texts:
What do you think are the causes?

What do you think the causes are?

I've heard both are true but the former is more popular.

Is this true? and if so, could you tell me the reason?

What grammar should I read to learn more about this?


texts:
What is the word for quoting multiple characters to reenact a scene? I was thinking of a word like "quote", but I am not sure you can use it if a single person "quote" multiple characters at once in different voice. Some humorists do it.

For example:

  "Pikachu, thundershock!"

  "Pika, pika!"

  "Pikachu, now! What are you waiting for?"

  "Pika, pika?"


texts: Which of these expressions should I choose: depending on, based on, with consideration to, in regard to?

texts:
The date will be fixed _____ your return.

Should I choose depending on, based on, with consideration to, or in regard to?

What is being said is that the date depends on someone's return.

Although, none of the above are convincing to me, but I can't think of another expression.


texts: It's hard to listen to contractions or short forms

texts: I'm trying to enhance my English listening, but I'm facing an issue. It's hard to understand the short forms like I'd, it's, and I've. I always hear these short forms as one sound, and in any of the few cases where I can catch them, I'm confused. For example, when someone says "I'd", dose he mean "I had" or "i would"? The entire sentence drops from my understanding. How can I develop my English listening?


texts: Is there a principle that make easier to understand how to form a phrasal verb?

texts: I have seen a lot of web site and some book that explain what phrasal verbs are and then mostly examples. But is there a general way to get how to form a phrasal verb and especially to get the real meaning of the phrasal verb after adding up/with...etc?


texts: Can you paraphrase the highlighted part of this sentence, please

texts:
By getting your flu shot, you avoid exposing those around you, especially those who are unable to get the flu shot themselves.

When it says “avoid exposing those around you” I become confused.


texts:
I want to ask my teacher if he checked the email/application which I sent him today.  How can I ask him?  What is actually the right way of asking it?

What I wrote is:

  Did you check the application ?

Or it may be

  Did you checked the application ?

and what when I ask him about response from head of department

  Did they respond for my admission ?

or

  Did they responded about my admission ?


texts: How to discern this clause, grammatically? Word arrangement?

texts:
“Then came upon a world in ruins an anxious youth. The children were drops of burning blood which had inundated the earth; they were born in the bosom of war, for war. For fifteen years they had dreamed of the snows of Moscow and of the sun of the Pyramids. ”
  ― Alfred de Musset, The Confession of a Child of the Century

anxious youth, subject, and noun phrase? Why may it get placed after everything? I may not get what sentence, grammatically, one may report this? May it seem like passive? I may think in passive, it may go object verb subject. Here it seems to go came verb, a world in ruins noun phrase(object[?]), an anxious youth noun phrase, subject?

And may For in this get utilized like a conjunction?


texts:
You have a list of people; let's say ten. There is a task that should be done by all but in pairs or even threes, and once all have done their task, then cycle repeats from the beginning.

The question is what is this list called?


texts: Casual English: Dropping the The Verb BE

texts: I heard the question: "What are you talking about?" frequently in American movies. However I notice they tend to drop the verb "are" and treat "y" as a vowel. The /t/ in the word "what" sounds like a flap t (tapped T). I'm not a native speaker and I'm trying to rely on my ears. I would like to know if my observation is correct. I would be grateful for any suggestion.


texts: Are all article combinations valid patterns for "the" ɴᴏᴜɴ of "the" ɴᴏᴜɴ?

texts:
Please consider:

We should pay attention to the quality of the presentation.
We should pay attention to the quality of presentation.
We should pay attention to quality of presentation.
We should pay attention to quality of the presentation.

I’m aware there are similar questions to mine. But most posts I have read do not appear to address the particular inquiries I have here.

There are four possible combinations of this pattern. I think all four may be grammatically correct but there seem to be subtle differences. I'm afraid that if I'm not careful with the distinctions, I may sound confusing and awkward. Can someone please comment on the differences of the four following sentences (see, I'm not even sure this is right)?

I guess that the fourth one is always incorrect since the presentation is already specific so its quality should be specific as well—this means we can never have the pattern [ɴᴏᴜɴ] of the [ɴᴏᴜɴ]. Is my guess correct?

I’m not so sure about the second and third sentences: here presentation must refer to presentation in the general sense as there is no the. Does it matter to have that the before quality? Which version should be used?


texts:
Do you read of what you have collected?

Often I hear people say of what you said, of what you did...etc. So should I add of to the sentence above?


texts: How to use an apostrophe for two or more names?

texts:
In this sentence:

  In Fermat, Lagrange, Newton and Gauss studies [...].

Where should we put the apostrophe?

The complete sentence is here:

  Besides Fermat, Lagrange, Newton and Gauss' studies is possible to
  observe in engineering, computing science and others knowledge areas
  not always the searcher disposes of the mathematical function.


texts:
"ActiVenam Energy Charge is high performance pre-workout supplement designed for endurance athletes."
I googled it but I could find any definition for it.


texts: When to use "is this how...?" and "is this why...?"

texts:
When to use the former and when to use the latter?

Example:

  Speaker A: I'm obsessed with philosophy, psychology, and sociology.

  Speaker B: Is this why/how you know so much about these topics?

Or maybe they  mean the same?


texts:
I need to write a caution notice on notice board to ask people to be cautious when they turn the faucet level to the left end, that will be burning.

But my concern is the above sentence is too long for a sign (and not cool
). Could it be conciser?


texts: What does the phrase "edges the fabric" mean here?

texts:
Please help me figure out the meaning of the phrase "edges the fabric" in the following sentence:

Depending on the look you want to go for, hold your felt sides together using a running stitch (where you stitch the thread in and out of the felt) or a blanket stitch: this is a looped stitch that edges the fabric as you go and adds to the homespun look and feel.


texts: Usage of "down" as a preposition and adverb

texts:
What does down mean in these statements?

As a preposition:

  She was walking down the street.

As an adverb:

  to go down to Miami/Florida.


texts: Type of verb "saying" in a given sentence

texts:
let's consider this sentence :

"I've read some posts of users saying that the elephant is greater than the lion."

In a grammar point of view, what the type of "saying" here in the sentence?

And, can I say "users are saying" instead of "users saying" in the sentence?


texts:
In the morning, person A says:

if my leg were not injured, I would attend the party tonight.

if I knew his home address, I could go to his house to meet him tonight.

if I had enough money, I could buy a 20-room mansion.

Q) Do the condition clauses in (1), (2) and (3) necessarily refer to the present time (= in the morning), and not the future? I mean:
1a) if my leg were not injured right now, I would attend the party tonight.
2a) if I knew his home address right now, I could go to his house to meet him tonight.
3a) if I had enough money right now, I could buy a 20-room mansion.
NOTE: The person's leg was injured, they did not know the home address and they did not have sufficient money when they uttered sentences (1), (2) and (3) in the morning.


texts: What word should I use to mean "we will send a man to make you pay"?

texts:
What term should to say this.

Imagine Chicago 1930. Gangsters charging businesses for protection. A guy misses a payment. The enforcer sends a man to get the money.

I have heard a phrase once that was something like "if you don't pay we will ..."
meaning that they will send a man, but was less formal than that.


texts:
Which of the options is right?

  Sorry, we don't understand __ you have said means.

  A. all what

  B. what all

  C. all that

  D. that all

I choose C,but my teacher says D is right, which I can't understand.


texts: Grammar behind "Whatever what is is is what I want."

texts:
Here is the poem:

  Prayer, by Galway Kinnell

  Whatever happens. Whatever
  what is is is what
  I want. Only that. But that.

I came across this poem as an interesting example of English grammar and how it is actually possible to have three "is" in a row. Can anyone explain the poem's syntax, especially the sentence:

  Whatever what is is is what I want.


texts: Someone quitted smoking sometime ago, yet there is still a possibility that he may start smoking again. In this case I know that I cannot say "He used to smoke 2 years ago." because that would certainly mean he is never ever going to smoke again. I remember the case that my teacher was explaining it years ago, I remember that 'used to' cannot be used, but I can't remember which tense I should be using.


texts: Can "have" in perfect tenses be used to make questions?

texts:
A: I have a bus.
  B:Have you a bus?

Here have is used to make a question by bring have in the beginning of a sentence. My question is can we behave the same toward have in perfect tenses? For example, in emphasizing sentences we bring modal first, as in:

  Little have I knowledge of that subject.

have came almost first. Can I do the same on a sentence making the following sentence?

  Also less often have managers used praise and acclamation as a motivating factor.


texts: "as we discuss in detail in a moment" - why not "as we'll discuss"?

texts:
The term 'raising verb' is potentially confusing. It is not the verb itself that undergoes movement. Rather, it is the complement subject that raises into the matrix clause, as we discuss in detail in a moment. (a webpage)

I understand that the authors use the Present Simple in a way similar to its use in description of scheduled events:

  I fly into Bombay at noon, and then speak at the conference at 3:00 p.m.

But since it's due to happen "in a moment", it's unlikely to have been scheduled, so wouldn't it be better to say "we'll discuss"?

Is there any difference in tone between "we discuss" and "we'll discuss" and which construction is preferable in this context (textbook narrative)?


texts: How to use the phrase "would have" in a sentence

texts:
Should I use would have if I am talking about something that could happen because of what someone did? I am always confused about this. For example:

If you told her, you would have seen the play. And if you didn't you would probably have seen it.

And should I also use it if I am telling a story about my past, and there is something that could also happen in the future but I expect to happen in the past. For example:

When I was a kid anything I expected would have happen and if I didn't it wouldn't have.


texts: Is it grammatical to say "If John was there, he would have seen the accident"?

texts:
Imagine the following situation. You've just heard that John was in a place at a time yesterday. You infer that there is a possibility that John saw the accident you know occurred nearby at about the same time. Then, is it grammatical to say

  If John was there, he would have seen the accident.

?


texts: What does "higher up" mean in the context?

texts:
I know the dictionary meaning of the "higher up":

  (informal) someone who has a high rank in an organization

I want to know the meaning of it in the following passage:

  Immediately adjacent to the timberline, the tundra consists of a
  fairly complete cover of low-lying shrubs, herbs, and grasses, while
  higher up the number and diversity of species decrease until there is
  much bare ground with occasional mosses and lichens and some prostrate
  cushion plants.


texts:
Are there differences between "brush up" and "go over" say in the following example:

  go over all information

and

  brush up all information


texts: The meaning of the phrase 'asked to make a fourth'

texts:
Consider:

  Lawson, on the lookout for models, had discovered a girl who was
  understudying at one of the theatres, and in order to induce her to
  sit to him arranged a little luncheon-party one Sunday. She brought a
  chaperon with her; and to her Philip, asked to make a fourth, was
  instructed to confine his attentions. He found this easy, since she
  turned out to be an agreeable chatterbox with an amusing tongue.

  Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham

What does the bold part mean? Is it the number of times that Philip was asked?


texts: a "go hard and fast to make it count" expression

texts:
She also wrote in a fundraising campaign set for David online, "No more isolation from people or places, restrictions, living in hospitals; only swimming pools, going places, fun, playing with other kids, going hard and fast to make it count! (source)

I wonder how I have to understand this phrase "going hard and fast to make it count".
I've known that a "hard-and-fast" phrase is used as in "hard and fast rule", in which "hard and fast" means unchangeable for whatever reason and whatever situation.

In this article, what meaning does this "going hard and fast to make it count" convey, especially "hard and fast" part?

Could I rephrase it like this: I will do whatever to make it count with an unwavering heart.


texts: Can the past perfect continuous be substituted with the past continuous?

texts:
If I want to emphasize both the process and duration of some action or event which was before another one, I should opt out for the past perfect continuous tense: "I had been studying for 3 hours before Mom came home" (UPDATE: I was told that in certain contexts, "before" essentially means "when")
Is it equally correct English to simplify the past perfect continuous to the past continuous (The way you do with the past perfect: "We left before you came home" instead of "We had left before you came home"):
"I was studying for 3 hours before Mom came home" instead of "I had been studying for 3 hours before Mom came home"?
I understand that in informal speech all kinds of things may happen, but I'd like to know the best practices which would be good for some formal exam.
UPDATE: The way I see it now, you should use the past perfect continuous with "before" when this conjunction means "when" (I'm still getting used to this apparently illogical thing).
But, e.g., the sentences "Marilyn was a factory worker before she was a model" or "I was dissembling before you were born" don't need perfect tenses because "before" in them means "before" and the succession of actions or events is expressed.
Someone told me that it was OK to say: "They were married for 10 years before they got divorced" or "They had been married for 10 years when they got divorced". Does it mean that I can substitute "when" with "before" in the latter example and that it would mean "when"? ("They had been married for 10 years before (meaning "when") they got divorced")


texts: Necessity of a definite article before the antecedent of relative pronoun

texts:
From "NASA’s computers used to wear skirts. They’re finally getting the attention they deserve" by Rachel Feltman in The Washington Post, August 17, 2016.

  Take that in for a second: Johnson was helping her country win the space race, calculating trajectories that got spacecraft in and out of space, for a decade before it became illegal for her co-workers to discriminate against her.

Why don’t we need a definite article the before trajectories while it is specified by the following that clause? If I put the there, what difference will it make?


texts:
I've heard of such constructions:

  I've just seen John.
   John whom?

when you don't know who John is.

Can other pronouns be used in a similar manner?

  I've put it there.
  There where?

or should it be Where - there? instead?


texts: turning "would have" sentences into questions

texts:
Can you turn "would have" sentences into questions? I don't think I've ever heard people use it to ask questions. Is "would have" strictly for answering questions or conditionals? Here are some examples I've come up with:

  I wouldn't have told you if I weren't going to tell you.

Turning this into a question:

  Would I have told you if I weren't going to tell you?

Another example:

  If I hadn't done it, I wouldn't have boasted about it.

Turning this into a question form:

  Would I have boasted about it if I hadn't done it?

Are these constructions possible?


texts: What's the non-literal meaning of "neckbeard"?

texts:
Wikipedia gives a literal description for Neckbeard:

  Neckbeard (a.k.a. Neard) — similar to the Chinstrap, but with the chin
  and jawline shaven, leaving hair to grow only on the neck. While never
  as popular as other beard styles, a few noted historical figures have
  worn this type of beard, such as Nero, Horace Greeley, William Empson,
  Moses Mendelssohn and Richard Wagner.

but I've seen it used in non-literal contexts. For example, in the documentation for a programming related tool, it talks about Neckbeard configuration:

  Neckbeard Configuration

  Skip this section unless you must know what every line in your shell
  profile is doing.

Onelook.com only gave a link to Wikipedia's literal description, and to Wordnik, which only listed examples of its use rather than defining the word. What does the term mean when not used literally?


texts:
Which is the correct phrase?

Name of colours
Names of colour
Names of colours


texts:
Is the verb “flicker” used correctly? I mean I've seen the word flicker for light, and for finger, but is it used for the whole body?

  "Ryan uneasily flickered in his seat"


texts: Any observed relevant difference would have to be interpreted - or "should be interpreted"?

texts:
From a guidance document that describes how the similarity of a newly-developed drug to an already existing drug should be assessed and confirmed:

  A biosimilar drug should be similar to the reference drug in physicochemical and biological terms. Any observed significant difference would have to be interpreted, since it could contradict the biosimilarity principle.

Can I use this "would have to be interpreted" here, or is it better to use "should be interpreted"?

  A biosimilar drug should be similar to the reference drug in physicochemical and biological terms. Any observed significant difference should be interpreted, since it could contradict the biosimilarity principle.

I think it is better with should because "would have to be" implies some condition that remains undersribed, some "if-phrase" or "if-clause". With "would have" we have "a second conditional" construction describing "an unreal situation".


texts:
I read a sentence,
“Doing that allowed me and the people I worked with to compound our understanding over time and improve the quality of our collective decision making.”
In Oxford dictionary:compound

  Verb 1: Make up (a composite whole); constitute.
  Verb 2:Make (something bad) worse; intensify the negative aspects of.

It does not make sense to say 'make up' or 'constitute' our understanding.

How to understand it?

It's context:

  “I discovered I could do that by expressing my decision-making criteria in the form of algorithms that I could embed into our computers. By running both decision-making systems—i.e., mine in my head and mine in the computer—next to each other, I learned the computer could make better decisions than me because it could process vastly more information than I could, and it could do it faster and unemotionally. Doing that allowed me and the people I worked with to compound our understanding over time and improve the quality of our collective decision making. I discovered that such decision-making systems—especially when believability weighted—are incredibly powerful and will soon profoundly change how people around the world make all kinds of decisions. Our principle-driven approach to decision making has not only improved our economic, investment, and management decisions, it has helped us make better decisions in every aspect of our lives.
  ”
  Excerpt From: Dalio, Ray. “Principles.”


texts: Does "onto" suggest or imply that the subject is coming from above?

texts:
The raging waves crashed onto the hull of the derelict ship.

I was told that "onto" suggests that the waves are coming from above, so "against" would be a better choice. Is this true? And also since it "suggests" it doesn't mean it "implies" and therefore it is wrong to use "onto"?


texts: Article ''the'' in front of word ''research''

texts:
Which one is correct

According to the research, there is increase in market cap.
According to research, there is increase in market cap.

When article ''the '' should use in front of word ''research''?

In the following link some people said there is no need of article in front of word ''research''.

https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/use-of-definite-article-the-in-front-of-uncountable-noun.2367613/


texts: Is my English tutor mistaken? Perfect tenses seem incorrect in this sentence

texts:
This was a question given to me by an English tutor. I was asked to choose between the Present Perfect Simple, or the Present Perfect Continuous for of the verb.

->   "We  ____________  on the next actions to take before engaging them." (verb: decide)

To me, the past simple was correct because of the time marker at the end of the sentence also being in the past, indicating the action completed:

-> "We  decided  on the next actions to take before engaging them."

Also, present simple and continuous would be fine. But the tutor said I must choose a perfect tense. I chose the Present Perfect Continuous:

->   "We  have been deciding  on the next actions to take before engaging them."

... but she told me that was wrong and it was the Present Perfect Simple:

->   "We  have decided  on the next actions to take before engaging them."

That seems wrong to me. My tutor was unable to explain. I can understand why almost other tenses could be used here, but not the Present Perfect Simple.


texts: The meaning and the usage of the expression "Don't you dare"

texts:
To me, "Don't you dare!" is an expression that communicates a warning to someone. For instance:

  Don't you dare talk to me like that!
  Don't you dare follow me! (ete...)

But I wonder if you could paraphrase these examples with so that I could understand the precise meaning that appears to your minds after hearing this structure.

I think it can have two different meanings, (but I'm not sure):

  You don't have the right to....
  If you have enough courage, ...

I wonder how does it sound to you?

Please note that I have read the similar thread on the forum   three times before posting my question, but as you know and all the dictionaries have mentioned, the two expressions "dare I say" and "I dare say" are two completely different statements with some AFAIC possible overlaps which I think that they should be analyzed differently with separated examples.

Meanwhile, comparing the two expressions: "don't you dare" and "don't you worry" in the addressed link above doesn't make any sense to me!

The only point that was close to my interpretation was @James k's one where he had mentioned that the construction at hand has a connotation of:

  How dare you behave that way.

Moreover, I need to know whether it is common in current English these days? Also, Americans use it too or it is more of a British term?

Also, Michael R mentioned in his answer that:

  The expression "don't you dare do something" is just a variant, is an emphatic way to say don't even think about trying to do that.

But how much streas and emphasis?!

To discover these all, I think paraphrasing the examples would be the best solution.


texts:
I was checking the phrase "under the circumstances" on a dictionary.

According to the dictionary, the definition reads: given the difficult nature of the situation.

Do you notice the "the" in front of the word "situation?" Why is there a "the" even though we are not aware of the "situation"?

Is it because the situation is already mentioned in the phrase "under the circumstances?" Shouldn't the sentence go like: given the difficult nature of a situation?


texts:
What is the point of writing

  -in'

instead of

  -ing

?

The character count is the same, so where is the profit?


texts: Which 'do' is an auxiliary verb in 'How do you do?'

texts:
I always find it a bit difficult finding auxiliary verbs. How do they differ from the ordinary verbs?

  How do you do?

Are these both do's are auxiliary? Or general? Or both?

Is there any way to find an auxiliary verb in a sentence? How do I differentiate it with a general verb in the same sentence? Any easy trick?


texts: What is the difference between these two sentences?

texts:
The sentences are,

  Filling the shopping cart with D batteries and bottled water, we finally completed our hurricane preparation.

  Filling the shopping cart with D batteries and bottled water, our hurricane preparation was finally complete.

I have been told that the latter sentence is correct whereas the former one is not. I am confused and can't understand why the first sentence isn't correct. Anybody who can explain the rule, please?


texts: Is there an English term to describe the change from one time increment (e.g. hour) to the next?

texts:
I want to say that "symmetrical ramps are used at the [changeover from one quarter hour to the next quarter hour]".

I have found the idiom "turn of the hour" but have not found "turn of the quarter hour".

If there is no such term, is it acceptable to say "changeover from one quarter hour to the next"?


texts: Should i use present participle or infinitive verb

texts: I am trying to construct an sentence but i get a little problem with it. The sentence i want t o make is " when the guestes arrived in the centre, they fand five greeters standing by the gate welcome[welcoming] them'.  I dont know i should use 'welcome' or 'welcoming' here, and why?


texts: Could I say "the younger people are the more capable of work might be"

texts:
Could I say

the younger people are the more capable of work might be

or

the younger people are the more capable of work they might be

Is at least one of the above sentences right?


texts: Definite article omission: "The ones with *the* black hair" vs "The ones with black hair"

texts:
I wonder which phrase is grammatically correct.

  the ones with the black hair

  the ones with black hair

For me both sound right. But when I searched Google Books I found the second one to be far more common. But why was the article omitted? Does it have to do with the fact that this is a prepositional phrase or it's irrelevant?


texts: What does the second "of" mean in this sentence? "... because I regard it as of considerable importance."

texts:
The entire sentence:
"I have set that part of the judgment out in detail because I regard it as of considerable importance."
This sentence is from Lexico.
I wonder if the second "of" can be dropped.
Should I regard "of considerable importance" as an adjective phrase?


texts: In (the?) Mathematics class, I sit next to John, who is captain of basketball team

texts:
In the Mathematics class, I sit next to John, who is captain of basketball team.

We don't use article with the name of a subject so going by this correct sentence should be

  In Mathematics class, I sit next to John, who is captain of basketball team.

But what if I want to refer to a specific class then how will I say that ? We use article the to refer to a specific thing but since its incorrect to use the here how do I say that without using the with mathematics?


texts: "The Japanese government" or "a Japanese government"

texts:
How do you differentiate "a Japanese government" from "the Japanese government"? See examples below.

Every time a Japanese government tries to do more to help its allies,
or to contribute more to UN peacekeeping operations, pacifists cry
"unconstitutional".  https://www.economist.com/leaders/2017/10/28/time-for-japans-prime-minister-to-change-the-constitution

The government of a country means the group of people who govern the country, or it might refer to the entire organization itself made up of those people, usually politicians. In Japan, there is only one government governing the country, so I wonder how "a Japanese government" is possible.
Those who write or speak "a Japanese government" assume there are more than one government in Japan?


texts: "To lift something and carry" in this context

texts:
I just saw a sentence in a BBC English learning video:

  Did you carry the bike up with you?

To mean: Lift the bike and carry.

As a basic learner carry sth up seems to carry sth upward to me.

Is it a spoken matter.

By the way, Dictionaries say: Phrasal verb carry up means building a wall.

Please explain.

Thank you.


texts: "You have my word" or "You have my words"?

texts: Why it is ""You have my word" rather than "You have my words"?"


texts: Can one create one's own compound adjectives?

texts:
What kind of adjectives could one create?

I mean, there are a lot of adjectives that are compound, but if you looked them up in a dictionary, you wouldn’t see them. You understand their meaning as they are formed.

Like :

  Your red-colored eyes are so beautiful.
  I saw a man-eating shark.
  I live in an English-speaking country.
  We live in a densely populated city.

You would not find “red-colored”, which is considered to be a compound adjective, in dictionaries.  But it is easy to understand that it means that the color of your eyes, which are red, is so beautiful.

On the other hand, there are a lot of compound adjectives that do exist in dictionaries.

  well-known; short-lived; fishing-dependent; modern-day

  She is a world-famous singer.
  This is a smoke-free restaurant.

Why do these exist but the ones above not?

I have two questions. The first is: Could anyone combine words to make the term they want without the term or compound words already being in a dictionary? Are there any rules to follow related to this matter?

The second is: when should one hyphenate the adjectives?


texts: Does “sheeple” refer more to an individual or to a group of people as a collective noun?

texts:
The word "sheeple” is explained in The New Oxford American Dictionary as:

  people compared to sheep in being docile, foolish, or easily led

It's an informal and derogatory word. An example sentence is given:

  By the time the sheeple wake up and try to change things, it will be too late

According to the above defination and example, Is "sheeple" used to refer to an individual person, or a certain population as a collective noun?


texts:
What does "Laundry doesn’t fold itself" mean?

I can't understand it through the literal meaning. Google search return no useful information.

Thank you!


texts: The meaning of "out of question" vs "out of the question"?

texts:
What is the difference between these two?

  out of question

versus

  out of the question

Does "out of question" mean "undoubtedly" and "out of the question" mean "impossible"?


texts: Am I using "consistent" and "tendency" correctly?

texts:
I have the following sentence:

  We do not need to worry the temperature part since whatever
  temperature is, the red object is just an consistent transformation
  between blue object and yellow object and will not affect the tendency of energy changing.

Here I want to say the transformation will be independent of temperature. I wish to use consistent to show this, but I am not sure about it.

For tendency part, I wish to use it to mean how the energy will change. For example, if the energy is dropping, in my understanding, the tendency of energy changing means the energy dropping.

Also, if you have any suggestions about the formation of this sentence, I am really glad to hear.

Thank you!


texts:
Snakes crawl.

According to Longman and Collins dictionary crawl means:

to move slowly,  either by dragging the body along the ground or on the hands and knees

so in my point of view it's OK to say snakes crawl, but in one of the previous questions which was posted here, A comparison between "Creep", "Crawl" and "slither",  it was said that it sounds unnatural if we use the verb crawl for snakes and slither can be used alternatively.
I was wondering whether this usage of crawl is really unnatural among both British people and Americans because while I was searching I've just come across two songs Snakes Crawl by Bush Tetras and Snakes Crawl at Night by Charley Pride which led me in to confusion.


texts: To use "have" or "had" in this situation?

texts:
I have watched 6 episodes of Kuzu no Honkai.

Since from the time I was born up until now I write this sentence, I have watched 6 episodes of Kuzu no Honkai, so it uses "have".

  I had watched 6 episodes of Kuzu no Honkai.

Since the action "watch" was done in the past and I didn't repeatedly watch from time to time, it uses "had".

Which sentence is more natural and intuitive?


texts: Should I use "Stretching down to", or "down to"?

texts:
Considering these sentences:

The area stretching from Boston down to Baltimore is prone to storms.
The area from Boston down to Baltimore is prone to storms.
The east coast area stretching down to Baltimore is prone to storms.
The east coast area down to Baltimore is prone to storms.

Is sentence 2, obtained from sentence 1 by deleting "stretching", okay?

Is sentence 4, obtained from sentence 2 by deleting "stretching", okay?


texts: What does the phrase "pitch is in flight to line up your swing perfectly" mean?

texts:
Please help me figure out the meaning of the phrase "pitch is in flight to line up your swing perfectly" in the following text from the description of the game "Ballistic Baseball":
Do you want to kick it out of the park? Just move your batter side to side in the batter’s box while the pitch is in flight to line up your swing perfectly.


texts: what is the meaning of "native" in "native year"?

texts:
I read a sentence in my history book which was:

In the native year 1203, corresponding with 1796-97, the land advertised for sale comprehended.....

I can't figure out what the word "native" means in this context.


texts:
Why the opposite of "it's open" is "it's closed" rather than "it's close"?

Why there is not consistency in using this passive voice "ed" also for open, (i.g. opened) or alternatively saying "it is close" without that additional "ed"?

In other words I would expect to have "open and close" or "opened and closed", but it is not consistent.

Dictionary:
close, closed, open.


texts:
What question tag should go with the following sentence:

  That should be easy.

Will it be shouldn't that or shouldn't it or something else, and why?


texts: What is the meaning of "I’d really like to get this project behind us"

texts:
"I’d really like to get this project behind us"

Get this project finish fast
Or
Ignore the project
Or
Other meaning?


texts: is there any difference between saw or was seeing in this example?

texts: If someone was treated by a psychiatrist, is there any difference between : He saw a psychiatrist or he was seeing a psychiatrist? Can either be used?


texts: what is the difference between “make of” and “make from”?

texts:
I want to ask a thing make from/of something but I don't know how.

What are they make from?
What are they make of?
what do they make from?
what do they make of?


texts: Which is correct, "lines of sight" or "line of sights" when referring to one observer to many object?

texts:
Which is correct?

  lines of sight
  line of sights

When referring to one observer to many object?

I understand it would be "line of sight" when referring to a single path.


texts: I've encountered the phrase and looked up online, but didn't find a good answer. They (link1 link2) were basically saying it's a unjust matter, without explaining the exact connotation and what does 'grave' mean in this phrase.


texts:
A: What is that book you are reading?

  B: Just a book from (a/the) course.

The situation is a friend of mine saw me reading something and I just want to state that it was just one of the books from one of the courses that I took and I don't want to expand on which course is it. "a' sounds more fit for my intention but is it grammatically correct to use "a" there?


texts: "Would have" or "would had" - use of tenses in a sentence

texts:
Are the tenses in this sentence correct?

  If you would have worked hard you would not have had to suffer this much.

or should this be correct?

  If you would had worked hard you would not have had to suffer this much.

I am not sure whether I should use have or had following would.


texts:
Example:

  You Need an Oracle ACE
  Oracle partners, developers, and customers look to Oracle ACEs and Oracle ACE Directors for focused product expertise, systems and solutions discussion,
  and informed opinions on a wide range of data center implementations. Their credentials are strong as Oracle product and technology experts, community enthusiasts, and solutions advocates. And now is a great time to learn more about this elite group—or nominate a worthy colleague.

Does anyone here know what the term focused product means? I looked online, but it was very difficult to make sense of all the information I dug up. It seems like no one out there can really explain or has a clear explanation as to what it is.


texts:
In the following article by The Telegraph:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2387900/New-man-at-the-of-IMG.html
I stumbled upon the following phrase (in the title of the article):

"New man at the of IMG"

What does this phrase mean?
Is this even correct English? (Doesn't look like one to me :q )
Am I missing something?


texts: Tuning vs switching vs turning a radio / TV channel onto a particular chnnel

texts:
Which one of the follwoing sentences sound more natural to you:

  Can you tune the radio onto BBC?
  Can you switch the radio onto BBC?
  Can you turn the radio onto BBC?

Also, please tell me about a TV channel. I know the verb switch is mostly used in this case, but I need to know whether it is possible to use 'tuning' or 'turning' for a TV channel too; for instance:

  Please switch to channel 9.

Can we substitute 'switch' with one of the other two above-mentioned verbs?


texts:
All you can do is play games.
Is it acceptable to write " play games" instead of "to play games"?


texts: Somebody who attracts a lot of attention or interest

texts:
Suppose you are introducing some people to each other. Among these people there is a very intelligent person or a very admirable person or an old mother who has suffered a lot or even a very successful athlete who you are going to highlight him in your introduction in the manner that you could put him / her in the center of attraction or attention. What would you say in natural, colloquial sense in this case in the US?

The only thing I found from my dictionaries was only:

  ...and finally this is Ivan; the cynosure of our company.

Does it make any sense to you?


texts:
Came across:

  He rushed past her like a football tackle, bumping her. "Hey, quit shoving!" she said, closing the door behind them.
  Source: a James Thurber short tale

I would like to know what it means generally and in this context.

In the text the women says this to the man who has passed her swiftly. It happened quickly and something like the following picture has not happened.I have checked dictionaries before posting this question. What makes a question is that we usually tell someone "quit doing something" when they are doing it not just once in a moment.

Found this nice pic on it:


texts: Please explain "There are some things it is better..."

texts:
There are some things it is better for a father not to know.
There are some things it is better never to know.

I can't understand how the sentences are grammatical. Isn't "that are" better suited than "it is"?

Note:
First sentence is from a TV show. Second sentence is from Google Books.


texts:
I'm little confused about the following real conditional sentence. The purpose of the sentence is to tell that Freedom cannot be achieved by merely chanting or dancing on the streets. Do you think any of the following are correct?

Had freedom been achieved by howling, dancing or running around the streets, then animals in the zoo would have been out of the cages long ago.

OR

If freedom were to be achieved by howling, dancing or running around the streets, then no animals would have been kept in cages.


texts: What are the terms for these types of lines?

texts:
Consider this image:

Wikipedia calls the red line a "dotted line". However, the Wikipedia page is one of the search results for "dashed line". Which term would I use?
In terms of "dotted line" or "dashed line", what should I call the black line, opposed to the others? Just a "line"?
How about the blue one? Could someone please give me a hint?


texts: What is typical phrases to say to your friend when you're surprised by him/her?

texts:
The situation is;

One of your friends/colleagues suddenly appears from your behind and says "Boo!" You are so surprised.

What is typical words to say to him/her when you want him/her to stop it but want to deliver the words friendly?

I come up with "You startled me!" and "Don't scare me!" Could you tell me alternative  words for them?


texts: Can I change OP's sentence like this without affecting the meaning?

texts:
OP

Used sparingly, this face cream should last you until Christmas.
If you use it sparingly, this face cream should last you until Christmas.

Does the first participle clause also equal "if this face cream was used sparingly, this face cream should last you until Christmas"?
As I saw in the grammar book. It comes to "shorten a passive clause using past participle clause"


texts:
In some games like basketball or ping-pong, there are two teams and they have scores.

For example, one team has 10, and other has 15, how can I tell others the scores of the two teams?

  The scores are 10 and 15
  The score is 10 15
  The score is 10 versus 15

Also I'm not sure whether to use is or are here.


texts:
I'm reading Syntax of the Comparative Clause Construction in English by Joan W. Bresnan. The author says:

  The comparative clause construction in English is almost notorious for its syntactic complexity.

  What accounts for the fact that in (A), (i) and (ii) can be read as (roughly) synonymous, while (iii) and (iv) cannot?

  A I. I've never seen a man taller than my father.

  II. I've never seen a taller man than my father.

  lll. I've never seen a man taller than my mother.

  IV. *I've never seen a taller man than my mother.

  Why does (iv) depart from grammaticality in (B)?

  B I. Jack eats caviar more than he eats mush.

  II. Jack eats more caviar than he eats mush.

  lll. Jack eats caviar more than he sleeps.

  IV. *Jack eats more caviar than he sleeps.

  What explains the ungrammaticality of (Civ)?

  C I. I am more angry today than I was yesterday.

  II. I am angrier today than I was yesterday.

  lll. I am more angry than sad.

  IV. *I am angrier than sad.

  For what reason is (iii) so much less acceptable than (iv) in (D) ?

  D i. Mary is more than six feet tall.

  ii. Mary is taller than six feet.

  iii. * Mary is more than five feet short.

  IV. Mary is shorter than five feet.

Even after I digested the author's dissertation I couldn't understand the answers to those questions except the A, where the permutation of taller implies the anomaly that my mother is a man. What is compared in A(IV) is  how tall a man my mother is. This is ok, I understand it.

According to the author's analyse in B the ungrammaticality is related to the transitivity of the verb sleep, but I don't see how this fact affects the grammar of the sentence.

I see C the most incomprehensible.

Regarding D, the author says:

  To understand the ungrammaticality of D(iii), we must note that certain adjectives, including "privative" adjectives like short, do not admit modifiers of definite measurement, but these adjectives do permit comparison: He's less short than I thought.

Please let me know your thoughts on this.


texts: Present perfect or past simple in that case

texts:
I am terribly sorry I think I have broken/broke your watch when I dropped it off !

think present perfect is better to emphasize the fact that she does not work now . Am I right ?


texts:
I would like to know if I should use was or may have been in the following example:

  In this study, we found that crime rates increased by 30%. Although
  several factors may have influenced this result, appointing the most
  influential factors is difficult.

  Perhaps the increase in crime rates was mostly influenced by the increase in unemployment, which increased by 46% during the study
  period.
  Perhaps the increase in crime rates may have been mostly influenced by the increase in unemployment, which increased by 46% during the
  study period.


texts: We are a web developer company, and we rebranded our website recently. When we made a proofreading, the guy said outsourcing has a kind of negative meaning in the US. What other words can we use that has the meaning of outsourcing in the context of Outsourced project development.


texts: What's the meaning of this sentence? "You must have quite a travel agent."

texts:
Two questions here:

First question,someone said "first I went to Europe, then I went to France."(we know there's something wrong with the logic of it.)

and then someone replied "good, you must have a quite travel agent"

Can anyone tell me what's the meaning of "have a quite travel agent" I don't get that.

Second question: Dad asks Mom to join in playing skating with him and their daughter. Mom replied: I'd just be in the way. (since their daughter didn't know Mom would play also). My question is that "I'd just be in the way" is the meaning of "NO" or "I don't want to change your original plan"?


texts: How can I say that some action has an "investment nature"?

texts:
I can't find a correct phrase with the word "nature" in English. Literally, an operation has an investment nature or is of an investment nature. I've searched it on Internet, but Google hasn't shown a lot of results. When something has any nature or features or peculiarities, how you express it?

Is it possible to use "investment nature"?


texts:
I was wondering if someone lets me know which one of the following words sounds more idiomatic in my self-made example bellow:

  Although he didn't win the game, but his effort was really.........

A) admirable

B) commendable

Based on dictionary definitions, these two words have lots of overlaps and are very similar. I do not have any idea which one is the correct choice in this specific example? Please help me to find the best choice and tell me why?

I am asking this question to be able to differentiate them from one another.


texts:
I've got a bit technical example. But hopefully, you don't need to know the topic. I was discussing design of, say, an application (or plugin, to be more specific). What I said was:

  Generally, you have a form, and file input is just one of the fields. With your plugin, you've got file input and it's it you're supposed to provide with information which extra fields to pass. And it's it that is responsible for submitting the form.

The part I'm concerned about is "it's it". Is that okay?

UPD By second "it" I mean "plugin" or "file input". Which can be used more or less interchangeably here. And the point is to put emphasis on the file input/plugin part.

Where is this coming from? Let's consider this sentence (taken from a book, according to thread starter):

  It was he who told you I'd be here!

So, I'm trying to follow the pattern, which results in: "...it's it that..." Is that wrong?

If I wouldn't be concerned about emphasis, I'd say:

  You're supposed to provide plugin with information as to which extra fields to pass. It's also responsible for submitting the form.


texts:
I heard, "The store will be having a sale, not for today only"
What does "not for today only" mean in this sentence? Does the "only" modify "not for today" or does the "only" modify "today"?


texts:
There are four questions I'd like to pose.

I know the difference between "last year" and "in the last year" - the first meaning the year before this year, and the second meaning roughly "from 365 days ago until now". I also know that we use the perfect tense only with the second clause. But does that mean that we can also use the present perfect tense with other time periods like "in the last two/three/ten years" or "in the last two months"?
If I'm talking about a week immediately following the week that includes "today", I don't put any article before that phrase, right?

  I'll phone you next week.

But when I'm talking about a week following any other week, "the" should be included, is that right?

  Well, the week of January 4 won't work for me, but we can go shopping the next week.

If so, shouldn't I write "in the next week", just as we do in "in the last year" case?

Does that rule include other time phrases as well?

  Next year, we are going to Italy.

but

  The project won't have been done by 2016, but the next year will be ours.

"I have a job interview ON Monday", but "I have a job interview NEXT Monday". Why do we drop "on" there?


texts:
Which is the more appropriate preposition? Of or in?

This event, held in NYC, reached hundreds of teenagers from public and private schools OF Florida.
This event, held in NYC, reached hundreds of teenagers from public and private schools IN Florida.


texts: Is this sentence correct to ask for a go

texts:
I have to ask a customer, if I can proceed with my work and I set up this sentence:

Please tell me if I should proceed.

Is this correct or is there a better way?


texts: a plural can be used when I don't know how many?

texts:
I need cars
Can it mean I need one car as in 'I need some cars' or 'I need a car' if I don't know how many cars I need? Ex. 'The predicate consists of the verb and its complements and also most adverbials.' why complements and adverbials, not complement and adverbial?


texts:
Is the use of the subjunctive correct in this sentence--
"Though he were the speaker, I would say the same."


texts: Should *American Gothic* be surrounded by commas or not?

texts:
Grant Wood's best known painting, American Gothic, is one of the few images to reach the status of universally recognised cultural icon.

I had thought that I should change the bold part to "painting American Gothic" (so effectively removing the commas around the title), since otherwise it isn't exactly clear which painting the author is referring to (yes I know American Gothic is famous, but there may be other paintings that could be referred to). However, apparently the answer is to keep things as they are (so keep the commas), and I was wondering why. Could someone help me understand this?


texts: What is the reason for using the word "map" here?

texts:
A sensory map of the lost hand

A functional hand is essential, but a hand is not just a perfected gripping tool. It is an inherent part of our identity, of our relationship with the world and with others. A hand is irreplaceable: at the clinical level alone transplantation still presents too many risks and disadvantages. Göran Lundborg, a hand surgeon at the Malmö University Hospital (SE) and member of the SmartHand project, highlights something of a paradox: ‘The amputee would like to have an artificial hand but one which he experiences as an inherent part of his own body.’ In principle, it is possible to induce a sensitivity in the artificial hand by connecting a sensor located on the prosthesis to an electrode implanted directly into the somatosensory cortex or into the peripheral nervous system. But the specific nature of the relationship between a lost hand and the brain allows us to envisage another possibility. ‘The amputation of a hand causes considerable functional reorganisations of the sensorial cortex,’ explains Göran Lundborg. ‘One of the consequences of these reorganisations is the formation of a sensory map of the lost hand on the surface of the stump.’ Stimulation of a precise location on this map is felt by the amputee at the same place on his lost hand (see box). Is this then the way of giving the amputee the sensation of having an artificial hand that is very much his own? It is too soon to say. The first stage is to re-create the sensation of force exerted on the object gripped.

Will there be a map of sensors of the lost hand on the surface of the stump? if so,how?


texts:
Is there a word for someone who says prayers?

P.S. I googled the phrase "someone who says prayers", assuming that if there were a definition for such a word in online dictionaries, it would be indexed in Google databases, but I got nothing! If the way I searched for an unknown word is not efficient and you know a better approach, please let me know.


texts:
Court documents detail what a man charged with murder told investigators about the abduction and killing of Mollie Tibbetts.

I'm not sure what 'what' is doing in this sentence.  'Detail' here is used as a verb. "charged with murder" modifies "a man". "A man told investigators about the abduction and killing of Mollie Tibbetts" is the main body of the sub-clause. So, I think 'that' is just fit.

  Court documents detail that a man charged with murder told investigators about the abduction and killing of Mollie Tibbetts.

Any thoughts?

The full source.


texts: Use of “-er” or the word “more” to make comparative forms

texts:
To make a comparative form, one can add –er (as in ‘nearer’) in some cases or one can use the word “more” as a prefix (as in "more beautiful") in some others.

Is there any rule that says where can one add –er and where can one use “more” as a prefix?


texts: Help understanding an explanation of deictic and non-deictic

texts:
Deictic time references are related to the speaker's perspective: in OP's sentences, will claim and will say lie in the speaker's future. Non-deictic time references are related to some other perspective: in OP's sentences, cheated is 'past' relative to the future event 'will claim', not an event in the speaker's past, and don't want is 'present' relative to the future event 'will say', not an event in the speaker's present.

The source is a comment on this answer.

The terms deictic and non-deictic in this explanation are confusing to me, so please could anyone explain it in a different way?

For me, the unclear part is the section in bold. How are the time references related and how do we know an event in the speaker's past or present?


texts:
This is the definition of superficial from OALD:

  not concerned with anything serious or important and lacking any depth of understanding or feeling

What does concerned with mean here? There are four senses of concern from OALD I find that all seems to be appropriate to the context:

  1 [often passive] concern somebody/something to affect somebody/something; to involve somebody/something
   - Don't interfere in what doesn't concern you.
  - The loss was a tragedy for all concerned (= all those affected by it).
  - Where our children's education is concerned, no compromise is acceptable.
  - The individuals concerned have some explaining to do.
  - To whom it may concern … (= used for example, at the beginning of a public notice or of a job reference about somebody's character and ability)
  - Everyone who was directly concerned in (= had some responsibility for) the incident has now resigned.
  - Please pay attention because this information concerns all of you..

  2 concern something (also be concerned with something) to be about something
  - The story concerns the prince's efforts to rescue Pamina.
  - The book is primarily concerned with Soviet-American relations during the Cold War.
  - This chapter concerns itself with the historical background.
  - One major difference between these computers concerns the way in which they store information.

  3 worried and feeling concern about something
  - Concerned parents held a meeting.
  - concerned about/for something The President is deeply concerned about this issue.
  - concerned for something He didn't seem in the least concerned for her safety.
  - concerned (that)… She was concerned that she might miss the turning and get lost.

  4 concerned (about/with something) interested in something
  - They were more concerned with how the other women had dressed than with what the speaker was saying.


texts:
Should these measures fail to restore order, harsher restrictions will have to be imposed.

Are “should” and “if” interchangeable at the beginning of a sentence? (Should he study hard, no doubt he would pass this course OR If he study hard, no doubt he would pass this course.)

If Not then in what cases we can interchange them.

If he should study hard........OR Should he study hard.......

Is this sentence conditional?


texts: I'm born or I was born, which one to use

texts:
Should I say I'm born in or I was born in?

Can I say I'm born in Paris in 1900, or should I say I was born in Paris in 1990?


texts:
Source

  Kristen is a young actress, and it’s very touching [for the French] to see somebody who doesn’t need to be here, because it’s not about money, it’s not about fame, it’s about exploring different ways of expressing yourself,” the actress explained. “It is touching to us because there is a tradition here in France of making movies as an art form [rather than a business]. Final cut is given to the director, it is in the law here in France. A producer cannot have a final cut. It is in the law.

What does she mean by the bold part?


texts:
I don't understand the difference between "be wearing" and "wear".
For example:

He should be wearing a helmet.
He should wear a helmet.

Which sentence is correct?


texts: "Does it mean that she won?" or "it means that she won?"

texts:
Scenario:

  My sister arrives in my house crying, after a competition.
  So, we can't know if she won or lost yet.

So, someone ask:

"Does it mean that she won?"

or

"It means that she won?"

What sentence should I use and why?


texts: Instead of saying "She watches French movies with English subtitles" I can say "She watches French movies with translation, with the translation, with subtitles, with the subtitles. Please correct me if I am wrong. But if I need to say that someone watches French movies with French subtitles, or English movies with English subtitles, how do I say that? For example, if I see that a friend of mine is watching Titanic with English subtitles the movie is not dubbed, can I say "My friend is watching Titanic without the translation, without translation, without subtitles, without the subtitles?


texts:
I listened to an English podcast that a boy asked a girl to be his friend.
here is the conversation:

  I know you better than anyone, I know
  the pros and cons of your personality, I even know
  what side of the bed is yours! I think we would be
  great together, don’t you?

in this dialog, what is the meanig of expression: i know what side of the bed is yours!

what is the proper usecase of this expression?


texts:
We have had a lot of problems while working on this project.

  We had had a lot of problems while working on this project.

I just want to clarify that the first sentence means that we are still working on the project, and the second means that we don't work on the project anymore. Is that correct? How do you understand these sentences?


texts:
Could you please suggest me which word to use.
Could you please suggest to me which word to use.

I am not sure which of the above two forms is grammatical. I am confused because for tell verb we use 'tell me', and for explain 'explain to me'.
Can anyone please explain it to me?


texts: "You will want to..." vs. "you will be wanting to..."

texts:
Could you tell me what the difference in meaning between you will want to and you will be wanting to is? For example in the ninth episode of the second season of Rick and Morty, an alien said the following?

Of course, you’ll be wanting to be gone from here by sundown.

Apparently he used in the sense of giving advice. How this sentence is different from the one below?

Of course, you’ll want to be gone from here by sundown.


texts: Alternative to the work "pick-up line" and or "ice breaker"

texts:
I'm searching for a word which does have the same meaning as a pick-up line or an ice breaker but without the implication or intention of dating.

A simple word which means the begin of a conversation, the "first approach".

I don't even know how to call it in my native language (German) which makes it incredible hard to search for an English word.

EDIT: It is about a personal conversation and no business matter.


texts:
I have a question about the usage of the verb "sink" here:

  Wagon sank up to their hubs.

"Sink" means, loosely, going downward in some liquid.  So, the part "up to their hubs" seems weird.  Could it be an error?


texts: what is the best choice here was or would

texts:
I told you last time not to send them before both would be  out or were out
Are both sentences idiomatic  I think the second is surer than the first one


texts: What is the difference between "talk over" and "talk about"?

texts:
What is the difference between talk over, and talk about? For example:

  I came up with the idea of how to boost sales and I would like to talk about it with the boss.

  I came up with the idea of how to boost sales and I would like to talk it over with the boss.


texts: I'm ready for something Vs. I'm prepared for something

texts:
The NBC News headlines says...

  Most Say U.S. Is Prepared for Possible Ebola Outbreak, Poll Shows

Now, this raises a question in my mind whether "I'm ready for something" is equal to "I'm prepared for something".

Suppose I am putting my all money into a new business in a recession and someone warns me about the consequences, do these replies of mine mean the same?

  "Don't worry, I'm ready for any consequences"

And...

  "Don't worry, I'm prepared for any consequences"

My understanding: The word prepare has a **little* flair of unwillingness i.e. we are quite optimistic about the consequences but we are pretty sure that it won't happen. On the other hand, the word ready itself denotes some negation and we are not optimistic. That said, I'm ready for any consequences as I know that there are fair chances to happen that.

In other words, if I'm ready for the loss in business, I'm okay if the loss actually happens. I accept it. But if I'm prepared for the loss means I have certainly arranged some other sources of income. In short, if someone is ready, he simply accepts the thing but if someone is prepared he has the alternative way to come out of the situation.

Am I right?


texts: What does author want to say in this excerpt?

texts:
This excerpt is taken from this source.

I have just defined a sanctuary as a place where man is passive and the rest of Nature active. But this general definition is too absolute for any special case. The mere fact that man has to protect a sanctuary does away with his purely passive attitude. Then, he can be beneficially active by destroying pests and parasites, like bot-flies or mosquitoes, and by finding antidotes for diseases like the epidemic which periodically kills off the rabbits and thus starves many of the carnivora to death. But, except in cases where experiment has proved his intervention to be beneficial, the less he upsets the balance of  Nature the better, even when he tries to be an earthly Providence.

I did not comprehend the meaning fully. For example, what the author wants to say does away with his passive attitude in this line

The mere fact that man has to protect a sanctuary does away with his purely passive attitude.

I have also confusion to understand the whole meaning of this reading comprehension. Could anyone help me to understand the main theme.


texts:
This is the context:

  Two sheets of paper from a phonebook may slide
  across each other quite easily, but multiply that friction by the number of pages in two
  phonebooks by interweaving the pages and you've got yourself a monster
  capable of lifting an entire car.

  Source: Vsauce: Is 5-second rule true? from 07:19 to 07:34

What is the meaning of "multiply by" in this context? Does it mean "increase" or just means "performing multiplication"?


texts: omitting "for" when using the verb "wish"

texts:
Is it correct to say this?

  I don't wish everything to be simple, that's not gonna happen (nor do I think it's what we want)

Someone pointed out to me that I should've said,

  I don't wish for everything to be simple, that's not gonna happen (nor do I think it's what we want)

Which one is correct?


texts:
1) The salesman said he was very glad to receive the order the day
  before.
  2) The salesman said he was very glad to have received the
  order the day before.

I think that a perfect infinitive (to have p.p) should be applied to the subordinate clause when the tense of the main clause is preceded by that of the subordinate one.

The above two sentences have the adverbial phrase "the day before" indicating that certain behavior happened in the past. But what is the adverbial phrase modifying now? If it modifies the behavior of receiving now, the sentence 2 will be right, but if it qualifies the behavior of saying, can the sentence 1 be right?


texts: Using two auxiliary verbs in one sentence

texts:
I have a question about this sentence:

  "The reason why I study English is because it is the language that binds us together."

I'm fairly sure this is correct, but I don't know how to explain why I had to use two auxiliary verbs. I need to know how to explain this and I've searched online but I'm probably using the wrong keywords since I can't find an answer. Could you please tell me why two auxiliary verbs are needed here?


texts:
Can I write relative clauses modifying whole sentences without "which"? Is it grammatically correct?

  Example 1:

  My friends didn't come to the reunion, which infuriated me.
  =>
  My friends didn't come to the reunion, infuriating me.

  Example 2:

  The storm dumped heavy downpours in this town, which caused many injuries.
  =>
  The storm dumped heavy downpours in this town, causing many injuries.


texts: present perfect or past simple for a finished action

texts:
Are these sentences correct

I feel fat. I ate too much

I feel fat because I've eaten too much

Will it be possible to write

I feel fat. I've eaten too much

What will be the difference in term of meaning


texts: What is the difference between "Will you get to know" and "Will you know"?

texts:
For example, what is the difference between "Will you get to know your daughter" and "Will you know your daughter"?
In what situations do you use "get to"?


texts: Can we say "rather than to + Verb", Eg: rather than to live abroad?

texts:
Here they say

  We use rather than to give more importance to one thing when two
  alternatives or preferences are being compared:

  He wanted to be an actor rather than a comedian.

  Can we come over on Saturday rather than Friday?

  Rather than usually occurs between two things which are being compared. However, we can also use it at the beginning of a sentence.
  When we use rather than with a verb, we use the base form or (less commonly) the -ing form of a verb:

  Rather than pay the taxi fare, he walked home. (or Rather than paying
  the taxi fare, he walked home.)

  Not: Rather than to pay …

But this site has 2 examples:

I would prefer ('d prefer) my son to live with me rather than to live abroad.

I would prefer your daughter to have accepted my apology rather than to have ignored me last night.

I would think the site is wrong.

We have to say

I would prefer ('d prefer) my son to live with me rather than live abroad.

I would prefer your daughter to have accepted my apology rather than have ignored me last night.

Can we say "rather than to + Verb"?


texts: How do I refer to a scholarship competition or a admission course competition? Competition doesn't seem the right word

texts: In Portuguese I would say "concurso" and not "competição" which has the same meaning as competition in English. In English it seems off to say competition because a competition is more direct, like a sports competition.


texts: "What I'd held in my hand was..." or "What I held in my hand had been?"

texts:
Which is the correct form? Should I write:

  My teacher said I had stumbled upon a colony of ants, that an
  anteater or some other animal had probably made the hole in an
  attempt to eat them. And that what I'd held in my hand was an
  exploding ant.

Or

  My teacher said I had stumbled upon a colony of ants, that an
  anteater or some other animal had probably made the hole in an
  attempt to eat them. And that what I held in my hand had been an
  exploding ant.


texts: "I love my boss" can I agree with this without expressing any strange relation?

texts:
The Stack Overflow programmers survey is asking at one point to select on a scale from agreeing over neutral to disagree how much it fits to given statements.

One statement is "I love my boss".
On the one hand it feels like clicking anything else then "Disagree Completely" would express, I would pursue a romantic relation to my boss.

While on the other hand selecting "Disagree Completely" looks to me like it will be analyzed later as "x% say the person they are working for is an unstandable a***ole". But that's not what I would want to express. I really love to work for my boss and I really love the relaxed way he leads the company. But I can't see by the statement without any context a way of interpreting it differently from the first case.


texts:
I found the example below in this website

  I hardly dare to go into the room without first getting permission.

The word "first" position in the middle bothers me, I don't know why.

Should that be

  "I hardly dare to go into the room without getting the permission first"


texts:
How to distinguish between the place were sick people lying (hospital) and work 24 hours a day, to the place where people go for check-ups or as primary medicine (G.P. / family doctor)? In many countries they are specific buildings (not even close to hospitals) and in Eastern Europe it's called policlinic.

Regarding to the word clinic, as I understand it can be also used for hospitals, but I'm looking for a word that's specific not for hospitals (=where sick people lying). I'm a bit confused.

According to Oxford:

  Clinic - An establishment or hospital department where outpatients are
  given medical treatment or advice, especially of a specialist nature.

It's a bit different from what I can understand by the term "clinical picture" which speaks about patients in hospitals many times. Also, in many countries thes

So a native English speaker who goes to a general check-up, or to have a consultation in outpatient may say: "I'm going to the clinic" while it's understood it isn't for hospital? Or what is the common term that I'm looking for?


texts:
I would like to find out how to say some things about the guitar.
I came up with this sentence:

The more the gauge ( of the strings)  the more sustain it provides.

I felt there is something wrong. So I thought of two other options:

The more the gauge is the more sustain it provides.

The larger the gauge the better sustain it provides.

Which one is the most grammatically correct option?


texts: What does the phrase "'splodier Flatulence" mean here?

texts:
Please help me figure out the meaning of the phrase "'splodier Flatulence" in the following text from the description of the game Giant Dancing Plushie:

We enjoy pulling off awesome combos that unleash car-crushing disco
blasts and tank-smashing eye lasers. A green Oinkster the pig with
’splodier Flatulence?

Here is a brief description of the game from 148 Apps:

Giant Dancing Plushies is a game where you control building-sized
stuffed animals as they strut down the street, destroying cars, tanks,
and more. You can move these giant animals one step at a time, but the
game challenges you to do it to the beat of either the in-game
soundtrack or whatever music you might be listening to at the time.


texts: Is "once, on one Monday" okay in English?

texts:
Is it okay to say "once, on one [name of day of the week]" or does it sound rather unnatural?
For example:

Once, on one Monday, when the homeroom teacher was not in the class,
she got on the desk and started signing.

If it's unnatural, than what would be the idiomatic way of expressing some happening in the past that happened at one particular point in time in the past during one particular day of the week?


texts:
Consider the following imperative sentence:

  "Take a look at that group of people."

If I have to clarify how exactly I want a person (or persons) to look at that group of people--let's say cautiously, should I insert the word cautious between take and look?

  "Take a cautious look at that group of people."

Or should I say,

  "Look cautiously at that group of people."

Thanks in advance. Victor.


texts: What is meaning of "cash out" when used for a theory?

texts: Can someone please explain me what is the meaning of cash out in this context on the highlighed sentence? I have found in dictionaries meanings like "to convert (noncash assets) to cash" bu it does not seem to be true.


texts: The meaning of "Impressive as the achievements of Western technological science are, ..." in the context

texts:
Impressive as the achievements of Western technological science are, there is no denying that they have been bought at a price, which includes increased nervous strain and destruction of the Earth's natural riches.

1.In this sentence, I guess "as" means equal of the next phrase...
Is it right?

2.and I can hardly understand the relevance of the two phrase(impressive~are,there~riches)..someone told me I can think 'a/ad as S V' as 'though S V a/ad' I want to know the reason why I have to understand like this way..,.not literally


texts:
At first, please read 2 below sentences.
When I arrived, everybody was sitting round the table and talking. Their mouths were empty, but their stomachs were full.
After those sentences which next is more appropriate? Could you explain why?

They had eaten.

vs

They had been eating.

As to me, I think the first one is more suitable, because we know that "their stomachs were full".


texts: why "American-born", not "America-born"?

texts:
I tried but failed to wrap my head around the grammar for the term
"American-born" (and all other similar expressions - "Canadian-born", "French-born", ...etc).
Is it a set phrase or is there some grammar rule why the term has to be American-born, not America-born ?


texts: what does "All the roads out of the city were snowbound" mean?

texts: this sentence is from Longman dictionary, I wonder which part of the roads were blocked, is it part from inside city to other place(such as suburb, or another city ), does the sentence also implicate the roads inside city were not blocked by snow?


texts: What's the difference between "getting worse and worse" and "getting worse by the day"?

texts:
And, also in which alternative is the use correct?

A) While TV showed the inaugurations of costly, lavish football stadiums, people felt their lives were getting worse and worse. After all, the World Cup will cost the range some $ 15 billions, and the promised legacy in infrastructure is still nowhere to be seen.

B) While TV showed the inaugurations of costly, lavish football stadiums, people felt their lives were getting worse by the day. After all, the World Cup will cost the range some $ 15 billions, and the promised legacy in infrastructure is still nowhere to be seen.


texts: "a few weeks later" vs "after a few weeks"

texts:
Tell me please which way of saying that after some time something happened: after some time or some time later? For example:

  I hurt my back, but a few weeks later it got better.

  I hurt my back, but after a few weeks it got better.


texts: What does it mean to "pronounce oneself/itself on something""

texts: pronounceIt may seem dangerous to express oneself on the future of labour law, since it is widely considered to be in crisis by scholars of the field. There is no doubt that anyone attempting to predict the probable developments by presenting hypotheses regarding these developments runs the risk of making errors. Especially the impossibility to guarantee the relevancy of the chosen parameters and a correct evaluation of the nature of their relations could lead to erroneous predictions. The same applies when one has the ambition to pronounce oneself on the future of institutions, structures or procedures laid down in and protected by law.


texts: "There are 2 ways for A to do ... " or "There are 2 ways for A doing ..."?

texts:
I want to make this sentence,

  There are two ways for C++ calling C# Class Library.

I don't know if

  There are two ways for C++ to call C# Class Library.

would be better.

PS: I know it's a little bit technical, however, grammar is grammar, it's always the same with the common sentence.
About C++ call C# Library


texts:
I am wondering if there is any rule on capitalization regarding to the title of articles.

For example, Should I write:
"The Road to Berlin" Or "The road to Berlin" ?

I understand that the city name must be capitalized. However, the common word such as "road", should it be capitalized as well ?

Here is another tricky example:
"A fast learning algorithm for deep belief nets"

The correct capitalized should be:
"A Fast Learning Algorithm for Deep Belief Nets" since I must capitalize everything except a preposition. Is this true?

What's about the title containing a consecutive word like this example:
"Deep learning in neural networks: An overview"
I am not sure why the author does not capitalize everything.

I conclude that there is no specific rule for this and it is a matter of writing style. Can anyone help me confirm this?

Here is the similar question but it does not answer my specific question.
How to capitalize (or not) an abbreviation, is there any rule?

Thank you!


texts:
Fill in the blank

The way people actually speak and write a language .......
a) linguist
b) statement
c) subject
d) usage

I have been eliminate other choices that can be the answer. So it should be "usage". But why it is true? I think usage means the way we use something.


texts:
I heard the sentence below in the TV show, "Two Broke Girls".

  I don't give a crap what you said.

I think it should add an 'about'. Then it becomes:

  I don't give a crap about what you said.

What would be the correct/idiomatic way to say it?

Also, I see lots of similar phrases: give a darn, give a damn, give a shit, give a f*ck, and etc. Do these phrases mean exactly the same?


texts:
I unintentionally noticed that, in a TV sitcom series, the phrase "regular of bowel" was used. According to the translation subtitles, it means something like having a kind heart or willing to help. But a google search suggests nothing supportive. I thus would like to ask native English speakers the meaning and usage of this seemingly unusual phrase.

Thanks.


texts: What does "to be going to be" mean in this speech?

texts:
I am by no means going to raise a political discussion in this thread but what made me start this topic is my doubt that the speech I'm going to quote below has been properly understood by Russian media therefore I'd like to know how would you (especially American English native speakers) interpret that:

  I think if you look at the situation.. there's a political debate that has happened in this country on whether we.. or whether Russia is our friend or whether that is not our friend. That's really the wrong question to have because Russia's never gonna be our friend. But having said that that doesn't mean that we don't wanna work with them. But we work with them when we need to and we slap them when we need to. That's just the way it needs to be.

So I'm choosing between 3 interpretations of the phrase Russia's never gonna be our friend:

"We don't want to have friendly relations with Russia"
"I don't expect we will ever achieve friendly relations with Russia"
"Russia doesn't have intentions to have friendly relations with the U.S."

Russian media sticks to the option #1 and it seems to fit with the subsequent Nikki's phrase ("we don't want friendship but that doesn't mean we don't want to cooperate with them") while I think it's more like #3 and this interpretation seems to be logical given the preceding sentence ("we have debates about possible friendship but they don't have such intentions at all").

So, what interpretation seems to be the most precise to you?


texts: Why is "aircrafts" bad English, while "crafts" is okay?

texts: I am puzzled by this. Why is "aircrafts" invalid, while "crafts" can be used legitimately? I've also heard that "crafts" cannot be used because the plural of "craft" is always "craft". Which is right?


texts: How should the word "restaurant" be pronounced in BrE? Does the "t" in the end give a sound?I know that in Cambridge Dictionary "t" is written in the transcription, however, I heard the opinion that it can be silent in "restaurant".


texts:
To talk about the transport we use to get to a place, we use 'by + transport', with no article needed and no change in the noun form, e.g. by boat.

What about in the case when we use an adjective to describe the transport?
Should we say:

I went to the island by big boat.,
I went to the island by big boats. or
I went to the island by a big boat.

Thanks in advance.


texts:
Half as much money as total national income was wagered in the country's betting shops .

  Money Half as much as national income was wagered in the country's betting shops .

I couldn't understand if there is any difference between two sentence . If I say two sentence to same person Would that person understand the same ? when we think that the first sentence is ;

  Money (that is) half as much as national income was wagered in the country's betting shops .

I thought both has same meaning.


texts: I had an enjoyable night or I have an enjoyable night

texts:
When receiving text from a friend the next day after a dinner.
I replied "Thank you for your invitation.  I had an enjoyable night."
Or should I reply "I have an enjoyable night"


texts: Use of [before] or [in front of] in an expression about submission or yielding

texts:
I want to express that a crew wanted a captian to resign. The captain didn't want to resign but the crew's wishes prevailed over the Captain's.
Is it idiomatic to word the idea like:

Soon the captain resigned before the crew's wishes.

or

Soon the captain resigned in front of the crew's wishes.

?
If not, what word would work there?


texts: He makes me miss the relative jocundity of King Joffrey killing sex workers with a cross-bow. Pleasingly, we saw in this opening episode that Ramsay’s father Rouse is now fully aware that his son is as much use as a nougat fireguard when it comes to leadership.


texts: Difference between the very soon and in a jiffy

texts:
I will be with you very soon

vs.

  I will be with you in a jiffy

Which of the two sentences is more correct?


texts: more common way to say "act upon word or a promise"

texts:
Based on what Merriam dictionary and some of other references have noted, usage of the verb "act upon" is very rare and bottom 10% of popularity.
So how do natives convey this concept( do a promise )?
Are there any other verbs or expressions?


texts: Why isn't there an article in "if you're not family"?

texts:
[Fred] “Merry Christmans!”   [George] "Hey, look –– Harry's got
  a Weasley sweater, too!"     Fred and George were wearing blue
  sweaters, one with a large yellow F on it, the other a G.     "Harry's
  is better than ours, though," said Fred, holding up Harry's sweater.
  "She [my mother] obviously makes more of an effort if you're not
  family."  (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)

Why isn’t there any article before family?


texts:
I can't understand this:

  How do you catch a tame rabbit?
   The tame way

I found that tame means:

  not dangerous or frightened of people; domesticated.

But how does this fit into the joke?


texts: Are comparisons between a human and an animal considered vulgar or obscene in standard English?

texts:
In my mother tongue, drawing an analogy between a human and an animal such as a dog, goat, donkey, monkey, or fox is offensive and taboo. Is this true in English?

For example:

  He is as tired as a dog.

or

  What is after you? You are as jumpy as a goat!

Do these convey any insult or vulgarity?


texts: Usage of the present perfect simple and present perfect continuous tenses

texts:
I have been studying the present perfect simple and the present perfect continuous tenses this week, and I have tried many exercises to improve my grammar. Then I tried this exercise, but I can't find the correct answer to the first question.
I thought the correct answer for the first question was:

you have been keeping a pet for 3 years.

But according to the website, the correct answer is:

You've kept a pet for three years.

Please explain when to use the present perfect simple instead of the present perfect continuous.


texts:
What is the difference between walk past and pass by?

  The two men often walk past by the eiffel tower.

Vs.

  The two men often pass by the eiffel tower.

Or they both the same? Any subtleties or any sort...


texts:
Does my sentence have parallelism?
"He criticizes public schools because they are compulsory, government-funded, and destroying students' humanity."


texts: You slept with your mouth open VS with your mouth opened (could be difference?)

texts:
You slept with your mouth open

You slept with your mouth opened

Could be difference?


texts:
What would be the perfect use in below conversation "would be or would have been".

1st Scenario

I called my friend but he didn’t pick up my phone. I didn’t try to call him immediately because I thought he would be/would have been driving his car.

In my thinking process should I use would be or would have been?

2nd Scenario

After sometime i called him again. Now I want to tell him that thought, should I use would be/would have been.

"I called you sometime back but you didn’t pick up my call. I thought you would be/would have been driving you car"


texts: What are the differences between /ɑ/ and /ɔ/ in American English?

texts:
I learned /ɑ/ and /ɔ/ represent two different vowels.

However,recently I read a book, the American writer said she didn't differentiate between /ɑ/ or /ɔ/. She used only /ɑ/ for everything so I think dog, door,caught, cot, core, car must be /ɑ/.

It's easier for me to just say that everything represents /ɑ/. Though, I learn new words with /ɑ/ or /ɔ/ from reading,can I pronounce them with only /ɑ/?


texts: How to say : I can imagine what you are feeling

texts:
For instance if someone tell me something like "I had a bad day then I am tired and bored etc..."
I would like to answer something which means that "okai I can imagine" meaning okai I can understand what you are feeling now.

In my native language which is French we use to say "I can imagine" but I am not sure about English.

thanks


texts: the superlatives/first/second/last/only + noun + to infinitive/V-ing

texts:
'Practical English Usage' by Swan says:

  Superlatives can be followed by an infinitive structure. The meaning is similar
  to an identifying relative clause (see 495).

  He's the oldest athlete ever to win an Olympic gold medal.

  (= ... who has ever won ...)

  This structure is also common with first, second, third etc, next, last and only.

  Who was the first person to climb Everest without oxygen?

  The next to arrive was Mrs Patterson.

  She's the only scientist to have won three Nobel prizes.

Question #1: Only the last example has the perfect infinitive ("have won"). Can the other examples have the perfect infinitive as follows?

  He's the oldest athlete ever to have won an Olympic gold medal.

  Who was the first person to have climbed Everest without oxygen?

  The next to have arrived was Mrs Patterson.

Question #2:
Is the infinitive structure merely optional or obligatory?

For example, can you use V-ing instead as follows?

  He's the oldest athlete ever winning an Olympic gold medal.

  Who was the first person climbing Everest without oxygen?

  The next arriving was Mrs Patterson.

  She's the only scientist having won three Nobel prizes.


texts: When do nouns that end in -ics take a plural verb?

texts:
But statistics has something more than this.
Until recently optics has only been three dimensional, and holography belongs to this form, too.
Similarly, the semantics has no special provision for tracking temporal changes.

Examples above 'demonstrate' that ics-words normally take a singular verb.
Nevertheless it seems that there are exceptions to this 'rule'. For example:

His mathematics were as good as his classics.
In this study, the mathematics of quantitative PCR are examined in detail, from which several fundamental aspects of the ...
This transition also provides an important insight into why the mathematics of symmetry are so deeply intertwined with ...
The mathematics of gambling are a collection of probability applications encountered in games of chance and can be ...
As a result, the economics of the business are now shaped by insurance markets just as they are by ...
Scotland could probably go it alone now, but the economics of independence are steadily worsening ...
... the semantics of a language are what the utterances of the language mean ( which is formalized in various ways, ...
The semantics of these operations are shown below. Square brackets are used to indicate atomic operations, i.e., ...

So the question is: Is there a  general rule governing the ics-words in reference to the circumstances in which these words must take a singular or plural verb?


texts:
I would just like to ask which of the sentences are correct and which are not?

Have the test results come back yet? (This is what I usually use. But I heard someone say come up but not sure if what he said was correct)
Have the test results come up yet?
Have the test results come out yet?
Have the test results turned up yet?

Thanks


texts: Is it appropriate to use "in" always to denote inside a vehicle?

texts:
Normally when someone is inside a vehicle it is written as

He is in the car
I am in the bus

But can I use the same word when it is related with a bike or bicycle
are below sentences are correct ?

I am in the bicycle
He is in a bike

What is the correct way to express above two sentences ?


texts:
I recenty got my essay back from my teacher and she said that it was wrong to use upper case "Earth". When I'm writing Earth, I'm referencing to the planet Earth, not soil. This is the sentence which included "errors". She gave me an error in every word that I marked with strong first letter.

  This is why the Moon orbits the Earth, and the Earth orbits the Sun, and the Sun orbits the black hole in the middle of the Milky Way.

Who is right, me or her?


texts: The meaning of 'already' in the sentence 'Let's go already!'

texts:
Does Let's go already! mean Let's go now?

Then, does already in the sentence mean "we should be going now; we're late?"

That's what I understood so far.

Could you please tell me what Let's go already! means?

You should already know how to do that.

  A: Can you show me how to fill out this form?
    B: Absolutely. And after that, you want me to show how to wipe your ass?
    C: It's funny, because you should already know how to do both those things.

I know that the way B and C are speaking is kind of kidding and teasing A, but I was wondering why C is using the word already.

You should know means "you better know", but I know that already means "happened in the past", and "happened than you expected". Does it mean "You should know it sooner: you should learn how to do that sooner than you planned"?


texts: "December the third" vs "December third"

texts:
My birthday party is on the third of December.

  My birthday party is on _____ _____ _____.

I encountered this question in a quiz. It requires me to rephrase the first sentence without changing its meaning. The answer key is "December the third". But I feel it's wrong, there shouldn't be the definite article 'the' according to my knowledge. I think it should be "My birthday party is on December third, or December 3(rd)".

And also, someone says "you never write the definite article before the date, but you pronounce it."

So, I'm confused now. Can someone help me out of this?


texts:
When you explain to someone that you realized or noticed something at a certain point, should the realizing or noticing be past perfect or simple past or present perfect?

  I emailed you because I had realized that you would not be here tomorrow.

  I emailed you because I realized that you were not going to be here tomorrow.

  We decided not to go because we had noticed that the place we had chosen *would/will* not be nice.

  We noticed that you have created your own program." or "We noticed that you created your own program.


texts: How to understand "bit rich coming from you"

texts:
... said Ron, "You know we're not supposed to do spells outside school-"

  "Bit rich coming from you," said Harry, staring at the floating car.

  "Oh, this doesn't count," said Ron."We are only borrowing this, it's dad's, we didn't enchant it. But doing magic in front of those Muggles you live ...

  "I told you , I didn't -- ... " (said by Harry)

"Bit rich coming from you" looks like an incomplete sentence in spoken English. Is it like saying: it's a bit rich/expensive thing coming from you?


texts: The use of "I" and "we" used in the same sentence and other questions

texts:
First of all I'm not even sure if the sentence I'm using as an example is correctly formulated. Even a seach for "I was at the church last Sunday" on Google gave me only three results so I think it's not very usual, maybe even wrong, but I don't know a better way to say it.

Ok, here's my question. I'm trying to say three different things using only one phrase. They are...

I went to the church last Sunday and I went by myself - nobody wanted to go with me.
There were many other people inside the church.
At some point a big explosion occurred outside and everybody inside the church heard it. Of course I didn't check that with each person inside the church... I'm just assuming everybody heard it because it was a very loud explosion.

I'm trying to put all that in a single phrase but I'm having a hard time doing that. My first attempt was...

"I was at the church last Sunday when we heard the sound of a big explosion coming from the outside".

This usage of "I and "we" in the same phrase didn't sound good to me (although I'm not sure if it's possible or not). So I tried another one...

"I was at the church last Sunday when I heard the sound of a big explosion coming from the outside".

This phrase sounds fine except for the fact that it gives the impression that I was alone in the church - which isn't true. So I tried this new one...

"I was at the church last Sunday when a big explosion was heard coming from the outside".

This one sounds little better although it doesn't make it clear that there were other people in the church besides me.

It looks like it should be something very easy to be said but I just don't know how. Could someone help me with this one?


texts:
I could not understand exactly if the word to galvanize suggests some violant action?
Is it neutral or does it have a meaning more encourage or more incite especially in as the following context? Or can we  say  it has meaning " raising awareness"

  How social media galvanized the community in Ferguson.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-social-media-galvanized-the-community-in-ferguson/


texts:
My friend says that "at" could be used with "reach"
e.g. "i couldn't reach at the airport"
but I don't think that's possible because "reach" is a transitive verb which doesn't require preposition
so, what do you think? could "at" be used with "reach" or not?


texts:
"He came to sell" or "he comes to sell" or "he has come to sell" What's correct for present time(action perfected just now)?
I think I have to use second, but I never saw phrase like that.


texts: What is the true meaning of "but" in this context? Does it mean "except"?

texts:
what is the true meaning of "but" in this context? does it means "except"?

  From all that I was able to observe in the presence of Mrs. Jencken, I
  am forced to come to the conclusion that the phenomena peculiar to
  that medium are of a strongly objective and convincing nature, and
  they would, I think, be sufficient for the most pronounced but Honest
  sceptic to cause him to reject ventriloquism, muscular action, and
  every such artificial explanation of the phenomena.

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


texts:
This one, and the related questions linked from there, addresses the choice between ...

This one, and the related questions linked from there, address the choice between ...

Which one is correct, (1) or (2)?


texts: "I would be very glad to have a brief account of same." Not sure if it is "of same" or "of some"

texts:
I met this sentence:

  Should there be any more experiments I would be very glad to have a brief account of same.

It appears in this context.

The question is, does it make sense to say "of same" (an account of the same kind as before) or this is just a mistake made by the typist and the author of the text had in mind the construction "of some" experiments.


texts:
I realized him on/at the first time I enter the room.

Which preposition should I use “on” or “at” in sentence above or Does both have the same meaning?