, so I feel I have to keep a number of words and I must not exceed it.  So, when I want to write an English question, what is the maximum number of words to use in a question?


texts: What does "wish can stay longer yet too busy" mean?

texts:
What does this sentence, "wish can stay longer yet too busy", mean in simple English?
What phrase does it use? The "can...yet" confuses me.


texts:
Is there any difference between these three pairs? If there is, is it the same difference?

  I did it by myself.

  I did it on my own.

  He lives by himself.

  He lives on his own.

  We're by ourselves.

  We're on our own.


texts: Which definition? "Run up debts of XXXXX"

texts:
This is the continuation of the last question.
There is a line saying,

Meanwhile, Florida’s Democratic Party ran up debts of up to $860,000 and had to cancel health insurance coverage for party employees late last year — prompting the national party and other states' party organizations to provide some assistance.

According to a dictionary, run up means in transitive sense,

1: BID UP ( raise the price of XXXXX ).

2: to stitch together quickly

3: to erect hastily

4: to achieve by accumulating

I think it sounds like the definition is 4. Am I correct? Thank you for resurrecting me again and again(m_m).


texts: singular or plural verbs for compound nouns and modifiers

texts:
I am confused why the compound noun has the singular verb "HAS" in the modifier clause "which has won awards..." and the plural verb "HAVE" as the main verb.

Should I use plural or singular verb as the verb in the main and modifier clause?

A national supermarket chain and a locally owned bakery, which HAS won awards for its crosissants, HAVE seen a significant decrease in the revenue since the biggest employer in the area shut down.


texts: )) Can I say: " Someone I knew' s mom worked there two years ago." I am trying to say that my acquaintance's mother worked in a place. I replace my acquaintance's by someone I knew's, making the phrase "someone I knew's" the attribute in the sentence.


texts: getting vs being in passive voice sentences

texts:
Can getting and being be interchanged in passive voice sentences?  For example:

  My computer getting stopped.
  My computer being stopped.

Which is correct? If neither, then how can I form this sentence?


texts: By the time the teacher comes to class, the students.. (complete) their homework

texts:
In this sentence:

By the time the teacher comes to class, the students... (complete) their homework

In what tense should complete be?


texts:
For the sentences below, (it's part of a dialogue)

"I'm learning Swedish. And next week I am going to have a chance to speak it for real. I am going to go to Sweden for 3 weeks"

I feel that it's more appropriate to say "next week I will have a chance..." but I'm not so sure why. Can anyone confirm/negate my "feeling" with reasons?


texts:
I have done some online test and I wonder of two questions:
We __________ to our new house by August.

will move ✗
will have moved
will been moving
will moved

What would a native speaker use? Which variant is more often?
Which sentence correctly summarizes the meaning of the sentence: ‘Why don’t we postpone the meeting until next week?’ the chairman said.

The chairman announced that the meeting would take place the next week.
The chairman suggested that the meeting had been postponed. ✗
The chairman proposed that they call off the meeting.
The chairman said they wanted the meeting postponed.

My feeling is that none of the options is correct. The chairman proposed a concrete date.


texts: Is there an equivalent noun to "puppy love" for the elderly?

texts: The feelings of love that a young person has for somebody else and that adults do not think is very serious is called "puppy love". Is there an equivalent noun  for the elderly? For example, in Greece, when an old person falls in love, in which case this love is not taken seriously by the majority, this love is called "old-age love".


texts:
He is a doctor. He visits/serves his patients at 4 o'clock.
Visit or serve?
Which verb is correct?

(I mean, there are two verbs 'visit and serve'. The doctor ............ his patients at 4 o'clock. I have to use one of these verbs. Which one?)


texts: Should we always use a comma before "especially"?

texts:
I was reading an English grammar book in which I found:

  Roll down: to move something down especially by turning a handle.

In the bold part, I believe a comma is missing. But I am not sure whether this is intentional. Can you explain?


texts:
Today at work I received an email and in the end my correspondant said :

  If you can send through some more time that’d be great.

I am struggling a bit to understand what it exactly means. She  always uses contractions and weird turns of phrases I never understand...

Does she means that she needs more time to do the thing I asked for ? Or does she needs me to tell her when I need the thing to be done ?

Thanks for your help !

EDIT

What happenned is that I asked her to perform a task ans she answered

  Great to meet with you this morning/ afternoon. I am handling urgent updates before some presentations this afternoon, but I’d like to resume in the next few days to continue reviewing your requests.

And then she added

  We can discuss this further once we finish reviewing the requirements this week and determine the estimated # of hours required to make these updates. If you can send through some more time that’d be great. Thank you!


texts:
Let's live in hope.
Let's live on hope.
Let's live with hope.

Which preposition should be put ?


texts: "I started watching TV after I have finished my homework" vs "I started watching TV after I finished my homework"

texts: "I started watching TV after I have finished my homework" or "I started watching TV after I finished my homework" ? Is there any difference at all ?


texts:
I'm reading The Versions of Us by Laura Barnett and there is a scene on the beach that goes:

  Jim reaches for Eva’s hand. Eva squeezes back, holding on; both of
  them looking to the horizon, to where the great waves are breaking,
  drawing with them the deep, unanswered loneliness of the open sea.

I'm confused about what the second "them" refers to. Does it refer to Jim and Eva or the great waves? Either way, what does "drawing with them" the loneliness of the sea means? Can anybody give me some clues?


texts:
She has an interview next week for a teaching job in Paris.
Does “in Paris” describe “a teaching job” (The job is in Paris, not the interview.) or “an interview” (The interview is in Paris, not the job)? Thanks.


texts: Why should I use present continuous here

texts:
In an example sentence of wlingua it said:

Worker: Can I help you? You look like you are having trouble with your basket.
Woman: Actually I am struggling because it seems like the basket is too small for all the shopping.

Worker: No problem. Let me get you a bigger cart.

Woman: Thank you, that's very kind I am always coming into this store and buying more than I expected.

Why is the present simple form used here (coming) instead of the present simple (come)? I would consider going to the shop a regular act just like I would talk about my favourite shopping mall: "I always come from The Star when it's already dark outside.


texts: can the abbreviation for "Schedule" be used for "scheduled"?

texts:
I read in writing explained.org that "schedule" can be abbreviated as Sched or Skd.

Can these abbreviations be used for "Scheduled"? (as in a task scheduled for 5.30pm)

Any suggestions for abbreviations for Scheduled will be greatly appreciated


texts: Are there any differences between "Have been on a trip" vs "Have gone on a trip" and "Have gone crazy" vs "Have been crazy"?

texts:
Accourding to this site,

We often use "been to" when we refer to completed visits to a place:

Have you ever been to Budapest?

Not: Have you ever gone to Budapest?

If the visit is not complete, we use "gone to".

Joan’s just gone to the shop. She’ll be back in about ten minutes.
(Joan has not yet returned from the shop.)

Joan’s just been to the shop. She bought some cakes. Would you like one?
(Joan has returned from the shop.)

Now, does that rule apply to the  "Have been on a trip" & "Have gone on a trip"?

So, "I have been on a trip" (I completed the trip & currently I am staying at home)

"I have gone on a trip" (I haven't completed the trip & currently I am on the trip)

And what about "gone crazy" & "been crazy".

Does "He has gone crazy" mean now he is still crazy?

Does "He has been crazy" mean now he is not crazy any more?

Are there any differences between "Have been on a trip" vs "Have gone on a trip" and "Have been crazy" vs "Have gone crazy"?

Note: I am not asking about "been to" or "gone to". I am asking about "been on a trip" & "gone on a trip". Do we apply the same rule of "been to" or "gone to" to "been on a trip" & "gone on a trip"?

Note2: This exercise seems to prove that my thinking is right.


texts:
Can I use which ~ effect on, instead of using influenced by ~?

For example:

People's lifestyles are based on individual choices, influenced by personal interests and social interactions.
People's lifestyles are based on individual choices, which personal interests and social interactions effect on.

Do you think those 2 mean the same or is it not right to use the word 'effect' like this?


texts: Meaning of "do not fit easily on the multiplex conveyor belt"

texts:
After he completed "Red" (1994), the final film in his "Three Colors" trilogy,Krzysztof Kieslowski announced that he would retire. This was not a man weary of work. It was the retirement of a magician, a Prospero who was now content to lay aside his art--"to read and smoke." When he died two years later, he was only 56.
  Because he made most of his early work in Poland during the Cold War, and because his masterpiece "The Decalogue" consists of 10 one-hour films that do not fit easily on the multiplex conveyor belt, he has still not received the kind of recognition given those he deserves to be named with, like Bergman, Ozu, Fellini, Keaton and Bunuel. He is one of the filmmakers I would turn to for consolation if I learned I was dying, or to laugh with on finding I would live after all.

Is "multiplex conveyor belt" a set used in the film industry and the film negatives turn around it?

And does in this context the writer mean as the film was so long its film or negative do not turn easily along this device?

Source: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-three-colors-trilogy-blue-white-red


texts:
I'm struggling a bit with the meaning of "may".

Does "You may eat that apple." mean any of these?:

"You are able to eat that apple."
"You are allowed to eat that apple."
"I want you to eat that apple."

I think it's probably the middle one but I'm not quite sure. Same for the negative version of the above-mentioned sentence.

Does "You may not eat that apple." mean any of these?:

"You are unable to eat that apple."
"You aren't allowed to eat that apple."
"Whether you eat that apple, is up to you."
"I want you to eat that apple but you don't have to do it."
"I wish you won't eat that apple."
"I'd prefer if you won't eat that apple but you are able to and allowed to if you want to." (Side note: Is that sentence grammatically correct?)

If none of the proposed meanings quite cut it, please let me know what would.


texts: The use of the past perfect and past simple and present simple in context

texts:
Tell me please which of the following sentences is correct.

  The teacher came up to Kate and said that the assignment had been done badly, because there were a lot of grammar mistakes.

  The teacher came up to Kate and said that the assignment had been done badly, because there had been a lot of grammar mistakes.

  The teacher came up to Kate and said that the assignment had been done badly, because there are a lot of grammar mistakes.

I think the third sentence is correct if Kate hasn't corrected the assignment, and there are still mistakes. Tell me please if I am right. As for the first and second, I am not sure.


texts:
I remember "Crysis" was a common word in textbooks when I was in school, but "Crysis" has made way for "Crisis" in lots of articles I have read recently.

Has "Crisis" really gained popularity? Any preference in AmE or BrE or International English?


texts: What does "social tool" mean in this text? Is it an idiom?

texts:
William was tall and thin and shy and awkward in school. His best social tool was that he played the piano, and so was recruited for school musicals, which placed him at rehearsals and cast parties with kids he would otherwise scarcely have known. He thought he would be either a pianist or a physicist, although he didn’t know anyone in Montana who did those things professionally. His piano teacher was a banker’s widow who gave lessons in her lace-curtained house, and his physics teacher was primarily the wrestling coach. But William could imagine another kind of life.

Does "social tool" mean skill?


texts:
Is the use of "could" in the phrase "Ideally BHT could provide a lifesaving treatment" emphasize a possibility? Can it be rewritten as "Ideally BHT can provide a lifesaving treatment"?

Transplanting a head and brain is perhaps the final frontier of organ transplantation. The goal of body-to-head transplantation (BHT) is to sustain the life of individuals who suffer from terminal disease, but whose head and brain are healthy. Ideally BHT could provide a lifesaving treatment for several conditions where none currently exists.
Source:  PMC  US National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health
Surgical, ethical, and psychosocial considerations in human head transplantation


texts:
According to oxford advanced learner's grant sth to somebody is correct. But in the following sentence grant sth for sb is used .
 The U.S. has been urging China to increase market access and grant intellectual property protections for American corporations, cut back on industrial subsidies and, at a broader level, bring down the $375-billion trade gap.  Is it correct?


texts: Are "Having common interests" and "having things in common" synonymous expressions?

texts:
Can we say

  A and B have many common interests (I am sure they are going to get
  on well.)

to mean "A and B have (many) things in common"?

Does it have double entendres or does it have only meaning that " A and B both get benefit from something together" ?


texts: “the origination’s marquee U.S. event” mean?

texts:
It marks the 50th anniversary for the sports organization that spotlights and supports children and adults with intellectual disabilities, and it’s the second time the former women’s champion has participated in the origination’s marquee U.S. event.

I saw the sentence from this article. I don't understand the origination’s marquee U.S. event. I think it might be culture-related. Appreciate if one can help! Thanks!


texts: "what do you say" vs. "what are you saying"

texts:
After the athlete finished the race, a reporter comes up and asks a question. Which one is better?

What are you saying to your performance?
What do you say to your performance?


texts:
Example (Russia Slides Back to the Middle Ages):

  It is rare in modern Russia for a public or political event to place without the church present. In the insurgent Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, priests bless armed rebel soldiers going to war against Kiev. Some experts have compared the Russian president to Slobodan Milosevic, the former Serbian leader, who also surrounded himself with priests.

What does the verb place mean in the context of that sentence? I looked it up, but I don't think I could see which meaning fitted the context best.


texts: Explain "if you want to fight me so bad, bring it on!"

texts:
I found this item in Oxford dict. What does the phase "so bad" mean in the example sentence?

  [ bring it ( on ) ] informal used to express confidence in meeting a challenge: if you want to fight me so bad, bring it on!


texts: If my friend keeps getting phone calls and I ask "who has been calling you?" does it necessarily mean one person keeps calling or could it be different people calling throughout the day?


texts: Do I need definite article here: "‘Vars’ is a list in which global and local variables are added and updated."

texts:
I wrote:

  ‘Vars’ is a list in which global and local variables are added and updated.

I am describing an algorithm in which Vars is the name of a list (a variable of type list). There is just one list in this algorithm, then I don't know if I should say ...is a list or ...is the list.

Is it possible when I say ...is a list, the reader thinks it is just one instance of many lists and that is not unique? Or  are these unrelated to the  indefinite article? However, if we suppose many copies of this algorithm, or many running of this algorithm, we have a Vars for each of them, but  I  don't describe that context.


texts: Adjective Order with Present & Past participle, and Compound Nouns

texts:
I have been trying to understand adjective order for many days; however, when there are present, past participle, or compound nouns in the same phrase, I don’t know how to order those adjectives. Could you please explain how to choose the order of these adjectives?

These are phrases which I made myself. Could you please check them for me so that I might better understand them?

A small torn old sleeping bag
A small broken old car or a small old broken car?
A broken blue car
A ten-year-old brown-haired boy


texts: Can "father" be "the father" and "mother" be "the mother"?

texts:
The original sentence:

  With mother earning and his older children drawing substantial
  wages father is seldom the dominant figure that he still was at
  the beginning of the century.

Is it also fine to say:

  With the mother earning and his older children drawing substantial
  wages the father is seldom the dominant figure that he still was
  at the beginning of the century.

?

Are "father" and "mother" used as uncountable nouns?


texts: "She doesn't remember reading such a text (before)"

texts:
She doesn't remember reading such a text before.

Does this sentence mean?

She doesn't remember when/the time she's ever read such a text before.

Or something else?

Since the adverb "before" is awkwardly used here, I'll have to ask this question.

I would omit the needless "before" in the sentence.

Besides, I could add empathic meaning to the sentence:

She cannot remember reading/having read such a text.


texts: Where do exactly put the 's' or 'es' word on the sentences? And why using that word on sentence? And when the right time to add the 's' or 'es' word?


texts: Difference between "supple" and "flexible"

texts: What is the difference of the words "supple" and "flexible" and specially where are they preferred to the other?


texts: Does "A or B with C" mean "A with C or B with C" or "B with C or A"?

texts:
Qualified vehicles must either be a Dodge truck or a Toyota truck with a crew cab.

Does "with a crew cab" apply to both trucks or just the Toyota?


texts: usage of emphasis do in No sooner structure

texts:
No dooner did we do leave home than the rain started.

I wanted to know whether I can use 'do' as emphasis
in this sentence.


texts: Is it possible to use "the" as follows: the number of "the"?

texts:
This school has quite a lot of students although I don't know exactly the number of
  the students.

I would like to know the expression "the number of the" in the above sentence I created is correct. I think this is correct, but I could not find such usage a lot on the Internet.


texts:
What is the difference of below two sentences?

  I saw Mr. Ram in the Vegetable Market repairing a Car.
  In the Vegetable Market, I saw Mr. Ram repairing a Car.


texts:
I'd rather spend the vacation in his house watching tv with him.

I'd rather spend the vacation at his house watching tv with him.

Are both the above sentences grammatically correct?


texts:
cambridge gives this about "in all honesty"

  said when expressing your opinion honestly, seriously, or truthfully

a comment in this link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TizxLEYhhQM&t=7s in comments box, not in the video) says

  "In all honesty" or "honestly" implies that you're usually dishonest.

Is that true? If I use "In all honesty", I would be considered as dishonest before?


texts:
In the paragraph below, do you not think the second bold phrase should be "what they are" i.e. the pronoun and verb order should be reversed?

  Computers are also extremely popular with children and teenagers, and
  this of course raises questions of where they are traveling on the
  Internet and what are they seeing.

Edit:
Crandall, Jo Ann., Maryanne Kearny. Datesman, and Edward N. Kearny. "How Americans Spend Their Leisure Time." American Ways: An Introduction to American Culture. 3rd ed. White Plains, NY: Pearson Education, 2005. 214. Print.


texts: "while they wait" - why not "while they are waiting"?

texts:
Here is a sentence that is on my textbook.

  Customers can now sit down comfortably while they 'wait' for their number to be called out.

In my opinion, conjunction 'while' is compatible with continuous verb tense, so I think is is more right way to use 'are waiting' than 'wait'. Or is there any subtle difference between 'are waiting' and 'wait'? Or is present tense more about general and usual thing while present continuous tense is about specific moment?

Thanks in advance.


texts:
Mr. Dursley sat frozen in his armchair. Shooting stars all over Britain? Owls flying by daylight? Mysterious people in cloaks all over the place? And a whisper, a whisper about the Potters...
  Mrs. Dursley came into the living room carrying two cups of tea. It was no good. He'd have to say something to her. He cleared his throat nervously. "Er - Petunia, dear - you haven't heard from your sister lately, have you?"
  (Harry Potter)

I can’t find the meaning but "it was no good" seems to mean "there's no choice but to do something." What is the real meaning and from where does it come from?


texts:
Please excuse me for this question, but I want to know if I can use a noun as an adjective. For example, I want to say:

  "I hold this mission close to my heart for its goodness."

Is this equivalent to saying:

  "The mission is good that I hold it close to my heart."

But the latter sentence is not so appealing to me. I like the first sentence, but is it correct? That's my question.


texts: Omitting the indefinite article before countable nouns at the beginning of a sentence

texts:
Why is "a" missing at the beginning of the following sentence.

  Behavioral economic perspective views addiction as a consequence of falling victim to decision failures that lead to a preference for the addictive behavior.

The word " perspective" is a countable noun in this sense, so It puzzles me why "a" was dropped.


texts: What is the meaning of "Make a love of someone"?

texts:
In Armin Van Buuren's A State of Trance 699, the host (Armin) said:

  It is always nice to see that this radio show is connecting people also in a romantic way, because Vladimir Toula from Russia made a love of his wife on the bus, on the way to A State of Trance 650 in U Track (I am not sure if I heard it correctly) last year...

What is the meaning of text in bold? Is it grammatically OK?


texts: A better, concise way to express the "school year period"?

texts:
From late August to June, this is the period when the school year runs, is there any better and shorter way to express this than to say "school year"?

For example, a company that wants to say that they work in synchrony with the period from August to June and then don't take up or do work from mid-June to mid-August might not want to say something like,

  We take projects throughout the school year

because the expression school is out of context and sounds quite bad.


texts: The use of "each" and "either" in context

texts:
Tell me please which one of the following sentences is correct. If both are correct, then what is the difference.

  Kate asked me if I could lend her one of my cars, and I said, that she could take each.

  Kate asked me if I could lend her one of my cars, and I said, that she could take either.

By the way, should be each/either or each one/either one?


texts: Present continuous and adverb frequently

texts:
Why in the following example we can't (or maybe shouldn't) use the same adverb frequently instead of always in the second sentence that has the same meaning as the first?

I frequently lose my glasses.
I'm always losing my glasses.


texts:
An average user of social media feels that he is underperfoming and his self-esteem is constantly decreasing.

I used tenses in this sentence instinctively, and after I had finished I started to wonder whether it is okay. And I am not sure about it.

I guess that one feels something anyway, hence simple, while underperforming and decreasing are continuous "actions" which can be easily stopped, for example by quitting social media.

So, I suppose it would be quite awkard(?):

  An average user of social media feels that he underperforms and his self-esteem  constantly decreases.


texts: Is the sentence "The thing has pedagogical value" idiomatic? I am not sure what to put before "pedagogical value".


texts:
I've heard of the term "maths" used by my UK friends, I am from the US and I use the word "math".

Is "maths" grammatically correct?

For me, it rolls off the tongue oddly;

My maths teachers gave us a test.
I've to study maths today.
Maths is one of my least favorite subjects.
Maths is part of everyday life.
Did you finish your maths homework today?

Is it just me? Because of how I was taught to use "math" instead of "maths"?


texts: Why are they catcalling for their lovely new member?

texts:
"Brocklehurst, Mandy" went to Ravenclaw too, but "Brown, Lavender"
  became the first new Gryffindor, and the table on the far left
  exploded with cheers; Harry could see Ron's twin brothers
  catcalling. (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)

American and British version all use ‘catcalling’ for the cheering sound which exploded when they met their first new student. But dictionaries have negative meaning for catcalling, and so I’m confused why they are doing so for their lovely new member. Is the word used when they welcome someone?

  Oxford: a noise or shout expressing anger at or disapproval of
  somebody who is speaking or performing in public Longman: a loud
  whistle or shout expressing disapproval of a speech or performance


texts: Meaning of "play up" in Henry Newbolt's poem "Vitai Lampada"

texts:
From Vitai Lampada:

  There's a breathless hush in the Close to-night—
  Ten to make and the match to win—
  A bumping pitch and a blinding light,
  An hour to play and the last man in.
  And it's not for the sake of a ribboned coat,
  Or the selfish hope of a season's fame,
  But his captain's hand on his shoulder smote
  "Play up! play up! and play the game!"

I looked up the meaning of play up in several online dictionaries and the main meaning seems to be "misbehave", the second meaning is "emphasize (something)". Both seem unfit in this context.

What is the meaning of play up in this poem?


texts:
Do verbal English, oral English, and spoken English mean the same? For example, "My ... English is not good".

I use them interchangeably, but I might be wrong. Thanks!


texts:
The men head out except for Tony who goes to the large TV.
The men: Hey Tony, are you coming?
Tony takes the TV and leaves together with the other(s)

Just to be sure, "others" is correct here isn't it?

Also, could I leave out "together"?


texts: Difference between "I'm only telling you just what I heard from him" and "I'm just telling you only what I heard from him"

texts:
I'm only telling you just what I heard from him.

I'm wondering if it is possible to switch the places of "just" and "only".

  I'm just telling you only what I heard from him.

Do they have different meanings?


texts:
I have a question about the difference in meaning between "look outside at" and "look outside to".  Suppose Mike is sitting in the inside of a cafe.  The cafe has a glass store front so people inside could outside.  Also, the cafe store front faces a parking lot.  Suppose the Mike seated in the cafe:

  Mike looked out at the parking lot.
  Mike looked out to the parking lot.

Sentences similar to 1 & 2 could be found on the web.  How are "looked out at" and "looked out to" interpret differently?


texts:
Governments host an event every year for a potential profit increase.

Or

  Governments hold an event every year for a potential profit increase.

Or

  Governments organize an event every year for a potential profit increase.

Is there any difference between them? This is to avoid any future misterpretations of word-choice/collocation issues. Thx.


texts:
Here are some examples to show what I mean:

  some sports that I like to practice are basketball, tennis...

or

  some sports I like to practice are basketball, tennis...

In what situation should I add "that" to sentences like these? Are both of these examples correct? What meaning does "that" have in this context?


texts: A verb to show dependency between two people

texts:
How can I say that 2 people are dependent each other in a formal letter.

Is it ok to say that :

  My father has been living with my mother for more than 30 years and they are dependent to each other emotionally.


texts: "We aren’t going for the simple reason that we can’t afford it." (Is this sentence having dual meaning?)

texts:
"We aren’t going for the simple reason that we can’t afford it."

We aren't going for A (negate A) : A is not the reason. (We have another reason besides the simple reason)

We aren't going (negate going) : We are not going (We are not going because of the simple reason)

Literally, I think "We aren't going=We are not going=We don't go" and "for the simple reason that ~ = due to the fact that ~"
What's the meaning of the sentence?


texts: What does "should" mean in this sentence?

texts:
"why change in the independent variable should affect the dependent variable in a particular way. " Does it used to emphasize "affect"?
Thanks.


texts: She wasn't expecting a call or she weren't expecting a call?

texts:
Cindy said that she would accompany me to the party with pleasure if she wasn’t expecting a call from her parents that night.

  Cindy said that she would accompany me to the party with pleasure if she weren't expecting a call from her parents that night.

Which one is correct?


texts: Should I say "innovative approach **to** making" or "innovative approach **in** making"?

texts:
Prepositions, I tell you. While writing a blog, I stuck again in using them.

Here is a sentence I wrote:

  Siri’s integration for voice control shows company’s innovative approach in making revamped Apple TV more powerful and attractive.

But, 'Grammerly' shows an error and suggests me to use 'to' instead of 'in':

  Siri’s integration for voice control shows company’s innovative approach to making revamped Apple TV more powerful and attractive.

I am not sure about correctness of Grammerly's suggestion. I would like to know the difference of meaning while using these prepositions. Further, I would like to know my above sentence is correct or not with reasons.

If you will clear my doubts regarding use of preposition in this sentence, I will remain thankful to you.


texts:
If "I'm thinking" is correct, why isn't "I'm knowing" correct in formal English?

think+ing = thinking is correct
know+ing  = knowing isn't correct

Why?


texts:
Here is some speech of Bill Gates.

"State budgets are big, big money -- I'll show you the numbers -- and they get very little scrutiny. The understanding is very low.
Many of the people involved have special interests or short-term interests
that get them not thinking about what the implications of the trends are.
And these budgets are the key for our future."

Does anyone help me to understand about "that get them"?


texts: Plural or singular after the word shedloads?

texts:
I can see that we can say 'I have shed-loads of emails to check.'

Also I can see that we can say 'I have shed-loads of work to do.'

My question is, can we say 'I have shed-loads of works to do?' Any grammatical mistakes here?


texts:
If two words seem to be suitable together and sound amazing, as in a poetry, will it be natural to use:

  These two words fit in with each other.

  These two words fit in together.

Do these two sentences above sound natural?

I also came up with this one, though I think this one doesn't sound natural.

  These two words fit along together.
  (I don't think this sounds natural,  this rather makes it sound awkward)


texts:
Please read the text below.

  When Arthur came home from the factory a little before noon he
  shouted, "Stay out of my way till I wash! There's been an accident
  over at the works!" Nobody answered. Mrs. Feare, the housekeeper, was
  talking on the kitchen telephone so loudly that she could not hear
  him, and his daughter was of course at school.

  "Carried Away" by Alice Munro

What would differ if I replace over at with at?

What does over add?


texts: The meaning of "the resources of a police force"

texts:
In The Economist: Hong Kong remains crucially important to mainland China: (paragraph 2, setence 2)

  But the fluid tactics of the black-clad vanguard, which is increasingly using violence, has challenged the resources of a police force determined to crack down on the protests.

What does "the resources of a police force" mean here?
Does it mean "the people in that police force"?


texts:
From a post

There are 14 games on Friday's Opening Day slate

I know what Opening Day is and understand the items of "slate" on American Heritage Dictionary

A fine-grained metamorphic rock that splits into thin, smooth-surfaced layers.
a. A piece of this rock cut for use as roofing or surfacing material or as a writing surface. b. A writing tablet made of a
similar material.
A record of past performance or activity: start over with a clean slate.
A list of the candidates of a political party running for various offices.
A dark or bluish gray to dark bluish or dark purplish gray.

I guess Opening Day slate is some kind of list like this?

In the example of 2020 Opening Day slate, there are 14 items/games in it, giving the basic information for each of them.
Is my understanding correct?


texts:
Is "you are welcome" more polite than "no problem"?

What is the general proper reply to a thank-you?


texts:
They [Percy’s twin younger brothers] frog-marched Percy from the room,
  his arms pinned to his side by his sweater.

  (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)

They pinned Percy’s ‘two’ arms. But why isn’t the ‘side’ plural form?


texts: How to translate the following sentence?

texts:
...a list of the ten most common and effective strategies resorted to by the agendas "hidden" to establish a manipulation of the population through the media.

I understand the beginning and the end of above text, but the middle is incomprehensible to me.


texts:
Help me please solve the error in the sentence.

"I did not understand what happened at that moment"

In the word "happened" is verb tense error.


texts:
What's the difference between saying "not so much" and "no I don't"?
For example:

Q: Do you like horror movies?

A1: Not so much.

A2: No I don't.


texts: What's the meaning of 'almost watching'?

texts:
I was watching a video from youtube. The video was on a hippo picking on a crocodile in a safari park. Tourists were attracted by the rare scene.
A woman noticed birds around murmured this:

Look at all the birds over there. They are almost watching.

I know the meaning of 'almost' but I cannot make sense out of it with this sentence.
To me, there are only two choices for watching action: watch or not watch. What's the 'almost watching'?


texts: Is "that" subject of relative clause or object of relative cluase?

texts:
Designers draw on their experience of design when approaching
a new project. This includes the use of previous designs that they
know work.
Is "that" subject of relative clause or object of relative cluase ?


texts:
http://www.google.com/m?hl=en-US&ie=UTF-8&source=android-browser&q=mosquito+netting

  According to the above-mentioned links,are there any differences between "mosquito net" and "mosquito netting"?


texts: problem about expression “period of facility”

texts:
Whatever the world to come, the Western peoples will play in it the part of the Graeculi in the Roman Empire. Sought out and despised by the new conqueror, they will have, in order to impress him, only the jugglery of their intelligence or the luster of their past. The art of surviving oneself—they are already distinguished in that. Symptoms of exhaustion are everywhere: Germany has given her measure in music: what leads us to believe that she will excel in it again? She has used up the resources of her profundity, as France those of her elegance. Both—and with them, this entire corner of the world—are on the verge of bankruptcy, the most glamorous since antiquity. Then will come the liquidation: a prospect which is not a negligible one, a respite whose duration cannot be estimated, a period of facility in which each man, before the deliverance finally at hand, will be happy to have behind him the throes of hope and expectation.

This is the quote from Emil Cioran's "The Temptation to  Exist", my problem is how to understand this expression "period of facility" in this sentence, and I've got a legal term "facility period" link, but i dont know if this meaning is appropriate for this sentence, and if it is, how can i understand this expression inside the text?


texts:
What would be the correct grammar? Should I use adverb after how?

  How frequent you do this?

or

  How frequently you do this?


texts:
The sentences are from "English Grammar Practice" by L.G. Alexaner.
In this exercise according to the book's answer key only "are coming" and "are asking" are correct in #7 but both the present simple and continuous are correct in #9.

"People are always coming in and asking me to help them".

Isn't it also correct to say "People always come in and ask me to help them"?
In #9. "I am enjoying (or enjoy) the job and I am finding it very amusing.
If the person is currently enjoying her new job if this is a current situation most books say only "present progressive" works.
Sentence #9 the book says both are correct: "I am enjoying (or enjoy) the job and I am finding it very amusing."
In the same exercise it says "I am missing you" and "I miss you" are both correct but it doesn't say "find" is correct in "My colleagues are always finding things in books." The text is about a librarian and it describes strange things people use as bookmarks.


texts: "She's got you high and you don't even know yet"- What does this sentence mean? Help needed!

texts: I was watching a film named "500 days of Summer" and at the end there was a song starting like "She's got you high & you don't even know yet". Since I'm not a native speaker, I don't understand what does it mean? I need some help.


texts: Is there one word that includes walls/ceiling/floor?

texts:
Is there one word that includes walls, ceiling, floor - basically all the faces of a building?

For example I would like to use such a word in the following sentence:

  "All the X  of this building are made of wood".


texts: What is Defining And Non Defining Relative Clauses

texts:
I am reading an article on infinitive verbs and there is a sentence and there mention this:

  Give him an ornament to polish

here they mention that the to polish is used as an to-infinite adjective but is that really an adjective or a clause here is the link of the article (https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/infinitive_form.htm)


texts: the way/how - do they mean the same thing? Are they interchangeable?

texts:
The way you said that kinda gave me an idea that things weren't all right with you.

How you said that kinda gave me an idea that things weren't all right with you.

Are how/this way interchangeable?
Are them sentences I used grammatically correct?


texts:
Why do we not use from now when it is required?

For example if I say:

  I will come after 20 minutes.

instead of

  I will come after 20 minutes from now.

After 20 minutes may refer to any 20 minutes, e.g., after 20 minutes of my dinner.

Then why is from now not required to specify the difference?


texts: What is the difference between "happen to" and "happen about"?

texts:
Does "happen about" mean "happen to" in this context?

  He also added his voice to those of other European banking leaders calling on the Basel supervisory board, which is meeting twice this month, to clarify what will happen about global capital rules as it moves into the next post-credit crisis phase of reforms.

Source: http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/02/europes-lenders-need-mergers-and-a-proper-banking-system-socgen-chairman.html


texts:
Now, the odds that the first leads to the second--astronomical.

The line is cited from Elementary, an American drama series.

Based on my understanding of the plot and the Chinese subtitles, it means the odds are extremely low.

My question is, when we say the costs are astronomical, it suppose to mean the costs are very high, isn't it?
If it is, why does astronomical in the aforementioned line means the odds are very low?


texts: Usage of "they" / "them" / "their" when the person's gender is not known

texts:
I know that one can use "they" / "them" / "their" in place of "he" / "him" / "his" or "she" / "her" / "hers" when the subject's / direct object's gender is not known; for instance, just looking at the default user's about me section on Stack Exchange sites:

  Apparently, this user prefers to keep an air of mystery about them

My question is what happens when someone wants to reference the subject using a pronoun instead.

Should the verb be conjugated accordingly to the pronoun? E.g.:

  Apparently, they prefer to keep an air of mystery about them

Or should the conjugation be retained? E.g.:

  Apparently, they prefers to keep an air of mystery about them

The former looks unclear because it wouldn't allow the reader / listener to understand if the writer / speaker is talking about a single person or about a group of people, however the latter sounds very weird, at least just to the non-native speaker which I am.


texts: Is "Bananas grow in a tropical climate" grammatically correct?

texts:
I'm trying to learn grammar from an IETLS book, In one of the fill in the blank type question, there is one question such as :

  Bananas grow in _______.

The answers page says that the correct answer is Bananas grow in tropical climates. The word a is incorrect before a plural noun.

But what I'm wondering about is, why did they choose the word climates? Can I use climate instead and use an 'a' in front of the tropical?  Or is tropical always used together with the word climates?

EDIT Maybe I should give more context to the question. This is an example question which required the reader to correct the wrong sample provided. The provided answer is Bananas grow in 'in a tropical climates', and the answer page say the correct answer is:

  Bananas grow in tropical climates. It isn't necessary to repeat the word in. The word a is incorrect before a plural noun. The word tropical is misspelled.

What makes me wonder is why did they choose climates? Isn't a tropical climate also right?


texts: Meaning of "as anything but ______" in a sentence

texts:
I have found a GRE question from official ETS practice book for verbal. I am kind of stuck with the type of the question asked in GRE that is posted here.

  The media once portrayed the governor as anything but ineffective; they now, however, make her out to be the epitome of ________________.

  A) fecklessness

  B) brilliance

  C) dynamism

  D) egoism

  E) punctiliousness

Can you explain the meaning and context?


texts:
To to mind, the collocation "a healthy disrespect for authority" means that we ought to respect experts normally, but in some rare cases they might also make mistakes. So it implies that we should learn things with criticism. I am not quite sure whether it is correct.

What is the meaning and implication of the phrase, and are there negative usages of it?


texts: What is the meaning of the repeated preposition “at"?

texts:
What is the meaning of the following sentence?

  I looked at a small alcove office with a roll top desk and a waiting
  room with mission leather chairs and three diplomas on the wall,
  at a mission table scattered with copies of the Dog Fancier's Gazette.

  (Source: The Man Who Liked Dogs by Raymond Chandler)

Does it mean:

  "I looked at a small alcove office with a roll top desk.
  And I looked at a waiting room with mission leather chairs and three diplomas on the wall. And I looked at a mission table scattered with copies of the Dog Fancier's Gazette"

Can we remove the "at" from the sentence?

  I looked at a small alcove office with a roll top desk and a waiting room with mission leather chairs and three diplomas on the wall, a mission table scattered with copies of the Dog Fancier's Gazette.


texts:
What is the difference between 'What are you?' and 'What do you do?' in the job meaning?

How to sense this difference if I need to ask about profession?


texts: Infinitive: "to convince a judge on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court"

texts:
According to grammar, in the latter sentence, "it had sufficient cause to believe Mr Trump or his associates were involved with terrorists or foreign spies" is a complete sentence. Added with "to convince...Court", this sentence is more hard to understand. So, what is the "to convince...Court" function here?

Thank you!

  If it were shown that his administration illegally snooped on Mr
  Trump, Mr Obama’s legacy would be disgraced. Alternatively, if it
  secured a warrant to bug Mr Trump’s phones, that would mean it had
  sufficient cause to believe Mr Trump or his associates were involved
  with terrorists or foreign spies to convince a judge on the Foreign
  Intelligence Surveillance Court.

source: Donald Trump’s habit of making accusations without evidence is corrosive


texts: Can I use pcs(pieces) as the quantity for ordering mugs?

texts:
I like to ask the mug supplier if they take bulk order in around 300, can I say:

  Do you take bulk order in around 300/pcs?


texts: What does "which" stand for in the following sentence?

texts:
Whenever I met her, which was fairly often, she greeted me with a sweet smile.

In the above sentence, which is a relative pronoun. I am wondering what which stands for. Does it stand for "I met her" or "Whenever I met her, she greeted me with a sweet smile"?


texts:
He is absolutely tall for his age-almost two meters already
  He is  extremely tall for his ages-almost two meters already.
  He is totally tall for his ages-almost two meters already.

I want to know absolutely and totally can use for describing the size.My dictionary did not describe in which condition they should use.
Which is suitable most, totally or absolutely or extremely? What are the differences between these adverbs?


texts: Definitions that are not included in modern dictionaries

texts:
I was translating some literature written in the 20th century, and I came across the following sentence

We suppress these partitions

and by Google translate, the "suppress" means “make obscure”. However for the sentence below,

We suppress every term with a negative exponent

the translator treated "suppress" as "delete/discard/abandon" etc. This is confusing, since the definitions given by the Merriam-Webster dictionary do not contain these meaning:

  Full Definition

  transitive verb

  to put down by authority or force: subdue
  to keep from public knowledge: such as

  a : to keep secret

  b : to stop or prohibit the publication or revelation of

  a : to exclude from consciousness

  b : to keep from giving vent to : check

  obsolete : to press down
  a : to restrain from a usual course or action

  b : to inhibit the growth or development of

  to inhibit the genetic expression of

I spent sometime to dig in: I noticed that the origin of this word

  Origin

  Middle English, from Latin suppressus, past participle of supprimere, from sub- + premere to press — more at press.

  First known use: 14th century

which also comes from the M-W dictionary. I tried to let Google translate the word supprimere, and accidentally it gave a French word supprimés, which means "deleted".

So what happened? Could it be that the meaning of "delete" was still there early in the 20th century, but as the time went this definition became obsolete and even disappeared, so that the modern dictionaries do not contain it anymore? I think this is interesting, so hope someone could unravel this for me, thanks in advance.

P.S. this question might not fit in this site and the tags might not be appropriate, so feel free to edit and improve this post. Thanks in advance.


texts:
I have this statement in my writing.

  Although the result is an incomplete graph representation, the study has taken that option because a single relationship often enhances
  computational efficiency in resolving ambiguities.

Now, I am confused whether although and because both can put in a one construction...
So, please comments on my construction.


texts: "In such environment" vs "In such an environment"

texts:
I'd like to ask if there is any difference between

  In such environment, we...

and

  In such an environment, we...

If yes, then what does each phrase mean?

If anyone happens to know the grammatical term/topic to describe this difference so that I can read more about it, please let me know.


texts: have you ever question + past simple in the answer

texts:
Have you ever been to Japan?

  Yes, I went there 5 years ago.

Is it correct to use the past simple to answer, as it refers to something happened in the past and finished?
Or should I answer "Yes, I have been there 5 years ago"? Is there any difference?


texts: "Thoughts father actions" versus "Thoughts mother actions"—which is better and why?

texts:
Very recently I have learned that 'father' and 'mother' (or, more exactly, 'to father' and 'to mother') can be English verbs. However, I doubt if I have properly understood their meanings. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, 'to father' means 'to be a producer of smth' whereas 'to mother' can sometimes mean 'to give birth.' Personally I think the latter sounds slightly better, though I am not sure at all. (But, as I know, 'to give birth' is not necessarily restricted to women and their children.)

So, which phrase is better: "Thoughts father actions" or "Thoughts mother actions", if, of course, such sentences are possible in modern English?


texts: Changing "The money was stolen" into active voice

texts:
I have the following passive clause:

  The money was stolen.

Is there any transformation of it into active voice? Or it will remain like this?


texts: I guess this way of saying is old fashioned, wrong?

texts:
This is a line of one of the Sherlock Holmes' stories and I guess the bold part would be old fashioned. May I check with you, please?

  I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good as yours."

Today, it would be, I guess,

  the thing always appears me so ridiculously simple

Am I wrong?

Thank you.


texts: Are there better alternatives to "temporariness"?

texts:
I was looking for a noun to describe a temporary state for something, and unsurprisingly found "temporariness" in Merriam-Webster, defined as:

the state or quality of lasting only for a short time.

Example:
The temporariness of the job is probably the reason why so few people are applying for it.
I understand the above meaning of "temporariness" and its usage, but somehow it doesn't seem idiomatic to me. Maybe because I haven't seen it used anywhere, either colloquial or academic/formal.
And the synonyms listed by M-W don't help that much:
ephemerality, evanescence, fleetingness, fugitiveness, impermanence, impermanency,
momentariness, transience, transiency, transitoriness

My intended usage:
I quoted a definition in my text that went like "That concept is considered as a basis for a time to provide [...]."
Now, as a reference to the above definition, I wanted to say "The [temporariness?] of the the concept is an important aspect, which we often overlook in its definition"

So, is there a more idomatic alternative to this word?


texts: Better way of asking "What country can Mount Fuji be found?"

texts:
I want to ask the question:

  What country can Mount Fuji be found?

Is there a better way that I can ask this question using correct grammar?


texts: What is the usual answer to the question "how do you feel"?

texts: Tell me please what someone is supposed to answer when asked how do you feel?


texts:
Is it correct to say?

I got burned 2 weeks ago and got scorch on my hand. It hadn't been getting better until 1 week had passed

should I use past perfect at the end or would simple past be more correct?

I got burned 2 weeks ago and got scorch on my hand. It hadn't been getting better until 1 week passed


texts:
Can someone please help me locate the punctuation rule for gerunds? I am almost certain a comma should be placed before the gerund "claiming" in the sentence below, but I cannot find any grammatical explanation anywhere. Am I confusing gerunds with participles here?

  "For years Chevy and Ford fans have been battling each other claiming
  that one's loyal company was better than the other."


texts:
Is it correct to use simple present in this sentence?

  I 'm eighteen soon.

Or is only simple future tense possible?

  I 'll be eighteen soon.

Or maybe either? Is there any difference?


texts: "44 hundred" instead of "4 thousand and 4 hundred"

texts:
Could you please tell me if it is okay to speak this way:

I have 12 hundred dollars left in my pocket.
There are 10 hundred words in the text.

I've taken this from the TV series "The 4400".


texts: What is the difference between solo and alone?

texts:
I was searching the meanings of these two words:

  alone and solo

And, (according to the source), both shares the same meaning:

  alone; without other people.

Both words sounds for me interchangeable in usage "speaking, writing, etc".

As the title says: what is the difference between solo and alone? and there are rules for the usage of each one of them?

The answer should show references and example usages for learning purposes (i.e: for get a better understanting about its usage).


texts: Which sentence is the right one and why: "Service object through which asynchronous operations are dispatched" or "Service object which asynchronous operations are dispatched through". Please explain when is it allowed to put prepositions at the end of a sentence?


texts: Using the plural of "antenna" in figurative sense

texts:
PBS Scrutiny Raises Political Antennas
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8067-2005Apr21.html

Yes, this is a headline, so may be that it is not entirely representative of "standard" English speech, but the use of the word antennas makes me down because I have always thought that when English speakers use the plural of antenna in a figurative political or social sense they have to write/say antennae.
Can anybody clarify what the correct usage is in cases like the above?


texts: British “To read/do/study a subject” and American “to study or major in a subject”

texts:
I’ve been reading an article on the difference between British English and American English in terms of academic language. I came across this paragraph which I have no idea what the writer is talking about. It reads

“In Britain students read/do/study a subject. In the US they study or major in a subject (the latter as the main part of a two-part degree).” -“In Britain a thesis is the paper submitted for a PhD. This is called a dissertation in the US. (In the UK a dissertation may be written for a Master’s degree).”
-Excerpt From
Academic Writing: A Handbook for International Students
Stephen Bailey

I know it has to do with the structure of writing one’s degree but the language is rather vague for me.
Can you please give me an example for each?


texts:
We are long past the point where the story of Donald Trump became stranger and more lurid than a Hollywood movie.

What does "long past the point" mean?

(This quote came from a translated Chinese news article)


texts:
Please look at the statement which I know is ok.

  I'm not going anywhere without you!

The second one I am not sure about is:

  I don't go anywhere without you!

Are they both correct?


texts:
Is the sentence below correct? I want to use the phrasal verb to stay in and the adverbs in the evening. I know how to write the sentence in different forms but I ask you if the form below is correct.

  I'm going to stay in in the evening.

Thanks for help.


texts: What's the best solution for this choice?

texts:
How much of the earth's surface is covered (with - in - by - at)forest? - About 20%.

I think both "with" and "by" could be correct answers for this question. Is there best option here?


texts:
My friend finished Law school recently and works in her fathers company. She is going to apply for a job somewhere else and needs a good CV. She put in work experience advocate clerk. Is it correct? Or should there be another term.

And one more thing is trainee another correct term to be used on CV?


texts: A doubt regarding the usage of definite article

texts:
I came across this sentence the other day and I would appreciate a clarification:

Prepared specially for the students of university of Kerala, this book will also be invaluable to students and teachers of English grammar across the country.

In the first part of the sentence the usage of the is understandable (which according to me the word students is specified by of the university of Kerala), but in the second part of the sentence, even though students and teachers is made specific by of English grammar across the country, the article the is not used.


texts:
Are the following sentences correct?

a) What percentage of human body is water?
b) What is the percentage of water in human body?

I found these sentences:

c) What percentage of women return to work after having a baby?
d) The percentage of live births continues to increase.

Why is "return" used in c) and not "returns"?
Why is "continues" is used in d) and not "continue"?


texts: When/if sensitive people fall in love, they become totally mad

texts:
When sensitive people fall in love, they become totally mad.

Or

  If sensitive people fall in love, they become totally mad.

I think both are correct but mean different things.


texts:
This book says

  ...

  In the next section we introduce a stochastic process called a Markov
  chain which does allow for correlations and also has enough structure
  and simplicity to allow for computations to be carried out. We will
  also see that Markov chains can be used to model a number of the above
  examples.

Cambridge gives this explanation of allow for

  to consider someone or something when you are planning something

and this explanation of allow

  to give permission for someone to do something, or to not prevent something from happening

Although there seems to be some nuances between "allow" and "allow for".

Could "allow for" be replaced by "allow" in this particular case?


texts: "Can I use either of them" or "Can I use both of them"?

texts:
Let's say, in a question on this site, I am giving you two sentences which I think probably carry the same meaning and I want to ask you if I can use either of them interchangeably. I feel like if I say,

"Can I use either of them"

or

"Are/Is either of them okay",

it could be understood that I am asking if any of the two sentences I gave can be used while I am trying to ask if both of the sentences can be used. Do you think I can use the word, "either," in these questions, or do I have to use the word, "both," as in

"Can I use both of them"

and

"Are both of them usable"?


texts: future in reported speech when reporting verb is in the past

texts:
I have read the following sentence:

  He said he will follow me to the end.

AFAIK in reported speech, the future tense is replaced with the conditional tense when the reporting verb is in the past. So the correct sentence should be "He said he would follow me to the end". I think that the sentence above is wrong, but oddly both Google Translate and Deep L translator chose the future tense too. What is the correct verb tense here?


texts:
I  would like to now if I am using the prepositions correctly:

"She was not pleased with her job and was tired of doing the same thing every day, but everybody was surprised at her attitude"

I always confuse them.


texts: What is the meaning of the quote "A chain is only as strong as its weakest link?

texts:
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

What does it mean?

The entry from Wikipedia about chains shows:

  A chain is typically made of metal. A chain may consist of two or more
  links

But I didn't understand this quote about chains.


texts: To announce the lowest price to win a project

texts:
Please imagine there is a big competition between two huge companies to win a national project. Each one is going to announce a lower price the employer to achieve that amazing project. I have not  the idea what is the business term for this concept. I have just translated it to English:

  They created a competition for picking the lowest bid for the project.

Does it make sense to you? If not, what shall I say here?


texts: 'it refers not to ...' vs. 'it doesn't refer to ...'

texts:
For me it refers not to the store and not to the one clerk you spoke to but collectively to the not-further-specified people who work there.

Is the structure of that sentence, in reference to how 'not' is used, an excellent way to circumvent the use of the modal 'do'?

I ask because, as a non-native speaker and not a linguist, I would have written the above sentence as follows:

  1. For me it doesn't refer to the store and doesn't refer to the one clerk you spoke to but collectively to the not-further-specified people who work there.

or perhaps:

  2. For me it doesn't refer to the store and to the one clerk you spoke to but collectively to the not-further-specified people who work there.

If the original version is grammatical, can I generalize that use of 'not' to other cases, for example "I'm going not to answer, but to waiting an answer"?


texts: what does "spending upwards of" mean here

texts:
If someone asks -

Do you think spending an upwards of 100 bucks would make sense?

I think that means spending 100 more than something. But since they've not specified compared to what. Please, help me with what that means.


texts: What kind of mouthfeel is the 'soft and tender'?

texts:
I read this sentence from this article:

Some cuts have soft and tender muscles that melt in your mouth, while other cuts are known
for their toughness and leanness.

An excerpt from the other article:

At most times, many people visiting a steakhouse expect tender and soft steak, as it is said to have incredible flavor.

From googling, I know that the 'tenderness' indicates the easiness for chewing while softness is something not hard. But I don't see any difference between 'soft' and 'tender' when we talk about tasting food. If it is soft, the meat would be tender.
What mouthfeel do we mean when we say the meat is 'soft and tender'? Is it just to emphasize the tenderness? If it is to emphasize the tenderness, why not just say, 'it's very(ultra, really,..) tender'?


texts: What is the meaning of "set the route" in the context below?

texts:
Whenever he could, he sought out a new road to travel. He had never been to that ruined church before, in spite of having traveled through those parts many times. The world was huge and inexhaustible; he had only to allow his sheep to set the route for a while , and he would discover other interesting things.

Does it mean that sometimes he had to follow the way which his sheep decided or wanted to go?

This text is from the book named " The Alchemist" by "Paulo Coelho.


texts:
I have a doubt about a situation.

If someone shows me a family picture, can I ask:

  Who's this?

And would be ok if the answer is:

  It's Mary

I think using "this" and "it" feel a little weird for a person, but maybe it's perfectly fine.


texts: Quote "I am Gandalf, and Gandalf means me!" (The Hobbit)

texts:
what does the word "mean" mean in the quote "I am Gandalf, and Gandalf means me!". It should have been "is" instead, right?

"I am Gandalf, and Gandalf is me!"


texts:
Are sentences below correct ? I just want to learn if use of ''in a state '' is correct or not . I know I can make this sentence without “ in a state “ but as told I just try to understand “ in a state . I mean if I use “in a state “ in this way , would it be grammatically correct?

  1)I don't want him to see me in a state without makeup .

  2)I don't want my photo to be taken in a state wihout makeup

  3) My photo was taken in a state in black suit.( or should I delete '' in a state'' in this sentence)

Are all three correct ?


texts:
You can say that I value someone's appearance (or look) over intelligence (or brain)

But how to say that in a general way?

In my country we would translate as "appearance vs substance". Is there a correspondent idiomatic word in English?


texts: How to understand "Answer on your first guess" in this context

texts:
“You are very near your goal. The quickest way is past me.”

  “So…so will you move, please?” said Harry, knowing what the answer was
  going to be.

  “No,” she said, continuing to pace. “Not unless you can answer my
  riddle. Answer on your first guess - I let you pass. Answer wrongly -
  I attack. Remain silent - I will let you walk away from me unscathed.”

According to the context, "Answer on your first guess" probably means to manage to get the answer correctly on your first guess. But I'm curious why it hasn't been written as "Answer correctly on your first guess"? How should we understand "Answer on your first guess" here?


texts: I want to know what is an article used for in English as well as other languages.  I have heard that some language have no articles and I'm wondering how do they work?  As far as I know, an article is used to clarify the noun used with, as in number or volume, but I don't know whether I'm correct or not.


texts:
This is team work.
This is a team work.

Which is correct?

You work or collaborate together with someone is the intended meaning.


texts: need not have fallen (why is it in the past tense?)

texts:
Measured real GDP falls because fathers spend less time producing market goods
  and services. The actual production of goods and services need not have fallen,
  however. Measured production (what the fathers are paid to do) falls, but unmeasured
  production of child-rearing services rises.

I don't understand why this sentence has been written in the past tense. The meaning is that economic output has not necessarily decreased.


texts: Is this phrase correct, if yes, what does it mean?: "arise out of reason’s slumber"

texts:
Here is the full sentence:

  In the first three internationals as well as the Trotskyist one, the
  absence of a positive Marxist understanding of the status of their
  intellectuals is connected with the lack of a theory of leadership.
  The monster of the absolute leadership, flanked by
  anti-intellectualism, bureaucratism, and violence arises out of
  reason’s slumber that fails to reflect this double absence.

From Being a marxist by Wolfgang Fritz Haug


texts:
Me and my friend had a minor disagreement over this sentence:

"Every teacher and student (know/knows) that exams are always unfair to some."

Is "Every teacher and student" singular or plural? Is it know or knows?


texts:
First:

  In the following exercise I'm asked to put the verb into the correct form, present continuous or simple present:

  The River Nile _ (flow) very fast today - much faster than usual.

  Ans: is flowing

  We usually _ (grow) vegetables in our garden, but this year we _ (not/grow) any.

  Ans: aren't growing

Are these two questions about the same idea that both of them are talking about sth doesn't happen in general or repeatedly? Is this the reason for the answers? Present Continuous can be referring to exception from routine or habit?

Second:

  Finish sentences with always -ing:

  A: The car has broken down again. B: The car is useless. It_.

  Ans: It's always breaking down

  A: Oh I forgot my glasses again. B: That's typical! _.

  Ans: You're always forgetting your glasses.

Why aren't the answers "It always breaks down" and "You always forget your glasses"? I don't know the difference between "be always ving" and "always ving"

Last:

  Use the words underlined to make sentences:

  [The picture is about people in the theater asking whether seats are taken]

  A: Excuse me. (anybody/sit/there?) _. B: No, go ahead.

  Ans: Is anybody sitting there?

What rules should I follow to consider this situation? I mean, whether there's anybody sitting in a certain seat can be told by seeing it, so why not use present simple in this case?


texts:
Which is correct here, have or has?

The original sentence.

  In addition to halting the chain, an organizer will also rollback through the object that it has performed so that the failed object and each completed object has the opportunity to undo itself.

There was a suggestion to use "have" instead of "has" here.

  In addition to halting the chain, an organizer will also rollback through the object that it has performed so that the failed object and each completed object have the opportunity to undo itself.

I'm not convinced that this is correct. My argument is that failed object, each completed object, and itself all reference singular nouns. I also think I have to change the tense of the sentence (e.g., will have).

If have is correct here, I'd like to know why. And at a minimum, having itself sounds wrong.

Can anyone offer the correct form and an explanation?


texts: "a massive line’s worth of fans disappointed" meaning?

texts:
James also hinted last week at a possible appearance at a Blaze Pizza in Culver City with a tweet on Monday. But James never showed up, leaving a massive line’s worth of fans disappointed. The mural was gone hours later. Other public institutions, like the famous Santa Monica pier Ferris wheel, have shown their excitement through a variety of displays. So to see the fans positively react to the four-time MVP must have been a welcome sign for him.

I don't quite understand a massive line’s worth of fans disappointed in this context. I can understand if the sentence have written as a massive line of fans disappointed. I don't know why worth is added?

The full source.


texts: "Has this experience been enjoyable for you?" How to convert it into active voice?

texts:
I want to convert the following passive voice into active voice
"Has this experience been enjoyable for you?"
How can I convert it into active voice?


texts:
You don't get such wonderful opportunities too often.
You don't come by such wonderful opportunities too often.

What's the difference ?


texts:
Can I use always, which is usually used with Present Simple (e.g. "I always eat hotdogs with mustard."), with Present Perfect?

  Almost always the people that come to this country have used a gun.


texts:
I'm arguing with a guy about this. He says the T at the end is sibilant, and he pronounces it as "violets"

I don't know English grammar well enough to be certain, but from my Googling, it doesn't seem to be the case that a singular T can be sibilant. It would have to be "th," like in "this."
And it also doesn't sound correct to me anyway.


texts: the meaning of 'to heave something around'

texts:
It's another very late night as we heave tomorrow's paper around to
  take in the new developments, with one or two colleagues also having
  to drop what they were doing and rush into the office.

-Play It Again by Alan Rusbridger

This scene happens at the office in the Guardian newspaper.
What does 'to heave the paper around' mean? Does it mean printing the paper?


texts: Does reading by itself lead to speaking well?

texts:
I'm curious about how non-native speakers learn to speak well in their countries. Aside from today's technology, they don't have the access to the spoken language. But people living hundreds of years ago could speak in different languages.

Do you find that reading can lead to speaking well?


texts: Meaning of "little more o’er the merry-o"

texts:
In the lyrics of a song, the text goes

  swing a little more, little more o’er the merry-o

I know the proverb "the more the merrier", but o'er is apparently an archaic form of over, which confuses me.


texts:
Let's say I prepared a class which does something for me and I want to put a description of it just above it's definition:

/* My description here */
class myClass
{
  // my code
};

Which description is appropriate?

  A Class prepared to do something.
  The Class prepared to do something.
  (-) Class prepared to do something.

I wouldn't choose the first option, because I mean a specific class that is defined below.

I wouldn't choose the second option, because I prepared a class, it just doesn't seem right to me. When I was working on the class, I didn't have the code in mind, this is just a result of my work.

The third option is wrong, because I need an article since class is a countable noun.

So, which article should I choose and why?


texts:
What is the difference between present and past participle when they describe a noun?

There is a text asked me to meet
There is a text asking me to meet


texts: Is this called a water tank or a tank of water? Or both are idiomatic?


texts: What is the meaning of "everything else I do"?

texts:
Julie: So I'll cook my way through the Julia Child cookbook and write
  a blog about it. But I'll probably need a deadline.

  Eric: Why?

  Julie: Because otherwise it'll be like everything else I do.  'Cause
  let's face it, I never finish anything.

Is Julie saying that she will do cooking except everything?


texts: word order: to keep an open mind vs keep your mind open

texts:
could anybody explain why it's said "to keep your mind open" but "to keep an open mind"? I don't understand the reason why the word "open" comes respectively before and after the noun "mind". Why does the word "open" change position?
Thx


texts: Subordinate clause not equivalent to main clause

texts:
The head teacher of the institute ________ an M.A in English so he can also teach us.
  1) did
  2) has done
  3) have done
  4) has doing

I think the problem I'm facing is 'so'. Here, 'so' is a subordinating conjunction. The rule of subordinating conjunctions says it should be grammatically equal between the main clause and the dependent clause.
If I put any of the options as an answer, it will be wrong, because, "so he can also teach us" is in present form, and the options given are in either simple past or present perfect.


texts: Why 'reduced to poverty' is same with 'become poor'?

texts:
The explanation in my English book is

  when a man is reduced to poverty the beggar will come out

I don't know why 'reduced to poverty' means 'become poor'.  Is it idiomatic expression? Or can anyone explain in grammar?


texts:
If the IPL has succeeded in drawing an audience across the country, it is because cricket has always had a strong foundation and a dedicated audience.

I understand audience is a collective noun and the verb with it can be singular/plural depending on context. But is using articles, like the highlighted an, all right to use with it ?


texts: What is the difference in dine and dinner?

texts:
i'm seeing that two word "dine" and "dinner" , my question what is the difference between this word if its mean similar?

example of vacabulary with this word :

I am eating dine

I am eat dinner


texts:
I have read in http://forum.wordreference.com/threads/would-never-or-would-entirely-avoid.3250069/#post-16454853 that we use would for The regular habit/practice. The website says as follows:

  Would is also used to indicate a habit
  A: "Look what you have written here, "If you want to see mountains and beautiful valleys, go to nepal."
  B: "What is wrong with that?"
  A: "I would never write "Nepal" without a capital letter." -> Here the would indicates a habit or regular practice. " My/The regular practice is never to write "Nepal" without a capital letter."

Do we really use would to mean The regular practice/habit( Which started in past and continues to present ? If yes, why this use and meaning of "would" hasn't been listed in any grammar books or dictionaries ?

I have checked even in http://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/would But couldn't find it.


texts: What are cases where a noun can be used as an adjective?

texts:
There are several threads about nouns as adjectives (adjectival nouns, nouns adjuncts), but I can't find a website or a post giving the rule of the uses of nouns as adjectives.

A history book.
A coffee cup.
A car park.
A gold ring.

Even on the Wikipedia's page, they explain the grammar, but not the rule that make a noun being usable as an adjunct in an expression.

For instance, in a coffee cup, "coffee" means that the cup is made for coffee. In a history book, that the book talks about history, a gold ring, that the ring is made of gold.

So, could I sum up the cases, to know when to use an adjunct, like this:

Either when it's made of (gold ring)
Or when it's the target/the aim (The park is for cars)
Or when you can use "of", as a possession (The cell cycle)
Or when it's the topic (history books), but isn't the aim too? A book to teach history?

Is it right, or are there other uses included in the rule?


texts: reachability of a host vs. the reachability of a host

texts:
Source: UNIX System Administration—A Beginner's Guide by Steve Maxwell (2002)

Example:

  This is useful so that the user can quickly determine reachability of a host without wasting additional time or network bandwidth.

If I had to write that passage, I'd personally use the article: the reachability of a host. It just sounds better to me that way. I think, that's because we're dealing with something specific here, but what are your thoughts on this?


texts:
Does "set aside vaccine for long-term-care facilities" mean "should use vaccine exclusively for long-term-care facilities"?
I searched "set aside something for" and only got what is "set aside":"Separate and reserve for a special purpose, as in We have to set aside some chairs for latecomers." Hence the guess above.

Officials say the pace of COVID-19 vaccinations should pick up significantly in the coming weeks. For now, however, they point to a host of reasons for the lag, including vaccination systems still gearing up, federal funding that hasn't yet been disbursed to states and a requirement that states set aside vaccine for long-term-care facilities.

Source:  USAToday   Getting COVID-19 vaccine into the arms of Americans is off to a slow start; why the holdup?


texts:
How do I say "Perhaps I misunderstood you"? Is it correct or I must say "perhaps I understand you mistakenly”?

  Perhaps I misunderstood you
  Perhaps I understand you mistakenly


texts: Is there semantic difference between this shan't and won't?

texts:
"Which way did they go, Peeves?" Filch was saying. "Quick, tell me."

  "Say 'please."'

  "Don't mess with me, Peeves, now where did they go?"

  "[A] Shan't say nothing if you don't say please," said Peeves in his
  annoying singsong voice.

  "All right - please."

  "NOTHING! Ha haaa! [B] Told you I wouldn't say nothing if you didn't
  say please! Ha ha! Haaaaaa!" And they heard the sound of Peeves
  whooshing away and Filch cursing in rage.

  –– Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

It seems to be [B]’s highlighted part isn’t a remoteness expression but a backshifted preterite from “I won’t say nothing if you don’t say please.” Does Peeves use won’t in [B] to denote semantic difference from [A]’s shan’t?


texts:
I read a sentence in "The Hindu" which was:

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar is in Pakistan, and asked India to give “solid inalienable evidence” for action to be taken against him

"Inalienable" means - (of a right) impossible to take away or give up

But does that fit here or should there be "irrefutable" instead?


texts: Is the phrase "Do more harm than good" formal?

texts:
I would like to ask about the formality of the phrase "Do more harm than good".

Could I use it in formal writing such as an essay?

Since it is an idiom, and my teacher said that the majority of idioms are informal, I wonder if there are any exceptions for phrases like this.

Thanks in advance!


texts: Identifying Subject-Verb Pair In a long sentence

texts:
Lately I have been having some trouble trying to find the subject-verb pair in long sentences.

For Example :

  I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. - MLK, Jr.

Breaking this sentence down, I can identify three parts:

  I have a dream...

  ...that my four little children will one day live in a nation...

  ...where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have been able to identify that the 2nd and 3rd are dependent/subordinate clauses. Now identifying the subject-verb pairs :

  I have a dream...

Subject : I

Verb : Have

  ...that my four little children will one day live in a nation...

Subject : My children

Verb : Will live or Just will ? or just live ?(Will is the helping verb ?).

Both One day and in an nation are describing the verb live ?

  ...where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

Subject : they

Verb : will not be judged, just will, not be judged or judged ?

How can i identify verb in such situations ?

Also, what function is but  playing here ? Ensuring parallelism in the last part of the phrase ?

Thanks.


texts: a phrase indicating a (gold) winner in the contest

texts:
I am not sure how to formulate correctly the phrase 'a winner that took the first place in the contest'. Could you propose any idiomatic phrases?
My try is below:

The corporation is a gold winner in the contest 'Brand - 2014'.
The corporation was awarded with a "golden" prize in the contest 'Brand -2014'.
The corporation is recognized [as] a gold winner in the contest 'Brand - 2014'.

If they are ok, I will be glad to learn about that.
The addition to the text
I have no idea whether or not the prize is made of gold. I even don't know how the prize looks like.
The second addition to the text:
In my language and culture, a person or an organization, that took the first place, is named figuratively a 'golden winner'. I am not sure how to convey this meaning in English without mentioning the prize. The prize should not be mentioned at all in the situation that I described.


texts: What does "trouble didn't come much worse than..." mean in this context from Harry Potter?

texts:
'Well, I don' blame yeh fer tryin' ter curse him, Ron,' said Hagrid loudly over the thuds of more slugs hitting the basin. 'Bu' maybe it was a goo thing yer wand backfired. 'Spect Lucius Malfoy would've come marchin' up ter school if yeh'd cursed his son. Least yer not in trouble.'
Harry would have pointed out that trouble didn't come much worse than having slugs pouring out of your mouth, but he couldn't; Hagrid's toffee had cemented his jaws together. (In this scene, Ron, whose wand had malfunctioned and backfired on him is puking slugs in a corner.)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

I kind of get a sense what the bolded part in this passage means, but I'm not sure excatly and especially the structure of the sentence is very unfamiliar to me.
Can anyone help me with this? Thanks in advance!