texts: Have been or was. Which one to use here?

texts:
I've been a teacher.

VS

  I was a teacher.

I no longer teach, but I used to teach. Can I used "have been" here?

I have been a teacher


texts:
Is "fill in the variable with" idiomatic?

For example:

  I didn't fill in the variable with a custom value yet, don't use it.

  I didn't fill in the variable with a custom function yet, don't use
  it.

I am not sure if we can use fill in in order to say write something and assign it to it, or fill a value inside an empty bracket or already written equal sign.


texts:
She had to knew that I was there there for her help
  She had to know that I was there for her help
  She has to knew that I was there there for her help

Please explain in details which statement is correct.


texts:
If someone is in position 1, then what should we say to this person in order to make him get the position 2 and position 3?

Should I say

  "turn around" or "turn back"

( from position 1 to position 2)

or

Can we say

  "turn back"

is only used  to get position 1 from 2.Because we only see his back in this position?

And consider somebody runs to a certain point or a certain drawn yellow line (while he/she is going away from me) in a straight lane and then I would like to ask him/her to come back to the starting point where I am..

In this situation should I say,

  "Turn back from the yellow line"

or

  "turn around from the yellow line"


texts: Why is "help you save money" wrong if the subject was plural?

texts:
Could you please explain to me why I got this sentence wrong?

Living at home and enjoying your mother’s cooking help you save money.

My teacher said "help" should have been written with an "s".
Why do I need to write an "s" since I was referring to two actions?


texts: Is ''after having a baby'' dangling participle or verbal noun?

texts:
Exercise is the only way to get a flat stomach after having a baby.

This sentence is from the Oxford Advanced Learner Dictionary.

Is ''after having a baby'' dangling participle or subjectless verbal noun?


texts: Why did the author choose to use future continuous in this sentence?

texts:
I saw this sentence "You won’t be losing that record anytime soon." and I am wondering what does that mean and why the use of future continuous? Is it limited in time?
It is an ad for a new LP vinyl release. The band called xxxx is going to have an old LP rereleased. I think this is a comment or an ad for it to let us know it is happening soon.
Does it mean "you'd better buy because it won't last long” or “it is so good that you should buy it"? And why not using the present continuous if the release is very soon?


texts: Meaning of up to, in advance, more than, and within on this sentence

texts:
If I have following statement:

  Allow to purchase up to 100 days in advance, when user selects more
  than 100 days, the prompt message will be “Please buy within 100
  days”.

Can user buy or not buy in 100th days?


texts:
Mom: Meggie, I let you put on your best dress this morning on one condition, that you didn't get it dirty. And look at you!
  Meggie: Mum, it wasn't my fault.

Should the last sentence be "Mum, it isn't my fault."?

At the time of answering, my dress is dirty.

Wan't and isn't are pointing to the action that happened in the past or dirty dress.


texts:
Could you make my sentences correct  please? I want to learn the general rule by that.

  What do you think is the best restaurant in the town ?

  What do you think what the best restaurant is in the town?

  What do you think about how Alan is dealing the problems he faces?

  What do you think when you are going to be home ?

  What do you think when he will propose marriage to you?

  what do you think where the best beaches are in the world?


texts: What's a polite way of asking "who are you?" on the phone?

texts:
Say, you're working in a company. The phone rings and you pick it up. On the other line, someone wants to speak to one of your co-workers. You want to tell your co-worker who this person is.

I think asking "May I know who you are?" is a bit rude? What's a more common or softer alternative?


texts: What does 'ext.' mean in telephone number?

texts: People sometimes give me phone number like  (XXX) XXX XXXX  ext. XXX. I was wondering what does this 'ext. XXX' mean?


texts: Using "older" instead of "old" when talking about inanimate objects and abstract ideas

texts:
I am wondering if "older" would be the better and more polite choice if I would like to talk about inanimate objects or abstract ideas.
If I say, for example:

I like this old neighborhood.

My intention is to say:
"I like this neighborhood that was built long time ago" and not that "I live in a luxurious one".
or:

That word was pronounced this way in the old accent.

My intention here is to say "the accent commonly spoken before the one spoken today [which might still be spoken by some people]" and not that "the one spoken today sounds better".
In the examples above,
would "old" come across as rude or pretentious?
Should I say "older" to avoid any misinterpretations?


texts:
It would have to rain today, of all days!
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english-spanish/it-would-have-to-rain-today-of-all-days

What meaning of would is used here?
According to OED, it's the past of will https://oed.com/oed2/00285554


texts: In one hour’s difference or one hours difference

texts:
One hour’s difference or
One hours difference

My daughters teacher is saying the second but I believe she is wrong


texts:
Can i write
 "having had him seat on  chair,he started telling story".
here first have is participle and second had is used as causative.is it correct to write


texts:
I know what nightmare means,it is bad dream during sleeping.I would like know how we experience it. Do we see it, my sentence make sense?

  Last night I've seen very bad nightmare.


texts: which one is correct in this sentence, “To” or “in”?

texts:
Should I use “in” instead of “to”?
The leopardess was weakly stumbling to the opposite direction of the gun sound


texts: What is the subject in the introductory clause "After studying for 1 year. . ."?

texts:
Today I wrote:

  After studying for 1 year, I got 6.5 in the IELTS exam.

And the first part (before the comma) of the sentence got me thinking: where is the subject?

What I want to know is:

Is the 1st part of this sentence correct?
If so, what/where is its subject?


texts: "Try as I like to find the way, I never can get back by day. "

texts:
Could you please help me understand the two following sentences:

Try as I like to find the way,
I never can get back by day.

As you can imagine I do understand each word separately, however the phrase "Try as I like" is new to me and I can't find what it means precisely. In addition, "get back by day" is something odd too, what could it mean?
It is from a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson.


texts:
(A) I am safe.
  (B) He is safe.

How do I distinguish the meanings above in sentences with the verb "to report"? For example:

  "I reported him to be safe."

Who is safe?


texts:
A newspaper headline:

  Bengal drives Modi comeback: Polls

[[[Bengal: one of India's states.

Modi: India's present PM.

And voting just concluded yesterday.]]]

All meanings in Cambridge and other online dictionaries didn't help me to understand.

What's the meaning of drive in this context?

Please explain.

Thank you.


texts:
Situation: somebody invited me to the party. I can say:

  I am / was invited to the party.

What is the difference between these two tenses? I understand it this way:

am: invited here is more of an adjective. The party either is going or has not started.

was: No implication of the occasion fulfillment — maybe the party was yesterday (I was invited two days ago.)


texts: When someone gets you wrong and you are going to explain them that they've got you wrong

texts:
Please imagine you say someone something and that person gets you wrong. You want to explain them that their taking has been wrong. I was wondering if someone could let me know which one of the following self-made sentences sounds more idiomatic in this sense:

  Wait, I think you are misunderstanding me...
  Wait, I think you got me wrong...
  Wait, I think you got it wrong...
  Wait, I think you took it the wrong way...
  Wait, I think you took it twisted...

For me, they all work properly , but I don't have any idea which one is in common use in English.


texts:
I wonder if the indicative present is good in the clause:

  it is the requirement that, when John arrives,  Mark be here

The answers are detailed but I wish to discuss the case "when becoming if" in order that I understand better:
When we wish say "if John arrives at the same time" I believe nothing changes.

  it is the requirement that, if John arrives,  Mark be here

When we wish to say "if John arrived yesterday", then I do not see why it is not the past subjunctive. Past because it is on yesterday that we are focusing, subjunctive because it could happen or not (because of the if). So,

  it is the requirement that, if John (had?) arrived,  Mark be here

Is it with had or without ? what would be the difference ?

I changed the title.


texts: What does 'dimmed the stars for a great arc' mean?

texts:
What does 'dimmed the stars for a great arc' mean.

  The moon was halfway up and dimmed the stars for a great arc.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle


texts: A derivative of RECOGNIZE that means incognito?

texts: Does anybody know a word in the word family of recognize that means incognito? Like don't want anybody to recognize, not changing in a way that unintentionally make people can't recognize, so I don't think it's "unrecognizable".


texts: Can I use "That would be nicer if..." in this context?

texts:
On a tweet I wrote, I said "It would be nicer if there was more RAM". I was telling this because somebody complained about the lack of RAM, and by "nicer" I meant that it would be better/more pleasant...
Am I right to use "nicer" in this case ?


texts: It was the last time + past / past perfect / present perfect

texts:
Here's a context.
I met one of my friend, Jungsu, 2 years ago, but after that I haven't met him until now. Then, is it possible that I write like...

It was the last time that I met him 2 years ago.

It was the last time that I had met him 2 years ago.

It was the last time that I've met him 2 years ago.

And, plus..

a. It was 2 years ago that I met him last.
b. It was 2 years ago that I've met him last.

Which one is the most commonly used one?


texts:
When I was preparing for my FCE exam I came across a task which I cannot really fully understand. The task was the word transformation. I got it all right, except only one. The sentence was:

  Then again, celebrities often do seem to lead such interesting lives
  that it is perhaps ____(understand) that we want to find out more about them

So I put 'understood' here, but it turned out that 'understandable' was a correct answer. I cannot understand why. For example it's correct to say:

  It was understood that taxes would increase dramatically

Here we have a passive form of the verb understand, but probably this sentence is correct due to the past simple?

Well, we can say:

  It is done

Here we have the passive form of the present, but this sentence is still correct. In my opinion, we have to use 'able' adjective instead of the passive form, when we can substitute the verb with an adjective. Is it so? Am I missing something?


texts: Wipe the pair of tweezers with a fiberless wipe ____ the 76 % medical antiseptic solution. (which word to use?)

texts:
I'm trying to translate a Russian sentence from a biotech-related technical text as closely to the original as possible. The original sentence is:

  Пинцет обрабатывают безворсовой салфеткой, смоченной 76 % медицинским антисептическим раствором.

My attempt:

  Wipe the pair of tweezers with a fiberless wipe ____ the 76 % medical antiseptic solution.

I'm not sure which word would be the most natural in the underscored location. Containing? Treated with? Impregnated with? Doused with? Dunked in?

The Russian original word, смоченной, means "moistened with".

I googled around and it looks like structures like this are used:

  Disinfect the scissors and tweezers with an alcohol wipe before and after use...

But that would hardly work in my case.

  Wipe the tweezers with varnish thinner immediately after use ...

This omits the use of the "wiping material" altogether, and would not work in my case.

P.S. Maybe one should flip-flop the sentence? Like this:

  Wipe the pair of tweezers with the 76 % medical antiseptic solution applied to a lint-free wipe.


texts: "... Greece may well stump up the cash having spooked creditors..."

texts:
I could not figure our whole sentence  because of the word having in the following sentence.What is its function?

  In choosing to bundle up four separate June repayments, Greece avoids
  triggering an immediate default. But in the event of a delayed
  repayment, according to IMF protocol, Greece would be afforded a
  30-day grace period, during which it would be urged to pay back the
  money as soon as possible, and before Ms Lagarde notifies her
  executive board of the late payment. Following this hiatus, a
  technical default could be declared a month later, when "a complaint
  regarding the member’s overdue obligations is issued by the Managing
  Director to the Executive Board". In the interim, Greece may well
  stump up the cash having spooked creditors and the markets of the
  possibility of a fatal breach of the sanctity of monetary union.

  In the interim, Greece may well stump up the cash having spooked
  creditors and the markets of the possibility of a fatal breach of the
  sanctity of monetary union.

Source


texts:
Are these sentences grammatically correct and do they both mean the same thing?
I prefer to work from home
and
I prefer working from home


texts: What verb or phrase do you use to describe situation where someone chooses to ignore bad treatment from others such as mocking or insulting?

texts:
What verb or phrase do you use to describe situation where someone chooses to ignore or not to react to bad treatment from others such as mocking or insulting? Can I use the phrase pay attention? For example:

  The bullies called him names, but he decided not to pay attention to that, which made the bullies stop.

If that is not something you would say, could you provide formal and informal phrases or verbs to communicate the message?


texts:
I have seen both types of sentences:

  He jumped off the rock.

  He jumped off of the rock.

Are they both grammatical?

Explain.

Thank you.


texts: "Has been" versus "was" for a past event

texts:
In a goodbye email one of my colleagues wrote the below sentence. He has used has also been, which I feel is incorrect. He was talking about a past event. According to me he should use was instead of has been.

  During this time, the world, especially ours has also been rapidly changing with the advent of new technologies, SMAC, customer dynamics and expectations.

Correct me if I am wrong.


texts:
Could you help me check whether my combined sentences are correct or not?

  She was carrying a tray.

  The tray was filled with cakes.

  The cake were homemade.

  They were very delicious.

She is carrying a tray of delicious homemade cake.
She is carrying a tray filled with delicious homemade cake.
She is carrying a tray with delicious homemade cake.


texts:
I am working overtime this week, and I have earned $200 extra thus far.
  I was working overtime that week, and I had earned $200 extra thus far. (?)

Does the use of thus far require that the action is continuing to the present (i.e. Is it grammatical to use thus far with past perfect?)?


texts:
I want to say something like:

  As I plan this website  to be my primary work/job, I will be dedicated to it.

What is more appropriate in this case, the word "work" or "job", and why?


texts: "our products are leaders in the market" or "on the market"

texts:
We have a portfolio of more than 40 drug products. Most of our products are leaders on the Russian market.

Is this on the correct choice of a preposition?

Would in work as well?

  We have a portfolio of more than 40 drug products. Most of our products are leaders in the Russian market.

According to the answer to this question, in might be inappropriate. I wonder if it still can be used.

On the one hand, these products are there to be sold, so it should be on. On the other, we are comparing them with competitors' products, so it should be in. I'm a bit confused.

Now that I thought of it more, I favor in. It's such a hazy issue for me.


texts:
The forestry industry (has met and continues)/(has met and will continue) to meet the growing changes required to stay competitive within a rapidly transforming economy.

Should it be "continues" or "will continue"? I think both makes sense, so does it depend on the context, or is one of them wrong?


texts:
Implant a chip inside a dog to track it.

  Implant a chip in a dog to track it.

I am not sure if "in" sounds ok. To me, it sounds odd and ungrammatical. Is it the case? Why?


texts:
In the following lines taken from Book 2 of The Iliad (Pope), (1) what does nor mean in the context? (2) are heard and obey'd transitive or intransitive?

...
Your own resistless eloquence employ,
And to the immortals trust the fall of Troy.”
The voice divine confess’d the warlike maid,
Ulysses heard, nor uninspired obey’d:
Then meeting first Atrides, from his hand
Received the imperial sceptre of command.
...

The definition in the old OED that I felt most closely matched the usage of nor here is

Following upon an affirmative clause, or in continuative narration, with the force of neither or and ... not.

but this would mean Ulysses did not hear or obey, while the succeeding lines affirm the contrary (which I couldn't glean from the quoted lines).
My paraphrase of the two lines is The divine voice, which the warlike maid confess'd (declared), Ulysses heard and, inspired (by it), obey'd.


texts:
"He held the post () ten years."

I saw this line somewhere.It was written there that ten years is acting as adverb.But it seems stilted to me.I think for must be used in place of bracket.

Am I right,if not why?How to judge whether preposition should be placed or not?Or,is it okay with and without preposition both?


texts: What does 'gold to boot' means in the following context?

texts:
So the context is about a football manager's wife. The person wrote the following about her

  His Missus never left(Liverpool), and she's a bit of gold to boot.

What does it mean gold to boot, does it mean she's rich?


texts: "my being" vs. "my having been" (in my younger days)

texts:
I am having trouble with a practice exam question. Here is the text from the question:

  The good fortune of (my being/my having been?) your student in my younger days has helped me greatly in my life.

Which is the correct way to say the above sentence? Do I need to use just my being or I need to use my having been?


texts:
It is from Crash Course World History. It is at 10 minute and 26 second. Here is the context:

  Also when we ask the question about why the West rules or why western nations suceeded, what are we going to do with the answer. Is it for Westeners to congratulate ourself on a job well done, or to explain away the astonishing inequality in the world as being so deeply rooted in the past as to make any efforts to fix it futile.

Does the host mean fix it so that it is not be futile?


texts:
Can I use singular countable nouns after any other? And are the following sentences grammatical?

1- Do you have any other book?

2- Do you know any other doctor?

3- Is there any other way to do this?


texts: "A plastic washing tub" or "A plastic basin"?

texts:
I got the large round container without a lid, used for washing clothes in the below picture. But I don't know how to call it.

  What do you name that plastic washing container?
  A plastic washing tub, a plastic basin or something?


texts: When to use "Only thing" vs. "Everything"

texts:
Here are 2 examples that I think both make sense. I am confused about them.

It is not waterproof. That is everything that is bad about it.
It is not waterproof. That is the only thing that is bad about it.

I think 'every' makes sense in this case because it covers all of the things that are bad about it, which is one. In other words, it is like
That is everything; that is it.

Which is correct? Do they have different meanings? When should I use one or the other? Any help would be appreciated.


texts:
I am wondering if a single article can be used for two nouns.

I came across an article on NY Times, and encountered one single indefinite article used for two nouns.

  Despite changing sexual mores, it's clear that many men and women still expect the man to pay, particularly on a first and second date. That seems to be especially true outside the Northeast, where sex roles remain more traditional.

One article for two nouns is possible? Why not writing it again for the second noun? Like - "....particularly on a first date and a second date. That seems..."

Based on this, I want to say

  "A first and a second layer" or "a first layer and a second layer"

instead of...

  "A first and second layer"

Is that okay?


texts: "Under the name of" OR "in the name of"?

texts:
I want to ask that if there is a cheese product "paneera" in the market. Then what should I say?

Cheese is available under the name of paneera?

OR

Cheese is available in the name of paneera?

OR

Cheese is available available as paneera?


texts: Is it correct and natural to say "my phone holds a charge well" meaning it has a good battery"?

texts:
Could you tell me if it's natural to say my phone holds a charge well in the sense its battery last long enough? For example:

  One of the most valuable advantages of my phone is the fact the it holds a charge well.

If sounds off, could you provide options native English speakers would say to communicate the message?


texts:
I would appreciate it if a native speaker could answer to my question about the following conversation?

  A: Enjoy your holidays.
  B: I hope you enjoy your time and be happy as well.

What does as well refer to? Does it relate the second part of response ("be happy" to the first part ("enjoy your time")? Or does it respond to the first friend's expression of good wishes ("I hope that for you, too")?


texts: "Try to open the car" vs. "Try opening the car"

texts:
I have a few questions.

Do the following structures sound natural to native speakers?
Is there any difference in meaning between them?

  Try to open the car.
  Try opening the car.

You may notice that the two structures are in the imperative form. Have you ever used "Try to open.../ Try opening... that way? Or, do you just say "Open the car"?


texts: Can I freely combine the present perfect simple tense with the present perfect progressive tense within the same sentence or is it bad grammar?

texts:
Jim talks to Fran on Finn's phone while Finn and Gina watch him.

Jim talks to Fran on Finn's phone while Finn and Gina are watching him.

Jim is talking to Fran on Finn's phone while Finn and Gina watch him.

Jim is talking to Fran on Finn's phone while Finn and Gina are watching him.

Can I freely combine the present perfect simple tense with the present perfect progressive tense or is it bad grammar?
Which one of the sentences would be the normal choice?


texts: What can I say when someone has dialed the wrong number?

texts:
Let's say I get a wrong number and I want to politely tell them that it is the wrong number. To do that, can I say/ask

What number are you trying?
Who do you want to speak to?


texts: Do I understand correctly 'too much', 'too many'

texts:
First rule called 'countable' and 'uncountable'.

Use too much if uncountable i.e money, water.
Use too many if countable i.e dollar, table.

And second rule called bad and good.

If say I have too much time I mean I have too much free time and I do not know what to do with it.
And I say I have a lot of time I mean I have too much free time and I do know that to do with it or I just enjoy.

Do I understand correctly?


texts: Could you paraphrase sentence number two

texts:
In order to rent an apartment in California or Texas, how much credit is needed when you do not want to have a co signer?

Better your credit, the eaiser your chances are. 700+ is good credit. 650+ is ok. 600--- you have problems paying bills or are overextended.

Because I connot understand what overextended really mean in this context.


texts:
I have bought something on the internet and for some reasons the item returned back to the seller. when I asked the seller to refund me he sent me this message .

  The seller has declined to have the item returned.The dispute will be settled according to the agreement.

I looked on longman dictionary and find that decline has many meaning:

say no
to decrease in quantity or importance.

so does the seller say that wont refund until the item returned
or he decrease in importance of the problem


texts: The indefinite article before the cardinal number "first"

texts:
Why "a" is used in the following sentence instead of "the"?

  "Wales lost the last game. That put an end to their hopes of qualifying for a first World Cup since 1958."


texts:
"wasn't it you,the one that made the cake" or "weren't it you,the one that made the cake"

which one is correct and why?


texts:
I've been having some texting with someone else. None of us are English native speakers, but we are both pretty advanced. She thinks I'm more advanced than her, although I think I just have more experience; but about knowledge and language dominion, we are pretty similar.

I have some doubts, because in a moment she wrote:
"I'm really envy how good you know English, but I pretty sure that it's all the result of hard work".

I know the right way of this sentence is:
"I really envy how good you are in English, but I'm pretty sure it's all the result of hard work".

"How good you know English" sounds right to me. My doubts are about:

  "I'm really envy" -> "I really envy" and
  "I pretty sure" -> "I'm pretty sure".

By intuition, I'm sure the versions at the right side are the correct ones, but I don't know how to explain it, and I haven't found anything about the differences between using "I [verb]" and "I am [adjective / adverb]".

In fact, I've found that "I'm" is used before a verb, to be descriptive and to announce your location:
"I am walking to the store", "I am a doctor", "I am at the store". But also, it's used before an adjective or adverb in simple present:
"I am sure", "I am hungry".

In contrast, "I" is used in simple past, future and simple present, often followed by "to be":
"I have to go to the store", "I cook hamburgers", "I envy your skills".

I've been searching everywhere the right uses of "I" and "I am", and I haven't fount anything regarding this doubts.

Why is my suggestion right, or if it's right at all? Are both versions right?


texts: Is there any difference between "suppose", "assume" and "let's say" in hypothetical questions?

texts:
Could you tell me if there is any difference between suppose, assume and let's say in hypothetical questions? For example:

Suppose you lost your job, what would you do?
Assume you lost your job, what would you do?
Let's say you lost your job, what would you do?

If they mean exactly the same, are all perfectly natural?


texts: "How to determine..." vs "How can I determine..."

texts:
How to determine if my roulette wins were due to luck or due to skill?

Someone told me that question above is ungrammatical and should be changed to:

  How can I determine if my roulette wins were due to luck or due to skill?

Is my original sentence incorrect? If so, why?


texts:
(this may seem to be a simple question for native speakers as I think they don't even think about it, but it's not so clear for me)

In formal language, should it be written with or without "the" in the following cases?:

1) "(The) question 1 was asked in order to identify..."

2) "Answers to (the) question 1 were..."

3) In the label below the figure: "(The) question 1"


texts: "Start to feel better" vs. "Start feeling better"

texts:
Which is correct?

He will enjoy this when he starts to feel better.

Or

He will enjoy this when he starts feeling better.


texts: What is the meaning of against in this context?

texts:
It's two reasons for teenagers to wear mask, One is to stop them infecting other people but also there is one element of protection against other kids who are also chattering away as they go along that crowded corridor.
Source of info: https://youtu.be/KD44ynY6Wts?t=207
Can you explain why they use against here? wearing the mask is a protection of element that support others. So why against?


texts: It smells like someone has smoked here or it smells like someone has been smoking here

texts:
I have come across reviews of hotels where people state that:
"The hotelroom smells like someone has smoked there".
I thought that "someone has smoked there" means that smoking has taken place there, either an hour ago or a year ago.
If it smells like smoke, the smoking must have taken place quite recently. Wouldn't "it smells like someone has been smoking there" be more appropriate, or does that mean someone has just finished their cigarette?


texts: My friend asked me today "How's your project going?" But I didn't really remember on what project he's talking about. What would work better as an answer in this context, "Remind me" or "recall me"?


texts: 'one and one is two' is correct as you know. I wonder there should be whether 'am' or 'is' between 'he and I' and 'a monster.' 'he and I am a monster' or 'he and I is a monster?' I mean a group of him and me is a monster. For example, after you or I, verb 'am' is correct. I think 'he and I am a monster' is correct as 'or' and 'but'.


texts: Sentence Structure of 'It's difficult to reconcile the demands of my job and the desire to be a good father.'

texts:
I'm discombobulated.

Should it be like

  1.It's difficult to reconcile (the demands of my job) and (the desire to
  be a good father).

Or

  2.It's difficult to reconcile (the demands of my job) and (the demands of
  the desire to be a good father).

Here is another example.

Should it be like

  3.It was plain that he was reconciling (the claims of compatriot courtesy)
  and (official rectitude).

Or

  4.It was plain that he was reconciling (the claims of compatriot courtesy)
  and (the claims of official rectitude).


texts:
The question which arises in this context is whether a vendor who forfeits a deposit under a validly terminated contract for the sale of a principal place of residence, or who sues to recover an unpaid deposit and damages for breach of contracts, is liable for capital gains tax on the amount of the forfeited deposit.

Above is an extract from a text book. It is explaining the tax implications when deposit is forfeited to a vendor. The vendor does not pay deposit, the purchaser does.

In the dictionary the word forfeit is defined as "to lose something or have something taken away from you because you have done something wrong."

However, in the above sentence the word forfeit is used as to mean seize or take, an exact opposite of the meaning shown in the dictionary.

Is the above usage correct?


texts: Use adjective directly instead of using relative pronouns

texts:
This sentence is from an article. I don't understand why they use postpositive adjective in this case.

  The Progressive “Active” formulas contain higher potencies of the key
  nutrients responsible for supporting a more active lifestyle.

I think the correct sentence must be:

  The Progressive “Active” formulas contain higher potencies of the key
  nutrients, which are /(being)  responsible for supporting a more active
  lifestyle.

Please help me to clarify this or provide me articles I can read more about this grammar.


texts:
Here I am trying to say a ratio as in 1 and 2.

What would be a good option to explain a ratio is this and that - either 1 or 2

  The ratio of minimum rectangle’s floor area to enclosed circle area
  is tested with a defined threshold and a candidate, given a low ratio,
  is taken as natural object assuming that natural object has a more
  irregular boundary.
  The ratio between floor area of enclosed minimum rectangle and
  enclosed circle area is tested with a defined threshold and a
  candidate, given a low ratio, is taken as natural object assuming that
  natural object has a more irregular boundary.


texts: What's the grammatical construction of "Evidence that the Left knows it is starting to lose"?

texts:
I met the sentence on Twitter:

You know what we’re witnessing now? Evidence that the Left knows it is starting to lose.— Elliott Hamilton (@ElliottRHams) March 30, 2018

I can get its meaning but fail to analyze the structure.

After thinking over and over, I figure out:

"Evidence" is the main clause, functioning as the object of "are witnessing".

"that ..." is the appositive clause of "evidence".

In the that-clause:

"the Left" is the subject,

"knows" is the verb,

"it is starting to lose" is the objective clause of "knows".

"it" is referring to "the Left".


texts:
I've received an email in which the sender would say:

You haven't sent me the file neither haven't told me why I should make another technology request.

I think that it was incorrect, but, I don't know how it should be written to be grammatically correct.


texts: Is there any other way I can write 'shorts and overs' in the document?

texts:
Read this sentence I am writing in a document (software manual)

  Software helps you generate the reports on shorts and overs.

The context: What actually I mean by 'Shorts' and 'Overs' is if the software, for example, is used by inventory department, it will get them the stock's status --whether it's short or over to some figure. Say if the total has to be 100, if the report says 80, it's short and if it's 110, it's over.

Is using shorts and overs like that make sense? Or I can have a better way to write it?


texts:
In our High school test there was a question that asked us to identify a mistake:

  She started with some complimentary remarks about the organisers of the conference, and then proceeded with her speech.

The answer was to correct "proceeded" into "proceeds". I haven't been able to explain this to myself so please help me.


texts: 'wanted to fulfill' or 'had wanted to fulfill'

texts:
(1) Last month, I was promoted to senior manager. That was one of the dreams I wanted to fulfill in my life. (my version)

(2) Last month, I was promoted to senior manager. That was one of the dreams I had wanted to fulfill in my life. (my friends' correction)

Is it wrong to use the simple past, "wanted"?


texts:
When you are speaking to someone and this person is speaking at a low volume and you almost can't hear it, usually you would ask something like this: Could you please speak louder?.

What if the situation is the opposite? The person is speaking too loud and you want it to lower the volume? I can only imagine asking like this: Could you please speak in a lower volume?. Is there any shorter way to say this?

Thanks a lot.


texts: Is the sentence "I picture typical hotel doormen as standing outside the front entrance" grammatical?

texts:
An ELL post says

  I picture typical hotel doormen as standing outside the front entrance.

I am aware that "picture" here means "to imagine something", picture sb as sb else.

I am also aware that "standing outside ..." is participle.

I don't understand why is "standing outside ..." immediately after "as". Could someone please give a hint?


texts: What is the word for unpleasantly sweet taste of potato? (We often have such potatoes in India. They taste very bad, with a tinge of sweetness.)


texts:
I am supposed to structure my presentation in the following 6 sections:

Objectives of the study;
Theoretical or conceptual frameworks;
Modes of inquiry;
Data sources or evidence;
(Expected) results, conclusions;
References.

I would like to ask you, what is the meaning of "Modes of inquiry" in simple words?


texts:
I'm David, I'm from Colombia, I'm new here, my first question is like the thing that has been on my mind since I started to learn English, what's the difference between:

  Back to you

and

  Back for you

in the context "I’ll be coming back for you" and "I keep on coming back to you"

if you can give me an example, it could be even better,

lots of thanks in advance.
Edited*


texts:
I'm not good at English, and I want to translate a following treatise about Mammography to my mother tongue.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3625776/
And I don' t understand the below sentence (in italics), especially the usage of "as" and "nevertheless". Please paraphrase for me?

  However, our study had several limits. First, we used the breast phantom for a dosimetry evaluation. The phantoms used for this evaluation had a uniform background with a noise characteristic that is not a representative of the anatomical background encountered in clinical mammography studies. Yet, the phantom study is widely used to compare different imaging systems and image acquisition setups due to its ease and reproducibility [12,16-18]. It seemed therefore reasonable to use standard phantoms to obtain an estimate of a possible dose reduction factor. However it is not as reliable in evaluating the radiation risk as is the patient method, nevertheless employing a phantom with a more anatomically realistic background.

Note: 1. "it" probably indicates "to use standard phantoms" in the previous sentence.
2. "background" probably means "background noise" in this context.


texts:
I was wondering about the usage of "have a bigger fish to fry".
Are the sentences I can't go with you - I have a bigger fish to fry preparing for my tests and I can't go with you - I have a bigger fish to fry with my homework correct or not?

How should I use this structure if I want to say what is that important job, to specify it?


texts: What would you say in the following situation?

texts:
You are at a picnic and you want to advise others to keep the place clean:

1- you had better clean the place before you leave
2- you must clean the place before you leave.

From what I know, ‘had better’ is used to imply the negative consequences that are most likely to happen if the advice isn't followed. And the modal ‘must’ is used when there is an obligation to do something. Can someone please tell me which is more accurate to be used in the context provided.


texts:
The point is, I want to write a book about my life. Which one of this sentences that good in grammar and fit for my book?

  What I have learned so far in my journey of life

  What I have learned so far in journey of my life

And based on this question, should I use "in" or "on" ?

Thanks in advance.


texts: "by whistling" or "whistling" to answer "How" question

texts:
Given Sentence:

  Trying not to show her sadness, she came into the room, whistling.

Question:

  How did she hide her sadness?

Possible Answers:

  She hide her sadness by whistling.
  She hide her sadness, whistling.

I prefer "2" as "whistling" are used as adverb in this sentence for the two actions happening at the same time.
Which is better, 1 or 2?
Are there differences in meaning?


texts: How to describe sand falling onto a hard surface

texts: How would you describe sand or some other crystal-like powder like salt falling onto a hard surface? What sound does it make? What verb would you use? Scattering?


texts: should I add a "the" before "paths of length 2"?

texts:
I am confused for these situations:

Preparing desirable paths needs to iterate all possible paths

(the) desirable paths;  all (the) possible paths;

I have described what a desirable paths is. "all possible paths" denotes paths that may exist in a graph.
Although using paths of length 2 to construct features is much easier than using longer paths,

(the) paths of length 2; (the) longer paths;

"paths of length 2" denotes paths whose lengths are 2 (in a graph).

I think that "paths" are not specific. But when I add "desirable" or "of length 2", is that "paths" is specific for "desirable" or "length 2"?


texts: What are "urban-legend-tier consequences"?

texts:
It is from this article. Here is the context:

  This one gets thrown around a lot by concerned moms and semi-tech-savvy grandpas. This is a fear-uncertainty-and-doubt kind of myth that stays alive not because of any sort of actual evidence, but because the urban-legend-tier consequences that are said to follow such supposedly unwise use of your smartphone.


texts:
What do you think "42" means?  Google offers "42, in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, is the "Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything", calculated by a supercomputer named Deep Thought over a period of 7.5M years."
But what sense do you get at the glance of "42" without this Google explanation?

Why is there something rather than nothing?
Why do we exist?
Why this particular set of laws and not some other?
This is the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything. We shall attempt to answer it in this book. Unlike the answer given in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, ours won't be simply "42."

Source: The Grand Design by Stephen Hawking


texts: can i use the verb "furnish" for kitchen equipment?

texts:
I know I can say that an apartment is furnished or not, but can I use the word furnished with a kitchen?

I am trying to describe a kitchen that is equipped with the necessary tools for cooking and refrigeration.


texts:
From the book Can You Say a Few Words?

If you have trouble expressing this sentiment without gagging, rehearse it a few times in the privacy of your bedroom.

I don't understand the difference between the sentence above and the one below.

... rehearse it a few times in your bedroom.

I googled it but didn't find any definitions or explanations.


texts: Present Perfect, Past Simple and Past Perfect Continuous

texts:
We were late because we 1) had/have had  some car problems. By the time we
  got to the train Susan 2) had been waiting/was waiting for us for more
  than two hours.

1) The correct answer is have had because we don't specify the time the action was taken?

2) The correct answer is had been waiting because we emphasise to the duration of the action?

Sorry for asking silly questions.


texts:
The company has provided a lot of information, which enables a
  comprehensive investigation of the corruption case.

  The company has
  provided a lot of information, enabling a comprehensive investigation
  of the corruption case.

Do the two sentences mean the same? does the second one omit 'which is'? if so, the present tense has become present continuous. Wouldn't that change the meaning of the sentence?


texts:
On the phrase:

  Next week, renovations on the backyard will be made.

is the correct preposition "on" or "in"?


texts:
Are both options correct? If so, are there some subtle differences between those?

An increase of serotonin

An increase in serotonin

Thank you!


texts:
1.He's like a viper, he strikes when people aren't expecting.

2.He's like a viper, he strikes when people don't expect it.

3.He's like a viper, he strikes when people are least expecting it.

4.He's like a viper, he strikes when people least expect it.

Are all the above sentences grammatically correct?
What's the difference in their meaning?
Would be alright to use any of them?


texts:
The constitutional guarantee for free Speech may have been targeted at protecting native Speakers of English from censorship,but it is not a great _____to interpret it as protecting the right to express oneself in any natural language or dialect.

A enigma
B extension
C sacrifice
D condemnation
E attenuation

the correct answer is (B), any explanation for that, please?


texts:
Director Barry Levinson said on MLB Network's "Costas at the Movies" in 2013 that while the film is based in fantasy, "through the years, these things which are outlandish actually [happen] ... like Kirk Gibson hitting the home run and limping around the bases ... Curt Schilling with the blood on the sock in the World Series." (source)

Why is the preposition "in" used here? I thought "base in" can only refer to someone/something being based in a place. Is this usage in the Wiki article correct?


texts: For a desired action in the end of the current period of time, should I use "would be" or "would have been"?

texts:
When talking about some desired action that did not transpire toward the end of the period of time, which is coming to a close during the moment of speaking, should I use "would be" or "would have been"?

  "Well, besides the fact that he likes cherry pies (something that I
  became aware of on my very first day of acquaintance with him) there
  wasn't any more information of interest this year that I would be able
  to have gotten out of Peter about him."

The period of time in the example above is "this year". It's not over yet, but it's ending soon. And it looks like getting any further interesting personal info from Peter is very unlikely now, though not totally impossible.


texts: comparison: on, over, when both of which imply 'in connection with'

texts:
The United States has vowed to follow the Islamic State 'to the gates of hell' over the beheading of American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff.  (Aussie ABC)

When I consulting RHD’s ‘ON prep. #4, #12’ and ‘OVER prep. #19’, the two usages seem to denote ‘in connection with their complements.’ What’s the difference between the two? Is it degree of intimacy? The former has more closeness with its complement and the latter less, I mean. But this isn’t that persuasive on my own, for the victims of beheading are her very own citizens.


texts:
Can "around" be used in a sentence such as:

"They created awareness around accessibility"

It seems to me to be somewhat too vernacular to be in a written text.


texts: Which is the correct English out of the following sentences. I gave her your number. or I gave your number to her

texts:
Which is the correct English out of the following sentences?

  I gave her your number.

  I gave your number to her.

Please explain me the better ways to form the above sentence.


texts:
1.This is the boy who works hard.
2.This is the boy who/whom all praise.
Why in first sentence who is in nominative case and in other accusative case?


texts: I am not sure whether my following question belongs to this site. I want to ask you where is the point of this so called image macro with J. S. Bach.  I am probably unwitty but I am not able to figure out its comic effect.


texts: Help to understand "You'll be teased something dreadful,"?

texts:
"You'll be teased something dreadful," said Myrtle happily.

I think the sentence means You'll be teased dreadfully. However, I don't quite understand the grammar of the sentence. I've seen "tease sb about sth.". Is it also ok to say "tease sb. sth."? What's the correct way to understand that sentence?

-- From Harry Potter.


texts: Do I use the definite article, or not, with a plural count noun when referring to all of those things named by the noun?

texts:
(the) Security forces helped us fight (the) terrorists.

If I wanted to refer all security forces in a specific country would I need to use a definite article? Same with "the terrorists", I want to make clear that the security forces are fighting not all terrorists but a few groups of terrorists; would I have to use the definite article then?

The question this is supposed to be a duplicate of talks about generic noun phrases. This means things that do not actually exist in the world (you can't feed or take a photo of a generic lion, for instance). I am talking about noun phrases (security forces, terrorists) that actually exist and fight and die in a specific country. We can feed and and photograph them. They are "real," not generic.


texts:
Thus ended a historic tragedy than which the stage possesses few of more striking dramatic interest and opportunities for histrionic effect.

What does ''more...than..." mean in the sentence? Which one is more/less? This sentence is extracted from ALBOIN AND ROSAMOND and the context is as follows.

As Helmichis left the bath he received a wine-cup from the hands of his treacherous wife, and lifted it to his lips. But no sooner had he tasted the liquor, and felt the shock that it gave his system, than he knew that he was poisoned. Death, a speedy death, was in his veins, but he had life enough left for revenge. Seizing his dagger, he pressed it to the breast of Rosamond, and by threats of instant death compelled her to drain the remainder of the cup. In a few minutes both the guilty partners in the death of Alboin had breathed their last.
When Longinus was, at a later moment, summoned into the room, it was to find his late guests both dead upon the floor. The poison had faithfully done its work. Thus ended a historic tragedy than which the stage possesses few of more striking dramatic interest and opportunities for histrionic effect.


texts: After taking a break from university, which word fills "I will [word here] university", meaning that I'll go back to university

texts:
Basically, I took a break from university for 6 months.

How can I say that I am going "back" to university when I return to my country?

I was thinking about:

  "I am going to carry on with my university when I get back to my country."

or

  "I am going to resume my university when I get back to my country."

Hope you'll understand what I'm looking for!

Thank you!


texts:
It's from Macbeth.

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, **brief candle**!

Does it mean, to blow off the candle? But, what is a brief candle?


texts: Is there any difference between the given sentences

texts:
A.

  The governor announced his new tax plan would be introduced soon.

B.

  The governor announced that his new tax plan would be introduced soon.

A explanation about why they are different.

  Here “that” is needed after "announced. Without it, the reader's first impression is that the plan itself has been put forth. Remember that even momentary confusion provides readers with a handy place to stop — and that's not good. A reader should never have to pause to understand what the writer (or speaker) is trying to convey. If that happens too often (and once may be once too often), a reader stops reading.

the original http://web.ku.edu/~edit/that.html

but I still can not understand why that is needed here after reading it.


texts:
From VOA:

  Once enacted, the bill would give the nation a two-year reprieve from the budget wars that have consumed Congress in recent years. It reduces across-the board cuts to federal spending and, at the same time pares the deficit, earning the backing of Republicans like Congressman Paul Ryan.

What's the meaning of the word "to" in the paragraph above? It seems to have some meaning of "relating to". Can you give me some more examples of its kind? Thanks.


texts: How to properly describe the problem statement?

texts:
We are given a set of 4 numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4]. If I want to write (1, 2), (2, 3), (3, 4), I would say: write every two consecutive elements in the set.

But if I want to write (1, 2), (3, 4), how can I say that?


texts:
What is the difference between by and near? According to Oxford living Dictionaries, the meanings seem to be identical

  by
  5. Indicating location of a physical object beside a place or object:

  near
  1. At or to a short distance away from (a place):

Which preposition should I choose between the two?

  I am sitting by/near the window.


texts: Which one is right: "somebody's else" or "somebody else's"?

texts: My gf (american) claims it's "somebody else's" while I tend to think "somebody's else" is right. What do you think?


texts: Word(s) for someone that pretends their misdeeds are not wrong

texts:
This word is used to define a psychological phenomenon where a person will try to use logic to believe something they don't. Such as when arguing (to themselves) that something they did is not wrong.

This word can also define someone trying to believe that things which contradict themselves don't do so.

If I am not mistaken, this word starts with the letter D.

As a psychological term, it possibly has the word "mental" in it.

(It's not rationalization)


texts:
Remove the screws securing the boards running from the right side of
  the crate to the left side.

I read this from a manual, and this is about how to unpack a package. Does "running from" refer to the boards? Does this mean that boards are surrounding the crate from the right side to left side? Or does this mean that I should remove screws from right side to left side?


texts:
I'm confused about whether I need to use is or are for "[noun (plural)] being [adj]".
The products being expensive is one thing, ... .
The products being expensive are one thing, ... .

I think "is" makes more sense as "being expensive" is the subject but I guess then it could be "are" as "the products {(which are) being expensive} are one thing".
Which one is correct?


texts:
If I were to succeed, I would have to toil a lot.

If I was to succeed, I would have to toil a lot.

If I am to succeed, I would have to toil a lot.

Which of the above sentences is incorrect? And why?


texts:
I came across the following sentence ( from "Applied Nonlinear Control book by SLOTINE"

"An important concept in phase plane analysis is that of a singular point."

It seems to me that saying "... is the singular point " is clearer that saying "... is that of a singular point". Am I correct? and what does "that of" in this context mean?


texts:
I was looking through Internet and I got confused about the Past simple of the verb "To do" as an auxiliary verb.

We all know the basic syntax that is:

Subject + auxiliary verb "to do" (past simple) + full verb (present simple) + complement

Example:

Mr. Johson did write a novel.

The thing is that I also saw another form of it and I want to ask you if is it correct.

Subject + Auxiliary verb "to do" (present simple) + full verb (past simple) + complement

Example:

Mr. Johnson does wrote a novel/Mr. Johnson wrote a novel


texts: Why "Your father just told me" would not be "Your father told me" without "just"

texts:
In Oscar a 1991 American slapstick crime comedy film directed by John Landis, I heard: "Your father just told me".

Here answer was: native speaker often omit, here it is "has" Your father has just told me as we see on this URL: What is correct "Your father just told me" or "Your father has just told me."

My question is: If native speakers often omit, why "Your father just told me" would not be "Your father told me" without "just" too?

Take care, all actors, mather, father, and daughter are together in a scene and daughter knows that "father has just told to her mother" because her mother has just arrived home.

My question is about omitted words in conversation why stop only on "has", why do not omit "just" also and "Your". If a conversation like short sentences, ok, let's go the shortest possible. "Father told me."


texts: what does this "interest" in this sentence exactly mean?

texts:
what does this sentence exactly mean?

  It's in the company's interest for you to do the course.


texts:
When she triggers Article 50, Mrs May will begin a two-year countdown to Brexit. The first couple of months will bring bureaucratic throat-clearing (the European Commission will lead the talks, with the European Council breathing down its neck).

Does it mean bureaucrats will clear their throat in a way that makes mood serious and uncomfortable?


texts:
"She's on her way. Let me know when she's here."

"I will."

Is "I will" natural here or how else could you respond to this other than "OK" or "Yes"?


texts:
The phone has a case in flowers.

Is the sentence correct or should I change it? (I mean the picture of flowers, that the case is covered with flowers.)

It seems to me strange and I would change it into:

  The phone case has flowers.

What's your opinion on that? Is the sentence in my question correct?


texts: How do I avoid repeating the same word several times?

texts:
I have written the following sentence, but I feel that it's too long, especially the number of the word "animal" is too many.
What's your idea about this? If so, please suggest me how to make it more academic and more concise.

  It is worth mentioning that, I have never ignored participating in extra-curricular activities. In my point of view, animals
  are our friends and deserve our compassion; Therefore, I joined an animal protection agency as an animal supporter
  activist to help build an animal-friendly environment by donating money to the charity and feeding unsheltered animals.


texts: They will never forget what you did / what you have done

texts:
They will never forget what you did.

  They will never forget what you have done.

Which one is correct?


texts:
I found it in a list of pet peeves of somebody in the internet through searching that what pet peeves mean. Now, I know what pet peeve is but there is another problem with "Live local!" which I want to know the exact meaning,usage and formality/informality rate.

Apparently, it means go and experience new things same locals from that area are doing it but I am not sure about this usage and also want to know the other usages if there is any more.

For example: Let's Live Local

Can I use it in my conversations with a native to encourage her/him in protecting local life in her/his hometown? Is this a common phrase or only a kind of esoteric phrase and inappropriate in the modern English?


texts: Is there a word that describes how sonic moves by spinning?

texts:
Sonic the hedgehog crossed the streets at lightning speed by ___
across the street.

I am not sure if spinning is the word, because it doesn't exactly mean "rolling one's body over and over again and in a fast manner", so I am wondering what's the right word or phrase to convey this meaning.


texts: "Fast accelerating" and "Slowly accelerating"

texts:
In a question on the Physics SE site I wanted to formulate the following sentence (a sentence consisting of two cases):

The fast accelerating person is in front. 2. The slowly accelerating person is in front.

In more words I can clarify this:

The person who is accelerating with a larger acceleration is in front. 2. The person who is accelerating with a smaller acceleration is in front.

I feel that the first version which is written in fewer words is wrong. The words "fast" and "slowly" don't seem consistent and might not fit correctly in the sentence.
Can the first version above be fixed while keeping it short and concise?


texts: What does “scratched himself in the mirror” mean?

texts:
One day Freddie Mercury met Sid Vicious and then Freddie was telling about the meeting:

  He had all these marks on him, so I asked if he had scratched himself in the mirror, and he hated the fact that I could speak to him like that.

What did he mean? Is it about shaving? Or maybe it is about MSR (mirror self-recognition test)?

Note: The quote above is from the book "Freddie Mercury: His life in his own words". But I found the original interview and in fact he said this: "Make sure to scratch yourself in the mirror properly today because tomorrow you're gonna get something else"


texts: Meaning and construction of “no way I could have …”

texts:
She turned up at the doorstep of my house in Cornwall. No
  way could I have sent her away. No way, not me anyway.

My question is :
Is "No way could I have sent her away"  an inverted sentence? Why should it be inverted?  If it was stated by declarative sentence, should it be :"I could have sent her away no way" or "I could have here away in no way"? Which one is correct?


texts: Can the word `task` on its own be used to refer to a physical place (e.g. short for `task surface`)?

texts:
In a paper about Photo-Electrically Controlled Lighting Systems by Francis Rubinstein et. al. (a native English speaker as far as I know) I've come across some wording that seems incorrect to me. The word task is used multiple times in a context where at other times task surface is used.

Examples for the usage of task surface in 3 different places in the paper:

  The ability of a photo-electrically controlled lighting system to
  maintain a constant total light level on a task surface by
  responding to changing day light levels (...)
  ..
  The first constraint is particularly important because the control
  objective is expressed in terms of the illuminance at the task
  surface (or work plane).
  ..
  (...) the control photo sensor is generally mounted in the ceiling
  rather than at the task surface, (...)

Examples fo the usage of task in 5 different places in the paper:

  We describe the major components (...), and derive expressions for each
  algorithm that express the total illuminance at the task as a function
  of the control photo sensor signal.
  ..
  We then use experimental data from scale models to demonstrate how the
  control algorithm and the photo sensor's geometry and location affect
  the ability of photo-electrically lighting systems to provide a
  specified illuminance level at the task.
  ..
  Although placing the photo sensor at the task would be ideal from
  an operational standpoint (...)
  ..
  For example, a ceiling-mounted photo sensor doesn't directly measure
  the illuminance at the task.
  ..
  By expressing each algorithm mathematically, we can derive expressions
  for the total light level at the task as a function of the
  daylight component of the photosensor signal and daylight on the
  task for each algorithm.

I think task surface should be used instead of task in the examples above. At least that's how I understand it. Using the word task on its own in those cases sounds incorrect to me but I'm no native speaker.
Is the usage of task on its own correct in the 5 examples above and if yes why? Can the word task on its own be used as a reference to a physical place?

It just seems odd to me when one speaks of a task having a light level or illuminance or placing a sensor at a task.


texts: Indirect speech: If Pres.Perf. becomes Past Perf. and Past Simple also becomes Past Perf. What was in direct sentence?

texts:
Could you please help me to realize the reverse operation. If Pres.Perf. becomes Past Perf. and Past Simple also becomes Past Perf. how can I define what was in direct speech?

For example: Indirect speech: "Bill asked Mary if she had done anything the previous weekend."

Which form was right for direct speech:

1) Have you done anything last weekend?
2) Did you do anything last weekend?


texts:
What is the difference between "increasingly less" and "decreasingly"?

Example:

Selling X is getting increasingly less profitable.
Selling X is getting decreasingly profitable.


texts: Preposition usage with locations on a webpage

texts:
For describing a section of webpage, for example, which should it be?

  ...logo at the top right of the page...

or

  ...logo in the top right of the page...

or

  ...logo on the top right of the page...


texts: Which is correct : 'unless the storm moves off' or 'unless the storm moved off'?

texts:
Time clauses for the future tense do not take future forms – in other words, these time clauses should not include will.

For Example:

  I will start when I am ready. (NOT I will start when I will be ready.)
  Wait by the bus stop until I come back. (NOT Wait by the bus stop until I will come back.)

OK, that's easy. But I'm confused with this sentence:

  The pilot announced that the plane would not be taking off unless the storm (moves / moved) off.

What is correct? Or both are possible?


texts:
The sentence I'm thinking about is:

  Trisomy is an aneuploidy (numerical chromosomal mutation) in which a chromosome is over-represented once.

Background:

Organisms like human beings have a pair of each type of chromosome; two Chr-1 two Chr-2 ..... two Chr-23; it has a pair of 23 chromosomes. So they are called diploids(2n, n=total types of chromosome, 23 in humans) (di means two). Now, Trisomy is a condition in which a diploid organism happens to have an extra copy of a particular chromosome (2n + 1), i.e. they have three copies of that chromosome and I'm trying to bring out the presence of a single extra copy of chromosome in the definition.

Edit:

I want to use a similar phrase to define tetrasomy too in which there are four copies of a particular chromosome- ....over-represented twice.

Can once be used with over-represented/under-represented in this way? If not how can it be framed?


texts:
I am a Japanese student.

I know some words that end with "ish" such as girlish and Turkish.
If I say "His learning style is Obamaish", does this make sense?


texts:
From A Cursory History of Swearing:

  It is certainly curious to witness the extremes to which the Scottish nation were prepared to go in legislating against the commission of this offence.

I can understand if that sentence rewrote to:

  It is certainly curious to witness that the Scottish nation were prepared to go in legislating against the commission of this offence.

So what does "the extremes to" means there?

By the way, should the "were" be "was" in "the Scottish nation were prepared"?


texts: Why use "the" in "a real need to understand something about **the seasons** "?

texts:
Up to now, historians have assumed that calendars came into being with the advent of agriculture, for then man was faced with a real need to understand something about the seasons.

I don't understand why the definite article "the" is used in this context, as "seasons" is plural, which describes the general concept of "seasons," and also there is no indication in the context that "the seasons" refer back to something mentioned before.
Thus, I suppose "the" should be deleted.


texts:
May I know is the following sentence grammatically correct?

  who comes to know of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew since you were very young?

Is the usage of "comes to know of" grammatically correct?

The sentence is asking someone whether he or she recognizes Mr. Lee Kuan Yew since he or she were bornt?


texts: Where to put 'directly' in this sentence

texts:
I wonder what is the right position of 'directly' in this sentence.

You can't get this skill directly at your birth.

or

You can't get this skill at your birth directly.

I prefer the former one, but I am not sure.


texts: What is the way to ask about someone's partner?

texts:
If my friend has got married to someone and I would like to ask my 3rd friend about him and his bride, what is the way to ask this?

I thought about two options:

  a) "Whom have he got married to?"

  b) "Whom did he get married to?"

Are they correct?


texts:
When to use the first and the second? For example:

  I was walking in the street when someone called me. "Hey, is that
  you?"

  I was walking in the street when someone called me out. "Hey, is that
  you?"


texts: How can I know the meaning of "Have been" without "For" or "Since"?

texts:
This question is about time.
If I just say to someone, for example, "You have been a fool", am I talking that the guy was a fool in the past and still being a fool in the present, or that the guy was a fool in the past(In some specific situation, etc.) and he isn't a fool in the present?
If the sentence is, for example, "You have been a fool since last year", the "meaning" is something like "You began to be a fool in some point of last year and still being a fool now", right?
But how can I know the "meaning" of "have been" if the sentence does not have "for" or "since"? If the sentence does not have any reference about time, does it means that the action does not have any link with the present and finished in the past?


texts:
If you stop now, you would regret it.

What kind of conditional is this?
It's not present unreal, since that would require 'stopped'.
But it's not listed under the mixed conditional either, on the sites that I've looked at (is there a definite number of mixed conditionals universally agreed upon in grammar)? I don't think it's just slightly incorrect form of the present unreal conditional either.


texts:
In the grammar test below, Why option 3 is not correct?

  Only where market failure occurs ------ to worry, and even such
  failure may tend to excessive conservation.

  1)is there perhaps cause (correct answer)

  2)does it perhaps cause

  3)it perhaps causes us

  4)perhaps there is cause us

I just could find the context source here.

Any help is really appreciated!


texts:
In the Longman Dictionary of Common Errors you read "When you ask for or give a discription of someone or something, use what ... like (NOT how): 'What's your new teacher like?' "
But I sometimes hear people say things like "How is your new teacher?" as a way of asking someone to describe someone or something.
To me, the response to that question could be "She's fine", not a description of the teacher's appearance or behavior, since I think of it as a question about someone's health or life condition, i.e. if they are well, happy, etc.
What about "How's the weather?" and "What's the weather like?" ? Do you see any difference?
Is it that the former is used to ask a question about if the whether is good or bad in a specific situation, and the latter to ask about the general weather conditions in a place? So one can say "What's the weather usually like in Torronto?" and the answer would be "Dry and cold." (I'm not really sure about the weather conditions there, though!), and "How's the weather today?" followed by the response "It's sunny today"
Or do they have the same meaning?


texts: What does it mean? "That reminds me that you paid for something else."

texts:
I bought some clothes for her.
1 hour later, she sent a text to me.
Thank you for buying these clothes.
"That reminds me that you paid for something else."

What did she mean by that? She thinks that I have a purpose to do something? or she tries to pay me back instead money?


texts:
I could say "I am leaving the day after tomorrow," but what if I want to reference the night before last night? Do I say, "I left the night before last night"? What do native speakers say both formally and informally in particular?
I researched the question but could not find a clear definite answer, and I do not want to speculate.


texts:
Do you use which or when in cleft sentences? If no, is there any grammar rule about this
For example,
It's money that we want. or It's money which we want.
It was today that I saw him. or It was today when I saw him.


texts: So, do we say "practise the piano on me" or "practise the piano with me"?

texts:
In the dictionary,

  practise: [intransitive, transitive] to do an activity, often
  regularly, in order to improve your skill or to prepare for a test

  practise something on somebody  Everybody wants to practise their
  English on me.

Also, in the dictionary

  play (something) (with/against somebody) to be involved in a game; to compete against somebody in a game

I am not sure if we can say "I played the piano with him"?

And "He practised the piano on me" or "He practised the piano with me"?


texts:
Isn't this usage of the word "fix" ambiguous?

Project management methods fix requirements in an effort to control time and cost. (here the supposed meaning of "fix" is: "settle", "specify", "agree in advance")

Is there a better choice to use in a project management contex?


texts:
I saw a sentence

She hoped to have done

Or a sentence, created with the same structure. I don'tunderstand how it works. Then I saw a full version of it:

She hoped that she had done

So, it's like a combination of Past Simple(hoped) + Past Perfect(had done) but combining them we can't have Past Perfect, we have  only perfect infinitive.

When I later saw

She can't have done

I didn't understand it, too. Since then I've been trying to create a full version of it which would be clear for me. I tried

It can't be possible that she has done - I was told it was incorrect

It can't be true that she has done - I was told it was incorrect, too

I also have such variants:

It can't be real that she has done

There can't be a possibility that she has done it

There can't be a probability that she has done it

Is there any sentence among those I wrote which can be equaled to "She can't have done"?


texts: Expression: "application to" or "application on"

texts:
I am trying to derive a title to my thesis and I am not a native English speaker.  So which one is the best form for expressing applications of methods:

"Probabilistic approaches in sensitivity analysis and inverse propagation of uncertainty, application to mathematical models in engineering"

or

"Probabilistic approaches in sensitivity analysis and inverse propagation of uncertainty, application  on  mathematical models in engineering"


texts:
Is it rude to say

"If you thought it, then you'd be foolishly wrong!"

?
Especially regarding the formal or semi-formal format of speech.
When I searched for a translation into my language (Russian), one source said that it means something like "very wrong". Is it so?


texts:
I looked up a good many of answers about subjunctives. But still, it's not clear in my head. I've made up some sentences for it. Could you please review and correct them?

< Wishes for the future >

  I wish he would be here.

This means "I'm sorry that he won't come."

  I wish he could be here.

This means "I'm sorry that he won't manage to come."

< Wishes for the present >

  I wish he be here.

This means "I insist he should be here". It sounds formal.

  I wish he were here.

This means "I'm sorry that he is not here."

  I wish he was here.

This means the same with above one yet more informal.

< Wishes for the past >

  I wish he would have been here.

(Not used.)

  I wish he could have been here.

This means "I'm sorry that he couldn't come."

  I wish he had been here.

This means "I'm sorry that he didn't come."

< For the past wishes >

  I wished + (above all, except 'be')

This means "I was sorry that (above all)"

Ex) I wished he were here. = I was sorry that he wasn't here.

  I wished he be here.

This means "I insisted that he should be here."

How close am I?


texts: What does "can see for doing something" mean?

texts:
It's for the 16 episode of the 9th season of Friends. Here it is:

Phoebe: Hi
Ross: Hey!
Phoebe: Listen, I wanted to ask you something about marriage.
Ross: Oh great now you're seeking me out to make jokes? I mean I can
see for all hanging out but to come to my home!
Phoebe: No...I really wanted to know how you feel about it.


texts: What is the shortest form to indicate a multiplication factor / a count / a number of available systems in a table heading?

texts:
I have to create a table similar to the one seen in the attached images. The table describes several systems with different parameters like volume etc.

In the second column I would like to give the number how often these systems exist in a certain plant. Unfortunately I have to keep the columns as short as possible to have enough space for the parameters.

What would be the shortest form in English to be used in the heading to indicate that the number/count of systems is meant. Are there any common abbreviations?


texts: What does "spread" mean in this context?

texts:
From the movie Lucky Number Slevin:

  So you go to the ticket window with your 20 grand in hand and you get 9 to 1 if the spread sticks.

It's about horse racing. I can't seem to find a definition in any online dictionary that would fit in the context.


texts: The subtle differences between undergo, experience and go through

texts:
Those who are living in apartments, sometimes may have to experience much decorating noise coming from their neighbors.

The definitions below are cited from Cambridge dictionary:

  Experience - If you experience something, it happens to you, or you feel it.
  Go through - to experience a difficult or unpleasant situation.
  Undergo - to experience something that is unpleasant or something that involves a change.

So I think it is fine to either use "undergo" or "go through" to replace "experience" in above sentence, but are there any subtle differences to use these alternatives?


texts:
Let see this example:

I hid the presents so that she wouldn't find them.
I hid the presents so that she couldn't find them.

The dictionary said:

  so that/in order that somebody/something would: used for saying why somebody does something

and  it didn't say the meaning of would.

Is would" the past form of "will"?
and "will" is used to predict something.

and "could" the past form of "can"?


texts: What do you call these little bits of the sky you see through a forest? Is there a word for it? Would you just use a word like little clear areas or holes? I am not sure how to express this.


texts:
The box has many things.

Is this a correct sentence? Or would it be better to write it as

  There are many things in the box.


texts: Effect of 'in which' - 'best case in which to suggest'

texts:
O'Sullivan & Hilliard's The Law of Contract (2018 8 ed). p. 81.

  4.24. While Walford was perhaps not the best case in which to suggest that a duty to negotiate
  in good faith was sufficiently certain, because there were few criteria in the agreement
  or otherwise to help the court to define what such a duty would mean in practice,
  Lord Ackner’s remarks go too far in suggesting that an obligation to negotiate in good
  faith should never be upheld: [...]

What'd differ  if in which were removed? What's the significance of in which? What are some formal terms describing this issue?


texts: Minus and plus a specific temperature degree (weather)

texts:
When we are going to say the weather temperature is below 0 degrees we use X degrees below zero or minus X degrees, but what about the contrary case?

For instance we would probably say something like:

  It's 3 degrees below zero centigrade today.
  It's minus 3 degrees today.

I know we would use the structure: X degrees above zero, but the question is that whether we can use the similar case as is in "minus" case and use the construction like:

  The tempreraure is plus i.e. 30 degrees C

When I search on the internet I don't encounter any sort of similar structure and it appears to me as if in "above zero" case, we can omit the adjective plus by default, because anybody knows that not mentioning below or above would mean it is plus as a default!

Do you confirm my take over this matter?


texts:
I came across the following phrase, and I would like to know what is the meaning of "had in charge" in this context.

"The order of Saint Lazar patronized the leprotics, the order of Saint loan had in charge Jerusalem patients in 1099".

I looked for "had in charge in" on google and I didn't find this idiom but I found "charge in" in meaning of "responsible for".


texts:
I abstract this broader question from this. I know that as a preposition, but = Except; apart from; other than.
1. Do the following 2 definitions of all but, contradict each other?
2. How do you determine/deduce the right meaning between <1> and <2>?

  <1>. Very nearly              <2>. All except

Update Oct 30 2014: User StoneyB answered that all but 'embraces WHATEVER falls short of entirety'. But  WHATEVER implies every notch in his scale above  forgotten (in his pink box in quotations),
so does this extensiveness  contradict <1> (ie: very nearly),
and user Dan Bron's Oct 26 comment (ie: all but =  just short of) ?

I tried https://ell.stackexchange.com/a/10671/8712 and the following  on ELU but remain mystified:
“to be all but X” | the 2 paras under 'She was all but killed by the assassin.' | “He all but [did something]” | “All but” idiom has two meanings? | “All but convinced” as a way of saying that one is, in fact, convinced?.


texts:
The Colosseum or coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering.
Occupying a site just east of the Roman Forum, its construction started between 70 and  72 A.D. under the emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 A.D. under Titus, with further modifications being made during Domitian’s reign.

I wonder what is the basic sentence of “Occupying a site just east of the Roman Forum”.
The basic sentence is "the emperor Vespasian occupied a site just east of the Roman Forum.", right?
I don’t know what is the subject of “Occupying”.
Is it possible to say "Occupyied a site just east of the Roman Forum" and the subject is "its constructions".?


texts:
[Wake me up] Wake me up inside [I can't wake up] Wake me up inside
[Save me]

https://evanescence.fandom.com/wiki/Bring_Me_to_Life_(song)
I guess it is, but what does it mean? Wake me up from the inside of my dreams? I am trying to make sense of it, but it doesn't sound idiomatic and it sounds odd to me.


texts: Demonstrative 'that' + indefinite pronoun 'someone'

texts:
Is it grammatically sound to refer back to the unspecific pronoun 'someone' via the use of 'that' before it? For example:

  I heard someone gave it to him as a present. That someone must have been really rich.

Is the above usage correct? Or does grammar necessitate that it be replaced by 'That person' or something else?

Bonus question, is it grammatical to say 'a certain someone' as a way of alluding to a specific yet unknown person?


texts: What does the sentence "Songs often speak of or sing of the importance of music to the heart and to the soul"?

texts:
Songs often speak of or sing of the importance of music to the heart and to the soul.

How should I analyze the above sentence? Is "songs" the subject, "speak of/sing of" the verb?

But how can "songs" speak something?

Can anyone please explain the meaning of this sentence?

The above sentence is from a youtube video. Below is the link. The line is at about 2:56

bbc learning english


texts:
Is this sentence grammatical?

  You look weak

Because look is a transitive verb, it needs a direct object. So can Weak be a direct object here? Or could it be look is a noun here?


texts: Using Simple present tense for future event / Plan / Schedule

texts:
Can we use simple present tense to communicate our future plans? Actually recently I read some strange sentences like,

a) The plane arrives at 18.00 tomorrow.

b) She has a yoga class tomorrow morning.

c) Next Thursday at 14.00 there is an English exam.

So with reference to my above examples. Can I use simple present tense to tell my next day plans? Or Shall I use will in sentence? Or both will be ok?

E.g

Que: What are your plans tomorrow?

Ans a): Tomorrow early morning first I go to Morning walk and then I have a meeting at 10.00 with XYZ.

Or Simply I use will in my sentence.

Ans b): Tomorrow early morning first I will go to Morning walk and then I have a meeting at 10.00 with XYZ.


texts: Simple Past or Past Continuous? - Action taking place in the middle of another action

texts:
I am a newbie and I have a problem with this sentence, should I use past continuous or past simple?

  When I realized that no one was paying any attention to me I decided
  to go home. But just as I was leaving the party a beautiful blond
  girl....(walk) through the door and....(smile) at me.

Some of my friends tell me the answer is: walked and smiled => Because it's an "action taking place in the middle of another action".

Some of the other said: was walking and smiling.

I'm so confused.


texts: Difference between "extreme peril", "mortal danger" and "grave danger"?

texts:
I have encountered a phrase, that sounds quite natural to me:

  puts their lives in grave danger

But I have also found two more phrases that should share a similar meaning:

extreme peril;
mortal danger.

What are the difference between those three?


texts:
I am writing a formal documents for describe health status according to type of job. I want to compare office workers and blue collar worker (non office worker) but I am confused what is the formal word of "blue collar workers" for documents.

Could I just use blue collar workers or non office workers? or There were better words for me.


texts:
The new businesses' venture.

Does this example require an apostrophe with businesses.

What would be multiple businesses if this is just one businesses' venture. (Would you have to say: the group of businesses venture, for instance?)


texts:
https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/22644/by-vs-per-which-one-should-i-use-on-expressions-like-pl-geography-or-va

I saw this post.

I’d like to know how to use “by” in the meaning of “per”.
For example, I can say the systems per country as the meaning of “the systems of each country”.

Then how can I use “by” on this meaning?

Should I put an article like “the systems by the country”?

Thanks.


texts:
Jane Marple was an elderly spinster and amateur detective in the village of St. Mary Mead. An Agatha Christie creation, she appeared in 12 novels, starting with Murder in The Vicarage. Although Margaret Rutherford made her famous on the cinema screen during the 1950s and 60s, it is Joan Hickson’s portrayal of her in the classic 1980s BBC series that is closest to the books.

Though she often seemed to be nothing more than a gossipy old woman, Miss Marple was quicker to get information out of suspects than local copper inspector Slack, and her willingness to put herself in dangerous situations meant that she always caught the criminal.


texts: Why is it wrong to say "We'll meet on next Monday"?

texts:
I heard that it was wrong and we use:

  We'll meet next Monday.

This is apparently because we don't use on before next. Is this true and why? It sounds good to me. Is it just an idiomatic thing?


texts: What is the meaning of ``it'' among the sentences?

texts:
There are several texts below and made a bold mark on the [Verb it that] sequence. What I am interested is whether there is a idiom-like meaning between [Verb it that] sequence. If not, what does pronoun it refer to in each sentence..?

[Text1]

"No. But it was afraid it might have sinned . '' She pointed at me.

"That is your fault, for teaching it that sexual behavior is sinful. But, physiologically, sexual contact between solcetaceans isalways pleasurable for all parties involved."

[Text2]

All her life Marilyn " Trish " Robinson Ringell suffered from severe asthma. As a teenager she had to take such strong medicine to control it that it would make her slim, just-over-100-pound body so hyperactive that she felt shewas coming out of her skin.

[text3]

I don't know. I don't question it that stuff keeps on coming back.

[text4]

she shut her eyes and chewed the meat of my psyche and refused to let go until it thundered. She dug it that I took her to Chez Police, and her digging went down through multiplestrata.

[text5]

I think that it is important when the most powerful country in the world looks at an international organization that we need to have somebody that's heading it that we believe is suitable to take it into a dynamic new age.

[text6]

It is here on Moresby Island and the small islands that flank it that the remains of the ancient Haida culture are most evident. The whole southernhalf of the archipelago, called Gwaii Haanas, is a Haida Heritage Site.

[text7]

In this particular speech without any reference to what his record was -- and we can certainly talk about that -- he attacked Bush on the war on terrorism and that he's conducting it that it's undermining domestic freedom.


texts:
Does it mean "But few exporters could benefit from it"?

"Rarely mentioned among explanations for the above is the Aussie dollar: five years ago the strong currency was a bonanza for consumers who could buy cheap goods from overseas; a 25 percent depreciation since then has been a boon for exporters but few others. In addition, while a spike in commodity prices in the past 12 months sent corporate profits surging, almost none of that money has made its way to workers."

Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-12/australians-are-divided-over-their-economy-like-never-before


texts: In the sentence "The American automaker is scheduled to make tough labor and production cuts." What does "make tough labor" mean?


texts:
What's the difference between the following sentences:

1 I will be there at 6 pm.

2 I will arrive at 6 pm.

3 I will show up at 6 pm.

Does the second one make sense if, for example, I'm going to a party?


texts: Does "Our goal in creating this series was twofold" mean "Our goal when creating this series was twofold"?

texts:
Does "Our goal in creating this series was twofold" mean "Our goal when creating this series was  twofold" ?

What is the exact difference in the meaning between "Our goal in creating this series was twofold" and "Our goal creating this series was twofold" ?


texts:
In a form A, B, and C, do I need to use articles in all A, B, C?

  This model is an abstraction of a lower hardware layer, an upper software layer, and a connection between them.

Or can I skip some?

  This model is an abstraction of a lower hardware layer, upper software layer, and a connection between them.

Or all but one?

  This model is an abstraction of a lower hardware layer, upper software layer, and connection between them.


texts:
Novak on TV: Alex, I don't know if you can hear me. But tonight, you uncovered a nest of vipers inside the Detroit Police Department. And in so doing, you shed light on an invaluable truth. Even the police, the men and women who swore to keep us safe, they can be bribed. They can be bought. Machines, however, are corruption free. Americans could be living in a country where law enforcement is not only efficient, but incorruptible. Thank you, Alex, for all you've done. And for all that you are.
-- Robocop 2014

These are the lines uttered by Novak on TV. I wonder why could be living is used rather than could live. Any nuances suggested? Is be living the present tense embedded in the modal construction?


texts:
I'm facing a question in a legal document that asks

Do you currently have a valid visa or leave to remain as a dependant of a migrant?

To which of the parts should I associate "as a dependant of a migrant"? I mean, does this mean:

Do you currently have a valid "visa" or "leave to remain as a dependant of a migrant"?

or

Do you currently have a valid "visa [as a dependant of a migrant]" or "leave to remain as a dependant of a migrant"?

This is confusing me, and indeed the answer is very important as they are only Yes or No. Thanks for your help.


texts: Can compound relative pronoun be omitted?

texts: The sentence "we can do to keep them down is great", which I used the grammar webpage to check. The grammar webpage is showing it is correct. But I think the more correct sentence would be "whatever we can do to keep them down is great".  It is means "whatever" can be omitted, right?


texts: Explanation for a joke about a three-legged dog that walks into a bar

texts:
I came across this joke on the internet:

  A three-legged dog walks into a bar and says to the bartender, 'I'm looking for the man who shot my paw'

It is meant to be a "dad joke" but I don't understand it. What does it mean?


texts: How to use a word when its meaning is both countable & uncountable?

texts:
A meaning of a noun in English may be both countable & uncountable.

For example,

The Longman dictionary says:

  fruit [countable, uncountable]: something that grows on a plant, tree,
  or bush, can be eaten as a food, contains seeds or a stone, and is
  usually sweet

  Fruit is usually uncountable:

  I love fruit.

  ✗Don’t say: I love fruits.

  • Fruit is used as a countable noun when talking about particular
  types of fruit:

  They grow mainly citrus fruits.

Cambridge Dictionary says

  Some abstract nouns can be used uncountably or countably. The
  uncountable use has a more general meaning. The countable use has a
  more particular meaning.

  Nouns of this type include: education, experience, hatred, help,
  knowledge, life, love, sleep, time, understanding.

For example, when "fruit" is a countable noun, it is more specific "My favorite fruits are apples & oranges" (I am not sure it is correct??? Maybe, "My favorite fruits are apple & orange")

& when "fruit" is an uncountable noun, it is more general "I love fruit" or "fruit is good for health"

However, look at the word "sport".

  For British people, "Sport" can be both countable & uncountable nouns

  So, British people will say "I love sport" (general reference) &
  "Football & basketball are my favorite sports" (specific reference)

  However, for American,  "Sport" can be a countable noun only. So,
  American people would say "I love sports" (general reference) &
  "Football & basketball are my favorite sports" (specific reference)

  Source

To sum up, my question is that does the following statement correct?

"If a meaning of a noun are both countable & uncountable, then its uncountable meaning refers to a more general reference & its countable meaning refers to a more specific reference"


texts: Do the expressions "From the Right" and "from the Left" have an idiomatic meaning?

texts:
I was reading this transcript and I couldn't achieve to understand the end of the following extract:

  Beavan kept a blog of his experience by powering his laptop with a
  solar cell, and when it first got traction, there was a lot of hate.
  Not from the Right, but from the Left. [And then, the author is quoting some hateful words people have said to Beaven]

Obviously here the meaning of "left" and "right" isn't about directions.

I feel like they are actually designating some groups of people. So I am wondering if they were about political parties, like in the French language. But it doesn't make sense for me either, as I don't think that people of a political affiliation has more reasons to criticize Beaven's work than the other. Futhermore, it seems even more confusing to me that conservative and reactionary people have fewer things to say against a suggestion of a quite radical change in favour of environment, than the revolutionary ones. Or perhaps does the author kind of insist, because it is so surprising? Anyway, the rest of the transcript seems, not to talk anymore about political colours of people, so this short and single mention of this topic seems weird to me.

Indeed I checked definitions of right and left in a dictionnary, but I didn't find anything that has enlightened me. Meanings were mostly either about politics, directions, or about "being right", If I read them well.

Therefore, did I miss another meaning of "from the right" and "from the left" ?


texts: "I want [to make] IT" but "The fan asked HER [to leave]" - why objects have different positions relative to infinitive verbs?

texts:
Could anyone please tell me the sequence of object and infinitive verb in sentence as some time infinitive verb comes before object, whereas some time it comes later?

So is there any rule? Or how to decide orders of them?

  I want to make it (Infinitive verb comes before object)
  The crazed fan even threatened to blow up his house when he asked her to leave. (object comes before Infinitive verb)

Please help me understand the above one.

Thanks,
Charmi


texts: episode and # -- can the two be used together?

texts:
For example, on the Internet, there's a podcast for ESL learners called Culips (they are based in Montreal, Canada). They have two kinds of podcasts there—one is called Catchword and the other one Chatterbox. When they begin their podcasts, they usually say something like this, "Hello, English learners and we're back with another Chatterbox episode for you." I've recently started downloading their podcasts and now I want to give the files that I've downloaded proper titles (in so-called MP3 tags). I was just wondering what would be the right way (grammatically, semantically or whatever) to name a particular episode of the podcast. For instance:

  Catchword Episode 156: Movers and Shakers

Does that sound alright to you? Or maybe this one is better (with the pound sign):

  Catchword Episode #156: Movers and Shakers

And how would you say that now? "catchword episode number one hundred fifty-six"?

Please feel free to chime in with your suggestions.


texts: What expression somewhat similar to 'that said' can I use to separate a whole group of sentences from the next?

texts:
I want to begin a sentence with 'All said put aside, [...]'. Google can't find one single instance of using this phrase. What can I use instead?

And what's grammatically wrong with it (if anything)? 'All the said put aside' gives the same nothing on Google.

'Nevertheless' and other options, such as 'that said', serve best when there's an opposition or some sort of contradiction with just one or two previous sentences. In my case, there are many sentences, that's why I want to bring in the pronoun 'all'. I'm seeking to clearly separate one group of sentences from the other without starting a new paragraph. There's even not much contradiction. It's something more like "this group of things has this purpose, but this particular thing also has this specific purpose".


texts: How to use a verb 'CHANGE' in this situation?

texts:
Here's the context.
I loved fried chicken but my ex said it is too grisy and unhealthy. And unbelieveably, I became sick of eating it. In this situation, can I say like this?

She changed me in the way I eat.

I have changed in the way I eat because of my ex.

She affected me in the way I eat.

She has changed the way I eat by saying that fried chicken is unhealthy.

The way I eat has changed because of my ex.

I think all of these are possible to use, but I am only comfortable with #5,4. Are all of them possible to use with out changing meaning?


texts:
description:

  someone has a lyrics for the song and I discussed its plot and probable outcome

sentence (mixed):

  It would be great song If it hadn't had such lyrics (but, in fact, it has)

explanation:

(second conditional + third conditional)

  a condition clause (protasis) has an impact on the present state (it would be great NOW)

  a consequence clause (apodosis) couldn't be undone and it was in the past