texts: How can I detect the appropriate age group of an English resource?

texts:
Related: How can I detect the CEFR level of an English resource?
Suppose, I have an English text (poem book, storybook, novel, article, etc.) or an audio or a video in my hand. I want to use it in my lesson plan.
How can I detect the appropriate age group of the English resource which I am planning to use?
How do I know if the resource is fit for a 5-y/o or 9-y/o or 40-y/o?


texts: Pronoun "it" in "Did it serve any impulse?"

texts:
In 1923, Hesse settled in Switzerland, where he had been living for the past ten years and remained until his death in 1962. There he adopted a stance of detachment from political struggles, which he presented as an example for Europe’s beleaguered intelligentsia. But what was the positive content of his vision, if any? Did it serve any impulse higher than an anxious need for peace and quiet? These are questions Decker does not answer.

When saying, “Did it serve any impulse...,” what is pronoun “it” referring to? Can you  paraphrase the highlighted part please?


texts: "A Man Named "Rand" Thinks He Can Be President"

texts:
Why is there no article (a or the) in front of "President"?
Is the title grammatically correct?

Link to Gawker.com


texts: "This in itself (already) shows the naturality of such approach". Should I remove "already"?

texts:
I want to say and emphasis that the situation from the previous sentence already shows the naturality of some approach. I want to write:

  This in itself (already) shows the naturality of such approach.

However, I am not sure if I can use the word "already". Is "This in itself already" grammatically correct?


texts:
Till the gale blew off on the marshes
  And the windows showed the day
  And the Ox and the Ass together
  Wheeled and clattered away.

This is  from "Eddie's Service"  by Rudyard Kipling.
https://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/kipling/eddies_service.html

What does "the windows showed the day" mean?

I am glad if some one kindly taech me.


texts: Difference between 'to cause to become' and 'to cause'

texts:
[Random House Dictionary], s.v. make
  3. to cause to be or become; render: to make someone happy.
  8. to cause, induce, or compel: to make a horse jump a barrier.

What’s the difference between 3 and 8 in their meaning?


texts:
From Tom Odell, Another Love:

  And I'd sing a song that'd be just ours.

Shouldn't the article “the” stand in this case? is it explained here that this song will be only ours?

And the word "that" gives any advantage to putting the article "the", not only in this sentence but also in general?


texts:
Doors in and out of an apartment complex have a sign attached that says "Please keep door close at all times". I say it should say "Please keep door closed at all times".

Am I correct?


texts: "at first glance" VS "at a first glance"

texts:
The Google Ngram Viewer shows at first glance is much more frequently used than at a first glance.
Furthermore, as in this link(OALD), at first glance is entered as a stand-alone idiom. So I can conclude at first glance is the common one.
However, in terms of grammar, I don't see any problems with at a first glance and, rather this feels more correct.
Can I use at a first glance instead, and would it be accepted as natural and correct in native-English-speaking societies?


texts: Is it correct here to say that "...more was to come"

texts:
The following is a paragraph of the NY Times news:

It was not clear whether the action was the totality of the Iranian response to the killing of the scientist …, or whether more was to come.

Is the bolded parts correct? In my opinion it should be  or whether more is coming. Since I think we are talking about an action that has not yet taken place.


texts: Relation between the events in future. Is it possible to connect present continuous and simple future

texts:
I wanted to ask you whether the following sentence construction is allowed or not:

  I will find that I am correcting myself.

For the clarification I am putting the context bellow:
I know that in future I will correct myself. Or in future, When I will be correcting myself that time I will realize that I am correcting myself. To make it generalize, could I make such sentences where first past is simple future and second part is present continuous where both will indicate future incidents.Sorry, It was hard to describe the events sequence but I think I am clear to you.

  If I made any mistakes in the question then please mention it in the comment.


texts:
On Facebook, you can create a group. You can further 'classify' the group wherein there's an option - 'closed'. When you create a group, the description for that group is shown as 'Closed group'.

Now there's a catch. If someone sees this group and reads 'Closed group', it may mean that the group is 'closed' and no more requests for joining the group is allowed. So, here, 'closed' is opposite to 'open'.

While writing a post on social media, I was stuck due to this ambiguity.

  You can either join a closed group or can create one.

For a newbie, there's an obvious question - how can one join the group which is already closed! Blame past participle for this!

I think I can certainly use 'close' instead of 'closed' to avoid ambiguity.

  You can either join a close group or ....

What say?


texts:
I don't understand structure of that sentence:

What happens to the cars produced in this factory?

Why not: What are the cars happen?

All what I saw are: what [do] ... or what [have] or what [be].

Why in this sentence 'happens' follows after 'what'?


texts: Grammar Question about correct tense use in context

texts:
Please, help me with that that kind of construction:

The action had started in the past, been in progress, now is in progress and will be in progress untill exact time period.

For example:

I've started watching Tv at 9 a.m.
I've been watching it for a while.
I am now watching it.
I will watch it untill 2 p.m

I guess, I can use present perfect continious and than add another verb.

I have been watching the TV since 9 a.m. and I will be watching it untill 2 p.m..

Let's try out another one:

Let's say that the Product team has to make a decision by the end of April whether the computer program should be changed. And they have already started to thinking about that.
So, how this sentence should be done showing the process had already started? And it is going on right now and will be completed by the end of April?

Can we do that with one time construction?

I guess, we can try out this:

The decision to change the programm has been making by the Product team. It will be in progress until the end of April.

Can we do that with one time construstion?
or
Is there any possibility to make the grammar construction using only one verb?

Can we say that:

The Product team is considering whether is to change the program until the end of April.

?

Thanks!


texts: Nobody at the table said so[meaning here]

texts:
I read this passage in I heard you paint houses:

  The night before my testimonial dinner, Russ and I had a sit-down with Jimmy. We sat at a table at Broadway Eddie's, and Russell Bufalino told Jimmy Hoffa flat-out he should stop running for union president. He told him certain people were very happy with Frank Fitzsimmons, who replaced Jimmy when he went to jail. Nobody at the table said so, but we all knew these certain people were very happy with the big and easy loans they could get out of the Teamsters Pension Fund under the weak-minded Fitz.

I'm not sure what it means here.
I have seen 'say so' in dialogues like:

  A: Hey You said you were afraid of dogs, right?

  B: I didn't say so.


texts: A word for liking things related to a time you did not live in

texts:
Whats a word for liking things related to a time you did not live in?

For example: Liking things like Vaporwave, because of the 90's aesthetic, but have never lived in that era.


texts:
What is the difference between “so do I” and “me either”?
For instance:

“I think this is bad.”
“So do I.”


texts: Which type of adverb phrase is it? Could you give me some similar explanatory examples please?

texts:
A fascinating world of scientific wonders, the amphibian species is
  full of unusual and extreme adaptations and is home to numerous
  unsolved mysteries.

Amphibians


texts:
I have a question about the phrase "go off".  According to most dictionaries, "go off" could be used like this:

  The gun went off.
  A bomb went off.

, where both "gun" and "bomb" are devices.  But, on the web, examples like the following are found:

  Gunfire went off.
  An explosion went off.

, where "gunfire" and "explosion" are actions.  Dictionaries seem to only allow sentences 1 and 2, but not 3 and 4.

What do native speakers think?  Are sentences 3 & 4 standard English?


texts: "it would've had to have really lived for it to have died." what does this sentence mean?

texts:
I cannot understand the following sentence on this content. Please help...

"it would've had to have really lived for it to have died."

What Do I Do If I'm Newly Single? I Just Between Us
https://youtu.be/tSxcAz9Udm8
I guess that this is kind of a joke, but I cannot get it at all...
Below is the transcript from YouTube.
Allison: Think I should get a haircut?
Gaby: Like a trim?
Allison: No, like I'm thinking I would chop it all off at home.
Gaby: With- with what?
Allison: Like a razor blade.
Allison: This week's question should apply to everyone! How do you handle being newly single in Los Angeles uh, from Allison in Los Angeles.
Gaby: That's just you.
Allison: Could be another Allison who recently had her heart broken.
Gaby: Mm, I don't think it is. You're literally wearing black like you're at a funeral for your love life.
Allison: Well, it would've had to have really lived for it to have died, right?


texts: Can we say "I will come back and take the bag after putting you in the stroller"?

texts:
You, Your little child and a big toy bag are in a house. Your stroller is outside the house by the door.
Now you want to leave, because you can't carry both the child and the big toy bag to the stroller at once so you want to put the child in the stroller first and get the bag later.
Is it natural say to the child this "I will come back and take the bag after putting you in the stroller"?
Note: The parent, the child & the bag all go home or to the same place.


texts:
This is a comment made by an internet poster:

  He did take the blame for losing his job, yet you feel the need to call him out for blaming others and not taking personal responsibility.

What does call out mean in his comment? I have looked it up in several dictionaries, but couldn't find this phrase listed in them.

Edit:

This is actually a comment made by the poster johnnymorales_ in response to the remark made by the poster tinwoman on this article. The comment section is all the way at the bottom. I excluded the article because I thought it would be too long to read.


texts:
The horses, needless to say, were not mentioned again. Tom and Miss
  Baker, with several feet of twilight between them, strolled back into
  the library, as if to a vigil beside a perfectly tangible body,
  while, trying to look pleasantly interested and a little deaf, I
  followed Daisy around a chain of connecting verandas to the porch in
  front. In its deep gloom we sat down side by side on a wicker
  settee. (F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby)

About which is the highlighted information added?


texts:
I came across a subtle usage of “ensure” in this context，

  What is strangest about the case of China’s worst diplomat is that he was given this fateful mission at all. For he had bungled things before.When he managed a river, deadly flooding ensued. He was fired—then given another job. When he oversaw trade with foreigners in Tianjin, an important port, there was a horrific massacre of French clerics. He was fired again—and promptly sent to France as an imperial envoy.

My question is how to understand the exact meaning of "ensured" here in the context. "Ensure" means "make sure that something happens or is definite"(according to OALD).

The sentence then can be paraphrased as "when he managed a river, his management made sure that deadly flooding happened."

I am not sure if it means "whenever the man managed a river, it was bound to flood" or "the man had once managed a river, and a deadly flooding followed in defiance of his management".

How to understand the meaning of “ensure” in this context？What exactly is the author's idea indeed?


texts:
Reading this article, there is a line,

  While many fans who watched The Last Dance appreciated The Worm’s, uh, free-spiritedness, there is another section of fans who found his actions unprofessional and irresponsible. And they would have every right to feel that way, because, well, that’s certainly been Rodman’s M.O. over the years.

I guess that would mean "my opinion".(I noticed while writing this question.)

If you google "M.O my opinion", the only result is IMO, in my opinion, which I am sure used to.

Please confirm that M.O is not the other meanings such as (from Collins)

  mainly US
  abbreviation for money order US

  abbreviation for medical officer

Thank you for your time you spend.


texts: When we use pretty with please as on “pretty please, then “please is used as an intensifier, right? Can’t we use any other intensifier with please?


texts: THERE IS something you want to say, ISN'T THERE/RIGHT? (Question tag)

texts:
Regarding forming question tags, grammar books teach us:

  There is something you want to say, isn't there? (this is the ideal)

Vs.

    There is something you want to say, right?

Can it still be correct to ask people using sentence#2? In movies, I think sentence#2 usage is more frequent...


texts:
I'm reading Mark Twain's The Prince and The Pauper and have come across this sentence in Chapter 23, after the woman has told the court that her pig is worth eight pence and is about to leave when an officer stops her asking to buy the pig for that amount.

The Dialogue:

  The woman:  "Eightpence, indeed!  Thou'lt do no such thing.  It cost me three
  shillings and eightpence, good honest coin of the last reign, that
  old Harry that's just dead ne'er touched or tampered with.  A fig
  for thy eightpence!"

  The officer: "Stands the wind in that quarter?  Thou wast under oath, and so swore falsely when thou saidst the value was but eightpence.  Come
  straightway back with me before his worship, and answer for the
  crime!--and then the lad will hang."

What does "Stands the wind in that quarter" mean?


texts: Does 'indecently' of 'indecently assaulting' weaken the meaning of assault?

texts:
“A London jury has found him guilty of 12 counts of indecently assaulting four girls and young women.” (Aussie ABC)

Does this modifier, indecently, weaken the meaning of assaulting? That is, does it mean he committed a sexually connected assault, but it was minor? Or does the word, indecently, clarify or sub-categorize the meaning of assault? That is, does it mean the assaults were related to sexual assault?


texts:
"Periodically check with Microsoft online for newer versions of
  this software."

Does it change when we add the definite article?

  "Periodically check with Microsoft online for the newer versions of
  this software."

I don't see any real difference between them. In fact, the first sentence looks wrong to me.


texts: I will be afraid of neither rain nor of snow. Correct?

texts:
I will be afraid of neither rain nor of snow

  I will be afraid neither of rain nor of snow.

  I will be afraid of
  neither rain nor snow.

What is the correct usage?


texts: Word for Christmas tree that can be taken back

texts: What's the name of the service when a Christmas tree is sold in a pot, you only lease it, pay a price plus a deposit, and the tree can be taken back to the seller after Christmas, so they can replant it and sell it again next year, and you get back the deposit? Christmas tree recycling, or does that mean something else?


texts: "will" vs "would" in hypothetical situations

texts:
I am aware that in hypothetical situations one should use "would" instead of "will". But I came across this text:

  The World Bank report addresses a particular worry of Russian
  authorities: that unemployment will translate into civil unrest.
  - from the article "World Bank Sees Slump in Russia Worsening" -

As far as I understand this is just hypothetical forecast, so my guess is that "would" should have been used. But it is not the case. Is this done to emphasis that forecasting is very likely to happen?


texts: I am confused by "with each case specifying the behavior of the system" contained in a sentence

texts:
I am an English learner. Recently I encountered a sentence that is confusing to me, as shown below:

With this approach the functionality of the system is specified through use cases, with each case specifying the behavior of the system when a user interacts with it for achieving some goal.

I know every single word in the sentence, including "use cases". Yet, "with each case specifying the behavior of the system" seems like an unfinished sentence to me. How should I comprehend this quoted sentence?
In my head, this quoted sentence should better be "with each case the behavior of the system can be specified".


texts: May I replace the "function" with "pattern" in this particular case?

texts:
There is nothing sacred about definitions. We can define a word how we
  like for our own purposes, provided we do so clearly and
  unambiguously.

at least according to Richard Dawkins...

Suppose I have a sentence:

  Habitat selection studies provide an insight into resource
  selection function of animals (RSF).

My problem with this sentence is that word "function" evoke some deep mathematical background, for example some sort of complex mathematical formula. For the purpose of the article (not hard-core math used) I have temptation to replace "function" with "pattern".

Would it be tolerable? What is the native speaker view? Do the animals select the features of their environment according to function or may I say some pattern?

Are these words interchangeable?


texts:
Would you tell me what is the difference between "being equal to someone/something" and "being equal of someone/something"?

The Ngram suggests that "equal to" is far more common than "equal of", but I know "be equal of someone/something" is a legitimate expression. So, I conclude there should be specific case in which it's preferred over "equal to".

Is there a very specific or narrowed usage for "be equal of"?
I mean, when do you prefer "equal of" over "equal to"? Does "of" allow for specific sentence constructions that "to" can't?

For example, let's use a Longman's sentence:

"It would be an extensive and sometimes brutal business, but the Society was the equal of the challenge."

What would happen if I change it to

It would be an extensive and sometimes brutal business, but the Society was equal to the challenge.


texts:
I will.

will, modal verb, I, subject. May modal verbs get discerned intransitive? May they get discerned intransitive, this may seem a complete sentence and not request an object?


texts:
Consider: There are three balls: one is 1kg, another is 3kg, and the
  other is 5kg.

I am trying to describe the ball of 3kg in a complicated way as follows:

  I need one ball other than/different from the two balls that have
  a difference of weight greater than 2kg.

I would like to know "other than" or "different from" which is correct for the sentence.


texts:
a) Take me to a near station.
  b) Take me to a nearer station than that station.
  c) Take me to the nearest station.

I believe a) is not used but b) and c) are. I want to hear a good explanation if there is.


texts: Active vs passive voice with inanimate object as the subject

texts:
This question was inspired by this question asked previously.
I have seen some sentences like the following -

The film was announced to be released on this coming Friday.

The film was announced to release on this coming Friday.

Both the sentences are used, and I know they are interchangeable and do bear the same meaning. But I have some doubt about the second sentence - Why is "to release" used when the film can't release itself?
Some other similar sentence that arises my confusion:

The products sell well.

This is pretty understandable, and means "The product is being sold well.". The product can't sell itself on its own. They need someone to sell the product.


texts:
What is the difference between construction of sentences?

He sat at the table and consumed a pie.
At the table he sat and consumed a pie.


texts: What is an industry of 'hiring freelancers' called?

texts:
I am preparing for a personal interview where I am supposed to tell about my experience in several fields like healthcare, gambling etc. But, I don't know whether there's one word for the industry of 'hiring freelancers.'

I can specify a little, I made a website where one can hire freelancers for their jobs.


texts: How to say "I suggest adding [something]"

texts:
I said to my employee:

  I suggest adding dtUpdate column to the table.

For me it sounds wrong. I want to say:

  I suggest to add dtUpdate column to the table.

But I know by verb pattern this is wrong.


texts: Is a “senior faculty member” of a university the same as a "senior professor"?

texts:
But, as one senior faculty member of the City University, who spoke on condition of anonymity, puts it... He is obviously not fit for such a senior academic position. We don’t want ethics dumping here.”

This is a sentence from The Economist magazine, and the Chinese translation of the emboldened part equates it to "a senior professor".

I know that technically the term "faculty member" is different from "professor", but is it true that,in effect, only a "senior professor" is considered as a "senior faculty member"?


texts: What is the meaning of the sentence? I could not understand how the "know" word is used

texts: Know the Village of Tree does not fear them!


texts: How to solve two passive voices confusion in one sentence

texts:
The thing is that I know what kind of problem I face with the sentences you will read below but I don’t know the definition of problem. It is like: I drink a liquid stuff but later I learn that it is called water. So I thought that the most adequate definition could be ‘how to solve two passive voices confusion in one sentence’. Including the sentences below, if you have any idea how to define grammatical problems in English for those who are not native English speaker, please share.

Sentences:

“What kind of things will happen when metallic elements start to be used smoothly in 3D printers.”

“What kind of things will happen when metallic elements are started to be used smoothly in 3D printers.”

“What kind of things will happen when metallic elements are started to use smoothly in 3D printers.”

I am aware that there is going to be, at least, one passive voice in the aforementioned sentences certainly. My idea is: “…elements are started” is correct but for the rest I am quite confused?


texts: Giving at least 28 days notice at a designated register office

texts:
I don't understand the meaning of "giving at least 28 days notice at a designated register office" in the following paragraph:

  Laws regarding marriage of a foreign-national require that if one member of the couple is from outside the European Union or Switzerland, both must appear in person to give at least 28 days notice at a designated register office.  Part of the notice includes evidence of the marriage visa.

Does it mean that the couple will have to stay in the U.K. for 28 days before they can register as Civil Partners? And shouldn't it be "28 day notice" instead of "28 days notice"?

Here is the source


texts:
''I would rather have shown him my love''

How can I make this sentence negative?

A)I would not rather have shown him my love.

B)I would rather haven't shown him my love.


texts: How to talk about changing one currency to another?

texts:
Imagine I want to buy a piece of clothing. The price is €20. I want to tell my American friend about how much it costs in dollars.

So my question is: How do native people say this?

I may use several sentences like:

  €20 is worth $23.

  €20 is equal to $23.

  The value of €20 is equal to $23.

Do native people use a similar sentence? If not, How do they talk about currency exchange?


texts: A long cloth which fans hold up in stadiums

texts: If you're a soccer fan you probably have seen fans holding some kind of long cloth sometimes with the team coat of arms while cheering their favourite team. It pretty much looks like a scarf but it's sometimes very thin, so I'm not sure if it can be called that. Any suggestions?


texts: Is it correct to say "I feel vomit/puke/throw-up when I smell pork fat"?

texts:
"Feel" is a linking verb and we often use adjectives after liking verbs.
We normally use adjectives after "feel"
For example, Do you still feel hungry? (source)
But we can use a noun after "feel", too.
For example, Stop exercising if you feel any pain. (source)
Now, "vomit", "throw-up" and "puke" are nouns
Can we say "I feel vomit/puke/throw-up when I smell pork fat"?
But, "vomit", "throw up" and "puke" are also verbs, and we can convert them into adjectives by adding "ing" to become "vomiting", "throwing-up" and "puking"
Can we say "I feel vomiting/puking/throwing-up when I smell pork fat"?
Some suggest to put "like" after  "feel", "I feel like vomiting/puking/throwing-up when I smell pork fat", but I am not so sure.


texts: Is there a better method to improve one's vocabulary?

texts:
I am preparing for a standardized test which tests one's English, primarily his/her vocabulary and contextual reading skills. I believe that I have a decent grip on my grammar but need to work hard on my vocabulary, to get a perfect score on the Verbal Aptitude section.

Currently I am reading words from Magoosh's app and using Google, wordnik.com, and an English dictionary app to find different contexts and connotations for each word. Then I just write down these words in a book and try to use them in sentences of my own.
This process is both efficacious and arduous.

Any suggestions for an easier method will be much appreciated.


texts: Are you late tonight? vs Will you be late tonight?

texts:
In the morning, my wife asked me " Will you be late tonight?".
So I answered, "I am going to be late tonight."

If she asked me " Are you late tonight?", is that question right ?

Either gramatically or semantically, does that question sound natural ?

Is there any of native speakers who can explain the difference between these two?

I'd really appreciate it if someone would do that.


texts: I'd like to know whether the usage of word "concerned" in the following sentences are correct or not

texts:
The word "concerned" always bothers me. I don't know how to use it properly and I looked into the dictionary many times but still couldn't get it. I'd like to give several examples.

  I always think about whether my mother, who lives alone, is eating properly.  In this situation, can I say "I'm concerned about what my mother eats."?
  When I'm with other people, I tend to think that they are doing all right or everything is all right with them all the time. In this case, can I say "I'm concerned about others a lot."?
  I'm taking an important test tomorrow. In this case, can I say "I'm concerned about my test for tomorrow."?

Please tell me whether there are more appropriate sentences for these situations.


texts:
The construction 'must have to' is used in this sentence:

  Oh, it is locked. We must have to have the key to open it.

Is this correct? Is there a better alternative phrasing?


texts: Does ‘Dear [surname]’s family’ sound friendly?

texts:
I’m writing a letter to my host family in Australia. They are a family of five and I’d like to write it in a friendly way.

So, does the expression ‘Dear [surname]’s family’ sound friendly?
I’d like to write ‘Dear Smith’s family’ for example.
I thought that it was too formal to write for a family including a little boy, but I don’t know whether my guess is correct because I’m not a native English speaker.

I would appreciate it if you could tell me its nuance.


texts: Use of that in "The idea that war is obsolescent may seem..."

texts:
The idea that war is obsolescent may seem preposterously utopian.

As far as I understood “that” in this sentence is not relative clauses. Then what does it mean? And can I use a phrase or a word after “that” like:

  The grammar structure (that) “want someone to do something”...

  The word (that) jurassic means the periods between the Triassic and Cretaceous.


texts:
Is it ok to insert a question within a statement?  Would this sentence be ok?

  "Sure the phone maybe obsolete years down the road because of the advances in the technology and the operating system, but can't we just enjoy it for now(.)?"

I put the period in closing parenthesis, because of it is ok to write a sentence like that, whether to use a period or a question mark.


texts: Can we use "former" and "latter" for plural nouns?

texts:
I usually see "former and latter" as replacements for nouns:

  The person in the right is young, the person in the left is old. The former is tall, the latter is short.

But can we apply them to plural nouns?

  Those who in the right side are young, those who in the left side are old. The former are tall, the latter are short.

If we can use them in such case, which one should we use: "former" or "formers"?


texts: Difference between "get out " and "climb out" of the bed

texts:
Is there any difference between "to get out of the bed" and "to climb out of the bed"?
Any change in the meaning?


texts: Can adjective and verb be used together in the given phrase?

texts:
Hand made goods are sophisticated and pleasing to their customers.

I was told that pleasing cannot be used in the context and is grammatically wrong.

Can anyone explain.


texts: Which one is true, "We could enjoy French poetry without mastering French" or, "we don't need to enjoy French poetry"?

texts:
the lecturer is saying

  you can't enjoy
  French poetry until you've learned a lot
  of French vocabulary and grammar
  including all its quirks and
  irregularities

this part sounds reasonable - you have to understand sth and then you could enjoy/appreciate that thing (like French poetry).

  quite understandably some
  people find this off-putting my French
  is still terrible for example ...

this part gets wired, which conflicts with the first part, I cannot get the point what the lecturer is actually expressing.

is it that we could enjoy French poetry without mastering French? or, I don't need to enjoy French poetry?


texts: Confusion in sentence formation consisting participle clause

texts:
I have written some sentences to demonstrate my skills in writing participle clause. Later,my friend whom I have given these sentences replied that these sentences are confusing and wrong. But I can not be sure why they are wrong.

To me, sentences which have same subjects are eligible for writing a participle clause.

Government,the decisions has already been revoked,are trying to take another new decisions.
Women have been contributing a lot for economic success, often deprived by the society.
Women have often been deprived a lot by society, contributing for economic success.


texts:
For example:

  His method may not solve the problem

vs

  His method may not be able to solve the problem

Do both sentences have the same meaning?


texts: Is it possible for an object to be both "complicated" and "detailed"?

texts:
It seems to me that something cannot be both complicated and detailed.
In general usage, complicated seems to be applied to things which are very difficult to understand. For example:

The project's architecture is very complicated and hence it takes more time to understand.
This design is very complicated. I will need more time to comprehend it.

Detailed seems to mean the opposite of complicated:

The documentation for the architecture is very detailed. It will be easy to understand.
Ram explained the design to me in detail, so I understood it very quickly.

It is my understanding that an object cannot be both complicated and detailed at the same time. If the architecture is complicated it is difficult to understand. If it is detailed it is easy to understand. The two terms seem mutually exclusive, and I am unable to see how both qualifiers can be applicable to single object. Can anyone explain to me if this is correct or not, and why?


texts:
We have skirts in blue for $20.
Does the in blue make any sense here? I just learned in as a prep has the meaning of wearing.


texts: What does "it" in "despite it being mandatory" refer to in this sentence?

texts:
I read this in a column of the newspaper Times of India:

  About 60% of vehicles driven on Indian roads are uninsured despite it being mandatory by law.

Although I get the meaning, I think the sentence needs a tweak syntactically. I think there should be

  "despite it being mandatory by law to insure"

otherwise it would suggest that "uninsured" is mandatory by law (although that wouldn't make much sense). Am I right?


texts: Is "watch yourself" eventhough it means be careful, used more in nagative situations or nagatively? So, if someone says that to a child, the person is more about criticing the child than caring?


texts: What is the meaning of "when I was but a boy" from the sentence given down below?

texts: "The canny, lovable old Scotsman carelessly tossed it into my mind, when I was but a boy."


texts: Do some subjunctive sentences mean the same with the sentences with the pattern " Too...for....to "?

texts: The question is " Can I use inversions and subjunctives " in the same sentence ? ". In subjunctive sentence ,it says " It's so important that he get back home early " ,then should I apply inversion to it, it be like, " So important is it that he get back home early ". Is it correct ? If it's correct , I want to know if it means the same with " It's so important for him to get home early ".


texts:
I think the sentence below is grammatically incorrect as it is a double negation. I have heard it in a movie. Can it be accepted in an informal discussion?

  I won't stay here doing nothing.

How can I correct this sentence for a formal setting? Is the following sentence correct and does it mean the same thing?

  I won't stay here doing anything.


texts: Singular plural generalization with generic noun phrase

texts:
Consider two sentences
1) Do not make noise when you visit 'a patient' in hospital.
2) Do not make noise when you visit 'patients' in hospital. Here do 1) and 2) mean the same or different ?

Another question - In sentence no. 2 'patients' means patients in general or more than one patient ?


texts:
I was doing an English test and I don't know how to answer this question. Which one of these sentences is correct?

a) Could you give me an information, please?
b) I have bought an interesting equipment. Would you like to see it?

For me both of them are right, I couldn't find the mistake.
The other two options are:

c) I have a news for you. I am going to get married.
d) He is working on a new means of transportation.

I thought that these two options were wrong.
Thanks


texts: What does 'ERE THANG' mean in this context?

texts:
When Wiz posted a picture of his son Sebastian waiting for the bus to school on his first day of kindergarten, the father of one had his hand up for a high five and was looking super proud. Wiz even made a point to note that Sebastian “RODE THE BUS AND ERE THANG!” But, it didn’t take long for commenters to chime in with remarks about how the rapper has too much money to let his kid ride the bus.

I saw it from this article. I looked it up. 'Ere' is 'before' and 'thang' is a slang word for 'thing'. Put it together, and it's 'before thing'. It doesn't seem to make any sense.

So, what does ERE THANG truly mean?


texts: CNN, conditionals in news sentences don't conform to any conditional types at all. What are they?

texts:
Today, I came across the following two sentences on CNN's website, which immediately attracted my attention as they are totally clash with what english teachers teach.

".....I feel like if we didn't get justice then those girls won't get justice either," the man said."

You see it. The sentence structure completely clashes with all the conditional types. There is no such conditional: (If+simple past, the main clause is simple future). We are taught that in conditional 2, the main clause should have "would, could, or might". But this sentence does not have it, the sentence neither matches Conditional 2, nor 2 nor 3.

"If, at that time, they had found the killers after what had happened to those girls -- if there had been a proper investigation -- then maybe we wouldn't have to see what's happening right now," he said."

Same here. It is conditional 3, because it is about an unreal past, which sould be "If+past perfect, the main clause should be "would have v3" or "could have v3" or "might have v3". But this sentence has none of them, either.

You see, these examples are out there in real life. And they are used by best native speakers such as CNN text authors. If we had written such a sentence in the english lessons, we would have failed the exam. But you see, how they are commonly and naturally used in real native English.

Anyway, what conditional types are these two sentences? or are they really conditionals at all or are they bad english, or are they what?


texts: "What do you think about?" or "What you think about?"

texts:
Which of the following is correct?

"What do you think about?"
"What you think about?"


texts: When you cannot recognize identical twins

texts:
Please imagine your neighbor has identical twin sons and since you've met them you've been unable to recognize them properly. It seems strange to you and you're talking to a friend. I was wondering if someone could let me know which one of my self-made sentences below works here:

  I always mistake twins up.
  I always muddle twins up.
  I always mix twins up.


texts: Generic plural noun vs. singular indefinite noun vs. definite noun, which is more general?

texts:
Consider this sentence by me

Considering these issues, today, there is a trend toward using document understanding and spatial reasoning to capture the conceptual structure of (a web page/web pages/ the page)

Considering context the page can refer to a web page (?). Now, my question is which of these make the sentence more general? I mean when you speak in general you prefer to say, for example, babies or a baby or the baby in

Babies usually cry almost two hours a day.
A baby usually cries almost two hours a day.
The baby usually cries almost two hours a day. Don't panic.

Another example:

We simulate the way a human user scans a web page/the page to find specific data.


texts:
What is meaning of the bold clause? Is it a part of what Peirce labeled as a priori method? Is it supposed to say that the consensus is emerged through the a priori method? (Because the consensus can't be a method)
Is 'developing' an adjective? Does it mean growing or improving? Can I eliminate it in translation?

  The American pragmatist philosopher Charles Peirce pointed out another difficulty with the use of reason and logic—it can be used to reach opposing conclusions, easily observed in political discussions. Peirce labeled the use of reason, and a developing consensus among those debating the merits of one belief over another, the a priori method for acquiring knowledge.

Source: C. James Goodwin; Research in psychology Methods and Design;
Sixth Edition


texts:
Sentence A: "I am to goblins what goblins are to us."

Why sentence should not written as Sentence B?

Sentence B: 'I am the goblins what goblins are to us."

So why sentence A use "to" instead "the"?


texts: Is this sentence "I withdrew from the school to prepare for transfer exams and transferred to another school" like the US English?

texts:
I wrote the sentence

"I withdrew from the school to prepare for transfer exams and transferred to another school"

but am unsure about if it is like the US English.


texts: If the diphthong 'or' as or in 'more' followed by a vowel in the middle of the word，should we separate them as o-r+vowel?

texts:
When I listened to audiobook Anything You Want, the recordist pronounces the word 'horrible' as /ˈhȯr-ə-bəl/. But I was told that when there is a vowel after /r/ sound and the /r/ sound should go with the vowel after it. Then it should be /ˈhȯ-rə-bəl/, and the diphthong ȯr should be separated. like the word terrible, it has two ways to pronounce it. One is \ˈter-ə-bəl\ and the other is  \ˈte-rə-bəl.

So what is the common practice to separate the actual pronunciation syllables, when /r/ sound appears between two vowels? like horrible is a 3-syllable word, and it separated as hor-ri-ble. But for the phonetic syllable (IPA)/'hɔrəbl/, how we should separate it when we pronounce it /'hɔ-rəbl/ or /'hɔr-əbl/?


texts:
I read this sentence in a book:

Berezovsky left Russia permanently the next month, taking up exile in England, where he continued to criticize Putin’s regime.

But I can't find the usage of "take up exile" in dictionaries. Google's ngram shows this usage started to appear since the 1930s.

My questions is:

Does this just mean "be exiled"?
What does "take up" mean in this case?
Is this somewhat colloquial?
Is it because this usage is new so it has not been included in dictionaries?


texts: How to say close the door but not completely?

texts:
What verb should I use if I want to tell someone to close the door but not completely?

For example, lets say I don't have a key and want to go to the backyard. I wanna tell my friend:

  If you want to come outside please xxxx(close) the door.


texts:
How would you word the sentence "if you cancel in the three days before the tour date, all application fee is on your charge"?

I want to say that if you do not cancel the tour date 4 days before the date, you will still be charged.


texts:
I am adding some comments on this line of code.

# param winname cannot be null, neither can be empty string ''
imshow(winname, mat) -> None

in this case, is it clear, grammatical and idiomatic to use "neither can be"?


texts:
I am learning English Grammar from a very popular book in Indian market (you can get it from here) and it very distinctively mentions that Passive Voice of Future Continuous tense is not possible.

However, when I searched online there are posts/blogs (for example this and this) which mentions rules for Passive Voice of Future Continuous tense.

Could someone please clarify, I am confused as both are very reliable sources?


texts: "follow suit" or "follow the suit" (when the idea is following someone's example)?

texts:
Should it be "follow suit" or "follow the suit" when the idea being expressed is following some example?
For example,

As his passive vocabulary was gradually increasing and, as his
classmates were showing more and more of a desire to participate in
conversations and other in-class activities, he also followed the
suit.

I've heard both expressions, so I am confused now.


texts: '1 out of 3 million' v. '1 million out of 3 million'

texts: Can I omit the first word in the expressions like '1 million out of 3 million'? It seems redundant, but I'm not sure whether it would be correct.


texts: Meaning of "the helicopter comes in to land"?

texts:
The helicopter comes in to land.

What does this sentence mean?
Does it mean that the helicopter comes in and lands or does it mean it comes in with the intention of landing?


texts:
These changes have been positive, giving many women legal rights.

After the comma, is giving many women legal rights an adverbial clause? Any special kind of that? What does the sentence mean? Is it equal the following?

These changes have been positive, which give many women legal rights.
These changes have been positive since they give many women legal rights.
These changes, which give many women legal rights, have been positive.


texts:
According to dictionaries, the usage of "convince somebody of something" pattern seems to require that "something" to be a quality, not action.  Examples of this correct usage would be:

  He convinced them of his innocence.
  He convinced them of the safety of the machine.

where, "innocence" and "safety" are qualities.

But then, there is this sentence:

  Whether it’s a dramatic fall, an open-mouth shriek or a prolonged roll on the ground, having the theatrical ability to convince a referee of an opponent’s foul play is part of an effective soccer strategy.

In "convince a referee of an opponent’s foul play", "foul play" is an action, not a quality.  Could the sentence be wrong?


texts:
When reading this post:

https://movies.stackexchange.com/a/51219/20039

I wasn't sure what the last 3 sentences actually are stylistic about.

So the question is as the title states.

What is the expressing difference between We ain't and We are not?


texts:
Is the following title correct:

On Equations, Series and the General Method for Solving Questions

I.e. can I use “on” meaning about like this? Because the two first are in plural and unspecific, on the otherhand the last one is not; it is a specific thing.


texts: as if they didn't already have plenty to be demoralised about -- plenty?

texts:
Example with a context:

  The psychological blow of his murder was "very demoralising for the opposition, as if they didn't already have plenty to be demoralised about," said Gaddy.

According to the dictionary, the word plenty, when used as a pronoun, simply means a large amount. But what I've noticed is that there are always a bunch of additional words that come along with it, such as of something (example: we have plenty of that back home or there's plenty of food in the house). And I think that's the most common way I've heard it used. In the example sentence above, however, the word is used completely on its own. Is this kind of usage also possible?


texts: Is it grammatically and meaningfully current to say that "Times to see your exam papers will be on "

texts:
Is it grammatically and meaningfully current to say that

  Times to see your exam papers will be on ...

I mean the phrase "Times to see .." is kind of scratching my ear for some reason, so is there any grammatically or meaningfully wrong usage in this sentence ?

Edit: I mean for me the usage of "Times to see" is kind of a wrong similar to usage of "like" when we state similar thing.


texts: Are there situations when 'Capitol Hill' should NOT be capitalized as a proper noun?

texts:
"Capitol Hill" is a proper noun as a name for both the area where the US Capitol building sits as well as a residential district. Of course these should be capitalized when used as proper nouns.

But also, in news and politics, people often use "Capitol Hill" as an informal nickname meaning "members of Congress" or areas including nearby congressional buildings that may not technically sit atop Capitol Hill, but be related to the work or culture of the Capitol. What about that?

English has some rules for "always" capitalizing words, three examples being: "I" (myself), "English", and "Indian". These words should always be capitalized.

So, is "Capitol Hill"—in reference to anything Washington, DC -related—also among words that should always be capitalized? Or, if not, what is an example of when not to?

Resources that use the term, but do not answer this question specifically:

Capitol Hill (Wikipedia)
Capital vs. capitol (Grammarly)


texts: Is "always" implied in everyday sentences?

texts:
Case 1

When for example we say "At weekends I play football" what do we mean?

1). I always play football at weekends.
2). Some weekends I play football.

How "strong" is always in the first case? If we interpret it as "always" in the strict sense then it must be true in every time, that is from the day the speaker was born until the day he will die.

Case 2 What about sentences like this:

"I like playing football". Does the speaker imply that there is no case that he doesn't like playing football?


texts:
Please consider the following two main clauses.

  Both variables have the same range of values. Therefore, a 4:3 aspect ratio has been chosen.

I would like to combine these two main clauses into one sentence containing a main clause and a relative subclause like this:

  Both variables have the same range of values why a 4:3 aspect ratio has been chosen.

Is this grammatically correct? I could not find an authoritive answer on the web. While this page mentions why as a relative pronoun, it does not give an example. In contrast, Wikipedia does not mention it as relative pronoun at all.

If my second sentence is grammatically incorrect, could you suggest a way to rephrase it?


texts: Should I add s in questions that start with Could?

texts:
I'd like to ask a question like this, but I am not sure whether I should add s at the end of the verb

Could you tell me how long it usually takes to ... ?

or

Could you tell me how long does it usually take to ... ?


texts: When does the verb "tell" need a preposition and when doesn't it?

texts:
Why doesn't tell need a preposition in sentences like the following?

  I told him.　　＝　　Isubject toldverb <why no preposition> himobject

I think it has something to do with it being an action verb but I'm not sure.


texts: initials after State Senator or State Assemblyperson's name

texts:
what do the initials after a State Senator or State Assemblyperson's name mean?

example:  (R C IP RFM)

I'm guessing the first initial is for the party they belong to, but what about the others?  any thoughts?


texts: Which one is more appropriate? "we will like to thank you" or "we would like to thank you"?

texts:
Which one should I use?

  We will like to thank you for all your support.

or

  We would like to thank you for all your support.


texts:
can I replace the words "that their function" with "whose function"?

For example:

  "Ants have antennas which their function is to get signals from the
  environment."

Then I would like to replace these two words with one:

  "Ants have antennas whose function is to get signals from the
  environment."


texts:
I wrote this sentence

  To detect the boundaries of the segments, we may use text and visual signals as we scan the page top-down or bottom-up. In this paper, we refer to such (features/items/elements/signals ?) with the term anchor. (In our terms/in this term ?), they are mainly textual elements within the page content, which serve as the starting point  of a data region  or a distinctive feature within them.

Sometimes I want to refer to something in general (like item, element...). what are the words for it in order of generality and commonness?


texts:
I know what is mean by "dives into the water". It means you stand near the pool and you jump into the water keeping you head down.

Now I'm looking for a phrase for the following scenario (to describe the action in the bold).

Lets say you are swimming in the pool (in the water). Now your entire body is inside the water except your head. Now you go inside the water, I mean you entire body including the head goes inside the water. Is this action also called dive?

Still if you are not clear what I'm asking, read below.

You are in the water but you head is above the water surface. Now you go inside the water by getting your head inside the water. What is word to describe this action?


texts: Proper usage of punctuation in sentences starting with a that clause (That, ....., .....)

texts:
That Mycroft is planning to send Enola off to a grim finishing school for young ladies offers an added incentive to get away.

Shouldn't there be a comma after the word "That" and probably after "ladies" in the above sentence? I was reading this article aloud when I got stuck in this sentence. I had to reread the sentence four times before understanding its meaning. I mean it doesn't make sense if we do not pause at the appropriate juncture before moving forward with the rest of the sentence. I was thinking the sentence should be something like this:

That, Mycroft is planning to send Enola off to a grim finishing school for young ladies, offers an added incentive to get away.

Could someone please explain me, why is my prediction of the punctuation incorrect, if it is incorrect?
Source: Article


texts:
The teacher gets through this chapter too fast

I want to say that the teacher has not covered the chapter in details, and get through it too fast. Is it idiomatic to for the sentence above?


texts:
In the sentence what is the meaning of sweep off

    Plague swept off millions.

kill better describes the sentence, but no dictionary have the word sweep off meaning to kill/be killed.

In  Free dictionary  its meaning is to escort or take away but it doesn't suit the context.


texts: Why do we use "have" with does and not "has"?

texts:
Does and has both are used with singular pronouns (He has the bottle , He does play cricket , etc) whereas Do and have are used with plural pronouns ( They have the bottle , Do they like cricket? , etc)

But still we use Does with have ( She does have a car ). Why? Shouldn't it be

  She does has a car.


texts: the Russians have had their favorite, most-hated pindoses -- I got a problem understanding what this exactly means

texts:
Example with a context:

  The most popular explanation states that this word was invented by Russian peacekeepers in Serbia with the purpose of describing a NATO soldier, who was seen by them as a strange, clumsy figure with his 90 lbs. of bulletproof vest, weapons, radios, flashlights and so on.
  From afar, he looked very strange to the Russian eye—like a penguin.
  The Russians have had their favorite, most-hated pindoses. One of them, the constant laughingstock in the media, used to be the US Ambassador to Moscow, Michael McFaul. He was a huge fan of Twitter and if judged by the number of his tweets, spent more time on his gadget than actually doing his job. After more than two years of service there, upon his departure, he received only two words in Russian—via Twitter—from the Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs: “Goodbye Mikhail.”

What is the perfect tense used in that sentence? Why not just say the Russians have their favorite, most-hated pindoses? I think that way it just makes much more sense. Don't you think?


texts:
Why does she sing her sad songs for me, I'm not the one
  To tenderly bring her soft sympathy I've just begun
  To see my way clear and it's plain, if I stop I will fall
  I can lay down a tear for her pain, just a tear and that's all.

It is a Townes Van Zandt song.

I see three meanings:

  I'm not the one to tenderly bring her soft sympathy.

And:

  To tenderly bring her soft sympathy I've just begun

And:

  I've just begun to see my way clear

Am I confused or misunderstanding the things or is it a really intentional double meaning?


texts: What is the meaning of these un-common phrases?

texts:
Source

  Gramted, this is the state government’s prerogative, but does this mean all other villages and towns in India bearing a similar gaon suffix will be grammed down our throats?

In this, only the bold part seems weird.

  If anything, it’s the grams in India that should have been changed to gaons (as in Sevagram to Sevagaon), although many a lentil would have wondered what comes next. That would have been mean to the bean. Wouldn’t Greengram, Horsegram, and Bengalgram panic?


texts: Is between the correct word when there are more than two items, for example 'a balance between a, b, and c'?

texts:
I know we can say, for example, "a balance between a and b".
Is it valid to say "a balance between a, b and c"?

Because I'm not sure whether "between" can be used for more than two items.
If not, what should be a proper word to use?


texts: A phrase for something that happens immediately after another thing

texts:
Consider

  I entered the class and said "Hello" to everybody. At this time/ At the moment / At the same time/ suddenly / meanwhile a student asked out load "Sorry! are you going to teach a new course today"

Maybe it wasn't a good example. But I want to know what English use when they want to say at the same time (immediately after or during) another thing, something else happened? I mean when they narrate something maybe as a narrating device.

The literal translation of what I mean is "at this time" or "at this moment", but I'm not sure about their similar usage in English. When these phrases are used by the way?


texts: Why don't we use article with countable noun in some cases?

texts:
I have two sentences with a noun Car

I am traveling by car

and

The car is travelling at full speed

In the first sentence, we don't use any article but in the second sentence, we use the article. why the first sentence doesn't need any article? what rule is applied here?


texts:
This is not one of those women's prisons that we have all seen
  being all sexy on late-night cable.

I saw this line in a tv-series and then I wonder about the construction of this sentence.

  He is the man that I have seen cleaning his car. (I have seen
  him cleaning his car.)

Can I use verbs of perception like this?


texts: Is it grammatically correct to write :  "I've been meaning to write to you for ages now "?


texts:
Original quote is "Only dead fish go with the flow". I just tried to explain it to my friend and said,

  "Only dead fish go along with the flow where it goes. Alive fish swim against the flow or to any direction as it wishes"

Is that "as it wishes" correct? or should that be "as per its wish"? or both are wrong?

Advance thanks for your help.


texts:
I wonder why the sentence below uses "to" instead of "for":

  That simple idea describes the heart of unit testing: the single most effective technique to better coding.

Perhaps, I do not know clearly the differences between 'to' and 'for'

Could you clarify me about it in terms of this sentence?


texts:
The shirt has been cleaned and it is in your drawer, Paul.

  Mom, it is spotted.

To explain that the pronoun it stands for (is this verb even correct?) "my shirt", which verb would you use?

The pronoun It is referred/referring/refers to the expression "my shirt"
The pronoun it is pointing to/points to the expression "my shirt"
The pronoun it makes for the expression "my shirt"


texts:
A: She dropped the kid off like… like a kitten on the highway. You’re
  going to tell me that that’s not endangering the welfare of a child?

  B: No, Sergeant. I’m going to tell you that there are laws on the
  books, and there are also ways around them.

I thought 'ways around' mean 'the opposite ways/situation is right'.

But in this dialougue,
does the speaker B want to say that there are ways to use the laws to get away with crime?

Plese help me to understand this dialogue perfectly!

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


texts: "I am living in London" and "I have lived in London"

texts:
Tell me please the difference between using Present Perfect and Present Continuous in these sentences.

I am living in London.
I have lived in London.

The idea is to tell that right now I live in London. Present Continuous is used for temporary actions. But at the second sentence we didn’t indicate duration of the action. And I don’t know, which option is more correct.


texts: Wondering if anybody here could define "the week ended" in this text

texts:
Does it mean " this time at the end of the week"??

Claims for the week ended March 15 were revised to show 1,000 more applications received than previously reported. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast first-time applications for jobless benefits rising to 325,000 in the week ended March 22.


texts:
what does "otherwise" mean in this sentence ?
How to understand " had they "?

Used to manufacture soap, glass, and gunpowder and to bleach linens and print calicoes, potash served a range of industrial uses but at the expense of farms, which lost the nutrients that the wood ashes would otherwise have released back into the soil had they not been exported to market.


texts: Beauty risen or beauty rose- which one is correct?

texts:
This is a couplet. This is kind of a metaphor I wrote and it's about a girl and it speaks about her beauty.

  Beauty risen from the darker side of the moon.
  I see the night clear as you came out very soon.

Is it beauty risen or beauty rose?

I think "beauty risen" is correct but Grammarly says it's not. They say it's "beauty rose":

  The past participle verb risen has been used without an auxiliary verb. Consider adding one or using the past simple instead.


texts: How did you get there? A metaphorical interpretation

texts:
I am wondering whether it's natural to say "how did you get there" in the following context:

John: You speak excellent English. How did you get there?
Mary: I study English five hours a day, seven days a week.

If it cannot be used here, is there any context in which it can be metaphorically interpreted?

I'd appreciate your help.


texts:
Let's say you are telling someone your childhood life as for you playing a musical instrument, the piano.

  Someone: Do you play the piano?

  You: Not anymore. My mom gave me piano lessons when I was a kid, but I hated it.

What is the meaning of that? Does it mean that your mom "used to" teach you piano lessons herself or she had you enrolled in a piano school?


texts:
Is the following sentence correct?

'Hey John, look who is/are lecturing us on not making fun of anyone.'

Note that there is more than one person lecturing us. 'Is' or 'are' : Which one should I use?


texts:
"What does a cow give us?"

I am just wondering if 'COW' is singular, shouldn't the sentence be

What does a cow GIVES us?


texts:
looking for a proper word to say "only a selectful of them", which tries to express that,

only a handful of them, not all of them
of these a handful, each is carefully selected, not random picked

What would the proper word to use here?
I've found a word "selective", but it doesn't sound right to me as it is normally used as "selective in reading", or "someone is selective".


texts: MLB 2020 ?? postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic

texts:
From wikipedia

The 2020 Major League Baseball season was originally scheduled to begin on March 26. However, the COVID-19 pandemic in North America caused Major League Baseball (MLB) to announce on March 12 that the remainder of spring training games were canceled and that the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks.

To describe the state of postponed, since then and is still in that state, should I say

The 2020 Major League Baseball season has been postponed since then.

or

The 2020 Major League Baseball season has been being postponed since then.

Are there any other options more natural and clear could be used here?


texts: What does 'straphanger' mean in this dialogue?

texts:
In this dialogue, two female agents (two of the most conscientious officers of the team) are having a phone conversation from two different countries. The one who is baking the cake is inviting the other to come along for a special occasion in a forward operating base in Afghanistan where a suspicious mole is supposed to arrive and provide important information to the investigation.

  –  Don't be so literal, everyone likes cake. It's not too late for you to come, you know, it'll be fun.

  – No, I don't want to be a straphanger. It's your show. You were the first to see the potential in this.

I guess 'straphanger' seems to be used in a metaphorical way here, but I didn't understand it in a clarified way. I'd like to get further clarification because it appears to be used in an interesting way.

(Film: Zero Dark Thirty - United States, 2012)


texts: Is 'a five years later' gramatically correct?

texts: I'm a native Slovakian speaker, and currently, I am at an English competition. I was met with this sentence: "..., and a five years later, he became a professional musician." Is the a in there correct? I have never seen it being used like this anywhere.


texts: What is one word to describe an essay that is both fluent,smooth and formal?

texts:
What is one word to describe an essay that precisely describe as fluent,smooth and formal?

It is known that online translation softwares could not translate a phrase like this into vocabulary.


texts: on the way to home or on the way of home or on the way home?

texts:
Consider:

  She was nervous on the way of home.

  She was nervous on the way to home.

  She was nervous on the way home. (I prefer this one since it is more compact)

Are the three sentences are grammatically correct?
If the answer is yes, is there any differences?
Regards.


texts:
Since "make up" means to fabricate something, I thought saying "make up excuses" would be more common than "make excuses." But Google Books showed me the opposite.

  made up excuses (4,580)

  made excuses (113,000)

Why is this?

Example sentence:

  In elementary school, I always made (up) excuses to skip swimming
  class.


texts: Is it natural and acceptable to use the phrase 'studies his lessons'?

texts:
The following sentence is from Grade 6 English Textbook  in Myanmar. In the sentence, is it natural and acceptable to use the phrase 'studies his lessons'?

  He studies his lessons from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.


texts: How to pronounce a voiceless stop when it's at the end of a word which is behind a word that starts with a vowel?

texts:
I wonder if Americans usually make an unaspirated sound when the letters "k", "p" or "t" is at the end of a word and when the next word starts with a vowel. I know that I should make a flap sound when there is a vowel or an "r" letter before "t" like in "See you at eleven o'clock" and also I know that in the cluster "nt" Americans usually make an unaspirated sound like in "I can't even", but what about other situations when "k", "p" and "t" are at the end of of a word which is behind a word that starts with a vowel? I mean in the sentences like

  "I like animals"
  "He is the best cop of the town",
  "This is just unbelievable",
  "He never liked rock and roll",
  "The aircraft is descending",
  "He never liked Arizona",
  "This shop is neat",
  "And I was like 'I am not enjoying this'"

etc. do Americans usually make an unreleased stop sound? I feel like especially when they don't need to stress the word that ends with the voiceless stop, they usually don't aspirate the stop sound before a word that starts with a vowel. Am I right?


texts: Can I use "who" in "name someone (who) you'd hate to see show up"

texts: "Name someone you'd hate to see show up?" can I use "who" For example "Name someone who you'd hate to see show up?"


texts: Does "leaving school at young" imply "uneducated"?

texts:
From Cambridge Dictionary

Even though he left school at 16, he still managed to become prime minister.

Usually, "even though" indicates two opposite parts in meaning, "left school at 16" and "become prime minister" in this case. Therefore, the first part should be some kind of the opposite of well-educated.
According to Cambridge Dictionary, "uneducated" means "having received little or no education".
Is it appropriate to say "leaving school at young implies uneducated"?


texts:
I am getting stuck order of determiner to be placed in the sentence. Sharing few examples.

Four-times the cost; Determiner “four-times” and “the”, there is no of between them.
Three-quarter of the participants; Determiner “three-quarter” and “the”, of placed between them.
Some of the girls/some of my friends; Determiner “some”, “the” and “my”: of is placed between them.
Some more juice; “some” and “more” quantifiers which are same level quantifiers but there is no words (may be of etc.) placed between them.

I want to understand what is the rule to put multiple determiners (pre, central and post determiners)  before to noun.


texts:
I am just practising some English grammar related questions; here are the questions I am confused about:

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

Charleston, West Virginia, was named for Charles Clendenin who son George acquired land at the junction of tile Elk and Kanawha rivers in 1787.

A) for

B) who

C) acquired

D) rivers

Its correct answer is "B) who". Why?

Eleanor Roosevelt set the standard against which the wives of all United States Presidents since have evaluated.

A) set

B) wives

C) all

D) have evaluated

Its correct answer is "D) have evaluated". Why?


texts: definite article vs zero article when talking about ancient civilizations / groups of people

texts:
This sentences seems to be correct :
The Babylonians are most famous for their early development of agriculture and trade.
Would it be correct to say (zero article):
Babylonians are most famous for their early development of agriculture and trade ?
If not, why not? These sentences are correct for me, would you agree?
Where did Romans come from? (zero article)
OR
Hunting would have been common for Egyptians, and this is also the period when many animals were first domesticated. (zero article before Egyptians).
In short, do we always need the determinate article before groups of people who lived in ancient civilizations or are zero articles possible too? What is the difference and how do you know when to use or not use one?

Also how does this compare to nationalities?
Italians love cooking is correct when referring to nationality (i.e. all people from Italy) but The Italians love cooking, would be correct only when referring to a group of people one knows, similar to Are the Italians coming over to dinner tonight?
Whereas those nationalities which do not have a plural would take the to refer to the whole group, eg. The British speak British English.
Thanks in advance.


texts:
I went to the disaster zone last year. It had been 12 years since the tragedy had happened.

Is this "had" – the one just after the word tragedy – necessary?


texts:
Is the paragraph below saying that when it comes to disclosing personal information, therapists shouldn't disclose their personal information OR shouldn't ask the client to disclose his/her personal information?

Advocates for cultural sensitivity believe that it is more effective to vary the therapeutic approach from person to person, depending on a client’s culture group, than to simply use the same standard treatment approach for everyone. Although therapists who practice cultural sensitivity may deviate from standard therapeutic methods, they must also adhere to their profession’s ethical guidelines, for example, when it comes to disclosure of personal information.
Psychology Today


texts:
I'm a beginner in English, and I have a question. When do we use the verbal noun of some words (Like "Charge") that are both nouns and verbs?

For example, what is difference between "Battery charge efficiency" and "Battery charging efficiency"?

Thanks a lot for your answers, but I ask a question about "verbal noun", not about "battery charge".

Can you say, what is the difference between "This bad drawing of a dog is not acceptable for your project" and "This bad draw of a dog is not acceptable for your project"? I asked this question here: What is the difference between two sentences?


texts: Which is the most acceptable numeral for 1980 to 1989?

texts:
Previously, I asked a question about whether I should omit the article, "the" before the late 80s.

I saw in the answer by Absolute Beginner that he writes '80s for Eighties, the apostrophe is added before the numeral, i.e. 80s. Lawrence C put the apostrophe in between, i.e. 80's.

The answers have made me very confused, could you tell me which is the correct numeral for the years 1980, 1981, 1982... 1989:

  80's, or '80s, or 80s ?

I always write 80s, does it mean that I am wrong?

Please help!


texts: Is the sentence "despite a new version having been released (...) " correct?

texts:
Is the present perfect tense used correctly in the following sentence?

Despite a new version 2.0.0 having been released in 2015, the version 1.0.0 remains most widely used.


texts:
This IPA symbol comes from Cambridge Dictionary

There is a dot/period in the middle of the symbol, pointed out by red arrow. What does that mean?
It seems a little bit counterintuitive if consider it the boundary of sound. Is it more reasonable to use notation this way?
/ˈfʌ.ni/ or fu . nny


texts:
Here is a sentence:

target sentence

First thing you need to do is install and activate the Google Doc Embedder plugin.

Maybe the formal format :
First thing you need to do is to install and to activate the Google Doc Embedder plugin.

be+verb or be+ to verb is right?


texts:
Chapter 2 of the book "C++ Primer Plus, 6th Edition by Stephen Prata (2012)" says

  Right now the main point to remember is that C++ syntax requires you to begin the definition of the main() function with this header:int main().This chapter discusses the function header syntax in more detail later, in the section “Functions,” but for those who can’t put their curiosity on hold, here’s a preview.

In Oxford dict "right now" and "currently" are synonyms.

Are "right now" and "currently" exchangeably here?


texts:
Here is an excerpt from The Art of Learning:

  More and more fans came to my tournaments to watch me play and get autographs.

My questions is should not it be:

either More and more fans came to my tournaments to watch my games and get autographs
or More and more fans came to my tournaments to watch me playing and get autographs
or, in order to avoid fused gerund, More and more fans came to my tournaments to watch my playing and get autographs, but to be honest this option sound weird to me and it is better to use the first option.

If me play is fine, then what are the rules, can you delineate a syntax tree for the sentence?

P.S. I am primarily interested in BrE, if it matters here.


texts: What is the difference between "why are there same things written on this page?" and "why are same things written on this page"?

texts:
I am reading something from a book. And there is a page on which most of things is repeated. So my question is which sentence is correct:-
"Why are there same things written on this page?"
"Why are same things written on this page?"


texts: Use "belief" with or without the indefinite article?

texts:
Not counting set expressions, such as contrary to popular belief and beyond belief, I can't pinpoint the difference between belief and a belief.
And while Collin's learner's dictionary lists belief as uncountable, they offer two different examples:

One billion people throughout the world are Muslims, united by belief
in one god.

...a belief in personal liberty.

Contrary to the first example, Google Books has more results for united by a belief in one God (Having only 6 search results as the sample size might be the problem though). :-)
I want to believe these examples are interchangeable, but that's too good to be true, right?


texts: "A better source of humour are the shared gripes that most workers face." Why not "is"?

texts:
This excerpt is from the Economist. The sentence "A better source of humour are the shared gripes that most workers face." Confuses me.

Of course, humour can be used, even by non-managers, in a cruel or condescending way. What one man may mean as a laddish joke comes across to womenas a disrespectful put-down. A better source of humour are the shared gripes that most workers face. Everyone can appreciate a quip about the cramped commuter trains, the officious security guard, the sluggish lifts or the dodgy canteenfood. In that sense, workers can feel they are all (bar the security guard) “in it together”. This helps create team spirit and relieve stress.

I suppose "are" here is quite strange and it should be replaced by "is" because humour is an uncountable noun.


texts:
I read these lines somewhere a few days ago. I don't have the source, sorry.

"I edited the About section but it does not reflect on the website."

It means the website does not show the changes made, it does not show the updated information. That's how I interpret it. Please correct me if it means something else
I have never seen the word reflect used like this before. I know we use reflect to show or express something indirectly. By indirectly, I mean it is obvious if I pay attention. As in,

"The way he admires her reflects his love for her."

"The latest report reflects a change in public opinion about...'

Back to the original sentence, is it correct to use reflect that way and can someone explain why it has been used that way?
Thank you


texts: "bitter arguments and heated discussions" - meaning of "bitter"

texts:
I looked up bitter in the dictionary but this word is difficult to understand in the following context:

Why the bitter arguments and heated discussions around Scotland's independence referendum might actually be a good thing.
(Source: CBC Radio)

What does bitter mean here?  Is there any difference between bitter arguments and heated discussions?


texts:
I'm not native English speaker so sometimes 'the' is confusing.
Teachers say that you can never use 'the' before a person's name except family's name, for example 'the Simpsons'. Really?

So, How about this case: (I wrote these sentences)

A: Wow, Can you believe it I met Tom Cruise today.
B: Who is Tom Cruise? Do you mean the Tom Cruise in the movie 'Mission Impossible'?
A: Yes, the Tom Cruise. He is soooo handsome.
B: Wow, today is your lucky day.

So, in this sentence, can I use 'the'? @.@ (I'm confused)


texts: Should I put that before a clause or not?

texts:
I don't know which of these sentences is correct?

  There'd be a day we meet again.

or

  There'd be a day that we meet again.

I mean when should I use "that" before the clause?


texts: who takes you for English ? - And why not 'Who takes your English?

texts:
Who takes you for English ?  (Who teaches you English)

The above one is an example from Longman Dictionary

Why 'for' is used in that example ?

Is ''Who takes your English ?'' incorrect sentence ?

Because that doesn't sound unnatural to me.

help please


texts: I don't know how to say that as a native?

texts:
My professor, who I had work with him before, put a photo with beautiful smile on Whats-App status, I want to say to him that always be happy and I wish that you always be glad and smiley or something like that.
Be happy and smiley is correct?


texts: I have learned English from TV shows, movies, CNN, Discovery channel, and NGC for years. One of my USA friend told me emotional is a negative word such as " Do not be emotional! Yelling and being hysrerical is not helping." and never say " you are emotional" to someone. It sounds refering to being unreasonal rather than emotion and feelings. However, I also googled an possive example, "an emotional support from relatives".  I am confuced by the conflict. Can emotional be used in a neutral or positive way such as " Being emotional and rational is equally important to build a successful connection to colleges, which leads to a successful career" ?


texts:
I saw the following sentence in a dictionary.
Does "about" contribute to its meaning? Is the sentence good in terms of style?

  She must be about 60 or thereabouts.

I'd appreciate your help.


texts: When do we use "the" with "suburbs" word and when we don't?

texts:
Suburbs increasingly 'hotter' housing markets than urban areas, within this article the word "suburbs" is used 8 times, 6 times with the, and 2 times without the.

  But as more of them have started families, the suburbs are looking a bit more attractive these days.
  Nationwide, population growth in suburbs exceeded urban population growth in 33 of 50 metros.
  Realtor.com says the suburbs on its list are among the top 8% when it comes to the hottest real estate Zip Codes in the country.

When do we use the with "suburbs" word and when we don't?


texts: adjective clause and the object in the sentence

texts:
The mosquito moment is the part of the presentation people remember the most in the conference.

people remember the most is an adjective clause, so is placing that or which in front of it optional? And does the PP in the conference go with the adjective clause or say it's part of the adjective clause, is that right?

And what is the object of the verb remember, is it the phrase the mosquito moment (seems a bit far) or the phrase which precedes it the presentation?

I was told that adjective clause modifies the thing that precedes the clause, does that rule always apply?


texts:
Could you explain me if both questions are correct in this example?

Did you enjoy your holiday? Yes thanks, it was wonderful.
And then ...

  Where were you?
  Where did you go?

TIA


texts:
The future tense is a verb tense used for a future activity or a future state of being. For example:
I will jump in the lake.
(This is a future activity.)
I will be happy.
(This is a future state of being.)
https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/future_tense.htm
But here, I think, tense and time are confused.

"I will jump in the lake."

Here, actually, the verb "jump" is in present tense, but future time is denoted by the modal 'will'.

"I will be happy."

Here, the verb "be" is in present tense, but future time is denoted by the modal 'will'.
Is there any future tense in English grammar?


texts: Should I use "you..." or "you would've..." or "you must've..." in the following sentence?

texts:
Speaker A: He wasn't in love with me.

  Speaker B: I hope so. Otherwise, you/you would've/must've crushed him
  after you dumped him.

What's the correct alternative and why?


texts:
Consider the following quote, please:

“You don't know what can happen tomorrow. Life is like a novel, isn't it? It's filled with suspense. You never know what's going to happen until you turn the page.” ― Sidney Sheldon (a well-known American writer)

In the bold sentence, wouldn't could be a better choice than can? To me, can is definite here and so doesn't sound good, while could in the sense of "maybe will" sounds better.


texts:
Does this sentence make sense?

  For example, bags at an airport are x-rayed to see if any dangerous are inside without having to be opened and looked in each one.


texts: How to use “by the pound” and “in pound”?

texts:
I see they use “sold by the pound”, but can I say “sold in pound” instead?
Also, they use “measured in pound”; can I say “measured by the pound”?


texts: What is the difference between brief and detail?

texts:
Are they both antonyms?

While doing my exam

there was written in the question paper
that 'answer the following question in breif'

and 'answer the following question in detail'

the brief one were of 2 marks

and detailed were of 4 marks.

does brief mean short

and detailed mean long?


texts:
I have always believed titles to be proper nouns, so in this question I stated it as an answer
"Why We Listen to Music" versus "Why Do We Listen to Music" in title

Somebody has been insisting in comments they are not proper nouns, but as it is a comment and not a proper answer there hasn't been room to expand.

Here is my research:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proper_noun

  Current linguistics makes a distinction between proper nouns and
  proper names; but this distinction is not universally observed

  By this strict distinction, because the term noun is used for a class
  of single words (tree, beauty), only single-word proper names are
  proper nouns: Peter and Africa are both proper names and proper nouns;
  but Peter the Great and South Africa, while they are proper names, are
  not proper nouns.

So some people make a distinction between proper nouns and names, but not everyone does. The name of an article is it's name, so some linguists call these proper names, others call them proper nouns.


texts: saying request for "one success after another"

texts: Is there a saying to the effect that when a person has a sucess, another soon follows?


texts:
He wanted to have a bottle but it's twenty minutes to dinner.

  "It's about to dinner."

  "It's almost dinner."

What word should I use in the sentence above? about or almost?


texts:
What's the difference in meaning between the two alternatives of A's question?

A: Who do you recommend to fill in for John when he's on leave? / Who would you recommend as a fill-in when John's on leave?

B: Peter would be my top choice.

Note that the first alternative undergoes a kind of transformation from "you recommend...to fill in..." whereas the second comes from "you would recommend...as a fill-in." I'm particularly interested in this difference between the two verb patterns. (Please ignore the modal would for the moment.)

I'd appreciate your help.


texts: How do I know which conjugation of a verb to use?

texts:
I have noticed on this site that some say that if there is a singular subject, we use a plural verb.
Example: "Run" is a verb. 3rd person singular is "runs".

You run.
I run.
He runs.
They run (Why not "runs"?)

Why didn't we use plural form of verb "runs" since the subject is plural?
MamtaD says in her answer that

does is the right word to use here and not do because your verb has to agree with the subject.

i.e. the subject ring is singular and so the verb should be singular.
Why these are acceptable:

I do
You do
They do

They, again, is plural subject, so why it is not "they does"?
So, if a subject is singular, we use plural verb?
as said by Usernew in his/her answer

Here, none is plural, so it took a singular form of verb Observe.


texts:
I read it on engadget -

  A Samsung-sized marketing budget buys airport-sized publicity stunts, as you may well notice if you fly to or from Heathrow this month.

It simply means...

  A small budget goes for a giant campaign ...

Am I missing something?


texts:
We endeavour to find something that can be isolated in order to be enjoyed.

Why in the passive voice?
I think it means...
We endeavour to find something that can be isolated in order to enjoy the poem.


texts: What do you call a place where a shell lands? 'A site of attack'? 'Targeted area'? I don't like the latter because it implies the shell landed exactly where it was supposed to (which is not always the case).


texts: What does "miss errors" mean in this sentence?

texts:
How often do you miss errors in your work?

What does it mean by saying "miss errors"? It is a part of an assessment test.


texts: Is it right to use the structure "do as well as doing"?

texts:
These properties are particularly useful in travel items which can face varying climates and weather conditions, as well as withstanding the rigors of various transport methods and rough handling.

In the sentence, I think "as well as" means "and, in addition", so it connects two parallel structures, i.e. "face varying climates and weather conditions" and "withstand the rigors of various transport methods and rough handling". But why is it "withstanding ..."?
Is my understanding wrong?


texts:
if someone asks me "Hasn't it been decided yet?"  and if it hasn't been decided should I answer with:

  Yes (it hasn't been decided yet.)

or

  No (it hasn't been decided yet.)


texts:
What is the independent clause and main verb in this sentence?
Wall Street's glass ceiling cracked at last on March 1st,as Jane Fraser took charge of Citigroup, becoming the first woman to head a big American bank.


texts: the reason why there has been used a"ing" form of a verb

texts:
Today Goodall divides her time between traveling and lecturing about her findings at Gombe and running the Gombe Stream Research Center, where she has been the director since 1967. She has also established a home for injured or orphaned chimps and created a program for schoolchildren to learn about wild animals and conservation of the environment.
Why there has been used "ing" form of the verb run?
Or, why don't we say ran instead of running?
Thanks


texts: "make something adjective" or "make adjective something"?

texts:
Which form is correct?

  make + something + adjective

or

  make + adjective + something

For instance:

  I want to make it clear.

or

  I want to make clear it.

Another example (from the paper GloVe: Global Vectors for Word Representation):

  We analyze and
  make explicit the model properties needed
  for such regularities to emerge in word
  vectors

Is the last usage correct?


texts: What's the difference between "force" and "mass" here?

texts:
Could you please tell me what the difference between "force" and "mass" here (in relation with cutting) is?

  They cut not by sharpness but by force and mass.

Is it correct to say "They cut ... by mass"?   There is a physical relationship between "force" and "cutting" but is there any relationship between "mass" and "cutting"?

The fuller text is here:

  A few days later Dad came home with the most frightening machine I’ve
  ever seen. He called it the Shear. At first glance it appeared to be a threeton
  pair of scissors, and this turned out to be exactly what it was. The
  blades were made of dense iron, twelve inches thick and five feet across.
  They cut not by sharpness but by force and mass.They bit down, their great
  jaws propelled by a heavy piston attached to a large iron wheel. The wheel
  was animated by a belt and motor, which meant that if something got
  caught in the machine, it would take anywhere from thirty seconds to a
  minute to stop the wheel and halt the blades. Up and down they roared,
  louder than a passing train as they chewed through iron as thick as a man’s
  arm. The iron wasn’t being cut so much as snapped. Sometimes it would
  buck, propelling whoever was holding it toward the dull, chomping blades.

Educated by Tara Westover


texts: An adjective for a woman showing lots of skin?

texts:
Islam requires Muslim women to cover their bodies from head to toe, sparing only the face and hands. There is a special word in Arabic that describes a woman who deviates by showing more skin than allowed. The word has a negative religious connotation of the woman doing so being slightly a bitch. The Arabic adjective is derived from a word meaning tower. A tower is very noticeable because of its high altitude, and so is the woman who shows more skin. Such a woman is perceived as trying to stand out and attract attention to herself. In western culture, there's nothing wrong with showing a decent amount of skin (I'm all for that btw). But what would be considered decent there would be considered too "towery" here. So my question is there any English adjective for this?

Update:
(In response to J.R. and Andrew) I'm just looking for the closest translation for the adjective in question to include it in a publication. The reason I'm asking is to find out if there is an English word that combines "revealing", "seeking attention" and "in a bitchy - or offensive - way". I went for "bitch" because that's how religion (or at least Islam) would see it. And so I thought maybe you guys have such a word in the Bible or something. I know and do believe it's totally ok for a woman to dress however she likes. I believe there's absolutely nothing bitchy in that. But again, bitchy is what Islam would see.

Update 2:
Here's an example of how I intend to use the English adjective:

  The word ___ (transliteration: Motabariga; translation: ???) is Muslim Sheiks' (priests') favorite word to describe a woman who wears revealing clothes. The word has a negative connotation to it, and is used almost exclusively to attack women who dare to show more skin than allowed by mainstream Islam.

Update 3:
(In response to Tᴚoɯɐuo) I meant by negative disapproving, and by religious that the word is almost completely reserved for use by the Muslim clergy. The word is intended to offend as detailed above, and so a woman addressed with this adjective will probably feel she is being called a bitch, but in an indirect way. And this is the connotation I meant.
So the ideal word I'm looking for should include all these three ideas in one package:

  1- word meaning is "displaying her body with revealing clothes".

  2- word is disapproving or offensive, but not too much.

  3- it should be the the kind you would find in an ancient text, like the bible. It shouln't, however, be obsolete or archaic.

Update 4:
(In response to user35594) I didn't say I knew everything about Islam, though it's easy to say so given that Islam has been my major. I only said "I know Islam does", and this excludes knowledge in Islamic issues other than dress code. I see it inappropriate to discuss in detail an Islamic issue in a platform for English language matters, so I'm going to stop here.

Update 5:
I'm really sorry for not being able to reply in the comments box (a phone issue). I've read all of your comments and answers with great pleasure, though the amount of new vocabulary you introduced has made me believe I will probably need another 20 years to tighten my grip on English. :)) I've learnt a lot from each and every one and have noted down all the new words. So far, I'm more inclined to follow the suggestion that I should not provide a translation, and provide a description instead. Thank you very much, great people!


texts:
I saw two translations for this thing and I'd like to know if it's called switch or button in British English.

  "She touched the ?_ and she was electrocuted."


texts: Can I express the same meaning with confined vocabulary?

texts:
For an English learner like me, learning new words and making them absorbed deeply in my mind is not an easy task. I always find it difficult while deciding which word is suitable to use.

Furthermore, I often forget the words that follows the last one in saying a sentence, which makes me stop to think, but on most occasions, still get no proper answer.

What I want to ask is:
Can I use some simple words or phrases instead of complicated ones?
If i don't know how to say the right words?

For example:

  I believe that you could fulfill your dream one day.

If I forget 'fulfill', which is proper here for the noun, may I say instead:

  I believe that you could make your dream into reality one day.

Another example:

  He is accused of committing a crime.

If I forget 'commit', may I say:

  He is accused of doing a crime. or He is accused of making a criminal thing/behavior.

I know it may sound funny to native ears, but that may be the sole method for a foreigner who has poor vocabulary in emergency.


texts: Use of preposition "by" in manufacturing

texts:
Mostly everywhere people say "This is a product made by Some-Company". I've also heard people say "This is a product of Some-Company" and "This is a product made in Some-Company". According to a sentence like "This is a book by John Smith" will it be correct to write:

"This is a product by Some-Company"


texts:
So, I am given these two sentences in exam to convert into one single sentence (without changing the meaning implied the original two sentences or using and, but, so, because conjunctions) (A)

  They left the door open. Expensive goods were stolen by the thieves.

Now, many fellow class mates of mine wrote (B):

  Since they left the door open, expensive goods were stolen by the thieves.

But I am concerned as to whether the usage of Since is correct in the above sentence?

Like, we use Since when we are talking about a cause. Like in this sentence:

  Since I have won $20 in a jackpot, I am going to spend it the way I want to!

Hence, I wrote the answer to the question as (C):

  They having left the door open, expensive goods were stolen by the thieves.

In order to communicate that their leaving the door open was not the cause of thieves stealing goods. Perhaps, they might be prowling around and noticed the doors open and so just entered the house?

Therefore, my questions are:

Is the use of Since correct in B?
What's wrong with my sentence C ?


texts: what is the most important in this sentence the present relevance or the fact that this event belongs to the past?

texts:
http://fluencyspace.com/exercises/mixed-past-tenses/

It is great to tell people that I have seen  (see) the tallest building in the world!

I know the answer is  present prefect but I think the"seeing of the building" now belongs to the past and past simple seems for me better than present perfect that emphasizes the present relevance


texts: Our new bylaws states that we are required to “participate in grant-writing activities” for promotions. I argue that attending a grant-writing workshop is a grant-writing activity, so is writing a letter of intent that is often required as the first step in applying for a grant. My Chair thinks that to participate in grant-writing activities means to write a grant proposal only.  I think not. Am I wrong?  The language in the bylaws definitely should be clear.


texts: Order of adjectives in terms of characterizing the red beetroot as a raw material for scientific research

texts:
I have an issue with a proper description of red beetroot as a research material.

During my experiment the fresh red beetroot is grated in shreds.

Following such kind of treatment, does it become the fresh grated red beetroot or the fresh red grated beetroot? Consider that a red beetroot and a beetroot are synonyms.


texts:
Is it really necessary to place an article like 'a, an or the' even if the sentence makes perfect sense without it.

Eg.

We have linked molecular properties to macroscopic properties for a simple system.

or

We have linked the molecular properties to the macroscopic properties for a simple system.


texts: Word that means "in the process of being repaired"?

texts:
Is the correct word repairing? Example sentence:

  He hauled his iPad from inside his desk, a temporary replacement for his __ iPhone, and held it before my eyes. "Check this out."


texts:
Here is the context:

  For, doubtless, being ignored or rejected by someone you’re enamored of is associated with all kinds of distress.

Could you please rephrase the sentence for me. I cannot get becouse I cannot understand what for was used there for.