texts: What does (social function) mean in that sentence?

texts:
what is the (social function) mean in this sentence?
(He never goes to any social function unless his wife can come with him.)


texts: Prepositional phrase + Verb + Subject, sentence structure

texts:
I saw a sentence like:

  "Behind me lies a dog."

It has peculiar sentence structure in order of "Prepositional phrase" + "Verb" + "Subject".

What is this called? And when is this used? And could you explain me whole concept of this?


texts:
Why must we use "so that" in the first sentence and "so" in the second one?

  Let me know when you are going to send it so (that) I can make the payment.
  I've bought some fruits so you don't need to go to the grocery when you arrive.

I don't understand the difference between the use of so and so that in these sentences.

Both can answer to the question "why".

  Why must you let know when you are going to send it? To make the payment.
  Why have I bought some fruits? To avoid going to the grocery to you.

I've bought some fruits in the intent of avoiding to go to the grocery in this sentence: not going to the grocery is not a result, but the purpose of buying some fruits for me, but I know I'm wrong.

The difference for me is not clear.


texts: Does "fairly" mean "relatively" or some level between them?

texts:
The lecturer is saying

  Initially the gradient is positive and fairly constant, but for it drops to zero at the peak, it then becomes negative for a period before returning to zero.

Cambridge gives this explanation about fairly

  more than average, but less than very

which seems not to be the case here.

assume the initial part is the time frame between the starting point, shown above, and somewhere shown below

Technically, in the initial part, the gradient (the slop of the orange line) is not a constant. but it could be viewed as a constant, when compared to the one shown below.

If the meaning "more than average" is taken, where is the average? So, it seems that "fairly" mean "relatively" in this case, is my understanding right?


texts: Why would the author write 'and happy indeed I was' instead of 'and I was happy indeed' in this passage?

texts:
My courtiers called me the Happy Prince, and happy indeed I was, if pleasure be happiness."

Why didn't the author say "and I was happy indeed"?

"If pleasure be happiness," as I see it, should be "If pleasure was happiness." However,I am wondering if it is a subjunctive use, and should has been omitted here.

The full sentence may be like the following.

  If pleasure should be happiness, I was happy indeed.

I am not sure about it. Am I right?


texts: What perfect predators vs. how perfect predators

texts:
I have a question.

I work as an EFL teacher and I came across this sentence in a cloze exercise about a shark attack.

"It just goes to show you what perfect predators they really are."

A number of students wrote

"It just goes to show you how perfect predators they really are."

Now, I understand that what is clearly correct and that how sounds and looks wrong, but I can't really explain why (and as a teacher, I would like to).

If the noun was singular, you could re-write it as

"It just goes to show you how perfect of a predator the shark is."

I know this structure is commonly used, even though I'm not certain as to how accepted it is. At any rate, I don't believe I've ever heard it used with a plural noun. Would it be possible? If so, how?

Thanks for your help.


texts: would you throw a light on the concept of the sentence?

texts:
In these clinical cases, as in other phobias, the more likely cause is a displacement of diffuse anxiety to an external focus which can be avoided.

I am wondering what this sentence could mean or what is the concept if it.

What is more, would you please in a more readily way show me what is meant by the word clinical cases?

And, really what does external focus mean there??

Extracted from the following; Psychopathology:

Any feed-back would be greatly appreciated

I cannot yet get the following:

  the ... cause is a displacement of diffuse anxiety to an external focus which can be avoided.

UPDATED:Thanks. Yet, could anyone please show me the concept of the sentence through a vivd example?


texts:
I am listening to Rihanna's song Stay ft

and this is the lyrics

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/rihanna/stay.html

I found this sentence

  It's not just something you take–it's given

Could you tell me please why there is a hyphen there?


texts: What does a $468 million write-down against“abnormal production costs” mean here?

texts:
I wonder if the production costs increased or decreased in this case?
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/write-down_2

The company lost a whopping $15.25 a share in the fourth quarter on an
adjusted basis that took Wall Street by surprise; analysts had
forecast a loss of $1.80 share. The company also booked a $468 million
write-down against “abnormal production costs” on the 737 Max program.

Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/27/boeing-ba-q4-2020-earnings.html


texts: I have a question about the word-usage of "less." Does the sentence "This winter is less cold than last one." make sense?


texts:
I happened to see an article talking about mental health with the title:

10 things your mental health is more important than.

There they listed the 10 things which are less important than our mental health. The sentence structure seems somewhat strange or at least I am not familiar with structures like these. Could you please shed some light on it?


texts: The use of the definite article with word "people" in context

texts:
Tell me please if I need to use the definite article in the following sentence:

  (The) French people cannot live without wine and cheese.

What I want say that in general the French adore wine and cheese. I am aware the use of the could mean some specific french people, but also that the could be used to refered to the whole group. I am confused because I heard people drop the the article in similar contexts.


texts:
I needed some items from a retailer so I want to send an e-mail to get the list of the available items and their specification.

Is it ok to say:

  It will be convenient if you could send that to my mail.

Is "convenient" the appropriate term? Or would another adjective be better?


texts: What is your choice, pain or headache or trouble?

texts:
Person A: Could you come to my home to pick up this document?

Person B: Sorry, it is sort of "headache" or "pain" or "trouble", because your home is too far away from my home.

Are they all correct? If so, which one is more common in colloquial AmE?


texts:
I’m curious which sentence is correct and why.

  I let it ran.

  I let it run.

The context of the conversation is in reference to an event that occurred in the past.


texts: When to use "am not" and "do not" in a sentence

texts:
"I don't know what I'd do without you"
"I'm not know what I'd do without you"

Are these sentences correct?
What are the rules to use "not" in a sentence?
To what is not pointing in the above sentences?


texts: How to systematically collect advanced vocabulary?

texts:
I am currently adding upper-intermediate and advanced vocabulary flashcards in Anki, and I'm using a lot of sources for that, like

books ("English Vocabulary in Use Upper-Intermediate/Advanced", anthologies in English, but with translated vocabulary as footnotes, picture dictionaries, etc.)
websites (vocabulary.com)
apps (IELTS and GRE apps)
Wikipedia, newspaper articles etc. (I simply write everything down I
don't know and add it)

However, since I've started doing that I've always had the wish to do it more systematically and faster.
I'm looking for a collection of advanced vocabulary that is neither too trivial, nor too specialized. It shouldn't contain words like "door", "flower" or "car", but it doesn't have to contain words like "homotropic", "Epicurean" or "epenthesis" either. A collection that contains words like "wisdom tooth", "exuberance" or "cantakerous"; words that you normally don't learn at school when you learn English as a second language, but that a native speaker of English usually knows. Or to put it differently, a collection of non-trivial everyday vocabulary.

There is only one collection I've found yet that vaguely addresses my needs, Advanced English 2014. It contains about 45,000 words, phrases etc. from beginner to advanced. However, I'd have to buy Supermemo together with it, and since it is for Windows only I'd always have to switch my OS (Usually, I use Linux). Is there something else around that concentrates on intermediate and advanced vocabulary, but doesn't stop at 1,000 or so words?

(I've seen "Resources for learning English" on Meta, but there is nothing which really addresses this specific question.)


texts: Can the infinitive form of a verb be considered an object?

texts:
This question was given to a friend of mine:

"at the moment, I peered at the water and made the decision to plunge in"
How many verbs are there?

She said three (peered,made, plunge in) and I would agree with her, anyway the teacher said two.

We don't know why the teacher said so, anyway I think it is because "to plunge in" is used as an object in this sentence:
"I made the decision to plunge in"

is that correct? Or the teacher is wrong?


texts: Acknowledge, show, let on Vs. demonstrate

texts:
Imagine two people are talking about something privately and someone else just passes through the way they are staying and unwantedly, hears an important issue from among their' words, but does not show that he / she heard it and goes away.
One of them says:

  I know that he / she heard what you said, but he / she didn’t....................it.

which choice would be a more natural one in this self-made sentence of mine?

  a) acknowledge

  b) show

  c) demonstrate

  d) let on it / let it on


texts: Why does the word 'much' seem awkward in this sentence?

texts:
*I need to practice the piano 'a lot' before the concert.*

Using 'a lot' vs 'much' sounds better, but how do I explain this since 'a lot' and 'much' can be used for uncountable items. Is it incorrect to use 'much' or is it just more common to use 'a lot'?


texts:
I was reading a book, but when I reached this statement, I could not continue to do that because I did not understand it. Please tell me what the author want to say in this statement:

For a short while, his death infused otherwise banal and empty experiences with import and meaning.


texts:
Kaldren returned to his seat and lay back quietly, his eyes gazing across the lines of exhibits. Half-asleep, periodically he leaned up and adjusted the flow of light through the shutter, thinking to himself, as he would do through the coming months, of Powers and his strange mandala, and of the seven and their journey to the white gardens of the moon, and the blue people who had come from Orion and spoken in poetry to them of ancient beautiful worlds beneath golden suns in the island galaxies, vanished for ever now in the myriad deaths of the cosmos.
Ballard, J. G. The Complete Stories of J. G. Ballard

Does "through the shutter" modify "the flow of light"? I ask because I didn't find "adjust something + adverb/preposition" collocation in the dictionary. Thus, I don't think it's an object complement.
What does island galaxies mean? "vanished" modify island galaxies or worlds?


texts:
I stumbled upon one rule about web design and can't put my finger on what on earth the author meant. What is "a type scale" in this context? Is it implied that fonts must be paired depending on the contrasting effect when they are placed close together?

  Design is a series of rules, whether you realize it or not. There are some simple, explicit rules. Lines of text should be around 66 characters wide. Text colors should have appropriate contrast so as to be accessible. Widows and rivers in paragraphs of text should be avoided; the variations in a type scale reduced to provided juxtaposition to each other. Full text


texts: What is the meaning of "given at least"?

texts:
what is the meaning of following similar sentences ?

what is the probability of two girls given at least one girl
Suppose a family has 2 children, one of which is a boy. What is the probability that both children are boys?

My understanding of sentence one : There are two people. One of them is a girl. Find the probability of the next person being a girl.

But it is incorrect !.


texts: what is difference between two words, 'continual' and 'continuous'?

texts: Can you explain difference of these two words and give me some example sentences showing difference well?


texts: What is the meaning of "I make this appointment"?

texts:
When we call a doctor's office, we say,

  I want to make an appointment.

However, I saw another use of this expression. It was like this:

  I'm very busy. I make this appointment only since I take it this is urgent for you.

What is the meaning of this expression? Does it mean "I am answering (or am present for) this appointment only since..."?


texts: Usage and meaning of 'would prefer to have+past participle

texts:
What is the meaning "would prefer to have+past participle " in the following sentences:

I would prefer to have stayed at a small family-run hotel than a big international chain.
I would prefer to have travelled by train.

In my opinion, both of these sentences express regret, and I think both 'to have stayed' and 'to have travelled' can be replaced by  using 'should have' + past participle.

For example:
1. I should have stayed at a small family-run hotel than a big international -Chain.

I should have travelled by train.

I'm not sure and it's just my opinion. So, could you please tell meaning and uses of 'would prefer to have'+p.p ?


texts: Difference between continuous and simple

texts:
If I ask someone "How do your parents punish you this year", am I asking him what his parents do when they catch him doing bad, but only this year?
Whereas in "How are your parents punishing you this year", it means he is being punished at the moment?


texts: You don’t sound American. vs You don’t sound like an American

texts:
Could you explain the difference if it is between two sentences?
I know about adjective and noun. But I would like to know about these sentences used in life (perhaps with some examples).

  You don’t sound American.

  You don’t sound like an American.

TIA


texts:
Consider the following sentence:

  "We will have dinner (at/in/on) (-/a/the) restaurant"

I believe that if I mention restaurant for the first time, then I always must use "I am at a restaurant". So I can't say "I will have a dinner at,in,on the restaurant".

I am so confused about which option is more common, correct and natural to say.

Please, help me with this sentence and the prepositions within it.


texts: What does 'a binary mobile' mean in the year of 1983?

texts:
I read from the book SICP

  Exercise 2.29.  A binary mobile consists of two branches, a left
  branch and a right branch. Each branch is a rod of a certain length,
  from which hangs either a weight or another binary mobile. We can
  represent a binary mobile using compound data by constructing it from
  two branches (for example, using list):

What's a 'binary mobile', I search exhaustively by words and images yet find just a mobile phone? Nevertheless, it make no sense to say "a binary mobile phone"

The book was written in 1983, what did mobile mean then?


texts:
For earlier generations, buying food or consumer products involved
  visiting several shops, each with the same limited range on
  offer. (Source.)

Is marked phrase an absolute clause?

I have made an another example with the same construction I think. Is that sentence below correct?

  The choir consisted of five people, each with a unique voice.


texts: What's the difference between "to verb" and "verb ing"?

texts:
It's good judgment to recycle your aluminum cans.
  To recycle your aluminum cans is good judgment.
  Recycling your aluminum cans is good judgment.

The #1 is the example sentence of "recycle" in my dictionary.
Suddenly I got curious.
Are the 3 sentences all the same in meaning completely?
I'm wondering if there are any differences between "to verb" and "verb ing".


texts: "I don't know how's Jack": the word order

texts: This jazz chant is called "I don't know how's Jack". Why isn't the word order in the title like this "...how Jack is"?


texts:
I've been breaking my head for a long time now on whether to use "have" or "had" in certain cases.

For example:

  "I have ordered three books. Yet, only two of those had arrived."

The thing is, in the first sentence, it is stated that  I ordered the three books in the past, so by that logic it would be fitting to use "had". But on the other hand, it is relevant to this current statement, so "have" seems like another good option.

In the second sentence, the two books arrived in the past, so "had" is what I chose to use. But it seems like "have" would have been another good fit, since it implies that the books are currently in my possession.

So the question is: are these two words correctly placed and used in the example?  And may I hear a more elaborate explanation about their correct usage?


texts: The article "a" can be replaced with "any"?

texts:
The following sentence "The stored program used by "a computer " permits complex solution procedures to be reprogrammed."
My instructor said in this sentence "a computer" defines any computers use stored program. Is it correct? I saw some post explains that  "*A madrigal is popular." is ungrammatical because being popular is not a requirement of being a madrigal. But they brought active voice in the explanation. This time I encountered passive voice is used in the sentence.


texts: Difference between "kid", "boy", "child", "children"

texts:
I have a question.

What is the difference between entre kid, boy, child, children

When is it used?


texts: How do native speakers say withered or withering in these senses?

texts:
The leaf is soft and drooping due to lack of water, may recover after watering.
The leaf has turned brown and crumbling.


texts: What's the meaning of elements in this sentence?

texts:
“I appreciate your having battled the elements to come here and tell us so.”

What's the meaning of elements?


texts:
I have a problem with such a sentence:

  Today is used not only lime, soda ash and sodium sulfide but also trithiocarbonates.

I am not certain whether all elements needed are included.

Will the following version be ok?

  Today, it is used not only lime, soda ash and sodium sulfide but also trithiocarbonates.

Maybe this version is better?

  Today, there is used not only lime, soda ash and sodium sulfide but also trithiocarbonates.

From comments: But the main thing is that I want this sentence to be like a suggestion. I want to express that currently there are more widely used substances (except from these mentioned) for this specific purpose.

I am ready to see your suggestions.


texts: What does "skipped" mean in "Caroline skipped the better part of childhood"?

texts:
I have checked the Longman dictionary definition of skip:

  not do something [transitive] informal to not do something that you usually do or that you should do (SYN miss)

I still can't understand the meaning of the word 'skip' in this sentence:

  Caroline skipped the better part of childhood.

I need the contextual meaning.


texts:
I have problems with using articles. Sometimes I'm not sure on whether I should put one or not. So, I am wondering, what if I just stop putting articles when I'm in doubt?

And I know that it is annoying when people make mistakes, right? My question is, what would be worse, if I put an article somewhere it doesn't belong, or if I don't put an article somewhere where it's necessary?

Thank you


texts:
I was skimming through "Information Security" by Mark Stamp. Each chapter has some weird (but, nice) quote. Today, I came across something inconceivable. It said,

  "... if you'd like it, put more simply - Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise." - Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland)

I don't understand how that's simple. Is there a better way to grasp this horror?


texts: what's the meaning of "give a more open path"?

texts:
Aronson noted that the shift in release date from Nov. 25 to early
  October gave the film a more open path at the box office, where it could play well through the month.

What's the meaning of "give a more open path"? I guess it means that the movie can be screened for a longer period?


texts: Can adjectives in the dependent clause be used to describe the subject when they follow it?

texts:
Can I use adjectives in the dependent clause to describe the subject of the sentence like this? Is this grammatically correct?

Her voice cut through the night, hoarse and scared.

(Are "hoarse" and "scared" correctly describing her voice, or should the adjectives be moved before "Her voice"?)

Her words cut him off, rude and condescending.

(Are "rude" and "condescending" correctly describing her words?)


texts: Can "resonate with something" mean inspire or move someone?

texts: E.g if a saying or a quote is very inspirational, can we use it resonates with me? Or could someone please suggest more words for moved or inspirational?


texts: You're all ignoring the fact VS You all are ignoring the fact

texts:
Which one is correct?

  You're all ignoring the fact [that ...]

  You all are ignoring the fact [that ...]


texts:
Today, I came across a sentence

  He provides all students with a new badge and belt

When I read about it, I found that "with" can also be used to describe when someone receives something

In this sentence, all students receive a new badge and belt.Therefore
"with" has been used.

My question is:

If I change a sentence "He gives us salary" to "He gives us with salary". Will it be a mistake?


texts: What is the word that means ready to step into battle whenever necessary? It's used to describe someone often in the military on standby basically.


texts:
Can I use "carry a child" to replace "carry a pregnancy"? Are there any single-word verbs I can use in this sense?

  Surrogacy is an arrangement or agreement whereby a woman agrees to carry a pregnancy for another person or persons, who will become the newborn child's parent(s) after birth.


texts: Is it a good practice to map English words and verb tenses to my own native language?

texts:
I've a general question about understanding and memorizing English words and phrases. Sometimes when I read a sentence or phrase with complex verb tenses (like continuous perfect forms) I can't understand and get sense immediately, I should do some mapping/translating to my own native language. So my question is :

Translating/mapping English words, specially verb tenses, to my native language, Is it a good practice or not?

I'm not sure but I've read a couple of days ago in somewhere in the Internet that says doing so could leads to worse performance on learning English.

What factual information indicates whether mapping English tenses to the tenses in my native language will help or harm my learning of English tenses?


texts: What does the phrase "entrenched software" mean here?

texts:
I am not sure the meaning of the phrase "entrenched software" in the following sentence:

  The company was more concerned about persuading professional designers
  who’d been using entrenched software to make a switch.

Here is some context. The company has transformed itself by developing new photo and designing apps. However, in the early phase it was not easy for the company to convince the users who were using "entrenched software".

There are two possibilities. The word "entrenched" may mean "established" or it may mean "installed" in the specific context of photo software

Any suggestions?


texts: Clarification of the slang meaning of "Choke"?

texts:
Choke

  Has little or nothing to do with anticipated results. It's not limited to sports or competition. You can choke on an assignment for work, choke in an attempt to seduce a crush of yours. Jordan missing a free throw. You can choke anywhere, anytime.
  Choking is when you had control, and failed to execute.

  What happens is you are suppose to be focused on what your eyes are viewing. But your weak mind chooses to worry about something negative whether real or not, past or future.

  It's bigger than that
  Michael Jordan would be considered one of the most clutch professional sports players of all time.
  Only you know when you choke. Its a distinct feeling. Choking doesn't give a crap about expectations.

The above quoted definition said it simply means performing below what you and others expect of. But does it also mean in a more core level, one performs not so well because of the nervousness one gets when the expectation is too high? Because this reminds me of a few lines from the song Lose Yourself where the rapper couldn't rap a word because of nervousness.

  His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy
  There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti
  He's nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready to drop bombs,
  But he keeps on forgetting what he wrote down,
  The whole crowd goes so loud
  He opens his mouth, but the words won't come out
  He's choking how, everybody's joking now
  The clock's run out, time's up, over, bloah!
  Snap back to reality, Oh there goes gravity
  Oh, there goes Rabbit, he choked
  He's so mad, but he won't give up that


texts: is there any skip things in "In response to a recent editorial slamming the agency's newest advertising campaign"

texts:
I confused this sentence "In response to a recent editorial slamming the agency's newest advertising campaign"

I thought

first,
there is skip between 'slamming' and 'the agency's newest advertising campaign' in this case, which is "that is" because slamming is noun.
but I'm not sure because I didn't know about skip things very well.

second,
slamming is verb and "the agency's newest advertising campaign" is object.
but if it's correct, there is It should be noun after "in response to"

so I can't catch this sentence's structure.

please give me which is correct or incorrect.
and tell me I can skip 'that is' or not.
ex. there is an apple (that is) new advertising from apple company.

and there is full passage

  In response to a recent editorial slamming the agency's newest advertising campaign, the agency spokesman denounced the piece as stemming from adversarial motives, due to the editorialist's position on the board of the agency's primary competitor.

thank in advance


texts: Is a possessive apostrophe required after minutes in "After a few minutes' use..."?

texts: Wondering if a possessive apostrophe is correct after 'minutes' in the sentence: "After a few minutes' use, the hairdryer stopped working."?  I know it's correct to have one in the sentence "In a few weeks' time, I'll be on holiday." but not sure if it's the same?


texts:
I read a sentence in a blog

  After applied for job in many companies, I was lucky enough to had
  found a job related to my field of study.

Normally, we use after + Ving (in this case: applying), but I wonder that are there cases we can use "after + V3/Ved" (without subject)?

Updated: I found a question related to "after", and the answer is A
Just share to help us discuss more.

2. After ——— requests by local residents, the private library was opened to the public.
(A) repeated
(B) repeating
(C) repetition
(D) repeatedly

Thanks,


texts: Express change of interests and inclination

texts:
Although I was in the department of A, I became more and more inclined to B. I was looking for more opportunities to study B and
  to make up my B's background.

Which one is better, "I became more and more inclined to B" or "my
interest became more and more inclined to B".

If it were you, how would you rewrite the above quote?
Suppose C and D are related directions. Neither contains the other
as a subset. I was doing some things in C, and later I was moving to
do things in D. Can I say I branch my interest into D?

Thanks!


texts:
I am learning English and I have a question.
There is a sentence:

Nick went into the bathroom, turned on the water and washed his hands.

What is the grammar rule uses here?


texts: The use of "that" in the sentence "what could I know, should I know, that I don’t know"

texts:
Like Lear, we can learn to see better, not just because our brain changes but because we do.
  As all wisdom does, seeing starts with simple questions: What could I
  know, should I know, that I don’t know?
  From "Wilful Blindness: Why We Ignore The Obvious" by Margaret Heffernan (quoted in multiple other books)

Can anyone tell me why in the last question, the "that" is necessary, what if replace it with "and"? so the sentence becomes "what could I know, (what) should I know, and (what) I don’t know?"


texts:
He threw the TV remote control.

I put it on a higher place.

  "Why are you putting it so high?"

  "Why are you putting it on the place so high?"

he said.

Can we ommit the "place"? Would it confusing?


texts: to sleep + listening / to sleep + while + listening

texts:
"Go to sleep listening to this song, it helps you relax."
  "Go to sleep while listening to this song, it helps you relax."

Do they mean the same? Or do they have differences in meaning?


texts: Take the lid off a pot / a frying pan etc and put the lid on something

texts:
For a frying pan and a pot etc. I've always used the two verbs:

  take the lid off a pot, frying pan etc.

and for covering them the verb:

  put the lid on something

Recently, I found out that there are some even more important meanings for these two idioms, and just for keeping on the safe side, I opened this thread to make sure
if these two are the most common verbs which you use in this case or not?

I have listed the other connotations of the two verbs below:

  To take the lid off something:
  To keep something under control and stop it from increasing:
  Example: We’ve got to keep a lid on our credit-card purchases.

and

  To put the lid on something:
  To keep something under control and stop it from increasing.

Therefore, I needed to make sure which verbs do you normally use for these two meanings?


texts: Why do we say "a one-legged man", with a final -ed, but also say "a one-person job" without?

texts:
Why do we say "a one-legged man", with a final "-ed", but also say "a one-person job" without the "-ed"? We also say:

  A two-minute walk.

  A six-hour flight.

But then we say:

  A green-eyed woman

  Black-eyed peas

When I think about it, it seems to me the pattern with a final -d/-ed suggests the idea of having, as in having green eyes. But this theory doesn't seem to work with some other compound adjectives like:

  A two-storey building

It should be two-storeyed because it means made of or having two storeys.


texts: I know the difference between apart and a part but i think apart here in this sentence doesnt make any sense it should've been a part

texts:
You find out that your EX has had more children other than yours with him by other people, although you are a step parent, your actions with your child is...
  __ Your child will be apart of all the siblings lives.
  __ You say hell no my child won't be apart of those kids life.

I know the difference between apart and a part but i think apart here in this sentence doesn't make any sense it should've been a part


texts: Does an (optionally) parenthesised word influence choice of article “a” vs “an”, or ðə vs ðiː?

texts:
The title sentence could be rendered in two ways: the one above, or

  Does a (optionally) parenthesised word...

This might be more appropriate since the "optionally" has a kind of “removable” function like a footnote, and

  Does an parenthesised word...

is clearly wrong.

Yet reading "Does a (optionally)..." feels weird too.

Likewise, when

  reading the (also parenthesis-containing) sentence

aloud, should one pronounce the "the" as ðə or as ðiː?

What about

  Does an (parenthesised) optional word...

or

  reading the (parenthesis-containing) example?


texts:
I am well aware what does the indirect speech mean.
Example:

Person a. How old are you?
Person b. I didn't notice what he asked!
Person C. He asked how old you are. [Indirect speech]

But could anyone please explain to me if the I should use the reverse method (indirect speech) in the following sentence as well:

If you don't mind me asking, how old.........?

a. are you
b. you are


texts: This is the last time I see you OR I see you, this is the last time?

texts:
Usually, we are using "this is the last time I see you", but can I write it in this way which is I see you, this is the last time?
Is it fine to turn the sentence in that way?


texts: Does this sentence make sense? ( I go to school hungry.)

texts:
I want to know if this sentence makes sense.

  I go to school hungry.

If this sentence makes sense, what is the meaning of this sentence?


texts:
How it is said the below sentence or is it correct as written?

  Bring the book to my office that I gave you last month.

Is anyone can explain in details?


texts:
Then I noticed a small plate of complimentary marshmallows near Chloe’s elbow and it suddenly seemed clear that I didn’t love Chloe so much as marshmallow her. What it was about a marshmallow that should suddenly have accorded so perfectly with my feelings toward her, I will never know, but the word seemed to capture the essence of my amorous state with an accuracy that the word “love,” weary with overuse, simply could not aspire to. Even more inexplicably, when I took Chloe’s hand and told her that I had something very important to tell her, that I marshmallowed her, she seemed to understand perfectly, answering that it was the sweetest thing anyone had ever told her. (Alain de Botton, On Love, p.80)

My mother tongue being quite different from English, reading the latter language's structure of the highlighted part is in fact more than working out a most difficult puzzle. This is what I understood: what is shifted from the position of complement of about and what clause is the complement of will never know. This would have remained no question if there was the that in front of a marchmallow. If then, that clause simply should have been seen as so-called a real subject with dummy-subject, it. Would you solve me the puzzle?


texts:
If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth,
Why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth?

Why is the verb in the clause a whole set are teeth plural? Doesn't Aspinea's answer apply here, that it should be singular [a whole set is teeth]?


texts: What does Regina George mean when she says "Shut up"?

texts:
Best of Regina George
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_dCc-9pEPM

Here are quotes from the movie "Mean Girls".

  Regina: Wait. Sit down.
  Seriously, sit down.
  Why don't I know you?

  Cady: I'm new. I just moved here from Africa.

  Regina: What?

  Cady: I used to be home-schooled.

  Regina: Wait. What?

  Cady: My mom taught me at home...

  Regina: No, no.
  I know what home-school is.
  I'm not retarded.
  So you've actually never been
  to a real school before?
  Shut up.
  Shut up.

  Cady: I didn't say anything.

What does Regina mean by "Shut up"?
Thanks in advance.


texts: In present-day reality no-one actually uses classical Latin any more.Why can we use "Classical Latin uses the ablative" in present tense?

texts:
What is the difference between (a) and (b)

(a)"Classical Latin uses the ablative"

(b)"Classical Latin used the ablative"


texts: Idiom of the act of doing something you know you'll regret immediately after

texts:
Is there any idiom expressing the act of doing something you know you will regret immediately after?
Is the word "after" at the end of my first question necessary?

I will be grateful for any help/information you provide.


texts: Can you “wish somebody congratulations”?

texts:
Is the construction “wish somebody congratulations” common at all?
I thought you could wish somebody good luck etc., or you could congratulate them.

Then I read president-elect Trump tweet

  The President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency.


texts:
In spoken English I often hear a contraction of Why is used with many+plural noun. Is that acceptable informal language or should it be avoided?

Why's there so many books on the table? instead of Why are there so many books on the table?
Why's there so many people in our house today? instead of Why are there so many people in our house today?


texts:
I'm more familiar with 'in the direction' but I wonder if there's any difference in meaning.

"You're hitting it back to the direction the ball came from..."

In this case, can "in" be replaced with "to" and keep the same meaning?


texts:
There is a saying like "Eat like a king for breakfast, a queen for lunch and a pauper for dinner".

I use first “ like” in sentence above to say there is a such saying but I couldn’t remember it very well. When I use “that” it sounds like I am sure that this is the saying . But I am not sure İf the saying is in this way or not . This is why I use “like”. Can I use “like” in this way?


texts: at vs in (the hospital) - What is different?

texts:
I saw your mom in the hospital.
   I saw your mom at the hospital.

What is different in these two sentences? Do two prepositions make significant difference?


texts:
I read "f is a scalar function of a vector argument.". This means that the function f take one argument, and more specifically a vector (e.g. [1; 2.156; 1/3]), as input, and outputs a scalar, i.e. a simple real number (e.g. 1.159). E.g. f([1; 2.156; 1/3]) = 1.159.

I feel "of a vector argument" sounds weird. Is that correct, and if not what's the best way to phrase it?


texts: Could '(should/might/may/could/can) have p.p' form be used rarely when to express future meaning by using them?

texts:
For example

"The installation should have finished by tomorrow."

I think in this sentence 'should have p.p' could express future meaning, but it is used rarely that only using 'should' can express fully future meaning, so that using the  'should have p.p' has been used rarely.


texts: What are the differences in these phrases?

texts:
What are the differences between these phrases or do they give the same meaning ?

She had been crying
She was crying


texts: Using the right tense for a future scheduled and planned action

texts:
I need a piece of advise. Look at these two sentences below.
I'm talking about a planned and scheduled event for the future regarding a third person (my director), and I'm unsure about the right tense to use.

  My director flies to Milan on Saturday at  9.45 A.M.

vs

  My director is flying to Milan on Saturday at  9.45 A.M.

Personally, using my not native ear,  I think that the second sentence fits better than the first one, despite the clear time table.

What's your take on this? And why?


texts: "Should" in subordinate clauses of conditionals

texts:
I ran into this in a novel

  "... I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young men of four thousand a year come into the neighbourhood."
  "It will be no use to us if twenty such should come, since you will not visit them."
  "Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty I will visit them all."

Does "if twenty such should come" equal "I know the possibility of coming 20 such is very small, but if they came"?

I have searched on it and found out when we have "should" in our if-clause it denotes the small chance and unlikeliness. Then may I paraphrase "Should Jack call, tell him I'm not going to talk with him ever again" as "I know it is unlikely that Jack make a call, but if he made it, tell him I don't want to talk to him ever again"?


texts: "is it bad to be an extramural student" - is this question correct?

texts: I have to choose a topic for my presentation and I would like to talk about being an extramural student. In my country there are opinions that these studies are worth less than full time studies so I want to show pros and cons of part-time studying. Is this quetsion correct? also I'm not sure if I should use "extramural" or "part-time" student/studies? To be precise, my lectures are on weekends so I'm not sure which word is more adequate for weekend studies?


texts:
There are those among us who prefer soda to coffee, namely Robert and
  Mathilda.

Does "namely" imply there isn't anyone else other than Robert and Mathilda who prefers soda to coffee, or does it mean there might be others aside them.


texts: Is the definite article necessary before "treatment" in these sentences?

texts:
Can I use the definite article before the word "treatment" in a generic sense? If not, what's the difference in the meaning of these sentences?

Several therapeutic agents have been evaluated for (the) treatment of Covid-19, but none have yet been shown to be efficacious.

The optimal dose and duration of (the) treatment of COVID-19 with Remdesivir are unknown.

The cost-effectiveness of (the) treatment of Covid-19 was calculated.

Individualizing (the) treatment of patients is being considered.

Which one is grammatically correct?

The use of Remdesivir for (the) treatment of Covid-19 was approved.

The use of Remdesivir for a treatment of Covid-19 was approved.

The use of Remdesivir as a treatment of Covid-19 was approved.

They have used Remdesivir for (the) treatment of Covid-19.

They have used Remdesivir for a treatment of Covid-19.
They have used Remdesivir for a treatment of Covid-19.


texts: “I had a flat in the centre of town, but I didn’t like living there, so …”

texts:
I had a flat in the centre of town, but I didn’t like living there, so …

Why is there no article before “town”?

(The quotation comes from Murphy’s “English grammar in use” 4th edition, page 318).


texts:
Credit risk adjustments are netted off balance exposures before
  applying risk weighting.

In the above example, does "net off" mean to exclude? which means that "adjustments are excluded from balance exposure".


texts: How to pronounce ''Water 6 X 1.5 Litre''

texts: It says on the tag '' Water 6 X 1.5 Litre'' . While pronouncing this phrase can i say : '' six bottles of 1,5 liter of water '' . Would it be correct or not ?


texts:
My book has the following phrase:

  We can argue about how well these laws are working in the US and other countries, but the general idea is a sound one

What does that mean exactly? My guess would be "as a whole" but I'm not sure


texts: Confused about the structure of the sentence

texts:
Let's look at the sentences.

These are the things to sell.

These are the things to be sold.

Which one is correct? The first one sounds good. It seems that in the first sentence we are talking about selling not the things.
I think the second one is the omitted form of
'These are the things that are to be sold'. We are talking about the things. In that sense the second one should be correct and appropriate.
Am I right? Plz make me understand with proper example and explanations. Which one should I use?


texts: "They {don't / didn't} seem to have had much trouble getting work."

texts:
They didn't seem to have had much trouble getting work.

  They don't seem to have had much trouble getting work.

They seem both mean 'they seem have no trouble getting work in the past'.  What's the difference between these two sentences?


texts: Is 'swim in the soup ' a common expression for English native-speakers?

texts:
When I was reading a book, I found this sentence:

  The Internet is the soup that our student have been
  swimming in all their lives

Is this kind of an expression I have never heard of
commonly used?
If so,what does it mean?


texts: Construction "to his being offered" needs explanation

texts:
This sentence is from the Wikipedia article about Michael K. Williams from "The Wire".

  The scar led to his being offered roles as a thug in music videos.

As I see it, the word being is either a synonym for person, or it is an auxilliary verb to create Passive Voice. But in the case of Passive Voice, personally to me the word him would sound more correct than his: "led to him being offered". Can you explain this structure?


texts: I thought about it "whole the day" or "all the day"?

texts:
If I want to say that I thought about something in the entire day (one day 12 hours) then how should I say

  "I thought about it all the day"

or

  "I thought about it whole the day"?


texts:
these small pieces have been going round the sun ever since.
 according to above context , could someone help me understand:
1) what is the difference between round and around? also
2)why ever is used in the above sentence?


texts:
When I say

  There are 100 kinds of ducks in this world.

should I use the ending "s" for  both "duck" and "kind" or just for one of them?


texts:
What is the difference between "meet" and "meet with"?

For example, which of these should I say?

  I met my boss yesterday
  I met with my boss yesterday
  I'm meeting my friends tonight
  I'm meeting with my friends tonight


texts: Meaning of "just" in "she just doesn't know..."

texts:
She just doesn‘t know how to bring up children.

In the above sentence, what does just mean?


texts:
The following is the answer key for an exercise in Macmillan's Straightforward Intermediate coursebook. The instruction asks the student to correct six mistakes (concerning determiners) in the following dialogue:

My concern is "any" in this response by A:

  Oh, come on. The A packet of English tea bags? Any A jar of marmalade? Some crackers?

This "any" did strike me as somehow out-of-place, but I couldn't seem to find the exact reason behind it, because usually, similar "any" phrases as in the following seem to work just fine.

  Would you like anything else? Any drink? Any snacks?

I did, however, experiment with "any" a little by trying removing the classifiers:

  [...] Any English tea bags? Any marmalade? [...]

which somehow makes them sound more natural to me.

I've also speculated that this might have something to do with "Some" in "Some crackers?" as "any," being an NPI, doesn't really go with "some," while the indefinite articles fit just fine; but I'm not quite certain this is the case.

So, the question stands: why doesn't "any" fit here?


texts: Is the sentence correct? "My trouser is tight at the waist."

texts: "My trouser is tight at the waist." - Is the sentence correct? Can the word 'trouser' be used instead of 'trousers'?


texts:
In Carolyn's office, Rozart said these words to Det. Lipranzer after
hearing about Carolyn being murdered:

  What the hell was she doing with a B file? Bribery of elected
  officials. The case number is on her computer. But the case itself
  isn't among the papers in her files.


texts: What does "convened by a resolution" mean?

texts:
Rules of international law governing the conclusion, validity, effects, interpretation, modification, suspension, and termination of treaties were codified in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, adopted in 1969, at a conference convened by a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly.

What does "convening by a resolution" mean? What are the roles of "by" and "of" in this context?

  convene: come or bring together for a meeting or activity; assemble.
  resolution: a firm decision to do or not to do something.


texts:
From NPR

... And tho’
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are:
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.

If I extract the main part of the sentence, it would be:

We are not strength.

Which is very odd. Because strength is only a noun to describe the physical power of a man, not the man himself. I know "that" can be used to describe how big, small, etc. I guess it could be used in this way here. So should the word strength be replace with strong? Just as follows:

And though we are not now that strong which in old days moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are: One equal temper of heroic hearts, made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.


texts: Does "at least either .. or .." make sense?

texts:
Either she or he should attend that meeting.
  At least either she or he should attend that meeting.

I created the two sentences above. According to my understanding, the first sentence eliminates the possibility that both she and he will attend that meeting. I created the second sentence to include that possibility, but I am not sure it is correct.


texts: What does a the prefix "a-" mean in "a-changing"

texts:
For example in The Times They are a-Changin' (Bob Dylan).

I suppose it's old language. Where does this prefix come from and what does it mean?


texts: Restrictive or Non-Restrictive Use of Which?

texts:
Religion is a personal or institutionalized set of attitudes, beliefs
  and practices, which may include a system of prayers and religious
  laws.

In the preceding sentence, is 'which' restrictive or non-restrictive and therefore, does it or does it not require a comma before it?


texts: Is there a version of "and now if you'll excuse me" that's more informal? I am trying to find alternate way of saying "goodbye", but "and now if you'll excuse me" sounds way too formal and doesn't sound like something that two old friends would say to each other. Is there a more informal idiom?


texts:
Source

  Brigid O'Shaughnessy asks Spade if the Falcon had been real, and he'd
  gotten the entire $10,000, would it have made a difference.

What is the meaning of difference in this sentence ?


texts:
1 - "I picked up my phone and called up my friend".
2 - "I went up and got myself registered".
3 - "Early in the morning we got up"

I never know when to use the term "up".
How would these sentences would be without the word "up"?


texts:
In many ways Edge of Tomorrow feels like a video game with the quotes being fast, exciting and witty. The plot of this intelligently written sci-fi centers on military officer, Bill Cage who is demoted into serving a combat mission to take down a hive-like alien race invasion. When Cage is killed within minutes by one of the aliens he wakes up again to find himself in a time loop forcing him to relive the day over and over again.

  Cage: Do I strike you as a fresh recruit?

  Sgt Farell: No, sir, you do not.

  Cage: My name is Major William Cage. I'm an American officer.

  Sgt Farell: Officer? This is Processing. There's no officers here.

  Sgt Farell: How the hell did you end up in Processing? What was it? Poker night? Bachelor party?

  Cage: If it's all the same to you, Sergeant, I'd like to explain that to my Commanding Officer in Washington. So if you just take me to
  the phone...

  Sgt Farell: Haven't you heard? We're t-minus-haul-ass-h-hour. we're fixing to invade France. This whole F.O.B is on lockdown, no
  calls, in or out.

  Cage: You're name's Farell?

  Sgt Farell: That's right. Master Sergeant Farell.

  Cage: Master Sergeant Farell, you're an American.

  Sgt Farell: No, sir. I'm from Kentucky.

  Cage: Okay, well, look at me and look at where I am. I've been railroaded. It's obvious, I don't belong here. So please, Sergeant,
  there has to be a way I can make a phone call.

  Sgt Farell: I'll get you sorted out, sir.

  Cage: Thank you.

I find this movie very entertaining in every way. However, I failed to understand some ironic humor in the script.

I think Sgt Farell is taunting Cage by saying "Poker night? Bachelor party?", but I don't know the cultural or social hints here.

Is Processing a proper noun here? And why does Sgt Farell deny he's an American while saying he comes from Kentucky?


texts: "My computer isn't working" or "My computer doesn't work"

texts:
My friend is working as computer engineer, I phoned him and ask him the following:

  My computer isn't working, Could you repair it?
  My computer doesn't work, Could you repair it?

Which one is more common in this context? present simple or *present continuous *?


texts:
I saw him at / in the station a few days ago
  I saw a giraffe at / in the zoo yesterday.

What should we use with saw (see)?


texts: What word would you describe a talk done in a fast fashion?

texts:
I live in the U.S. and have encountered many Americans who have the habit of speaking fast as if they are rushed. I want to say to my friend who has this habit

  I find it difficult to keep track of and follow your _______
  speech.

Now using "fast, quick, rapid" before speech sounds wrong. Is there a word for this?


texts: What preposition to use when referencing the subject of the survey/research?

texts:
I want to know the most common preposition used to reference the subject of the survey/research.

If the subject (of research or a/the survey) is "20,000 adults in Britain", then what preposition do we use to reference them?

For example, in this sentence,

  Researchers analyzed survey results from 20,000 British adults and found that those who exercised for 20 minutes each day were 40% less likely to suffer from significant levels of stress and anxiety.

Here the writer used the preposition from to reference the subject 20,000 British adults, and I am curious about the proper preposition when I indicate the subject of the survey or research like this.


texts: Did you have a good flight or have you had a good flight?

texts:
You meet your friend Sally at the airport. She has just arrived. You say:

Hi, Sally. How are you ________________________

A) did you have a good flight?
Or
B) have you had a good flight?

According to the book this question is from the correct answer is "a" but it the book says recent past should be present perfect. They said "she has just arrived" which made me think it was present perfect. Why is it simple past?


texts:
From the movie Goodfellas:

  Police to gangster: Talk to me. When was the last time you took a collar? Fuckhead, I'm talking to you.

I can't find anything on the Internet. Does "take a collar" mean "be questioned" or "be detained by police"?


texts:
I would like to know the correct way to use "me" or "I"

  Please add George and me to the distribution list.

Or is the correct way,

  Please add George and I to the distribution list.


texts:
Is there a serious difference between the following three sentences:

  I put the toys in the box.
  I put the toys into the box.
  I put the toys inside the box.


texts:
There was a time when my brothers played with me that I felt unhappy.

Is this sentence grammatically legal? I know the sentence would be more concise if it was just "There was a time when my brothers played with me". The "that I felt unhappy" seems erroneous or too much, but is there anyone who might be able to say if it could be correct?


texts:
What verb to use after "did"?

I could not for the life of me understand what verb to use after "did".

All I know is that the verb that follows "did" should be used in its base form.
Example: Did you “eat” your lunch this afternoon?

However, how come it is “I didn't think it WAS possible, but not “I didn't think it IS possible?”

What if we have multiple subjects performing different actions following “did”?

Example: I didn’t “go” to the market and “write” the letter.


texts:
What and why should I use to mean websites or organizations, 'them' or 'those'? Should I use those in every case, except if I'm indicating a group of persons?

Example Sentence: There are many websites where you can teach people
languages online. Many websites also hire language teachers. But all
of them/those mightn’t work for you.


texts: Do I 'Log Into', 'Login To', or 'Log In To'?

texts:
I've been speaking English for a long time but I've only been logging in for a couple of decades and every time I write it I am confused about the proper usage.
Do I log into the system?
or
Do I login to the system?
or
Do I log in to the system?


texts: I was checking tests from my students. One of them talking about daily routine wrote, "I wash my teeth". Can I say it instead of "I brush my teeth" or is it completely wrong?


texts:
I have seen the meaning of the word Abject in Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary:

  abject (*adj.) showing no  pride  or respect for yourself

and the example sentence in the dictionary is:

  He is almost abject in his respect for his boss.

Can you please let me know the meaning of the above example sentence, I am getting confused what it is saying, what its meaning with his respect for his boss? Can someone let me know the meaning of the sentence in easy sentence?


texts: A word to say "something that is not obvious to understand"?

texts:
I'm looking for an adjective defining "something that is not obvious to understand".

For example, in French, I would say "hermétique", which in English is synonym to airtight.


texts: Dialogue hard to understand from Tolkien's novel

texts:
Then Finduilas rose, and queenly indeed she looked. ‘Your eyes are
  dimmed, Gwindor,’ she said. ‘You do not see or understand what has
  here come to pass. Must I now be put to double shame to reveal the
  truth to you? For I love you, Gwindor, and I am ashamed that I love
  you not more, but have taken a love even greater, from which I cannot
  escape. I did not seek it, and long I put it aside. But if I have pity
  for your hurts, have pity on mine. Túrin loves me not, nor will.’

  ‘You say this,’ said Gwindor, ‘to take the blame from him whom you
  love. Why does he seek you out, and sit long with you, and come ever
  more glad away?’  ‘Because he also needs solace,’ said Finduilas, ‘and
  is bereaved of his kin. You both have your needs. But what of
  Finduilas? Now is it not enough that I must confess myself to you
  unloved, but that you should say that I speak so to deceive?’

  ‘Nay, a woman is not easily deceived in such a case,’ said Gwindor. ‘Nor will you find many who will deny that they are loved, if that is
  true.’

  ‘If any of us three be faithless, it is I: but not in will. But what
  of your doom and rumours of Angband? What of death and destruction?
  The Adanedhel is mighty in the tale of the World, and his stature
  shall reach yet to Morgoth in some far day to come.’

  ‘He is proud,’ said Gwindor.

  ‘But also he is merciful,’ said Finduilas. ‘He is not yet awake, but
  still pity can ever pierce his heart, and he will never deny it. Pity
  maybe shall be ever the only entry. But he does not pity me. He holds
  me in awe, as were I both his mother and a queen.’

  from Narn i Chîn Húrin by J.R.R. Tolkien

It's hard to understand what the bolded lines mean.
For the Finduilas' line, I cannot understand the structure but I guess the meaning like this:
I confessed Túrin does not love me and in that I am already ashamed but you say that I'm lying.

The following line by Gwindor seems to admit that she did not lie.

I must have taken wrong these lines for they seem not to get along with.

If you could explain them to me I would really appreciate.

and plus, the paragragh following the bolded lines seems unfit. Why does she talk about other things and come back to whether Túrin loves her or not? I hope to hear your opinions.


texts: The difference between "on the inside of" and "inside of"

texts: I have come across a sentence with a strange, to me, usage of the word "inside" with the preposition "on". Here goes: " At that time I felt different on the inside of me." why "on" is there? Would it be better without it, like: "I felt different inside of me." If there is any difference between the sentences, tell me it please.


texts: Closing a message as a team representative

texts:
I'm trying to find the expression to use when writing a message as a member of a team, as in:

  This is a reminder that all team members should act as team players.

  John Smith, for the Tautological team

Is this "for the X team" construction correct? Could I write instead:

  For the Tautological team,

  John Smith

?

It's incredibly hard to search for this kind of expression, specifically when closing an e-mail, so I'm having a hard time finding usage examples.


texts:
In this phrase, is necessary the use of "I" twice?

  I can do it by myself and I believe that will be no problem

Could be:

  I can do it by myself and believe that will be no problem

It looks like that changes the meaning

Thanks! :)


texts: What do you call images you write drawn on the floor for rituals?

texts: I know this is a pentagram, but I am not sure if there's a general term for images drawn on the floor to perform some kind of ritual. Doesn't have to be a satanic or occult ritual, but any ritual.


texts: What is the grammatical term for “by reducing pollutions”?

texts:
How would I define the words in bold below?

  It will improve the environment by reducing pollutions.

How to classify this bolded part of the sentence grammatically?

I understand that it's used for saying how something is done, but I can't find grammar rules related to it in my textbook.


texts: I'm a Scientologist. Okay, that's "A." — what does “A” mean in this context why is it capitalized?

texts:
This is from the movie Central
Intelligence, where a bully after apologizing to his victims and saying that he has become a better person reveals that it was in fact a fake apology:

Good God, you're dumb!
Dumber than ever, I guess!
And you, too, Calvin!
Look at that stupid look on those two faces.
"The Lord taught me to care."
Unbelievable.
I'm a Scientologist. Okay, that's "A."
And thetan-free since 2003.
Clear as s**t.

You can find a larger fragment here at the bottom (warning, there is some swearing): https://www.scripts.com/script.php?id=central_intelligence_5252&p=28


texts: Can "Not everyone can love you" be used in this situation?

texts:
Can:

  "Not everyone can love you"

be used to mean:

  "It's impossible for you to be loved by everyone: there will always be some people out there who hate you" ?


texts: Does "By country" mean "come from those countries"?

texts:
A wiki post uses "By country" when talking about "Syrian refugees"

Does "By country" mean "come from those countries" there?


texts: What kind of words can be formed using the word -preneur?

texts:
I  have seen many words ending with preneur like entrepreneur, intrapreneur,edupreneur,ideapreneur.

I think many word can be formed using the word -preneur. But I don't know for what kind of nouns this word can be used. Is there are special rule?


texts: 'try to the court' vs 'try in the court'

texts:
p 7 of 14 of this PDF: REYNOLDSON, Justice.
  This action to recover for burglary loss under two separate insurance policies was tried to the court, resulting in a finding plaintiff had failed to establish a burglary within the policy definitions. Plaintiff appeals from judgment entered for defendant. We reverse and remand.

What are the similarities and differences? The linked Google search shows more of this use. I know that ''try in the court' means 2.1. Investigate and decide (a case or issue) in a formal trial in a law court.


texts:
Which of the following are/is correct and why?

How is your son and daughter?
How are your son and daughter?
How is your son and your daughter?
How are your son and your daughter?

My fundamental question is regarding the correct usage of the verb (whether plural or singular). The above statements are just the example of where I am confused.


texts: What's the difference between lid and cap?

texts:
I searched for the difference between cap and lid: this post and also this post.

But I'm still confused.

My theory is this:

the cap is a cover for a bottle
the lid is a cover for a container which is not bottle
the lid doesn't have a screw in it. If it has a screw, it is called a cap.

But then, a jar's cover doesn't fit into this classification. A jar has a screw in the cover but the cover is called a lid.

How do I distinguish a lid from a cap?


texts: What does "Earthly knowledge is but shadow" mean? It is a quote from the famous philosopher Plato.


texts:
From the movie The Interview (2014):

  Good evening. I'm Dave Skylark. Tonight, we are joined by 13-time Grammy winner, Oscar-winning songwriter, Detroit's own Eminem.

How do you understand that type of phrasing? And would you please provide some extra examples as well?


texts: What does "they named him godfather to Harry" mean in this context?

texts:
'Of course they were,' said Fudge. 'Potter trusted Black beyond all his other friends. Nothing changed when they left school. Black was best man when James married Lily. Then they named him godfather to Harry. Harry has no idea, of course. You can imagine how the idea would torment him.'

  'Because Black turned out to be in league with You-Know-Who?'
  whispered Madam Rosmerta.

  'Worse even than that, m'dear ...' Fudge dropped his voice and
  proceeded in a sort of low rumble.

I don't understand the sentence "they named him godfather to Harry". What does it convey in this context?

Edit: I know the word 'name' means, but I don't understand why they call him "godfather to Harry". What does that imply? Maybe, my difficulty lies in what godfather would do?


texts: Can you "bump into" something that's on the internet?

texts: Let's say you're talking to a friend, and he's telling you that Facebook is giving out promotional codes for the iPhone Xs Plus for select users. Can you reply to your friend saying "Do you know anyone who's bumped into the promo code yet?"


texts: What's the meaning of "I felt very much a child"?

texts:
I searched the Google but it didn't help me. so,

Would you please explain it to me?

The full text is here:

  "I was only ten, and in that moment I felt very much a child. Luke was my
  big brother; I thought he would know what to do"


texts: What is the name of huge ads along motorways

texts:
Is there any special name for ads which are placed along highways and especially  I would like to ask for McDonald's as in the picture..
For example I would like to make a sentence like :

After you get on the highway, keep on driving .After about 30 minutes
you will see a huge McDonald's.........


texts: Is the expression "while the temperature is less than.. " incorrect?

texts:
The air conditioner works while/when the room temperature is less than 10℃.

I would like to know whether using the word "while" in the above sentence I created is incorrect.

I googled the expression "while the temperature is less than" and found only two results, and then googled the expression "when the temperature is less than" and found a great number of results.


texts:
It seems to be rain soon and the sky was cloudy.

  "It's cloudy."

  "It's black cloudy."

How do we different the cloudy as the images?

One is sunny with cloud and another is cloudy and about to rain.


texts: What are the commands customarily shouted out to the crowd to leave?

texts: What expressions (commands) do police customarily use when calling out over megaphones to a gathered crowd (a protest, demonstration or such) to walk away and end the protest?


texts: Is the use of "it" to refer to a customer correct in this sentence? Shouldn't it be "he"?

texts:
An application has the customer registry and when i click on it, there is a button "Turn inactive", when i click it the following message is displayed:

  "This customer has outstanding transactions. It can't be made inactive."

Is the use of "it" correct because the customer is being referred as an entity? Wasn't suppose to be "he"?


texts: whether plural or singular when a sentence starts with 'one of the

texts:
one of the reputed universities' or 'one of the reputed university' which is correct?
 whether plural or singular

one of the reputed universities' or 'one of the reputed university' which is correct?


texts:
If you would have told me you needed a ride, I would have left earlier.

I have very vague awareness of the fact that there is a special type of conditional clauses using this pattern: If + would have + past participle. Could you please explain to me how my exemplary sentence differs from If you had told me you needed a ride, I would have left earlier.


texts:
Some "non-continuous" verbs such as to be, to have, to own, to see, to
  hear, to need, to want... can not be used with continuous tenses (source)

  He is needing help now. Not Correct

  He needs help now. Correct

  He is wanting a drink now. Not Correct

  He wants a drink now. Correct

  We use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action (that is
  expressed by non-continuous verbs) is happening or is not happening
  now. (source)

  I am here now.

  She is not here now.

  He needs help right now.

  to hurt(v) [intransitive] to feel painful
  My feet hurt.

I seldom hear people say "My feet is hurting."

And if "hurt" is a normal verb (can be used with continuous tense) people should say "My feet is hurting." to express a temporary action. But if "hurt" is a normal verb & if they say "My feet hurt.", then it sounds like "My feet hurt regularly.".

is the verb "hurt (v): [intransitive] to feel painful" a non-continuous verb?

I would say "to hurt(v) [intransitive] to feel painful" is a non-continuous verb but I am not sure


texts:
Which one is correct?

  You're perfect for me.
  You're perfect to me.

If both are correct, what is the meaning difference from those two sentences?


texts:
what's the meaning of "for some time now"

for some time now, the work of Italian philosopher Giorgio Agamben has been receiving growing attention and appreciation


texts: What is the difference between a term and a word?

texts: I know a word is more specific compared to a term but i don't know which one is definitive or the actual meaning of the two.


texts: "grey" vs "gray" are both common equally in use?

texts: Yesterday I wrote "gray" in the meaning of the color, but my friend corrected me and told me to write "grey". Today I checked in the dictionary and I found that they are both correct for the same meaning. So, now I just have doubt which one of them is more common in use.


texts: "than what we thought" or "than we thought"

texts:
Consider the following:

Unfortunately her illness was more serious than we thought at first.

It sounds unnatural to me but I can't say exactly why. I looked up "than" in two dictionaries and found out it can function as conjunction or preposition, so here it is used as conjunction. I think, the reason it sounds unnatural is that the two things being compared should be of the same nature; I mean comparing two nouns (illness and what):

Unfortunately her illness was more serious than what we thought at first.

Or comparison of two clauses:

Unfortunately she was suffering more serious than we thought at first.

So is the original sentence completely correct, grammatically?


texts:
Today my friend asked me a question about the passive voice. I think something different than what her teacher had told. The original sentence is

  He had borrowed this book from the library.

My answer:

  This book from the library had been borrowed.

Her teacher has another answer:

  This book had been borrowed from the library

Which of the two answers is true?


texts: 'to spoil s.b.' - is there a noun for it?

texts:
Is there a noun for 'to spoil'?
The classical EN dictionaries OED, OALD, CALD, ... seem not to have one listed.

EXAMPLE:
In the beginning it was a spoil of the most ecstatic and euphoric experiences...

The phrase ought to express that it was a joyful and pleasant experience of ecstasy and euphoria.

What I'm looking for is a noun for 'to be spoilt'. A synonym for 'a spoiling experience'.


texts: I am curious about Why usage in the following sentences

texts:
Why Something Instead of Nothing?
Why Something New?
Why Dog in the Wind?
why thing in the back of my throat?
Why everything on zero?

I looked up "Why" in my dictionary, but I could not figure out how it was used.
Please let me know usage of"why"


texts:
No problem when "I began to learn English in 2000". But what if "I began to learn English from 2000 till now more times without success".

Verb begin something that happens in a moment, not something continuously. After that does this correct:

  I have been beginning to learn English since 2000, but never continuous consistently, tenacious till now.


texts:
After entering the fountain of youth, she was now young not old.

After entering the fountain of youth, she was now young and not old.

Are both these ok. Any difference?

Can you leave out the comma before not old at the beginning.


texts: “Where all are you going?” Grammar and alternatives

texts:
How do you ask someone which places (multiple) they’re going to: is “where all are you going to?” correct grammar? What’s a correct, better and concise way to ask this? The intent is to ask about the multiple places or hint that they should be going to multiple places. The phrase mentioned above doesn’t sound like native English.

Edit: It could be places or events in question.


texts: Reported speech:use of the word "please" in requests/demands

texts:
When altering the following from direct to reported

"Don't smoke in my house, please" our neighbor asked.

If I wanted to keep the word "please" as part of the sentence in order to convey that the speaker asked nicely.

Our neighbor asked not to smoke in his house
Our neighbor asked to please not smoke in his house

How can I do it and why?


texts: Is "besides" slightly derogatory of previously listed items?

texts:
I came across someone practicing English saying something similar to

  [This poem] has been translated into several languages by my friends. Besides, many artists held an exhibition for my poems and their artworks.

I'm worried that "Besides" is slightly derogatory of the previous sentence, and you wouldn't want that in this context.

Wiktionary doesn't directly support my concerns. Perhaps I am thinking of "aside from" - The answer from 'Aside from' vs 'Besides' says:

  besides: additionally

  aside [from]: excluding

Does "besides" have a nuance of "even ignoring the former item"?


texts: Is the sentence, "With more board configurations than there are atoms in the universe", grammatically correct?

texts:
A post says

  With more board configurations than there are atoms in the universe, the ancient Chinese game of Go has long been considered a grand challenge for artificial intelligence.

I understand the 2nd part of the sentence. How about the first part?

I also understand the number of board configurations of the game of Go is more than the number of atoms in the universe.

I don't understand is why "there are ..." could be the object of "than". Could someone please give a hint about the rules/conventions of it? Thanks in advance.


texts: Is there any word for the rocks used to pave paths near a medieval home? I was thinking of pebbles, but I am not sure if there exists a specific word for the rocks used to pave path during the medieval age, or if there are other kinds of rocks that were used during that time other than pebbles, which is very generic and not specific enough.


texts:
When people take a rest in/on the bed, do they lie ON or IN the bed?

(In my native language both are optional)


texts: Does one "forebode something on/upon someone"?

texts: Can one use forebode + obj. + on/upon someone? For example, would a sentence like His coming foreboded doom on/upon the village be considered correct (in a sense that it predicted doom for the village) or would one rather use for?


texts:
When I search for it on Google it gives me this answer:
"a basic lexical unit of a language consisting of one word or several words, the elements of which do not separately convey the meaning of the whole."

Here it says that it does not convey the meaning of the whole. But another website I found this definition:
"A lexeme is the smallest or minimum unit of lexicon in a language that bears some meaning."

What does it actually mean?


texts:
Please check out these examples! And kindly tell me about their sense. Are they grammatically right?
I'm just learning grammar principals

Ours/Our

  The house is perpetual since last year, but we could change its look, after all, it is going to become ours. Our journey was exceptional.

Its/It

  It’s a very cool weather, and how could someone at some other place imagine its curiosity. She doesn’t like it when you are so quiet.

Your/Yours

  Your grace is utmostly remarkable. All of a sudden, when you took the charge, that was yours grace, admiring everyone.


texts:
I've just said to a friend "That cloud's looking very dark". And apparently that's not correct.
He said "it's" is allowed as an abbreviation but "cloud's" is never "cloud is".
He said 's is always ownership unless it's the word "it's".
But I find that in verbal speech, people use it like that all the time. E.g. "Oh that pineapple's looking juicy!" etc.


texts: Is there a single word for someone who loves the English language? Is it understandable to use Englishphile? Has the suffix -phile been used correctly?


texts:
The below quote is an example that Longman has provided to illustrate the usage of the adjective "incredulous". I believe in this example, "incredulous" in used as an adverb. Please help me understand how it can possibly be acceptable.

  "You sold the car?" she asked, incredulous.

All I can guess is that the original sentence was something like "she asked, with an incredulous manner" before it underwent a series of mysterious ellipses!


texts: What is the proper construction of this question - "...for who are we" or "...for who we are"?

texts:
What is the proper way of asking the question?

Who is to blame for who we are?

or

Who is to blame for who are we?


texts:
What do we call the inside part of a finger?

Like we see in the picture below.

Supposing the hand is facing a door. Can we say?

The inside part of the fingers and palm are facing the door.

Please note that I need to mention both, "inside part of the fingers" and "palms".


texts: "Tell me why you being (or be) interested in pursuing a career as an accountant?"

texts:
I am listening to an audio recording about business English on BBC.
I hear a question at 12m:10s.
12:10
It sounds like

Tell me why you being (or be) interested in pursuing a career as an accountant?""

I would like to know what the correct word he used...
I know in some situation "being" is used for "reasoning".


texts:
The brain must be provided with something that it has never before processed to force it out of predictable perceptions.

I am not so sure about this one, but my instinct tells me that " to force it out of predictable perceptions " goes with "the brain must be provided with something " instead of the relative clause "that it has never before processed".

If my assumption is right, consider this sentence,

  The students are provided with some tips that they can use to win the competition.

I think the sentence structure is similar to the first one, but the infinitive clause goes with the relative clause "that they can use" instead of " The students are provided with some tips".

These two sentences have similar structures, but the infinitive goes with or modifies different parts of the sentence(one with the main clause, and the other with the relative clause which the infinitive is closer to).

What causes the difference and how can it be explained?


texts: Shouldn't the comma be omitted? And is this sentence consistent in the tense?

texts:
Original sentence:

  Prince Andrew, looking again at that genealogical tree, shook his head, laughing as a man laughs who looks at a portrait so characteristic of the original as to be amusing.

(War and Peace, Tolstoy, English translation)

In the sentence above, shouldn't the comma before laughing be omitted if this is about the participle clause denoting "an action that happens at the same time in the past"?  I mean it should be

  Prince Andrew…shook his head laughing as a man…

Plus, shouldn't the verb laugh after a man be in the past tense in order to be in accordance (agreement) with shook his head?

You know, the whole sentence should be consistent….


texts: "glad to write to you again" vs "pleased to contact you again"

texts:
I would like to write an email to one of my friend, who I did not contact for a long time. So, is it OK in English to say:

  I am glad to write to you again.

or

  I am pleased to write to you again.

Which one is more polite and correct?


texts: Do Idioms such as "all the more" function as adjectives or adverbs?

texts:
All the more reason to value these beautiful little creatures and their habitat, right? (From TOEFL)

In the sentence above, I think "all the more" is functioning as an adjective. In Merriam-Webster dictionary, this expression is categorized as an idiom without indicating whether it is an adjective or adverb. From the example given Webster, "The fact that they'd written the play themselves made it all the more impressive", I feel like "all the more" is used as an adverb modifying adjective impressive.
So, in effect, what grammatical part does the idiom "all the more" play?


texts:
I'm reading this article in Quora.

And there's this sentence:

  One key thing to remember is from the day the design director first
  puts his idea on paper to the day Job 1 or first customer car is
  produced it will take 5 - 10 years.

What does Job 1 mean here? Does that mean a prototype?


texts:
I know every person has their own head.
-> Each person has a head above the neck.
I can see other people's headS in the crowd.
-> I can see lots of headS among the crowd.
I know people have their own headS.
-> Each person has more than a head ?


texts: Why "hundreds and hundreds" instead of just "hundreds"?

texts:
What does one mean by "hundreds and hundreds"?
What's the difference between "hundreds and hundreds" and "hundreds"?


texts:
Shall we not have the advantage of his wisdom and honesty,
  nevertheless? Can we not count upon some independent votes? Are there
  not many individuals in the country who do not attend conventions? But
  no: I find that the respectable man, so called, has immediately drifted from his position, and despairs of his country, when his
  country has more reason to despair of him. He forthwith adopts one of
  the  candidates thus selected as the only available one, thus proving
  that he is  himself available for any purposes of the demagogue.

Is "no" the answer to the former question?

-Can we not count upon some independent votes? (Is it equal to "Can't we count upon... "?)

-No, we can't.
Does there exist the construction "immediately...when..."?

Does his country first "despair of him" then he "drifted from his position" or the reverse?

I'm not clear which happened first because there's "has more reason" in the clause. Do we first have "He forthwith adopts one of the candidates thus selected" then "his country has more reason to despair" then "he despairs"

OR

"He despairs of the country"(the country already despairs of him) and "forthwith adopts one of the candidates thus selected" first and "his country has more reason to despair" then, and there's no construction of "immediately...when"?


texts:
How much does your new house cost?

Three thousand US dollars.

How much US dollars does your new house cost?

Three thousands.

Are the two answers both correct?
I am not sure in which situation I should use a s and in which not.


texts: In the region I live, I've heard some people saying, "How is it to play golf wearing sneakers?" Although I believe that it should be 'What is it like to play golf wearing sneakers?' Am I right in this?


texts: What does "look what the wind blew in" mean?

texts:
From the movie Masterminds (2016)

In the beggining the main character is saying about the story of his life.

  In 1997, I was a quiet middle-aged man knocking on 40. But then, then
  the wind blew in Miss Kelly Campbell.

Searching the Internet I learned that "look what the wind blew in" probably has the same meaning as "look what the cat dragged in" which a one says when someone that is disliked shows up. But in the movie the main character's saying the phrase about "the wind" blandly, like he actually was glad that Miss Kelly Campbell showed up in his life.

My question is - does the phtase mean only something or someone unpleasant or it has more neutral nature, like "But then she showed up"


texts: "If people were not there for their friends when they {need/needed} them" - which tense is correct?

texts:
I was writing this sentence:

If people were not there for their friends when they need them the most, the world wouldn't be a nice place to live.

I know that according to the rule of second conditional the first part should be in simple past and in the second we should use would. However, saying needed in my sentence would make it sound to me as if I was talking about a past event when in fact I am talking about a hypothetical situation.
What is the correct tense that I should use in this sentence?


texts:
1) "You could not make me happy, and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who would make you so."

  2) "You could not make me happy, and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who will make you so."

Do both sentences have the same meaning? What is the difference between them?


texts:
''Where does that come from''
In a sentence ''where you going'' we don't use the preposition, but ''what place are you going to'' we do.
Why does then we tend to say the preposition in the first sentence? We should instead say ''what place does that come from'' or ''where does that come?''

Thank you


texts: Having no money, I want to help you. (what does this mean?)

texts:
Having no money, I want to help you. (What does this mean?)

I think it is: Although I have no money, I want to help you. (i.e., as a concessive clause)


texts:
I'm interested in using these three prepositions: on, to, and onto.

Let's say we have three sentences:

The book fell on the floor.
The book fell to the floor.
The book fell onto the floor.

The first sentence as I see it, means: the book was on the floor in a vertical position and fell on one if its sides.

Second one: the book was somewhere not all n the floor and fell and ending up on the floor.

The third sentence basically has the same meaning as the second one.

Am I right?

Take some more examples:

The boy jumped on the floor.
The boy jumped to the floor.
The boy jumped onto the floor.

First: The boy was standing on the floor and jumped up and down.
Second and third: The boy was somewhere above the floor and jumped and landed on the floor.


texts:
I want to write that someone is as a commander

Do I need to write "is serving as a commander" or "is serving a commander"?

Thanks for your help!


texts:
When referencing a perspective, I have always thought that "in this view, ...". However, I have discovered that "on this view, ..." is very common. I find this very odd! It sounds plain wrong to me (English is my second language).

Can someone explain why this is correct? Are both correct? Is only "on this view" correct?

Some context: It seems "on this view" is used often in philosophy.
"Take, for example, the proposition that you will have lunch tomorrow. On this view, that proposition either has no truth value right now, or else has the value indeterminate." [Source]
Why not use "in this view" here?

This discussion on Reddit doesn't give a conclusive answer.


texts:
There is written of this question's correct answer is (B). Is it right, if so then why?

If he ___ in Tokyo he ___ us.
A) was / will visit
B) were / would visit
C) will be / will visit
D) is / would visit
E) are / will visit


texts: Does 'remain safe' mean the same as 'stay safe'?

texts:
Does 'remain safe' mean the same as 'stay safe’?

Context:

  'Please check on neighbors and friends to make sure they remain safe in light of the extreme weather'.


texts:
Here's a definition of the word 'pretence' (or 'pretense'). I don't really understand the second meaning, which is not the act of pretending, but "a claim (especially a false or ambitious one) that you have a particular quality or skill". I'm not a native speaker and I guess there's no such word in my first language.

For example, I suppose that the following sentence

  John makes no pretence to being an expert on the subject.

means that John doesn't claim to be an expert. So, we could infer that he is kind of modest, right?

On the other hand, here's an example that I can't comprehend:

  a woman with some pretence to beauty

Does the word 'pretence' in this context describe the woman's or other people's attitude towards her beauty?


texts:
Sociologist C. Wright Mills used the term power elite to refer to his
  theory that the United States is actually run by a small group
  representing the most wealthy, powerful, and influential people in
  business, government, and the military. According to Mills, their
  decisions dictate the policies of this country more than those of the
  voting public. Mills also pointed out that the influence of the
  power elite overlaps into many different areas. For example, a
  wealthy businessman may make large contributions to a particular
  political candidate.

Source

When I read the passage and the sentence, which was highlighted, I get what it means but when I look up the word overlap, the words I expected do not turn up as a synonym.For example what I got from the sentence is that the influence of the power elite overpower or exert more influence than the rest of the people in a society so power elite can change the direction in a way they want in different areas.But in Cambridge Dictionaries Online , there are two meaning is referenced to this word that are  :

But I don't think the word overlap implies exactly what I got from the word or the sentence.Because there is no the same level of power or influence in a society.Am I right?


texts: "First page" or "Page one" for SEO ranking?

texts:
SEO is Search Engine Optimization.
I want to ask a simple question from this domain.

  My website is "First Page" on Google.

Or

  My website is "Page One" on Google.

Which one of these is right?


texts:
Which of the following sentences is correct?

  In a nutshell, planting trees contributes to air quality, to forest habitats, to family unity and to kids’ happiness.

  In a nutshell, planting trees contribute to air quality, to forest habitats, to family unity and to kids’ happiness.


texts: What is the meaning of "local" in the sentence, "Local wolf girl goes Awoo"?

texts:
I saw an image that I'm going to ask on some humor posting page, like below:

I searched the meaning of sentence "Local wolf girl goes Awoo", and found that "go" is meaning "bark" when using with describing sound words, like "Awoo".

However, I still have a question about the "Local" in the sentence. I know that "Local" is meaning "province", pointing a near area where one exists or restricted section which is separated from global. I think these meanings are irrelevant. Do you know what is the meaning of the "Local" in the sentence?


texts:
Suppose I have a friend called John who is very kind. I tell this to my another friend Smith. Now Smith pick up something unimportant and tells me that John did that and that he is not kind. I want to tell Smith that just because John did that thing, it won't lessen his kindness.

It won't lessen his kindness

but it sounds a bit weird to me. I also found another word "disparage", but I'm not sure if I can say "it won't disparage his kindness".
Is there a verb that means "lessening a good character (making it appear of less value)"? Do "disparage" and "lessen" work in the context above?


texts: If you have two verbs governed by he/she/it, does the second verb also need to be singular of only the first one?

texts:
When you use he, she, or it in a sentence, you need to modify the verb for the third person singular, but what happens if we use two or more verbs in the same sentence? Example:

The thief steals and runs.
The thief steals and run.

Which of those is the right sentence? English is not my native language, so I am still learning things.


texts:
Try to gain an unfair advantage.

That's what Lexico says. But I can't stop thinking that that 'fast' in the expression 'pull a fast one' may actually denote only something swift, not drawn-out in time. Is it so?


texts: If someone believes in God but rejects His words or orders or speaks some blasphemous words, is it called "unbelief" or "disbelief"?


texts:
What does 'the streaming service's first joint project' mean? Is it ... joint project of Netflix and Higher Ground? Also it would be good to clarify the phrase 'streaming service's'

  The film was released Wednesday on Netflix. It is the streaming
  service's first joint project with the Obamas' new production company,
  Higher Ground.

VOA article: Obamas and Netflix Present 1st Joint Film Project, ‘American Factory’


texts: What is it called when two or more nouns comes in a row?

texts:
an office worker
  a jewelry maker
  a potato peeler
  a shopping list
  a swimming lesson
  a walking holiday

What is it called in English when two nouns comes in a row as in the above examples?


texts:
Consider an application called "OpenTasks". "OpenTasks" has a feature to share a task with another person.

Now Alice shares a task with Bob.

What's the right preposition in the following expression?

The task has been shared by Alice with Bob ??? OpenTasks.

Or in short:

The task has been shared ??? OpenTasks.

I've tried "with" and "from" but neither of them sound quite right to me.


texts: Which one among ranking or rankings is to be used for the following sentence?

texts:
"India, China and South Africa have improved their ranking from the previous edition"

or

"India, China and South Africa have improved their rankings from the previous edition"

Which one is correct?

Also please correct the title of this question if it is grammatically incorrect and also this sentence.


texts: An appropriate synonym for "ineligible" in the context

texts:
Manuscripts published or currently under review elsewhere are ineligible for submission.

Is there a better word to use instead of "ineligible"? Because ineligible seems to be usually used when referring to a person.

EDIT: I'm thinking about some possible synonyms. Is it correct to use "void" instead of "ineligible" in this context?


texts: Are "We've all" and "we all have" the same?

texts:
i had been reading a paper but i haven't understood a paragraph. Can you help me?

paragraph as follows

"We've all left meetings feelings good about what we discussed only to later wonder why so little happened as a result? Where did the momentum go?

does it mean same that 2 sentences "we've all left" and "we all have left"?


texts: Does 'will' *really* mark future reference?

texts:
I just heard that will doesn't mark future reference, even though in teaching English it's highly comfortable to think of it as so.

  I will find a way to neutralize the bomb.
  I'm going to speak to my instructor before doing anything else.
  He will have gotten a hang of himself already.

In sentence #1, "will" semantically does mark future reference. However, sentence #2 demonstrates that future can be without "will" and sentence #3 proves that "will" can appear where it's not considered to be referring to the future (i.e. like a modal verb).

So, does 'will' mark future reference? It definitely is taught as such in schools, but I'm becoming skeptical to how helpful a possible oversimplification can be.

Editing since all I'm getting is irrelevant or wrong answers: My real question is about whether "will" should be considered part of the tense system or modal system. I'm not talking about the noun, and I'm looking for technical answers. Please refrain from answering unless you're certain you're asking what's being queried here.


texts: Is there a better way to say "steal a disease"? I feel like "steal a disease" doesn't make much sense, but there's really no better way of saying it. By "steal a disease" I mean transfer the disease from another person and into yourself, thereby curing the person you stole from. I really can't think of a better way to say this.


texts: What is the most usual verb in this case of interpretation of the text on crimes? Alternatives A or B?

texts:
Read the following extracts were taken from a article from St. Louis Today.

  The lady in accounting at Schunuck's headquarters in Maryland Heights quictly pocketed small sums that, over three years, added up to more than $111,000, authorities said. A felony theft charge was field earlier this month. While the alleged theft was brazen—most bank robbers could only hope for such a haul—the case was merely the latest in a series of embezzlements across the St. Louis Region. As prosecutors prepared to file charges in the Schunucks case, St. Louis County government officials were untangling how a manager in the health department allegedly pilfered $3.4 million in public funds over six years. That same day, a former town supervisor in tiny Moro in Madison County pleaded guilty to writing small checks to himself for "office expenses" that totaled more than $750,000 over a decade. Also, a former Edwardsville police chief was sentenced for stealing $138,000 Worth of vehicle impound fees over a three-year-span. Other high-profile cases have emerged in the last month, too, such as two St. Louis parks workers admitting last month they used sham invoices to steal more than $460,000 over eight years.

This sentence:

  The former town supervisor in tiny México in Madison County pleaded guilty to writing small checks to himself for "office expenses" that totalled more than $750,000 over a decade.

Does it mean that: A) He acknowledged doing that, or B)He confessed he had a partner in crime?


texts: why does 'VERB+ing' come after 'to' in this context?

texts:
I am studying for the TOEFL iBT and I have this sample introduction to an independent writing section:

  Although some people prefer to work alone, I believe it is much better to work in teams. The benefits for working in teams vastly exceed the convenience of working alone. In my opinion, there are two main advantages to working in teams over working alone.

My question: why does working come after to? I have been taught that after to we must use the "zero verb" or "general" form of the verb.


texts: How should I write "push onto/on (the) stack"?

texts:
I would like to know which of the following expressions are not correct and why:

push onto the stack
push onto stack
push on the stack
push on stack

Is there a good guide or rule on how to use onto?