texts: Asking the reason of two related statements in one "why" sentence

texts:
Suppose I want to say

  Why does your method work?  Why doesn't mine work?

in one sentence.  Shoud I say

  Why does your method work but mine doesn't?

or

  Why does your method work but doesn't mine?


texts:
Are we allowed to use any adjective after the word "turn"?

For example:

turn hot
turn cold
turn red
turn white
turn salty


texts: "promise to love her for better or for worse"; why FOR?

texts:
Promise to love her for better or for worse

That's from the vows of a wedding and I kinda know what that means, but I was wondering why did they use 'for' here.
Could you find and show me the same usage of 'for' from any dictionary entry?


texts: Where do I put an adjective in the structure 'the rest of something'?

texts:
If I want to add a modifier to the phrase 'the rest of [noun]', should I put it between 'the' and 'rest'? For example

  Population is mostly concentrated in the east. There are only few villages in the mountainous rest of the region.

Is it okay? Don't suggest rephrasing.


texts: What do you call the sculpted part of a statue?

texts: What do you call the sculpted part of a statue or any sculpted object? I am wondering if there's a word for the sculpted part of an object. The unsculpted part being flat, and the sculpted part having many intricate bulges.


texts:
What is the difference between "studying" and "learning"?

What will a student do?

What will a learner do?


texts: What does "razor-cheekboned wisdom" mean?

texts: ". Three times I've watched the first half of season one of Breaking Bad, three times I've given up on the coughing, the chemicals, the camper van, the crack and the corpses. In the meantime, I cackle on about Westeros, about Cersai Lannister and her wonky, regal, razor-cheekboned wisdom; Cersai, perched in her palace room in King's Landing, goblet of plonk in hand, slurring sadly for her boyfriend Jamie. He's also her brother, but, gosh he's handsome and hard as nails, so we overlook the vomitous aspect.


texts: For a subheading, can I replace "Obligation to Implement the Security and Maintenance" with "Security, Maintenance and Obligation"? The former might be too long for a subheading of a document.


texts: Difference between present perfect and present perfect continuous

texts:
What is the difference between the following 2 sentences? Or are they same?

He has walked for an hour.
He has been walking for an hour.

Is it that in 1, he may not walk now and in 2, he is walking now?


texts:
Direct:

  He said, "If I were a bird!"

Indirect:

  ***** He wished that he would be a bird.

OR

  ***** He wished that he were a bird.

I'm confused whether the former or the latter is correct.

My textbook indicates the former one, but it sometimes has mistakes.


texts: Is "First bite" genuine English, or wasei-eigo?

texts:
At a wedding a friend of mine attended in Japan, she saw the bride and groom feed each other a slice of cake. He was told by the MC that it was "first bite" (ファーストバイト), a commitment the bride and groom make to each other. I think the commitment is that the man provides for the woman, and that the woman cooks for the man.

Is "first bite" a genuine English term for this tradition, or is it wasei-eigo (English made in Japan)? Or, worse yet, not a real tradition!

I looked in onelook.com, but the only hit it got was for an album.


texts:
Sentence A : I haven't even examined the results.

Sentence B : I haven't examined the results yet

Question : Which one that a native english speaker would use ? or is there any alternative that would sound more natural by a native tounge.


texts: How can I say? "He gives me back my bag which I got produced"

texts:
I'd like to say that I have "item"  done by someone else when this item is denoted by which/that clauses..

Do I have to use get only? Because if I say have then it means ("..bag which I have produced") I have produced it.. By here I want use have to denote that I have it produced. Do I need to use got for that?

Thank you


texts: How to politely ask a customer to close a ticket/incident

texts:
This is the way I currently phrase it, although I was wondering if it could be improved?

  I am glad to hear that the issue is now solved. Please consider closing this message if you do not have any additional questions.


texts:
I've learned how to use "My wife and I" in a sentence. There are a lot of interesting materials on the internet:

https://www.grammarbank.com/my-friend-and-me.html
http://www.english-for-students.com/My-Friend.html
Etc.

But today I accidentally came across this video

https://twitter.com/business/status/1125412934354636800

and Prince Harry says: "Megan and myself had a baby boy"

When should we use "myself" instead of "I" and "me"?

For a non-native speaker it is a bit confusing.


texts: Until (till) and tenses in the main clause. Why prefer one over another?

texts:
They had been playing soccer until it started to rain.
They played soccer until it started to rain.

Is there any reason you should prefer one over the other? Grammar resources say that the word "until" (till) can be a marker of both the past simple and past perfect progressive tenses.
They also say that the past perfect progressive is the least used tense in English.


texts: What is the difference between "I'm sure", "I think", "I believe"

texts:
I know these sentences are used to express opinions.
"I'm sure", "I think", "I believe"

But I don't know the exact difference between them.
What I know is that "I'm sure", "I believe" are more confidence expressions than "I think". Actually, I don't know if this is correct.


texts:
'Present perfect' or 'simple present': Which one should I use in the following context?

After I have started/start earning, I have realized how much money I have wasted demanding silly things from parents.


texts: Said he had been surprised or said he was surprised?

texts:
Reading this article I’m quite puzzled as regards the use of had been. For me, the sentence as is makes no sense; it’s kind of no finished idea, as though you expected something to follow, which is why I’d use was instead:

  The Saudi ambassador to Indonesia, Mustafa Ibrahim al-Mubarak, said he had been "surprised" to be summoned, but would "check what went wrong".

Please compare the following sentence which comes next in the article:

  The Saudi interior ministry said the execution had been delayed for more than 15 years until the youngest of the victim's children was old enough to decide whether or not the family would want to pardon Ms Zainab or demand her execution.

Here the use of had been is perfectly understandable, the action described takes place before another action finished in the past.


texts: Which definition of the word 'order' is used in the phrase 'in order to'?

texts: the word 'order' has multiple definitions so when used in the phrase 'in order to do something', which of those definitions is used?


texts: Why “‘Someone’s ‘ here”? instead of “I”?

texts: Before, I asked what the phrases were used when you were in a bathroom and heard the door knocked (https://english.stackexchange.com/q/471452/321003), and I received a lot of example answers. Among them was “Someone’s in here.” And this is beginning to bother me. As a Japanese learner, I think I tend to say “I’m in here!” for “Someone’s in her!” Why is it “someone,” not “I?” I’m wondering about that.


texts:
Is it correct to say "The alarm clock switches off itself"? Is it always "...switches itself off"?
Does the same happen with an intransitive verb like "wake up", that is, can we say "I always wake up myself"?


texts:
As Katy Perry has sung,“After hurricane comes a rainbow.” We should bravely face the hardship together.

In this sentence,"as" means "in the same way".
Thus,can the following sentence make sense by the similar usage?

  As I know,hasty decision is always looked back on with regrets. You should do it before thinking twice.

  I want to mean"According to my experience,hasty decision is always looked back on with regrets. Thus,you should do it before thinking twice."

The reason why I ask this question is that I often see sentences like"As far as I know, trauma is all she left for him."

I've never seen someone use"as I know" without "as far". Moreover,my teacher said using "as I know" alone was wrong. However,she didn't know why it was wrong. That is to say,she wanted the sentence like

  As far as I know,hasty decision is always looked back on with regrets. You should do it before thinking twice.

So,can I just use "as I know" like the sentence above? If it is wrong,why?

Is there any difference between"as far as I know" and" as I know"?


texts: what do you call starting the smoking activity

texts:
When anyone starts smoking, he/she "fire" the cigarette.

I am sure the "fire" word is not correct. so what should I say?

I tried using the dictionary to translate from my language to English, but all I got is:

"burn" the cigarette?
"grill" the cigarette?

which I am sure is not correct in English.


texts:
Rachel Whalen remembers feeling gutted in high school when a former friend would mock her online postings, threaten to unfollow or unfriend her on social media and post inside jokes about her to others online.

  The cyberbullying was so distressing that Whalen said she contemplated suicide. Once she got help, she decided to limit her time on social media. It helps to take a break from it for perspective, said Whalen, now a 19-year-old college student in Utah.

I looked it up online, but couldn't find the meaning of it and only found "in perspective" or "for better perspective" etc.

What does the phrase mean here in this context?


texts:
What would you say if we arranged a meeting this weekend?

Does it say that the meeting will take place this weekend or that we will be just arranging it this weekend (deciding its time)? My understanding is that if I wanted the meeting to happen this weekend I would say "... for this weekend."


texts: Is it common to omit "about" when using the phrase **excited about** in spoken English?

texts:
I assume these two sentences are grammatical and idiomatic.

"Maria’s starting to get pretty excited about the wedding."

"I'm excited about it."

It sounds like the speaker is saying

  It was the first AI boom. People were really excited it.

So, is it common to omit "about" when using the phrase excited about in spoken English?


texts: If something was bright and it becomes less bright, Is ‘a small quantity of brightness has gone’ semantically correct?


texts: When I need to use "that" in Reported Speech

texts:
I have a question about the topic, Reported Speech, when I need to use that to reported a message?
For example, why here I need to use that?
Original sentence:
"We went out last night."
Sentence with reported speech:
She said that they had gone out last night.
Why in this example I don’t need to use that?
Original sentence:
"He works in a bank."
Sentence with reported speech:
She said he worked in a bank


texts: Why is 10th May called an 'autumn day' in South Africa?

texts:
In Nelson Mandela's autobiography Long Walk to Freedom, 10th May is referred to as an autumn day. Mandela writes: "On that lovely autumn day (10th May) I was accompanied by my daughter Zenani."
Now, students are asked: 'How is 10th May an autumn day in South Africa?'
To me, this is a GK question of Geography. So, the obvious answer should be: 'South Africa lies in the southern hemisphere and so the seasons there are just opposite to that in the northern hemisphere.'
Now, when I search the answer on the web, I get some queer answers as follows:

10 May is an 'autumn day' in South Africa because on this day there was the largest gathering of international leaders on South African soil for the installation of the first democratic non-racial government.
Mandela referred 10th may as a lovely autumn day because it was an auspicious day on which Nelson Mandela took the oath as the first black president of South Africa. Further the day marked as the establishment day of South African democracy and the abolition of Apartheid system. etc.

I find these answers absurd. There is no logic why an auspicious day is described as an 'autumn day'. Even as a metaphor (or, idiom), autumn is not as good as 'a red letter day'.
Can anyone offer a  discerning answer to remove the confusions for all?


texts:
Googling "eating apple is good for health" gets more than 900 hits.

Googling "eating apples is good for health" gets more than 600 hits.

The results seem to convey an implication that "eating apple" and "eating apples" pretty much mean the same thing.

However, Googling "eating banana is good for health" gets more than 1000 hits,

while Googling "eating bananas is good for health" gets about 4 hits.

There seems to be some difference. If it is, what is that?


texts: what's the meaning of "put someone under the dress"?

texts:
they are doing by the book and we're putting them under the dress

From the TV series 'Suits' Season1, Pilot episode.

What does "put someone under the dress" mean here?

I googled it but I couldn't find any useful website or information.


texts:
This can be explained by ..
This could be explained by ..

Are these two interchangeable or do they conform to different situations?
Let's take for example the following two sentences:

All available classification schemes for internet trolls are incomplete. This can (could) be explained by the fact that the species is evolving rapidly.

Will both can and could look OK here?


texts: Which one to use here? Did not or had not?

texts:
Friend: •does something stupid•

Me: I did not expect you'd do this.

OR

I had not expected you to do this

I think
the act of expecting is happening before the reference point which is when the other person did whatever he did. Literally, it would be 'I had not expected you to do this'.


texts: Such Business vs Such a Business? Which one is correct?

texts:
Singular nouns use an indefinite article (managing a business) and plural nouns use a definite article or no article (Managing the businesses or Managing businesses.)
I have heard (not sure if read) the expression "Running such business". Is that grammatically correct? Or should I write "Running such a business"? Or are both correct?


texts:
In the 'Introduction' to James Thurber's 'My Life and Hard Times,' I came across this sentence: 'He gained in depth and skill as he went along, of course.'

I don't get how 'in depth' is used here. The way I understand this is, the words 'in' and 'depth' are used separately and not as one single element. Then, shouldn't a noun/pronoun follow the verb 'gained?' For example, 'he gained nothing/something' or, 'He gained in India, nothing.' The presence of 'depth' and the absence of a noun confuses me a lot.

Or does the given sentence mean that he gained a lot and also gained skill as he went along?
In that case, wouldn't it be a case of violation of the principle of parallelism? Because the verb 'gained' follows 'in depth' (an adverb, meaning thoroughly) and skill (a noun) but not a noun and noun or an adverb and adverb.


texts: Word or phrase for the period between starting to learn something and being very fluent at it?

texts:
When I start to learn something, it often tends to be very confusing and tough. As I learn more, it becomes less complex and I start finding it to be easy.

Is there a phrase, or a word, to define this transitional time period?


texts: are these two sentences correct and interchangeable?

texts:
Are these two sentences correct ? The subject and the verb were:

He thought that it was a joke by the guys from the team
He thought that it was a joke from the guys of the team

I am not sure about the expression ..by ... from/ ..from ... of
If they are interchangeable?

Thanks


texts: Where do I place commas in a compound-complex sentence?

texts:
I was told to post this question here:
I don't know if I should use a comma before "and" in this sentence.

I grunted from the weight of the dresser and after a pause, the doorbell rang again. I gave up with a huff and went outside.

I think "I grunted from the weight of the dresser" is an independent clause and "after a pause" is a dependent clause. Thus, there should be no comma before "and". "After a pause" also connects to the independent clause "the doorbell rang again", so there should be a comma between the two.
Am I correct in my assumption?


texts: "How sad that is!" Versus "How sad is that?"

texts:
Sentence 1: How sad that is!

  Sentence 2: How sad is that?

What is the difference between the two sentences? Can I take sentence 2 as the question of sentence 1? And the emotion of sentence 2 is more intense?

Source of sentence 2: “The Strain”, an American TV play.

Thank you in advance!


texts: "Simple past" when talking about possibility

texts:
Could someone please explain why the bold part is in "simple past"?

  You asked where did I live in Carstairs. Well, it was not anyplace to
  be proud of. If you know where Vinegar Hill is and you turned off on
  Flowers Road it is the last house on the right, yellow paint once upon
  a time. My father grows potatoes, or did. I used to take them around
  town with my wagon, and every load I sold got a nickel to keep.


texts: Santol is a Filipino term/name of a fruit. Others call it as a lolly fruit and cotton fruit. I wonder what's the correct name of it in English.


texts: "Which" or "That" in the sentence and the equivalent sentence with "which"

texts:
I made the following sentence:

  For example div[@id=”content” or contains(@class,”content”)] can be
  used to identify a node that the value of its id attribute is “content” or
  the value of its class attribute contains “content”.

I would like to know "a node that" is correct or I should say "a node which", if I want to use "which", how can I avoid using "its" (italic) in the sentence above?


texts:
I am bit confused about the  question below as to which option suits the best..

Q) Who asked you to draft this letter?

Now in the passive voice, I have two options, which are:

a) By whom were you asked to draft this letter?

b) By whom you were asked to draft this letter?

Now I am wondering which answer is correct and why?


texts: All the snacks she once scolded him for. Was she cruel to feel more happiness, greater relief, at his return, than for her daughter on the day he had come back for? Before Rafiq left to oversee arrangements in the hall—the tables brought in, golden bows tied to the chairs, the setting of the stage where Hadia and Tariq would sit—Layla climbed the stairs to their bedroom, where he was getting ready.


texts: Should to or of be used in this sentence

texts:
Many people do not realize that they are causing disasters ______ themselves.

A. To

B. For

C. With

D. About

My teacher said the answer is A, but I think it should be B, can someone explain this to me please?
When do we use to and when do we use for ?


texts: Complicated sentence with mathematical terms

texts:
I wrote this sentence (which is supposed to sound complicated) for a work of fiction, but I'm not sure it is correct English:

"The length of one cathetus in a right triangle with equal catheti is the squareroot of half of the squared hypotenuse."

Thanks for any corrections.


texts: "take off with my clothes" or "take off my clothes"

texts:
It's from Friends(S02E13)

  She took off with my clothes

Why did it add with in it? It's very odd to me. How about "She took off my clothes?"


texts: How would you differentiate between the two in reported speech?

texts:
His father said,"It's time you visited your uncle". and

His father said,"It's time you visited my uncle".

I think the reported speech for both the sentences would be

His father said that it was time he visited his uncle.


texts:
In this sentence:

  In four years the grandest soccer tournament of all will take another twist of the unexpected, as Russia welcomes the travelling World Cup hordes with open arms – and promptly packs a bunch of them off to somewhere that is usually so cold most people assume it is in Siberia.

Does "a twist of the unexpected" mean "a twist of the unexpected kind"?


texts:
I have seen this question in an article:

Why do we stretch after waking up?

Consider the following sentences:

We stretch after waking up
I stretch after waking up
I (Subject) | stretch (Verb) | after waking up (Manner)

Do we need to add an "object" in the sentence above?

I stretch my body after waking up.


texts: Which is correct 'whose do you think is it?' or 'whose do you think it is?'

texts:
"Whose birthday do you think IS IT?"    or
"Whose birthday do you think IT IS?"

I know that for questions the verb to be goes in front of the personal pronoun, however, why I have this strong feeling 2 is the correct one? Maybe both?


texts: Using “before” for relationships other than time

texts:
As I read books and posts on G+, I am confused from using of some adverbs of place and time.

And why? Because some ones I have paired with time (for example before) are used as adverb of place.

For example

  The Church of Our Lady Before Týn

But in my opinion it should be

  The Church of Our Lady in the front of Týn

because Týn is a place and the church stands near this place — and really it stands in front of it, in the direction of the Old town square (Staroměstské náměstí).

So, what are the rules for using of before? Is the first translation correct?


texts:
Is use of "etc" in a sentences correct grammatically?

  As shown in Fig. 5, the experimental results curve (Fig. 5(a) and (c))
  lies below the numerical points because mechanical losses such as the
  bearing, gears and etc are included in experimental results while
  these losses cannot be consider in numerical results.

The figure is as follows:


texts: This song is sick. I knew you were trouble when you walked in?

texts:
Dont you think it should have been i knew you were 'troubled' when you walked in?

Or does it mean something else that i dont know?


texts:
Dictionary.com defines celluloid as

of or involving motion pictures

The boots have been immortalised on celluloid in her latest film, Strictly Sinatra, directed by Peter Capaldi.
[Lexico]
I was wondering if this constitutes some figure of speech?


texts: Difference between "Give up" and "Give up on"

texts:
I gave up the Chinese course. I found it too hard and decided to
learn Italian instead.
I gave up on the Chinese course. I found it too hard and decided to
learn Italian instead.

What is the difference in meaning? Are both grammatically correct and interchangeable? Is "give up on" simply the transitive form of "give up" (thus being the correct or preferable form in this context in which 'the course' is the object)?

I'm asking because I read that 'give up on' originally means to stop believing in someone or something: "I give up on Paul (after several attempts to help him). He’ll never change".

But in the example, the person simply discovers that Chinese was harder than she expected (and without keep on trying) decided to drop out of the course, so the use of 'give up on' under the meaning of to stop believing would not apply. Or maybe it would only be correct to use “I gave up on the Chinese course” if she tried taking this same course many times (quitting it and starting again) until finally giving up definitely.


texts: What’s the difference between these two options?

texts:
It is well documented that phrasal verbs,_________, are a considerable source of frustration for many EFL learners, are a common feature of the Scandinavian language.

A. Which consist of a verb and an adverb or proposition

B. Whose verb plus particle structure


texts: Is the phrase "want to be do" grammatically correct?

texts:
From a post

Although I’ve never had a problem finding work (even if it was in a factory or shearing sheds),   I do know what a struggle it can be to work out what you actually want to be do, or worse, when you get so far down a certain path and then realise it’s not for you.

"to do" is the basic form of a verb. Although the quotation uses the pattern "want to be do". Is it grammatically correct?


texts:
Types of information as dissimilar as language, music, and genomes can be represented as sequential data.

(Machine Learning on Sequential Data Using a Recurrent Weighted Average, Introduction)

In my understanding, "as dissimilar as" means "unlike", but in this situation, they seem to use "as dissimilar as" as "like",
because language, music, or genomes are sequential data.

What does "as dissimilar as" mean?


texts: Are "would" and "going to" interchangeable in the following cases?

texts:
No, no one would/was going to abandon me this time.

  I wouldn't/wasn't going to get lost this time.

Is the meaning the same? Why or why not?


texts:
How do you read the date 13 June?

Is it thirteen of June, thirteenth of June, thirteenth June. Do you say 'of' before the month? I think first day, after month is British but I wish other English speakers also answer.


texts: "Delusions dispelled" What grammar construction is this? Is this an idiom?

texts:
I don't understand the grammar of this: "You will be dazed by the shock of delusions dispelled." (by George Johnson)  I think it means, "He is dazed by the shock that naturally comes from your delusions being dispelled because of what stands right before him: reality." But I'm not sure about the grammar of "shock of delusions dispelled".

How does one derive what this means from English grammar?


texts: I want to know if this sentence is correct

texts:
"What reason would your father have to lie?". This is a line of the movie "Rogue One".

I've checked the sound of the movie, and the line in the script, but it seems correct.

But some people say to me that the sentence is not right and that the right one is "For what reason would your father have to lie?".

I want to know if the verb 'lie' can take 'a reason' as an object.
And if the first sentence is right, could you explain the meaning of it?

Thank you.


texts:
A mixture of things that offer

Or,

  A mixture of things that offers

It is not obvious to me which one is correct because mixture is singular but things is plural.


texts: When do I use “many” or “any” in a question?

texts:
Which of the two questions is correct?

  Are there many shelves in the closets?

  Are there any shelves in the closets?

I don't understand the difference of using any or many in a question.


texts: "interesting to be watched" versus "interesting to watch"

texts:
Up to now I still get confused about this grammar. I don't know and also want to know the terminology for this kind of grammar.

Consider the following sentences:

This is a video that is interesting to be watched by every student.
This is a video that is interesting to watch for every student.

Are both sentences grammatically correct? If they have different meaning, what is the difference in meaning?

Bonus Question

Let's just consider, for example, the first sentence above. How can I make the subordinate clause an adjective modifying the book? Is it correct to say as follows?

  This  is an interesting-to-be-watched video.


texts: difference between "He was dead by the time the doctor arrived" and "He had been dead by the time the doctor arrived"

texts:
He was dead by the time the doctor arrived
  He had been dead by the time the doctor arrived.

As a non-native speaker, I think these two sentences are grammatically right. As for me, #2 seems to be right because of the time sequence.
However, a grammar book written a native speaker says #1 would be better  than #2  because "was" is a stative verb.

What about the two sentences below?

  After he had finished his home work, he went out.
  After he finished his home work, he went out.

(I think these two are exactly similar in meaning because the conjunction "after" enables me to know which one happened first)

One of my friends, an American studying in university, explained the difference to me as follows:

I think you are over thinking these questions in terms of practical usage. Moreover, the real question I think you are asking is between ASPECT and TENSE. They both intersect in meaning and usage but they differ in terms of the SPEAKER'S opinion/connection on the statement.

Put it simply: Continuous and Perfect tenses deal with Aspect of the Speaker's mind into the sentence.

Your examples with #1 and #2 mean the same thing. However, in more subtle and technical manner, #1 just states the phenomenon. Moreover, some legal writing requires #1 over #2 because it is more neutral. Also stative adjectives and passive construction lifts the responsibility away from the speaker. #2 is the speaker's assessment from his/her point of view of the phenomenon and thus can imply a closer connection to the problem at hand.

So your number #3 and #4 carry the same implication. For everyday usage, there is no difference. Perhaps, British person would use the perfect tense more often and an American speaker rarely uses perfect tense.  So keeping the same logic as above, "After he had finished ..." implies his/her perspective and ties the speaker to that phenomenon in some way. The other example  with "After he finished ..." is just merely stating the phenomenon at hand.

What do you think about the above explanation ?  If you have a different opinion on this, let me know that.


texts:
Who can tell me the meaning of 'make drones' in the following?

  Here is the context: The U.S. and other countries have seen a flurry of apps that are inspired by Meitu, the Chinese app that pretties up selfie photos. American startups are copying China's fleets of on-demand bicycle rentals for getting around crowded cities. Apple and Facebook are trying to remold their messaging apps in the image of China's ubiquitous WeChat. Before there was Tinder for hookups, there was similar dating app Momo in China. Every company that makes drones is following the lead of China's SZ DJI Technology.

Is it used as a metaphor? If so, what is compared to what?


texts: What is the meaning of 'Don't take for granted'?

texts:
At Oscars Leonardo Di'Caprio ended his speech by saying
"Lets do not take this planet for granted, I do not take tonight for granted".


texts: What should I use, "you're not going to tell me?" or "are you not going to tell me?"

texts:
"Are you not going to tell me?" or "You're not going to tell me?"

What should I use?


texts: What is the difference between these sentences using past perfect tense?

texts:
The second sentence is said by using had. This sounds like past perfect tense. What is the difference if I don't use had?

  I slept less often when I was in Canada.

  I had slept less often when I was in Canada.


texts:
The history of educational theory is marked by opposition between the idea that
  education is development from within and that it is formation from without; that it
  is based upon natural endowments and that education is a process of overcoming
  natural inclination and substituting in its place habits acquired under external
  pressure. (Source)

Thanks to user TRomano's counsel, I tried a more detailed dictionary yet how do you determine/deduce the right definition? I guess that the passage wants to differentiate 'from within' vs 'from without', so formation can't mean definitions 1 ( development) and 2 (something that is formed), or else the passage is just repeating the same word twice.

2. Please advise if this should be asked separately, but I suspect that it's related to my confusion above. What does  opposition between mean? I've only encountered opposition against, of, from, to?


texts: What does "ima" mean in "ima sue the s*** out of em"?

texts:
Is "ima" an informal spelling of "I must"?

MegaCharizardZord  Replying to @nytimes about COVID-19 vaccine:
i just hope when i take it don't die lol.  i trust the government in Canada, but if I do get something ima sue the shit out of em lol.

Source: Twitter


texts: What is the author trying to say in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone?

texts:
The most amazing thing to J.K. Rowling is that Harry Potter has continued to be a huge success throughout the seven books, and that the passion never seems to die out. J.K. Rowling feared that she would be a complete failure, and after the first book was not sure she could write the others with the whole world looking over her shoulder. Yet magic is something that sparks imagination and curiosity in the young and the old. People from around the world connect to J.K. Rowling's characters and their magical world. J.K. Rowling's life experiences gave her the background to create the world of Harry Potter that has become important for people of all ages and circumstances.

I cannot understand what the author is trying to say here:

Yet magic is something that sparks imagination and curiosity in the young and the old.


texts: I know that "horror" is also an adjective as in I saw a horror movie yesterday. But I don't know if its comparative and superlative forms are "horrorer" and "horrorest" respectively. I searched on Google and found that these forms are used  by people (mostly Indians) who are not quite good at English. I didn't find any standard source that uses these forms of the word. Please let me know if these forms are correct and accepted in standard English or not.


texts:
I am currently under the impression that you in some cases can use "speed" and "drive" interchangeably.
Examples:

  He drove out on the highway/He speed out on the highway.

  She waved goodbye and drove off/She waved goodbye and speed
  off.

Is this correct?


texts:
I came across the following sentence in a book on political theory:

Political theory stands for an abstract model of the political order…
a guide to the systematic collection and analysis of political data.

I referred to a lot of dictionaries for the word "abstract" and it has a wide variety of meanings. I know only very basic English and it was difficult for me to pick one meaning of abstract that perfectly fitted the bill. Also, I don't already know what the author is trying to say and so I don't know what to make of the word from the context. Please help me out. Thank you.


texts:
I think what does this mean is correct grammatically. But can I say:

  what is this means?

or

  Is that means you blah blah.


texts:
I've got this explanation, about using Farther vs. Further:

  The words farther and further both refer to a greater distance. However, farther is typically used when the distance is physical, and further is used when the distance is abstract or metaphorical. Further may be used to mean 'more' or 'to a greater degree.'

In following the explanation, there is a quiz, which gives back the right word to use (farther OR further). Please see below.

A. The further I have to drive, the more my back bothers me.

B. How much farther to Mimi's house?

I want to ask, if the other option work as well, in both sentences.


texts:
Can we say so or it doesn't make any sense?

The city can be overloaded by cars.

I want to say that there is a pressure on the city because of a great deal of cars.
Is it possible to use "overload" then?
And what's about the usage of "a great deal of" ?


texts:
I am writing a short story where the speaker is extremely exhausted and yet is forced to sit through a class. I want to open with the following sentence:
My brain had officially shut down as soon as the professor wrote “Structure of Glucose” on the board.
The meaning I am trying to convey is that less than a while back, but just now, the lecturer wrote "structure of glucose" on the board and that right then, the speaker's brain shut down. I am not sure if the tenses are correct for the purpose. Please let me know if they are or do suggest a better pair of tenses to go with.


texts:
He took to drink to lessen his mental tension.

I think that "took to drink" is incorrect, and think that it should be "drinking" instead because the -ing form is always used with the present participle of the verb.

Am I correct? Please elaborate on usage of -ing.


texts: How does "for" change the meaning of a sentence?

texts:
I have read this sentence in a story: "He had to see her for himself."
I would like to know what difference does "for" make in this sentence. If I  omit it, would the meaning of the sentence be exactly the same?


texts:
I have the sentence:

  Upon signing an alliance treaty, the "allies" tuples of both involved players will be appended with pointers to one another.

Question:
Would it be grammatically correct to user "pointers" or "a pointer" if in each tuple is only included 1 pointer to the other country?


texts:
I am applying for a degree in a university.

they ask me to send them a recommendation letter from one of my professor.

I want to write the position of this professor.

I write this:

  Doctor of Software Engineering. Also, He was the dean of faculty of Information Technology Engineering

Is it correct to use "of" or it would be better to use "in" or what please?


texts: present perfect or past simple in this case

texts:
The English winter has been very wet. It did not snow, and I
  don't think it will now, as spring is coming very soon.

I used the present perfect because winter has not finished, but I used past simple because it should have snowed before. Now, it is too late for snowing.

Is the past simple a good choice, or should I have written it as has not snowed?


texts: "I was given this number by (someone) to arrange ... " - Is this phrase correct?

texts:
I was given this number by (someone) to arrange ...

Is this a correct (part of a) sentence in the context of contacting someone regarding a job interview? It seems a bit awkward to me but I also feel like it is grammatically correct. I couldn't find anything about this structure: was given ...


texts:
This excerpt came from The Confidence-Man (1857) from Herman Melville:

  Oh, the cripple. Poor fellow. I know him well. They found me. I have said all I could for him. I think I abated their distrust. Would I could have been of more substantial service. And apropos, sir," he added, "now that it strikes me, allow me to ask, whether the circumstance of one man, however humble, referring for a character to another man, however afflicted, does not argue more or less of moral worth in the latter?

It seems to mean "I would or I could", but I am not sure, is this an idiomatic phrase? I doubt it. What do you make of it?


texts: Use of "In order to" and "because" in a sentence

texts:
I think that use of "In order to" and "because" is not good together in the following sentences.

  In order to properly predict the interaction between tip leakage flow
  and suction surface of the blade, tip clearance is considered in this
  study because tip leakage flow is one of the most important secondary
  flow in turbomachinery rotors.

I re-write them as follows:

  Tip clearance is considered in this study in order to properly predict
  the interaction between tip leakage flow, one of the most important
  secondary flow in turbomachinery rotors, and suction surface of the
  blade.

Am i right?


texts: meaning of "to have someone's attention"

texts:
"And one other thing. Um, how do I put this delicately?” he said. He
had everyone’s attention.

Is that almost the same as saying "He drew everyone’s attention"? or that it simply means people were paying attention to what he was saying?


texts:
Instead of saying

  I am John Doe from CompanyName Corp.

is it proper to say

  I am John Doe of CompanyName Corp.

?


texts: Does this question make sense? - How is German being home for you?

texts:
I met this lady who was born in Asia but said Germany is her home. So I asked:

  "How is Germany being home for you?"

I was curious why Germany is home for her. I think there is something wrong with this sentence and I am struggled.


texts:
This is a question from my English exam, where we are supposed to find the closest sentence to the main sentence. I did not understand what it means to be "second only" to something in this sentence:

The activity of coffee trading on the international market is second only to petroleum.

https://pasteboard.co/IRKTemc.jpg


texts: Can I write "first of all" when there is no "second of all" in the same essay?

texts:
I am writing an essay, and in this essay I wrote an introductory phrase "first of all". Now, my question is can I write "first of all" when there is no "second of all" in the same essay?

Here's the definition from [Oxford dictionary]:

1 Before doing anything else; at the beginning.
‘first of all, let me ask you something’
1.1 Most importantly.
‘German unity depends first of all on the German people’

None of the examples in the dictionary  clarify this for me.


texts: Is the sentence"That T-shirt must be expensive because it's by a famous designer" correct?

texts:
I am confused about this sentence.

  That T-shirt must be expensive because it's by a famous designer.

I think the complete sentence should be the following one.

  That T-shirt must be expensive because it's designed by a famous designer.

Can designed can be omitted in that example?


texts: Help to understand the usage of 'found' in this sentence

texts:
Stephanie Clifford, aka Stormy Daniels, is making the most of the fame she’s found from her alleged affair with President Donald Trump and is dishing details with her tell-all book “Full Disclosure.”

My confusion is out of the usage of the word "found" in this context, which seems to mean "gained or got". But I can't get any reference about this definition in dictionaries. I appreciate if someone can help to explain it and better with some more examples about it. Thanks a lot!

The full source.


texts: I'm looking for a word to name or call a person who's sitting next to me and I mean it in general.


texts:
As per merriam-webster "tick off" could mean "to make angry" or "reprimand". However, it seems to have another meaning in a tutorial.

There are 2 guys showing the IELTS speaking test, the women is role-playing the examiner and gives the following comments to the guy role-playing the candidate.

  the examiner is ticking off, very nice
  linking word, very nice intonation, Oh
  past perfect continuous ... you're doing OK.

What is the meaning of "tick off" there?


texts: What is simple and grammatically correct?

texts:
I have two constructions with the same meaning:

  The estimation of these attributes is difficult by using traditional field measurements method, which is rather expensive and time-consuming.
  The estimation of these attributes by using traditional field measurements method is difficult, rather expensive and time-consuming.

Which one would be clear and grammatically correct?


texts: Whether the use of "all" is correct or not?

texts:
I ran across a sentence.
We all have been working hard on this.
In the sentence, I'd like to know whether the use of "all" is correct or not.


texts:
In particular, Froebel put toys in the center of his program. "Things" were absolutely critical to proper  development, he argued. After Froebel, toys were rarely far from discussions of educational play.

Source: Hamlin, D.: Work and Play: The Production and Consumption of Toys in Germany, 1870–1914 (Social History, Popular Culture, and Politics in Germany), p. 136.

What does the phrase rarely far from discussions mean in the above sentence? Can I paraphrase the meaning this way: After Froebel activity the toy became the part of discussions regarding educational play.


texts:
Let us suppose something happened first to John and then to me. Is it grammatically correct to say:

  It happened the same to me as John.

And if it is not, how would express this meaning, then?


texts:
I would like to know how to properly construct a sentence with the following idea:

There's a completed project, and I wanna ask who came up with the project (using the word idea)

Do I ask like this? Does below sound correct and is grammatically correct?

... And whose idea was to build this project again?


texts:
Programmers which mainly write synchronous, direct-style code do not have a? good intuition of/on/for the basic concepts involved in writing asynchronous code.

Hi, I'm not sure about my use of the word intuition in the sentence above. A quick Google search suggests it's "of", and no article, but I cannot find an example which is similar enough to what I'm trying to say. It also makes me question whether I'm expressing myself in the best possible way, and whether I'm conceptually translating my native tongue?


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

Does it mean: he is in the same level as these great filmmakers.

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


texts: What does "it would have been then" mean?

texts:
If ever Harry might have released his wand from shock, it would have been then, but instinct kept him clutching his wand tightly, so that the thread of golden light remained unbroken, even though the thick gray ghost of Cedric Diggory (was it a ghost? it looked so solid) emerged in its entirety from the end of Voldemort’s wand, as though it were squeezing itself out of a very narrow tunnel . . . and this shade of Cedric stood up, and looked up and down the golden thread of light, and spoke.

I know the author is trying to say he would have been dead. but does "then" has a certain depressive meaning to represent those things in these kind of situations?


texts:
I've come across it in the 12th episode of the 5th season of the Walking Dead. Here is the context:

Rick: You shoul keep your gates close.
Woman: Why?
Rick: Because it's all about survival now.
At any cost.
People out there are always looking for an angle.
Looking to play on your weakness.


texts:
He's senseless since yesterday.

Can I say the quoted sentence as

  His sense didn't (return/come back)(i) since yesterday

–if not, what will be appropriate at position (i)?


texts: Asking about a student's school performance rank in class (in Asia setting)

texts:
Teachers in Asia usually rank their students according to their academic performance in class. Thus, if there are, say, 23 students in one class, there will be 23 "places," place 1 being the place for the top student and place 23 for the worst.

In this kind of setting, what would be the natural way of inquiring a student's standing in this system (given that you talk to that student for the first time)?

Would this way work:

  1) What's your school progress ranking in class?

or maybe this:

  2) What's your academic rank in class?

or what would you say?


texts: What do you call the work done to make an encyclopedia or a reference book?

texts: There are many reference book, but I mostly mean by that a book that list concepts and organize them like most encyclopedia, but not necessarily an encyclopedia. What do you call the work done to make such reference books? I was thinking research, but research doesn't cover the part of organizing your ideas by theme, or whatever other way of organizing something.


texts: Use of "patterned" as a synonym for "modeling" or "simulated"

texts:
I'm a beginner in English, and I'm  writing a academic paper.
Could someone please clarify if the use of word patterned function as a good synonym for modeling or simulated in the following sentence?

  Aiming to test the reproducibility of the present modeling setup were patterned three realistic spills occurred in the region.


texts:
As you know, there are some structures which let us form sentences by using "make". Like

 make + noun = adjective

which I used to make the first sentence of mine.

My question is: Is there also a structure to make a sentence by using the pattern

make + noun = noun

which I used to build the second sentence?

  She made me happy.
  She made me her colleague or partner.

Are these sentences correct?


texts: What's the difference between "either" and "neither"?

texts:
What's the difference between either and neither?
Can you provide me some examples?


texts: Is "to know who were the people that..." correct in this sentence?

texts:
Most of us when we have seen houses which were picturesquely situated, and wore a look of unusual beauty and comfort, have felt a desire to know who were the people that lived in them.

I suppose that last phrase "to know who were the people that..." is wrong, "to know who the people that lived in them were." is correct.
Do I misunderstand??


texts: "Wherever I go you get shops that offer materials..."

texts:
I spot this sentence in a passage in a grammar book, which is written by Longman but I could not figure out how the word get was used grammatically? As far as I know we can get to somewhere. Does it have something to do with street British English?

Here is the full sentence :

  Wherever I go you get shops that offer materials and products from
  Africa and from Afghanistan or from central and eastern Europe and it
  seems almost as if you one hardly needs to travel any more because the
  world has come in on us.

http://picosong.com/2xMt


texts: How should I understand this line from Pulp Fiction?

texts:
Butch: You okay?

Marsellus: Naw man. I'm pretty fuckin' far from
okay!

This is dialogue from the movie Pulp Fiction. What kind of the word class is "fuckin'" in the sentence: Participium or adjective? – The official translation of this sentence to my native language would probably be in English "I am pretty fucked," which, in my opinion, very properly and in the mode of black humor refers to the fact of Marsellu's having been raped.

Does the original English sentence have the similar connotation for English speakers?


texts:
The original sentence:

  Populations increase and decrease relatively not only to one another,
  but also to natural resources.

Is it an elided version of something like:

  Populations increase and decrease relatively not only [relating] to one another, but also [relating] to natural resources.


texts:
Which sentence is correct?

During the storm, those in private homes suffered most or suffered
the most.

Are both equally accepted as grammatical in English?


texts: "There will be no extensions given for this project." order?

texts:
There will be no extensions given for this project.

In the above sentence I need some explanations about grammatical role of "given".


texts: Error correction in "The team is very happy with their captain"

texts:
The team is very happy with their captain.

Which is the correct way to correct the above given sentence? Should I change is to are or should I change their to its?


texts:
Driving school
Driving Instructor: OK, Mario, we've gone over all the instruments and controls.
Man: Uhum.
Driving Instructor: Are you familiar with those?
Man: Yeah.
Driving Instructor: OK. Before we set the car in motion,   we just want to double check that your seat is comfortable.
Man: Yes, good.
Driving Instructor: OK. Your seat belt is on properly.
Man: Uhmm.
Driving Instructor: OK.  Now the last thing you want to do is to check that mirror.
Man: Yeah.
Driving Instructor: Make sure your mirrors are set up OK. Good. Then we're going to start the car. OK. Your right foot on the brake. Now, put it into the drive position.

What does "we've gone over all the instruments and controls" mean?


texts:
There seem to be 2 sentences in the following.
" He recently noticed something abnormal about the way this present generation of teens is developing."
"He recently noticed something abnormal about the way" & "this present generation of teens is developing".
May I add "that" between two parts ?


texts:
What does "what do we have here?" mean?

I heard it from a movie.

Does it mean " what are you up to?" ?


texts: "Listen to your songs on your music collection" or "listen to songs on your music collection"?

texts:
I am not sure where to put the word "your" and if you should put it twice.

  I want to listen to your songs on your music collection.

  I want to listen to songs on your music collection.

I am not sure which one is the best, and if both are grammatical? Any rule on this?


texts: Is this sentence with "whether" correct?

texts:
Is this sentence grammatically correct?

It is usually locals who carve graffiti on the walls , whether it is the date they came to visit or the love they have for each other.

I checked the meaning of whether and this is the closest thing I found:

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/grammar/british-grammar/linking-words-and-expressions/whether

  We often use whether … or not to mean ‘it’s not important if’ or ‘it
  doesn’t matter if’. We don’t use either in this way:

  He always said what he thought, whether it was polite or not.

  Not: … either it was polite or not.

  We can use whether … or not in front or end position with this
  meaning. We use it in orders or commands:

  Whether you like it or not, you’re going to have to look after your
  sister.

  (or You’re going to have to look after your sister, whether you like
  it or not.)

But I don't want to say "it is not important" and I certainly did not want to give a command.
I just wanted to bring two examples.


texts: Would have + past participle + had without if

texts:
I am reading a book for English languages learners, Oliver Twist, and there are two parts that surprise me. Both have the same form.
I have copied the text word for word:

  But the magistrate sentenced him to three months in  prison, with hard labour, and the boy would have been taken away to prison had it not been for the owner of the bookshop, who rushed into the office and at this point advanced towards the bench.

The second one:

  The fellow touched his hat with a smile, expecting something for his trouble; but the old gentleman looked at him with and expression of dislike, and would have run away himself had not a police officer at that moment made his way through the crowd and seized Oliver by the collar.

I understand what it means but I'm surprised because there is no "if" before "had".

For example, why isn't it written "and would have run away himself if there had not a police officer" or something like this in the second part?

Please, could you explain this to me? I can't find a rule about that.

Thank you so much.


texts:
I'm curious of the meaning of the usage of the past tense in this example:

  I was the last to leave the office last night.

The first option:

  Everybody else had gone home when I left

The second:

  Everybody else had gone home when I was leaving

I know that the right answer is the first ("I left"), but it seems a little bit strange to me, since I would rather stress that by the time of leaving the office was empty. In other words I would underline the action prior to which everybody had left the office. But "left" implies the result and seems to be queer.


texts: Can I pronounce "you" as /ju/ intead of /juː/ in this kind of sentences?

texts:
"You want to see my muscles?"
"You love dogs."
"You wanna see my moves?"
"You like him."
"You come with me."
etc.

In this kind of sentences where "you" is at the beginning of the sentence, can I make a short, quick /u/ sound instead of the long /uː/ sound when I pronounce the "you"s? Can I pronounce "you" either as /juː/or /ju/ interchangeably when it's at the beginning of any sentence? I feel like if the word that comes after "you" starts with a vowel, the /u/ sound should be pronounced in the long way, but in the other cases it can be pronounced either the long or the short way.


texts:
Some verbs used as performatives with the present simple in affirmative sentences have a similar meaning with either the present simple or the present continuous in negative sentences. Source

What is the meaning that some verbs used as performatives is similar in a positive sentence to a negative sentence in the present simple？


texts: "the Chinese and American people" VS "the Chinese and American peoples"

texts:
The Chinese and American people are both great people.
  The Chinese and American peoples are both great peoples.

Which kind of wording is good?


texts: Can "almost" be used as an adjective? For example "It is an almost failure"

texts:
I saw this example sentence in the entry for "almost" in Merriam-Webster dictionary:

It is an almost failure.

I think it should be:

It is almost a failure.

Can we use almost to modify a noun? I checked all the major dictionaries and all the dictionaries suggest that it is an adverb only, but in Webster Dictionary, I saw that they are saying that it can be an adjective too. What's the matter? The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language says that using it as an adjective is ungrammatical. Would anyone please clarify it? Can we that the language has changed? Or Almost can be adjective in North American English only? I am all in dark.


texts: ‘I spent three months’ vs ‘I spent three months of time’

texts:
I spent three months

vs

I spent three months of time

Are these two sentences interchangeable?


texts:
Support for the Rohingya cause across the region has a pop-up feel.

Source: Nouzie

I looked up pop-up in Merriam Webster:

  1: pop fly

  2: a component or device that pops up

  3: a pop-up book

  4: a pop-up window on a computer screen

I guess pop-up feel has to do with the first definition,
so does it mean the support of the Rohingya is very high, as a pop fly is? Or does it mean something else?


texts: Could you please help me simplifying the highlighted parts , just simplifying and paraphrasing Not defining, please

texts:
It's Ivy week for the Upper East Side teens of Constance Billiard and St. Jude's and the visiting representatives' arrival brings more than just college applications . Cut-throat rivalry is at its sharpest this week as the students compete for prestigious positions. Blair discovers a shocking but juicy secret about Serena and plots to drop the bomb at the best possible moment. Dan is sure that landing the coveted usher position with the Dartmouth rep will either make or break his future at the school. Unfortunately, it's Nate who nabs the position, despite total disinterest in the school. Meanwhile, Jenny gets closer to Serena's younger brother Eric and Rufus asks Lily for a favor.

Upper East Side teens of Constance Billiard and St, I have no idea what it is talking about. I know you might say that this is an off topic question because it is not about the language but I actually  don't want  you to tell facts about tgat place, just tell what it could be.
Could you please simplify Jude's and the visiting representatives' arrival , in simple English.
Could you simplify ** brings more than just college applications** .
coveted usher position with the Dartmouth rep ? Could you simplifying them , not defining , just simplifying.


texts: is there any difference between social constructs and social norms? what would we call it when a society expects you to have a good job etc. or doing the same that is accepted to be the good by society.


texts: What do we call a wife who "cheats" on her husband (without having sex with the other person)?

texts:
Is "cheater" the suitable word for calling a wife who cheats on her husband in a secret romantic relationship with another man (no sex included)?

I found that "cheater" is a slang word, and I don't want it to be slang.

I know the word "traitor", but it doesn't explain the situation, even if its definition is "being disloyal".

Note: I have this scenario that I need the word to fit in:

I bet that you wouldn't miss this part where a video shows the true face of Jasmine. The face of her being a ______.


texts: The sentence is: I only drink English tea. Is only an adjective or adverb in this case?

texts: Is "only" in this sentence an adjective or an adverb? The sentence is: I only drink English tea. Please explain why, because I would like to know so I could learn about it. I know that, for example, an adverb only usually looks like this: "there are only a limited number of tickets available", and an adjective only usually looks like this: "the only medal we had ever won".


texts: What is the difference between "I buy them in town" and "I buy them from town"

texts:
I was reading a story and I ran into this sentence:

  I buy them in town.

I thought it was an error. I think the correct way of saying it is:

  I buy them from town.

Am I right? If not, please explain to me what the difference is between the two sentences.


texts:
In the way I was using the word "hypothetical" here, it means imagined rather than actual, regardless of how likely or unlikely something is deemed to be. In general usage, the degree of likelihood may be implied by context.

Can I paraphrase the "may" like this:
In general usage, it is possible for the degree of likelihood to be implied by context.
Can I replace the "may" with "can"?


texts: Author of two previous novels, his third…

texts:
The Drinker was begun in 1944 when Hans Fallada was imprisoned in a criminal asylum for the attempted murder of his wife. Author of two previous novels, his third, The Drinker, is autobiographical and tells the story, in diary form, of a man driven by the demons of morphine and alcohol.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2007/sep/02/fiction.features1

Maybe I am a little bit slow on the uptake but I do not understand the passage in bold. The passage does not make sense to me. The subject "author of two previous novels" has no predicate. It seems to as if this part is cut off.


texts:
Which one of the following does each passage indicate is typical of
  writing in the respective professions discussed in the passage?

This sentence sounds grammatically wrong to me because of the bold part. It sounds like two verbs (indicate, is) are coming at the same time. Can someone explain how this sentence is structured?


texts: How VS. What is the weather forecast? Which one is correct?

texts:
What is the weather forecast? VS. How is the weather forecast?
I've just seen these questions asked in an English group and been curious.
"What" VS. "How" is the weather? (I use "how") but
"What" VS. "How" is the weather forecast?
(I answered "How" but it is incorrect answer)
If we use "the weather forecast", it has to change "How" to "What" ?
Could you give me more details about these questions, please?


texts: Stop The scratching -- what does it mean

texts:
A person is scratching a car and now there are lots of scratches on the car. To prevent the further damage, THE scratching should be stopped.

Is the sentence above using "the scratching" correct?

Now you are telling the offender to stop --
"Stop the scratching".

Is this correct Too? Or never! and always stick to no the? Even if it seems to me I am referring to the specific scratching.
Stop the scratches. - is this correct too to mean scratching as in I need scratches (= I need scratching)


texts:
Is "bento" by itself likely to be understood by native speakers of English, and feel natural, without the word "box" afterwards?

For example, can you say "This is a photo of a bento I ate yesterday"? Assuming that you can use the word "ate" with bento without meaning that you ate the container as well!


texts: Had gathered and ample resources. Could had simultaneously be a modal verb and a possessive verb?

texts:
With the team he had gathered and ample resources, his success was guaranteed.

  Could had be a model verb with "gathered"( past perfect ) and a possessive verb with ample resources ( past simple )at the same time?


texts:
Is there "not...till"? Does its meaning equal to "not...until"?
Does the sentence "A body at rest will not move till a force is exerted on it" sound natural?


texts:
I encounter an incomprehensible saying:

  Except as a man handled an axe*, he had no way of knowing a fool.

while reading this tutorial.

*I wanted to add a mark here which means the possible error derives from the source


texts: Meaning of "humours (Elizabethan usage)"

texts:
I'm reading an article about Philip K. Dick written by Roger Zelazny. Zelazny talks about Dick's Galactic Pot-Healer and says:

  Galactic Pot-Healer -- When the encyclopedia defines a particular creature as the dominant life-form on a certain planet and then points out that the species only consists of one member ... This one is almost whimsical. But not quite. A Philip Dick book can never be categorized that neatly. But this one is a bit special in the focussing of its humours (Elizabethan usage) and in the almost pastoral quality of certain sections.

I'm confused about what Zelazny means by "humours (Elizabethan usage)". According to what I found on the internet, the word "humour" in Elizabethan time could mean "the characteristics that make up a man's temperament". Is that what Zelazny means?

I mean, he talks about how Dick cannot be categorized. Then he says Dick is special in focusing on his characters' temperaments and writing pastorally. I don't see the logic or relation between one thing and another. Can anybody explain the idea for me?


texts:
What is the difference between

  It was as big around as a truck wheel.

and

  It was as big as a truck wheel.


texts:
When I learn some new words, I think I have seen them before, and then realize that they are probably some close-spelling words, but I can't think of them now. Are there sources where I can look up for similar spelling words for a given word? For example, "grotesque".

Thanks!


texts: The English and Foreign Language University

texts:
I would like to know whether it is English and Foreign Languages University or The English and Foriegn Languages University. because some universities are called with the article' The ' and some other universities are called without the article ' The '  For example Cambridge and Oxford University ,Andhra University and Osmania University but the university of Cambridge

One of the professors of English commented that The English and Foreign Languages University should be called Engish and Foreign Languaged University because English is a Language. I would like to know the rules regarding the
use of the article  ' The ' before the names of Universities.

I would be most grateful to you if you could answer my question.


texts: Could I ask a question about English Conditional?

texts:
I am a English learner.
I am studying Conditional these day and I learned there are many types of conditional.

Zero. If you heat ice, it melts.
(The zero conditional is often used to refer to general truths)

One. If you don't hurry, you will miss the train.
(The type 1 conditional refers to a possible condition and its probable result)

Two. If you went to bed earlier you would not be so tired.
(The type 2 conditional is used to refer to a hypothetical condition and its probable result)

Three. If you had studied harder    you would have passed the exam.
(The type 3 conditional is used to refer to an unreal past condition and its probable past result)

I learned like this.. but recently I found there are strange examples

[Yesterday I went to the school and I found there was a handsome boy, I wanted to speak to him, but I couldn't...! If I knew his name I would say hello to him]

When I read this part of the sentence

[If I knew his name, I would say hello to him]

I felt a writer said about past.

But I thought It should be [ If I had known his name, I would have said hello to him ] like this.

To check if that sentence is wrong or not I asked to my teacher
but my teacher said that sentence was correct ..

Thank you for reading my question !


texts:
Sentence that needs correction :

  "The Americans and The Bostonians are two Henry James novels , the film versions of which have been as successful as the book versions".

Isn't this a run on sentence with 2 subjects and no conjunction to link the two independent clauses?


texts:
Can I use the idiom "Hold accountable" without putting someone's name as is required before the word accountable, like instead of this: hold someone accountable (for something), it would be like this: hold accountable (for something).

I need it to be in that form because I defined who is that someone as a pronoun:

  They have to hold accountable for their actions.

If that is not acceptable then is to be charged considered a good replacement? (But without the with)

  They have to be charged for their actions.

The meaning I intend, is: There is a group of people who are responsible for doing a conspiracy against someone named X. X discovered their conspiracy, so she says that they have to ____ for their actions/conspiracy.


texts:
Can anyone help me with these sentences?

The middle classes jeer at the collier for buying pianos-but what is the piano, often as not, but a blind reaching after beauty?

I don't understand what exactly the writer is trying to say.
And another question is that what does blind reaching mean?


texts: Which is more formal: clearer or more clear?

texts: I know both forms are correct, but I wonder which is more formal. Is there any difference in levels of formality?


texts: Is it necessary to add "do it" in the following case?

texts:
My headache was so bad by then I could barely go to class. And when I
   managed to do it, I couldn't listen to the professor at all.

Can I just write, "And when I managed to, I couldn't..."?


texts: Is 'would' used instead of 'was' to mean probability in past time?

texts:
I knew that class test would be held at 11:00 AM.
I knew that there was class test at 11:00 AM.

What are the differences between them? Do they mean same meaning?


texts: A request to refer to the bottom of the document

texts:
I have created a table in a "Word" document and described each column of it. Description came out to be too big, so I decided to move it down to the very end  of the document. But I want the users to know that the description is still there in the document. What would be the most acceptable way to notify them?

I tried this:

  (go to the bottom of this document, to see the description of each column)

Does it sound a bit rude?

Should it be like:

  (please, go to the bottom of this document, to see the description of each column)

Or, perhaps, this would be better:

  (for the description of each column, refer to the bottom of this document)

None of these three sits right with me. What would you write in this case?


texts: discriminate, distinguish, differentiate, and discern

texts:
discriminate
distinguish
differentiate
discern

I have looked up in different dictionaries, but couldn't get what is the exact difference between these.

Would anyone possibly, if you really know and aware of the difference between those, elaborate such differences?

I would appreciate it very much, if you could elaborate your invaluable explanations along with some example.


texts:
My university offers two courses, ECN470 and FIN470. If I ask someone whether they both are same courses(by study materials), what should I ask?

‘Is’ ECN470 and FIN470 the same course?

Or

‘Are’ ECN470 and FIN470 the same courses?


texts: Should there be a comma between "that" and "since" in the following sentence?

texts:
Perhaps he thought that(,) since his parka was too thick, he wouldn't be
  able to fit in the chair.

Adding a comma there feels natural to me. However, that creates a parenthetical statement. And if we remove it, we get:

  Perhaps he thought that he wouldn't be
  able to fit in the chair.

The sentence still makes sense ... but important information has been omitted ... I'm not very sure.

Should there be a comma there? Why or why not?


texts: Why is "development of" wrong in this paragraph?

texts:
I wrote the below paragraph in an essay, the examiner commented that
 use of "development of" was wrong and "developing" was recommended. Could you please help me why ?

  In conclusion, I should say although there may be many merits to development of a faster means of transportation, it is not farsighted to prioritize it above reduction of fume emissions and its affordability to the public which are closely connected to sustainability of our cities and living environment.


texts:
I do not find a clear answer in internet, whether I should use in or on:

 he had a broad education in  or  on maths and history

Could you help to choose the preposition?
(perhaps both are right :))


texts: Grammatically speaking, should I put a comma in the following introductory clause?

texts:
After having a green salad and black coffee for breakfast(,) and
  putting on her white cap and black hoodie, Mary went to
  university to meet her professor.

At first, I thought I had to put a comma because these were two introductory clauses ... but maybe it's only one? Maybe there's a punctuation rule related to clauses with many "and's"?

Anyhow, grammatically speaking, should there be a comma behind breakfast? Why or why not?

Another example (I'm not sure if it's the same problem):

  In those nice clothes(,) and sitting under the sunset, he looked quite
  charming.


texts: What does "First thing, E" mean? How do I use it appropriately?

texts:
This guy is saying (https://youtu.be/4kuhQzbc2Tw?t=54)

  First thing, E: "What are these types of words?"

I googled and found lots of people use this phrase as well. what does that mean? How do I use it appropriately?

I guess the "E" in the above and below are the same one, a virtual guy, designed to help understand the lesson.

same video another time stamp (https://youtu.be/4kuhQzbc2Tw?t=351)

  So, my friend, Mr. E, was drunk and I had to sort him out.


texts: Difference between "... me to show you" and "... you to show me"

texts:
I need to know the differences in meaning between this sentence and this question:

Do you want me to show you?
I want you to show me.


texts:
The Cambridge Dictionary has a sentence:

  They can cross-sell to the bank's existing customers and introduce life insurance and pensions products.

Pension, though a count noun, here functions as an attributive noun modifying products. Then why is it in the plural? Shouldn't attributive nouns be in the singular, such as "pension plans"? As far as I know there seem to be some exceptions where a plural noun precedes another noun to form a compound noun phrase, but pension doesn't seem to be one of them, according to Macmillan. Google suggests both pension products and pensions products are in use, the former more popular. Any chance this would be a BrE/AmE difference?


texts:
If someone pretend to be pretty, she thinks to herself as princess. Someone agree and other disagree and get pissed off at pretending.
Can I say to her " Don't pretend to be pretty!" "It's cheese."
or "Stop being that pretty" All is correct?


texts:
I have come across it in this video. It is 13 minutes and 23 seconds.

  There are times when you get bunched up, and you might be with two or three people to hold down a corner.


texts:
*A present-tense record of nation-splitting turmoil, Patricio Guzmán’s monumental documentary The Battle of Chile remains a landmark of activist cinema.*

http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review/the-battle-of-chile

I am at a loss how to translate meaningfully the phrase "present-tense" given the context of the sentence. Initially I thought that I can paraphrase it as "A record that presents account on tense events that occured in Chile…". But I am not sure at all now. Can you tell me the exact meaning of the phrase?


texts: 'I was flipped'. Am I hearing correctly?

texts:
I have this soundbyte from a video. All I'm hearing is 'I was flipped if' but it doesn't sound grammatically correct to me. Moreover a search on google for "i was flipped if" between quotes returned only 2 results.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/l2akckyqtyn1a5p/flipped.wma?dl=0

Shouldn't that have been something like 'I would have flipped'? But it's definitely not what I'm hearing.


texts: What does "were on" mean in this context?

texts:
She lifted her head like a queen when those earings "were on".
I really want to know the meaning of "were on" in this sentence.


texts:
Surprisingly, he finds he will leave Dover richer than he arrived.
  He'd watched a man doing the three-card trick, and when he learned it
  he set up for himself. Because he's a boy, people stop to have a go.
  It's their loss. He adds up what he's got and what he's spent.
  Deduct a small sum for a brief grapple with a lady of the night. Not the sort of thing you could do in Putney, Wimbledon or Mortlake.
  Not without the Williams family getting to know, and talking about you
  in Welsh.

(Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel)

What does "a brief grapple with a lady of the night" mean? It sounds like buying sex.


texts:
Her friends were point out her lavish lifestyle in which she spared
herself no earthly pleasure.

Is it mean she enjoyed pleasure or not?


texts:
In my workbook, I have two sentences: He waited for her on the street and He is apologising to her for his misbehaviour. My task is to make questions to the word her in both of the sentences.

Which questions sound better to you and why? Are they all correct?

  Who did he wait for on the street? or Who did he wait on the street
  for?

And the second pair of questions:

  Who is he apologising to for his misbehaviour? or Who is he
  apologising for his misbehaviour to?


texts:
I always read this (for example), but example is a countable noun. So, I think it should be 'for an example'.

Please check both sentences and let me know, which one is correct:

  Knowing the weather will help you prepare your clothes, as well as
  plan your commute. For example.

VS

  Knowing the weather will help you prepare your clothes, as well as
  plan your commute. For an example.

Please note:

  My focus is just on for an example or for example. I do not care about
  the entire sentence.


texts: What's the meaning of "Artist's rendering "?

texts:
I saw this page,

  Artist's rendering of the Space Launch System Block 1 sitting on
  Launch Pad 39A with the Orion spacecraft at sunrise.

I am confused with the word "Artist's rendering ". Does it mean Artist draw the picture?

Picture more look like a camera product than a painting product.


texts: Who/what "drooping down" refers to in this sentence?

texts:
"X looked at Y's pale, delicate neck, exposed above the open collars,
drooping gently down like thin mist, and couldn't help but suggest, "Then[...]".

In this case is A) X the one drooping down while looking and suggesting? (so drooping is a predicate for X) Or B) is it the neck of Y that is being pale, exposed and drooping (so drooping down is partecipal for Y's neck)? Or maybe it's even C) collars to be drooping down?


texts: “If I am to die, I shall have to have a say in it."

texts:
In this sentence,

If I am to die, I shall have to have a say in it.

Can someone explain what "I shall have to have a say in it" means?


texts: Does these sentences make sense for an English mind?

texts:
You've got a problem - either you solve it or not. Draw is impossible.

This is my sentence. I used it when describing a mathematician and mathematics in general. The figurative meaning is that you fight a mathematical problem in a game. You either win (solve it) or lose (can't solve it). There is no third outcome.

A native speaker said that these particular sentences don't make sense. I was left wondering what might cause problems? 'Draw' means 'tie' in a sport, when neither side has won.

EDIT:

I can rephrase it only this way:

  You've got a puzzle, and you either solve it or not. A tie is impossible.


texts: How is "better off" different from just "better"?

texts:
By definition of Cambridge Dictionaries Online

The word 'better' means

  comparative of good: of a higher quality or more enjoyable than someone or something else

By most dictionaries, better off means better economically.

For example:

  "The better–off people live in the older section of town."

By some dictionaries, better off can also mean the same as just the word better

For example:

  "Steve’s an idiot – you’d be better off without him."

In this example above, better off is used just like better. Am I right?

So what's the difference between "better" and "better off"?

In what contexts would using "better off" be better(or better off) than just using "better"?


texts:
This bridge is so built that it can be open in the middle.
  This bridge is built so that it can be open in the middle.

I wonder which one is correct English and what is the difference in meaning.
I think they're all correct English and the meaning of each sentence is below.

  This bridge is built in the manner that it can be open in the middle.
  This bridge is built for the purpose that it can be open in the middle.

I want to know whether my thinking is right.


texts: What is the difference between 'shop' and 'store'?

texts:
Why can't 'convenience store' be 'convenience shop'?
And why can't 'coffee shop' be 'coffee store'?
Can you tell me the exact difference between the two words?


texts: What is the difference between "The city has parks" and "There are parks in the city"?

texts:
What is the difference between "The city has parks." and "There are parks in the city."?

(Another example: The city has a lot of people. Vs. There are a lot of people in the city.)

They are just two ways to say the same thing or there is a distinguish between them?


texts: Can I say " Letting go and letting in" in one sentence without providing details?

texts:
I want to be general and say: "This movie is about letting go and letting in".
(for example:letting go of an old love,friendship and allowing a new one to come in; or anything else for that matter)
Will an average person understand the meaning, which is:the struggle of releasing the "old"emotions and allowing the "new" ones.


texts: Use of "will" in parallel clauses with two subjects following the word "when"

texts:
I was wondering if the word "will" needs to be repeated in two dependent clauses with two distinct subjects in the future tense.

For example:  "There will come a day when wars will cease and peace will reign forevermore."

Is it grammatically permissible to omit the second "will" so that the sentence reads, "There will come a day when wars will cease and peace reign forevermore"?


texts: In 'Better Call Saul', an assistant says to her boss: "there is a lot of prep we pushed so that you could focus on getting someone up". Does that mean she put off prep or managed to make  preparations?


texts: "Could you...?" vs. "Were you able to...?"

texts:
I understand the difference in use between 'could' and 'was/were able to' to refer to a specific achievement.

  I was able to attend the meeting yesterday.

He actually attended the meeting.

  I could attend the meeting yesterday.

He had the possibility to attend, but we don't know whether he did or he didn't.

Now, my question is as follows: do the same rules apply when we ask a question?

  Were you able to attend the meeting yesterday?

Am I asking whether he attended or not?

  Could you attend the meeting yesterday?

Am I asking the exact same thing as in the sentence above? Or am I simply asking whether he had the possibility to go, whether the possibility existed?


texts: Is HAVE GOT an idiom ? And are those patterns correct?

texts:
I'm confused, is "have got" a verb? Because when I've searched it in a dictionary, it said "have got" was an equivalent of "have", the form is like the "Present Perfect Tense", and it is the equivalent of "have" in British English. I've ever heard that "have got" can't be used in every situation, and only "have" can be used in all situation and all verbs, is that right?

These are the examples. So, do you hear them in standard British English?

I have already got to go (or) I already have to go.

I never have a new pen when I need one (or) I have never got a new pen when I need one.

I have got to do it (or) I have to do it.

I have still got to research itsign those contracts (or) I still have to research itsign those contracts.

I have just/only got five pence (or) I just/only have five pence.

I have also got to do my homework (or) I also have to do my homework.

I haven't just/only  got 5 pence (or) I just/only don't have 5 pence.

Have/ haven't I just/only got 5 pence? (Or) do/don't I have 5 pence?

I have/haven't also got to do it (or) I also don't have to do it.

Have/haven't I also got to do it? (Or) do/don't I also have to do it?

So In the past, do you use "had got" or "had in BrE?
e.g.

I had got 5 pounds (or) I (did have) had 5 pounds.

I hadn't got 5 pounds (or) I did not have 5 pounds.

Had/hadn't I got 5 pounds? (Or) did/didn't I have 5 pounds?


texts: Here's how Refills work VS here are how Refills work

texts:
I saw an answer on this site. The link is: https://ell.stackexchange.com/a/250152/116295

He quoted a sentence that is "here's how Refills work" but I think it should be are because Refills is plural here.

I want to know if what is correct to say and why:

  Here is how Refills work.

Or,

  Here are how Refills work.


texts: Should I use constitute or constitutes here?

texts:
"A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the atrocities perpetrated by the Government of the People's Republic of China against Uyghurs, ethnic Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and members of other Muslim minority groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region constitutes genocide."
or
"A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the atrocities perpetrated by the Government of the People's Republic of China against Uyghurs, ethnic Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and members of other Muslim minority groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region constitute genocide."
Is constitute or constitutes correct?


texts: How many grizzly bears did they spook in this sentence using “a couple of”？

texts:
I came across this sample sentence in Oxford Dictionary，under the entry "spook":

  They spooked a couple of grizzly bears.

I consulted an Oxford dictionary of English-Chinese edition, and it translates the sentence into  "They frightened two grizzly bears".

Maybe OK but I am still not fully convinced it means only two bears in the sentence. Does "a couple of bears" necessarily mean two, or have a meaning of more than two in most cases? As to in this sample sentence, I would prefer to interpret it as "they frightened some grizzly bears"(maybe they weren't quite sure of or didn't notice the exact number).

Help me.


texts: Correct Situation for use of Simple Past

texts:
Where did you go when I came to your home in the morning?

a) I went to the Market .

b) I went to the market when you came to my home.

b1) You came to my home when I went to the market.

c) I had gone to the market when you came to my home.

Which answer is correct?Why?

I Would like to prefer b or b1 because I just want to give him information of being gone to market.


texts: I haven't slept well vs I didn't sleep well yesterday?

texts:
If someone tells you that you look tired?

What do you say?

1- I haven't slept well.

or

2- I didn't sleep well yesterday.


texts: The worst case or the worst case scenario

texts:
If I say

  “He is kidnapped, or the worst case may be murdered.”

Does this sentence make sense?
Or should I say

  ”He is kidnapped, or the worst case scenario may be murdered.”

Or even

  “He is kidnapped, or the worst possibility may be murdered.”


texts: If a plane "takes off" and a boat "sails" what does a train/subway train do?

texts:
Example sentence:

  When the subway train __ , I wasn't clutching a grab handle, so I almost fell to the floor.

What's the verb to describe a train/subway train "taking off"?


texts: two predicates in a sentence "... was deposited .... created..."

texts:
The scientists reasoned that the clay was deposited from a world-encircling layer of dust enriched in iridium created a result of the impact of a big piece of space debris. (From TOEFL)

I think the objective clause possesses two predicates " was deposited" and " created." Is it a correct sentence?


texts: What does "more happy than surprised" mean, and why not use "happier than"?

texts:
Please tell me why people use comparative in this sentence. It is very strange to me.

  The parents were more happy than surprised at the study result of their son.

Why don't they use "happier than surprised"?


texts: What is the meaning of " would be flying" and " before whom" in this text?

texts:
They were still in a position of great peril, since they could not expect to embark and cross the stream without suffering tremendous loss from the enemy before whom they would be flying.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/16167/16167-h/16167-h.htm


texts:
The two sentences:

  The lighter the camera, the harder it is to hold steady.
  The lighter the camera is, the harder it is to hold steady.

I just saw the former one but always make the construction like the latter one.

Is the is redundant here?

Thank you.


texts: Sentence that have a different word usage?

texts:
I was recently reading an article where the word "by" was used in a sentence to describe a season (football season)

  Sentence: The competition is getting tougher by the season.

Now, as per my understanding the word "by" and if used following an article, the article justifies an object.

  For example:- He was standing by the tree.

How would you describe the usage of by in the sentence?


texts:
I don't get this specifically: When some people are up to something.

For example: We’re up to the murder.

It occurs in this passage from The Lost Girl: A Fear Street Novel
by R. L. Stine:

     “You don’t mind if I clean my jewelry while you work, do you?” Mom asked. She sat down at the other end of the table and started pulling rings and earrings out of the box.
     “We’re up to the murder,” Gabe said, reaching for a blank sheet of paper. “What if we make it so the player can choose his victim?” Diego asked.
     “You know. Like who should Macbeth kill first? Maybe we give him an automatic rifle, and he runs through the castle—”


texts: What does it mean "the purpose being to"?

texts:
Hello distinguished friends,
I've come across a word with which I am unfamiliar. Without further ado, I am putting the text:

It is perhaps risky to begin a paper by suggesting a possible change
of title, particularly if the suggested change approximates a reversal
of the original. This may seem flippant. The risk, however, is worth
taking, the purpose being to press home a point.

My issue is centered on the last part which is "the purpose being...". As far as I am concerned, the author intends to say sort of this: "However, the risk is worth taking with the purpose of emphasizing a point".
So, these are my questions:
1- Is what I understand is right? If not, what is the right meaning?
2- If it is right, what kind of usage is this? It looks strange to me. And could I use like this way: "I don't want to go out with you, the purpose being to study for my exams"
Just in case, I put the meaning of confusing -at least for me- words:
flippant: not being serious about something that other people think you should be serious about
home press: make clear by special emphasis and try to convince somebody of something.
f.e. They're trying to press home their message.
Thanks a bunch.


texts: Should I use "has" or "have" in the below sentence

texts: One of the technological aspects of the topological phases have been recognised in creating qubits with long-lasting coherence


texts: Why is "for a tortuous three days" singular even though days is plural?

texts:
I was surprised to find out that you should write:

    I waited for a torturous three days.

Instead of:

    I waited for torturous three days.

Why is this? "Days" is plural ...


texts: Here it goes in context: "if you agree to treat like cases alike and that a difference in treatment requires a morally relevent difference, then you have to identify the differences that justify treating non-human animals in ways that we would never subject humans to."


texts:
What is the proper way to state this?

The motorists behind Sam honked their horns and cursed his slow speed then, when oncoming traffic cleared, they zipped around him, shaking their fists.

speed, then, when...
speed. Then, when...
...speed then fortunately, when...
or should I leave it as it already is?


texts: Can 'though' be used at the start of a sentence?

texts:
Is it possible to start a sentence with 'though'?

For example:

  Though irreducibly simple in its design, this equation underpins much of the discussion surrounding ECS; thus, it serves a significant purpose in understanding and subsequently constraining ECS to within reasonable bounds.

First of all, is this sentence grammatical?

Secondly, is 'though' used correctly?


texts: What is the meaning of the idiom "blanket judgment"?

texts:
The context is here (YouTube) on 1:44

n.b. I've tried to make googling and I didn't find an answer.


texts: Using 'under' to describe the relative position of a chair with respect to a table

texts:
With reference to the scene depicted in the picture below, is it correct to say that the chair is under the table?

I'm unsure because:

not all the chair is directly down from the table;
a part of it is off to one side;
a part of it is higher than the table.


texts:
A native English language user just corrected my sentence construction but I believe mine is the correct one:

(An agent giving a suggestion to a customer)

  "I give you your order number, so that no matter who picks up the phone when you call back, your record can be pulled up faster.(native English language user)

Vs.

  "I give you your order number, so whoever picks up the phone when you call back, your record can be pulled up faster.(mine)

I feel like the first sentence is a bit off. Please correct.


texts:
In this sentence:

  We design to create a world in human dignity and as possible

I want to say that we design to make a world that is worthy for humans to live in, as possible as it is.

"As possible as it is" means: Our abilities are limited. So we may can't do something ideally, but it is still worthy because we have used all of the current possibilities. I want to say that's not about quality to use "good" instead.

I have used translators. Is it true to say this that way?
Does it mean anything, after all?
What the better sentence ?

Edit:
How about this one ?

  We design to create a world that is worthy for human to live in, and
  as much as possible.


texts:
CRISPR twins might have had their brains inadvertently enhanced

  “The simplest interpretation is that those mutations will probably
  have an impact on cognitive function in the twins,” says Silva.

I think "will" means that will happen, but "probably" means that may happen or maybe not.
Why?


texts:
Is there any difference in meaning among 'majority', 'great majority' and 'vast majority' in phrases like

  1) the majority of people

  2) the great majority of people

?


texts: What's the difference between 'How long will you stay?' and 'How long will you be staying?'

texts:
I was wondering the difference between 'How will you pay?', 'How will you be paying',

Somebody told me as follows,

  How will you pay? - talks more about the ability to pay, can you pay for this
  How will you be paying? - what you will be using to pay like cash, credit card, etc.

Now, I am wondering, what's the difference between

  How long will you stay?
  How long will you be staying?


texts: Why is "ed/d" added to “motivate” in “10 Ways To Keep Yourself Motivated Learning English”?

texts:
I know this is a very, very simple question. I went googling by myself, but I'm unsure what the proper keyword for this question would be. I only know "ed/d" is suffix for regular verbs like “added” or “matched”.

I often see this “ed/d” suffix in articles I read, but I only remember these other examples:

I'm confused.
I'm motivated.


texts:
Is it correct to say

Lack of compassion hardens your heart like a stone.

or

Lack of compassion makes your heart as hard as stone.

I wouldn't mind some explanation of why these sentences are wrong or correct, or better.


texts:
I would like to ask what is the most common phrase in English which allows you to express the fact that (for example) only ten minutes remain to the train's departure. Is my version O.K.? Thank you.

  There are ten minutes to the train's departure.


texts: What are grammar name of causative verbs that don't have "have, get, make or let"?

texts:
As causative verb: I am going to have my friend be suprised.
???: I am going to astonish my friend
What are difference between verb "astonish" and verb "be suprised"? What is  its name in grammar?


texts: A term for the ground the swimmer steps on coming out of the whatever water he was swimming in

texts:
The example of a self-made sentence:

  He had to make a couple of fast strokes to reach the underwater
  ground to just feel sort of safe from a possible shark attack.

Not that I ask for editing, it's the request for the term for the ground the swimmer steps on coming out of the whatever water he was swimming in. A bottom, ground, bed, floor--what it is, disregarding a body of water


texts: Meaning of this sentence and the construction "but besides that"

texts:
I understand to the first comma, but I cannot understand the rest.

  You may need to change some habits and expectations, but besides that I do not see any reason why you wouldn’t benefit from reading this book if your goal is to make games with this tool.

How can I interpret it?
I think that the following part may be the reason I  don't understand the whole meaning.

  but besides that

Thanks!


texts:
I am not sure when is appropriate to use the phrase

  "That's a shame"

or

  "That's a real shame..."

Is it friendly? Respectful? Is it a thing very close friends or people say to each other when they want to imply the other person has not done a good job(and hence he should feel shame?)

If you can help with appropriate contexts and kind of people we can say this to that'd very helpful.