texts:
plase consider the following sentence :
"So much in our society is about making more and more money."

I have two questions.

The first:
Is 'much' considered as pronoun in the context ?

As we know 'much' used for uncountable nouns whereas 'so much' means 'so much people' that 'people' is dropped.
Now, Can we use pronoun like this when the noun dropped is uncountable? is it a fixed rule?
which 'words' can be used with 'much' to make sense on the sentence?

The second:
According to the all dictionaries, we have the pattern of ' be about to do something' . why do in the following we use 'doing' instead of 'do'?


texts: grammar and meaning "He latched onto her arm and wouldn't let go."

texts:
If you say “did not let go” instead of “wouldn't let go”, what is the difference in meaning or nuance?
For example, the explanation in the grammar book I have is as follows.
The car won’t start. (= the car ‘refuses’ to start)
Likewise, “wouldn't let go” means “refused to let go”? (that is, past tense of “won’t let go”)
Or when you use “won’t” to say that somebody refuses to do something, you only use “won’t” (the present tense + “not”)?


texts:
Below is a sentence I wrote. Not sure if the relative clause here is natural.

It's rude to call a girl with whom I had only one talk by her pet name.

I wonder if it will be better to use a verb here.

It's rude to call a girl with whom I talked only once by her pet name.

Not quite sure where only should be put in this sentence, so I came up with another version:

It's rude to call a girl with whom I only talked once by her pet name.

Which one sounds more natural to you? Besides, if you have any other alternatives, please don't hesitate to share them with me.


texts: "If anyone knows" or "Does anyone know"?

texts:
I am a native English speaker who is living abroad and as such I get many questions about English that I find hard to answer having never studied English grammar.

One of them is the following:

Does anyone know
If anyone knows

Why does the verb "to know" change depending on whether the question starts with "does" or "if"?


texts: Do we use a comma or not when using several adjectives?

texts:
He is a deranged fanatical and stupid person.
He is a deranged, fanatical and stupid person.

I am not sure if you have to use a comma or not when we have only 2 adjectives we don't use any comma, but when using three, I am not sure the same rule applies.

It's a big red shoe.
It's a big red and dirty shoe.


texts:
"All you have to do is maintain the rules properly"

Here,What kind of clause is "All you have to do"?


texts: How to identify passive voice or simple past

texts:
Can we change sentence having no subject into Passive voice?
 E.g.

a) 2 person were killed.

b) A person was electrocuted.

Is possible to identify if sentence is Passive voice or informative or state. Without reading further context?

a) 2 person were killed in accident.

b) A person was electrocuted in yesterdays mishap.


texts:
I'm confused with the usage of as for myself. Whether it is used to tell something about our personal life or to tell our opinion/thinking?
Consider this:

As for myself, I was always a self-occupied person and that's why I hate being invited to social gatherings.

As for myself, I think money matters a lot in life, and we should not underestimate the power of wealth in life.

As for myself, I believe in ghosts and paranormal from my childhood.

Do these sentences sound natural? I sometimes think that as for myself is redundant with I think and I believe. However, it is considered a C2 level grammar structure by Cambridge.


texts: face changes as if he has seen this before?

texts:
John's face changes as if he has seen this before.

Here this could any thing (an object, a map, a place, a movie, etc).

Normally when you see something and if you feel as if you have seen this before, your facial expression changes reflecting that. I wrote the above sentence to describe it.  Is it grammatically correct?

I checked google, I see many sentence for "as if he has seen this before" but I don't see any sentences matching "face changes as if * has seen this before" I feel like this is valid sentence and conveys the meaning. But I'm confused since there is no match in the google. That means this sentence is wrong? How?


texts: How "long gone" can be used in a sentence

texts:
"Long gone" is a phrase which means "gone a long time ago; used up a long time ago" according to this link.

The following sentences are some samples of its usage:

The ice cream and cake are long gone. You are simply too late for the refreshments.
Long gone are the days when program verification was a task carried out
merely by hand with paper and pen.
We are back at work, the weather is dull and the festive season is long gone.

What grammatical role "long gone" took in above sentences? Is it noun or adjective or neither!? What other roles it can take in a sentence?


texts: Advice on understanding ''advanced'' sentences

texts:
By a normal sentence I mean any sentence of the form subject + predicate. Every sentence that is not normal is called advanced. A simplest example of an advanced sentence is, say, Being a doctor, he often voluntarily helps people around him.

Since I am not a native speaker in english, from time to time I found it difficult for me to discern the meaning of a given advanced sentence. But for a normal sentence I found it readily intelligible.

Which readings could help improve this asymmetry of understanding english? Further, which books may give rules or advices relevant to understanding advanced sentences for non-native english speakers?

Thanks so much.


texts:
Q1. "Mr and Mrs Smith loved their children so much. And they were very happy."
What does "they" refer to?
Q2. "Mr and Mrs Smith loved their children so much. But they were not happy at all."
What does "they" refer to?
Q3. The point of my question is:
"Does a following pronoun ALWAYS refer to the Subject of the previous sentence?"
"Can't a following pronoun refer to the Object of the previous sentence?"


texts:
To some extent I know the difference between "before" and "until" as it is in until VS. before

I wrote:

  For any given word, the program records the user’s choices during the test. It records the letters that they try before entering the correct letter.

If I want to use "until", can I just replace "before" or I must write it as:

  For any given word, the program records the user’s choices during the test. It records the letters that they try until they enter the correct letter.

Anyway, how can I use until in this sentence?


texts:
Example with a context (The Object-Oriented Thought Process by Matt Weisfeld, 3rd Edition):

  This is an interesting issue. If we did want the Shape class to contain the code for all possible shape present and future, some conditional statement (like a Case statement) would be required. This would be very messy and difficult to maintain. This is one example of where the strength of an object-oriented design comes into play.

I just can't wrap my head around why shape is used as an uncountable noun in this passage. Why is it not shapes which is what the Shape class is supposed to be all about—drawing many different geometrical shapes on screen? We're talking plural here.


texts:
I'd like to know if the phrase "My dogs back in Brazil still remember me.", or would it be better in another way, like just "in Brazil"?
I've been living in another country for an year, and the dogs recognized me in a video call. I want to tell in English that my dogs in Brazil remembered me after a long time.


texts:
I was watching a concert and I noticed that the band 'rather' jumps around than (to) play clean.

Is the sentence in the title grammatically correct or does it need the gerund form of the word 'play' or the base form 'to play' ? And do I need to say 'they would rather' instead of 'they rather'  because my fiancee pointed out that I should say that but I object to this since 'would' suggests it's a wish and I'm stating a fact here.

Thanks in advance!


texts: Is there a word that means using another word because it sounds similar?

texts:
I think there's a word for it, but I don't know what it is. I think there's a word for it, because it happens often. Like for example, using cubicle instead of cuticle, because both words sound similar.

For example:

  Using cubicle to mean cuticle is an example of ___.


texts: 'Out of curiosity' means I'm not curious at all. Isn't it?

texts:
I was reading some other forum and came across the debate on 'curious' word. The senior member responds telling all of below mentioned sentences mean the same thing.

  Just for curiosity´s sake, ....... Just for the sake of curiosity, ... Just out of curiosity, ....

Now, my question:

If something is out of scope, it means that thing and scope are (far?) away from each other. And so is with out of context, out of the world, out of syllabus... and instances the like.

Whoa, but then...

  Asking out of curiosity - means that question and curiosity are poles apart? I'm not at all curious about it?

Now, what if I really mean that I'm not curious? The way we use --

  Jack, just out of context....but your English is too bad.

If I use curiosity in the same way.. it'd be --

  "We are all here to discuss our curiosities about learning English. Julie, tell me about your curiosity..." there Micky stands up and talks about French and I stop him in between... "French... ah... it's out of (our) curiosity... isn't it guys?" and all guys approve..yey!

How do I understand whether someone is really interested if s/he tells or asks out of curiosity


texts:
My dad has worked hard enough to garner at least some respect from his colleagues.

vs.

  My dad has worked hard enough to garner at least some respect of his colleagues.

Which preposition follows respect here?


texts: The department shredded all the files from the inquiry[,] 'which'/'that' contained embarrassing material

texts:
The department shredded all the files from the inquiry which contained embarrassing material.

After having read the sentence above, I was wondering if the department destroy every file, or only those with embarrasing contents.
Could one avoid ambiguity using a comma before 'which', like in A? Or is it better to this pourpose replacing 'which' with 'that', like in B?

A. The department shredded all the files from the inquiry, which contained embarrassing material.
B. The department shredded all the files from the inquiry that contained embarrassing material.


texts:
The copper archer type may be the variety found in Merv regions, and
  the Merv-Herat is about the only place where they could be assigned.
  Sanabares, like the Gondophares group, minted coins in the 'debased
  area' which include imitation coinage of Hermaios from the Kabul
  Valley, the Gandhara coinage (after Azilises), and southern Arachosia. (Sanabares and the Gondophares Dynasty - K. WALTON DOBBINS)

(Source)

What does "debased area" mean?


texts:
I wonder if it means "session" or "area" here:

"U.S. investors are beginning to notice. The J.P. Morgan conference has an entire track dedicated to China-based health-care companies at the conference. And last year, Chinese firms announced or completed about $8 billion in cross-border acquisitions, according to data compiled by Bloomberg."

Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-10/china-investors-have-money-want-biotech-and-don-t-fear-trump


texts:
He, a journalist, believed profoundly in the craft and mission of serving the public’s right to know the news.

What meaning we can take here in the above sentence?


texts: Do we have to use IT when the thing is being mentioned just before. It is confusing because in Spanish we don´t have IT

texts:
“I am sending you an audio which IS new to you.”    Or
“I am sending you an audio which IT´S new to you”
“The first option IS the correct one”   -   or     “The first option IT´S the correct one.”
This war IT is going to be a very long war!      OR    This war is going to be a very long war!


texts: Putting Adverbs at the Beginning of the Sentence

texts:
Can we put any adverb that ending with-ly at the beginning of a sentence?

Sometimes, it ’s quite difficult for me to decide where I can put an adverb in a sentence so I wonder if I can put any adverb which ending with-ly at the beginning of a sentence or not. It might be easier for me.

Like these.

Quietly, the teacher asked the children to finish their game.

Hurriedly, she typed the email.

Freely, you can speak.

Loudly and convincingly, Jonathan spoke about the advantages of
leasing rather than buying cars.


texts: Can I say that a man is "tree-like-looking"?

texts:
I need to say that Man that is looking like a tree. But not full sentence but only  adjective. For example :

  tree-like-looking man

... or something like this. Do you know how to use it correctly?


texts:
According to the rules of "Speculation Modals", we use "may / could / might + inf" to guess things in the present

Eg: I may / might / could be late today

"Speculation Modals" say that  we use "may / could / might + have + PP" to guess things in the past

Eg: I may / might / could have been late yesterday

According to the rules of "Indirect speech", we have to change "May--> might; could ---> could & might--> might" when we change from direct into indirect speech

Eg: David said "I may be late today"= David said he might be late yesterday (this statement is said 1 day later)

But the phrase "he might be late yesterday" broke the rules of "Speculation Modals". That is, to speculate a past event, we have to say "he might have been late yesterday"

I don't understand

Do we care about the rules of "Speculation Modals" when we change speculation modals from "direct into indirect speech"?


texts: Meaning of "this project" in this context

texts:
In 1482, Quasimodo was about 20 years old. Claude Frollo had turned 36. The priest was still involved in the education of his younger brother, Jehan. But this project had caused him bitterness. Jehan had grown up to be wild, lazy, and ignorant. He was more interested in having fun than in studying. This saddened his older brother. He threw himself even more into the study of science. As a priest, he became more learned and more severe. As a man, he became sour and gloomy.

What does "this project" mean in this passage? Does it mean "the teaching of his brother and the responsibility he had for educating him"?


texts:
"There is no school today."

  Is today school?

  Is there school today?

How to make the sentence into a question to ask a kid is there school that day?


texts:
Is there a plural of this phrase that preserves the sprachgefühl?

The obvious "those are my boys" somehow doesn't feel right.


texts: What does "I am off to the doctor" mean?

texts:
In this video a well-known man says

  I am off to the doctor.

I think it means I am going to visit my doctor. However another rendering occurred to me; can it mean I am not at work due to the order of my doctor?


texts:
Mosquitoes are the most highly developed insect bloodsuckers.

  What does highly developed mean in this sentence?

  I can't figure out whether it means "most intelligent or
  grow fast most"


texts:
Is the following sentence complete?

  "In this documentary we meet many girls from across the world, as they
  come of age in the way their culture dictates, we see remarkable
  heart-warming stories of bravery and humor."


texts:
I've read that 'having+past participle' is used in the perfect participle. Now I'm confused to have found the following sentences written in a grammar book(which isn't available in internet) and in this website http://www.myenglishteacher.net/gerunds.html as gerunds. Which calls it as perfect  gerund.
The sentences are:

I heard of his having won a prize.
The mirror showed no prints of having been touched.
She was accused of having stolen my bag.

My questions:

How are these sentences with 'having+p.p' uses of the gerund?
Could you please tell me how to use 'having+p.p' as gerunds in sentences with examples?


texts:
I know the "in the end of time" is wrong and "at the end of time" is right. But I do not know if we always use "at the ________ of..." or "in the ________ of..." .

For example, is "in the situation of primary scheduling" right, or "at the situation of primary scheduling"?


texts: I'm confused which article to use, "an" or "the"

texts:
I'm reading an ebook and am getting confused whether to use the article an or the.

The below lines are shown in my ebook:

  While fragments enable you to compartmentalize your UI into various
  configurable parts, the real power of fragments is realized when you
  add them dynamically to activities during runtime. In the previous
  section, you saw how you can add fragments to an activity by modifying
  the XML file during design time. In reality, it is much more useful if
  you create fragments and add them to activities during runtime.This enables you to create a customizable user interface
  for your application.

  For example:    if the application is running on a smartphone,
  you might fill
  an activity with a single fragment; if the application is running on a tablet, you might then fill the activity with two or more
  fragments, as the tablet has much more screen real estate compared to
  a smartphone.

I need to know which one is appropriate, either an or the. Can anybody explain this to me?


texts:
Using the panel on the left side, the user specifies the values of/for  the context variables required to match the rule.

When you enter the values of something, you enter value for it, or you enter the value of it?


texts:
I'm already familiar with the imperative form of first conditional, for
example:

  tell me if you need something
  alert the guards if you see anything suspicious.

but how about the use of second conditional in an imperative sentence? Is that even correct?  For example:

  if you needed something, you would tell me
  -> tell me if you needed something.

  I would alert the guards if I saw anything
  -> alert the guards if you saw anything / if you happened to see anything.

thanks


texts: "I have 6 legs, hands, and eyes." - that sounds nonsensical, doesn't it? How to state a total for a list of items without any ambiguity?

texts:
Okay, this might be a very basic question, but I can't seem to figure this out.
Usually, a single adjective modifies multiple nouns or noun phrases individually in a series. For example, "expired" and "black" modifies all the nouns that follow:

To save a few pennies, Lewis picked up expired milk, cheese, and bread. - > [... expired milk, expired cheese, and expired bread]
She was wearing a black skirt, top, and jacket. - > [... a black skirt, a black top, and a black jacket]

My question is, How to state a total for a list of items without any ambiguity? For example:

I did 20 push-ups and 30 sit-ups yesterday. [This makes sense]
I did over 2,000 push-ups and sit-ups last month. [This only makes sense if it means "2000 push-ups and 2000 sit-ups]
I have 6 legs, hands, and eyes. [This doesn't make any sense, and it establishes that a total figure cannot be used like this]

Sometimes, you don't want to throw too many numbers at your reader, and you just need to provide a total for a list of things.

I spent 8 hours cleaning, cooking, and gardening. [??? This sounds natural, but it is technically incorrect if the intended meaning is "... spent a total of 8 hours doing a bunch of things"]

If I graded 6,000 assignments, 4,000 midterms, and 2,000 final exams, how do I correctly state the total figure?

Graded approximately 12,000 assignments, midterms, and final exams. [This is wrong! Here, "12,000" individually modifies each item]


texts:
Which one is correct?

Show up the next time you are in Dhaka.

Pay a visit the next time you are in Dhaka.

By the way, I've found some negativity in the usage of show up. It would be helpful if someone explains the difference between the above two.

I am guessing there might be missing a punctuation. Pay a visit, the next time you are in Dhaka.


texts: What do you call the specific front covering of an airplane engine?

texts: This plane debris shows the very part I am referring to, the front covering of an aircraft engine. Is there a specific word or phrase used to refer to this?


texts:
I saw something that I am not supposed to see.
I saw something I'm not supposed to have seen.
I saw something I shouldn't have seen.
I saw something I shouldn't have see.
I saw something I shouldn't have saw.

To me, they all sound right. But I have a feeling that some may be incorrect.


texts: the meaning of "would" in "wish"-clauses

texts:
I've come across the following passage from Mina Murray's diary (from Dracula ). Mina is worried that her finance hasn't written to her for quite a long time.

  No news from Jonathan. I am getting quite uneasy about him, though why I should I do not kno; but I do wish that he would write, if it were only a single line.

What will be the difference between would write and wrote in this case? I, personally, think that original sentence is entirely about the present. She wants him to to drop a few lines, and she still hopes that he'll do this. And with "wrote" it would mean sort of she wants him to have written to her. Somewhat she wants not to worry right now, but it's impossible because she got nothing from him, not a line. I've just shared my thoughts, but I'm not so sure  about them. Possibly, someone can make it clear for me.

Many thanks!


texts: Use of 'out' to indicate a public place for purposes of pleasure

texts:
I searched on Oxford Dictionary to find the meaning of out. It has been said that to indicate a public place for purposes of pleasure or entertainment, out can be used. Then it gives a phrase as an example to explain this usage. The example:

an evening out at a restaurant.

If I omit out, and rewrite the phrase as follows, what difference will it make, i.e. what are the differences between the first and second phrase?

an evening at a restaurant.

A restaurant is always away from the house. If I omit out, a reader will easily understand that an evening has been spent at a restaurant, which is a public place. So why would we use out before at?


texts:
He lives on Main Street.

This sentence is from "Merriam-Webster " Dictionary.

But I found both usage " in the street" and "on the street." on ngram.

What is the difference between them, "live on street" or "live in street".


texts:
How should I write this:
For instance, I want to emphasise that I work in company since 2017 and I have to write it in my resume. Something like this:

Work in IMB: 2017-2021

However, it is imperative to not write "2021", for I have to work to 2023 and currently I work there.
How do I have to write?
What is more idiomatic:

Work in IBM: 2017-currently/so far/until now


texts:
Is it natural to describe a common cold as long? For example:

  I had a long cold for a week, but thankfully it went away.

Would it be more natural to use the adjective lengthy or prolonged for illnesses?


texts:
Today is Veterans' day.

Look up the etymology:

  c. 1500, "old experienced soldier," from French vétéran, from Latin veteranus... from vetus (genitive veteris) "old, aged, advanced in years; of a former time," as a plural noun, vetores, "men of old, forefathers," from PIE *wet-es-, from root *wet- (2) "year" (source also of Sanskrit vatsa- "year," Greek etos "year," Hittite witish "year," Old Church Slavonic vetuchu "old," Old Lithuanian vetušas "old, aged;" and compare wether).

Vetus has no similarities with old or aged.

How could remember the word?


texts: comma after as and before and grammatical or not?

texts:
I think the claim that this man is guilty of murder is absolutely
false, as people have been giving false testimonies as of late, and a
lot of evidences suggest that there's more to what was shown in the
court.

Can we separate and with a comma even though we're giving a second reason as to why "the claim is false"?


texts:
Ruby has two forms of multiple-selection constructs, both of which are
  called case expressions and both of which yield the value of the last expression evaluated.

what both refers to?


texts:
But appearances of gender equality can be deceiving. In my most recent study, I asked 114 young adults about their heterosexual relationship experiences. Unsurprisingly, power was skewed in favor of one partner (versus being equally balanced or shared) in most of their relationships. What’s more, male and female participants were equally likely to see themselves as the ones wearing the proverbial “pants” in a relationship.

What's the meaning of  "proverbial pants” here or in general?
Update: I was confused because I thought the meaning of "wear a pant" means dress a pant. But it actually means (female) dominating a relationship.
"Proverbial" means "referring to in a proverb or idiom". Therefore the whole phrase just means "a dominating relationship"?


texts: So I can pronounce friend just fine. But when you add an s to it how do you transition from the d sound to the s (/z/) sound? Do you just ignore the d altogether?


texts: When do we use this expression "let's just say" and what does it exactly mean?


texts:
I'm writing a formal e-mail, asking about something I will do (submit a partial academic record). I want to ask if that's ok or if there is any problem about that, but formally.

Is it possible to use "if that's ok or if there is any problem about that"? Or is there any alternate phrase to use?


texts: How to spell correctly, "hand-written" or "handwritten"?

texts:
In the online dictionary, such as reverso, there are two ways to write this word. From what I understand, "hand-written" is a noun and "handwritten" is a participle.

How to spell correctly, hand-written or handwritten? It's about text.


texts: What's the grammatical role of "there" in the following sentence?

texts:
It is no accident that with the appearance of societies there appear large areas that share similar cultural.

I need some grammatical analysis on this sentence.

What's the meaning of "there" in this sentence?
Can you determine phrases in the sentence for me please? I cannot understand what the second that-phrase refer to.


texts: Word for something that is only noticeable when it goes wrong?

texts: I'm looking for a word that would describe a phenomenon of noticing things only when they go wrong. "A thing that's only noticeable when it goes wrong is ... "


texts: How do I turn 'a few days' into an adjective or otherwise modify a noun with it?

texts: Is it 'a-few-day delays', or 'a few days delays', or something else? It's 'a seven-year-old son' but, using the same pattern, I couldn't find any matches for my guesses in Google News.


texts: Why we say "the book is missing" when using the word "miss" and "the book is lost" when using the word "lose"?

texts: What difference between "miss" and "lose" leads to the different form of word in the sentence? Why we can't say "the book is missed" or "the book is losing"?


texts: Non-Canonical Clauses, Complete Sentences (Interrogatives[?])?

texts:
In clauses, I thought a clause contains a verb and an argument. That may seem like canonical clauses(?). In non-canonical clauses I guess they may still get called complete sentences (interrogatives[?]), maybe mostly non-canonical (complete[?]) (sentences[?]) interrogatives?

In

  what about Sir Isaac Newton

or

  What about you?

I guess non-canonical clauses may not request a subject verb object? Do they mostly got to mostly contain a  wh-word and maybe some phrase after?


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

texts:
You know it, sir. Defiance, maybe, but, well, no more. The point is, a marine is on guard at the keyboard, just round the corner of that passage. Night and day. Bound to have seen him. He denies-----"

"HMS Ulysses" by Alistair MacLean


texts: What is the meaning of "Hit me with the quick fix?

texts: What does the sentence mean " hit me with the quick fix, John "


texts:
Just want to make sure I'm correctly using this word. According to my dictionary it's an adjective so I was originally using it all wrong. I usually don't pay attention to what type of word a word is, and go more by whether it sounds right to me. My understanding is that an adjective adds detail to
a noun, and usually must come either before or after it. In the sour-examples below, am I correctly using recondite,
in terms of both its definition, and proper use of an adjective?

Example 1:

  This is quite a recondite, and unglued piece you've written; not to pontificate, but perhaps if you'd
  not been drunk at the time reading your piece would not rival the enjoyment of eating sorrel.

Example 2:

  A recondite examination is mandatory at the end of the school year; if you don't want to off
  yourself before you will after.


texts: What is the meaning and the grammar of 'which that'

texts:
I'm a foreign student who is interested in the book known as Alice in the wonderland. There was a conversation between Alice and the red queen in which the latter replied:

"...but I've heard nonsense, compared with which that would be as sensible as a dictionary!..."

I've never seen the sentence with 'which' followed by 'that'. Could anyone explain the meaning of this sentence and the grammar of 'which that' as well?


texts:
I was racking my brain to make the title clear but I don’t know how to name this article problem. It’s about a noun + of + noun. Let me give some examples.

  Song of the day.

  Man of the year.

  King of the country.

  Master of the universe.

These phrases tend to be used with the zero article for the first noun. I probably see a pattern in the first two, but, again it cannot beat ‘the soup of the day’, for example.

Can you please explain the rule or how to understand such phenomena?


texts: How to understand "he realized a split second too late was also a mistake"

texts:
"It's not like that!" said Harry, and he was so relieved at finally understanding what she was annoyed about that he laughed, which he realized a split second too late was also a mistake.

  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

It seems to me that "a split second too late" is the subject of the clause. But "a split second too late" doesn't look like a noun phrase, and hence it's not a legitimate subject in my opinion. Or we should parse it as "he realized [a split second] that too late was also a mistake"? How should we understand that phrase here?


texts: When should I use the definite article before a plural noun + relative clause?

texts:
Here are examples from my posts on Lang-8:

E1. Its style was older -- for example, "today" was written there as "to-day" -- but it had no typos, or at least far fewer of them. Out of interest, I compared both newer and older books with an online program, and there turned out not to be much difference between the words and phrases used in them.
E2. Researchers from the University of Georgia have studied the effect of these innovations on the marks of American pupils studying at elementary school in reading and math.

These are corrected sentences; the articles weren't changed.

E3. That is why the biologist Adam Boyko working in the USA analyzed the DNA of dogs living in the most remote and isolated locations.

Here, I originally wrote the dogs, and it was corrected to dogs.
In all of the three sentences, the words, pupils, and dogs hadn't been mentioned before.

I found a question on ELU associated with the topic. Here are some excerpts from the accepted answer:

'The' isn't used with plurals when that plural implies a general reference, only when that plural implies a specific group.

The students learn better when the teachers are passionate about teaching.

implies that you're not talking about students in general but a particular group, for example those who study in a certain school or at a certain level; and the same goes for the teachers: you don't mean teachers in general.
Source: Omitting article “the” in front of plural nouns? -- ELU

My questions:
Q1. If I removed the from the first sentence, would it still be grammatical, and, if so, how would the meaning change?
Q2. Why is it correct not to use the definite article in the second sentence? As it is written in the answer I copied, we are talking about those who study at a certain level.
Q3. What is the difference between dogs and the dogs in the third sentence, especially in comparison with the first one?


texts: Using "every"/"each"/"all the" as modifier of uncountable nouns

texts:
The majority of patients whish to be given every information about their disease and treatments.
  Source

Apart the correctness of "whish", which clearly seems wrongly spelled, is it grammatical to use "every information" there?

I ask because elsewhere I read that we don't use "every" with uncountable nouns and, at least to me, "information" seems uncountable in that context; but I might be wrong.

In the same place that I called "elsewhere" before, I read that we should use "all the information" rather than "every information". Is this right? And how about using "each" in place of "every" in the sentence above?


texts:
James and the drunk enter the pizza place. Gordon's there.

Gordon: Who's that?

James: Oh, that's Shots.

Gordon: Shots?

James: Yeah. I don't know his real name. I'm not sure he does either. He's basically living in the pub across the street, so I thought I'd invite him over here and buy him a pizza.

Shots looks around the pizza place, seeming a bit uncomfortable in the new setting/surroundings.

My question is about the last part. Can I say "in the new setting" or "in the new surroundings" here?


texts: What does it mean? Does it mean that I can publish it or not?

texts:
XXXX requires that submitted work has not been previously published elsewhere, or if it has, that Speakers have obtained permission for its publication by XXXX and will promptly supply wording for crediting the original publication and copyright owner.

Does it mean that I can publish an already published article or not? I don't get it completely.


texts:
I am just arguing with my friend if the phrase "do never something" is totally wrong compared to the phrase "do not ever something". And is "never" a contraction of "not ever"? Is it okay using "Do" in the beginning to emphasize a word?

I am about to say "Do NEVER remove the credit!" as my warning notice on my free projects that shared publicly. But someone told me the sentence is wrong and said the correct one should be "Do not ever remove the credit!". I am fine with "Do not ever" this never wrong in grammar. Then I say that using "Do never such a thing!" is also fine ("Do" work as an emphasis). Because I ever seen someone else using this pattern.


texts: Do Canadians and Americans really use "gotten" as past participle when speaking?

texts:
The OALD has the following note about get:

  In spoken North American English the past participle got•ten /ˈɡɒtn/ /ˈɡɑːtn/ is almost always used.

I know that I have got a car just means I have a car. Excluding that case, do Canadians and Americans really use gotten as past participle when speaking? Does that mean they use got as past participle when writing, but gotten when speaking?

Notice that the OALD reports got as past tense, and past participle of get. This, and the sentence I previously shown makes me assume the dictionary is saying that gotten is used in spoken English from Canadians and Americans, while got is used from Canadians and Americans when writing.

I remember that an American friend of mine (born and raised in the East coast) told me I should write have got, not have gotten.


texts: "Do you know where's Linda?" vs "Do you know where Linda is?"

texts:
Which of the following is a correct sentence:

Does anyone know where's Linda?

Does anyone know where Linda is?

Does anyone know why and how to use above usage if #2 is correct.
Also please let me know this kind of specific structures.


texts: Is "fireplace" more normal than "hearth" when describing what's in a house?

texts: I came across someone saying that their house (located in the UK) has a hearth. I would have used fireplace. Is hearth used that commonly nowadays, or is it a bit archaic?


texts: What's a formal term for the informal verb "floated"?

texts:
Sample sentence:

In a meeting with the mechanic, I floated that I might be interested in buying the vehicle.

What respectful — non-slang — words or phrase could I use here instead of "floated"?
In Hungarian, the formal variant is a phrase: 'kilátásba helyez'
What I have tried:

I probed my memory for two days: somehow it feels like it's on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn't catch it.
put the Hungarian term into the biggest Hungarian-operated dictionary (no luck)
put the Hungarian term into Google Translate (no-no)
put the Hungarian term into Bing Translate (yay: maybe it has to do with prospect?)
thesaurus.com (only pieces of wood floating there)


texts: Are the possessives treated properly below? Can there be a plural possessive when the following word is not plural?

texts:
The impact of employees’ clothing on customers’ perceptions and behavioral intentions has been examined in various contexts.

...we examine the influence of other customers’ dress style on customers’ approach behaviors in a restaurant context.


texts:
For example, in the following sentences, in which ones should I use there, and not their?

  ____ house is beautiful.
  ____ are lots of skyscrapers in Dubai.


texts:
It's been lovely having you here. (Is this sentence said when it's almost time for someone to leave a place?)

It has been lovely having you here.

The tense is has+pp (present perfect), which means something happend in the past and continued until now or finished now. So the person was there in the past and now he/she is going to leave and the conversation partner says "It has been lovely having you here."?


texts: Can we treat "gibberish english" as a language?

texts:
I am wondering if we can treat "gibberish english" as "english". By that I mean can we replace "english" with "gibberish english" in any sentence without changing the meaning of a sentence in ways they mean something completely different?

Here's an example:

  "A fight fought the wing fight gasped fight the fight." George sang in
  gibberish English.


texts:
I learnt in school today that in reporting questions we always use the same change of tenses as in reported statements. But is is 100% always the rule? I can think of one example when it feels wrong and I wonder if my feelings don't deceive me.

For question "what do you do?" is reported speech "he asked what she did" valid? It seems strange.. If I was in real life situation I would instinctively say "asked what she was doing" because it seems more appropriate for the meaning of "what do you do" question.


texts: "Give somebody the road" What does it mean?

texts:
I'm currently reading "The Prince and the Pauper" by Mark Twain and have come across the phrase "Give somebody the road". Does it mean "let someone pass by you in the street without paying any attention to him?" Below is the extract:

  After a while the weather grew milder, and the clouds lifted
  somewhat.  The troop ceased to shiver, and their spirits began to
  improve.  They grew more and more cheerful, and finally began to
  chaff each other and insult passengers along the highway.  This
  showed that they were awaking to an appreciation of life and its
  joys once more.  The dread in which their sort was held was
  apparent in the fact that everybody gave them the road, and took
  their ribald insolences meekly, without venturing to talk back.
  They snatched linen from the hedges, occasionally in full view of
  the owners, who made no protest, but only seemed grateful that
  they did not take the hedges, too.


texts: Should I use "is" or "is that" after "what I like about something"

texts:
In my everyday English, I frequently use the "What I like about something" structure. However, I'm not certain whether it can be complemented with both forms: "is that" and "is".

Let me illustrate my question with the following example:

  What I love about New York is that it's so big and vibrant.
  What I love about New York is it's so big and vibrant.

OR

  What I love about the US is that you can feel comfortable saying what you want.
  What I love about the US is you can feel comfortable saying what you want.

For some reason the sentences with the word "that" sound better to my ear than the ones without it. Is it just me, or does the version withouth "that" sound a bit off?  What is your opinion on the matter?
Are both forms gramatically correct? Is it just a matter of style?


texts: How is the adverb "even" used here differently?

texts:
Source

  It isn't just the Arabic-speaking man or the hijab-clad woman who were off-loaded from airplanes; even in pure, white, nativist America, there is an uptick in the kind of religious fundamentalism that India is often harangued for.

The two sentences are different in the intentions.I felt it awkward like:

It isn't that he just dances; even she sings.

The first sentence talks about offloading and the second one of an uptick in the religions.


texts:
Is it grammatically correct and does it sound native when you say as the following sentence?

  I live in Canada for many years.

With this sentence, I mean I have lived in Canada for many years.

Does the both sentence mean the same thing? Can I use present simple tense instead of present perfect tense in order to imply I still live there.


texts: "Wake up me" or "Wake me up" ? "Switch off the lights" or "Switch the lights off"?

texts:
I wonder about "prepositional verbs" that comes with Object :

  Wake me up.

or

  Wake up me.

  Switch the lights off.

or

  Switch off the lights

where should we place the preposition ? after the verb or the object ?


texts: Could the words "not effective" and "painstaking" be connected with the conjunction "but"?

texts:
I wrote a sentence,

  "It was not always effective but  painstaking and sometimes seemed like
  waste of time."

and I wonder whether the words "not effective" and "painstaking" could  be connected with the conjunction "but".

I'm confused because it seems quite natural for me at the first glance, but I learned that "not effective" and "painstaking" both also carry some negative meaning.

Does this sentence sound unnatural? Or maybe I should use other conjunction like, for instance, "and"?


texts: What would be the proper interpretation for this Quote by Dennis Prager?

texts:
Rather than dividing the world between good and evil, the Left divided the world in terms of economics. Economic classes, not moral values, explained human behavior. Therefore, to cite a common example, poverty, not one's moral value system, or lack of it, caused crime.

{poverty, not one's moral value system, or lack of it, caused crime.}
I don't understand properly this sentence. but what I infer is:
it doesn't matter if one person has moral values rather than if he is poor, because poverty causes crime.
Is it right my inference?


texts:
Which sounds better or is more grammatically correct?

  The frog was hungry from growing so much OR
  The frog was hungry from so much growing


texts:
A man was in the hospital for 4 months because of sickness. In that time he didn't see his daughter. It's been a week since he came home from the hospital, and he has seen his daughter one time since then.

Woman: You're finally feeling well. Why aren't you more happy?

Man: Because I have a daughter I didn't see throughout all this.

Is the man's statement correct and natural in the context?
Is "throughout all this" correct to mean in the time where he was in the hospital?


texts:
He’s got France and Turkey and maybe a few others, and a statement from about ten other countries wanting some sort of international move—just not necessarily a military strike.

Does "just not necessarily" mean "ten other countries want some sort of international move, but it's not necessarily a military strike, mind you"?

Is this meaning of "just" equivalently expressed by "mind you"?


texts: When do we use *to + ing*? "He confessed to killing Kem over a $3,000 debt"

texts:
When do we use to + ing (gerund)? is the following form commonly used?

  Later, he confessed to killing Kem over a $3,000 debt. A Cambodian court charged him with premeditated murder. Authorities considered the case cut-and-dried ... Los Angeles Times

Can we use "He confessed he killed Kem ..."? or Is the above form more fluent?

Update:

I want to know when we use to + ing (gerund) in general. the "confessed to" is just an example.


texts: How to differentiate between regular and irregular verbs

texts:
As I know that in regular verbs we put 'ed' and in irregular verb we do not put 'ed' while changing it into the past or past participle.

But for anyone who does not know about the 2nd and 3rd form of verb, how should he/she know that word is a regular or irregular verb?


texts:
He applied the brakes but failed to stop in time.

Why is "brake" often used in its plural form "brakes" even though a vehicle usually has only one?


texts:
Is there any difference between the following sentences?

If Jones was at work until six, he can't have done the murder.
If Jones was at work until six, he couldn't have done the murder.


texts: Someone reads to me vs someone reads for me

texts:
what is the difference in the meaning between the following two sentences:

  Someone reads to me.

  Someone reads for me.

I think first sentence means someone reads something aloud for me or someone reads something so that I listen to him/ someone reads something and the destination of listening to him is me, And the second sentence means someone reads something for my sake. Am I on the right track ?


texts:
Is the participle tense time-neutral? I am wondering if it's the case, because these two seem to be grammatically correct.

  She won the competition after having sung the national Anthem during
  the finals.

  She won the competition after singing the national Anthem during the
  finals.

Now, because I am not sure if the participle tense time-neutral, I am not sure if the last sentence is correct or not. Is it? Why? Also, why does it sound grammatically incorrect?


texts:
I'm aware that I might be foolish to ask this rather simple question but it's stunning me ever since I've finished reading the Goblet of Fire.

In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire:

Pre-context:

  Once or twice, Sirius made a noise as though about to say something,
  his hand still tight on Harry’s shoulder, but Dumbledore
  raised his hand to stop him, and Harry was glad of this, because it
  was easier to keep going now he had started. It was even a relief; he
  felt almost as though something poisonous were being extracted
  from him.

The next sentence:

  It was costing him every bit of determination he had to
  keep talking, yet he sensed that once he had finished, he would feel
  better.

I'm not absolutely sure how to explain to myself why the past perfect here is correct. This is definitely a conditional but a rather strange one to me.

I somehow want to write it as:

...yet he sensed that once he would have finished, he would feel
better.

or even...

...yet he sensed that once he would finish, he would feel
better.

To me "once he had finished" sounds as if "he did actually finish it once in the past".


texts: what are the different between zealout and fanatic in english american?

texts:
I saw in a dictionary this word : zealout and its meaning is fanatic my question what way is more common say between people from USA?

this way:

I am fanatic of soccer I love soccer or  I am zealout of occer I love soccer

I think is more common  say fanatic


texts: What's missing in "The discovery of magnetic effects of coals made possible to measure an electric current"?

texts:
I have done some English test and met the following sentence:

  The discovery of magnetic effects of coals made possible to
  measure an electric current.

The answer book says that something wrong with "made possible". But it seems OK for me.

Could anybody explain what is incorrect there?


texts:
Anyone for whom this period wasn't so prosperous or miraculous is mentioned only as collateral damage from the oil and rail wars.

Is this sentence an attribute clause?

However, the  antecedent (Anyone) on which the subordinate clause(this period wasn't so prosperous or miraculous is mentioned) is grammatically independent.

Can anyone explain the grammar for me?


texts:
What is the meaning of Good fortune.

Paragraph:

  Shortly after Mr. Darby received his degree from the “University of Hard Knocks,” and had decided to profit by his experience in the gold mining business, he had the good fortune to be present on an occasion that proved to him that “No” does not necessarily mean no.


texts: "He has all of his goals achieved" or "He achieved all of his goals"?

texts:
Which one of the following two sentences is more authentic English?

1) He has all of his goals achieved.

2) He achieved all of his goals.


texts: Is the use of the adjective "pedantic" always derogatory?

texts:
The adjective "pedantic" is sometimes used derogatorily. Can it be used in a neutral or positive context?

In other words, if person A refers person B as pedantic, can it sometimes be used as a neutral or positive description? Or is the use of the adjective "pedantic" always derogatory?


texts: Is "hitching" an adjective in "tying ... to the hitching rail"?

texts:
...then, tying the horse to the hitching rail...

What is the function of "hitching" here?

I initially thought it was an adjective, but could not find a translation in any dictionary indicating that it is an adjective.


texts:
I see a comment on YouTube says:

  This dropped as I was studying maths

It's about a YouTuber says she doesn't like math. So what does this sentence mean?


texts: What's the meaning of: "She bit down on a smile"? I found this sentence in a novel but I don't understand what it means exactly. It's a romantic context, a man just kissed her.


texts:
Is the sentence below in present tense or past tense?

  I just entered my house.

If we give context to the above sentence, can we fit this in both the tenses?

  a) I just entered my house to see xyz. (Present tense)

  b) I just entered my house and saw he was killing xyz. (Past Tense)

When we use verb+ed it suggests past tense. But in following examples verb+ed is also used for present tense.

  c) I just finished my race.

  d) Yes, now I made it.


texts: The most popular means of transport is the car/a car - which article?

texts:
Which article is correct in this sentence?
The most popular means of transport is the car/a car

As far as I understand, when we mean the invention itself in general, we use 'the', but 'a' implies each individual car. Considering that, I'd use 'the', but my Google search showed that 'a' is actually more frequently used.
I'll appreciate any help.


texts: "She is very envious of you..." vs "She is very envious that you..."

texts:
I stumbled upon this ELL question where the OP had a sentence

  She is very envious that you have more money than she does.

Out of curiosity, I was wondering if I could rewrite it to any of these

  She is very envious of you having more money. (1)
  She is very envious of you having more money than her. (2)
  She is very envious of you having more money than she does. (3)

  She is very envious of you being wealthier.  (4)
  She is very envious of you being wealthier than her. (5)

I like options (1) and (4). However, I am not sure if I can omit the "than" part, which seems superfluous to me in this context. If I have to include "than", which of sentences (2), (3) would be more accurate?

Would any/all of those options be correct? Would it be an improvement whatsoever?

How would a native express that?


texts:
Can you please help me paraphrase the sentence:

  It made it very hard for me to become socially adept

so that the meaning of "socially adept" is expressed in a single noun phrase or a noun? As in:

  It made me a _________. (some kind of person)


texts:
Confused with how to use " kind of ":

What kind of a person are you?
What kind of person are you?
What kind of people are they?
What kinds of people are they?

Can you tell me which sentences are correct? And what is the difference between them?


texts: Is the “Is it that ?” construct valid English?

texts: As an alternative to saying “<fact>, right?”, @Bob-the-zealot suggests “Is it that <fact>?” (the example given was “Is it that you are going tomorrow on the 11:30 flight?”). I'm aware of constructs like “How is it that <fact>?” and “Is it true that <fact>?”, but is “Is it that <fact>?” valid English? And if so, is it restricted to a region, historical period or otherwise?


texts: Can I start a question using "Any chance"?

texts:
"Any chance you know where John goes? <-- is it correct?

Or the correct form has to be
"By any chance, do you know where John goes?"


texts: Is "I had better ring him" grammatically correct?

texts:
My English teacher was explaining simple past and present perefect tenses and he threw the following sentence

I'd better ring him

I thought he meant "I would", but he said it is I had. I don't understand how it makes sense, had must go with the third form of the verb rang. It is similar to saying

I had better left the door open yesterday
I had better eaten the food in the morning -- I wouldn't be hungary now.

It sounds like a subjunctive mood situation. My teacher told me, it makes sense to him and gramatically it is a simple past tense not a present perfect tense. He is a native kiwi/Aussie English speaker.


texts: What is the difference between had and had had in the sentences?

texts:
I had had the same dream.
I had the same dream.

What is the difference?


texts: How can I express this sentence in a better way? this sentence: "I’d be grateful for a piece of advice from a more experienced person."

texts:
I'd like to say thank you more formally on the Internet forum. I also want to express that this particular question is addressed to a someone with much more experience. Can I say something like this?

"I’d be grateful for a piece of advice from a more experienced person."

Can I express this in other ways?


texts:
I am having trouble working out whether the following two uses of practice should be the verb (-ise) or the noun (-ice). Can anybody please help clarify?

Every single member of our staff practices/practises discipline
A practiced/practised workforce

I am interested in an answer based on UK English.


texts:
Mom: Hey, Alexa, look at this. You got a note from the principal. She says she is aware of your situation , and we can count on her for any help and support we need. This is pretty cool.

Alexa: Mom you have clearly lost touch with what "cool" means, because it is not being besties with your principal.

Alexa's brother: Oh, yes, principal Trugly is horrible. I got detention for a week just for skipping homeroom. No one can stand her. They call her ugly Trugly

Mom: That is awful! - We used to call her the same thing! Well, not your father! She loved your dad! He was such a suck-up!

TV Series: Alexa and Katie
Alexa & Katie is a dramedy about two teen best friends, one of whom has cancer.

What does the bold part mean?


texts:
I found a boy asleep.
  I found a asleep boy.

Which is correct? My grammar book says sentence one is correct and sentence two is wrong. Why so?


texts:
According to the answer key of a SAT preparation book I'm studying, there is an error in the sentence

  By the time the bank guard closed the doors, a riot had erupted due to the long lines and shortage of tellers.

and it should be changed to

  By the time the bank guard closed the doors, a riot had erupted as a result of the long lines and shortage of tellers.

I disagree with this. Why is the first sentence unacceptable?


texts: Confused "Here"! "Here is it!" or "Here it is!"

texts:
It seems that "Here" is only an adverb. That means it has no other part of speech except an adverb.

  here is/are something (also here it is/here they are)

  a) used when you are giving something to someone, or showing something
  to them (source)

Ok, let see this conversation

  A: could you give me the pen?

  B: Here is your pen / Here it is

Can B reply "Here is it"?

It sounds pretty strange when saying "Here is it".


texts:
The helicopter hovered above us.
The helicopter hovered over us.

To hover is a different word it means you are not moving, and deliberately staying in one place. If you were in a helicopter and not moving, you could say you were flying above  somewhere, or hovering over somewhere. If you were in an aeroplane, you could say you were flying over somewhere (passing by), flying above somewhere (your location at this moment), but you would not be hovering.

What is your idea about this argument? one of my friend has explained my original  question which is at the top of this page.

Is it is correct, would you explain it kindly with some example to clarify it?

Thanks in advance


texts:
You had this friend when little, and decades later you bumped into him. If it turns out he isn't your friend but a different person, can I tell you this?

  I don't think your friend is who you think he is.

What if he is your friend but he is not the same kind of person as before?
Can I tell you the above sentence as well?


texts:
which of the following sentences is even more correct?

  There is a slow moving vehicle ahead.

Or

  there is a slowly moving vehicle ahead.

What is the difference between them.

To me, the second one sounds more correct as “slowly” modify moving, on the other hand the first one sound awkward as “slow” is modifying the the gerund “moving”. It means adjective cannot modify gerund, moving.


texts: Should the verb in this sentence be singular or plural "The temperature of the hot and cold reservoirs limit the maximum possible efficiency."?

texts:
The question title says it all. I'm working on the sentence

  The temperature of the hot and cold reservoirs limit the maximum possible efficiency.

And I think the verb should be "limit" because the subject is the temperature of the reservoirs. However, Word is suggesting "limits", maybe it is assuming the subject is temperature?

I just wanted to make sure I was thinking about this correctly.

Thank you!


texts:
I came across this sentence:

  "There isn't an entomologist in the whole world who wouldn't give all he has to be in my shoes today."

This was said when a person caught a rare insect.

If "if" or "when" is placed before "he has to be in my shoes today", I think it makes sense but this sentence doesn't have them. Is my understanding wrong?


texts: how to solve the ambiguity of "in" in this sentence

texts:
We did the task in ten minutes.

I am pretty sure that it means

1) It took us ten minutes to do the task. (We spent 10 minutes doing the task)

However, I see no obstacle to suppose that it may also mean

2) We did the task after 10 minutes passed.

(That is, "We did the task in ten minutes after we were told". Hence, we might have done the task in 20 seconds but we had been waiting for 10 minutes before we started doing it.

Do you agree that the second meaning which I infer is possible?


texts: The subject of the verb following while?

texts:
I remember I was taught in school that if the verb follows while its subject may not share the same suject with the main clause. For illustration, in the following example:

  While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.

I can paraphrase it into this form:

John's car(or the car of John) was stolen, while sleeping last night.

I don't know if it would be native but it's just an instantiation. The noun premodifier is the subject but for the following clause the subject is the noun adjunct of the subject in the main clause.

Am I right? I mean can the structure of the sentence be that robust? What is the related grammar?


texts: What is the meaning of "shared with" in this context?

texts:
This is the context:

  Let’s analyze what happened with our distributive rule. There was a certain
  phenomenon in the physical world that was observed about marbles. A human being
  observes it and makes a model of this true fact with numbers. The human then further
  generalizes it for all numbers. This is a truth that is perhaps shared with other human
  beings. Many years later, another phenomenon is observed. This second phenomenon
  also satisfies some type of distributive law and the same model is used to
  characterize that second phenomenon. Abstract mathematics becomes true on its own
  and does not relate to the original way it was discovered.

In this context, What is the meaning of the bold sentence?
is this means that human beings have this truth in common or that this truth is told to other people?


texts:
Does it make sense to use the present for something that happened 10 years ago?

"Britain makes the most advanced airplane. (It was made 10 years ago)"

In what situation would it make sense?


texts: "Angel and demon" versus "demon and angel"

texts:
The equivalent of the Italian bianco e nero (literally, white and black) is black and white. What is the equivalent, idiomatic phrase for angelo e demone (literally, angel and demon)?

I looked at the CoCA, and I found the following:

Angel and demon, 0 sentences
Angel and demons, 0 sentences
Angels and demon, 0 sentences
Angels and demons, 38 sentences
Demon and angel, 1 sentence
Demon and angels, 0 sentences
Demons and angel, 0 sentences
Demons and angels, 7 sentences

I am looking for a phrase to use when describing a person's character using opposites, as in "She is an angel and a demon, passionate and cold, sweet and bitter."


texts:
"I read 192 pages in French, in just two sittings over one day .
  "

What does "over one day" mean  here?


texts: what does it mean - "We all know that you are news"?

texts:
“We all know that you are news - but are you king? King of the Jews?"

(Jesus Christ Superstar music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice)

What does the news word mean in this context?

This meaning:

  a person or thing considered interesting enough to be reported in the
  news.
  "Chanel became the hottest news in fashion"

?
or may be a kind of slang of 60th?


texts: why we used plural verb with singular subject in the following sentence?

texts:
1.He does not want to tell a lie.
he is a singular subject but we used want instead of wants why ?
2.Does he write a letter?
Here he is also singular and we used write instead of writes
please explain


texts: Want to understand "the Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a daughter" further

texts:
In a statement, Kensington Palace said: “Her royal highness the Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a daughter at 8.34am. The baby weighs 8lbs 3oz.

This usage is quite strange to me though it's all right in the context of baby's birth.

Is this the special case or we have other such examples as well? Then what's the difference between deliver of [something] and deliver to [something]. If someone/thing is safely delivered, that someone is the subject that got delivered. Here, it's the baby!

Anyway, I'd have opted for...

  ...the Duchess of Cambridge safely delivered a daughter at ...


texts: What does the mean of "at medical facilities"

texts:
What does the mean of at?

  Japan's government will quarantine all people arriving from China and South Korea for two weeks at medical facilities as part of its quarantine law.


texts: "Pretending to be the bad-tasting butterfly can help the yummy one become a predator's lunch" -- is it correct to use "help" this way?

texts:
I was reading the news and came across the following:

  A second study in the same issue of Nature focused on Heliconius butterflies [...] Nadeau is an evolutionary geneticist at the University of Sheffield in England. Her team was looking for genetic variants associated with the presence — or absence — of yellow bands on the wings. That coloring is important because that yellow band helps some yummy species of butterflies mimic vile-tasting ones. Pretending to be the bad-tasting butterfly can help the yummy one become a predator's lunch.

I wonder if it is correct to use the verb help that way. Logically, the sentence says that the coloring protects the butterflies from being eaten, but can it mean the opposite? Doesn't it actually say that the coloring can help a predator find the butterflies?

I think I can make the point clearer by replacing the help with its definition, make it easier:

  Pretending to be the bad-tasting butterfly makes it easier for the yummy one to become a predator's lunch.


texts:
Sometimes I see the phrase

  goes here

when for example someone wants to avoid a concrete details and just puts a general description marked with this phrase. For example I've just asked another question this way:

  The flaws include but are not limited to: the list of defects goes here

Is it idiomatic to use "goes here" like this? Is it correct to use the simple present or maybe the present continuous "is going here" fits better?


texts: How do we understand "Being a fan is better with friends."?

texts:
Being a fan is better with friends.

This is from a Facebook ads:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152894408351729

It seems to be a slogan. Literally I have a feeling that it's saying "It's better to be a fan rather than be with friends"... But I don't think that's what Facebook would say

So how should I understand it?

Thanks,


texts:
In English Science Fiction movie Paycheck (2003), Shorty performs experiment on Michael's memory using some sci-fi equipment. So Shorty warns surrounding people about experiment by saying this lines.

  If this man's brain temp goes one C above 43, he's a veg.

so what is the meaning of "Veg" word in shorty words?


texts: What do we call the case when the subject is preceded by the verb that refers to?

texts:
There comes a point where you just love someone, not because they're good or bad You just love them the way they are.

In this sentence the verb "comes" came before the subject "point", so when we could use this condition?


texts: What to say when a child successfully throws a ball into a basket

texts:
Imagine the situation that I am playing  with my child and he is trying to throw a ball into a basket.

When he misses I can just say "You missed :("

What can I say when he succeeds? (to let him know what happened or describe the result of his action)

Is the phrase 'You hit!' sounds good in this situation?

Or maybe "You have thrown the ball into the basket!!! Good boy!"

Please, give me few correct possible phrases. Thank you!

EDIT: The 'basket' is not a 'basketball basket'. It is a kind of baskets for toys.


texts:
I often use the expression

Where do you sit on the second floor?
Where does the clerk sit here in this building?

Obviously I use the verb sit to mean location?

What is your location at work?

'Sit' expression is the exact translation of the phrase I would use in my native language.
So Is my expression idiomatic?
Edit:
If it is not, what is idiomatic phrase to say it


texts: What words (english or foreign) which mean; There is something I need to tell you?


texts:
Which sentence is the right one? I suppose it is the second one. If so, why is the first wrong?

  Some geek wannabes welded parts of the robots in the hopes to build phones, radios, and armors.

or,

  Some geek wannabes welded parts of the robots in the hopes of building phones, radios, and armors.


texts: Suppose if I want someone to read a long essay that would take long get finished, what expression should I write to have patience? Because its worthwile as well.


texts: It "would have been" or "would be" in this sentence

texts:
I saw the question in English textbook. There is "Sorry we're late. our taxi got stuck in the traffic. It would have been quicker if we had walked." I think the answer is would be not would have been because it refer to present which is We are late. Would someone please answer is?

I'm looking forward to get some advises.

Thanks.


texts:
Chandler, Arizona-based Insys had no immediate comment. Its shares closed up 7.6 percent at $7.36 on the Nasdaq. reuters

Hi, I am not sure what does "closed up 7.6 percent" mean here, especially "up".

Does it mean the shares end up increasing by 7.6 percent or to 7.6 percent?


texts:
Sally found an excuse and escaped the punishment. Can I replace the word 'escaped' by 'ran away, fled or got off'?

If 'escaped the punishment' is a set collocation？


texts: Converting Direct Speech to Indirect Speech - "Our" to "Their"

texts:
Today, my teacher gave me a few rules on changing direct speech to indirect speech. One of the rules was -

1) Change pronouns - "Our" changes to "Their".

After this I was given an exercise. I was to change

  The emperor said, "Alas! Our foes are too strong!"

to direct speech. I wrote

  The emperor exclaimed sorrowfully that his foes were too strong

Here I broke the rule, since I felt using "Their" does not make sense, since only the emperor is mentioned in the context. My teacher says that the this is wrong and the correct answer would be

  The emperor exclaimed sorrowfully that Their foes were too strong.

What is correct in this context "His" or "Their" ?


texts:
Imagine I've got a very important appointment today afternoon, the problem is that I am very sick and I would like to change the date of it

Shall I say : Would it better if we change the date or if we changed the date. Would, in that case, is a form of politeness in the present so I think present can do it , I can say if I'm not so polite  Will it be better if we change the date.


texts:
Is to hope a non-continuous verb? I think so, but I am not quite sure.

On the internet I found this explanation: non-continuous verbs are usually things you cannot see somebody doing. These verbs are rarely used in continuous tenses.

They include:

Abstract Verbs

to be, to want, to cost, to seem, to need, to care, to contain, to owe, to exist...

Possession Verbs

to possess, to own, to belong...

Emotion Verbs

to like, to love, to hate, to dislike, to fear, to envy, to mind...


texts: Is it possible to say 'You tore my world apart'?

texts:
Is it possible to say 'You tore my world apart' in poem?
Or I should say 'You've tear my world apart'?


texts:
Would that you had seen an omen,’ the Clan Leader muttered, rising.

Pran Chole also straightened. ‘Would that I had,’ he agreed in a tone that only faintly echoed Cannig Tol’s wry, sardonic utterance.

I recently came across this dialogue while reading a novel and am having trouble understanding its meaning.


texts: Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous

texts:
My grammar book states that we use Perfect Continuous to make an emphasis on the duration of the action, that is why that tense usually goes with words like how long, since and for.

However, there are 2 sentences with a slight difference.

I have been studying English for 5 years (I started doing it in the past and continue to do it)

I have studied English for 5 years
(I started doing it in the past but I may have already finished doing it or I want to say that I have kind of experience in learning the language)

That is almost clear to me, but I can't understand why it is correct to use Perfect tense here

Over the centuries, the river has played a very important role in the history of Russia.

Doesn't over the centuries imply the length of the action?

Could you, please, help me with this confusion?


texts: Preposition Choice with the Word ‘Remix’

texts:
The following situation: “A” made a remix of a track that belongs to “B”. Which preposition sounds best to describe it or what would you say most of the time, like in the example sentences?

A made a remix for the B’s track. / This is an unofficial remix for the B’s track.

A made a remix on the B’s track. / This is an unofficial remix on the B’s track.

A made a remix of the B’s track. / This is an unofficial remix of the B’s track.

A made a remix to the B’s track. / This is an unofficial remix to the B’s track.

For me, variants from 3 sound very nice. Many people from my country would choose 2, which is obviously a mistake made under the influence of the native language.


texts:
Something had me considered or something got me considered?

I would like to use the past particle form of 'consider' in the object + participle construction. To express that I was considered for a job/ Uni/ scholarship thanks to good grades, performance, record etc.

I can only thinks of two ways of putting it, and neither of them I find satisfactory. To clarify, below is the kind of sentence I wanted to use:

  This level of performance would GET YOU CONSIDERED/HAVE YOU CONSIDERED for any university in the entire country.

I don't want to use 'get' because it is quite an informal word to use with 'considered', and I am under the impression that to say' have someone considered' would mean that someone arranged for that person to be considered by someone else, which wouldn't work in my case as the subject of my sentence is the factor that led to me being considered.

Please check the correctness of my assumptions. If neither of them works, please do give me some alternatives/other words to convey the same idea.


texts:
what did you name her? how to form its passive
I am confused here.
One of my friends asked me about this question.
His sudden question bewildered me.
Kindly help me.
Thanks .


texts: "You not getting admission in MIT would have been so bad" or "Your…"?

texts:
Which one is correct?

  "You not getting admission in MIT would have been so bad"

  "Your not getting admission in MIT would have been so bad"

Similarly:

  "he not offering you any help is hard to believe"

  "him not offering you any help is hard to believe"


texts:
However, in response to the N.S.A. revelations, Google has fast-tracked its plan to encrypt data as it zips between its own data centers to prevent it from being subject to intelligence-agency prying.
Source

Is the function of "as" in the above sentence the same as in this sentence:

The world as we know it.


texts:
I'm working in a company as a supervisor.

can i say in a formal email :
"you must have received a confirmation email about the training. if so, could you please provide me with the attached invoice?"

how can i use if so, can i use if yes instead ?

thank you for your support


texts:
Task A is hard, task B is not that hard, what can I say? Task B is simpler (easier)?

Because I am afraid it may imply that Task A is simple(easy) but task B is simpler(easier)!!

  However, these systems are mainly designed to extract structured data such as a product or a service information from complex web pages. For a simpler task such as extracting the main article from a news website, the features they provide can be excessive.


texts:
“He says she’ll not be here long.”
  (1) This phrase, uttered in my hearing yesterday, would have only conveyed the notion that she was about to be removed to
  Northumberland, to her own home.  I should not have suspected that it
  meant she was dying; but I knew instantly now: it opened clear on my
  comprehension that Helen Burns was numbering her last days in this
  world, and that she was going to be taken to the region of spirits, if
  such region there were. I experienced a shock of horror, then a strong
  thrill of grief, then a desire—a necessity to see her; and I asked in
  what room she lay. “She is in Miss Temple’s room,” said the nurse. . .
  .

  I was not free to resume the interrupted chain of my reflections till
  bedtime; even then a teacher who occupied the same room with me kept
  me from the subject to which I longed to recur, by a prolonged
  effusion of small talk.  How I wished sleep would silence her!  It
  seemed as if, (2) could I but go back to the idea which had last
  entered my mind as I stood at the window, some inventive suggestion
  would rise for my relief. (Jane Eyre)

Is the point of view for this work omniscient-director point of view?
If yes, is the writer and the heroine seeing the past in the present of view, in the sentence (1)?
Is the writer and the heroine thinking as if she were thinking in the present, in the sentence (2)?

*This is not for literature criticism, but for improving my understanding for English tenses.


texts: "Our meeting tomorrow Tuesday" versus "Our meeting tomorrow (Tuesday)"

texts:
I wonder which form(s) are correct amongst the following:

How about we postpone our meeting tomorrow Tuesday?
How about we postpone our meeting tomorrow (Tuesday)?

I would also be interested in alternative formulations to express the fact that tomorrow is Tuesday (without significantly altering the sentence structure), which I do to avoid any possible confusion on which day is tomorrow. The confusion may arise if the sentence is present in an email sent around midnight, or if the recipient opens the email the day after.


texts: Why is the preposition "in" used instead of "to"?

texts:
The use of the preposition "in" in "in equal degree" in this sentence (what a mouthful) reads unnatural to me. Why is in used here instead of to equal degree? Although I am not sure if "equal degree" is idiomatic at all, I thought it should always be "to some degree".

  The inflation of the printed word has been caused, no doubt, by the exponential increase in the number of those writing, but in equal degree by editorial policies. (source)


texts: What's the name for the different kind of "offroad" "paths"?

texts:
I'm gonna try to explain what I mean with this topic. So I'm sorry my English.

I'm doing a list of keywords to classify a series of photo' Scouting Locations. So I'm doing it in Spanish (my mother language) and English.

So I need the name in English for these different kind of path on outdoor areas:

1) The one where I can just hike. Normally only a person could walk and not a 4x4 car (like jeep wrangler), just people. There is not space to drive with 4x4 etc. If you want to get the top of a mountain, the whole way goes through this kind of paths. What's the name for this kind of route?

2) The ones where you can drive with cars like 4x4 because there is space enough (and it's allowed by laws). You can also hike. Looks like normal roads but without paviment. Some of them goes through forests, some not.  What's the name for this one?

3) The ones we call in Spanish "cortafuego" and I'm not sure if in English, Firewall is used for the same thing. A "cortafuego" is similar to the second case I asked but this ones connect ( at least here where I live) two of the one that right now don't kow the name (the second case). They are made to avoid the fire across this line if it gets this line. I know Firewall is something that computers use to block some specifics external and internal tasks BUT I'm not sure if for this case, is the same word.

By now that's all guys. I hope my doubt explanation has sense (or a bit of it)

Thanks and regards.
Chris


texts: Reported Speech for simple past, Simple past or past perfect?

texts:
A dead body was found and neighbors informed the police about it. How to construct Sentence in Reported speech.

  a) Police Said that neighbors informed them that the body had been found on the terrace.

  b) Police said that neighbors  informed them that the body was found on the terrace.


texts:
A couple of people objected to the proposal, but the vast majority approved of it.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/dictionary.cambridge.org/us/amp/english/majority
‘The vast majority’ instead of ‘the vast majority of things/people’
Can I just say, ‘two jump,’ ‘the minority jump,’ ‘a good/great deal jump,’ and ‘a couple jump’? I mean, can I omit the following phrase ‘of things’ in English?


texts: Is there any difference in meaning between "give me something" and "give with something"?

texts:
Is there any difference in meaning between give me something and give with something? I came across the latter in the 11th episode of the 5th season of Breaking Bad. Here is the context:

Saul: You can't fire up a doob in here! Put that out!
I mean it! Put it out!
Look, Mr. Natural, I'm not gonna let you sabotage this thing.
This guy is not gonna take you. if you show up high,
so stop screwing around, or it's both our asses.
Right. Well, that's a start.
Now give with the dope.


texts: Is there any difference between "his role in X" and "his part in X"?

texts:
Is there any difference between below pair sentences ?

  He was suspended for his role in a sordid affair.

  He was suspended for his part in a sordid affair.

  It has a key role in X process.

  It has a key part in Y process.

I know, we usually use patterns like "play + role" and "take + part". Is there any significant point that we must be aware of it.


texts:
What are the similarities and differences? I tried http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=2474929&langid=6 but am contending against the differing opinions.

http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=2474929&p=12457352#post12457352 claims:

  It sounds wrong without the 'of' unfortunately.

Yet http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=2474929&p=12457975#post12457975:

  From my BE perspective, two distinct meanings, exactly as KellyB says:
      Much of the same - most of the things referred to are identical.
      Much the same = similar.

An example from p 23, Thinking like a Lawyer, Frederick Schauer:

  These seventy-one cases were almost all ones in which there was no clear legal answer, and taking these seventy-one as representative of how law works or how rules work would be a major blunder. Very much the same dynamic applies to the cases selected for law school casebooks.


texts: Does "OK" sometimes make others feel impolite and disrespectful?

texts:
I'm not a native English speaker. My understanding of the meaning of 'OK" is to acknowledge what has been said. In other words, I think it means "I get it" or "I agree" when you say "OK" as a response to others. I never thought "OK" could be a word making others feel disrespectful. Recently, the thing happened to me make me wonder whether "OK" sometimes make others feel impolite and disrespectful.

In my reply email to one of my teachers, a professor in our department who is also not native English speaker, my sentence of "OK, I understand." made him fell very disrespected and unhappy. I feel very sorry for this. I'd like to know whether it is an appropriate way of using "OK" in my reply. The context is as below:

My first email to my teacher: I introduced myself and explained that I'd like to ask his help for my problem. Then I explained the problem I met. Finally, I said I felt very sorry to trouble him because of my own careless.  I expressed my sorry again and my thanks.

The reply from my teacher: He told me my problem would be solved.

My reply to my teacher: "OK, I understand. I'm very thankful for your help.
Thanks again for your kind help."

Then my teacher thought "OK" was not appropriate herein and it made him feel disrespected.

I'm wondering whether "OK" is a suitable expression herein?

I found some explanations of "OK" in he community. For example, "OK" is used when you are trying to convey that you have received and understand the information. It can just indicate acknowledgement of what's been said, and it doesn't always mean anything more.

In addition, is it position-dependent when using "OK"? When it comes to the students, is it appropriate to use "OK" in the reply email to his/her teacher?

Any suggestion would be very much appreciated.


texts: I was listening to Britney spears album - Blackout. In the track 'Breaking the ice' She keeps singing 'Let me break the ice' to her boyfriend - What does it mean in that context ?


texts:
Assuming, I have to comment on a topic (e.g. Refugees in the European Union) and I have prove an assumption by explaining and giving an example.

For example:
The EU has to accept the refugees because of humanity. For example, the people, who have traveled more than 500 km can't just be sent back home, because they would get killed in their home country.

Which are good expression for explanations and examples?
Is it possible to say:

  This can be seen at the example of Mohammad Abdul ...


texts:
Are these examples interchangeable or it's better to use the second one if we say "he was living in Seattle", because there is emphasis of temporary action?

Tom worked in a hotel when he was living in Seattle.
Tom was working in a hotel when he was living in Seattle.


texts: is + past participle vs. has been + past participle?

texts:
What is the difference between these two sentences?

  After the source code is deployed, please check if there are any bugs.

  After the source code has been deployed, please check if there are any bugs.


texts:
The system will be reviewed due to a number of malfunctions being reported recently.

In this sentence, what does "being" indicate? Does it mean that malfunctions are currently reported?

Also, is it possible to use present continuous tense and a word "recently" together? It seems strange to me since "recently" is usually used in past tense.

This sentence comes from English test called TOEIC.


texts: What is meaning in simple word of this phrase?

texts:
“Bugger off smart arse!”

It appears in a technical article on link
https://www.csimn.com/CSI_pages/PIDforDummies.html


texts: Passive sentences: placing an adverbial before or after the agent

texts:
This homework was done by Vasya at school.

Or

  This homework was done at school by Vasya.

Are both sentences grammatical? Is it okay to put the adverbial at school either before or after the agent Vasya?  (Leaving out the obivous issue of the shift of focus).

I've read that adverbs of manner, place and time usually go in end position, but here the adverbial can possibly be used in either of the two slots.

One person, however, said that her teacher had told her to always place the agent at the very end of a passive sentence (as in my example sentence 2). That made me curious.

Which of the two sentences will look more natural to the native speaker?


texts:
Do quite a bit and quite a lot mean very large amount or quantity ?

I'm confused here because I think I can replace "Quite a lot or quite a bit" with" very". so, Do quite a bit and quite a lot mean very large amount in the the following  can I replace "quite a bit" and "quite a lot" with "very" withouht changing the meaning of the sentences ?

1.She is quite a bit/lot younger than me.

2.It's  is quite a bit/lot heavier.

3.It's quite a bit/lot smaller.


texts: Word-Usage: "The newspapers dedicated long/large/ample spaces in their columns."

texts:
I have a text that translated in English sounds like this:

  "All newspapers dedicated long/large/ample spaces in their columns to that event."

Does such a sentence sound well in English or it should be modified?


texts:
Suppose in a party you have someone who count on him as the life of the party (someone who knows how to jazz up the party). How can you describe such a guy in to someone else e.g. at that party and how would you fill in the following blank:

  He is a good...

My second question is that if the following sentence sound idiomatic and natural to you:

  He knows well how to jazz up a party.


texts: Account / Accounts / Accounting Department?

texts:
[Name of Department]

I used to say "Account Department", however I just found that the department in my company is called "Accounts Department".

And when I search Google, most of them are using "Accounting Department".

Just wondered which is/are correct or appropriate? Is there any difference in among different regions? (from Malaysia)


texts: what is the difference between "take out an attempt" and "make an attempt"?

texts:
Here is the piece of text where I happened upon the phrase take out an attempt:

  To that end, there must be a reduction in both volume and intensity starting about 10 days out from the competition. In the week to ten days prior to the meet, the lifter should not be grinding out high volume sets of 5, nor should he be taking out maximum attempts.

Could the author just say ...making maximum attempts or taking maximum attempts? Does the phrase take out an attmept have a particular shade in meaning?


texts:
I wrote this sentence:

  The user may modify the letter or listen to the word for another time.

Just I don't know whether I could or should write it without "for"? Then, what would be the difference?


texts: Are those articles before nouns really matters for common communications?

texts:
I had a sentence:

  It is so weird that same markdown context can paste image in
  "description" area, but "comments" area is not.

I used the 'Grammarly' extension in the Chrome browser, then it warns many article errors:

The "image" should correct to "the image".
The "description" should correct to "the description".
The "comments" should correct to "the comments".

Alright, I know it is right.
I believe the reader can absolutely understand the meaning precisely, same as those translation software.
But I wonder that is the native writer would insert each article for the grammar correctness?


texts: Why do we put the punctuation within the quotations?

texts:
So, I have a weird question: In dialogue, why do we put the end punctuation within the quotations?
Example:

  "I like burgers," he said.

This doesn't seem logical to me, and I have been guilty of writing this way for a while, but I was talking to someone about it and realized that it doesn't make much sense. I assume it is purely conventional and arose from typographical reasons. However, what would be a logical excuse for it, or would there even be one?

In other situations of quotes, I never put the punctuation on the inside, unless it is a part of that material specifically. For example: I like the move "The Dark Knight”.

Would it be acceptable to write the top sentence as:

  "I like burgers", he said.

I deal a lot with technical writing, so logic is something my mind needs.


texts: Is this a correct way to use "although"?

texts:
Generally, organized religion is a force of stability within a culture. People who share a religion have something important in common, and although strangers are less likely to murder each other. It can also be quite divisive as well

Here, I've never seen the word used like that before. Shouldn't it be rephrased like as follows?

"~and although strangers they maybe, they are less likely~"

But said paragraph is from what was apparently written by a native speaker, so I'm not confident at all. Is that considered a good writing? And if that kind of usage is possible, could it be alright to say like "Although losers are likely to get the prizes" which conveys "Although they lost, they can still get the prizes"?


texts: Does "up" mean "upstairs" in this sentence?

texts:
I read this sentence: " She brought the rainbow socks up to her room."
Does "up" means "upstairs" here?Perhaps in this short story for children the writer is saving words. Or does it mean something else?


texts:
In a job interview, a candidate said

  I’ve worked in a variety of roles and companies, which I’ve learned a lot from, but now I’m
  ready for a new challenge.

I am aware of the usage of "work in companies" but I cannot understand the usage of "work in roles". I guess a common way is

  I work as manager in AAZ corp (made up for discussion).

So, is it idiomatic to say work in roles?


texts: Difference between 'did not have' and 'had not'

texts:
What is difference between didn't have and hadn't? I have learnt to build questions in past simple with an auxiliary verb do. When can we use the second form?

Do these two sentences below have the same meaning?

  I didn't have a car last Friday.

  I hadn't a car last Friday.

Thanks for an explanation.


texts: Are "How much" and "How many" used in Object Questions, Subject Questions or both?

texts:
I came across with a text saying that questions starting with "How much" and "How many" are considered Subject Questions. I understand that in examples like:

How many people are in the party?
How much traffic is in your city?

These questions don't have a Subject.

However, there are other questions like:

How many children do you have?
How much ink did you use?

In these questions, there are subject pronouns.
So, can we use "How much" and "How many" in both kinds of questions?


texts: Should I choose "that" or "which" or both?

texts:
The problem is as follows:

He attended school in England for several years, after _____ he returned home.

I think if the blank is filled with "that", it means the event itself, and that if it is "which", it can indicate the whole sentence before the clause.

So both are meaningful and acceptable, in my opinion.


texts: Should I put "an" to describe "knowledge"

texts:
I am trying to post an advertisement, which is:

  Job opportunity:

  A company located in XXX needs employees.
  Requirements: some knowledge about NoSQL (preferable Couchbase) and elasticsearch. (It doesn't need to be an advanced knowledge)

  If anyone interested, kindly send an email to this address
      XXXXXXXX

My question is should I put "an" in the "an advance knowledge"? Or not?


texts: What is the difference between "look", "see", and "watch"?

texts:
When should I use "look", "see", and "watch"?

  I'm watching "Star Trek".
  Have you seen "Star Trek"?

Are the examples above correct?


texts: So much of living to do or So much living to do. Which one is correct?

texts:
"So much of living to do" or "So much living to do". Which one is correct?
I was writing caption for my Instagram post. Wasn't sure which one is correct.


texts:
Of the two, for a guy who’s overweight and out of shape, pants will tend to cover a greater wealth of “sins” than even the longest shorts.
Can "sins" in this context be construed as excess fat?


texts: "When I said....I meant to say...", is this idiomatic?

texts:
In a conversation with a friend I wrote a sentence which I later realized had a mistake, so I said:

When I said....I meant to say...

which struck me as unnatural.
Is this construction idiomatic?


texts:
I can catch just a few words from this clip (10 sec). Would you be so kind as to help me?

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/13823768/sound.wma

Here's what I hear:

Reminds me of that psycho in ?. It's an homage ? in the commentary ? cinematic allusion ? I'm sure.


texts:
example:"  I  love watching movie on netflix on computer in my living room."

what is the subject object relationship for the adverb phrases in "on netflix on computer in my living room"

netflix is subject, and everything else are object?

What about "on netflix on computer in my living room" to "I  love watching movie "?

"on netflix on computer in my living room" is a object for the "I  love watching movie "as the subject?


texts:
Using tense after the word “did”.

I know that we use the present tense after “did”; however, how should I apply this rule in the following sentences.

A.  “He did go to his grandma’s home yesterday, but his sister went/go to her school.”

If I go with the rule then it should be (but his sister go to her school), but this sounds awkward to me.

B.  Did he eat his lunch, and go/went to his father’s shop this morning?

And again, (“go” to his father’s shop this morning) looks uncommon.


texts:
If i want to write sentences such as the following ones,

1 Some people value the beliefs in respect.
2)The president gave him an approval to the policy.
3) there is a demand for water in some poor countries.
4) He suggest the need for leadership.
5) A lot of children are developing a habit for smoking.
6) Loneliness is cited as a reason for suicide.
........
Do they change in the meaning when I turn them into this reduced form?

  1) Some people value respect beliefs
  2) The president gave him a policy approval
  3) There is a water demand in some poor countries.
  4) He suggests the leadership need.
  5) A lot of children are developing a smoking habit.
  6) loneliness is cited as a suicide reason.

If they do change in meaning, could you please provide me with any rule i need to follow when i want to reduce the nouns with prepositions to keep the meaning consistent?


texts:
What is the grammar of "be buried" in the following sentences?:

  The graves have all been found under the houses, right under the
  floors. And it may be this burial custom that explains why the houses
  were packed in so tightly without streets. I mean, you might think it
  was for protection or something, but there has been no evidence found
  yet of any violent attack that would indicate that kind of danger. It
  maybe they wanted to live as near as possible to their ancestors’
  graves and be buried near them themselves.


texts: What expression is used instead of a name, when somebody doesn't remember a person's name?

texts:
Is there another expression, apart from what's-his-name (or similar), which is used when somebody is speaking of a person, but doesn't remember the person's name?

I thought Vattelapesca was used in English too, but apparently it is not. I know that in American English Joe Doe, or Joe Six Packs is also used, but I think it is used when a person cannot be identified (for example, a homeless man), or to refer to an ordinary man.


texts:
We use the present perfect to talk about past actions with the present results, so the first question is this:

Once these present results could be feelings and emotions, and intangible things, can't they come from the action itself, or even the cause of the action?

The second question is:

Did I use the present perfect in the following sentence correctly

  I've received a message.

I have used it because the message is available now and  I can see it right now.

So, is the use of the present perfect tense correct or should there be a different tense, indicating stronger result?


texts:
1) I would have called you, but I didn't know your number.

2) I could have called you, but I didn't know your number.

Can I use 2 in place of 1? Do they mean same?


texts: Does stack mean a pile? If so, is it used as a metaphor for exchanging information? If, again, so then what is it about a pile that makes it, but not a box, a metaphor for information exchange?