texts: What is the difference between administration, regime, and government?

texts:
I do get the meaning of the words separately but I would like more clarity.
In American media, "Trump Administration" is the usual phrase but the same media use regime to refer to other countries. Also, the Indian media use "government" almost exclusively. Eg: Modi government.
It looks like these words can be interchangeably used but why is not common to see Trump government or Trump regime?
Is it because of the convention or something else?
I also considered the political structures in different countries. India even though a democracy like the US, I find media using the word "government" rather than "administration".


texts: Its/ their, which one is the most correct?

texts:
It is one of the companies that..

Removed background music from its stores.

Removed background music from their stores.


texts: Correct Use of Past Perfect Tense in the context

texts:
I have asked so many question about use of Had (Past Perfect) in English sentence. But sometime after I made my concept clear come across some sentence which force me to re think it.

E.g.

https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/vajpayee-used-to-listen-to-every-party-when-he-was-pm-mamata-1316493-2018-08-16

"He had come to my residence and I am grateful to him for that. Both families share a very cordial relationship."

Similarly can I use Perfect Tense for below scenario / Context.

One of my colleague came to me to discuss some issue. we discussed it and he left. after 2 days we discussed it with other team member.

To report whatever discussed earlier can I start my conversation as below?

"Mr. Xyz had come to my desk to discussed about xyz issue. We discussed it but now we want a solution from you also."

Whenever I asked this type of questions I was asked to use Simple past instated of past perfect. But when I read similar contexts in past perfect I get confused. Even some of the article I read while reporting use of Simple Past and Past perfect is optional.

Please Help.


texts:
When do we use "It is to report that"?
If I am to report something, can I say "It is to report that"?


texts:
Tom said that he had had a strange experience a day before.

1) Tom said, "I have had a strange experience yesterday"

2) Tom said, "I had a strange experience yesterday"

I thought the answer is "1" as 'present perfect' changes to 'past perfect' in an indirect sentence. But my book says the answer is "2". Please clarify.


texts:
... One of the guards was eating C rations from a can and reading a comic book.  Garraty watched the guard eating and reading and thought for the ten thousandth time: It's all real.  And now, at last, the thought began to swing some weight.  ...

I didn't find the phrase in my dictionary.  What does it mean here?


texts: Who or whom? "Figure 1 depicts a surveillance system, detecting pedestrians whom are crossing dangerous regions."

texts:
In the following sentence, should I use who or whom? It is highlighted in bold.

  For instance, Figure 1.1 depicts an operating smart surveillance system, detecting pedestrians whom are crossing dangerous regions, cars in parking lots, and ships.

I think it should be whom because the "operating smart surveillance system" is the subject, while "pedestrians" are the object. But, my professor corrected it to who and now I'm not sure.


texts:
The following year, a large and expensive class action lawsuit was filed in order to hold accountable the party responsible for the disaster.

I searched on dictionary and only found "hold someone accountable (for something)" so I was confuse what does hold accountable in this sentence mean. What is the object of this sentence?


texts:
Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell has warned that a full US economic recovery may take until the end of next year

In my opinion, take is a transitive verb. Does "until the end of next year" here act as a noun?


texts:
puff out 1. PHRASAL VERB

  If you puff out your cheeks, you make them larger and rounder by
  filling them with air.

  He puffed out his fat cheeks and let out a lungful of steamy breath.
  [VERB PARTICLE noun]

The term "puff out" doesn't carry the meaning of spitting saliva out.

So, How to express "He puffed out his cheeks and at the same time spit out and possibly made some bubble sound"?


texts: "I am filtering X" and "I have a X filter". Am I keeping X or discarding X?

texts:
I was writing some Java 8 Streams code. I have a list of files, but I want to keep all large files over 100 MiB.

// Filtering large files
details = details.stream()
        .filter(fileDetails -> fileDetails.getSize() > HUNDRED_MEBIBYTES)
        .collect(Collectors.toList());

The filter Javadoc says:

  Returns a stream consisting of the elements of this stream that match the given predicate.

Therefore I have to pass a predicate describing what I want to keep.

Writing that // Filtering large files comment gave me an uneasy feel, as I was hesitating on whether saying "Filtering X" meant keeping X or discarding X. I tried to think about it but then became confused (I've rewritten that comment // Keep large files only since).

Here's the heart of the question:

If I am filtering water into a cup using a water filter, the cup will contain filtered water, and we discarded impurities.
If I am filtering air entering into a room using a air filter, the room will contain filtered air, and we discarded dust.
But if I am filtering air entering into my computer case using a dust filter, the computer will contain filtered air, and we discarded dust.

It seems that "filtering X" always mean "I want X and discard Y", but a "Z filter" would either mean "I want Z and discard Y" or "I want X and discard Z". Is it true? Is no one ever filtering impurities, or filtering dust?

Following that logic, I am always filtering large files (I would not say in this case I am filtering small files), but it is ambiguous whether I should have a "large files filter" or a "small files filter".

I have to admit, sometimes I don't remember whether the filter method is meant to have a predicate describing what I want to keep or what I want to discard, for example the following code does not do what one expects at first glance:

allMiddleNames = users.stream()
        .map(User::getMiddleName)
        .filter(String::isEmpty) // FIXME: This is wrong, should be "s -> !s.isEmpty()"
        .collect(Collectors.toSet());

Is there a clear, deterministic use of the word filter, particularly when used with the following expressions?

I am filtering X (filtering is a present participle)
I have a X filter (filter is a noun)
My container contains filtered X (filtered is an adjective)
I have filtered X (filtered is at the past tense)


texts: Can you explain the difference? And give some context?

texts:
Let's say you are planning to update your phone number that has been registred with an organization.

I am not sure this is the number that i want to change to.

I am not sure this is the number that i want to change from.


texts:
a. She was happy to see her mother.

Does this mean

a1. She was happy when she saw her mother.

a2. She was happy that she'd seen her mother.

a3. She was happy that she was going to see her mother.

?

=========================

b. She was happy to win the contest.

Does this mean

b1. She was happy when she was winning the contest.

b2. She was happy that she had won the contest.

b3. She was happy that she was going to win the contest.

?

It seems to me that (a) corresponds to (a1), and (b) corresponds to (b2). But maybe there's some ambiguity in these sentences.

I wonder if (b) could be said of her state of mind long after the contest was over.

Would this one work?

c. Three years after the contest, she was still happy to win it.

Many thanks


texts: Why "making it his object to let go" translated as "making to letting go to be his object"?

texts:
"And what is the faculty of concentration? There is the case where a monk, a disciple of the noble ones, making it his object to let go, attains concentration, attains singleness of mind.

Why should "making it his object to let go" be translated as "making to-let-go be his object"?

Why does "it" refer to "to let go"?

Where can I learn the rule about this case?

Full content: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn48/sn48.010.than.html


texts:
Is it correct to use "meeting" this way? or it should be replaced by holding?
The authorities in our country want to hire people with experience and beyond the average qualities, as is the case with her. On the one hand, she speaks English but also has working experience with the government, which are characteristics of high demand in our country with few professionals meeting them.


texts: What could be the answer to this Oxford's example sentence?

texts:
On OALD, it's mentioned:

  whereabouts (n) - the place where somebody/something is

The example below is quite clear - Hs whereabouts are/is still unknown. This means, where is he, is still unknown.

Now the adverb whereabouts

  whereabouts (adv) - used to ask the general area where somebody/something is

The example is Whereabouts did you find it?

The general area?

What could be the answer to this? If I found it in my drawer, it's not a general area but the area, the exact area where I found it.

If you find something, you find it at the exact place. As it's described in OALD, this must be a valid question but then what could be your answer? You answer anything and it will be opposite to the meaning of adverb whereabouts. The meaning says approximate/general place but if you find something, you find it at the exact place and not general!

Does it mean that I lost a key and this conversation takes place...

  Whereabouts did you find a key? ~ I found it in a room (because the asker used 'whereabouts' so it should be general place.

And the same key, the same incidence but if someone asks...

  Where did you find a key? ~ I found it in a drawer (because the asker used 'where' so it should be the 'exact' place.

Does it mean, again, that if you want to ask general, you use whereabouts but if you want to know the exact place, whereabouts won't work? Instead, we use where?


texts:
The surge in its shares of triggered the market's circuit breakers
  and trade was halted after a 44% jump in early session.

I think the sentence above is wrong, and it should delete the word "of".

I parse the sentence like this :

  The surge / in it shares / triggered / the market's circuit breakers
  / and / trade / was halted / after a 44% jump / in early session.


texts: "My shares were valued 1M USD at that moment" or "My share was valued 1M USD at that moment"?

texts:
Just wondering which one is correct.

Should I say share or shares?

Updated on Jan 19: Yes, I mean the ownership of a company.


texts:
If somebody who is speaking with me says, "I am getting confused." what does that mean?

I would understand that as "somebody thinks I am somebody else," but since the topic is not that, I don't understand exactly what that sentence would mean.

Is there another way of saying "I am getting confused."?


texts:
Friday morning and after the rain that bothered us the night before had stopped we wandered in the record stores of Madrid where literally tons of records were waiting for us.

why had stopped?
Wednesday night the rain began and bothered us then it stopped on friday morning and we wandered in the streets of Madrid. So "stopped" is after "bothered" so why past perfect, is it to tell the reader that the rain began  first and it bothered us  quite a long time after .


texts:
What does 'butted up' mean here:

  At the tone of Mrs Whatsit’s voice, both warning and frightening, Meg
  shivered again. And Charles Wallace butted up against Mrs Whatsit in
  the way he often did with his mother, whispering, ‘Now I think I know
  what you meant about being afraid.’

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle


texts: Which Tense should we use while telling Story/Experience?

texts:
In the Below link writer has written in his blog about his experience in one the famous fair in India. He has used Present Tense.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-edit-page/magical-moments-at-the-kumbh-mela-everybody-does-their-own-thing-at-this-meeting-place-of-humanity/

Can we Use Present tense in telling experience / Story? or we can use Past tense also?


texts: Do you make an audiotape with or by a tape recorder? It's a tool, isn't it? Should I use 'with'? I have a suspicion that I shouldn't but can't tell why.


texts: What does "by" mean if we are talking about a date?

texts:
... Must be uploaded by 11:59 p.m. (GMT) on April 12, 2016.

What does "by" mean in this context? Does that mean "before"? So the deadline is on April 12 at 11.59 p.m. GMT?

And 11:59 p.m. = 23:59 (24h), right?


texts: What does *to see no other choice* mean, really?

texts:
The phrase to see no other choice is used in contexts I don't quite understand.  Some snippets from Google Search:

Soldiers in Cities:

  ... forces are ever engaged in high-intensity urban warfare, it is almost certainly going to be because the political and military leadership see no other choice

A meme on suicide:

  People kill themselves because they see no other choice

Waves of Rancor: Tuning in on the Radical Right:

  While many in the hard to the ultra-right as well as the moderate right, vote Republican, it is because they see no other choice.

Literally speaking, there is always another choice.  So clearly, the meaning is not literal.  What does to see no other choice mean, really?


texts:
If I ask a group of people:

  Who wants to start a conversation?

should someone say - I want to or I do?


texts: Translation of "happy about one's share"

texts:
What adjective phrase describes a person that is happy with what he has, in contrast to:

a person that envies what other people have;
a person that complains about what he doesn't have?

In Hebrew there is a phrase "שמח בחלקו" (literally: "happy in his/her share"). What is the parallel phrase in English?


texts:
For example:

  don't be aggressive
  don't being aggressive

Could you tell me which one is used in which situation?


texts: blowing or puffing? To release air out of mouth

texts:
When we cool the hot food by releasing air out of mouth, do we say:

  Blow over the food to cool it.

OR

  Puff over the food to cool it.

Actually in 'blowing' it seems to be as if there is a lot of force that will move the food far away.


texts:
We should take care of those students with frequent absence of
  fathers who are busy with working when they come back home late at
  night.

In the sentence, I want to express two meanings:

Those students usually finish school and come back home at late time
at night
When they get home, their fathers are usually not there, because they
work outside very late.

Does the sentence fully deliver the meaning I want to express and is the word 'absence' used correctly? Would you please amend it?


texts: What is the difference between 'attest' and 'attest to'? When should we use the phrase attest to and when should attest be used?


texts: What does "if you have anything else to say" mean?

texts:
if you have anything else to say

What does it mean? Is it offensive or respectful to use it?


texts:
"but his phone was switched off"

What would be the meaning of above sentence?

A) his phone was switched off by someone. (Passive Voice)

B) his phone was automatically switched after battery discharged. (Transitive Verb switched off)

C) gives idea about status of phone. (Reported speech or statative sentence)


texts: I wanted to know when to use the word advent and arrival in the sentence. Please provide examples and explanation for it. Thanks in advance.


texts:
Connect one ends of these cables to this PC and the other ends to that
  PC.

Is the "one ends" in the sentence above I created grammatically correct? After googled, I found this phrase is sometimes used by non-native speakers of English.


texts: Difference between Gerund "verb + ing" and "having + past participle"

texts:
Can anyone explain what is the difference between these form of the gerund?

He published his first book after having returned from Africa.

He published his first book after returning from Africa.

well, In the first one, I think the action of returning has already happened.
but, I want to know if I can use the second sentence in place of the first one.

what are the grammatical rules for this?

I found these sentences on this site here


texts: When a website posts latest developments of something using text, pictures, and videos as the events unfold in real-time (example), what do you call it?


texts: Drinking wine has a lot of positive sides that depend / depends on

texts:
I am writing some sentences to tell my friends that they should drink some red wine in dinners.

  Drinking wine has a lot of positive sides that [depend / depends] on
  which type of wine people purchase, for example, some doctors have
  recommended people drink red wine because they are better for health.

I have stopped writing after this sentence, because I am not sure
whether I should use a singualr verb or not.
Here is the reason why I hesitate:
Drinking wine is singular, but a lot of positive sides is plural,
so I am confused.


texts: Is this expression clear and idiomatic, "what is the value N/(2k) at least should be"?

texts:
I asked a question just now.

  Thanks for your answer. In your context, what is the value N/(2k) at least should be?

Is this expression clear and idiomatic?

All the discussion is in the field of Artificial Intelligence, more specifically, Machine Learning.

Why this value should vary?

Because N stands for the number of samples, different datasets may have different N, so is the k

So, neither N nor k is a fixed value, neither is N/(2k).

N/(2k) varies in a range. What I asked there is the minimum value of N/(2k).


texts: What do you call the furniture behind of which a speaker talks?

texts: What do you call the furniture in front of which a speaker talks? This furniture is also found in university and allows a professor to give a presentation to the class. What do you call this furniture?


texts: Lucky Strike cigarettes—it's toasted (meaning?)

texts: Right under the brand name Lucky Strike, it says "it's toasted." Any idea what that means?


texts:
The hypothesis is that there are laws of nature, like those that
  govern the movement of the planets, which govern everything that
  happens in the world—and that in accordance with those laws, the
  circumstances before an action determine that it will happen, and rule
  out any other possibility.

[What does it all mean, T.Nagel]

Is "and that" connected with "The hypothesis is"?

and

Is the word "it" referring to "the action"? thanks!


texts:
Can one perceive an odour or smell it?

  I perceive something is smelling.

  I smell something.


texts:
My dictionary says that to come along means "to progress or to shape up." For example:

  How is that project coming along?

I would like to know, is "to happen or to arise" a valid meaning as well? As in:

  How did this issue/problem come along?


texts: Do the sentences sound natural and have the same meaning?

texts:
1a:  Nobody knows what will happen next.

1b:  Nobody knows things that will happen next.

1c:  Nobody knows that which will happen next.

2a:  I asked her what kind of music she liked.

2b:  I asked her the kind of music that she liked.

Do the above sentences sound natural? Do 1a, 1b and 1c have the same meaning?
Do 2a and 2b have the same meaning?

Thank you very much!


texts: Understanding the negative comparison "I didn't want to see her any more than she wanted to see me"

texts:
While I was studying I saw a sentence but I can't understand it.  Here is the sentence;

As, I didn't want to see her any more than she wanted to see me I didn't mind when she told me so.

I don't understand the "than she wanted to see me" part.
Now we got two person they don't want to talk each other any more but here it says "than she wanted".
I thought she wanted to see him but he didn't want to see her, but in paragraph feelings are mutual.
I don't understand construction of this sentence. Did she want to see him or not?


texts:
this passage is from Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth, what Hayley’s referring to? and where is The ’Rakers?
JOHNNY. Serves you right. Why don’t you fuck off home like
the rest of ’em. Stop round Hayley’s, you don’t wanna go
home…
JOHNNY collects an axe from the porch. He goes over to a
pile of logs to the side of the trailer. He takes one, puts it on
a stump.
LEE. Here, Tanya. You seen Phaedra?
TANYA. What?
LEE. Phaedra. Her mum said she ain’t been home for days.
JOHNNY splits a log.
TANYA. I ain’t seen her all week, mate.
PEA. Who’s that?
LEE. Phaedra? She ain’t been home.
PEA. Last time I saw Phaedra, right, was… fancy-dress night.
Fancy-dress night at The ’Rakers.
TANYA. That doorman is a wanker.
GINGER. Why?
TANYA. He is. He’s such a tuss.
GINGER. What happened?
PEA. She’d made her own costume, right, made a real effort,
stitching, sequins, and she shows up at The ’Rakers and the
fucking doorman turns her away.


texts:
Could you please check my “derivation tree"?

I'm not sure about position of article (the) and pronoun(her). Is it right to put them like this?

Maybe other mistakes?


texts: In which cases should I duplicate the indefinite article?

texts:
So the question in the title. At the moment I’m not sure whether to use ‘a’ before ‘photo’ in the following sentence.

  …you can get an album or (a) photo by its id.


texts:
I don't understand this sentence well and am not sure where the subject is so I don't know what I can fill.

At present production levels, they are known deposits of bauxite can provide the world with aluminum for hundreds of years.
At present production levels, known deposits of bauxite can provide the world with aluminum for hundreds of years.

I think the first sentence (they are known)is correct but I saw the answer key is the second sentence (known).


texts: On whatever amount of money (that) you have

texts:
How to make the following expression sound natural (and be grammatical)?

  This bank account gives 2% on whatever amount of money that you have in your account.

For example, would it be more natural to say "has a 2% yield" instead of "gives 2%"? And do I need "that" or not?


texts: "After being broken up" vs. "After broken up"

texts:
What is the difference between these two sentences?

  "After being broken up with my boyfriend"
  "After broken up with my boyfriend"

Why we use "being" in the first sentence? I saw it on Gossip Girl Season 1 Episode 8 at 02:06 she said "after being broken.."


texts: Can I use just one example after "such as"?

texts:
Now I want to write a sentence as follows for my scientific paper:

Microwave energy is an efficient heating tool for the materials possessing dielectric molecules such as water.

Here, is it OK if I use only one example of 'water' after 'such as'?

I think I have seen so many examples using 'like' to bring just one example.

However, I heard that 'like' is usually used to refer the things that are similar to what I bring as an example but not containing it.

So, I want to 'such as' or 'including', but I am not sure whether I can take just one example after these expressions.


texts: Finish or have finished by last October?

texts:
The builders had planned to finish building the elevator by last
October but it didn't happen
The builders had planned to have finished building the elevator by
last October but it didn't happen

What are the differences? And what is natural?


texts:
What might be done with these? Boxes can usually serve as new storage containers, and almost always serve as very imaginative forts for the kids, not to mention makeshift pet houses during colder weather. And clothing? Imagine taking old clothing and turning them into vests, hats, hanging organizers, or rag rugs. The only limit to using these items in other ways is one's individual creativity and daringness to try.

I am wondering how the italic part is related to the previous sentence or part. Try what?
UPDATED:
My specific problem is the following, as you know both of them could be correct, but I am wondering which one and why semantically, not grammatically:
try using...
try to use


texts:
sound track of "comings and goings"

I thought "comings" just read as "coming"+"s".

But this man read it like "co-mings".

What's your opinion?


texts: Star Trek "Kobayashi Maru" as a verb in this sentence from 'The Office' (US)?

texts:
I am watching the American sitcom The  Office,  Season 9.

There are the dialogue like below and I don't get it. could you please help me?

  Dwight: Okay, here’s one. A customer who ordered enough paper to qualify for a volume discount now wants to return half the stock. You can't rebate the sales price or credit for future purchased, because you brokered the deal for a third party.

  Clark: That’s just a classic no-win situation.

  Dwight: Thank you.

  Clark: So, I'd Kobayashi Maru it.

I searched google and knew 'Kobayashi Maru' means no win situation. By the way in this sentence, it looks like that 'Kobayashi Maru' is used as verb. How can I interpret it?


texts: Word order in question: "Subject is" or "is subject"?

texts:
I'm brushing up rules about question word order and have one doubt. What is right word order in the question.

Context:
Mr. A and Mr. B talk to Mr. C about something. Mr. A is talking about special rules. Mr. B thinks that it may not be understandable for Mr. C. He interrupt Mr. A and say:

  What Mr. A is trying to say?

or

  What is Mr. A trying to say?

What is right word order in that sentence?


texts:
The past of the system is conceived as no more than the continuous
  succession of its states of presence.

I know that the word "succession" have a meaning of "something that comes after". So I think that whenever there is a sentence with the word "succession", it should have this form:  "A" succession of "Something that happened before A". However, in the given sentence, it says "past of the system" in front of the word "succession" and "states of presence" at the back which seems like a reverse form of what I suggested. So it sounds awkward for me. Can someone explain?


texts:
[Para 1, CJ Cockburn's judgment:] Here the defendant agreed to buy a specific parcel of oats. The oats were what they were sold as, namely, good oats according to the sample. The buyer persuaded himself they were old oats, when they were not so; but the seller neither said nor did anything to contribute to his deception. He has himself to blame. The question is not what a man of scrupulous morality or nice honour would do under such circumstances. The case put of the purchase of an estate, in which there is a mine under the surface, but the fact is unknown to the seller, is one in which a man of tender conscience or high honour would be unwilling to take advantage of the ignorance of the seller; but there can be no doubt that the contract for the sale of the estate would be binding.

Am I right to guess that the bolded means 'exemplied by'?  Which definition of put applies? Or is put of a prepositional verb, and if so, how does the juxtaposition of these two words effect/imply this meaning?


texts: Should you use singular or plural verb in this type of sentence?

texts:
Rule 7 at this grammar website says:

Rule 7
Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by words such as along with, as well as, besides, or not. Ignore these expressions when determining whether to use a singular or plural verb.
Examples:
The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly.
Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause of her shaking.

So, it looks like we usually ignore these expressions: as well as, along with, besides, etc., when determining whether to use a singular or plural verb. But if the sentence is this:

Suresh along with his friends was arrested by the police as
they were involved in the sting operation.

It sounds a little bit eccentric to me. Should were  be the verb followed by friends [plural]? Please clear my doubt.


texts:
None of the diplomats at the conference was able either to comprehend or solve the problem.

I have some doubt about this sentence.

a) I think it should be the conference was able to either.

b) If we take "able either to" as it is, then there should be "to solve" instead of "solve".

c) As here we are talking about more than one diplomats and None specifies here Not any, it should be were.

Thank you


texts: What is better to say in the following context "You 'could' / 'would' achieve"?

texts:
How is it better to say

  Sometimes it's hard to believe that you could ever achieve your
  goal...

Or

  Sometimes it's hard to believe that you would ever achieve your
  goal...


texts: Could you re write the sentence below in simple English

texts:
whether it was trying to trigger outright war.

NB. My try is: "Mr Yatsenyuk wants to make sure if the takeover of the peninsula was a part of a dirty plan to suddenly starting a clear war. "

NB. I have problem with the word "outright" and even "trigger" . I made this based to check dictionary, but have my doubts if this is correct.

Here the conext

Mr Yatsenyuk switched from speaking English to Russian to ask Moscow directly whether it was trying to trigger outright war.


texts: Should I use "of" or "with" in "tired {of/with} homework" or "afraid {of/with} the dark"?

texts:
I am tired of homework.
I am tired with homework.

I am afraid of the dark.
I am afraid withthe dark.
Is there any difference in case of usage?


texts:
Based on that "a she" and "a he" are nouns that can be used in combination to form compound nouns can we use them to speak about transgender (transsexual)?

She is a he-she.
That boy is a she-boy.


texts:
Once you tried out our product you won't ever turn around for/to XXX again!

(Where XXX is the competitors product.)

Can you even say that? If yes, which version is correct?


texts: What is the meaning "It's a long shot at best"?

texts:
Poppy said this words to Dan, columnist, about Lilly opinion on Dan.
Lilly is Dan's daughter.

  Poppy: So a little bird told me you're gonna be syndicated.

  Dan: Lilly. They're looking at a bunch of columnists.  It's a long
  shot at best.


texts: Can I use the sentence "have you got an umbrella" or anything else to ask someone whether he got it or not?


texts: How do I answer a question like "What kind of activities are in Part C?"?

texts:
I am reading a textbook for improving my reading skills.

The title of the book is

  "READING CONNECTIONS - HIGH INTERMEDIATE".

This book is divided into four units. From unit one to unit four.

Each unit has four parts. From part A to part D.

Each part C has the same title

PART C DOING THE UNIT TASK

and the same subtitle

  "Building Your Vocabulary: Summary"

But each part C has different content.

Each part D has the same title

PART D EXPANSION ACTIVITIES

But each part D has different content as well.

In brief, the format is like

PART C    DOING THE UNIT TASK

  Building Your Vocabulary: Summary

....contents are here....

PART D    EXPANSION ACTIVITIES

  Applying Your Knowledge

....contents are here....

  The Electronic Link

....contents are here....

  For More Information

....contents are here....

  Essay Questions

....contents are here....

As a reader, how do I answer a question like the one above in formal way.

Thank you for your reading.


texts: What's the meaning of "through" in this context?

texts:
This is a comment made by a poster on an article about texting:

  I love technology. However, I will not get a cell phone nor will I text. My phone is through the internet. As has happened several times, I have to pay attention when I walk down the street or people who are texting or talking on their cell phones would run into me. That they don't even comprehend this is another reason.

What does it mean when he said his phone is "through" the internet?


texts:
"Sweeter than honey" may be plenty sweet enough.

What's the meaning of "plenty sweet enough"?

I guess it means that "sweeter than honey" is too much of sweet.

Am I right? If I'm right, how is it so?

I don't think 'plenty sweet enough' connotes any negative meaning.


texts: Alternatives for a "which" pointing to the mentioned idea

texts:
I wrote:

  Considering this navigation direction, context variables can capture the hierarchical and sequential relations between two patterns, which in languages like XPath are explicitly shown using axis specifiers.

which actually points to the idea that mentioned in the previous clause context variables can capture hierarchical and sequential relations between two patterns.

First I would like to know if I used which correctly.

Second, I would like to know the alternatives, if better, for that like,

  .... a feature that in languages like....

  .... something that in languages like....

  .... other common phrases...

This is another example:

  I think it's because their entries reveal their passion for writing or using words, which in turn stimulates my own zeal for writing.


texts:
He declares the meeting open.
  He declares the meeting to be open.

I think the right form of the first sentence is, "He declares the meeting is open", though it seems to me that the first sentence is correct. If the first sentence is correct, please tell me why the auxiliary verb 'is' is not used. And why, in the second sentence, has 'to be' been used?


texts: How to name the kind of a thing with its name?

texts:
How to name a thing together with its name?

For example, are these correct sentences and do they mean the same?

I like the chocolate "Milka"; I like chocolate the "Milka"; I like "Milka" the chocolate.
I like the movie "The Batman"; I like the "The Batman" movie; I like "The Batman" the movie.
I stay at the "National" hotel; I stay at the hotel "National"; I
stay at "National" the hotel.


texts: Can anyone explain this sentence in a simpler manner?

texts:
This is the context:

  Question: Does that mean these robots are conscious?

  Kahneman: I don’t know if they are or not; how would we know? It’s a judgment that we make about another
  person. I know my own subjectivity; I believe you’re conscious. But my belief about your consciousness,
  I think, could be simulated by my belief in a robot’s consciousness. And where that goes, I have no
  idea.

  source: The enigma of human consciousness.New York Academy of Sciences.

Can anyone explain the bold part? I can't understand it.


texts: Is "the prince thus represented was regent rather than monarch of persia." a reduced adjective clause?

texts:
Those of Artaxerxes bear a head which is surmounted with the usual inflated ball, and has the diadem, but is without a crown-a deficiency in which some see an indication that the prince thus represented was regent rather than monarch of Persia.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/16167/16167-h/16167-h.htm


texts: Are they both grammatical?  will have you take a bath

texts:
I was watching a Japanese anime on Youtube, and came across this line of subtitle text:

  We will have you take a bath.

I could not fully understand its meaning, but I guessed it was some kind of command.
I have searched on Google, and found some similar words:
(Juvenile Fiction)

  (“And since you mentioned a pot of boiling water, I think I will have you take a bath before your operation...)

What is this kind of grammar?
Why the verbs, take are not in past tense in the two given sentences.

If I change the verbs in past tense:

  We will have you taken a bath.

  I think I will have you taken a bath before operation.

Are they both grammatical?


texts:
Some people equate grammar with any rules governing the language. Some people believe grammar is language itself minus whatever is being discussed in the shade of "meaning" and "comprehension". Some people think "grammar" is anything that prohibits them from uttering some words, morphemes or phonemes together.

So, what is grammar? What criteria should we use to call something a "grammar rule"?

     *** Please do not remove the 'grammar' tag from this question! ***

                   It's a placeholder.


texts:
I am writing a humor essay that begins:

  "Put that over there," she says.

Would "a room full of thats and theres" work in this context?

  Since I am standing in a room full of both thats and theres, I am unsure what she means.

In this humorous context, what is the plural of that and there?


texts:
Will a sentence sound too awkward or unacceptable if I use a transitive verb taking a direct object without this object.

  If you ask me about advantages of speaking English as a second language at work, the first that comes to mind is that it gives [you] the ability to communicate more efficiently with foreign staff in your enterprise.

Are there any instances when it is possible to use a transitive verb without a direct object?

In my example, I am using the verb to give.


texts: Can "preferentially" be used as an adverb of the word "priority"?

texts:
I have searched an adverb of "priority, prioritize", but have not found it yet. Instead, I have found the word "preferentially", which is an adverb of "preference, prefer".

As far as I consulted my dictionaries, "priority, prioritize" and "preference, prefer" differ in meaning a little. Can "preferentially"  be used as an adverb of the word "priority, prioritize"? For example, does the following sentence I created make sense?

  Music data is given priority over text data so that the system
  preferentially stores music data when available storage capacity is
  not enough.


texts: is it right to say ' Restrictions extended'

texts:
I read this title tonight and I got a bit confused about the grammar. Unfortunately, I  always translate the sentence to my mother tongue and it did not make any sense. Should not it be passive like 'Restrictions were extended'

Many Thanks


texts:
"He who makes amends and does so without hesitation, his reputation will be grand, even among his enemies."

I don't understand where the comma splice is? "He who makes amends and does so without hesitation" is not independent. @stangdon @FumbleFingers


texts: Is it correct to say - " underwent pleasure "

texts:
Is it correct to say -

  I underwent great pleasure listening to your song, nothing could make it better.

I doubt if the above is correct, so I would say this instead-

  I experienced great pleasure listening to your song, nothing could make it better.

I think this is grammatically correct, but it doesn't sound informal and rather sounds archaic.

If I am right in thinking so, is there a better way to express the same compliment.


texts: How to use Past Perfect and Past simple in Reporting?

texts:
"This is not the first time that the Bollywood actor has been detained at a US airport.
  In 2012, Shah Rukh Khan was detained at New York airport for over two hours by immigration officials. The US customs and border protection authorities had expressed "profound" apologies for the Shah Rukh Khan's detention then."
  The Times of India

Why did the reporter use a combination of Past Simple and Past Perfect tenses in above news?

In this paragraph the reporter wants to refer event/news before current news.
The reporter has used Past Simple tense for event of Shah Rukh Khans arrest i.e. in 2012. Then he used Past Perfect tense for "immigration officials had expressed apologies for that event."

I am confused which event occurred first; Shah Rukh Kans detention or apology of officials. Why was had apologized used?  Logically, detention first and then apology after release. But as per paragraph; apologized first and then detention. Why was use of Simple Past first and then Past Perfect?

A per my understanding report should be like this

"This is not the first time that the Bollywood actor has been detained at a US airport.
In 2012, Shah Rukh Khan HAD BEEN detained at New York airport for over two hours by immigration officials. The US customs and border protection authorities had expressed "profound" apologies for the Shah Rukh Khan's detention then."

Correct me if I am wrong.


texts: "to first receive" or "to receive first"

texts:
I have received an email asking me whether I would like to extend a support period, but I need to know another information beforehand (I have already asked but never received an answer).

Where should I put "first" in the following sentence? Is there a general rule that I can remember?

  I would be happy to first receive a feedback from you regarding [...]

vs

  I would be happy to receive first a feedback from you regarding [...]


texts: Which to be used; "I only" or "I myself"? Or something else?

texts:
What should I say when I want to convey that the job was done by me when asked by someone?
(In the context of no one but me)

I only did this or I myself did this?


texts: It is this car. & It is that time to... & In those days the sky was a different colour

texts:
Could you say there are correct/idiomatic sentences in these examples?
Also read my interpretations. Are they correct?

It is this car. (for example, we have found it)
It is that time to speak English. (for example, we have free time and possibility right now)
In those days the sky was a different colour. (for example, in the past my life was better)


texts:
I am about to give a presentation soon. Before I give my speech, can I say: If you have any questions that I do not answer, feel free to ask me after.
I don't know why my brain keeps telling it's: If you have any questions that I have not answer, feel free to ask me after.
So, do I use do or have?


texts: "There is a pharmacy {on/in/at} the 2nd floor." - which preposition is correct?

texts:
Which preposition is correct in this sentence?

  There is a pharmacy on/in/at the 2nd floor.


texts:
How can I say... Would you like to go to Madonna's concert? or would you like to go to a Madonna's concert?

or I have tickets to Madonna's concert or I have tickets to a Madonna's concert?


texts:
Does it make any difference to use either of or for after the word minister?

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English gives the following examples:

the Minister of Agriculture
the Minister for Foreign Affairs

However, this doesn't seem to work for the word ministry since the only preposition which has been used both in Longman and Oxford is of:

the Ministry of Agriculture (Longman Contemporary)
the Ministry of Defence (Oxford Advance Learner's)


texts:
I found the phrase in this sentence,

  There are way over 10,000 numbered examples in The Cambridge Grammar, and thousands more given in passing in the text.

I couldn't parse this last part at first. Not sure if it is "to give in" (which sounds quite wrong), or "in passing" (meaning casually, sounds wrong; not part of the main subject, also sounds wrong), or "passing in", or it was  "given a pass", or something else. I only know that if I omitted that in passing part, it will make more sense.

I looked up "pass in" in a few dictionaries, nothing came up.

After some twenty searches or so, I finally found this definition:

  in passing: by the way; incidentally: he mentioned your visit in passing

which is helpful, since I can understand given incidentally in the text.

But I am still a bit unsure...

Do I understand that sentence correctly?


texts: How to parse this sentence with "not only……but also"? I wonder whether it is a fixed sentence pattern

texts:
When you read, you can not only learn some new words, but also
  you can learn how to use these English words.

I thought the sentence should be :

  "When you read, not only you can learn some new words, but also you
  can learn how to use these English words.

or

  When you read,  you can not only learn some new words, but also
  learn how to use these English words.

What do "only" and "also" modify?


texts: We're running away = Let's run away -> why so?

texts:
This could seem to be a stupid question to natives but I'll just try. Recently I found out that the most difficult kind of sentence in English are none other than the simple declarative sentences. (I have no clue that which grammar subject I should look up.)

I was wondering how come just stating the current state can have so many different meanings, especially when the subject is You or We. Such as...

  (A) We are running away.

  (B) Let's run away.

When someone says (A), how could natives take that as (B) in some contexts? Where does the "Let's" come from? When you say like "It's running away", you do not expect that that phrase would mean "Let it run away". Do you? I'm not a native, so I don't have much confidence in this. But anyway, how do you tell which is (A) or (B) just by hearing(or reading) the (A)?

Similar examples are so many.

In a video game, Overwatch, there's this character who yells "Nerf this!" which means "Just you try to nerf this". How do you tell this from "Nerf this(= Please do me a favor and be sure to nerf this)"?

In a TV show, Modern Family, a mom says to her daughter that "You're not wearing that outfit" meaning "I won't have you wear that outfit". How do you tell this from "You're not wearing that outfit(= I know what you're wearing now and it seems you didn't try that one though)"?


texts:
Today, we are being faced with a serious problem.

Is the above sentence possible in English? I think that the sentence "the car is being repaired" is OK but in the case of the sentence with the verb "face" I am not sure.


texts: In formal writing, should I reply to this email in this case

texts:
So, I have received the email, from two employers, with some tasks for me to do for the next week. However, pointing at me on the end of the mail with:

@MyName "I'll send you another email next Monday with all the info on what you will do."

Should I reply to this email like:

- "Okay, talk to you on the Monday next week."

- "Okay, I'm looking forward - to it/to talk to you."

or how should I write in some simple formal format, or should I just ignore it and wait for the next email?


texts: A boy bends his knees a bit and then straighten his knees out repeatedly several times. Can we say "he is springy for fun"?

texts:
springy (adj): returning quickly to the original shape after being pushed, pulled,
stretched, etc.
We walked across the springy grass.

A boy bends his knees a bit and then straighten his knees out.
He does that repeatedly several times.
How do we express this movement in everyday English, for example, "he is springy for fun"?
Note: people often do like that when they play the guitar after the rhythm.


texts: Can I use a clause that in the present perfect tense along with a clause that includes "since"?

texts:
I wonder if it is correct to use a clause that includes the present perfect tense along with a clause that includes "since." Do you think sentences like the ones below are correct if I am using, "since," to mean "from the time,"?

I have lost a lot of weight since I started my diet.

I have played a lot of video games since I bought a new PC.

I have seen John once since he moved here.

I have gotten better at basketball since I bought new shoes.

I think I have heard people say sentences like these, but I am not sure if this structure is correct. I know we can use the Present Perfect Continuous tense with a since clause by the way, but I am not sure about the Present Perfect tense as I said, and I know that the meaning would be different if I used the continuous in the sentences I gave.


texts: If "can" can't be used in the past, so why the rule in the book named "New Round Up 5 students book" says the following: can't/couldn't + perfect infinitive = it's impossible that something happened in the past. Example: She can't/couldn't lost her way (=it's not possible she lost he way.). So, according to the rule "can't" can be used with past participle. I am confused. pleas help


texts:
This is common in Asia, but I am not sure if it is in Western country.

That is some parents in Asia don't want to put diapers on their toddlers. Instead, they often find a suitable time to take their toddlers to the bathroom & sing or say "/ʃ/" sound to help them to pee or poo.

In the dictionary,

sing

[intransitive, transitive] to make musical sounds with your voice in the form of a song or tune
She usually sings in the shower.
I just can't sing in tune!
He was dancing around and singing at the top of his voice(= very loudly).
sing to somebody He was singing softly to the baby.
sing something to somebody Will you sing a song to us?
We all sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to her.
sing somebody something Will you sing us a song?
sing something Now I'd like to sing a song by the Beatles.
sing somebody to sleep She sang the baby to sleep (= sang until the baby went to sleep).

In the dictionary, people say "sing somebody to sleep", but sometimes we don't sing them to pee / poo, we may say "/ʃ/" sound as a good way to help them to pee / poo

Do we say "to sing the toddler to pee / poo" or do we have similar common terms in English?


texts: I have given something to someone in past but the exact time I do not remember

texts:
I had given my library card to someone in class but I don't seem to recall to whom I gave my card. According to information that I received from the library, someone has used it to issue x-book and the date to submit the book was 1st Feb.

or

  I had given my library card to someone in class but I don't seem to recall to whom I have given my card. According to information that I have received from the library, someone has used it to issue x-book and the date to submit the book was 1st Feb.

What I want to say is that I gave my library card to someone in past-time (but the exact past time I do not remember) and I don't seem to recall to whom I gave my card.

What does the past perfect tense in the first line mean ?


texts: Is there a polite, formal way to say "sh!t happens"?

texts: I am trying to write an essay and the only phrase I can think of is "shit happens". I'm wondering; is there any formal way to say shit happens?


texts:
I am not sure whether this sentence is correct or not ?

  Thank you for helping me to fix the computer for a few day.

Can you tell me how to correctly use a few day in this sentence.
I would like to express someone spend more time to fix the stuff.


texts: "It {has been raining} and the streets were wet." Is the textbook wrong?

texts:
In my exercise book, I have a question as follows:

It_____and the streets were wet.
A. has been raining
B. rains
C. has rained
D. would rain

The answer is A and I don't know why it has to be A. I think it looks strange to me as either the present perfect or the present perfect continuous suggests an event that is related to PRESENT. I think the question itself has some problem. 'The streets were wet', the predicate is 'were', suggesting this is a fact that happened in the past and has nothing to do with present, but why it uses a perfect continuous tense?


texts: Is it correct to say "We'll reach out to her and let you know what we've found."

texts:
I'm trying to figure out which of the following two sentences is grammatically correct. Or are these both correct and it's just a matter of preference? Thanks.

Option A

  We'll reach out to her and let you know what we've found.

Option B

  We'll reach out to her and let you know what we find.


texts: What should be the proper use of etched?

texts:
His impressionable mind was etched with its horrors.

The definition states:

  imprinted vividly on someone's mind or memory

It should be:

  Horrors was imprinted vividly on his mind.

Can someone explain to me if it's wrong?


texts: I have had the opportunity / I have the opportunity

texts:
Any difference between the following two sentences:

"I have the opportunity to hold an important conference."
"I have had the opportunity to hold an important conference."


texts: "first electron affinities go from gaseous atoms to gaseous singly charged negative ions"

texts:
From Chemguide:

  The -349 is the first electron affinity of chlorine. Remember that first electron affinities go from gaseous atoms to gaseous singly charged negative ions.

Is the second sentence well-formed? It looks illogical. "First electron affinities" here means "the amounts of energy evolved or expended when gaseous atoms turn into gaseous singly charged negative ions (by acquiring an  electron)".

Is it okay to abridge the sentence in this way?

There is another sentence formed similarly to the first one:

  The +496 is the first ionisation energy of sodium. Remember that first ionisation energies go from gaseous atoms to gaseous singly charged positive ions.


texts: Should I use definite article with a variable name, which is introduced in a code snippet?

texts:
Somewhere in a post there's a code snippet like:

var x = 0;

Then I explain the code, and refer to the variable in my text like so:
"When you're declaring x in the global scope ..."

Should I use definitive article before x in these cases, or will the emphasizing replace the article?


texts: storytelling a context for "For this context"

texts:
A cool guy gives a nice answer to one of my posts ("for this context" vs. "in this context").

I guess I've got it. To get a vivid understanding, could someone please make up a more detailed context for that?

For instance, the term "set", "list", "collection" in math and in everyday life. Suppose Alice know nothing about math. I need to explain those terms (or other terms, it's up to you) to her.

Thanks in advance.


texts: should I write “These details belongs to my dad” or “These are my dad's details ” when writing an email?

texts: When writing an email should I write "These details belongs to my dad" or "These are my dad's details"? I know this sounds somewhat silly but I want to be grammatically correct.


texts: comma before "that is" and how to convey definition vs. additional information

texts:
We are looking for an electric car, that is, a car that runs on electricity.

  We are looking for an electric car that is red.

How do I distinguish between these two examples?


texts:
Scone (skɒn,skəʊn) noun: a small unsweetened or lightly sweetened cake made from flour, fat, and milk and sometimes having added fruit

How is this pronounced? Some people say s co ne and some people say sc on e. Is there any evidence that suggests that either is the correct way to pronounce this word? If not, Is there a way which suggests how to say it depending on your location?


texts: Words and their derivatives and their meanings

texts:
Whenever I find a new word I look it up in an English-to-English dictionary. Sometime it happens that the word I am looking for is not listed in the dictionary, but the other form of it is listed.

For example, I found the word Hegemonic from this sentence - However, the country is not an all-powerful hegemonic state. But in dictionary Hegemony is listed. Hegemony is noun, and Hegemonic is derived from it.

Now I have problem understanding the meaning of Hegemonic state, though I came to know the meaning of Hegemony perfectly.

It's not with a single word Hegemony, it happens with some other new words as well. So how to solve this problem? Can you please suggest me something to cope up with this problem?


texts: Is this email appropiate to introduce myself into office?

texts:
I just start a job with a new company and now, i would like to write an email to introduce myself. However, I want it is written without mistakes.

  Dear Colleagues:
  How are you? Hope things go with everyone of you fantastical!
  Xiaoming is my name. I would work as Market executive from today with all of you professionals.
  With years' working experience in fashion and costume jewelry industry, I was seeking for a job, in which I could use my previous experience and knowledge to contribute myself to a energetic team as supportive team worker. I believe I find this opportunity.
  Thanks for your time on reading this email as new staff onboard notification.


texts: "only one in seven make it" instead of "makes" -- why?

texts:
For example, thousands have tried to conquer Mount Everest.
  Of those who make the attempt, only one in seven make it to the top.

In the second sentence, why the verb 'make' isn't 'makes'?

It seems that subject is 'only one',which is singular.

Did I misunderstand the whole sentence?
If there are exception for this, what else would be?

The whole paragraph is here.

  Anything worth having takes time. “What we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly,” Thomas Paine wrote. But in addition to hard work and the occasional long wait or detour through the wilderness, a key ingredient is vision. For example, thousands have tried to conquer Mount Everest. Of those who make the attempt, only one in seven make it to the top. One of the greatest factors in success versus failure is the climbers’ ability to see where they are headed. When storms blow in and obscure the top of the mountain, the climbers grow discouraged and despondent and consider retreat. But when storm air clears and the climbers see the peak again, the journey becomes easier, commitment renews, and faith is strengthened. Suddenly, getting there feels possible.


texts: What kind of preposition should I use (In your concern OR your concern)?

texts:
Question:

  What kind of preposition should I use OR both options are acceptable for different cases?

  IN or/and '_'

It is not in your concern
It is not your concern


texts: Why singlar form 'that was' has been used in "the scuffles and yelps coming from the whirl of fists that was Neville, Crabbe, and Goyle"

texts:
“Come on, Harry!" Hermione screamed, leaping onto her seat to watch as Harry sped straight at Snape -- she didn't even notice Malfoy and Ron rolling around under her seat, or the scuffles and yelps coming from the whirl of fists that was Neville, Crabbe, and Goyle.

My take to this is that the clause "that was Neville, Crabbe, and Goyle" modifies 'fists', so "that were" should be used in this case. In my opinion, the sentence could have been written:

... the scuffles and yelps coming from the whirl of fists that were Neville, Crabbe, and Goyle.

or

... the scuffles and yelps coming from the whirl of fists that were Neville's, Crabbe's, and Goyle's.

Any thoughts?


texts: What's the difference between "comply" and "conform"?

texts:
I was wondering what is the difference between "comply" and "conform". Meaning of those two verbs seem quite similar. Could you help me?
And is it okay to say "comply to someone" or "conform to someone" like "submit to someone" or "follow to someone"?


texts: Is "as well" used correctly in the following sentence?

texts:
Since contemplating suicide, Maria couldn't hold normal conversations
  anymore. They reminded her of everything she was about to lose but
  that couldn’t as well keep.

The as well serves as emphasis. Maria could chose not to die but she has no choice, she has to do it.

If as well isn't the right phrase, then what's  a better alternative?


texts: How much is "a few percent over six decades"?

texts:
I saw the following paragraph in a book on electronics(The Art of Electronics Third Edition):

  In Chapter 2x we will examine better ways of constructing logarithmic
  converter circuits, along with careful methods of temperature
  compensation. With such methods it is possible to construct
  logarithmic converters accurate to a few percent over six decades or
  more of input current. A better understanding of diode and
  transistor characteristics, along with an understanding of op-amps, is
  necessary first. This section is meant to serve only as an
  introduction for things to come.

More background information:

In this section, authors are introducing some kinds of converters, which generate an output voltage proportional to the logarithm of a current.
"Methods of temperature compensation" mentioned above can make converters insensitive to changes in temperature, which is desirable.
This is the last paragraph of this section.

My question is: How accurate are these converters?


texts: What does “papers” refer to in daily English? Does it refer to newspapers or anything else?

texts: Yesterday on the subway train, I saw two men from The US talking, and I heard, overheard actually, one of them said "She was waving a sheaf of papers", I just want to know what "papers" means exactly in daily English. Did that man mean "newspapers" or "paper documents"?


texts: Can the Past Continuous be used for future events?

texts:
I am taking Spanish classes next week.

Despite that it is Present Continuous, it tells us about the future. But if I put it to the past, will it retain its meaning?

  That day I started new life. I was taking Spanish classes next week.


texts: Please review these two sentences with the usage of "upon" and "as soon as"

texts:
These two sentences have got grammar mistakes but I don't know where they are.

Upon going out side, a coat was given to me by my mom. (Is it because the subject cannot be changed from I to a coat?)

As soon as going outside, I put on my jacket. (I know as soon as is a conjunction, but I don't see any wrong with this sentence.)


texts:
I don't know what to choose in such a situation:

  Your perfume/perfumes smells/smell nice. What is it? / What are they?
  It's a new perfume called Sunshine.  / They're new perfumes called Sunshine.

Is there any principle of using these words? Are both versions in use?
Please, let me know which version would be the best.

Thank you very much in advance.


texts: I'm somewhat confused on the use this word usage

texts:
Most of the time I hear:

"He says...", "he comes..." e.t.c

Example:

He says he's going home

He comes home late

I'm particularly concerned about the 's' and its meaning in the context.


texts:
So I've learnt that in order to describe a cause that occurred due to my actions I can use the past perfect continuous, this also applies if I mention time.

I was tired because I had been waiting for a long time.
I forgot to call because I had been using my phone.
They fell over because they had been jumping around.

I'd like to know would it be acceptable to use the past continuous instead?

I was tired because I was waiting for too long.
I forgot to call because I was on my phone.
They fell over because they were jumping around.


texts: Use of conjunctive adverb with participle clause

texts:
I have written a sentence by using participle clause

any contribution cannot be erased from the mind, therefore being essential for being successful

But my teacher is saying that "therefore being essential for being successful" is not correct.

But I have read that I can connect two sentences together having same subjects.

In this case
1. any contribution cannot be erased from the mind
2. Therefore, any contribution is essential for being successful" is not correct.

So to me, my sentence was correct since two sentences had same subjects. I suppose, using conjunctive adverb like therefore, hence, thus with participle clause can be a reason for him to mark this incorrect. Am I right?


texts:
I came across a question and confused which is right one.

  We ...... some friends in for dinner tomorrow night.

  (A) have (B) are having  (C) do have (D) will have

In my opinion 4th one is preferred but answer is B option. I dont know the reason for it.


texts: What is the difference? "Kate watched TV a lot when/while she was sick last year"

texts:
What is the difference between these two sentences?

Kate watched TV a lot when she was sick last year.
Kate watched TV a lot while she was sick last year.


texts:
Make new friends, but keep the old.
  One is silver, and the other gold.
  (A Korean middle school English textbook)

Does one indicate new friends or any of both: new friends or the old ones?


texts: In an allegation about attractiveness, is 'averageness' in context?

texts:
Please mind that I denounce and reject the stance of this quote; I ask only about English here.

  But what is our idea of beauty – what makes beautiful people? The report’s authors say
  there appear to be a few features that characterize physically attractive faces: bilateral symmetry, averageness, and secondary sexual characteristics. Attractive faces are
  more symmetrical than unattractive faces.
  ..(Source: ‘Beauty and intelligence’ by Brian Page, Mensa Magazine, September 2004)

Source: p 88, Mastering the National Admissions Test for Law, Mark Shepherd

Which defintion of average as an adjective, coheres with the meaning of the noun? I'm confused by the juxtaposition of (what is contended as) 'beautiful people' and averageness.


texts:
I have this text, but I cannot find the answer for my question. Can anyone of you guys help me?

  The exercise is to ask students to color copy their own wedding
  photograph, that of their parents, or an anonymous wedding picture,
  and to write a one-page fiction inspired by the image.


texts:
Quote from "Slaughterhouse five"
 novel

My boss was one of the toughest guys I ever hope to meet.

I know tense in the sentence determine s the scope of "ever".so that means he wants to say that he hopes to meet tough guys in future but didn't hoped in past or present.It looks kind of weird to me.


texts:
I've let this chapter hang for two days now.

I've left this chapter hanging for two days now.

This chapter has been hanging for two days now.

I've dragged this chapter out for two days now.

Do all these sentences sound natural?
Like if something is left hanging it's left unresolved or unaddressed. So if you're reading a book, but if you're not ready for the second hand embarrassment, you put it away for a while. This is what this question is basically about. Like you haven't been able to finish reading a chapter, cause you always end up putting the book away for a couple hours.
Someone was reading a book. And a particular chapter was too cliched and cringey. So that person was reading it on and off for two days.
Second context: Someone's writing a book and has hit a writer's block and is having trouble finishing this chapter.
The context I had in my mind was former.


texts:
This can be a very basic, even boring question for native English speakers. But for me who is a non-native English speaker, the words, clank and clatter are a little hard to understand each precisely. So I would like to ask about the difference between clank and clatter.

From Google's English dictionary, clank is defined as follows.

  a loud, sharp sound or series of sounds, typically made by pieces of metal meeting or being struck together.

clatter is defined as follows.

  a continuous rattling sound as of hard objects falling or striking each other.

From the example sentences in dictionaries I think clank describes a more high-pitched sound whereas clatter denotes a lower, but more continuous and louder sound. Am I right?

Further explanations will be greatly helpful and appreciated. Thank you.


texts:
What is correct in the following sentence:

  It was/were our musical expeditions to Berlin that encouraged us to do that.

I think the plural of "expeditions" indicates "were" but I´m not shure about that.


texts:
While taking an online test, I came across this question that confused me for a while.

I ______ it doesn't rain tomorrow, I'm going for a picnic.
A.   wait
B.   expect
C.   hope
D.   wish

I clicked hope but unfortunately, the site gives the result and not the answer.
Question: Whilst it is beyond doubt that neither A nor B is correct and C looks perfect, D does not look totally wrong.
Is wish possible there? In any circumstances? Do we wish something negative? And yes, did I click on the correct option?


texts: could you explain the meaning of sentence given below

texts:
I am unable to understand the meaning of the sentence, please explain meaning of sentence

  I accepted another one-year appointment at Berkeley in an attempt to postpone the good fortune awaiting me and the consequent issue it would finally force.

In above sentence till the Highlighted line i understood like: He accepted 1 year appointment to postpone the good fortune that is awaiting for him.


texts: Why does "to lift the law" actually mean to revoke it?

texts:
After being defeated in several lower court rulings and suffering large financial losses, the city of Montgomery lifted the law mandating segregated public transportation.

From the context I can deduct that to lift means to cancel/to revoke. Why is it so? It doesn't seem logical to me, as in other contexts lifting means elevation and not the opposite.


texts: What do you call a person who's receiving a service?

texts:
Example: a social worker goes to anti-social people and tries to bring them back to society.

What do you call the anti-social people? A few words pop up in my mind: clients, customers, patients ... but I think they don't fit this situation very well.

What's a more adequate word?


texts: Conditional type 2 with an adverb of time

texts:
Is it possible to use conditional type 2 with an adverb of time and would it change its meaning?
For example:

What would you do if you lost your job?

comparing to:

What would you do if you lost your job next week?


texts:
I used to think look past just means ignore until I heard this sentence used by an American talking about a picture saying,

  "If you look past the picture, you can see a horse."

I gave it an online search and the related pages show hidden 3D pictures. I can tell then the picture he was talking about was one of these. The thing I'm not clear about is how you do it. How do you look past a picture exactly? Is it making the picture closer to your eyes or vice versa? Is it looking at the picture from sides? or something else?!


texts: What does "he'd seen enough of the trophy room to last him a lifetime" mean?

texts:
Nevertheless, Harry was determined to find out more about Riddle, so, next day at break, he headed for the trophy room to examine Riddle's special award, accompanied by an interested Hermione and a thoroughly unconvinced Ron, who told them he'd seen enough of the trophy room to last him a lifetime.

I don't quite understand the last part of the sentence, especially "to last him a lifetime". Maybe, it's a special use of 'last' there, which I haven't found a good definition from dictionaries to fit the context.

The close definition I got from dictionaries is:

  If an event, situation, or problem lasts for a particular length of time, it continues to exist or happen for that length of time.
  The marriage had lasted for less than two years. [VERB + for]

But it doesn't explain well in the context.

What does it truly mean?

-- From Harry Potter.


texts: Can we just say "I am pulling up" instead of "I am doing pull-up"?

texts:
Ok,

  pull-up: an exercise in which you hold onto a high bar above your head
  and pull yourself up towards it Source

Ex: "I am doing pull-ups"

  to pull up: (of a vehicle or its driver) to stop.  Source

Ex: "He pulled up at the traffic lights".

so, the dictionary has no verb "to pull up" meaning "to do an exercise in which you hold onto a high bar above your head and pull yourself up towards it"

Without worrying about dictionary,

Can we just say "I am pulling up" instead of "I am doing pull-ups"?


texts:
1-  If he carries on driving like that, he'll end up dead.
  (Source)

  2- The last time he was in the room with a serial killer, he ended up
  chained to a hospital bed.

(It is from a tv-series. He was in a room with a serial killer as a result he had a panic attack then in the hospital they chained him to a bed because he was still having some episodes after the incident.)

Is using "being" before the adjective/past participle here optional?

  1a-  If he carries on driving like that, he'll end up being
  dead.

  2a-  The last time he was in the room with a serial killer, he ended
  up being chained to a hospital bed


texts:
I have been trying to figure out the difference between the usage of -  'of' and 'of the'.

To give an example If I were going to name one of my projects -

Shape of Land
Shape of the Land
Shape of Lands

or

The shape of land

Which of these are grammatically correct?

Closest answer I could find here was this: https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/122012/what-is-the-difference-between-of-and-of-the.

It says there that you have to add an article if the word is singular, but one of the examples here doesn't seem to follow the rule: https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/land_1

"The price of land is rising rapidly."

Is it because the word 'land' can be used in both singular/plural(countable/uncountable) sense?

Another example I could think of is the 'way of life' instead of 'way of the life'.

There are varied usage of these in movie titles as well: https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?title=of

What are the general rules on regarding the usage of 'of' and 'of the'?

Any help is appreciated!


texts: Why the journalist said "he talks like Saint-Just"? What' the implication?

texts:
I understand that Saint-Just was a Jacobin leader during the French Revolution. But I wonder why the journalist compared the doctor to Saint-Just. Could anyone help please?

The context is:
The journalist is asking the doctor Rieux for information about the sanitary conditions in Arab.

Here is the sentence in the context:

  “I mean,” Rieux explained, “would you be allowed to publish an
  unqualified condemnation of the present state of things?”

  “Unqualified? Well, no, I couldn’t go that far. But surely things
  aren’t quite so bad as that?”

  “No,” Rieux said quietly, they weren’t so bad as that. He had put the
  question solely to find out if Rambert could or couldn’t state the
  facts without paltering with the truth. “I’ve no use for statements in
  which something is kept back,” he added. “That is why I shall not
  furnish information in support of yours.”

  The journalist smiled. “You talk the language of Saint-Just.”

from  The Plague


texts:
I used (use) to ski when I was at the university but I broke (break) a leg five years ago and since then I have not skied (not ski) any more.

Will be possible to use past simple I did not ski any more(meaning it is forbidden for me to ski, it is too risky). A changement is not possible.

Fromhttp://www.ndj.edu.lb/sites/default/files/images/import/grade-9-all-tenses.pdf


texts: What does "this" refer to in the passage?

texts:
If it refers to our progress in understanding, what is the difference between our progress in understanding and the progress of knowledge?

He was disappointed that scientific progress has not cured the
world’s ills by abolishing wars and starvation; that gross human
inequality is still widespread; that happiness is not universal. My
friend made a common mistake — a basic misunderstanding in the nature
of knowledge. Knowledge is amoral — not immoral but morality neutral.
It can be used for any purpose, but many people assume it will be used
to further their favorite hopes for society — and this is the
fundamental flaw. Knowledge of the world is one thing; its uses create
a separate issue. To be disappointed that our progress in
understanding has not remedied the social ills of the world is a
legitimate view, but to confuse this with the progress of
knowledge is absurd. To argue that knowledge is not progressing
because of the African or Middle Eastern conflicts misses the point.
There is nothing inherent in knowledge that dictates any specific
social or moral application.

The Knowledge Drive: Confronting Mythological Beliefs


texts:
I'm bit confused with the following two sentences. Which is the correct usage?

  It's an important point that all we need to understand.

or

  It's an important point that we all need to understand.


texts: "New York is a great place to live." (no preposition?)

texts:
New York is a great place to live.
New York is a great place to live in.

I've seen the former usage a lot and I've started wondering what the grammar aspects of it are.
Both sentences are equally correct, right? But are both equally formal as well? What could you tell about the grammar of the former sentence?
Edit: I'm adding some more examples of similar usage:

This organisation is a great place to work.
This is a great place to stay/sit/study/travel/go.

Just to show that 'live' isn't special in this case.


texts:
Which of the following two are the correct usage of the phrase?

"Look on the bright side."

"
"Look at the bright side."

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/look+on+the+bright+side

^ here it reads "On the bright side" is the correct idiom, but I just heard someone use "At the bright side" not over 3 minutes ago. ._.)


texts:
I was wondering whether Americans use "fluster" intransitively.
The only dictionary which introduces the verb as both transitive and intransitive one is "The Free Dictionary" as in:
Transitive:
To make agitated, excited, or confused:

Shouts from the protesters flustered the speaker. I was flustered by my teacher's comments and began to stumble over my words.=

Intransitive:
To become agitated, excited, or confused: a shy student who flusters easily.
Or it is more common to use it in a noun form rather than verbal form in AmE:
Noun:
Get in a fluster:

The important thing when you're cooking for a lot of people is not to get in a fluster.

In brief, as you know we say:

I know we're short of time, but please Larisa, don't fluster me. (Transitively)

But I was wondering how an American normally uses it intransitively?

When the teacher said: "time is over, take the papers up," I ............. and forgot to check if I had written my name on my answer sheet.

a. flustered
b. got in a fluster (It seems to be a rare structure in everyday speech.)
c. got / was flustered (to me, they both mean the same)


texts:
Do both sentences mean the same thing?

Please, would you order the papers by number?
Please, would you sort the papers by number?


texts:
In Breaking bad, when Hank was up against Walt, after everyone else was "out" in the game, he said the following:

  When old holes-in-her-purse bails, you know you're in deep.

I know of money burning a hole in your pocket. Is this is a synonym of the expression?

One of the meanings of bail is to abandon a commitment. Does the expression refer to the fact that her purse holes (I take them as the pockets in her purse) bail (don't produce money anymore), you are in deep (in trouble)?


texts: What is the meaning and origin of the phrase "Steal your eyes"?

texts:
I've come across this phrase only in song lyrics:
Just then, somebody stole my eyes again (2017)
The loneliness of loving someone can steal your eyes (2015)
You stole my eyes, so you I will take (2015)
A quick google search didn't find much for this phrase, so I can only infer a meaning from context.


texts:
What does pre-med need with history?

The sentence in question is referring to a pre-med student. Isn't that sentence confusing? I mean, I get the meaning. But isn't there a better way to structure it?

  Something like:

    Why does a pre-med need history?
    What does a pre-med do with history?

Ps. I got the sentence from a dialogue from the movie A Man From Earth.


texts:
"Bad writing" can either mean the use of words, idioms, the figure of speech, or grammar is terrible, but it can also mean that the plot is horrible. How do you precise it's the latter? Is there a more precise way of saying "bad writing"?
For example, have a look at this sentence:

The fact that many characters appear in the story to never surface
ever again is bad writing.


texts:
I've read a sentence:

  For 17 of them, the disease had progressed to the point of "wheelchair dependence" for mobility.

What does "wheelchair dependence for mobility" mean?

Thanks


texts: Present Perfect or Past Perfect for a phrase before Simple past tense

texts:
Philip has lived in Denver for ten years before he moved to the Silicon Valley to start his own company.

Philip has lived or Philip had lived?

"He moved" is a simple past tense phrase. Philip had lived sounds right because it is describing an action that happened before another action "he moved".

But present perfect seems ok as it describes that it relates to the present.

Which is the correct answer?


texts: Might any native pronounce have, had, as [hev],[hed]?

texts:
... had [hӕd]  ... have had [hӕv] [hӕd] ... have [hӕv] ... have [həv] ...
  (audio source)

I hear the sounds of have and had as above. After some pronunciation guides from an expert StoneyB and BBC's pronunciation tips, I can hear the second examples as [hӕv] [hӕd]. If I haven't got the chances I might have transcribed them as /hev hed/. Might any native pronounce have, and had, respectively as /hev/, and /hed/?


texts: Why do identical words such as: "uttermost" and "utmost" coexist?

texts:
Let's take two words:

uttermost
utmost

As I can see it that they are identical. They aren't two different words that have the exact same meaning, in fact "uttermost" is just another word for "utmost" and the only difference I see is the different prefixes "ut" and "utter". So conclusively these two words are in fact clones.

  Prepositions and Particles in English: A Discourse-functional Account
  By Elizabeth M. O'Dowd says that the prefix "ut" is - An Old English prefix that means "out", confers a resultative state on its completement: we understand that "to utter" means to put words out, so our attention is directed to the output, as well as to the act, of speaking.

I can't find the explanation for the prefix "utter".


texts:
In the Broken Angels sci-fi book by Richard Morgan, I found the following sentence:

Wardani worked herself grey.

Wardani is the name of a woman. The general sense should be that she worked a lot, but I do not know where it comes from. I assumed it is an idiom but I could not find it anywhere on the Web. Is it an idiom? Is the meaning working hard?


texts: Word used to describe the first several parts of an educational material

texts:
What word should I use to roughly describe the parts of the beginning of an educational material?

Context:

Example1. There are 10 videos of a math series lessons. And I want to express roughly that from the beginning the videos are good, and the rest are bad.
Example2. The first several chapters of a book are good and the rest are bad.

How to express that in a natural way?

(It doesn't have to match this pattern)
"The ______ of the videos are good, but the ______ are bad".

Mainly I want to express:

The (beginning parts) of the videos are good, but (the parts after that) are bad. (This sounds horrible)


texts: Military order to execute instructions issued so far

texts:
What is the common phrase in military, ordering the soldiers to get to work - start executing instructions issued?

Say, a civilian (expert) is presenting tasks that need to be completed in detail. Then the officer issues a short order that boils down to "Do what he said". What is the word/phrase of that order?


texts: “Even if it is...so be it” vs “Whether it is... so be it” vs “Whether it be”

texts:
What’s the difference between those expressions?
For example:

Well, there is something between you and me even if it is the distance, so be it!

Well, there is something between you and me whether it is the distance, so be it!

Well, there is something between you and me whether it be the distance!


texts: Why is the nominal determination indefinite in the phrase "a miniature Great Wall"?

texts:
As is in the title, why is the nominal determination indefinite in the following noun phrase?

  a miniature Great Wall

I wondered if it was because this is a wall, and miniature and great are adjectives, and because its syntactic function is an object complement? I'm not sure; I am really confused about the grammar here.

Thank you!


texts:
Which one is correct:

We notice that they may incur load to the box.

Or,

We notice that they may incur a load to the box.

EDIT: the load means computing load.


texts: I want to solve my problem with some one

texts:
What is the future in the past tense? Which kind of tense is this?
A person asked me what is the difference between lexical tenses and the compound tenses and he said that future in the past is a compound tense and simple present tense is a lexical tense some please help!


texts:
There's God, so here's humans. (Meaning the reason humans exist here is that God exists there)

Is it indicating 'is' here? As 'so' is classified as adverb, there seems to be no words other than 'is' that 'so' can indicate.

  ‘Is he coming?’ ‘I hope so.’

Dictionaries register this usage of 'so' as indicating the whole preceding sentence, but I think it seems actually and only indicating 'coming' because of the same reason above.


texts:
According to OED, the adjective everyday, meaning ‘happening or used every day’ or ‘commonplace’ (everyday chores), is written as one word, whereas the adverb meaning ‘each day, daily’ (I get up at six every day) is written as two.

However, we can often see everyday used as an adverb but written as one word, even in authoritative publications. For example, I have read the following on Forbes.com: "Maybe you go to the same pizzeria everyday..." (https://www.forbes.com/pictures/efkk45khfk/dont-get-stuck-in-a-routine/#27918af73775).

Bon Jovi has a song called "Everyday" (always written as one word) but he sings "I'm gonna live my life every day"...

So, is this really a mistake to write the adverb as one word?


texts:
I have a question about the usage of the phrase "allege...against" here:

  Under the False Claim Act, individuals alleging fraud against the federal government can sue, technically for the government's benefit.

Does it mean there are fraud allegations against the government, or the government is a victim of fraud?


texts:
This apple is good one.

I know an adjective can be placed before a noun, as in the sentence above.

  I drove my truck along a dirt road a mile deep in the New Hampshire woods.

But in this sentence,"a mile" is a noun, and "deep" is an adjective.

Is it grammatically correct?

I think its original form is:

  I drove my truck along a dirt road (where is) a mile deep in the New Hampshire woods.

Is that correct, too?

P.S. I have studied English for 10 years, mainly reading and listening for playing English video games, but never tried writing. Now I'm learning writing. The rule here says it is for experts. I'm not an expert so let me know if it is against the rule.


texts:
I wrote:

  After performing the extraction command, (the Post-Assignments part / Post-Assignments)  of each rule is / are carried out. Similar to Pre-Assignments, they may update or set some variables in the Vars list.

Each rule consists of some parts which are called, extraction command, pre-assignments, post assignments, etc. I don't know how to treat these names. Can I use for example, pre-assignments the way I use assignments? or the extraction command, the way I use command? When to use part after them and when to use them as single noun?


texts:
She managed to wriggle free. https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/wriggle_1?q=Wriggle

Oxford English Dictionary registers "free" to be used as an adjective, but Macmillan dictionary says it is used as an adverb when used with "wriggle" in the sentence.

Whose perspective is correct or more rational?
Personally, I'd vote for OED, because "free" has to be modifying "she" in order to portrait her state free of something, it just doesn't quite make sense if it's modifying "wriggle"
The same rule seems to go with these expressions "think different, walk free, come out free" as well.

To me, even they all look more like "adjective".


texts:
"Parents would be looking at their emails while the children would be making excited bids for their attention."

I have consulted the dictionary, "If you make a bid for something that is being sold, you say that you will pay a certain amount of money for it."
But in this sentence nothing is to be sold. Does "make a bid for" have other meanings?


texts: Use of present participle phrases, when they don't have any verbs

texts:
For each feeder, a  photo transistor scans its own track of an endless 35-mm film, giving a selection for each jack control spring as it passes the control position of the feeder.

This sentence has been recited from Knitting Technology by David J Spencer. Does giving a selection indicate an ongoing action?

A photo transistor scans its own track indicates a general fact, i.e it is in simple present tense. Sometimes phrases like giving a selection confuse me, because no auxiliary verbs are used before the ing-form of verbs, and such kind of phrases are set off by comma without their subject. Giving a selection starts with ing-form of verb, and no subject is directly attached with it, and it does not have any verb. Since no auxiliary verb is used, it is complicated for me to understand when such kind of phrases indicate an ongoing action and when they, instead of indicating an ongoing action, indicate the action that occurs before the other action.

I would request the experts of this site to discuss this problem. They may use my example if they consider it useful, or they may use other examples if they feel better with their own examples.


texts:
The Merriam Webster online dictionary says that "scary" means either "causing fright" or "feeling fright”.

  scary
  1 : causing fright : ALARMING
  a scary story
  2 : easily scared : TIMID
  3 : feeling alarm or fright : FRIGHTENED

Is it possible to use "scary" when you mean "scared"?


texts:
I made up sentences:
"Jack feeds his chickens corn."
"Jack brings his wife flowers."
I wonder if the following questions are grammatically correct:
1) "Who does Jack feed corn?"
2) "Who does Jack feed corn to?"
3) "What does Jack feed to his chickens?"
4) "What does Jack bring his wife?"
5) "Who does Jack bring flowers?"
As far as I know, the following questions are correct:
"What does Jack feed his chickens?"
"What does Jack bring to his wife?"
"Who does Jack bring flowers to?"


texts: no other flower in the park vs no other flowers in the park

texts:
(a) No other flower in the park is as expensive as orchids.

(b) No other flowers in the park are as expensive as orchids .

Which one is correct ?


texts: doesn’t get up early vs wasn't getting up early

texts:
Am I right Sam does it every day? If it's only today, it will be the second version.

Sam doesn’t get up early enough to catch the 7.30 train. If he got up earlier, he wouldn’t be late.
Sam wasn't getting up early enough to catch the 7.30 train. If he got up earlier, he wouldn’t be late.

TIA


texts: What article to use in front of "news" and "television"? "a", "the" or nothing?

texts:
I'm sorry for too many items below. I'm really confused. The question is really about whether to use "a", "the" or nothing in front of "news" and "television".

  A small crowd is keenly watching the news on television.
  A small crowd is keenly watching a news on television.
  A small crowd is keenly watching news on television.
  A small crowd is keenly watching the news on a television.
  A small crowd is keenly watching a news on a television.
  A small crowd is keenly watching news on a television.
  A small crowd is keenly watching the news on the television.
  A small crowd is keenly watching a news on the television.
  A small crowd is keenly watching news on the television.


texts: When is it correct to repeat the Adjective?

texts:
We are the fans of the American Values and the American model of multiculturalism.
We are the fans of the American Values and model of multiculturalism.
We are the fans of the Values and the model of multiculturalism of America.

Which sentence is right regarding the adjective (American)?


texts:
I have a question about "The verbs with the general meaning of suggestion and form of verbs"

  a) She declined a seat beside Charles on the sofa. She insisted that Jane sit there. (subjunctive verb)

  b) She declined a seat beside Charles on the sofa. She insisted that Jane sits there.(indicative verb)

  c) She declined a seat beside Charles on the sofa. She insisted that Jane sat there.

sentence a and sentence b are grammatically correct in my opinion but I am not sure about sentence c. is sentence c grammatically and idiomatically correct?

I have seen a sentence in this structure (sentence c) in a website but I have not seen somewhere else.


texts: What relative pronoun should I use here? which or that?

texts:
Can I change "which" to "that" as it is a Restrictive Clause?

  Catholics were aligned with Southerners in the Democratic Party at midcentury, a coalition which was exceedingly unfavorable to Catholics on the issue of public aid.

EDIT I have read the question Is there any difference between “which” and “that”?, but "a coalition" is a modifier or additional information of "Democratic Party" so I think it is better to use "that" instead of "which" to make the sentence restrictive clause. Can I use "that" instead of "which"?


texts: Does 'breakfast' in "Let's have breakfast" denote an activity or a collection of edible items?

texts:
Let's have breakfast.

In this sentence, how would a native speaker comprehend the meaning of "breakfast"? Will he think of it as an activity, or as a collection of food items?

The question is inspired by this comment by GoDucks:

  I am confused as to the designation of breakfast as an abstract noun. I mean can't we see, taste, touch, smell, hear breakfast? (The same for coffee, which I don't think is abstract.)

If breakfast here is closer to "activity", would there be a difference in comprehension between have breakfast and

  Let's eat breakfast.


texts:
I came across an article on BusinessInsider which reads -

  The 21 Most Ridiculous Photos From The Homes Of Ukrainian Government Officials

I don't understand what's so ridiculous about it? Is this word being used in a different context here?

In fact, looking at the photographs, I'd have appreciated words like stunning, wonderful, jaw-dropping, stupendous.


texts: Using Primary auxiliary "did" with two verbs using "and"

texts:
Please consider these two sentences:

  (a)  Did the train arrive at 11:00 and departed at 11:15?

  vs

  (b)  Did the train arrive at 11:00 and depart at 11:15?

Another sentence:

  (a) Did you go to market and bought groceries?

  vs

  (b) Did you go to market and buy groceries?

Which  sentences in set 1 and set 2 are correct?

I have been told to use 1st form of any verb after did (primary auxiliary) but I get puzzled when I use another verb after and.

In a past question made with the
primary auxiliary "did", should I use the 2nd form of the verb depart which is departed, or 1st form of the verb depart (in set 1)?

and 2nd form of verb buy which is bought or 1st form buy? (in set 2)

I would really appreciate your help, guys.


texts: Should I use comma or not before "wearing"?

texts:
Recently I saw a sentence like this:

  Did a guy just go by here wearing a hat?

In my opinion, it should be something like

  Did a guy wearing a hat just go by here?

I was thinking it should be added a comma between "here" and "wearing", and the participle clause (wearing a hat) should have modified "guy". So now I am wondering if this sentence is correct or maybe the author leave out a comma in this sentence?


texts: Can you explain the variations in use of "should" in these sentences?

texts:
Well, I have studied sentences in which should acts for bringing possibility. In the below two sentences, I am confused about its use in an usual form.

  We have to be prepared should they get here.

Does "should" brings possibility or a more likely outcome when used in place of "if"?

  Under no circumstances should you promise to help him if you can't deliver the goods.

In this case, how is "should" acting like?


texts: What does "will" add to the meaning of the mentioned sentence?

texts:
What does "will" add to the meaning of this sentence? Does it actually add the meaning of future tense?

  Much more could and should be said about this, but the foregoing will
  have to suffice for now.


texts:
I know after prepositions a gerund is used. Today in another question I wrote

  Excessive bending can cause the pallet car to become engaged with the underlying structure, and increase the force required to rotate the conveyor.

I was suggested to use either thereby increasing or and increasing. However I don't know the rule for "and".

Here I wrote:

  The next stage is to detect bending and measuring the degree of bending.

Should it be:

and measure
and to measure
and measuring

I would like to know when to use gerund after a conjunction word and when not!


texts:
In this NPR news excerpt, it says

  They can easily talk about these steps and techniques to making a safe tackle.

It is wrong and should be make right?


texts:
On this audio file, at 1:25, shouldn't it be their position?

Source: The ILI English Series, Intermediate 2, Page 87


texts:
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
Curiosity killed the cat.

I try to learn the articles but I can't get these cases. Why should say the doctor instead of a doctor and same is about the cat?


texts:
My original sentence was:

  "The network packet arrived before XXX will not be accepted"

But, I was recommended to revise it as:

  "The network packet arriving before XXX will not be accepted"

Is it because I used "will"? I thought XXX is present, so I should use 'arrived before'


texts:
I used to think that "melancholy" is the name of a syndrome or condition (=being in a sad mood) and hence a noun, whereas "melancholic" is the correct adjective.
So to me it would seem correct to say:

  [1]. In his later years John was suffering from melancholy.
  [2]. In his later years John was often melancholic.

However, it appears melancholy can also be used as an adjective. E.g.

  [3]. In his later years John was feeling melancholy.

Is it true that all three sentences are correct (American) English?
Which usage is nowadays the more common?