texts: Worship the creator but not his creation. Or worship the creator not his creation

texts: One of my friends status "worship the creator but not his creation". Is it a valid sentence? Is there any rule in but vs not usage?


texts:
Doing an exercise to get an English language certificate I came across this sentence:

  Jenya's ___ were excavated from the Siberian permafrost and taken to St Petersburg for analysis.

NOTE: Jenya is a mammoth

The blank space must be completed with a derivative of "remain". My answer was "remnants", but the correct one was "remains".

Remnant is described as:

a part or quantity that is left after the greater part has been used, removed, or destroyed: the bogs are an endangered remnant of a primeval landscape
Synonyms: remains, remainder, leftovers, leavings, residue, rest;

Remains:

the parts left over after other parts have been removed, used, or destroyed:
the remains of a sandwich lunch were on the table
Synonyms: remains, remainder, leftovers, leavings, residue, rest;

1.1. Historical or archaeological relics: Roman remains

Why would "remains" be more apt than "remnants"? Is it because Jenya's body is an archeological relic?

Is "remains" more idiomatic, or is "remnants" just plain wrong? If so, is there any hard-and-fast rule to know when to use remnants vs remains?


texts: Is "I accept" in the active or passive voice?

texts:
In the following sentence written in a letter from Sir Michael Fallon to Theresa May, is "I accept" in the passive or active voice?

"Many of these have been false but I accept that in the past I have fallen below the high standards that we require the armed forces that I have to honour to represent".


texts: Why don't you just come like that; go out like that

texts:
My mom was in a hurry, she had to go somewhere with dad. But dad didn't get changed. But he didn't have to get out of the car, it was my mom who had to get out of the car, to get that work done. So she says:

  You'll just stay in the car, so just come like that (that is: don't get changed and just come with me in whatever you're wearing)

So is the use of "like that" natural in this context?

And if someone is ready to go out but the clothes that he/she is wearing are very tacky and the other person comments:

  Hey! You can go out like this/that?

What should be used "that" or "this" (if of course "like" sounds natural in this context....)


texts: Usage of preposition 'on' with verb like 'catch'

texts:
Regards, I would like to know about a particular usage of the preposition 'on'. The sentence

  What a pity, his house was on fire.

means that the house was damaged by a fire.

But the preposition 'on' is used for time and place (surface). What explanation for this?

Now what about these two sentences :

  The paper will catch with fire.
  The paper will catch on fire.

Which is the correct sentence?

I would appreciate thorough and compact analysis. Thanks.


texts:
I want to ask somebody to have a look on my online advertisement.

Is my sentence correct?

Do I use would correctly?

Would be great if you could have a look on my advertisement

Or

Much appreciated if you could have a look on my advertisement


texts: How English say sentences about a coincident or accident

texts:
In this question I asked about different usage of "that" and its possible corresponding with Persian sentences,

But still I don't know how English may say sentences like:

  1) We were walking, that suddenly a car stopped in front of us...

  2) I was reading a book that he entered the room.

  3) I was cleaning it that it was broke

  4) He was driving that he went to sleep and the car was crushed

They almost mean, as we were doing something, something happened.


texts: What is the answer (or opposite side) for "Less is more"?

texts:
I mean it's not always true. Sometimes it's better to do more than less.
Is there any opposite idiom for "less is more"? ~~~~


texts:
The sentence below is from the article Posters berating homeless beggars as frauds? I know how far this is from truth

  Perhaps hard-pressed officials adopt these tactics when interacting with homeless people to manage the  soul-sapping juggling of scarce resources?

I couldn't understand the meaning of the phrase soul-sapping juggling.

What is the meaning of the word soul-sapping?

Does it mean weakening the mind or heart?

And could you please explain to me the meaning of the sentence.


texts: Is "they had already ten children" wrong?

texts:
The following example is from the Longman Dictionary of Common Errors. It marks the first as wrong and the latter two as correct.

  ✗ They had already ten children and didn't want any more.

  ✔ They already had ten children and didn't want any more.

  ✔ They had ten children already and didn't want any more.

Does this classification correspond with your experience? To my ears, "had already ten" sounds fine.

edit: My native language is German, where "Sie hatten bereits zehn Kinder" is the default sentence structure.


texts:
I saw this question in a TOEIC prep textbook:

  For more information on available job positions and ------- an online application, please visit the company Web site.

  (1) to complete

  (2) completes

  (3) completing

  (4) completion

This is a multiple choice question to select one from the list.

The answer key says the answer is (1) and the logic is "For more ..." and "to complete" are equally important. However, I came to think (3) might be possible considering "available job positions" and "completing an online application" are parallel.

Is that inadmissible? In that case, could you explain why?


texts:
For the Coach Karter movie:

  -- Nice to see you again, Mr. Karter.
  -- You too ma'am. If the offer still stands I'd like to coach the team.
  -- Well, I hope you're up for the task. These young men need discipline.

I don't understand the exact meaning of that up for the task here. I could guess that it has something to do with be awared, but I'm not sure...


texts: What is the differences between 'try to' and 'try to+verb' and 'try + verb'?

texts:
I try to ride a bike.
I try riding a bike.
I try ride a bike.

What is the difference between above three sentences?
Please, tell me about it.


texts: How to use phrase "think so" as perfect of recent past?

texts:
Is it correct to use present perfect tense and say "I have thought so" during a talk when referring a reply.
For example in a context where I have been looking for my keys for the last a couple of minutes.

Me: I am still looking for my keys.
My friend: Keys are on the table in living room.
Me: I have thought so.

In this context, thinking action lasts just a couple of seconds and it is complete and over a moment ago before I say " I have thought so "; therefore it belongs to recent past.  Especially in British English as seen below links,  present perfect is used for the events that happen
 in recent past which is also called perfect of recent past.

Can I similarly use present perfect above context to relate my thought with my friend's answer? Or can I only use present perfect if thought is still in my mind at the moment I say "I have thought so" ? Can you explain please?

https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:404674/FULLTEXT01.pdf
http://www.glossary.sil.org/term/perfect-recent-past


texts: How would NSE interpret "eyebrows moments"?

texts:
In a conversation, I used the following expression.

  Were there any eyebrows moments during the interview?

Regrettably, that expression didn't seem to contribute to smooth communication. The implied meaning was understood from the context, luckily, but I sensed they had to fill in a blank.

Is the expression too off from natural choices? What would be a better alternative (except the bluntly direct did anything surprise during the even)?


texts: If there is a tab in an application for teacher to be able to input test score for his students, what would the tab called?

texts:
So I'm developing an app for teachers. One of the tab in the app is allowing teachers to browse as well as input students test and homework scores. I don't know what the term for this activity should be called.

"Marking"? Sounds like someone drawing on white board?

"Scoring"? Sounds like for music notes?

"Evaluation"? I thought this term is more appropriate for the test itself, not the score from the test?

Please help. Thanks.


texts: Collapse/minimize window to task pane. How to correctly name this action?

texts: How to name action that is produced when clicking the button on window that collapses/minimizes it to the task pane?


texts:
Which option fits best for the following question.

  Unfortunately this model  ..... to be the most unpopular the company
  had ever produced.

  A.Developed

  B.Marketed

  C.Turned

  D.Proved

For me the option C looks fine but the answer is D.Is the given answer correct? Prove reminds me of scientific theories whereas something can turn to be in unexpected end.

and how about

  Unfortunately this model  turn out to be the most unpopular the
  company had ever produced

Is this sentence sound ok?


texts:
How to place a Participle, before the word (noun, adjective,adverb) which is modified by it or after that word. As participle can work like an adjective and an Adverb for modifying.
a. He saw a burning train(here participle is before the noun).
b. The shouting and joy expressed by all is past imagination(here expressed comes after Joy).
c. I have all the qualifications required for the exams(here required comes after qualifications).
d. I have all the required qualifications for the exams.
e. The woman watched the cat creeping toward the bird.
And, is there any difference between the meaning of C and D?


texts:
I heard in the movie Adventureland:

  Em Lewin : So what's the plan?

  James Brennan : I'm gonna crash at the Y for a week, I'm gonna look for a shitty job, and I don't know.

IMDB has a longer script here. What does "the Y" in "crash at the Y" mean? Does it refer to a park or a hotel? James here is saying he will be sleeping for a while at this place the Y, but what is "the Y"?


texts: My work basically is to answer customers' questions by emails and I use the phrase' tell me' at my work, but my boss said it's too casual , I should use the phrase "let me know ", is it ture? I don't really understand what the difference is. For example, if I'm asking for a customer's address or his/her waist size, which one should I say?


texts: Does "vow" have to be always accomapnied with "to make"?

texts: I'm writing an essay, and I initially decided to set its title as The vow at dawn (referring to a particular vow which has been made between some people at a sunrise). Though, ODE examples often use "to make a (or the) vow" expression. Thus, I'm wondering whether  The vow at dawn is familiar enough to the ears of native speakers or I better stick to The vow made at dawn?


texts: "Message me whenever you thought you needed/need help?"

texts:
Message me whenever you thought you needed/need help?

What is the exact grammar called? Is it conditional or the conditional would be like “If you thought you needed help...”?
Secondly, should it be needed or need?


texts:
It is easy for him to make her nervous.

In this sentences 'to Infinitive' is done by him.

  He was terrified for them to ask too many questions.

But I am not sure in this sentence who is subject of asking.
I was aiming to say he got some fear from numerous questions of them.

If  'to infinitive' comes after a 'for noun', does it always means 'to Infinitive' is done by the noun??


texts: The meaning of "would" in the mentioned context?

texts:
In the right conditions, would happiness and pain come together?
  Would happiness and pain come together?

For the sake of brevity, can we say sentence 2 when we mean sentence 1?


texts: The tiger came upon the hunter. Is this sentence correct?

texts:
I thought it would be came at the hunter.
Just like:
Come at me bro!


texts:
Being a native German speaker, I just ran into the following problem: I sit before my desk and...

A the smoke detector is located above my desk
B the lamp is located directly above my desk
C the TV is located right of my desk
D the door is located directly right of my desk

So mathematically speaking, the desk has some area, and whereas both smoke detector and lamp have a higher y coordinate, their x/z coordinates falls into the desk area for the lamp, but not for the smoke detector.
But...speaking English since 50 years as second language, D sounds off to me!
What do the native speakers say? (Google seemingly has no problems with "directly right of") Also, is the sun directly above my desk (at noon), i.e. does "directly" imply some proximity? And is it rather "directly right to"? (English propositions are a nightmare for?/to? me :-)


texts:
I want to say this:

  I need to start making the necessary corrections on an article about Corporate Social Responsibility and Iran tourism. I was asked by the journal reviewers to do so before February 2nd.

A pal said Iranian tourism is better. Could someone explain it to me if there is a rule for using the name of countries in the adjective form?


texts: "percentage of population" or "percentages of population" when referring to several countries?

texts:
For the following sentence, I am not able to understand whether the singular form of the plural form of the nouns "percentage" and "population" is correct.

  The bar chart below gives information about the percentage of the
  population living in urban areas in the world and in different
  continents.
  The bar chart below gives information about the percentages of the
  population living in urban areas in the world and in different
  continents.
  The bar chart below gives information about the percentage of the
  populations living in urban areas in the world and in different
  continents.
  The bar chart below gives information about the percentages of the
  populations living in urban areas in the world and in different
  continents.


texts: "grit one's teeth" and "bite the bullet" - any difference?

texts:
What is the difference between "bite the bullet" and "grit one's teeth"?
Are there any situations where one but not the other is used?

I would like an answer that would help me pick the right choice in the following:

John has lost lots of money on the stock market. It is time that he bit the bullet / gritted his teeth and dumped his shares.
Peter found it really annoying to deal with the customer after trying to explain to him that the restaurant was out of fish. But he gritted his teeth / bit the bullet and explained again.


texts:
What's the word for moving inside a river upstream or downstream?

I thought about sailed, but I am not sure that's a good verb. What if we are on a small boat for 1 person? Also, what about the situation where two lovers are on a boat in Venice? I don't think sail would work and it sounds a little strange.


texts: "The hospital will take hours to treat you." - How should I understand it?

texts:
What is the meaning of The hospital will take hours to treat you?
Does it mean that you will spend hours in the hospital before you will be treated (because there will be a lot of people there)?
Or does it mean that the doctors will spend hours treating you (because your injuries are really bad)?


texts: "Then you know who lived here?" "Trigger."

texts:
A dialogue from the movie Annie Hall: (clip)

  Tony Lacey: You know who the original owners were? Nelson Eddy, then Legs Diamond. Then you know who lived here?

  Alvy Singer: Trigger.

  Tony Lacey: Charlie Chaplin. Right before his un-American thing.

It sounds to me like Alvy is using "trigger" to mean "Who?" "Shoot." "Tell us." or words to that effect. I wonder if this is something people actually say (or said in the 70s when the film was made) or an Allenism (a Woody Allen invention)? Or is this a joke?


texts: Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous - In 2016 I had been going to France for five years

texts:
Can anyone explain to me why this sentence is incorrect?

In 2016 I had gone to France for five years.

Why it should be had been going?

Thanks!


texts:
Essential Manners for Men 2nd Ed: What to Do, When to Do It, and Why

What is the meaning of the following sentence?

  She knows and lives by what etiquette is as well as any person I know.

In the above statement is the author saying that

all the people he knows including she (his wife) know etiquette
his wife knows etiquette equally well as others/ not only others that I know but my wife also knows etiquette

the first meaning is that the author knows only the people that know etiquette, the second meaning is derogatory for his wife.

EDIT: The above sentence is from Essentail Manners for Men by Peter Post, page 5 as follows:

For thirty years we have lived together, shared children, owned
a business together, gone shopping every week together,
renovated one house and built another together. She introduced
me to two of the passions of my life: Italy and yoga. She knows
and lives by what etiquette is as well as any person I know.
Certainly she has corrected me more than a few times, and, as
much as I hate to say it, she was almost always right-
Throughout this book she is referred to as "my wife."


texts:
I was much exhausted in the evening. (Here very exhausted is wrong)
  She is very tired after a day’s work. (Here much tired is wrong)

My grammar book said above sentences. Although the kind of sentence construction is same in both sentences why different words (much and very) are used in different places. I am very/ much confused about when to use much and very.

What is the difference between them? When to use very and when to use much?


texts:
I want to know how to structure a sentence properly?

The situation is in my office, a meeting was postponed twice and now we are rescheduling it for the third time.

I want to know how to draft an email, in which I need to inform all the employees about the rescheduled meeting with the new date and timing.

Furthermore, in the email, I want to highlight that this meeting was continuously getting postponed.


texts: Does "The belief is that the earth is round" exemplify apposition?

texts:
The belief is that the earth is round.

Do 'the belief' and 'that earth is round' correctly show apposition here?


texts:
Although this book is not easy to read, it is far from being to be labelled as an example of pseudointellectual postmodern rhetoric.

Do you find this sentence OK? Particularly I am not sure about the phrase "it is far from being to be labelled". The sentence like "he is far from being stupid" is clear but is it permitted to use the infinitive in this case?


texts:
I have the following sentences.

  This is our first arrival in the UK.
  These are our first arrival in the UK.

I am not sure, which sentence is correct?


texts: "I am on the street" or "I am in the street"?

texts:
This site says

  "IN" tells us the noun is in an enclosed space (surround or closed
  off on all sides). Basically, when something is inside something.

  "AT" tells us that the following noun is located at a specific
  point or location. It shows an exact position.

  "ON" tells us that the following noun is located on a surface. Use on when
  one thing is attached to or touching something.

But, what about:

"I am in the street" (so, the street is considered as an enclosed space, maybe, the sentence would mean I am in the middle of the street, not on a pavement)? or

"I am on the street" (so, the street is considered as a surface, the sentence would mean I am standing on it, not under the ground)?

What are the differences?


texts:
I asked a programming question on this StackOverflow post.

I did some work, and need a step forward, which one is more clear and idiomatic?

  1: How do I do next?

  2: What do I do next?


texts: Question related to past tense of the verb

texts:
Is following sentence in past tense? And if it is, then why we don't use helped?

  She said she would help me when she finished her work.


texts:
I have begun to understand the subjunctive mood, but I have one question whose answer eludes me notwithstanding the means of the Web: "why do people say 'if there is' and 'if there are' when the proper subjunctive tensing would render 'if there be'?"

Am I correct in labeling these phrases improper/proper subjunctives?


texts:
"It was an April afternoon. And the warm breezes of  approaching
  summer had sent everyone, including Grandfather, indoors".

The above sentences are from the story 'Adventures in a Banyan Tree' by the Indian English writer Ruskin Bond. (The context of the story is a school boy's summer vacation excitements and experiences, which he narrates after the vacation. The summer vacation falls in April and May)

Based on these sentences, a question for editing came in an examination. But in the question, they used only "April" instead of "April afternoon" as shown below:

  "It was (a) at April. The warm breeze of the approaching summer (b)
  have sent everyone indoors including grandfather".

Now my question is about the answer to (a): can it be an as in the actual sentence in the story?

Or,

Should it be in, the preposition before the name of a month?


texts:
The earthquake is strong enough to cause a lot of damage.
  The earthquake is strong enough to cause damage.

I am quite keen to know whether I can use
"enough" and " a lot of" in a sentence.


texts:
"The forest?" he repeated, and he didn't sound quite as cool as
  usual. "We can't go in there at night –– there's all sorts of things
  in there –– werewolves, I heard."
      Neville clutched the sleeve of Harry's robe and made a choking noise.
      "That's your problem, isn't it?" said Filch, his voice cracking with glee. "Should've thought of them werewolves before you got in
  trouble, shouldn't you?"
      Hagrid came striding toward them out of the dark, Fang [his dog] at his heel. He was carrying his large crossbow, and a quiver of
  arrows hung over his shoulder.
      "Abou' time," he said. "I bin waitin' fer half an hour already. All right, Harry, Hermione?"
      "I shouldn't be too friendly to them, Hagrid," said Filch coldly, they're here to be punished, after all."
      "That's why yer late, is it?" said Hagrid, frowning at Filch. "Bin lecturin' them, eh? 'Snot your place ter do that. Yeh've done yer bit,
  I'll take over from here."
      "I'll be back at dawn," said Filch, "for what's left of them," he added nastily, and he turned and started back toward the castle, his
  lamp bobbing away in the darkness.  (Harry Potter and the
  Sorcerer's Stone)

What does the ‘should’ mean?


texts:
I sometimes see a speaker saying:
I'm going to disagree with you.
I'm going to have to agree with you.

How does "going to" work in the above sentence?


texts: the difference between these two sentences

texts:
what does these two sentences means and are them correct and same?

1. It is to be something good.

2. It is something to be good.

thanks

best wishes


texts:
According to the Cambridge dictionary workmanship means:

the skill with which something was made or done.

Can we use workmanship in the following sentence?

The photographer took the photograph with the use of highest standard of workmanship.

Someone said it might be wrong to use the word workmanship because we take a picture and not make it, but I believe we actually make a picture by taking it!


texts: a one-word adjective meaning "just a moment ago" or "just moments ago"

texts:
Is there any one-word adverb in English meaning "just a moment ago" or "just moments ago"? For example:

  The above section is for quick dashing off of names of folders or
  files that have been modified just moments ago.


texts: "I wear a tie at work" or "I wear ties at work"?

texts:
Do I have to use the word tie in the plural or singular form if want to say that generally I wear one tie at work? For example:

  I always wear a tie/ties at work.


texts: Formal letter: what is the English version of "En attandant votre réponse, veillez croire, Monsieur, à l’expression de ..."

texts:
I have a hard time writing a formal letter in English for the first time in my life and without any good reference or previous training. I am stuck in the final phase where I want to express that I am waiting with hope for a favorable respose and by then I want the receiver to accept my salutations.

In French, I would write something like:

  "Dans l'attente d'une réponse de votre part, je vous prie de croire, Madame, Monsieur, à l’expression de mes salutations les plus distinguées."

Moreover, are such expressions acceptable in English formal letters?


texts: The difference between Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Continuous

texts: Why do we not say: "I've gardened all day", which would be correct if we have finished gardening but we say: "I've been gardening all day"?  We seem to do the same with other action words: cook, sew, clean, wash, etc.


texts: What's the meaning of "God would score the toss" (of the dice)?

texts:
What does to score mean here? To keep the score? I understand that the author means that she has no control of the dice. But what does this mean relative to God? Does score the toss mean to keep score? So God just knows the total points on the dice. Thanks in advance

  God would score the toss.

The full text:

  BYU was a competitive school. I’d need a high score—a twenty-seven at least, which meant the top fifteen percent of my cohort. I was sixteen, had never taken an exam, and had only recently undertaken anything like a systematic education; still I registered for the test. It felt like throwing dice, like the roll was out of my hands. God would score the toss.

Educated by Tara Westover


texts: Why "Would you mind if I asked you something?" is correct?

texts: Instead of "Would you mind if I ask you something?" Why past tense, I don't get it?


texts: Should I use "as" or "since" in the following case?

texts:
An hour had passed since we entered the forest. It seemed endless.
  Either that or we were walking in circles; which was probably the case,
  as/since I was seeing the same trees over and over again.

Which one is the correct option?


texts: "... your question on how can I ... " or "your question on how I can ..."

texts:
Please take a look at the following sentences and identify the errors.

  "Today I am covering your question on how can I hit the shot more cleanly."

Shouldn't the subject "I" proceed the verb "can?" I think it should be written as...

  "Today I am covering your question on how I can hit the shot more cleanly."

Another example,

  I will try to analyze and simplify what is the transitive verb and what is the intransitive verb.

Again, to my ears it should be...

  "I will try to analyze and simplify what the transitive verb is, and what the intransitive verb is."

Do you guys agree? Please explain further.


texts: Are these tag-like questions (, you think? / , do you think?) acceptable?

texts:
Is it grammatically correct to write the question, "Is the chef Italian?" as

The chef is Italian, you think?

or

The chef is Italian, do you think?

I've come across this kind of questioning once or twice in real life and in T.V. shows. I am not sure, however, if it is standard usage or even correct.


texts: Word for saying that a sound is overwhelming another sound?

texts: Is there a word for saying that a sound is overwhelming another sound? By overwhelming, I mean that the sound is so loud that we can't hear the other sound. Is there a word for it?


texts: How to identify if the word in the sentence is used as adjective or verb?

texts:
Is there any logic/ Trick to identify if the word was used as adjective or verb?

e.g.

  Level has been reduced to one.
  My pen has been broken.
  Gold had been stolen.

In above sentence the word reduced, Broken, Stolen, can be use and verb if we use agent.

e.g

  Level has been reduced by administrator.My pen has been broken by my friend.
  Gold had been stolen by thief.

Also if I use time expression like since then the word reduced, Broken, stolen would be use as adjective.

e.g.

  Level has been reduced since last year.Since yesterday my pen has been broken.
  Gold had been stolen but police are clueless.


texts:
I came across a sentence in a chapter named "Albert Einstein at school":

  This way you won't actually be leaving the school so if the worst comes to the worst you will be able to come back and carry on for your diploma.

Is "for" after "carry on" necessary?


texts: "I don't think I'll succeed but I ........... as well try."

texts:
Could you possibly help me on what is the right answer for this question please?

can
may
should
must

I went for 3 but my book says it is wrong. Actually for me all options fit the question.
Is this a special (like maybe other options could be right but you can not change any word like maxim) structure ?

By the way does as well mean    anyway here?
Can we omit as well or replace it?

Thanks


texts:
She denied seeing him yesterday.

vs

  She denied having seen him yesterday.

What is the difference in meaning between these two sentences?


texts:
Were you awaken at 1 am yesterday?

Is this grammatically correct? Can you tell me meaning of awake properly? How is it used as Adj., and as verb by giving some examples?

I awoke at 11 am today.

Is this correct? Actually, What is the difference between wake and awake? I have searched a lot on Google but all in vain. I am not getting their difference.


texts: Have you heard that (something) is hematopoietic?

texts:
There is a technical term "hematopoietic" which implies something can cause the production of all types of blood cells in the bone marrow. Although, I am sure that an MD would recognize the intention in this sentence, I have no idea how shall one indicate such a thing in English in a manner that ordinary people would understand it. I was wondering if you could help me find a natural and idiomatic way to indicate this message to native listeners so that they could comprehend the matter in the question:

  Have you heard that (wine, red meat, pistachio etc.) is hematopoietic?


texts:
Can someone explain what is the error here in below sentence?

  Nowadays, several types of music genres, including, rock, hip-hop, R&B and country are becoming more popular across the world and which has sung in various languages.

One of a site which I did validation, it suggesting to change as below.

You either need an article with "more popular" or a plural form. Revise: "becoming a more popular" or "becoming more populars"

But then it looks odd to me if I change as suggested.


texts: The difference between "go to shop" and " go shopping"

texts: I've been stuck thinking this for a while. Would anyone explain me the difference between "go to shop" and "go shopping".


texts: Difference in meaning: happen to know vs. know

texts:
Is there a pretty big difference in meaning between two sentences?

I just want to know the meaning 'happen to.'

Do you know that she got married?
Do you happen to know if she got married?


texts:
1 [usually with negative or in questions] At any time.
  ‘nothing ever seemed to ruffle her’
  ‘don't you ever regret giving up all that money?’

Source: Oxford Dictionaries

Can we use ever in this sense in wh-questions?


texts: "Since" of "after" when talking about something in past?

texts:
...50 years after the beginning of his career

or

...50 years since the beginning of his career

Lets suppose that we are talking about someone whose career is endede already, or someone who has died long ago. Should we use since or after here? Or some other word?


texts: Is "I am drinking tea" correct? Grammaticality and worldwide distribution

texts:
I was having a chat with one of my friends and sipping tea at the same time.

He asked me, "what are you doing?" And I replied, "I am drinking tea". It was around 11 in the morning. He said "what an English".

Please let tell me if this usage is correct in the context of US and Canadian English.


texts:
I was listening to episode 27 Good Advise of the ESL Podcast hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan. A woman was talking about her experience at the movies the previous weekend. She saw someone looking like her co-worker who had not been pulling her weight to finish the report they had to do very soon. She had been looking forward to the movie but her mood completely changed thinking of the report she hated to do. Then she said "Where did all of that thinking and worrying get me? Nowhere".

I did not understand, so I tried googling and came across this song on youtube titled "Where did it get me?"(link to the song). So I guess "where did something get me" means "why I am feeling upset/frustrated/sad"? Pls help me with this. Thx in advance.


texts: Scopal Ambiguity that arises from 'one of our...'

texts:
Before you read on, I just want to let you know that this question is one that relates to the balance of logic and grammar.

So I know that are multiple ways to describe a first-cousin relationship. I have heard people say 'We share the same grandparents'/'He/she is the child of my aunt/uncle.'or even just 'we are first cousins'.

However, I came across an interesting situation when I tried to rephrase'One of my parents and one of his/her parents are siblings.' (Which I find wordy and repetitive) whilst still maintaining the focus on parents. When I tried rewording it like this :

One of our parents are siblings. (Don't even think this is grammatically correct as the verb doesn't agree with the subject).

It turned out to be ambiguous, as though I am talking about only ONE parent instead of ONE PARENT ON BOTH SIDES. If I change that to:

One of both of our parents are siblings.

It sounds very awkward and equally unclear. I remember coming across a English grammar article a long time ago describing a similar case, but have long forgot if there is a proper term for this kind of ambiguity. To further elaborate on my question, to say:

Both of our parents are siblings.

Would also be open to more than one interpretations. What about:

One parents from each side are siblings (or should I say "is siblings")

Overall, in the case that there are two subjects/parties involved (my cousin and I) and more than two objects (4 parents total, 2 each), how can I make myself clear?

Many thanks for your answers.


texts: Could I use "snippet" to imply a review on a topic?

texts:
Suppose

In this section, we firstly provide a short snippet on the history of online English learning platforms.

I am wondering if that is a correct usage or perhaps common usage for this word?
If not, what could I use except for "background", "history", and "introduction". I don't want to use them since I have used them a lot and I want to toss in some other words to make my writing a bit less tasteless!


texts: "You started taking revenge" is that correct sentence?

texts:
Which is correct between these two sentences?

  A: You started taking revenge.
  B: You started take revenge.


texts:
This answer completely marginalizes the very unhealthy emotional bonds, which I am sure many people on the site have, to their actions here.

This is one comment. Are there any mistakes?

Can anybody analyze it a bit for me? I don't understand "to their actions here."
My present understanding of this sentence is:

  I am sure many people have the emotional bonds to their actions here. This answer marginalizes that, so it's good answer.


texts: Can we use "him" for an animal in this sentence?

texts:
Can we use "him" for an animal for the passive form? Please check my below sentence and kindly let me know if I used "him" at the end of the sentence.

  "When deer saw the lion running at him, he started to run faster and vanish in the jungle".


texts: What's the meaning of "with cold winters" in this sentence?

texts:
Temperate climate is generally warm during the summer with cold winters.

Original article : https://www.reference.com/science/temperate-climate-390b94c325f6d5bb

I'm not sure it means "the summer and cold winters."


texts:
Which sentence is correct:
 1. Do you know what temperature it is outside?
 2. Do you know what the temperature is outside?
 3. Do you know what the outside temperature is?
 4. Do you know what outside temperature is?
I think all of them are correct except for sentence 4.
What do you natives think? Help, please


texts: Very confusing usage of "as... as". The form is like that "as + adverb + as+ clause", isn't it?

texts:
I was reading Great Chain of Being by Arthur O. Lovejoy and I came across a curious usage of "as...as". The text is that:

I have often been exasperated by finding precise or paraphrases where I desiderated the actual language of the authors whose ideas were under consideration; and my rule has therefore been to give the words of relevant texts as fully as was consistent with reasonable brevity.

I have two questions here:
Firstly, "as...as" is normally used to compare relevant situations. So that two sentences before and after "as...as" should be relevant like in these examples;

Henry is acting as crazily as he always does.

Venessa is as pretty as she was in the college

The woman looked as beautiful as she did in the photograph

The remarkable point is that the adjective or adverb between "as" and "as" should be a common thing in both sentences, that is, in the first one I could say like that "Henry is acting crazily and he always acts crazily", in the second one "Venessa is pretty and she was pretty in the college". It applies for the third one.
But in the quotation, I couldn't say that "my rule has therefore been to give the words of relevant texts fully and was consistent fully". So may you help me understand this, please?
Secondly, why there is no subject in the clause after the second "as", I mean in the "as was consistent" where is the subject?


texts: The use of the present continuous tense instead of the present perfect continuous tense

texts:
In a video I was watching the person said:

  I am working on my new book and hope to complete it soon.

But at that moment, it is obvious, he wasn't writing it; he explaining phrasal verbs. Wouldn't it make much more sense to use the present perfect continuous instead of the present continuous, since it is obvious that he began to write it in the past and has been continuing till now?


texts: "I insisted on him going there" or "I insisted on his going there"

texts: I am not sure about use if "his" or "him" in the said sentence. Please explain Which one is grammatically correct


texts: What do you call the area in which they put furniture in a furniture shop?

texts:
When you go to American Furniture or IKEA to buy a couch, you move in a big area full of couches and other furniture. You call this:

display area
display room
both are fine
you use other word to describe this area


texts: "Abuse one's power on someone", "abuse one's power against someone", or "abuse one's power toward someone"?

texts:
Could you tell me which preposition: on, against or toward I use with the expression abuse one's power meaning that the person has been affected by the abuse. For example:

  The policeman abused his power on a citizen and was fired.

  The policeman abused his power against a citizen and was fired.

  The policeman abused his power toward a citizen and was fired.

If any of the sentence sounds natural, could you tell me what would you say to get the message across?


texts: How can I say that I perfectly know a subject even because it is not a very broad one?

texts:
There are two subjects, one is very broad and the other is not so broad, I would say for example that the Italian grammar is a subject wider than the English grammar.
What is an idiomatic expression to say that ones perfectly masters and knows a subject even because it is not wide?
It seems to me there should be a phrase with "head" but I cannot find it (something like "it fits in my head").


texts: "When you Frankenstein a team together..." - Is "Frankenstein" a new verb?

texts:
I did not know that "Frankenstein" can be used as a verb.

Max Kellerman, a highly reputed sports analyst working for ESPN, says

  "When you Frankenstein a team together, usually it doesn't work out that first season ..."

Source: Stephen A. to LeBron: Kawhi is coming for you, do something about it! from 43 seconds.

This is in regards to the Los Angeles Lakers NBA team. Max Kellerman and Stephen A. Smith are talking about how Lakers' can't win a championship this year because they have recently traded in two really big time superstar players - Lebron James and Anthony Davis (AD) - and a bunch of other mediocre players and this is their first season/year playing together.

I have a pretty good idea about what Max means, but I couldn't clearly write it down if I had to.

  I think Max is saying that Lebron, AD, and the others are equivalent to the limbs and body parts of the monster - they are great individually. But now that you put them all together - essentially bringing Frankenstein to life - it won't work out as expected in the first attempt (season).

Dictionary entries:

I can't find a "verb" entry for "Frankenstein" in Cambridge, Collins, or MW.

Cambridge: Frankenstein (n) - something that destroys or harms the person or people who created it.

Collins: Frankenstein (n) - (1) a person who creates something that brings about his or her ruin (2) a thing that destroys its creator (also called Frankenstein's monster).

Question:

Shouldn't the "noun" form of "Frankenstein" need to have a meaning such as

  "a dominant unit or group engineered by putting together multiple great things or people"

in order for the word "Frankenstein" to be used as a verb?

The "noun" meaning should be at least close to the implied "verb" meaning, which does not seem to be the case based on the definitions.

Can you actually use this as a verb and expect people will understand and not be confused?
What exactly does "Frankenstein together" mean?

It surely does not simply mean "put a team together". Does it then mean putting together (initially incompatible) great pieces or people in a unit?


texts:
To write work report through an email, can I say:

I was working on these tasks:

Something
Something
...

Or should I say 'I was working with these tasks'...?


texts:
I stumbled across the word "microinteractions", and can't understand how to correctly use it. Which one should be correct: "Microinteractions" or "Micro-interactions" or "Micro interactions"?
If there's already a similar thread to it, would appreciate it if you could redirect me.


texts: What do you do with a whip when you hurry the horse you're riding? What is the verb? 'Urge'?


texts: Here in the context below I use past and future tense together in one sentence. Is it wrong?

texts: Do watch this movie. It won't leave you disappointed and the closure of this film truly lived up to the expectation.


texts: A complex sentence that I couldn't understand

texts:
It(Turner Prize) was established in 1984 to celebrate new developments
  in contemporary art and is given to a British artist under 50 who
  judges believe has put on the best exhibition of the last 12 months.

  http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-30281175

I couldn't understand the structure of relative clause,which was highligted, in the sentence. Was the word judge used as noun or verb? If it is noun I think it should/could have been written in passive voice like

" ...who is/has been believed to have put on the best exhibition of the last 12 months by judges"


texts: What is the right term for a "transferred" force?

texts:
Imagine you pull a rope grabbing it with your hands. What happens is, that due to friction you can "transfer" a force onto the rope. This force is actually limited to a maximum force which can be "transfered", dependent on the friction coefficient. In case this maximum force is exceeded the rope will slip out of your hands.

Now how is this force called? Is it the

transmittable force
transferable force
transfusible/-fusive force
transmissible/-missive force
assignable force maybe?


texts:
What is the difference in meaning of the below two sentences? Are both of them correct? If so, what is the difference in meaning of these two sentences

1)She was heard to sing a song by them.

2)She was heard by them to sing a song.


texts: I rounded all the numbers vs. I rounded all numbers

texts:
Which of these two is correct?
"I rounded all the numbers for my calculations" or "I rounded all numbers for my calculations".

Or is there a better way to say that I rounded the results of my calculations.


texts: Using "using" for a button that opens a new interface

texts:
I wrote in the help file of a software application:

  After the page has loaded, you can apply a filter to automatically extract the main content and eliminate clutter. You can also manually select the desired sections or refine the output of a filter by using 'Manual Selection'

Actually, Manual Selction is just the label of a button on which if the user clicks a new form is opened and the manual selection is preformed through this form. So I would like to know if my sentence convey this meaning?


texts: "Anybody can dance" or "Everybody can dance", which is correct? Or do they have same meaning?


texts:
I do not really understand the proposal: Really...Really...Fat. Help me to understand this sentence.

It will be right or I not correctly think? "We are talking about the man who will become fat." Why fat? What do we mean?

The phrase was taken from the sentence "I'm not gonna kill you. I'm just gonna make you... really... really. fat." in these pictures:


texts: Several days passed / had passed before Jeff worked up

texts:
I came across this sentence:

  Several days passed before Jeff worked up enough courage to return to the house.

Isn't this sentence grammatically incorrect? Doesn't we need to use had after several days just like we used in  the below given sentence:

  The patient had died before the doctor came.


texts: Continuous Past vs Continuous Past Perfect

texts:
Well, guys, please consider the following:

When he arrived, she was repairing the bike.
When he arrived, she had been repairing the bike.

Which one is better? Or do they have their own meanings?


texts:
-------Just for the context-------
Imagine yourself sitting on a couch, with your friend in crime, in an empty motel room, talking with each other about this enormous diamond you stole 2 days ago from this super secret vault.
You're stressing out over what's gonna happen next because the security always checks in on this diamond every 4 days, and, sooner or later, they're going to find out about what you both did.
Your, not so bright, friend sees you, anxiously muttering something under your breath but decides to ignore it. After an hour, he/she comes back from the grocery store, yet you're still sitting on the couch, anxiously thinking about the next move. Finally, your, not so bright, friend comes up to you and in an attempt to calm you down, says this...
A) "No one is going to know if it happened!"
B) "No one is going to know it has happened"
What would be the correct option here? It's probably A); however, I don't really know why. So could anyone explain this to me in full depth?


texts:
Sometimes I encounter ain't, but I really don't know how to translate it properly.

What does ain't stand for? If I really wanted to use it, in which contexts would you say it's acceptable using it?


texts: Can the subject of an infinitive be omitted in passive voice?

texts:
The technicians were fired to reduce costs.

I have a doubt about whether this sentence is grammatically correct or not and whether I must add "for a noun" so as to make it clear what was to reduce costs as in "The technicians were fired for the company to reduce costs".

To sum up, is it grammatically correct to omit "for the company"? and even if it's grammatically incorrect, do native speakers tend to violate the rule that we must make it explicit what is the subject that "to reduce costs" modifies?


texts: Using "regarding the" instead of "as to the"

texts:
We will also try to be as clear as possible as to the complicated and/or scientific information

Is this right? I have some doubts in the "as to the.." part, it just feels weird. Would it be "more correct" if I wrote this?

  We will also try to be as clear as possible regarding the complicated and/or scientific information


texts: Is there any differrence between "unrelenting" and "relentless"

texts:
Are they replaceable synonyms or should they be used depending on the context?

EG:

  My most candid and unrelenting critic.
  My most candid and relentless critic.


texts: Past simple questions in reported speech

texts:
I would like to know what is the correct answer when changing the sentence below into reported speech.

Did the doctor see Sarah yesterday?’ Lucy asked her dad

To my understanding, backshifting to past perfect is the correct option, as I think the main verb in the question is in the past simple. How would you express it?

My proposed solution: (Apparently it is not right)

Abigail asked her dad if the doctor had seen Sam the day before.


texts: What does the phrase "pinging around" mean here?

texts:
Please help me figure out the meaning of the phrase "pinging around" in the following sentence:

But it’s not only about pinging around a screen in the vain hope you take down another wrestler’s power bar.

The sentence is from the description of the game The Muscle Hustle. Here is a description of the game from a different source:

You’ve never played a wrestling game like this before! Collect, train, level up and evolve hundreds of wrestlers. Combine the unique stats and abilities of your hyper heroes to build the perfect tag-team for each match and battle it out in extensive single player campaigns or the real-time PvP league.

I got two meanings: "bounce" and "hit". In my opinion, "ping" can be replaced with "hit" here. However, I am waiting for native speakers to confirm this or offer any other insights.

Thank you for your time.


texts: What is the job title of a professor who teaches Classics?

texts:
Someone who is qualified to teach history is called a History teacher
Someone who teaches music is a Music teacher
… who teaches English to native speakers is an English teacher
… teaches English as a second language can be referred to as an English language teacher

But what about classics? A person who teaches the civilisation, history and art of the ancient Greeks and Romans is a…?

It seems that the title Classical Studies teacher is still in use in the UK but less so in the USA.

  Paul Found, Classical Studies teacher and former OU (Open University) student

What do you call someone who teaches Classics in the US?  Would “Classical Studies teacher” be understood there?
Can I say that someone is a  Classicist professor at XYZ university? It sounds awkward to my ears, so is there a more common expression in the US and/or in the UK?


texts: "X leaves many questions open, such as" + NP?

texts:
If I start a sentence with "X leaves some questions open, such as", should I continue with a question or is a NP OK?

E.g.:

"X leaves many questions open, such as" + NP:

  The use of the Rapid e-learning tool leaves some questions open, such as the compatibility and effectiveness of these developments with the didactic models.

vs.

"X leaves many questions open, such as" + question:

  The use of the Rapid e-learning tool leaves some questions open, such as: how compatible and effective will these developments with the didactic models be?

Are both form OK?

I did find a few occurrences of the first form on Google but not enough to be certain.


texts:
As night fell, the promised storm blew up around them. Spray from
  the high waves splattered the walls of the hut and a fierce wind
  rattled the filthy windows. Aunt Petunia found a few moldy blankets in
  the second room and made up a bed for Dudley on the moth-eaten sofa.
  She and Uncle Vernon went off to the lumpy bed next door, and Harry
  was left to find the softest bit of floor he could and to curl up
  under the thinnest, most ragged blanket. (Harry Potter and the
  Sorcerer's Stone)

There’s some vagueness in the sentence: (1) ‘left’ seems like a predicative complement for Harry, and ‘was to’ means ‘was obliged to’. (2) to-infinitive clause means the result of ‘was left’ –– Harry was left and he found ~. Which one is right or is there some meaning otherwise?


texts:
If something doesn't itch, it shouldn't be scratched

What does this sentence mean? Is it an idiom or something else?

Does it mean: Don’t poke in small problems that will lead to serious one?


texts: what does "no less" mean in "The correct combination – with important – is no less effective."?

texts:
I've been looking up the meaning of "no less" for a while but still don't get its meaning fully.
here is a full context.

The next pair above (important/essential) have different strengths of meaning. Essential means very important. Because it already possesses the idea of “very”, it cannot normally be used after strength-showing adverbs like slightly, quite or very – it is a “non-gradable” adjective. Very in particular is commonly combined incorrectly with essential by learners of English. The correct combination – with important – is no less effective.

could it mean "The correct combination – with important – cannot be ineffective while strength-showing adverbs + essential is."?


texts: Is the subject-verb inversion in this sentence correct?

texts:
She does not always mean good, and not always is she overt as to her real meaning.

I think "is" should come before "she" because of "not always". Is that correct?


texts:
She kissed me and left. I turned off the TV and opened another beer. Nothing to do on this island but get drunk. I walked to the window. On the beach below Dee Dee was sitting next to a young man, talking happily, smiling and gesturing with her hands. The young man grinned back. It felt good not to be part of that sort of thing. I was glad I wasn't in love, that I wasn't happy with the world. I like being at odds with everything. People in love often become edgy, dangerous. They lose their sense of perspective.

Can someone explain to me the meaning of the highlighted sentence? This excerpt is taken from the book Women, written by Charles Bukowski.


texts: What is the difference between "wait" and "await"?

texts: I'd like to know the difference between the two verbs since they seem to have the same meaning. When should I use await, and when wait?


texts: How do I politely tell someone to leave a room?

texts: For example, I'm talking to A and B in a meeting room, and then I want to talk with B and don't want A to listen. How do I politely ask A to leave the room?


texts: Using "bark" about people to mean "yell angrily"

texts:
Suddenly the inmates break into singing. A prison guard tries to bark them to silence -
Prison guard: SILENCE!
I have seen "bark" used with people to describe that someone yells angrily, but how common is it? Would it seem odd to you to use "bark" here?


texts: Whether we should keep the tenses in harmony in the given context

texts:
I sent him a text today morning asking him whether he can/could over to my place today evening.

Are both options grammatically correct?
Can can or could either be used in this context, since the person the speaker sent the text to hasn't responded yet, and alongside that, it's not evening time yet?

Just like:

  I was thinking what will/would happen tomorrow.

The same goes for this one, it's not tomorrow yet, so I could just mix the tenses and it'd still be grammatically correct, right?


texts:
We are naturally concerned very much by/about our appearance.

In this sentence, which preposition should be used, by or about? Are there any other prepositions used after the word "concerned"? Thanks in advance.


texts:
But I was grateful that he helped me convince Jared there was time to make the raid and get back before a decision was made about Kyle.

Can anyone explain to me when it's not necessary to add 'ed' to the root word "convince" in the above sentence?


texts: So, my friend said "getting a compliment out of X is like pulling teeth". Somehow I always remembered that expression as "pulling nails with a plier". He pointed that the expression doesn't exists. So I was wondering where I heard that phrase. I am Indian, so is it British English? Or does the phrase not exists at all?


texts: Are "next to", "beside" and "near" synonyms or there is a difference between them?

texts:
Are "next to",  beside, and "near" synonyms or there is a difference between them?

For example in the following sentences:

  1) The refrigerator is next to the window in the kitchen.

  2) The refrigerator is near the window in the kitchen.

  3) The refrigerator is beside the window in the kitchen.

Based on my search I really didn't find an difference between such sentences. I want to be sure that since I'm writing down synonyms for my personal practice enriching the vocabulary in writing and speech. So far, I used to use "near" rather than "next to" and "beside".


texts:
'Then why did you try to poison him?' Una asked wickedly, and Simon
  hung his head like a shy child. 'Oh, that was when he set me to make a
  pudden, for because our cook was hurted. I done my uttermost, but she
  all fetched adrift like in the bag, an' the more I biled the bits of
  her, the less she favoured any fashion o' pudden. Moon he chawed and
  chammed his piece, and Frankie chawed and chammed his'n, and--no words
  to it--he took me by the ear an' walked me out over the bow-end, an'
  him an' Moon hove the pudden at me on the bowsprit gub by gub,
  something cruel hard!' Simon rubbed his hairy cheek.

This is from "Simple Simon" by Kipling.
http://www.telelib.com/authors/K/KiplingRudyard/prose/RewardsFaries/simplesimon.html

I am glad if some one teach me the meaning of "I biled the bits of her"


texts: The Netherlands or just Netherlands in parenthetical constructions

texts:
In sentences like

  The project will be monitored by the company's office in Amsterdam,
  the Netherlands.

or

  The project will be monitored by the company's office in Amsterdam
  (the Netherlands).

should the be used or not?


texts: What is the meaning of "for many years to come" in this sentence?

texts:
The Bilingual Education Act is clearly a work-in-progress, and related
  issues are likely to be found in the media and on the ballots for many
  years to come.

There's one main clause, in skeleton form.

Act is a work-in-progress, and related issues.

And

are likely to be found in the media and on the ballots for many years to come

is used to describe related issues.

I don't understand what's the usage of for many years to come?


texts:
A. J. Hoge wrote:

  She has felt tried every day.

Is the word "tried" a typographical error?

Would it be correct if the sentence read:

  She has felt tired every day.


texts: Are there dictionaries giving knowledge on countability of nouns?

texts: Is there any dictionary, online or physical, that gives information on whether a noun is countable or not?


texts: How should I indicate both my legal name and my nickname in an application?

texts:
I have been known by the name David to my friends. If I applied for some stuff using my legal name e.g. Jainokiv Zub (the name that matches my ID card), how am I going to tell the other party that my nickname is David?
I mean I was told to email a department after I submitted my online application to tell them that I have submitted the application so they can process it. In the email I also wish to inform them that David is not on the application form. I want to say something like:

"Hi, I have sent the application. Please process it. The name of the application is Jainokiv Zub (my legal name). David is my nickname. Best regards, David"
"Hi, I have sent the application. Please process it. The name of the application is Jainokiv Zub. David is my nickname. Best regards, David"
"Hi, I have sent the application. Please process it. The name of the application is Jainokiv Zub. Best regards, David"

I am not sure if what I have written is correct.
Could someone please help me to write what I wanted to say in better / correct English?


texts: The function of a preposition "of" in this sentence

texts:
I came across the sentence "A bird came flying that was of pure gold." I heard that  "linking verb + of " become adjective. Is this right?

And is "of" necessary for this sentence? I think the word "gold" is adjective, so "A bird that was pure gold came flying" is better, isn't it? Does this "of" and structure have special meaning for this sentence?


texts: ”what should be long past his bedtime“ meaning in this context?

texts:
Dan Rather
  @DanRather
  This is apparently what the President of the United States feels the need to share with the world at what should be long past his bedtime? It's a disgrace. It's racist. And it's the product of petty but dangerous hatreds. I repeat this is the PRESIDENT??!?

    Donald J. Trump
    @realDonaldTrump
    Lebron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon. He made Lebron look smart, which isn’t easy to do. I like Mike!

I came across this tweet in this article: Celebs – and the first lady – are reacting to President Trump’s tweet about LeBron James, and no one’s happy.

I don't quite understand "what should be long past his bedtime". I figure it refers to something that the President thought through his bedtime. But I have no confidence about it.


texts:
am currently writing a document that describes a person's behavior. And in one of my paragraphs, I have this three girls laughing so hard at a rooftop and a person from below might've mistaken their laugh for a wild animal. So I've written the description in this way: One might mistaken them for a wild animal. I just wanna know if my use of the word mistaken is correct on this one?

I'm just trying to describe that to a passerby below the laughing of the three girls from the rooftop could be mistaken for a wild animal's cry. Am so not good in explaining things especially on writing. Any suggestion to improve my statement would be so appreciated. Thanks for your help.


texts: When and why present perfect can not go with past simple

texts:
I have given the documents another look-over, but still didn't find any glaring errors.
In this sentence present perfect goes with past simple.( I was answered that it was possible when asking the question)
Now in this sentence
I have been waiting for 30 minutes but you did not arrivve
Here Present perfect continuous does not go  with past simple we should write but you have not arrived
why? Is it because there is a precise duration, if so can we say " I have waited but you did not arrive"
of course I know that I waited but you did not arrive is the best solution


texts: Is a verb omitted in the second independent clause?

texts:
The basic task of the court is to ascertain and give effect to the true meaning
  of what Parliament has said in the enactment to be construed. But that is not
  to say that attention should be confined and a literal interpretation ♦ given to
  the particular provisions which give rise to difficulty. Such an approach not only encourages immense prolixity in drafting, since the draftsman will feel
  obliged to provide expressly for every contingency which may possibly arise.

Source: p 95, The English Legal System 2012-2013, Gary Slapper

Is a verb omitted at ♦? Why or why not? I tried
https://ell.stackexchange.com/a/10165/8712 but am dubious. What's this issue called?


texts: "Black Hats out there are a lot craftier than you are" what is the exact meaning?

texts:
Recently I've seen the sentence: Black Hats out there
are a lot craftier than you are

What is the meaning?

Thank you


texts: '... is very good quality' VS '... is OF [a] very good quality' + article

texts:
I've got two questions regarding this sentence for a grammar book:

  The jacket you bought is very good quality.

Would it be correct to say: 'This jacket is OF very good quality.'?
Would it be correct to say: 'This jacket is [of] A very good quality.'?

If any of the above is correct, is there any difference in meaning?


texts: How to use "quite": Does it mean "he never has the least idea" or "he kind of knows, but isn't sure enough"?

texts:
"He doesn't quite know what to do."
I'd assumed that the sentence above means "He never has the least idea what to do" until I came across the website saying that "quite" here only modifies "know" and only makes the meaning less strong. So they translate the sentence into something like he kind of knows but isn't sure enough what to do.
I'm confused. There's a big difference between the two. Which does it mean? Thank you.


texts:
Here's a sentence written in my book.

  Sometimes these nights can go on and on well after midnight. I think I won't be able to attend as many of them after I'm married.

I think some phrase has been omitted, so is it correct to phrase it like the following sentence?

  Sometimes these nights can go on and on well after midnight. I think I won't be able to attend as many of them after I'm married as I attend now.


texts:
The men were already boiling in from the field when he reached the yellow-domed room.

What does "boiling in from the field" mean in this sentence?


texts:
Can I say following sentence? If no, what’s the best alternative. Thanks

  I should had gone but I didn’t.


texts:
(1) May asked Tim, "When did you buy your jacket?"
He answered, "Last month."
May asked, "Is it expensive?"
He replied, "It was expensive."

I heard this conversation last night. Tim asked his question in the present tense. I don't understand why May answered in the past tense. Both Tim and May are non-native English speakers.
Most of my friends think "It was expensive" is wrong because the question is in the present tense. Do you think "It is expensive." is correct?


texts: Is a definite article necessary in "I’ll definitely get the first place."?

texts:
Consider the following passage from a webnovel:

  He felt a gush of gratitude in his heart. He did not say anything, but deep down inside he decided, This time I must not let them down, I’ll definitely get the first place!

I'm concerned about the the first place part. Internet has ambiguous information about if there should be the before first because there's a widely used in first place construction that adds to the confusion.

So, should there be the before first in this case?


texts:
I'm wondering about usage of the word "save" when it's about saving a file (in a computer).

When we can't save a file, what do we say?

  "The file doesn't save."
  "The file isn't saving."
  "The file isn't being saved."

I think that #3 is correct, but the word "save" can also be intransitive. I would like to know if I can use it in that way too (like #1 and #2).


texts: Is using "you" to refer to anyone, not the person you're talking to, a known, specific grammar form?

texts:
I was discussing a certain road driving conditions with a friend. I said: You shouldn't be driving faster than 50 mph on that road!

I didn't mean him or anybody in particular. I meant anybody driving on that road.

His reaction was: why are you telling that to me? I never drive 50 mph on that road.

How can I explain him that he misunderstood me, without saying 'no, no, I didn't mean you'?

Assume that I am talking to an educated person.


texts:
I don't know what is the difference between using "I have got" and "I have"
For example:

  He's got broad shoulders.

Is it possible to say:

  He has broad shoulders.

If yes, so what is the difference?


texts: what is the proper way to use the adjective "calm"

texts:
Do we say "in calm", "on calm", or just "calm"? For example:

  I am writing in calm
   or
   I am writing on calm


texts: How would I call a combination of specific data and procedure used to analyze the data?

texts:
So I have a number of different sets of data, let's call them A, B, C, D etc. I also have a number of analysis methods for the data. Let's call them 1, 2, 3 etc.

I'm looking for a word or a phrase, if no single word exists, that can be used to explain the combination of the data and analysis method. So I'd have let's say α=(A,1), β=(A,2), γ=(B,3). What name would I use for the α, β or γ?

I was initially thinking of just using "dataset", but with that word, people tend to confuse A, B, C and α, β, γ.

Edit

OK, I see that people are taking interest, but I'm nor 100% sure if I explained clearly what I'm trying to do. So here's a couple of examples:

Here's another example:

  After comparison of results, WHAT α has shown more accurate results than β, while WHAT γ has shown marginally worse results than α, but had 30% faster processing time...


texts: How do I know when to use the perfect infinitive and simple infinitive?

texts:
Most of the time they have the same meaning as in:

It was stupid of me to say anything on Twitter
It was stupid of me to have said anything on Twitter
Luis deserved to earn that promotion
Luis deserved to have earned that promotion

My question is why there is a perfect infitive? if it can easily be replaced by an infinitive(simple).


texts:
He always takes a heavy breakfast because he generally skips lunch.

I don't get why "a" is used here. Generally we don't use any article before meals like breakfast, lunch etc. Many could say as adjective "heavy" is used here, before breakfast, we can use an article. But I don't see any use for the article here.


texts:
I wrote an article with the following sentence in it, but I find it a bit strange in the part I marked bold:

  We would like to incentivize the firms in different levels of the supply chain to reduce to eliminate conflict mineral usage by their rational and economic deliberation, which can potentially be substantially less costly than enforcing a law that imposes stringent requirements on the firms.

I would like to say that the firms will reduce the usage until eventually eliminating the usage all together. But using "to" between two verbs seems confusing. Is this a correct way of saying it? If not, how best should I put it? I know I can replace the "to" with "or", but I think that would lose the sense that the change is gradual and also there is a general direction toward using less.


texts: To my knowledge, both How could I...? and How could I have...? can be used to express disbelief at something you did in the past or you have just done. What could be the difference, if there is any?


texts: What does "Not that that’s any shade on what you do" mean here?

texts:
I am wondering what "Not that
that’s any shade on what you do" means in the following sentences:

‘Well,’ I say. ‘Funny you should say that, but I did actually do a
try-out for the show.’
‘You did?’ Hannah asks. ‘For Survive the Night?’
‘Yeah.’ Ah, Christ. Why did I say anything? Stupid Johnno, always
shooting my mouth off. Jesus, it’s humiliating.
‘Yeah, well, they did a screen test, with the two of us, and—’
‘And Johnno decided he wasn’t up for any of that crap, didn’t you?’
Will says. It’s good of him to try to save my blushes. But there’s no
point in lying now, I might as well say it. ‘He’s being a good mate,’
I say. ‘Truth is I was shit at it. They basically told me I didn’t
work on screen. Not like our boy here—’ I lean over and muss up Will’s
hair, and he ducks away, laughing. ‘I mean, he’s right. It wasn’t for
me anyway. Couldn’t stand any of that make-up they slap on you, the
clothes they make you wear. Not that that’s any shade on what you
do, mate.’
‘No offence taken,’ Will says, putting up his hands. He’s a natural on
screen. He has this ability to be whoever people want him to be. When
he’s on the programme I notice he drops his ‘h’s’, sounds a bit more
like ‘one of the people’. But when he’s with posh, public
school-educated blokes, blokes who came from the better versions of
the sort of school we both went to, he’s one of them – 100 per cent.

Lucy Foley, The Guest List, Chapter 15

The speakers are at the rehearsal dinner the day before the wedding between Jules and Will who is the celebrity appearing in a TV show program called Survive the Night. Johnno is the best man and high school friends with Will.
In this part, I wonder what Johnno means.
I am guessing that "shade" here has the same meaning as "throw shade", meaning that Johnno is disrespectful of Will's career, but I am still not sure about its exact meaning, so I just wanted to ask you.


texts: "To have strong will" or "to be strong will"?

texts:
Which one is correct?

  People who are strong will

or

  People who have/has strong will

I was watching this movie and someone said:

People who are strong will, end up hurting others and people who are weak will, end up hating the others.

I wonder if it is correct or not.


texts: Does from June to November include full November?

texts:
how many months is it when somebody says:

  Expats should take note that the hurricane season runs from June to
  November, and extreme weather can be a safety issue.

Does it mean that the season runs for 6 or 5 months?

E.g. does it mean that the Hurricane season ends in November or after november - meaning it ends in December?

If I said:

  Expats should take note that the hurricane season last from June until
  November, and extreme weather can be a safety issue.

Does it now mean that it lats only 5 months? That starting November the season is over?

Thank you for explaining!


texts:
Is it "become elite" or "get elite" if I want to tell someone that I want to become one of the experienced at some topic? I am really confused at the moment.

Thank you in advance!


texts: Difference between delighted with, about and at

texts: This has been tricky for me to understand the difference in meaning between them, so which one is wrong or doesn't sound appropriate?


texts:
I checked the definition of parity here.
It is defined as:

  1 The state or condition of being equal, especially as regards status or pay.

Then I found following example on the same site:

  That is far from the truth as I also want a better world with equal parity to men for my wife, daughters, sisters and so on.

As per definition above, parity itself means state being equal.

Then why word equal is additionally included in above example sentence?

It appears to be a redundant word.


texts: Are these sentences grammatically correct?

texts:
I made the sentences; there's no source.

  If he would do this, it would be easy for him.

  If he would have done this, it would have been easy for him.

  If he had done it, it would going to be easy for him.

I am asking the usage of tenses and verbs here.

Edit:Second version of 3rd sentence:

  *If he had done it, it would be going to be easy for him. *

Is this one correct?


texts:
Please, look at the end and  beginning of two paragraphs, please let me know why is "expire" past perfect:

End of paragraph one :

  PJ and I finally played together as a duo under the name of BB late in 1986.

Beginning of paragraph two:

  Every band has a shelf life; BB had finally expired. We always felt excluded in many ways never reaching.......

I would have written:

"BB finally expired. We had always felt excluded.. "
Because the split was after they had always felt excluded.
Can we explain this past perfect to tell the reader:look out we are going backwards and to avoid too much past perfect in the paragraph.

What do you think?


texts:
Can someone explain to me the meaning of "put the honest on somebody"?
Examples:

  Now he wants to put the honest on Michael to prove Sonny guilt when he had the proof and he threw it away.
  Regarding our teachers, you need to put the honest on them.
  Now the honest is on you to answer some of the question fellow forumers asked.
  I’d recommend you put the honest on the supplier.
  You see claimants are making the mistake of allowing DWP to put the honest on them when really claimants should be saying “are you suggesting I'm lying, committing the criminal act of fraud and if so can I have that in writing please”.

Thanks!


texts:
When I meet someone and I doubt that I know him. Should I say :

1- I think we have met before.

2- I think we met before.


texts: Can intransitive "joked" be used without a preposition before "that" clauses?

texts:
Is the usage of the verb "joked" correct here? Does it need a preposition?

  Reporters joked that  the animal had personal problems with humans, as the number of his attacks was astonishing.


texts:
I want to make a funny video where two people are high and dance. And I want to write some strong phrase.
Direct Russian translate is "When smoked weed", But I understand it is not correct.
So how to say I feel like this while I do this?


texts: What's the difference between "doing my homework" and "to do my homework"?

texts:
Suddenly I got a question studying participle.

  I spent too much time yesterday doing my homework.
  I spent too much time yesterday to do my homework.

Is no.2 grammatically correct?
If so, what's the difference between the two?


texts:
Is the word "total" a usage of standard English? Or is it of regional English? The phrase "Four Seasons Total Landscaping" is the name of a company in Philadelphia.

And now, when Siravo, 65, goes to work at the unassuming one-story redbrick industrial building on State Road, home to Four Seasons Total Landscaping for the last 20 years, “not a day goes by where there’s not a crowd outside.”

Source:The Philadelphia Inquirer


texts:
The collective decision is authentic: people are binding themselves
with the consequences of their own decision.; It is their own
decision, not one imposed on them by political elites.
- Swiss Democracy by Wolf Linder

What does "bind themselves with consequences of their own decision". Does it mean that they take the responsibility of the consequence?
In Cambridge dictionary I have found the word "binding".
It means : (especially of an agreement) that cannot be legally avoided or stopped.
So another option is that the people accept that the consequences of their decision is not legally avoidable.


texts:
My grandma hadn't finished her schooling, so I wanted to know when she stopped going to school or more specifically "the grade after which she stopped going to school".
Actually she completed her tenth grade.

  Till what grade did you go to school?

  I went  to school till 10th grade. (I finished my tenth grade)

Do you think that these sentences sound natural? I made them up, but I don't know why but they sound a bit off to me. Can you please suggest something better instead?

My question is mostly about the use of "till" (not "10th") and therefore isn't like these related questions:

Asking the position of a person in a sequence.
How to ask a question which implies an ordinal number as an answer?
How to ask for ordinal date?


texts: "I'm not taking a Knut under twenty." meaning

texts:
"Venomous Tentacula seeds," said George. "We need them for the Skiving Snackboxes but they're a Class C Non-Tradeable Substance so we've been having a bit of trouble getting hold of them."

  "Ten Galleons the lot, then, Dung?" said Fred.

  "Wiv all the trouble I went to to get 'em?" said Mundungus, his saggy, bloodshot eyes stretching even wider. "I'm sorry, lads, but I'm not taking a Knut under twenty."

  "Dung likes his little joke," Fred said to Harry.

  Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix

I think "I'm not taking a Knut under twenty" here means I would only accept your money if you paid me above twenty Galleons. But I'm not sure if my understanding is correct. Does the sentence content any idiom?


texts:
Some time ago I was told that use of the expression bunch of people is incorrect. Apparently, bunch should not be used along with people meaning group of people.

But the problem is that I can hear that expression from lots of people, especially non-native English speakers.

Can you please explain whether bunch of people is correct or not and why?


texts:
Source: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2014/0707/With-Ukraine-rebels-on-the-ropes-some-Russians-ask-Where-is-Putin-video

  Dugin is widely viewed as chief ideologist for the hawkish wing of Russia's ruling elite, and his persistent influence inside the Kremlin has been widely documented.

Why is there no definite nor indefinite article in front of chief ideologist to denote that he is either just one of many chief ideologists, if there are more than one of them (indefinite article), or the to denote that he is the one and only chief in charge (definite article)?


texts:
I just saw this usage and it confused me a little. Is it a appropriate  usage?

  I don't need Monty Hall ruining my place of work when Monty Hall
  has already ruined my home life. (Brooklyn nine nine, tv-series)


texts:
Other elements are less visible. The amount of dollar financing that takes place beyond America’s shores has surged in recent years. As emerging markets grow richer and hungrier for finance, so does their demand for dollars. Since the financial crisis, low interest rates in America have led pension funds to look for decent yields elsewhere. They have rushed to buy dollar-denominated bonds issued in unlikely places, such as Mozambique and Zambia, as well as those issued by biggish emerging-market firms. These issuers were all too happy to borrow in dollars at lower rates than prevailed at home. By last year this kind of dollar debt amounted to almost $10trn, a third of it in emerging markets, according to the Bank for International Settlements, a forum for central bankers.

  When the dollar rises, so does the cost of servicing those debts. But the pain caused by a stronger greenback "stretches" well beyond its direct effect on dollar borrowers. That is because cheap offshore borrowing has in many cases caused an increased supply of local credit. Capital inflows push up local asset prices, encouraging further borrowing. Not every dollar borrowed by emerging-market firms has been used to invest; some of the money ended up in bank accounts (where it can be lent out again) or financed other firms.

I don't quite understand what "stretches well beyond" actually means. If " the pain stretches well beyond" can, as i think, be written as "the pain reached farther", shouldn't things go wrong? It seems everything got alright? They increased supply of local credit, and capital inflows caused local asset prices rising. Aren't those good things? That doesn't make any sense to me or have I thought wrong about the phrase.

source: http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21711041-rise-greenback-looks-something-welcome-ignore-central-role


texts:
I whispered, “I am too young,”
  And then, “I am old enough”;
  Wherefore I threw a penny
  To find out if I might love.
  “Go and love, go and love, young man,
  If the lady be young and fair.”

  —William Butler Yeats, “Brown Penny”

What's the meaning of "If the lady be young and fair.”

"be" is like "is"?


texts: "Have a lot of people ask me" — Why causative here?

texts:
As we all know, causatives are usually used to say that someone makes something for us. Then why is this sentence acceptable?

I have a lot of people ask me whether it's possible to achieve their goals.

Is there an explanation? And what is the difference if I say:

A lot of people ask me if it's possible [...]


texts: The meaning of "stuff" in this paragraph

texts:
I have problem in understanding the meaning of word "stuff", the first one and the second one:

  Jean says that she’s “getting tougher” and learning to detach herself from each teacher’s individual struggle to change and improve. “I’m getting tougher to where I can say, hey, let them go, this is the change stuff that you’re seeing; you’re seeing them blow up, it’s a loss right now and they’re grieving over a lot of stuff. Just get out of the way.

Please tell me the meaning of "stuff" in this context (both the first one and the second one).


texts:
What is the difference in meaning between "As we have seen" and "As we saw" when occured in a book in the following context:

  As we have seen/saw, [a description of a phenomenon that occured earlier in the book] (for example, "As we have seen/saw, method X is faster than method Y" or "As we have seen/saw, application X allows you to send encrypted messages to your friends")


texts: Is the sentence simple or complex or compound?

texts:
I know how to swim.

Please tell me whether it is simple or complex sentence.


texts: Do phrasal verbs depend on understanding English?

texts:
I was wondering if phrasal verbs depend on understanding English.

Do native speakers just memorize phrasal verbs they've been hearing over their lives, or they can create new phrasal verbs while talking because they understand English well?


texts:
Which board is proper to describe the state of any shop/restaurant?

For instance,

  A restaurant with the board Close OR Closed?
  A restaurant with the board Open OR Opened?

Well, if I think 'closed' is used when the restaurant is permanently or temporarily closed for more than a day (say for holidays or renovation), what about the conversation mentioned below? It takes -ed even for that day!

  "Hey Mike, I forgot my specs at home. Do you see the restaurant there at distance? Is it open?
  "Yeah, I do see. But it's closed.

I think open/opened or close/closed here is not a verb. If it isn't, then what is it in those examples?


texts: Using definite article with deities and holy people

texts:
Recently I watched this video and that's where my question stems from. All native speakers of English in the video use the definite article the when referencing Buddha: The Buddha. But, His Holiness, the Dalai Lama talks about him as Buddha, not The Buddha.

I noticed that sometimes God, or Lord may take the definite article, not always, although there's only one God, but Jesus, Moses and Allah don't. I also know that the proper names don't take the definite article such as Frank, Jim. Susan, etc.

So, when does one employ a definite article with deities and holy people, please let me know your thoughts on this.


texts: Phrase for "Holding [something] steady"?

texts:
I want to instruct a person (using a contactless payment system) to hold the card "longer/more carefully/steadily" in front of a designated area, in case it is removed too early (before the process completes).

In German it's "Bitte halten Sie die Karte laenger vor die gekennzeichnete Fläche"

My current version is "Please hold card steady in front of the designated area", but it sounds wrong. I am not sure if "steady" is the right word in this context.

What would be the best phrase to use?


texts: where I have to use aren't ? can I use "aren't" when I'm talking about clothes? example; " aren't this blouses a little expensive?" is it right?


texts:
I have applied for a job and my recruiter said to me that he would contact with person X and give me information whether I succeed or not as soon as possible. Unfortunately, I haven't heard from him and I wonder how can I ask in a polite way if he has some information about me ?

I was thinking about this one : Do you have any information from X about my interview ?


texts: What does “after you” mean in this sentence?

texts:
I came across this sentence in a conversation book. It is by itself alone, so It doesn’t have context around it. The sentence is ”Please clean up the room after you.”

I think it could mean after you’ve done with the room or behind you.


texts: What does '"As was Lolita!", Spencer Tracy might have shouted' mean?

texts:
The prosecution led off their case with a parade of witnesses, all of whom had stayed with us that week in Winthrop, each of them testifying to Denny’s inappropriate flirtatious manner and his predator-like stalking of Annika. Yes, they agreed, she was playing the game with him, but she was a child! (“As was Lolita!” Spencer Tracy might have shouted.) Denny was an intelligent, strong, good-looking man, the witnesses said, and should have known better. One by one, they depicted a world in which Denny maneuvered sneakily in order to be with Annika, to brush against her, to hold her hand illicitly. Each convincing witness was followed by another even more convincing, and another after that. Until, finally, the alleged victim herself was called to take the stand.
(Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain)

I know what the highlighted phrase means from the storybook, Lolita. But I don’t find any film that Spencer Tracy was casted into. Is it famous words? Whoever knows from where it comes?


texts: Question about "could you please not do sth"

texts:
I'm an ESL student, and I just don't understand how to answer this kind of question. for example, If I ask someone, "Could you please not open the window?",
and he answers, "No, I won't do that"

Does it mean that he will not open the window or he will open the window?
I am confused about the "that" in his answer represents the "not open the window" or "open the window"?


texts:
The wide horizons of the Norfolk coast are an uncomfortable fit for the low horizons of a child.

I'd like to know if there is a certain "wordplay" in the sentence.Does the author use the same word in different meanings?


texts: Are all these sentences grammatically correct?

texts:
I have solved that riddle before, so I get half as much credit as you do, for solving it.

I have solved that riddle before, so I get half the credit you do, for solving it.

I have solved that riddle before, so I get half the credit as you do, for solving it.

Are all the above sentences grammatically correct?
Do they mean the same thing?

Do we say, "Back in the day, he made half the money I did"? Or, do we say "Back in the day, he made half the money as I did? Or, ".....he made half as much money as I did"?


texts:
This is a quote from Bertrand Russell:

  It is not only colours and sounds and so on that are absent from the scientific world of matter, but also space as we get it through sight or touch. It is essential to science that its matter should be in a space, but the space in which it is cannot be exactly the space we see or feel. To begin with, space as we see it is not the same as space as we get it by the sense of touch; it is only by experience in infancy that we learn how to touch things we see, or how to get a sight of things which we feel touching us. But the space of science is neutral as between touch and sight; thus it cannot be either the space of touch or the space of sight. (Source: The Problems of Philosophy)

I am not sure I understand what "as between touch and sight" mean here. Did the author mean: "as it is between touch and sight"? Can someone reword it. It seems some word were taken out for brevity sake.


texts: show you to your room vs show you into your room

texts:
"I'll show you to your room" means I'll take you to your room.
The question is: Can "to" be replaced by "into"?

I have done a quick search and found out that "show someone into" is uncommon and it wasn't clear whether they are equal.

My guess though is that "into" takes someone inside the room. But if so still what is the difference? Is there something special about entering the room with them?

Edit:
Macmillan's entry for show, gives this sense, 5:

[transitive] to lead someone somewhere, for example because they do not know where to go

show someone to something:

  Let me show you to your room.

show someone into something:

  She showed me into a sunny room where two children were playing.

A quick search on Google books, gives me this sentence from "Jack Archer" By G. A. Henty:

  Two servants will show you into your carriage.

I can get by the set phrase but it is the curiosity while I am at it.


texts:
What is (it) meant by saying "It's all Greek to me"?

Why is (it) necessary to behave well?

I am not able to decide whether in both sentences we must use "it" as the subject. May be it is a trivial question but I have found both alternatives on the Internet.


texts: replacing of "draw together" in the following context

texts:
I need something clearer than "draw together" in the following sentence because it's not clear to the reader what I mean. I mean that if we attach two lines (of two directions) to each other, they create two dimensional.

  "If we draw together two lines of two different directions, these
  two lines are called “two dimensional” since they are two axes"


texts: What does the past participle function here?

texts:
The purpose and meaning of the sand paintings can be explained by examining one of the most basic ideals of Navajo society, embodied in their word hozho (beauty or harmony, goodness, and happiness).(From TOEFL)

Is the past participle function as a shorten version of nonrestrictive relative clause? But I generally them as adverbial clause modifying the main verb of the sentence.


texts: How to understand "forgive sb for something / doing something"?

texts:
She'd find a way to forgive him for the theft of the money

In the Collins, there is an example:

  Still, for those flashes of genius, you can forgive him anything.

So it is right to say "forgive somebody something".

How to understand “for” here? Why not say "She'd find a way to forgive him the theft of the money"?


texts:
Can I omit "being" in such cases. (preposition + being + adjective)

For example:

  1- Despite (being) poor, he was happy.

  2- He was very fast in spite of (being) terribly overweight.

  3- The conclusions were far from (being) accurate.

  4- Someone mentioned her as (being) vulnerable.


texts: Should we use comma when using "after" as preposition at the begining of sentence?

texts:
Is comma to be used after flood in this example ?

"After the flood the area was hit by an epidemic in spite of the measures urgently takan."


texts:
I have found these on the Web:

No matter what I do, she's never happy. Ever since I was little, and for as long as I can remember, she's never satisfied with anything I do.
"She's never happy when I'm around," she says. "I don't think she likes me very much."
I've tried to please her in every way I can, but she's never happy.
He's never happy, he's never satisfied, he's just a...
He's never happy with anything I make for supper, so I should tell you that you probably don't have anything that will work for me.
He's never happy with what he's doing.

What does "She's/He's never happy" mean? Is it okay to interpret it as "She/He didn't show me a happy look, don't, and highly probably won't"?


texts: Can a comparative adjective be used without having anything to compare it to?

texts:
In several languages one can use a construct such as

  I fixed a number of smaller mistakes.

Would this be correct in English, or must I use "I fixed a number of small mistakes" because otherwise it would trigger the question "smaller than what?"


texts: Expressing potayto-potahto, tomayto-tomahto correctly in writing

texts:
There's a saying expressing that the presented concepts are distinct without a difference. It's based on the pronunciation of potato and tomato. How would one go about writing that differnece in an informal way (i.e. not applying the proper phonetic notation)?
I tried the following but then I got unsure if it's intuitively correct to a NSE's ear.

potayto-potahto, tomayto-tomahto

Also, now I'm unsure if it's distinction without difference or difference without distinction... Or are those two potato-tomato?


texts:
Someone drives in a car and sees a dog, he keeps on driving passing the dog and then says

  I think he had a collar

Why not saying the following sentence?

  I think he has a collar


texts:
Apart from the crash issue in the software, we don't have any other issue.

What I want to say here is that except the crash issue in the software, there is no other issue. Is the usage of apart appropriate here?


texts:
From Cambridge Dictionary

  idiomatic: containing or consisting of an idiom

I guess I understand the definition/explanation of it.

In a post, Timberfall, an English learner asks the usage of "Have someone DO something VS. Have someone DOING something", an answer says

  Both structures are idiomatic ...

Is "Have someone DO something" an idiom? If not, does that answer imply that "idiomatic" could also mean something else?


texts: What form of a verb is "will" in "They will not allow us"

texts:
In my textbook I have this list of irregular verbs:

 Infinitive  Present Simple  Past Simple    Past Participle
     go          go             went            gone
     do          do             did             done
     be          is             was             been
     be          am             was             been
     be          are            were            been
     have        have           had             had
     will        will           would           would

As can be seen from the table, the present-simple forms of verbs coincide with their infinitives, except in case with the verb "be".

Thus, the infinitive of the present-simple "do" is also "do", and the infinitive of the present-simple "will" is also "will".

I wonder what form of "will" exactly we are dealing with in the following sentence:

  These days they will not allow us to walk into that room.

Why? (Please, explain the logic in your answer)


texts:
I'm wondering whether "is" or "has" should be used in the following sentence.

The horse is/has a reddish brown color.

And I'm curious about whether we could say "John is a younger age" or "The car is a lower price."


texts: Structure of a sentence from The War of the Worlds

texts:
You know how that blackness looks on a frosty starlight night. In a
telescope it seems far profounder. And invisible to me because it was
so remote and small, flying swiftly and steadily towards me across
that incredible distance, drawing nearer every minute by so many
thousands of miles, came the Thing they were sending us, the Thing
that was to bring so much struggle and calamity and death to the
earth.

The word order confuses me. Why is an inversion (OR is it?) used here?


texts: What do you call the table/counter surrounding a sushi conveyor belt?

texts:
I'm referring to these kind of structures (the part where customers put their plates and eat).

At first, I thought about "group tables," but now that I think of it, they could also be called bars? Or maybe there's another more common or accurate term?


texts:
Here is the quote from the American TV drama Manifest.

The police were about to send a criminal who was dying to the hospital nearby, the conversation below took place between two policemen:

  A: Where are you taking him?

  B: Mercy.

  B: I've got no room. We got a uni riding with him already.

  A: I can follow behind. But he can't go to Mercy.

What's the meaning of  I've got no room.?