texts: The winning horse take (takes?) the cakes

texts:
I know the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "the winning horse take the cakes", but is "take the cakes" instead of "takes the cakes" old English? I am talking about "s" in takes.
Source from an ELU question :

They got up a horse and fifty dollars in money a side,… each one to start and ride his own horse,… the winning horse take the cakes. — W. T. Porter, Quarter Race Kentucky, 1847.

A fuller excerpt from the book, A Quarter Race in Kentucky: And Other Sketches, Illustrative of Scenes, Characters, and Incidents, Throughout "The Universal Yankee Nation", 1846, edited by William T. Porter:

. . . But the boys said that was all gas, to scare them off; but 'twouldn't work! The old cuss had got to be skinned or back out.
The result was, they got up a horse and fifty dollars in money a side, to run on Saturday at two o'clock, each one to start and ride his own horse, judge tops and bottoms--the winning horse take the cakes--and no back out! Either party refusing to run forfeits the whole stakes.


texts:
Is the phrase "showing up to a four-alarm fire with an eyedropper full of water" a strong sarcasm? Or a very mild criticism?
I know how to express the situation using a Chinese idiom, which is a neutral or mild criticism.

The New York Times Retweeted
Sheryl Gay Stolberg tweeted:

Biden will send 60 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine overseas as India crisis rages.
“That’s showing up to a four-alarm fire with an eyedropper full of water,” said
@asia_ilse @HealthGAP
Still no movement on waiving patent protections.
Source:  Twitter


texts:
It is no use crying.

  It is expensive running this car.

  It is a waste of time doing this.

Why we have this pattern of sentence construction? I more often meet with some sentences have similar constructions but with to-infinitive. As far as I know, there are not too many exceptions, only when the adjective is useless, pointless, great and the like. Does this have a rule of thumb, or I can only keep these in mind.


texts:
But his money would not last forever; and as he spent and gave away a great deal daily, and received none, he found himself at last with only two shillings left. So he was obliged to leave his elegant rooms, and live in a little garret under the roof, where he had to clean his own boots, and even mend them with a large needle. None of his friends came to see him,
  He found the tinder-box, but no sooner had he struck a few sparks from the flint and steel, than the door flew open and the dog with eyes as big as teacups, whom he had seen while down in the tree, stood before him, and said, “What orders, master?”

  “Hallo,” said the soldier; “well this is a pleasant tinderbox, if it brings me all I wish for.”
  “Bring me some money,” said he to the dog.

  He was gone in a moment, and presently returned, carrying a large bag of coppers in his mouth. The soldier had now plenty of money; he returned to his elegant rooms, and reappeared in his fine clothes, so that his friends knew him again directly, and made as much of him as before.

"made as much of him as before", this part...

What is the subject of that part? The soldier or his friends?

Thanks for your help in advance.


texts: the relation between the meaning of the word "strip"

texts:
strip is comic book, is that related with other meanings such like that in the sentence
: The children stripped off their clothes and jumped into the river.


texts:
He wrote the car ______ in an accident.

a) down b) up c) by d) off e) out

I think it's "out" but I can't tell for sure.


texts: "very decent nation became fanatic Nazis"

texts:
Well, let me give you one unpleasant example. In the 30s of the last century in Germany, there was also quite and stable population, and very cultivated population, the nation of Goethe and Schiller. In a few years, this very decent nation became fanatic Nazis.

Does a native speaker find the part in bold OK? It sounds to me very unnatural. "Nazis" is the noun and the adjectives are used with the verb "become" after all. Or not?


texts: How to use to take/get a train/bus/plane/subway/car

texts: How can we decide the usage of to take or to get with vehicles? It may be duplicated question but i can not find the answer.


texts:
https://youtu.be/-qfI3DZmmQw?t=42

  It’s not like there’s a shortage of scientific facts out there spelling it all out for us.

  But let’s be honest — not many people can relate to scientists sharing their data, no matter how compelling it is.

  When I give talks as a scientist versus when I’m talking to a friend, I don’t think I’m any more persuasive. In fact, I think as a scientist, I may be actually less trusted.

I guess here he's saying like "I'm not very persuasive",
but I'm not familiar with this usage (I'm only used to expressions like "I don't do that any more.")
and don't exactly know what this sentence means.

Does "I don't think I'm any more [adjective]" mean "I'm not [adjective]"?


texts:
I'm wondering whether "not only" can be placed in front of a verb, when the objects in a sentence share the same verb.

Sam plays not only the piano, but the violin.

Sam not only plays the piano, but the violin.

Sam knows not only how to get there, but when to come back.

Sam not only knows how to get there, but when to come back.


texts:
Suppose there is a lady who is a skilled practitioner of Kimono (着物), which is a Japanese traditional costume. Which expression (or title) for her is better (appropriate), Kimono Master or Kimono Mistress?

[EDIT]

By "practitioner", I meant

she is a qualified teacher who gets paid for teaching how to wear Kimono;
she is a professional Kimono dresser for special occasions such as wedding;
she also regularly wears Kimono in daily life.

The reason why I asked about "Master vs Mistress" is that the latter seems to have the connotation of a "lover".


texts: UK: Is "How do you do?" overly formal in these business situations?

texts:
I have learned that "How do you do? is very formal and is not used very much, especially by younger people, these days." (source: BBC — Learning English).

I would still like to know if using "How do you do?" in following contexts would be perceived as overly formal or not?

  When meeting for the first time a senior manager, at work;
  When meeting for the first time a new coworker (with a similar or a lower hierarchical rank);
  When meeting for the first time an "important" trader (e.g., a banker, lawyer, etc.)
  When meeting for the first time an "ordinary" trader (e.g., a baker, shop assistant, etc.)

This would happen in the UK, I'd say I belong to the upper middle-class, and I don't mind appearing very polite, a bit old-school, or slightly mannered (despite I'm a foreigner). I gather one should use "How do you do?" the first time we meet only.


texts: Which one, "big" or "scary lady", does the speaker want to stress in the below sentence?

texts:
In the sentence "there's a big, scary lady...", I hear "scary lady" was said in a flat tone, while "big" was said in a higher tone but it's said quickly so I don't like there's any special emphasis on "big". So I'm not sure which one the speaker want to stress.

Please tell me Do you think which one is stressed?.


texts: is it proper to refer to living poultry in a location as "native" ones

texts:
I know that it is usual to call the people who has lived somewhere as "native" people. is this usual for animals too?
can i call "native poultry" of Asia?


texts: Would have vs had - Present Perfect Continuous vs Past simple

texts:
A reply from a plant specialist to someone on youtube:

  From your description I would have to guess that your plant was dying
  because you have been over watering, which is a common problem with
  house plant care.

Can we say instead with the same meaning:

  From your description I had to guess that your plant was dying
  because you over water it ?

Is there a difference in meaning ?

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnyXT3nb-nQ


texts:
Could you help me with Conditionals?

Let's say it's Tuesday and I say to my friend:

  I planned to visit Jane on Friday but I heard she'd gone on holiday.

Can I paraphrase the above sentence with Conditional II?

  I would be visiting Jane on Friday but I heard she had gone on holiday.

Now it's Saturday of the same week and I say

  I would have visited Jane on Friday but I heard she had gone on holiday.

That is Conditional III

Is my way of thinking correct? Does it sound OK?


texts: Is it idiomatic and friendly to say "what each of you are doing"?

texts:
Imagine you are a manager and received an urgent task just now. you need to know what each of your team is doing, and choose one of them to handle this task. So you walk into your office, and asked "what each of you are doing"?

Is this idiomatic and friendly?


texts:
I have always thought that I am rather good at English, but in a test today I made a mistake although I can't say for sure whether it is something to do with grammar or logic.

The question was:

When will you ______?

cut your hair
have your hair cut
get your hair cut
do your hair cut

I chose #3, but the correct was #2, although at first I was thinking #1 is the correct option.

They explain it that "have something done" is a common expression.

But aren't #1 and #3 correct in general?


texts: What is the difference in usage of "in" and "off" in this context?

texts:
The following sentences are in relation with cricket. In TV, it shows:

  They need 25 runs off 30 balls.

But I wonder, however, that what would be the difference if I spell something like:

  They need 25 runs in 30 balls.

Are these both acting like synonyms?


texts: Compound subject and Singular/Plural verb

texts:
What is Mr. X and his father doing?
  What are Mr. X and his father doing?

Which one of the above is correct?

My friend says that both are acceptable in accordance with the context in which they are use d.

In informal occasions, especially when we know both the subjects are doing the same work together, we can ask the question as in sentence 1. But in formal occasions, and when we know that they are doing two different things, we ask the question as  in the sentence 2.

Is my friend correct?


texts:
What does 'he composed his features' mean?

  He wanted to switch it off, but he had to hear it out, he could not
  stop listening to it, though it hurt him in his heart with the
  unbearable homesickness of the hopelessly exiled. Even as a cadet this
  one hymn could fill his eyes with tears; now he kept his face turned
  away from the others to try to hide from them the drops wetting his
  cheeks.

  When the choir's 'amen' let him do so he switched quickly to some
  other — any other — program and remained bent over the instrument,
  pretending to fiddle with it, while he composed his features.

Ordeal in Space
By Robert A. Heinlein


texts: "I'll phone you tonight": why is this not proper?

texts:
(1) I phone her tonight. (2) I’m phoning her tonight. (The
  Cambridge Grammar of the English Language)

(1) and (2) are all possible expressions: (1) as a schedule or plan, (2) could be used in the same objects of (1), "but this is not limited to them: it could be that I have simply formed the intention to phone her (without consulting her or anyone else about the matter)”.

But for this following expression, ‘I’ll phone you tonight’, the book says “it’s hardly possible if I'd simply said, casually, I’ll phone you tonight.” What reason could be possible for this saying?

  “The progressive is restricted to cases where human agency or
  intention is involved - hence the anomaly of examples like [ib: ‘The
  sun is setting at five tomorrow’]. The difference between
  non-progressive and progressive is fairly clear in pairs like [ii: (1)
  and (2) above]. The non-progressive suggests a schedule or plan:
  perhaps I regularly phone her on the first Sunday in the month, or
  perhaps the call is part of some larger plan or arrangement - it’s
  hardly possible if I’d simply said, casually, I’ll phone you tonight.
  The progressive [iib: (2) above] could be used in these schedule/plan
  scenarios, but it is not limited to them: it could be that I have
  simply formed the intention to phone her (without consulting her or
  anyone else about the matter) and am waiting till I think she’ll be
  in.” (CGEL, p.171)


texts: How to describe the appearance for male or female

texts:
Can I use Immaculately Groomed for male or female?
If not what is the corresponding words for the male?
Thanks


texts: “It can be very cold…” vs “It may be very cold…”

texts:
It can be very cold in winters.
  It may be very cold in winters.

What is the difference between these two sentences?

People say when may is used then it means that it may be cold in winters or it may not be cold in winters.
In other words, may means 'not sure'.

So does that mean if can is used then it is 100% sure that it will be cold in winters?


texts:
She came in quietly ____ wake the baby
I can only choose one option
a) so as not to
b) in order to not
c) in order not to
So which one is correct


texts: on/in/at the beginning stage of something

texts:
Please help me figure out which preposition is correct and give me a reason.

  In China, students always use the book to learn alphabets in/at/on the beginning stage of learning English.


texts:
I was reading something about strength training and I came across that word. I am wondering if that's a legitimate verb?

If so, what would be the difference between "deload" and "offload" or even "unload"?

It seems that term was once coined as an attributive word (noun/adjective) and then evolved into the verb!

Added later: You can find several instances of this word in the link below, for example:

  This is not referring to normal deloading.  With a deload, your goal is to do as little as you can to maintain performance while diminishing fatigue, meaning minimizing muscle loss and likely increasing in strength (with fatigue diminished). [Reference]


texts: Can we use "need" in this way: "You seem to need danger and thrills in your life."

texts:
I have been reading a British newspaper. On the newspaper, a counsellor advises a woman who have risked her life and tried dangerous things and is now upset. So, amongst many other things, councellor says to her:

  "You seem to need danger and thrills in your life."

Using "need" this way sounded different to me. I know what she means because I know the subject, but if I had not, I might have been mislead, because it sounds as if the counsellor recommends her to take risks and dangers and thrills, which would have been completely the opposite of what she would have meant.

Maybe counsellor wants to make humour by using the "need" this way but I have never seen it used this way.

So, my question: Can we use "need" this way in formal English or should we avoid using it this way in order to remove ambiguity?

Thank you.

Note: If you want to see the whole text, that includes the sentence, it is at the Sun newspaper web site at https://www.thesun.co.uk/dear-deidre/7931802/threesome-strangers-pregnant-punishment-for-cheating/


texts: What is the difference in meaning between “I like it when you do this to me.” with and without the word “it”?

texts: I saw this sentence on the internet: “I like it when you do this to me.” and I would like to know the difference in meaning between “I like it when you do this to me.” and “I like when you do this to me.”


texts: What is the difference between happy and cheerful in this quote: I am cheerful. I don't know if I'm happy.?

texts:
What is the difference between happy and cheerful in this quote? I thought they was the same.

  I am cheerful. I don't know if I'm happy. There is a difference, you know.

    Tom Robbins

    http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/tomrobbins584246.html


texts: Can "galaxy" sometime mean "solar (or stellar) system" in English?

texts:
In various large public forums about astronomy or astrophysics, from time to time I see people using the word "galaxy" for what seems to not mean the galactic set of stars (like Milky Way or Andromeda) but our (or any) Solar system.

-> is it a "legal" use of the word galaxy in English ?
is it a wrong but popular use ?
Or is it just wrong thoughts by ignorant users ?


texts: wanted to make sure vs wanted to be sure

texts:
I have to write one of the following phrases into a formal correspondence (job application)

  I just wanted to be sure that I understood it correctly

  I just wanted to make sure that I understood it correctly

Which one should I use?

This is the context :

I would therefore assure you that I accept the terms and I am willing to start on 10th of June.
I just wanted to be sure that I understood it correctly, before booking the flight.


texts: Normally we would have to find it by rolling the tape and touching the entire perimeter to see the "undulation" and then we would have to strip the tape from its holder. How do I ask someone to give me the end of the sellotape strip?


texts:
How come I can't buy a toilet that reports how much water it has used today, this month, this year? (The New York Times)

Is "how come" really very informal English?

I ask because the book I'm reading says that it is, but, strangely, I found many occurrences of "how come" in English newspapers.

However, if that book is wrong, can anybody explain whether "how come" is more proper of "why" in some contexts rather than in others?


texts: Can we say *I didn't use to like it when a friend used to visit without calling me first*?

texts:
Can we say 'I didn't use to like it when a friend used to visit without calling me first' to talk about something that happened often in the past and the speaker didn't use to like it?

When I was at university I didn't use to like it when my friends used to talk loudly to each other during a movie but now I don't mind.

Is it a correct sentence?
Or are there any other ways of saying it?


texts:
Source: Sams Teach Yourself Networking in 24 Hours, 4th Edition by Uyless Black (2009)

Example:

  You should try to make room in your network budget for the purchase of resource books. Or, as a last resort, you need to spend some of your own hard-earned cash and take some time to read. The fact that you’ve become the greatest Novell NetWare guru on the planet will do you little good if your company decides to migrate to the Microsoft networking platform.

What are those exactly and why do we call them recourse books?


texts: What is best word to substitute “lonely wisdom” in this passage?

texts:
Hesse’s grandfather Hermann Gundert (1814-1893) had been a Protestant missionary in India, where he also became an accomplished linguist in Dravidian languages. With a sceptical, questing attitude to the faith he was promoting and a scholarly passion for foreign cultures, Gundert became a role model for his grandson. In his 1923 autobiographical essay “The Childhood of the Magician”, Hesse wrote: This man, my mother’s father, was hidden in a forest of mysteries, just as his face was hidden in the white forest of his beard; from his eyes there flowed sorrow for the world and blithe wisdom, depending on the circumstances, and likewise lonely wisdom and divine roguishness; people from many lands knew him, visited him and revered him.

Why do they say “lonely wisdom” instead of just saying “wisdom” ? What more definition the word “lonely” add to it? I looked up the the expression “lonely wisdom” in different dictionaries but except for google translate that translated it to my language as something like “common sense” I could not find any other meaning for that anywhere. I am not sure if this is the meaning of that.


texts:
Among the annoying challenges facing the middle class is one that will probably go unmentioned in the next presidential campaign: What happens when the robots come for their jobs?

I can't understand why should use "facing" in "Among the annoying challenges facing the middle class".
Here are what I know:

"that will probably go unmentioned in the next presidential campaign" is an attributive clause with antecedent "one".
"What happens when the robots come for their jobs" is the appositive of "one".
"Among the annoying challenges facing the middle class" is the subject of this sentence. It can be rewritten as "Among the annoying challenges which are faced by the middle class".


texts:
I am confused to use copula when the sentence is described with singular or plural.

Example:

1.The following is tips.

In this sentence should I use is or are ?

2.The day is weekend.

The  2 days are weekends.

Are the sentences above correct ? What is the grammar to use copula?


texts: "I done [past verb]" or "I done [present verb]" grammar

texts:
So I came across these two weird sentences in some Hip-hop songs and I couldn't figure out in any way that what grammar they're following and the meanings were also really confusing for me.

The first one:

  I done said a lot of thing in my day

following the grammar: Subject + Done + Past Verb

The reference link: Lucky you By Eminem [The beginning of verse 2]

and the second one:

  I done quit chicken heads cold turkey and started slowly roasting 'em

following the grammar: Subject + Done + Simple Verb

The reference link: Evil twin By Eminem [The beginning of verse 1]

And my questions are:

What were the original sentences in these two cases in terms of grammar?
What tenses are they indicating and what are the ways to identify them?


texts: What are some words with the connotation of unreality/numbness/dream?

texts:
Our world is only a reflection.

I'm looking for a word that could replace reflection here so that it would be still clear it's supposed to indicate numbness/unreality/fiction - that it's meant to mean the reflection of the true reality. What about glimpse? Gleam? Smear?


texts: critical region explanation from this sentence

texts:
Any section of code that should be finished by each process that
  begins it before another process can enter it is called a critical
  region.

i'm trying to understand the meaning but it's too complicated.
can anyone simplify this?
it's from "Understanding the linux kernel" by O'Rilley


texts:
Can it be used with Infinitives ?

1 It's best to buy it.
2 It's best to have bought it yesterday.

2a It's best for him to buy it.

Can it be used with Subjunctive ?

3 It's best (if) he (not) buy it tomorrow.
4 It's best if he bought it tomorrow.
5 It's best if he had bought it yesterday.
6 It's best if he were buying it right now.

Can it be used with Indicative ?

7 It's best if he buys it tomorrow.


texts: Can an appositive noun not follow the noun in apposition to it?

texts:
In ancient times, a great Chinese leader was born: Confucius.

Confucius is the appositive noun here, and a great Chinese leader is a noun in apposition to it.
Can "Confucius" and "a great Chinese leader" be separated like this?


texts: Unusual usage of verbs in Buffalo Springfield's song

texts:
I came across on lyrics of Buffalo Springfield's "For what it is worth":

  There's something happening here

  What it is ain't exactly clear

I am interested in the following grammar structure "it is ain't". Why isn't it the mistake? I thought that the correct variant is "what it is not exactly clear"?


texts: Is "...the name of the man to whom I talked on the phone" correct?

texts:
Question

  I don't remember the name of the man _______ I talked on the phone

Answers

who
whom
to whom
to who

I think it's not correct to use who in the above sentence because the second part of the sentence is missing a to after I talked

I think it's also correct to say

  I don't remember the name of the man who I talked to on the phone

Could someone clarify this for me?


texts:
You've probably considered a yoga class once or twice—maybe your
  girlfriend tried to convince you—but for one reason or another it
  never stuck and you're still skeptical. Consider, then, one huge bonus
  of the practice you may not be aware of: it can improve your sex life.

link: http://www.esquire.com/lifestyle/health/a34978/yoga-poses-for-sex-life/

I'm unfamiliar with the term 'stick in this sentence.

I guess 'it never stuck' means something like 'it didn't work out or succeed'.

I searched the meaning of 'stick in the dictionary,

and it has so many different meanings as a verb and a transitive verb
and different usages, so I'm confused.

link: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stick

Can you tell me the meaning-in-context of 'stick' in sentence I quoted, and
give me some tips or examples to make use of the term 'stick'?

I'm afraid I may not be able to master the term 'stick' forever.


texts:
What is the application of "more than" and "greater than" and their difference? What is their opposite? "less than" and "lesser than"?

for example for quantities like "width" or "area" which is used?


texts: In this sentence, does "it" refer back to terrorism?

texts:
Does "it" refer back to "terrorism"?

The End of Faith by Sam Harris is a genuinely frightening book about terrorism, and the central role played by religion in justifying and rewarding it. Others blame “extremists” who “distort” the “true” message of religion. Harris goes to the root of the problem: religion itself. Even moderate religion is a menace, because it leads us to respect and “cherish the idea that certain fantastic propositions can be believed without evidence”. Why do men like Bin Laden commit their hideous cruelties? The answer is that they “actually believe what they say they believe”. Read Sam Harris and wake up.

>Source: Richard Dawkins (Oxford University professor)


texts:
“Rowe.” I say, sitting down on my bed and taking everything in. This
  must have taken three gallons to get it covered so well, and they must
  have worked on this all day. The paint smell was still fresh. I have
  to admit, I am pretty damned impressed.

Source

I want to know if the "taking everything in" here is literally that meaning or means he is thinking everything about this.


texts:
The policeman, running with all his speed, was scarcely able to overtake the thief.

Which of the following sentence best describes the above sentence?

  A: The policeman ran with all his speed and was scarcely able to overtake the thief.

  B: Although the policeman ran with all his speed, he was scarcely able to overtake the thief.

I think the second one is better because a class of concession is implied by the participle phrase.

Am I right?


texts:
My friend just answered to one of my important questions.
Now how should I reply to him?

  That question had been in my head for a long time, finally, I got my answer

or

  That question has been in my head for a long time, finally, I got an answer.

Basically, I am confused with had and have. Since that question is not anymore in my head after having got an answer, what should be used? (I am also confused whether it is possible to use having instead.)


texts:
In the sentence below can I use "when" instead of "during which time"?

  The rise of the using of cell-phones was particularly noticeable
  between 1999 and 2002, during which time the use of mobile phones
  tripled.


texts:
✔1. There are many health problems to over come, each is of vital
  importance.
  ❌2. There are many health problems to over come, each
  are of vital importance.

Why is the word "are" incorrect in this sentence (no.2)?
Can you please explain this to me?
Thank you in advance


texts:
Sometimes I have seen people ask questions using sentences which don't start with an auxiliary verb:

  You don't like to eat ice cream?

Instead of:

  Do you like to eat ice cream?

Is it okay ask questions in both cases? I think its common around Internet people asking question like that but how correct it is?


texts:
My mum says: "I will be sad after he goes back home." so I can say: "She says she will be..."

But what about: "My mum said she will be sad after he goes back home" - reported a moment ago (it is okay, my teacher says so) but do I have to change the tenses if the person still thinks this way?

"My mum said she would be sad after he went back home." - is this correct too?


texts:
Consider:

  When a rabble-rouser is coming, those organizations should privately expose him to "opinion-molders".

I guess, "opinion-molders" should be persons who change people's thoughts and outlooks. Based on the meaning of "molder" which is to decay gradually.

Am I correct?


texts: Difference between "do good to" "do good for" and "do good by"

texts:
What is the difference between “do good to others”, “do good for others” and “do good by others”?  They appear the same to my non-native ears. There must be subtle differences between them.

I only find “do…..by” and "do......to" in dictionaries.

  do by:

  To behave with respect to; deal with:

  https://www.thefreedictionary.com/do+by

  do something to someone:

  to treat someone in a way that harms them

  https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/do-to


texts:
I need to know how to specify something in English, I mean for example in the following case:

  "Device calibration" or "calibration of a device"?

How can I know which is the right one?

What is the difference?

What rule I have to follow?

Is the structure of the second one used just to express possession?


texts: What does the broken bell wire signify here?

texts:
"I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his
  cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always means
  an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure that the
  matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet even here we may
  discriminate. When a woman has been seriously wronged by a man she no
  longer oscillates, and the usual symptom is a broken bell wire. Here
  we may take it that there is a love matter, but that the maiden is not
  so much angry as perplexed, or grieved. But here she comes in person
  to resolve our doubts"

  - Sherlock Holmes, A Case of Identity

Here, Holmes says that if a woman is seriously wronged, the result will be a broken bell wire. Now from all I can gather from the internet, "bell wire" just means an electrical cable commonly used in doorbells etc. I have to infer that a "broken bell wire" either means one that has been deliberately broken or it symbolically means that the bell has been rung incessantly. I would assume that the bell wire referred is Holmes', indicating that the woman is furiously clicking on Holmes' Bell. Is this inference correct?


texts: What is the meaning of "Molto's nose sticking out of Nico's bellybutton"?

texts:
Raymond Horgan got a murder case and telling this words to Rozat:

  Raymond Horgan: I can hear Della Guardia now. "lf Raymond Horgan can't
  protect his own attorneys, how can he protect citizens?" Tommy Molto's
  secretary said he wasn't coming in today. Some fucking Acting Head of
  Homicide he turned out to be, the little creep. I should have fired
  him when we fired Nico. If I had balls, I'd do it now. I want you to
  handle this  case personally.

  Rozart: I will assign it to somebody.

  Raymond Horgan: Who will you assign it to? Homicide? Tommy Molto? For
  Christ's sake! Della Guardia would love that. Molto would tip him off
  on everything. They're so close you can see Molto's nose sticking out
  of Nico's bellybutton.


texts: What is the grammatical function of the phrase in the sentences?

texts:
In the following sentences, I'm confused with the writing "... leading to to loss of property and life". I'd like to know the grammatical function of the phrase. The sentences are from a prescribed textbook for the students.

With the rise in the temperature of the atmosphere, there is a relative rise in the temperature of oceans. This in turn causes more and more glaciers and sea ice to melt, which in turn causes sea levels to rise, flooding many coastal regions leading to loss of property and life.


texts:
I know we can "go on a holiday", and I think it is British. But does "Go a holiday" exist?
If so, how is it used? Can it be used in all tenses?

I have come across the following sentence, though, I am not sure if it is just a typo, but regardless of that, can one say:

  Have you ever gone a holiday that mixed business and pleasure?


texts: "true" and "indeed": redundant in same sentence?

texts:
can we use the word indeed in the following sentence or does it sound like redundant by using the words true and indeed in the same sentence

It is true that everyone, indeed, possesses strengths and weaknesses.


texts:
Which one is the correct usage in the following examples? Are they both correct?

  The carrots need to be chopped.
  The carrots need chopping.

  The bill needs to be paid.
  The bill needs paying.

  Do you want to be picked up?
  Do you want picking up?

If this is correct grammatical structure could someone help classify the tenses of these, i.e are they both future tense?

I would tend to use the first example using to be verb+ED. Is the second case correct too or is this a form of slang?


texts:
Consider this dialogue (only the third utterance is made up by me; the rest is from here):

  A: "You could1 send him an email."

  B: "Yeah, I could2 send him an email, but I won't; he
  only checks his email about once a week. I'll phone him."

  A: "He could3 be in a meeting right now. You want to
  check the schedule before you do."

In my opinion, could1 and could3 share the same usage of expressing factual possibility here, the first utterance representing a suggestion and the third an uncertain assumption. Besides, could3 could be substituted for may with the meaning more or less unchanged.

As for could2 I would think it's another story. I won't in the utterance cancels the implicature that "I" am likely to send him an email. Thus, I think could2 is different from the other two could1&3. The other reason for my thinking is that could2 couldn't be substituted for may in the context because may itself isn't in a preterite form for hypothetical thinking (but might would be an alternative for the second utterance), so I believe could2 is a purely hypothetical version of can. ( But I'm not sure whether could2 has the same usage as in [58] The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language, aka CGEL.)

If we try to backshift the last two utterance we can see the difference:

  I could2 send him an email, but I won't. ⇒  I
  could2 have sent him an email, but I didn't. #1

  He could3 be in a meeting right now. ⇒ He
  could3 have been in a meeting just now. #2

I think #1 is a remote (conditional) construction while #2 is a modal perfect construction, which demonstrates in the original dialogue could2 is different from the other two could1&3.

Is my understanding on could2 and could3 correct? And is my proof method valid?


texts: Usage of "direction" to mean following certain ways

texts:
Does my usage of "draws on" and "direction" correct in this sentence?

  We believe if  a method draws on the user assistance, the direction must be toward tasks that are easy to accomplish for an average user but difficult for the machine. For example, distinguishing a semantic cue within a web page content is an easy task for a human user, but difficult for the machine and could be effective in the data extraction process.

I used the "direction" as the aim or intention of using the human knowledge in a method.


texts:
I have a problem with this sentence
"When Adubon was Painting was a time of major scientific inquiry "
Why the second was exerted without subject?


texts: What do you call "A space dedicated to people for doing some certain works in offices" in English? (Especially in the banks)

texts:
In my first language, we use a term to describe a space dedicated to people for doing some certain works in offices or public places. Especially, in the banks where each of these spaces are numbered and you should go to there based on your number taken when entering the bank.

For example, consider the image below.

As you see, there are four spaces in this picture, each of which is distinguished by a red one-digit number at the top. Also, each has a red LED display showing priority of the clients.

However, we also use this term extensively and this is not limited to the banks. For example, when referring to "public phone stations" and "ATM devices fronts" and any office with a similar system to the banks. I wonder how do you describe this space in English.

To make it simple, how would you instruct someone to go to a specific space? Would you say, for example,

  If you want to close your account you should go to the slot number 3.

?


texts:
Sam and I at the club.

Or

  Sam and I are at the club.

Which one is correct

for a photo caption?
when someone says "where are you?"


texts: "You don't appear to know [...]" vs "You don't appear to be knowing [...]"

texts: Is there a difference between the phrases "You don't appear to know [...]" and "You don't appear to be knowing [...]"? Can every occurrence of either be replaced by the other one without changing the meaning of the sentence?


texts:
Ok, in Longman dictionary,

  “With” used to say what an action or situation is related to

  We have a problem with parking in this area.

  Be careful with that glass.

  Is there something wrong with your phone?

  How are you getting on with your studies, David?

  Compared with other children of the same age, Robert is very tall.

See this sentence:

He walks with a stick because of a problem with his leg

So, "a problem with his leg" means "a problem related to / connected with his leg"

In oxford dictionary,

  "of" belonging to something; being part of something; relating to
  something

  the lid of the box

  the director of the company

  a member of the team

  the result of the debate

See this sentence:

He walks with a stick because of a problem of his leg

So, "a problem of his leg" means "a problem belonging to his leg"

So, What is the difference between "a problem with his leg" & "a problem of his leg"?

or are they the same?


texts:
a. He was not arrogant and helpful.
b. He was not arrogant, and helpful.
c. He was not arrogant and very helpful.
d. He was not arrogant, and very helpful.

Are the above sentences grammatically correct and correctly punctuated?
The 'not' is supposed to modify 'arrogant' only.
I think (b) and (d) work but the other two don't.


texts:
How to describe a leak from a pipe as is in the photo below at home or outside in more detailed way  Which words can be used besides leak?

https://acpfoto.com/photo/do-you-have-a-broken-water-line-or-leaking-water-main.html


texts: What's the difference between "last" and "latest"?

texts:
When should I use "last" and "latest"?

I found two examples:

What was the last book you read?
Karen was always up to date on the latest fashions

It seems both mean "the most recent". Can we use both with this meaning?


texts: Can a "non-restricted attributive clause" be reformed as a relative clause?

texts:
Innovative locals, resting in the doldrums of off-season winter, noticed that when the large, ancient pipe leaked, escaping water coated the high walls of the gorge in spectacular ice."

Could the bold part of the sentence be reformed like this?

  ... which is resting in the doldrums of off-season winter ...


texts:
Is it okay to write:

  The king didn't approve of her relationship with the prince due to her coming from a poor family.

I found the same phrase in a book from Google books from an actor that seemed to be American.

The question is whether I can have a pronoun followed by a gerund after "due to" in that sentence or not.

Here's the link.


texts:
Who does go there now-a-days?

Who goes there now-a-days?

My book said sentence 1 is incorrect while sentence 2 is correct, can anyone please explain this?


texts: "The first day I worked at that company" vs. "The first day I worked for that company"

texts:
I am aware that when describing the company, I could say "the company I worked for", how do I do when I am referring to the time?

I was telling a story about the company I worked for, when referring the day I am on board, should I say

  "The first day I worked at that company"

or

  "The first day I worked for that company"


texts: meaning of "image-searching is strictly for those who want to get sacked"

texts:
I’m reading The Greedy Queen by Annie Gray. In the introduction, she introduces Queen Victoria as:

  Myths about Queen Victoria are plentiful, and largely unproven or
  taken out of context, from the ‘not amused’ comment, to the
  accusations that she slept with or even married John Brown, and
  image-searching Prince Albert at work is strictly for those who want
  to get sacked.

I’ve nearly finished reading this book. But I still can’t figure out what the part in bold means. Considering the book is about Victorian Age, “image-searching” seems to be a very modern term and I don’t understand what it means in this sentence. “Image-searching is strictly for those who want to get sacked” seems to be implying something in a very indirect way. In the later chapters, the author mentions that Queen Victoria was so soft-hearted that she would not sack her servants. This doesn't seem to explain the sentence in question. I can’t find any relevant anecdotes on the internet, either. Can anybody help me understand what this sentence is saying?


texts: Can the form of a verb be determined by the meaning of the subject instead of its grammatical number?

texts:
In school we were taught that a subject in singular form required a corresponding verb, for example:

  The multitude of insects is astonishing.

multitude is singular, therefore is must be used.

But now I have been told by an experienced (but not native) speaker that a subject with a plural meaning can be used with a verb "in plural form", for example:

  The multitude of insects are astonishing.

multitude means plural, therefore are can be used.

Is this just an exception which is not taught to English language learners, or is it informal use, or is this wrong altogether?


texts: Should I use -ing in the following examples?

texts:
The sounds I hate the most are the clattering of dishes, the roaring of
  cars, and the drilling on construction sites.

  The sounds I hate the most are the clatter of dishes, the roar of
  cars, and the drill on construction sites.

Which of the alternatives about is correct? How do I know whether to use -ing in examples like this?


texts:
I am going to make up two similar sentences below.

(1) This colorful vase is limited-edition.

(2) This colorful vase is a limited edition.

Which one is correct?


texts: "percentage of students" vs . "percentage of the students"

texts:
Is it:

  International students represent no more than 15% of the students that
  select math as a major.

Or

  International students represent no more than 15% of students that
  select math as a major.


texts:
How to say that something happens in the future related to a particular date?

  Fines are issued in the future ??? as related to the date of first missed payment ???


texts: How would a native speaker understand buying 2 socks?

texts:
How would a native speaker understand this sentence:

  I have bought 2 socks.

A pair of socks is quite obvious, 2 pairs of socks also, but what with 2 socks? 2 socks are a pair, but since you can't buy single socks, this 2 in the sentence could be interpreted as carrying the information that 2 pairs of socks were bought.


texts: How to use in points or score in context of exam result?

texts:
If I had exam and I was asked about my result and I want to refer to it, then what is the correct way for that purpose?

  I've got 95 score out of 100.

  I've got 95 points out of 100.

Is it consider a correct way to refer to my results in such way or maybe there other way/s that sound/s natural in standard English.


texts:
I saw this in a video:

  [...] Drink a lot of water to speed the process along

What does "along" mean in this sentence?


texts: How do you say this in a more succinct and natural manner?

texts:
This is a flat metal plate with a cylinder in the center open on both
ends such that you can put your arm and reach the other side of it.

Could you tell me if there's a better and more natural way to say this? I am not sure if I can think of a better way.


texts:
I would like to know which of two beginnings of a phrase

As explained here.../ As is explained here...

is grammatically correct? I just found a book where "As explained here,..." is used, but this sounds strange to me, am I wrong?


texts: Reduced relative clauses used with some particular adjectives

texts:
According to Practical English Usage by Michael Swan,

Reduced structures are also used with the adjectives available and possible.

Please send me all the tickets available. (=...that are available)
Tuesday’s the only date possible.

However, I came across two examples using reduced structures with typical

Castle café in the walls serves food typical of the castle’s history.
Staff wear clothes typical of the time, [...]

Why isn’t typical included in the given adjectives in the book? Is it another grammar point?


texts:
The context is:

  DAVID: I wish I had children.
  FANNY: How could you? All the women you like are too drafty, if you know what I mean. None of them could have children. Which, as God in his wisdom, would have it.

I couldn't find in the Internet any definition of "drafty" except "cold and uncomfortable because of currents of cool air".  Now, I understand there may be some sort of irony, but the comparing a draft and women who can't have children doesn't make any sense to me.


texts: The word "muddle" should use active or passive?

texts:
When I couldn't distinguish two object clearly I would say:

  "I got muddled A up with B." or
  "I muddled A up with B."

I found similar expression in this question, and it seems both expression are correct. But I'm not sure which expression sounds more natural.


texts:
Do both the following sentences mean the same?

1- Some people don't have any option except to use public transportation.

2- Some people don't have an option except to use public transportation.


texts: Which is the main clause and why - "I do not want to..." or "my eyes started to..."?

texts:
Which is the main clause and why? "I do not want to help my mom in the kitchen anymore"  or " my eyes started to cry" (the punctuation is just like the original)

Since I am not convinced about an answer I received previously, and did not want to continue arguing, I think the answer to this question might convince me (the following appears in a test).

  "I do not want to help my mom in the kitchen anymore, this morning while_________ onions, my eyes started to cry."
  a. peeling
  b. I was peeling
  c. peel
  d. was peeling


texts:
Russian energy giant Gazprom meanwhile warned the government in Kiev that it would cut off gas exports if it did not settle a $1.89bn (£1.13bn) debt. In 2009, Gazprom halted supplies to Ukraine in a move that caused shortages across Europe.

(Source: BBC News)

What does the first and second "it" refer to in this context? I think the first "it" refers to Gazprom and the second refers to Kiev – am I right?


texts:
There are some sentences from https://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/410-embedded-questions2.htm

I believe just the first sentence is correct, but the source says the third one is correct.

I wonder how much will it cost to take a taxi home after the annual office   party
I've never eaten at this restaurant. Can you tell me what should I order?
I've never eaten this before. Do you know what is in it?

Also, I just was wondering why this is considered to be incorrect:

Does anyone know why was today's meeting postponed until next week?


texts:
Is use of "along" in the following sentences correct grammatically and conceptually? If it is not , kindly suggest ways to make it clearer.

  The interaction between leakage flow and suction surface is
  substantially reduced by optimizing the blade thickness along the
  height of blade in proposed design.


texts: Is it okay to thank someone using the phrase 'great of you'?

texts: Is 'great of you' a proper phrase for thanking someone?


texts: How do I write this sentence in reported speech?

texts:
Jason doesn't like reading so he won't study literature .

How will it go ?

Will it be :
He said Jason didn't like reading so he won't study literature .

Thank you in advance


texts: Idiom for "I have just finished a great job and I'm proud"

texts:
What is an idiom of:

  "I have just finished a great job and I'm extremely proud of that"

For example, I had been building a house for 20 years and finally built it (and want everybody to know)

I thought "I've done it!" will do, but Google seems not to confirm that. Is there a simple idiom (just an exclamation)?


texts: Is the following an example of the "dummy it"?

texts:
The first time a woman touched his books. It felt intimate, like his body was being caressed

Is this an example of the "dummy it"? Or "it" here refers to the action in the first sentence?


texts:
And fuck it, let's just see what happens, take a risk, let's take a trip

  We swervin' off the bourbon, hope we don't hit the dip

It's from a song, I have found it means to leave, but it seems here the meaning is other. I can presume it means to crash in the car becase they take a trip, but... Help me please


texts: Which one sounds the most idiomatic: "during work", "during my work", "during my work day", "during my working hours"?

texts:
Which one sounds the most idiomatic: during work, during my work, during my work day, during my working hours? For example:

  I drink quite a few cups of coffee during work.

  I drink quite a few cups of coffee during my work.

  I drink quite a few cups of coffee during my work day.

  I drink quite a few cups of coffee during my working hours work.

What I am trying to say is that while I am at work I drink quite a few cups of coffee.

If none of my sentences sounds natural, then what would a native English speaker say?


texts: What's better in the following context "let's move to" / "let's go to" / "let's pass to"?

texts:
What's more appropriate to be written in the presentation (PowerPoint) when I want continue to the next / following slide with a new subject (or sub-subject)?

  1) Let's go to (the next issue, the following slide)

  2) Let's move to (the next issue, the following slide)

  3) Let's pass to (the next issue, the following slide)


texts:
This is a writing question which I'm trying to use to practice, but I'm a little confused about its instructions. I think what the pie chart shows is that the percentages of each meal in three types of nutrients, while the instructions say that the chart is about "the average percentages in typical meals of three types of nutrients". So I'm really confused about that. Is there anything wrong with me or the instructions?

The charts below show the average percentages in typical meals of three types of nutrients, all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Further ahead it says

Average percentages of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals consumed in the USA.

Here is a picture of the page with the question and graphs - click on it to see it full size:


texts:
Test questions (Source: “Quiz your English” - an app by Cambridge):

“When we have been overwhelmed with emails, we wonder ________ we might have missed something important by dealing with them quickly.”

a.weather
b. whether
c.wether
d.if

“A librarian can help you if you are wondering _____ a source has the information you need.”

a. if or whether
b.if or not
c. whether
d. whether or not
Answers:

b – whether
d – whether or not

My question:
Why can't we also use the answer “d” in the first question and the answers “a, c” in the second question (by the answer “a” I mean either if or whether)?
P.S. I've heard about the rules governing the usage of “if vs. whether” (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/if-or-whether ), but I'm not sure which one applies here.


texts: How should I express differing daily end times for a multi-day event?

texts:
Here's the context.
There's a seminar about retirement planning and it will be held for two days.
Day 1 ends at 2 pm next Wednesday.
Day 2 ends at 3 pm next Thursday.
Then:

The seminars will end at a different time on each day.

Each day will end at a different time.

which one would you choose and why? Is there something else that you could recommend?
P.S. The reason we use 'A' right before 'different' is because we have only two days, not more than two days, right?


texts:
Vikram (April 12, 2013) posed a question 'Is "work out of" correct English?'. My question is an extension of Vikram's question.
In India where I live, the phrase 'out of' is used with opposite meanings, depending on the context! For example:
(1) He works out of Delhi - meaning that he works from (that is, based in) Delhi.
(2) She had a child out of wedlock. Here the writer wants to convey that the child was born not from a marriage.

In math, when we say 'She got four out of five answers correct', the phrase 'out of' is used in the sense of 'from' like in example (1) above.
To avoid confusion, isn't it better to write example (2) above as 'She had a child outside of wedlock?'


texts: Difference between AmE and BrE usage of "piss off".

texts:
Piss and a lot of derived expressions (piss about/around, piss down) are all marked as British English. Piss off is however not labelled as such.

Is piss off used in American English? How does it differ from the BrE usage?


texts:
Who is older than 18, please step forward
Who is older than 18, please make a step forward
Who is older than 18, please take a step forward

Is there any difference between step, take a step, and make a step?

Which is more natural?


texts: Phrase or word to describe "failing to maintain a good habit, as life changes"

texts:
"Good habits may demand time, energy and willpower to keep. As life changes, people may no longer be able to maintain certain good habits which they used to be in."

I am looking for a concise expression, be it formal or informal, for this kind of a situation, where one can no longer keep up a good habit, which was once practiced, but has died out gradually.


texts: Can we extend the definitions of words, and why?

texts:
The definition of read is as follow: To have a specified character or quality for the reader. This is when we say a "book reads like a philosophy book", but can we extend the meaning of that word to non-books? Look at the example below.

For example:

  Your thoughts read like a philosophy book for telepaths who delve
  inside of them.


texts:
I know that there exists some cases when "have" can be used in the progressive form. But not sure if this usage is permissible in this context: I am at school in the class. My phone rings and I answer:

Do not bother me I am just having a lesson at school.


texts: Is there a need to use "the" in following sentences?

texts:
Assume that I used the word "tasks" and task in the context before. Then, Do I need to use "the" before "tasks" in the following sentences?

  A few number of the tasks should be executed at the maximum supply voltage.

  All the tasks should be executed at the maximum supply voltage.

  The N value (or amount) of the execution of the tasks can be cancelled.

  The execution of every the task takes 10 units of time.

  The number of the tasks in this case equals 10.

  In this case, the tasks are T1 to T10.

Thank.


texts:
English is my 2nd language and I need your advice on this little awkward moment I had with a lady on the phone today. She left a voice message so I was returning her call.

  Me: Hi. I'm ** returning the phone call from Ms. #####

  Lady (on the phone): Hi. How are you? Thanks for calling me back!

  Me: Yeah..Good to talk to you!

At this very moment, I felt a little awkward reaction from her. It seems like my comment "Good to talk to you" at that moment was not appropriate.

And then at last she said, "Look forward to seeing you Saturday!" and I said "Same here!"

How about this response? Is this also awkward?


texts: Is it appropriate to use "drink" as verb for canned soup?

texts:
I know that soup is considered a dish, not a beverage, so a phrase like "drink soup" sounds odd accordingly, and it should be rephrased like "eat soup", right?
Also, it is obvious that the motion like this can be described as "drink". I believe no one will disagree with this.
My question is how you would describe the motion like the one in the above picture if the content of the bottle were soup. I have this question because in my country, canned soup like vegetable soup and corn potage soup are not rare. They are sold at many supermarkets here and there, and even on vending machines sometimes.

The picture above is just an example of canned vegetable soup.
At this post of the ELL StackExcahnge, Hellion answers:

using a utensil (fork, spoon, chopsticks, etc.): then you eat it.
pouring it from a container into your mouth: then you drink it.
sucking it up through a straw: then you drink it.

If his definitions above are the general understanding for many native speakers, then I thought a phrase like "drink canned corn potage soup" must be appropriate.
What do you think?


texts:
It is one of the test problem in some test in Taiwan.

  This program is used to scan resume and search for key words that ____

  a. match

  b. matching

  c. matched

  d. will match

I am wondering if this sentence is wrong, since used to + verb refers to some habits that had in the past, or something that was the case.

And is used to + Ving refers to having some experience.

But the question used " is used to V " ???


texts: has been taught / had been taught/ was taught

texts:
I was wondering which of the three tenses is the most suitable to refer to a previous action, which recurred on multiple occasions, as in the following example:

  I usually have to read over what has been taught/had been taught/ was
  taught in the class.

I'd use the simple past if there was a specific time reference in the sentence like "..what was taught on that day" but I'm not sure if present perfect or past perfect would work in the sentence as it is?


texts: Like daily = every day and monthly = every month, does decadally = every ten days exist?


texts:
Sometimes I get confused by articles, especially when it comes to definite articles.

My question is: How do I use the definite article "the" between two nouns?
Should I repeat "the" with each noun?

For example:

  Do the earth and Moon orbit the sun?

or

  Do the earth and the moon orbit the sun?


texts: Should I use "about" or "on" with "I was taught a lot X how to"?

texts:
I was wondering what was the correct wording in that specific case, it seems to me that the rule is to say "I was taught a lot about" but with the following "how to" the more natural thing that comes to my mind is "on". So which one would be correct (if either is) I can't decide they both sound kind of weird to me.

Maybe the sentence is just not well constructed.

Thank You


texts:
A late breakfast/early lunch combination meal is called "brunch". Is there a parallel term for the afternoon?

What do I call "lunch" joined with "dinner"?

Note that I don't mean a meal eaten between lunch and dinner, but a meal that serves the purpose of both lunch and dinner.


texts: What does "to bat in favour of" mean in this sentence?

texts:
I read a sentence in "The Hindu" which was:

  Inspired by the ruling on Delhi, the Madras HC bats in favour of elected regime in Puducherry.

I have checked all entries of the verb "bat" in various dictionaries like Merriam Webster dictionaries, Collins dictionaries, etc. But I'm still not sure what it means in this context.


texts: Appropriate phrase for the expression "get something made"

texts:
I see "get something made" used a lot in Indian English, for example in sentences like the following.

  Do you have any idea how do I get my passport made?

  What is the procedure of getting the rental agreement made?

Are these two expression idiomatic? If not, could anyone please suggest the correct usage?


texts:
Look at these sentences:

(1)He lost to a better player. He won in every other way one can imagine.

(2)You/one can get very nasty skin diseases from bathing in dirty water.

It can be seen that both the italicized expressions start with the general subject you/one. Can I replace the "can"s in (1) and (2) with "could"s to make them sound more hypothetical/less assertive?


texts:
1 Bankers around the world have expressed deep scepticism about bitcoin, and with some reason.

  2 Bankers around the world have expressed deep scepticism about bitcoin with some reason.

The first sentence is quoted from an article. I have been thinking is there any difference in meaning between the first and second one?


texts: It was only 5 years ago when(that?) I became an engineer

texts:
It was only 5 years ago when I became an engineer.

A friend of mine told me that the when used in above sentence is incorrect and it should be replaced by that is it true ? I checked the ngram and found both of these being in use.


texts: What is the term for 'a......a.....a...' in speech?

texts:
Most Indians have this habit while speaking in English. It's not stammering that I'm aware of. It's not stuttering or bumbling either. I'm not sure what is it called.

The speech goes like this...

  Hello everyone. I'm Maulik and here I am to present a..... our company's .....a....... balancesheet for the year of 2014-15. As we see, we are going through ...a.......lots of ups and downs in a......

How is 'a' pronounced there? It's the same way we pronounce this indefinite article with any noun. So, it's 'a' in 'a car'.

It's not just with Indians, I have seen many foreigners (even natives) with this habit but the frequency is quite less.

The video: (Check at 00:56 and 1:01) - Note: Irfan's English is still better! The people I'm talking about have loud and clear 'a......a....a'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oyGj8pFChM

Listen it carefully. There are several such pauses. I'm not sure whether the narrator is native - http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27577537


texts:
What is the right way of addressing the place of a picture on a particular page of a book?!
Are these phrases correct?

P.s:Imagine that there are six pictures in the middle of a page.

  1)up on the left

  2)up in the middle

  3)up on the right

  4)down on the right

  5)down in the middle

  6)down on the left

If they are wrong what can I use instead?!


texts:
In an email message, which would be better to say:

  How much is the folder size?

or:

  What is the folder size?


texts:
Lord Phillips, the Supreme Court’s president from its inception until his retirement last year, also has fond memories. “It had a lot of attractions. In parliament you rubbed shoulders with a lot of interesting people, you could listen to debates, and had a wider role.But it was not user-friendly as far as the public was concerned, and the theoretical fault was overwhelming.”

Which definition of fault applies in this quote at about 70% down the page, 2 paragraphs above the picture of a library? Can't even definition 3 apply here figuratively, as a break? Please explain the steps or thought processes, for want of doing so by myself in the future?


texts:
When General Motors had a plant shutdown, that was a "volume-related  production-schedule adjustment."
  [On Writing Well]

I googled the idiom but not much information about. Is this a job? Or sth?

Thank you.


texts: Has the word "vaping" become the synonym of inhaling the weed aka marijuana?

texts:
Recently I have begun to see the word "vaping" at Yahoo such as this, quote,

  Weeks after the frail college student returned home in July, two investigators from the FDA knocked on the family’s front door, peppering Walker with endless questions about where he purchased the mango-flavored pods that he vaped in his Juul e-cigarette.

or this, quote, (also see the title)

  State officials are reconsidering their marijuana regulations and quality control in the wake of investigators’ discovery that 29 patients with vaping-related lung illness tested recently had greasy vitamin E acetate from THC in their lungs.

I suspect these appearances have something to do with the rise of the use of POD or weeds or marijuana which has begun to be legalized in many states in the U.S. (In our country, even holding the seeds of Marijuana leads to the arrest.) I am asking this question since in our country there started to have appeared many weed related arrests of so-called "celebrities" (including cocaine) and when I take a look at news at Yahoo America, this vaping thing comes to my mind. Thank you for any info in advance.


texts: What is the name of the "branched function" (Maths) in correct English?

texts:
Because I study Maths in another language, I don't know what do you call a "branched-function" in English. This is an example for what I'm talking about:

as you can see, the function f(x) is not like common functions like . What do you call these functions in English?


texts: What is the plural form use of "tardy" such as: number of tardy arrivals to school, work, etc.? Word spell check does not have any suggested words in this instance.


texts: What does "straight off the Wall Street assembly line" mean?

texts:
Does it mean "another guy from Wall Street going to enter the Fed"?

Democrats including Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown have said they intend to scrutinize Quarles' ties to Wall Street during his confirmation hearing. Senator Elizabeth Warren described him as "straight off the Wall Street assembly line" in announcing her opposition in a statement.

Source: http://www.Reuters.com/article/us-usa-banks-regulation-quarles-idUSKBN19X2ZT?il=0


texts:
I saw this paragraph in a TOEIC sample test.

  My brother-in-law tried his best to assemble the seat as he saw from the diagrams in the instructions and from his best judement though it to be safe. However, the belt buckle mechanism was very easy for my niece to open by herself, and did so on a car journey.

My question: is "though" a conjunction?

Is this phrase "though it to be safe" grammatically correct?


texts:
I have a quick question for you. I've seen many people get their answers on this site so I hope you can help me. Is the following sentence correct?

  "I lost my wallet when I visited Mexico."

Basically I don't know if I'm allowed to use 2 verbs conjugated like this in the same sentence. To avoid this I'd use "I lost my wallet when VISITING Mexico" but the question I mentioned earlier is still bugging me. What do you think?


texts: What does “before when” imply in this sentence?

texts:
I had been to dinner at Mike's twice before when Richard Platt was there.

I think this sentence means:

Richard Platt ate at Mike's but I'd already eaten there twice
I have eaten there three times including the time when Richard was there
This was Richard's first dinner at Mike's

Am I right?


texts:
Enough + of + pronoun is fine as in:

  I had enough of you

  I can't get enough of it

Enough + of + determiner (my, the, that, etc.) + noun is also fine

  I had enough of this cake

  I can't get enough of your love

But is Enough + of + a/an + noun correct/standard?

  That is enough of an explanation.


texts:
It is not possible for me to exchange the goods after the sale has been completed.

can I use once in place of after?


texts: Since this is the first time this happened or Since this is the first time it happened

texts:
Not sure what to use between it or this in the following sentence:

  Since this is the first time this happened, I'll just be converting the data top-up before to your usual 1GB Data plan as a one-off.


texts:
Could you tell whether I have to use stay on or stay behind in the following context?

  We had a meeting today and after it finished, the boss asked me to stay on/behind to talk about my new idea.

What I am trying to say is that the boss asked me to stay after everyone left. While I am at it, would it also be natural to say the following?

  We had a meeting today and after it finished, the boss held me up to talk about my new idea?


texts: How to say "I guess timezone is a huge/colossal obstacle" in a better way?

texts: I'd like to express that sometimes it's really hard to communicate when there is a difference of 12 hours between two countries but I wanted to say that you have to blame timezone for that. I don't want to use several sentences to express the phrase. Just one.


texts: Why is “coma” countable in “go into a coma”?

texts:
I came across a phrase “go into a coma” and wonder why “coma” is countable here. Is there any rule which determines a noun followed by “go into” is countable or uncountable?

Here are some other examples with “go into”:

Go into bankruptcy
Go into debt
Go into work

And ones with “get into” and “give”, where I cannot find an obvious rule either.

Get into trouble
Get into a habit
Get into an argument
Get into a panic
Get into a temper
Get into debt
Give a cough
Give a cry
Give a ride
Give a shock
Give trouble
Give love
Give a punch
Give a cold


texts:
Q: What do you call it when Batman skips church?
  A: Christian Bale

Does the word 'Bale' have a special meaning in this joke?


texts:
When someone asks me to describe a character from a story or explain the story briefly, should I use "past tense" or "present tense"

Below is the story about the character of the novel "Devi Chaudhurani" (written by Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay) from which I was asked a question in the exam: Here is the link that expalins the novel and the character briefly here

Prafulla is married but is shunned by her wealthy father-in-law, Haraballabh, because of a spat between him and her father on the day of her wedding. By custom prevalent at that time, a girl, once married, could not be divorced or remarried. Heartbroken at the fate of his only child, her father died after a few years, leaving the family in penury.
Prafulla takes the drastic step to flee in the middle of the night to find the house of her in-laws whom she has never known, without any money, with knowledge of only the name of the village and name of her father-in-law.

Here is the question that was asked in the exam "Who is Prafulla? Describe her character briefly." Should I answer in past tense or present tense in the answer?

Prafulla is the main character of the novel Devi Chaudhurani. She lives/lived in a small village of Bengal. She is idolized in the novel as an Inspiration to women in Bengal that time. Prafulla is/was shunned by Haraballabh, Her father-in-law. This made/makes her father feel heart broken and depressed which leads/led him to death. This made/makes Prafulla more stronger than ever. By the character of Prafulla the author described/describes a hard and successful life of a woman.

I think both tenses are correct but not sure. Could you please explain? Can I use both tenses?


texts:
I think that rage is verb so the following word should be adv. —> unabatedly.

Plus, rage isn’t linking v.

Thank you for your explanation in advance.


texts:
There is this sentence I wrote, yet I am struggling to find a fitting word for it to be complete.
The sentence is Family is the solid foundation on which the .... of society rests


texts: Difference between "beat in one rhythm" and "beat to one rhythm"?

texts: What's the difference between "Metronomes will beat in one rhythm." and "Metronomes will beat to one rhythm"? Is it like the latter one implies the presence of the third source of rhythm?


texts:
I want to say that I wanted to quit, but I stayed a little bit longer because of her.

  It took a little time because of a great friend.

Is this grammatically correct?


texts:
I was wondering about the meaning of 'let it happen' after reading a comment on youtube video. (The video is about a leopard hunting a warthog. It is trying to kill the warthog by biting its throat.)

The leopard like just let it happen' just let it happen. Go to
sleep!!! It's bedtime!!!  LMFAO!!!

I did some research on the meaning of it.
From urban dictionary:

The phrase "Let it happen" can often be used in a situation where
someone may be trying to force something e.g. relationships,
conversations, sexual encounters, sports, image, ect.

With the definition, I catch that 'let it happen' has the meaning of enforcement. You want to overcome difficulty.
But this article from Medium uses the phrase to contrast with 'make it happen'. With the article, I feel 'let it happen' is similar as 'let it be'. It's not to force something but we observe as it goes without effort.
So I feel two articles are saying something contradictory. What's the meaning of 'let it happen'?


texts:
Our planet is hurtling through space.

Our planet is hurtling across the universe.

Our planet is hurtling through the universe.

Do all three of these sentences convey the same meaning? Are all of them grammatically correct?


texts:
What does 'not another' mean in a sentence?

For example:

  Tom misspelled the word and I pointed the word out. Then another man who was watching said "not another!!"  A bystanding girl laughed.

What does the "not another" in this sentence mean?


texts: A double negative - would it be acceptable in writing?

texts:
I read other posts about the double negative, but I still would like to find out whether my sentence is OK in writing:

  Breakfast was not served for no good reason.


texts: testing the English teaching waters in Korea -- what does that mean?

texts:
Source: http://allearsenglish.com/interviews-united-states-behavioral-interviews-english/

  Brad received his undergraduate degree at New York University in 1984, and spent the next 15 years in the business world focused on sales and marketing.  After spending a year testing the English teaching waters in Korea, he returned to the USA and got a Masters degree in TESOL from Seattle University in March 2001.

What's that supposed to mean? I don't get it.


texts:
These days I am studying about the different uses of em dash.
What is the use of "em dash" here?

  The color pink has been my favourite. I have developed a passion for
  this beautiful color. I like pink so much that I’ve had my bedroom
  painted pink. This has had a really soothing effect on me—it’s made me
  more relaxed.

Is the following equivalent with the sentence with em dash?

This has had a really soothing effect on me and it’s made me more relaxed.


texts:
Scene 1
Bad guy (Raymond Sellars): Alex, honestly, I mean you no harm. If I wanted to, I could have killed you a long time ago. I just aim this right at your head and blow it off.
Alex's wife: Sellars, please! Don't!
Bad guy: I mean, if I wanted to, I could just aim this at your little family and I could just kill them too. And really, there's nothing you could do about it because, let's face it, you're a robot.
Scene 2
Bad guy (Raymond Sellars): What's clear is that with just one system in place, we've cut crime by 80%. Just imagine if we put, I dunno, let's say 100 systems in place. And then, I want you to ask yourself, why are you holding us back?
Senator: Is that your plan?
TV show host(Pat): Thank you, Senator. And thank you, Raymond.
Bad guy: Thank you, Pat.
TV show host: Well, there you have it. Who could argue with that? Which begs the question. Has the US Senate become pro-crime?
--Robocop 2014

Mr. Modal comes back again.
I have figured out all of "could" in this movie except for these two. Why not use "can" or "would" instead?
For the first one, if that "could" followed the previous ones, the sentence would be "there would be nothing you can do about it", I suppose.
For the second, is the sentence the same as "Who would be able to argue with that?


texts:
I am an IELTS test-taker. I am fond of using procon.org as English study material. Anyway I have a question about a sentence on the website.

  Medical marijuana is a front for drug legalization and recreational use.

I do not fully understand this sentence. As I understood, it looks like "Medical marijuana is regarded as a first try to be drug legalization and tecreational ise".
Am I right?
Thanks for replyers.


texts:
A : Do you like me?

  B : Yes

  A : As friends?

  B : Yeah. I mean, I don't know. I (haven't / hadn't) really thought about that.

.

  I haven't really thought about that.

I didn't think about that before and I don't know now as well. (chances are I don't like you)

.

  I hadn't really thought about that.

I didn't think about that before, but it's only past that I didn't think. There's a big time difference between past and present by using "hadn't". And, now that I think of it, it could be different from before.(chances are I like you)

.

Am I right to think this way? I know it's not perfectly right but I just have a feeling like that.

Which one would you say when you like her.


texts: Is the "global" in "global pandemic" redundant?

texts: A pandemic is an epidemic that spreads internationally. My friend said that COVID-19 is a global pandemic. Isn't saying that coronavirus is a pandemic already indicative that it is global? Is "global" redundant?


texts: What does this mean? "...along an otherwise two-way main road"

texts:
Read it on Today on Bing, here's the whole paragraph:

  The Pont Fawr is itself the stuff of history: Built in the 1630s, it's often called the 'Inigo Jones bridge' after the pioneering early modern architect who, legend has it, designed the triple-arch span that today carries motor traffic. A one-way bottleneck along an otherwise two-way main road, the bridge's humped shape tends to obscure oncoming cars, earning it yet another local nickname: Pont y Rhegi (Bridge of Swearing).

I don't get this part, " A one-way bottleneck along an otherwise two-way main road", what does the 'otherwise' mean? Does it mean the bridge has 2 roads, one is a one-way bottle neck, the other is a two-way main road?

Need your help! Thanks!!! I'm not a native English speaker.


texts:
My supervisor came out to monitor my work today and I'm now writing a thank you note to her.

In the end, I put it as follows.
"I also appreciate your comments on * activity and how to maximize profits. Our team will work them out going forward."

Before hitting the "send" button, I want to ensure that "Our team will work them(your comments) out going forward" is correct and polite. Is there a way to put it in a better way? I just want to send out a message that our team takes your advice seriously.

Thanks!


texts: what is the word for things that a method can deliver?

texts:
I have reviewed individual methods about their pros and cons,
  corresponding scope conditions, deliverables, and their applications
  in Europe.

Can deliverables be used here to refer to things a method can bring to? For example, I use the method of in-situ measurement to test air quality, and I will get concentrations of PM2.5, CO2, etc. I don't want to use the word results, because I think results refer to exact value/readings, which is not the focus.


texts:
I wrote this sentence, and I'm wondering if I should say "lots of theory" or "lots of theories". Which is correct?

  Time  after time lots of theory and experiments made their assumption wrong and this overcome came because of getting proper knowledge about the gravity and employing that successfully.


texts: "it is in run"? Ways to express a functioning policy

texts:
What are the ways to express a policy is currently in place in a country? Could I say:

  UBI is currently in run in Alaska.


texts:
As stated in the question, Which is appropriate to use 'indicate' or 'show'?

  The photos indicating the area are enclosed herewith.

  The photos showing the area are enclosed herewith.

Apart from this, do you think we can remove "the" before "photos"?

Any other example will be appreciated.


texts:
Thus the behaviour of the sense-data which represent the cat to me,
  though it seems quite natural when regarded as an expression of
  hunger, becomes utterly inexplicable when regarded as mere movements
  and changes of patches of colour, which are as incapable of hunger as
  a triangle is of playing football.

[Problems of philosophy, Bertrand Russell, Chapter II]

What does "a triangle if of playing football" mean? How could I understand that expression?
I think it means "a triangle is incapable of playing football". Is it right?


texts:
In "everyday spoken English", can we use evolve in the sense of the opposite of optimization/improvement?

If something evolves, does it necessarily imply that it is for a better, or can it just be neutral or even for a worst ?

Does evolve has a positive, neutral or negative connotation?


texts: “Although A and B are” vs “Despite A and B being”

texts:
I would like to know if the following sentences have the same meaning:

  Although John and Tom are the most hard-working students, they did not pass the final exam.
  Despite John and Tom being the most hard-working students, they did not pass the final exam.


texts:
This equipment helps improving people's lives.

  This equipment helps to improve people's lives.

Which one is correct?


texts:
I would like to know about the following two usages:

I went shopping yesterday.
I went for shopping yesterday.

I know that the first sentence is definitely correct but is sentence 2 correct as well? Why or why not?


texts: The political parties expressed support to / for the strike

texts:
The politicians  expressed   their support  to  the  strike / to  the  trade  unions

The  English  professor  I  know  told  me  that  we  exprees  our  support  for something but  not  express support  to  the  strike  or  to  the  trade  unions.

I  think :

  The  politicians  extended  their  support  to  the  strike  or  to  the  trade  unions   is  correct.

We  find  the  expression  The political  parties  expressed  their  support to  the  strike  or  to  the  trade unions  in some  English  news  papers  in India.

  I would  like to  know  whether  both  the  expressions  express support  to/ extend  support  to  the  strike  are  correct or  only  extend  support  to  the  strike  is  correct?


texts:
How to place pronoun in sentence  as antecedent  and what is the rules.

  Sahani send a book to Reemi to read and she will give to her friend after that.

My point is the "she" refer to who? Sahani or Reemi?  I want someone ti explain me the real ruls that can clear my confusion when I speak such sentence without any confusion.


texts: What does “such as” refer to in "Public transportation such as train or bus"?

texts:
Example Sentence:

  Public transportation such as train or bus.

Question: What do the words "such as" refer to?

Do the words "such as" refer to "public transportation" or to "train and bus"?

I had this question in my exam.


texts: Let us not to forget or Let us not forget?

texts:
Which one of the following sentences is grammatically correct?

  Let us not forget something.
  Let us not to forget something.

It is different from the question: what is the difference between - I make it to go and I make it go?

since this question I have asked wants to know whether the word "to" is needed after the verb and object "let us" and in the negative form "not forget."


texts:
We published our consultation paper on 27 October 2010, setting out
  our provisional proposals for comprehensive reform of the law on
  unfitness to plead in England and Wales. We received over 50 responses
  and, on 10 April 2013, we published an analysis of those responses.

I know that provisional could mean many meanings (temporary - conditional - limited , etc)

Could provisional mean a stock since the word provide has this meaning ? so the sentence speaks about a stock of proposals.

or could it mean current ?
a current proposal is better I think.

The problem is that I do not find any dictionary gives these meanings.

Edit: to think of provisional as temporary is somewhat difficult because I find it strange that an institution gives temporary proposals to reform the law (why the institution make all these efforts to make just a  temporary proposals?)... but yes sometimes it may do.
The other thing is the word provide and its relation to provisional
So in my mind I wondered if provisional could mean a stock, and came the idea that the institution might have given a stock of proposals.


texts: Which is correct: "of my own will" or "of my own free will"?

texts:
Situation: I purchased a book. However, no one demanded that I purchase the book.

Which of the following should I say?

  I purchased the book of my own free will.
  I purchased the book on my own.
  I purchased the book by my own will.


texts:
This sentence is said to be correct:

  Skeptical of the abilities of prophets to tell the future, a significant number of philosophers in Athens began to value reason over revealed truths.

"Skeptical" modifies "number", but "number" cannot be "Skeptical."
"Skeptical" should modify "philosophers."

Can someone shed light on this sentence?


texts: What do we call the movable food stalls set up on roadsides  more common in India? I usually refer to them as a cart or a food-stall.


texts: Why no 'the' in "embrace grammatical reform"

texts:
This proves difficult with anaphoric reference to quantified variables, where English grammar calls for constructions such as 'If someone is from Chicago he likes big cities.' and ' Anyone who loves Eve loves himself.' My solution is to embrace grammatical reform and use a plural pronoun: 'If someone is from  Chicago they like big cities.' and 'Anyone who loves Eve loves themself.'

Why is it not to embrace the grammatical reform. It is a particular reform concerning a particular language.


texts: "a movie worth seeing" or "a worth seeing movie"

texts:
It is  a worth seeing movie and you must not miss it.
  It is a movie worth seeing and you must not miss it.

Which is correct? What is the difference in meaning between these two sentences?


texts: Is there a different meaning for "horrible" or the obvious is the correct one?

texts:
I extract this from the book 'The Once and Future King:'

“Well!” said the Wart, as he woke up in his own bed next morning. “What a horrible, grand crew!”

Here, the Wart is talking about his experience as a bird among birds. According to his experience that I read, it didn't look 'horrible...'


texts: How to express you partially read the paper?

texts: How can I express that this morning I read parts of a newspaper and not the entire paper? If I say "I read the paper this morning" it means the entire paper, so that would be wrong. But "I read parts of the paper" doesn't sound right at all. What would be the right expression? I read some articles this morning?


texts: How to properly combine two sentences by using a relative clause?

texts:
I am trying to make a sentence with a relative clause.

For example:

  Some students took the exam. Most of them passed.

I think above sentence should be like this.

  Some students who took the exam passed.

But the answer is this:

  Most of the students who took the exam passed.

I don't have an idea what I did wrong?


texts: Simple past vs past progressive in as/while/when-clauses

texts:
I was given a link to this Q and A board by a member of English Language & Usage and this issue has been rattling around in my head for almost a day now.
The question Simple past vs past progressive in as/while-clauses by Sherlock
has this answer by StoneyB, and the answer made me think of some new questions

In the answer, StoneyB writes In this example it makes no difference, because both as and while constrain an imperfective reading of the verb. Why do both as and while constrain an imperfective reading of the verb?

Can the "when"s in the answer's example sentences When I left the beach, I saw a UFO. and When I was leaving the beach, I saw a UFO. be replaced by "while"s and if yes does this make them both imperfective?

To me it seems that in the first paragraph of the answer the aspect depends on the as/while clause whereas in the second one with the when clause on the verb itself (telic or atelic).


texts: "It isn't a circumstance to what is going to happen" - meaning?

texts:
For the context, a character is going to attack an unsuspecting enemy, who just woke up and:

"What happened?" he articulated at last.
"Never mind what happened. It isn't a circumstance to what's going to
happen now.

What does the " It isn't a circumstance to" phrase mean? Does express something like "it is nothing compared to.."?


texts: Can we use one-two instead of first-second?

texts:
I was listening a song. The lines are,

  One, my last album flopped
  Two, it wasn't my time
  Three, my f***in' mama's selling my pajamas online

The use of One, two three is quite new to me. I have heard phrases like,

First, I did this. Second I went there.

Firstly I want money, and secondly peace.

My question is when to use One-Two-Three and when to use First-Second-Third and when to use Firstly-Secondly-Thirdly?


texts:
What is the correct way to say the following phrase:

  How many fish did you catch yesterday?
  How much fish did you catch yesterday?

Is fish countable or uncountable here? Given the answer in this EL&U question about "vegetables" I lean toward using much.


texts: find/discover + object + to infinitive / past participle

texts:
Examples from Quirk:

1. They found him worn out by travel and exertion.

2. They discovered him worn out by travel and exertion.

My remade sentences with "to be":

1a. They found him to be worn out by travel and exertion.

2a. They discovered him to be worn out by travel and exertion.

What is the difference between 1. and 1a.?

What is the difference between 2. and 2a.?

Thanks!

My thoughts:

"find" + object + to infinitive (oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com):

to find - to discover that something is true after you have tried it, tested it or experienced it:

They found him to be charming.

"discover" + object + to infinitive (thefreedictionary.com):

to discover - to learn something about:

discovered him to be an impostor

discovered the brake to be defective

My sentences with "that":

1b. They found (that) he was worn out by travel and exertion.

2b. They discovered (that) he was worn out by travel and exertion.

I conclude that:

1. = 1.a = 1.b = 2. = 2.a = 2.b

What mistakes do my thoughts have?

Thanks!


texts: "Russia. Where is your soul" - shouldn't it be "Russia. Where your soul is"?

texts:
From a news report: Russia's Federal Tourism Agency (Rosturizm) held a contest for the development of Russia's tourism logo, and this design took second place:

Is the wording here felicitous? It seems to me that it might imply that Russia lacks a soul, if read as a rhetorical question. Say, "What on Earth has happened to your soul, Russia? Where is it?"

Shouldn't it be instead

  Russia. Where your soul is.

.. or is it really okay? I'm at a loss because I presume there are plenty of people at Rosturizm who are fluent in English. There has to be a professional linguist on the contest's committee, since the logo's intended target audience is (English-speaking) foreigners.


texts:
Yesterday afternoon I arrived Delhi.
So if I want to Inform my friends which word should I use

I am At Delhi or I am in delhi


texts:
Could you explain to me please what to root a device means?

  Well, there is no any way to disable the option of software update other than rooting your device.When an Android OS update is available for your device you will get a message stating so. It won't download automatically


texts:
If I want to say:

  She is hating him

I say:

  She hates him

But should the same technique work with passive?

  She hates him - he is hated by her

  She is hating him - He is hated by her OR he is being hated?

Because in "he is being hated?" the verb "hate" doesn't have the "ing" form, the "being" has.


texts: How to reword the phrase " dozens of people will buy..."

texts:
I have discovered that while the phrase

"  dozens of people bought..."

is common, the phrase

"  dozens of people will buy..."

is not (it almost doesn't exist). Why? And how to reword it so as to make it idiomatic?


texts:
A : This is something that we have been doing for the past 7 months. And this is something that I
have been doing for like more than 5
years.

This is A's talking in front of somebody. I want to translate the second sentence :

I prepared after targeting the completeness which can be obtained from our 5 years or more labors

= This is something that I
have been doing for like (or completeness) that we have been doing more than 5 years

= This is something that I
have been doing for like more than 5
years.


texts: Does "haunting music" have a negative meaning?

texts: When someone says "this song is haunting (me?)" should I understand "haunting" as annoying, or it is a music that I like a lot and can keep singing the whole day? The dictionaries in the Internet did not help.


texts: How to use separable three-word phrasal verbs with the object is a pronoun

texts:
I found something on this webpage: “get back from” is stated to be either:

  Inseparable, meaning return from somewhere, or
  Separable, meaning receive something originally lent to another person.

But there are no examples provided, so I try and make sentences myself like the following.
Could you please check them if they are correct or incorrect?

  Inseparable

    I get back from the bathroom.

  Separable

    I get my book back from John.
    I get it back from John.
    I get back my book from John.
    I get back it from John.


texts:
AS TAIWANESE CONTEMPLATED the momentous occasion, in March 1996, of being able to choose their president for the first time, China’s Communist Party launched a campaign of intimidation.

When I read newspaper,I often see two or more appositive portion included in the sentence.
When one appositive is given after a clause then I understand that the is describe about its previous clause.
But when two or more appositive portion is included then how to understand weather clause modify it. And that's why sometimes I have a problem to understand the whole sentence meaning.
In the above Sentence,

(, in March 1996,) modify which clause? And

(,of being able to choose their president for the first time,) modify which clause?


texts: Are these equivalent: "sea sight" vs "sea view"

texts:
Are these two sentences equivalent:

  I want a room with a sea view.

  I want a room with a sea sight.


texts: Why do we pronounce "ed" in Naked/Wretched as /id/ and not /t/?

texts: the rule is if the final consonant sound is voiceless we pronounce /ed/ as /t/ like pluck/plucked (pluck/t/) and it applies to adjectives as well according to this website http://www.grammar.cl/english/pronunciation-ed.htm


texts:
I have a question about how to phrase something:

  "enhances the performance over the conventional structure"

or

  "enhances the performance than the conventional structure"?

Would any native speaker be so kind to tell which is right? Thanks


texts: Progressive form of "have" indicating possession

texts:
I know that normally I cannot say "I am having a car", but is the following correct?

  Having a car, I decided to drive there.

  I am fine with having a car but do not expect me to drive.


texts: how to link the /s/ and /j/ sound (IPA)?

texts:
In most of the cases, if a word ends with consonant /z/ as z in zoo and the next one begins with /j/ sound as y in you. Native speakers tend to link the two sounds quite often. So far, I have heard two different ways to link the two sounds. Let's take he loves you as an example.

the word loves ends with /z/ sound and you begins with /j/ sound. I have heard there are two different ways to link them.

The first one is /hi-lʌv-zju/, and the second one is /hi-lʌv-ʒu/ which /z/ and /j/ was assimilated to /ʒ/ sound.

I know the assimilation always happened between /t/ or /d/ and /j/ sound, and they will make a /tʃ/ as ch in chat and /dʒ/ as j in job.

So, which linking between loves you is correct? Or, both of them are acceptable.


texts: "Tom suggested (me/I) look for another job."

texts:
Tom suggested me look for another job.
Tom suggested I look for another job.

I'm guessing that the first sentence is not correct. Can I use me / her / his in this kind of subjunctive structure?


texts: Which is correct; will not wake up early or would not wake up early?

texts:
If today is Sunday, then vinoth will not wake up early.
  If today is Sunday, then vinoth would not wake up early.

Which one of the above is correct?

Can I use would not for above sentence?


texts:
Addressing the Assemblée nationale on December 28, 1792, Robespierre claimed that, in attesting to the truth, any invocation of a majority or minority is nothing but a means of reducing “to silence those whom one designated by this term [minority]”; “[The] minority has everywhere an eternal right: to render audible the voice of truth.”

(Source: Jacobin)

Do you find the passage in bold grammatically OK? If the part was "who were designated by this term" I would understand it, but as it stands I am a little bit confused. Or is my interpretation of the meaning wrong?


texts:
When asking this question, I used three following sentences:

  In this manual I've met a sentence:

  During my classes, I was told that the double usage of the in structures like A of B is prohibited.

  Also, I've read a manual about the usage of articles, but I don't remember any information regarding this issue.

Are punctuation and articles in these sentences correct?
(I want to know whether my basics are right. Preparing for GRE)


texts: preposition choice:　"reckon with" or "reckon on" in British English

texts:
Does the choice of "on" or "with" make any difference in the following?

I didn't think that there would be a traffic jam, and didn't plan extra time in the journey. I didn't reckon on/with there being a traffic jam.

I'd appreciate your help.


texts:
Firstly sorry for my bad English.

I'm translating a book about behavior. What does "binge on elimination" mean in the following context:

  We will shed an unreliable friend who causes us grief, stop drinking caffeine because it makes us jittery, quit a stultifying job that ruins our day, stop a habit that might be killing us. When the consequence is extreme distress, we binge on elimination.


texts:
In this text:

NAME: Samantha Greenbriar
YEAR: 11
TEACHER: Fletcher
PERIOD: 5
SUBJECT: Shop I
ASSIGNMENT: Metalworking - Engraving
GRADE: C-

What does "shop i" mean?


texts:
I know the meaning of "no sooner ", but I have found phrases constructions always in the past, for example:

  No sooner had the automated arm been raised than it went down and damaged the car.

Could you please tell me if this phrase can be formulated in the present tense to indicate something that usually happens?