texts:
How a native speaker would say or write: 'X' simply means 'Y'?

(In my language there is one single structure for both cases of written English and spoken English.)

I have found several cases, but I don't know which one is written and which one can be used in spoken English and which one is used in both cases:

  1) In plain terms cancer is a type of disease where cells grow out of control, divide and invade other tissues.
  2) In plain language cancer is a type of disease where cells grow out of control, divide and invade other tissues.
  3) Simply put cancer is a type of disease where cells grow out of control, divide and invade other tissues.
  4) Simply cancer is a type of disease where cells grow out of control, divide and invade other tissues.


texts: Transforming "forgive me for we forgive our enemies" into a simple sentence

texts:
The way I understand it, the sentence 'forgive me for we forgive our enemies' has a coordinating conjunction i.e. for and hence it could be considered a 'compound sentence' having two independent clauses.

If that is correct, is there a way to transform this sentence into a 'simple sentence' with only one clause without affecting its meaning?

(I couldn't find a related tag for the post)

Edit 1: This question is related to what my grammar book calls 'synthesis of sentences'. I am not assuming that anyone here does not understand what 'synthesis of sentences' refers to, but just to clarify what I understand about it, it refers to the transformation of simple, compound and complex sentences.

Example: As he saw the police, he ran away – a complex sentence with two clauses as there are two finite verbs, saw and ran. This sentence could be rewritten (transformed) as: Seeing the police, he ran away which is a simple sentence with one clause and one finite verb or with one subject and one predicate since seeing, which is a present participle, functions as a non-finite verb.

That's just what I know about. I felt that some sentences cannot be transformed and was wondering if forgive me for we forgive our enemies or even the thief crept as a jackal does was one such sentence.


texts: "Used to" vs. "would": how to define "a state in the past"

texts:
Long story short: trying to simplify the rule about being able or unable to use "would" in place of "used to" when talking about the past, I got this:

  We don't use "would" in place of "used to" with stative verbs, like those that we don't use in the Continuous tenses.

Is it true, or did I miss something?


texts:
Which of the following sentences is correct and why?

  I replied a day earlier than she did.

  I replied a day earlier than her.

If both of them are correct, what is stylistic better?


texts: What is difference between "to be" and "to have been" in this context?

texts:
Context:

  1: This author appears to have been inspired from his friends.

  2:   This author appears to be inspired from his friends.

It looks like both mean same but I want to know whether there is the difference in the meaning?


texts:
I learned from dictionaries that out there has two meanings, one of which is 'strange' and the other 'out in the world'.

Both meanings fit into the context without any problem, which might be an error in my part.

Teachers, which do you think is the better definition?

May I ask you another question? What does discipline mean in the passage?
I have referred to a number of dictionaries, only to fail to find its adequate meaning.

  A 20th Century poet best known for his love poems, W.H. Auden lived a
  strict, regimented lifestyle. In his book, Daily Rituals: How Artists
  Work, Mason Currey quoted Auden as saying that “the surest way to
  discipline passion is to discipline time: decide what you want or ought to do during the day, then always do it at exactly the
  same moment every day, and passion will give you no trouble.” For the
  Audens out there, you know exactly when your mind works at full
  capacity and you take advantage of it. That’s why you insist on
  following a daily routine. At full creative flight, you generally try
  to wake up early and hit the sack early, meeting the times set in your
  schedule, and you are highly productive because of it.

  https://learn.canva.com/learn/creative-genius-quiz/


texts: TV show, TV program, TV series: always interchangeable in AmE?

texts:
Accord to my knowledge of American English, people ask

  What's you favorite TV show?

and it can refer to anything,even the nightly news.

Is this understanding correct?

Can TV program and/or TV series be used in the above sentence? If so, is there a change in meaning? That is, are the three terms always interchangeable? When might they not be interchangeable?

In your experience, does this usage represent any change over the years, say from the seventies to now?


texts: Does an adjective correlate with the second noun after the conjunction 'or' in phrases like this: "a/an + Adjective + Noun + OR + a/an + Noun"?

texts:
The sentence is:

  We could watch an interesting series or an anime.

Does it mean that both the series or the anime we're going to watch are interesting or should I say:

  We could watch an interesting series or an interesting anime.

I don't like the repetition of 'interesting'. I think it's unnecessary.

Maybe this version is correct:

  We could watch an interesting series or anime.

Does "an+interesting" correlate with the second noun 'anime'?


texts: Correct comma placement in a sentence containing 'for instance'

texts:
In short, which sentence seems to be more correct? This:

  It can be done, for instance by mixing in following ingredients.

or maybe this one:

  It can be done for instance, by mixing in following ingredients.


texts: Repeating “will” for two verbs with “and”

texts:
I wanted to check if the phrase:

  The religious vandalism will spread and will contaminate many.

is correct according to English language grammar,

or whether the correct sentence is:

  The religious vandalism will spread and contaminate many.

Taken from the following Portuguese sentence, a prophecy from Our Lady:

  O vandalismo religioso se espalhará e contaminará a muitos.

Should I repeat will for the second verb, or write “The religious vandalism will spread and contaminate many”?


texts: "I played football when I was young" vs "I was playing football when I was young"

texts:
What's the difference between these two sentences:

1- I played football when I was young
2- I was playing football when I was young


texts: When do we use "wait for" and when we use "wait to"?

texts:
According to Cambridge dictionary we normally say: "wait for", but sometime we should use the preposition "to" with waiting, such as in the following example:

  There were a lot of people waiting to use the phone.

Why do we use here "to" rather than "for", or it can be interchangeable?


texts:
From Cambridge Dictionary

aphorism means: a short clever saying that is intended to express a general truth

proverb means: a short sentence, etc., usually known by many people, stating something commonly experienced or giving advice

According to a post, the saying "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime" is an aphorism.
According to an ELL post, it is also a proverb.
Which means "proverb" and "aphorism" pretty much mean the same thing. Is my understanding correct?
Are they interchangeable for any cases?


texts:
I guess it makes sense that a person’s actions would be devious, but you couldn’t say a person him/herself is devious. For example:

  Danny is a devious person.

Does the above sentence sound natural to you or there is another adjective which can be used to explain someone who commits devious actions in order to achieve a goal?


texts: What does "But I'm not above yodeling" mean?

texts:
Context: A (an editor) and B (an assistant) are colleagues in a publishing house.

  A: Guess who has a reading tomorrow night at the Swedish consulate?

  B: Bjornberg (a writer from Sweden)? I finished the translation you gave me. You're right; he's incredible.

  A: His agent wants him to sign with Knopf. But I'm gonna get him to change his mind.

  B: And how are you going to do that?

  A: I don't know. But I'm not above yodeling.

  B: That's Swiss. Swedes are more into free childcare, herring, and depression.

I am not sure what the bolded part means.
I guess A isn't good at yodelling in order to know more about Swedish culture or she won't play tricks in order to sign this writer (Bjornberg)? Also, does above in the sentence mean good at?


texts: "One thing or another" is singular or plural?

texts:
There are a lot of answers about has/have but I couldn't find one that answers my question.
Which one is correct ?

Window size or position has been modified
Window size or position have been modified

I guess that if the or was exclusive I should use has. But there, the window size and position can be both modified at the same time.
Thank you.


texts: Explaining S suffix to non-native English speaker

texts: I am assisting a Hebrew speaker in improving her skills in English.  She is having a difficult time understanding how English speakers use the S, and I am looking for the simplest way to explain this.  For example, the following phrases seem inconsistent to her: It sounds right. VS. It doesn't sound right.  If you can help me help her, it would be appreciated.


texts: When to use double-t ("-tt-"), when to use a single-t ("-t-") in spellings?

texts:
I have the following questions:

Why do words like "Committee" have a double-t ("-tt-") while words like "satisfy" have a single-t ("-t-")?
Is there a general rule concerning when should one use a double-t ("-tt-") and when should a single-t ("-t-") be used?


texts: How to use "and" to combine two phrases?

texts:
Sometimes, I am confused on the correct usage of "and".

Does

  A beautiful car and a truck

and

  A beautiful car and a beautiful truck.

have the same meaning? I want to know whether "beautiful" can be inherited by the noun "truck".

It is a dumb question, but I really want a clear explanation.


texts: Is it worth to use present perfect in this situation?

texts:
I'm Russian and English is not my first language.

I'd like to say:

  we went to France every year

or

  we have gone to France every year

We did it in the past but now we don't.
Which of the these sentences is correct?


texts: Express excitement about something possible in future

texts: I want to say that I am excited to join school X, but at the same time, I want to tell that I might not be accepted there. Saying "I am very excited to join X" implicit that school X accepted me and joining X is definitely going to occur, doesn't? Does "I would/might be very excited to join X" do the job here?


texts: Is there any difference between the two prononciations, /ˈter-ə-bəl/ and /ˈte-rə-bəl/, showed in the picture?

texts:
For the word terrible, there are two different ways to pronounce it on Merriam-Webster:

ter·ri·ble | \ ˈter-ə-bəl, ˈte-rə- \

And this question has been confusing me for a very long time. When the R-controlled vowel followed by a vowel in a word, should we pronounce the R-controlled vowel as in the same syllable or the r sound should be pronounced with the vowel after it?


texts: Does the sentence “More bad news in this city gripped by fear” lack a linking verb?

texts:
In the movie Zootopia, there is a sentence

  More bad news in this city gripped by fear.

I figure we don’t need to know the context of the sentence because we all know that it means “The city falls into a great panic”. But I don’t understand the grammar of the sentence clearly, does it lack  a linking  verb? Is it more proper to say

  More bad news in this city were gripped by fear.

Thanks a lot!
 explain: there was a similar post about headline, but it only told me a headline could be cut short, I still don't know how, so I posted this question.


texts:
Once scouts reach that decision, their behavior changes. Each scout dashes back to the nest, but instead of coaxing a nest mate for a tour, she just grabs somebody. She uses a mouthpart hook, an over-the-shoulder throw, and off she goes with the passive nest mate curled on her back in an ant version of the fetal position. Carrying takes about a third as long as leading would, and scouts can haul the rest of the colony to a new home within hours. The ants shift from the independent info gathering of scouts to group implementation of the quorum's decision.

I do not understand the usage of in the bold sentence. It throws me off when only "off" stands there.
On top of that, though it is logic to look "an over-the-shoulder throw” as an appositive of "mouthpart hook," but I just do not think these two are connected.


texts: Conditional Sentences: "If I hadn't gone" or "If I didn't go"?

texts:
If I hadn't gone to bed late yesterday, I wouldn't be tired now.

  If I didn't go to bed late yesterday, I wouldn't be tired now.

What is the correct way to express it, or are both possible?


texts: What does "So Car" mean in 19th century?

texts:
In the book South Carolina Goes to War, 1860-1865,there is a sentence:

  I am amused at the coolness with which the Southern States offer to march to the assistance of So Car—they must be sleeping in fancied security—why in less than a year it is more than likely that the whole South will be in a blaze from one end to the other.

I'm translating a book quoted this sentence. But what is "So Car" in this context?


texts: Democratic values. Does it require the definite article?

texts:
I've read in Practical English Grammar that you don't usually put the definite article in front of so-called "half-general expressions". Is "Democratic values" in that category? Or does it require the definite article?

I'm sure I should say "The values of Democracy"

But is it "Democratic values" or "The democratic values"?

Is there a rule of thumb that can help see where not to use the definite article?

An example sentence:

  "It doesn't matter that {blank} says that it adheres to (the ?)
  democratic values. It's still an autocracy."


texts:
Officials are waiting on autopsy results for Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. New York police suspect a drug overdose, possibly heroin.

I am curious about the preposition on in the sentence, because I usually say "wait for" instead of "wait on". Does it still have the same meaning if I change on to for? Just as follows:

  Officials are waiting for autopsy results for Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. New York police suspect a drug overdose, possibly heroin.


texts:
Let me choose date of birth as the noun because each person exactly has only one.

Which is the correct sentence? A or B?

  A: They write their date of birth on the given form.

  B: They write their dates of birth on the given form.

Note: Here I assume that each people gets a separate piece of form so a confusion whether I have to write as follows in case there are more than one forms are given to each of them can be avoided.

  A': They write their date of birth on the given forms.

  B': They write their dates of birth on the given forms.


texts: An up-to-date equivalent for a slip of a boy / girl

texts:
Imagine a very young boy / girl is going to do something which is hurting your pride and putting you under a question mark. You get seriously annoyed and you want to prevent the child / very young boy/girl from continuing their action. An elder interferes and asks you about the reason behind your annoyance. You tell them:

  A slip of a boy / girl is going to advise me.

Meaning that a not quite mature boy / girl who can be considered as a child is trying to advise me / tell me what to do etc.

Slip of a boy / girl was the only idiom I found for this concept in an old book of English language idioms in our own language. But according to this link I got the fact that it is not much used these days. If so, then please let me know what can I use as an alternative here?


texts: What is the difference between "stressed" and "stressful"?

texts:
"Stressed" and "Stressful"

are these two words both adjectives?

And what is the difference between the two?

In the dictionary it says:

  stressed - feeling very worried or anxious.

  stressful - full of or causing stress.

If you are worried or anxious, then aren't you full of stress?

So do these two sentences mean the same thing?

I am very stressed.
I am very stressful.


texts: In the last few days I have slept "a very little"

texts:
Is it fine to use in "a very little" in such context?

  In the last few days I have slept a very little.

Normally, in such context I use "a little bit" but I'm not sure if "a very little" is idiomatic, because I didn't hear people who use it. So I decided to check it out before I use it.


texts:
When I have to come up with a title for my presentation in English, I'm always confused at using "Introduction".

For example, the presentation is about the safety system of something. And I would like to talk about the brief ideas and explanation about the system.

In this situation, can I use "the Introduction to the Safety System of **” for the title of my presentation?

I looked for introduction in Longman and Oxford, and they say as follows:

  Introduction: 6 EXPLANATION [countable] something that explains the
  basic facts of a subject introduction to
  e.g.:The book is a useful introduction to British geology.Longman

  Introduction: to subject
  [countable] introduction (to something) a book or course
  for people beginning to study a subject

  e.g.: ‘An Introduction to Astronomy’

  It's a useful introduction to an extremely complex subject.
  Oxford

But it seems like "introduction to something" is used only for the title of a course or a book.

Can I use this word for the title for my presentation to explain the brief explanation about the system?


texts:
What is the difference between these phrases and are they written correctly?

The man denied stealing the camera.
The man denied having stolen the camera.

And, is it correctly to say the following way?:
3. The man denied having been stealing for the third camera. (perfect-continuous)
thanks a lot for explanations!


texts: Wondering if my sentence written grammatically correct

texts: I'm having my hair cut. ( I meant to say this is my decision to ask a barber to cut my hair during this week.


texts: Can I use "once at a time" to describe the following situation?

texts:
I am going to recruit some students as our class committee members, and I'm working on editing the new committee obligations now. For some of these duties, they only need to do it once during their term.

Can I describe these works as "Once at a time jobs"? I can not find any reference that explains the meaning and usage of "once at a time". So is it appropriate to use it here?

What do you native speakers normally describe the jobs that you only need to do it once in your lifetime or when you are on duity?

What's more, I used to watch a video clip of Mark Zuckerberg, and his wife said, "Mark, one thing at a time" at the end of the video. What's the meaning of one thing at a time in that video? Is it a warning to Mark that you could only let it happen once, otherwise he will be in trouble?


texts: "Considered to be cheap" vs. "considered a cheap person" vs. "considered as a cheap person" vs. "considered cheap"

texts:
Today on Quora I came across this sentence "he is considered to be cheap". So my question is can I modify the sentence in following ways:

  He is considered a cheap person.
  He is considered as a cheap person.
  He is considered cheap.

So which of these is appropriate to use in place of "considered to be"?

And lastly, what is the exact meaning of considered to be?


texts: Would it be "went to sleep at one yesterday" or ”...today"?

texts: My brother was saying that is grammatically correct to say he went to sleep at one today because it was after 12 o' clock, but I say it should be he went to sleep at one o'clock yesterday. Which one of us is correct?


texts:
I found it in one of comments on What does "drink like a professional" mean in this context?

  Drinking like a professional implies greater dedication than being someone who has the odd tipple, but the real boozers are those who can drink for England.

I understand the sentence except for the bold part. Is it an idiom or expression?


texts:
Does the phrase "the long ignorance of Italy for the warnings from China" mean "ignoring Italy for long time because of the warnings from China" (That is, the pandemic situations in China drew all attention to the country, so Italy was ignored - yet actually, in the opinion of this top virologist of Germany, Italy was the origin of the novel virus)?

The expert also noted that for a global pandemic, the beginning shot was fired in northern Italy. The virologist stated that the long ignorance of Italy for the warnings from China and the lack of countermeasures are to be blamed, otherwise, the original virus can have been got under control.

Source: International Business Times  published on November 28, 2020
COVID-19: Top German Virologist Says New Coronavirus Not From Wuhan


texts: Meaning of "Why do narcissists flaunt their new supply?"

texts:
Could someone explain the meaning of this senetence to me?
I found this senetence "Why do narcissists flaunt their new supply?" when trying to learn the word narcissist. I am not able to understand the sentence.
I tried and understood the following words:
Narcissist = it’s a disorder. People with this has excessive self interest and do not consider others.
Flaunt = trying to impress others (or) trying to get admiration.


texts:
Currently I am trying to write a text related to our organisation and I am wondering what tenses to use. The text should be shown on some presentation slides.

Here it is:

  As a research institute focused on smart living, we are striving to improve how people will live in upcoming years by delivering ideas, strategies and concepts. Together with our partner companies we are working on proof of concepts and are furthermore trying to master the challenge of bringing our ideas to market to fulfill some enriching experiences for all tenants.


texts:
I want to use a phrase that takes the form of possession. It may be a matter of an apostrophe with s or a usage of a possessive pronoun, I suppose.

What I want the phrase to mean and indicate is that there are two individuals whom I want to talk about the life of only one of them instantaneously.

The sentence (not the original one):

  They were always together until destiny took away ______ (one's life of them?).

I want the phrase to be a substitute of the life of one of them.

I would also like to know if there are other ways of stating the phrase in a shortened form.


texts: A different concept of difficult English words

texts:
I’m interested in building up my English vocabulary, but whenever I look for “difficult English words” or “advanced vocabulary” I’m presented with a list of polysyllabic words such as: aberration, abhor, acquiesce, amiable, appease, arcane, avarice, etc.

Being a Spaniard, I found all these mostly Latin-rooted words quite easy. The difficult words for me are the monosyllabic ones with Old English or Germanic roots, such as: bask, botch, dun, garble, goon, helm, knit, knoll, lath, lye, muck, pry, quell, slat, swig, stump, tussle, wan, whet, etc.

Do you know of any Internet resources devoted to vocabulary building but centered in words of this kind? I haven’t been able to find one. Or do you have any idea about how I should proceed?

I’m sure most native speakers of Romance languages share this problem.


texts: While I was watching an episode of The Walking Dead (which is a zombie show), a father watching a house tells his son, "it is as good as any"; what does it mean? First I thought, he wants to say, "it is like other houses" that is full of zombies. But I saw, they entered the house. So did he try to mean the opposite?


texts:
Example with a context:

  Tragedy, foul play or fear of prosecution? A spate of mystery suicides by allies of Ukraine's deposed president Viktor Yanukovych has been called all three.
  Three former lawmakers close to the ousted leader have been found dead in Ukraine in the past two weeks, in what their party has called a consequence of their persecution by Kiev's new pro-Western government.

I don't think I really understand that part. all three obviously refers to the three suicides by former Ukrainian officials, but a spate of mystery suicides has been call all three—I don't get that.


texts: What's the meaning of idiom "You don't say"?

texts:
I've heard this idiom several times. But I can't find it in my dictionary.
Some forums in my country said it means "really" or it expresses surprise, and they give me an example:

-I make it!
-You don't say!
-Don't mock me! I‘ll beat him.

But it doesn't fit the context of the samples I've encountered.
For example:

A: Mr. Qian, what does he do exactly?
B: Gambling, man! What do you think?
A: Brother! You, me, and him, we're gonna work together.I tell you now. We're gonna work this out.
B: You don't say!

I feel it means "It's obvious. You don't need to tell me that."
Could someone be kind to tell me what exactly this idiom means?


texts:
I have heard/seen people say/write "She is 5 feet 10 inches tall" and "She is 5-foot-10." But in formal writing, is there a convention? I found both "8-foot-tall" and "nine-feet tall" in online sources.

  The bronze, 8-foot-tall LBJ sculpture is slated to be installed at downtown's Little Tranquility Park, bound by Capitol, Walker, Bagby and Smith streets. (source)

  Nine-feet tall and bronze, the monument to the famous novelist has been erected in the grassy center of the 13.7-acre park's circular drive. (source)


texts: 'Has run' or 'was running' in 'His mother was running after the funeral'

texts:
In the below mentioned paragraph, the author has written 'was running' in which should have been 'has run' because we use 'was running' when another incident has happened...

Please help to make it grammatically correct.
Or, she should write: his mother was running after the funeral when it was being carried.

  His mother was running after the funeral, singing lullaby for him, chanting songs for her beloved. The place of his burial was far but she might have prayed to run as long as her life. She gazed her son and the sun that was about to set. The green, black flags covered sky and the last rays of sun kissed Fahad.


texts:
Any state
  that makes its choices after most others do will find itself playing in the
  late innings of a game, as the West Virginia Supreme Court found in a
  case about whether car makers were responsible if their vehicles failed to
  protect people who negligently got into accidents:

    ...[I]n some world other than the one in which we live, where this Court
    were called upon to make national policy, we might very well take a meat
    ax to some current product liability rules. Therefore, we do not claim that
    our adoption of rules liberal to plaintiffs comports[,] necessarily, with some
    Platonic ideal of perfect justice.

Source: p 124, The Legal Analyst, Ward Farnsworth

My guess is Definition 1.1 below. Yet is this use right?

  Favourable to or respectful of individual rights and freedoms:

The definition concerns 'right and freedoms', while the context is individuals (as plaintiffs)


texts:
I've checked the dictionaries and both words have a common meaning:

arc - a shape or structure resembling an arc.

arch - a curved symmetrical structure spanning an opening and typically supporting the weight of a bridge, roof, or wall above it.

Can both these words be interchangeable?

We went through the arc.
We went through the arch.


texts: I've seen the phare "Victory Fund" several times. Like Hillary Victory Fund or The AAPI Victory Fund, but don't really understand that. What is the Victory? Did those funds accomplish some kind of victory?


texts:
Which one of the following statements is correct?  I am unsure of the rules regarding the time words "at that moment" in the sentence.

At that moment I saw a whale spouting water into the air.
At that moment I was seeing a whale spouting water into the air.


texts: "ground of a park" vs. "ground in a park"

texts:
A post uses "a ground of a park" to refer to the thing shown below.

I guess another expression could be "a ground in a park".
Ngram Viewer shows both use are common, what's the difference?


texts: joint two sentences with "which" and "will"

texts:
This method suffers from high computation difficulty.

  The high-computation difficulty will require high efforts.

I would like to join them in one sentence using which and will:

My try:

  This method suffers from high computation difficulty which will require high efforts.

Is my structure correct?.


texts:
His aunt and uncle hadn't been able to think of anything else to do
  with him, but before they'd left, Uncle Vernon had taken Harry aside.
         "I'm warning you," he had said, putting his
  large purple face right up close to Harry's, "I'm warning you now, boy
  -- any funny business, anything at all -- and you'll be in that cupboard from now until Christmas."        "I'm not
  going to do anything," said Harry, "honestly..
  But Uncle Vernon didn't believe him. No one ever did.
       The problem was, strange things often happened around
  Harry and it was just no good telling the Dursleys he didn't make them
  happen.        Once, Aunt Petunia, tired of Harry
  coming back from the barbers looking as though he hadn't been at all,
  had taken a pair of kitchen scissors and cut his hair so short he was
  almost bald except for his bangs, which she left "to hide that
  horrible scar." Dudley had laughed himself silly at Harry, who spent a
  sleepless night imagining school the next day, where he was already
  laughed at for his baggy clothes and taped glasses. Next morning,
  however, he had gotten up to find his hair exactly as it had been
  before Aunt Petunia had sheared it off He had been given a week in his
  cupboard for this, even though he had tried to explain that he
  couldn't explain how it had grown back so quickly.
  Another time, Aunt Petunia had been trying to force him into a
  revolting old sweater of Dudley's (brown with orange puff balls) --
  The harder she tried to pull it over his head, the smaller it seemed
  to become, until finally it might have fitted a hand puppet, but
  certainly wouldn't fit Harry. Aunt Petunia had decided it must have
  shrunk in the wash and, to his great relief, Harry wasn't punished.
         On the other hand, he'd gotten into terrible
  trouble for being found on the roof of the school kitchens. Dudley's
  gang had been chasing him as usual when, as much to Harry's surprise
  as anyone else's, there he was sitting on the chimney. The Dursleys
  had received a very angry letter from Harry's headmistress telling
  them Harry had been climbing school buildings. But all he'd tried to
  do (as he shouted at Uncle Vernon through the locked door of his
  cupboard) was jump behind the big trash cans outside the kitchen
  doors. Harry supposed that the wind must have caught him in mid- jump.
         But today, nothing was going to go wrong. It was
  even worth being with Dudley and Piers to be spending the day
  somewhere that wasn't school, his cupboard, or Mrs. Figg's
  cabbage-smelling living room.  (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's
  Stone)

It seems like to infinitival phrase is the semantic subject, and it is the dummy-it. Or to infinitival seems like the complement for the previous worth being with Dudley and Piers, saying its reason. When I select the latter it’s not easy what do I have to refer to for it - that's why I upload quite a lot contents. How do I understand the construction?


texts:
I was wondering if there was a verb form for the word 'sic'.

Eg: "Hey, you could've quoted me when you gave that speech."

Or

"Hey, you could've sicced me when you gave that speech."

However according to Google, 'sicced' means to pursue someone.


texts: The meaning of 'attribute A to B' in the context

texts:
I think 'attribute causes to events(line5)' should be 'attribute events to causes' although I am rather sure that I misunderstood. Why did the author write that way? Does attribute mean 'regard something as being caused by (someone or something)' in this context? The meaning evades me.

  People are innately disposed to look for causes of events, to form
  explanations and stories. That is one reason storytelling is such a
  persuasive medium. Stories resonate with our experiences and provide
  examples of new instances. From our experiences and the stories of
  others we tend to form generalizations about the way people behave and
  things work. We attribute causes to events, and as long as these
  cause-and-effect pairings make sense, we use them for understanding
  future events. Yet these causal attributions are often mistaken.
  Sometimes they implicate the wrong causes, and for some things that
  happen, there is no single cause. Rather, there is a complex chain of
  events that all contribute to the result; if any one of the events
  would not have occurred, the result would be different. But even when
  there is no single causal act, that doesn’t stop people from assigning
  one.

    The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded Edition


texts:
I am having problem in understanding this sentence, in particular this part "sending the device plummeting to the ground". Does "sending the device plummeting to the ground" modifying "its territory"? Are "sending" and "plummeting" both gerunds here?

After this red-tailed hawk spots the unwanted guest, it goes on the
offensive by swooping down to mark its territory, sending the device
plummeting to the ground.


texts:
I’m tired is all.

How can I parse this?


texts: "Looking at the sky, the clouds, the moon and the stars really does make me feel calm and hopeful."

texts:
Looking at the sky, the clouds, the moon and the stars really does make me feel clam and hopeful.

So, in this sentence how does the word "does" work? There's a problem without that word?


texts:
The accident happened just as the bus crossed the causeway.

or

  The bus crossed the causeway just as the accident happened.

May I know which one is correct?


texts: You against the whole world - what does it mean?

texts:
Teresa is researching how to create energy by chemical reactions.

  Teresa: I still have some sequencing that I have to work out to make sure that it's safe, but I did it.

  Matt: It's just been you against the whole world, hasn't it? How have you done it and stayed so positive?

  Teresa: The gift of faith.

Why does Matt think Teresa's experiment will be against the whole world?


texts: Can I use "enter" to mean "join a club"?

texts:
I think we usually say "I am going to join the basketball club."

Is it all right to say "I am going to enter the basketball club."?

I know that enter can mean "to start to take part in a particular activity or to work in a particular job," but I'm not sure that I'm using it correctly here.


texts: What does the name big G implies to you as a native speaker?

texts: At my workplace, they call me big G cuz that's the first letter of my name and I am big. Now I don't know if that could be taken in the wrong way by someone who doesn't know me and doesn't see me when my colleagues mention me as big G? For example, in the urban dictionary I read big G also means big gay or big Gangster and that's how native speakers mostly use it. After having read that it feels a bit awkward to be called big G because I am neither a gay nor a gangsta.:) Is it okay though?


texts: Is my understanding correct of "In a fight for the states to sign on to the expansion"?

texts:
Source As I wrote in my comment, the Administration needs to engage fully and politically in a fight for the states to, for example, sign on to the Medicaid expansion.

"in a fight for the states to sign on to the expansion"

This "for the states" is grammatically the same as "something for you to do."
Or "for the states to sign on to the expansion" is separate from the noun "fight" and explains "engage" like "I went to the park to talk to my neighbour"?


texts:
Comparing these two sentences:

  a. Joe cleared Sam a place to sleep on the floor.

  b.*Joe cleared Sam the floor.

Why is “b” incorrect?


texts:
It wasn't so much that I wanted my sisters to be envious. It was more that I wanted to celebrate my new privileges to come and go, to wander through shops without my sister's supervision.

What does this mean? Is there any alternate ways, synonyms, for better elaboration?


texts:
In Urdu language, there is a saying which is used to describe a person who eats so fast and too much humorously or sarcastically (depending on the context its connotation can vary.) They say:

Look at the way he eats. He looks like he just got out of a famine. (Literal translation.)

Meaning: As if he has been hungry for a long time and has been starving recently.
I was wondering if it makes sense in English to use "famine" in this case metaphorically?
Meanwhile, I have my doubts how it would be better-sounding!

He looks like he just got out of a famine.
He looks (as if / as though) he just got out of a famine.
It looks (as if / as though) he just got out of famine.

Please kindly enlighten me.


texts:
Do the following sentences grammatically correctly express satisfaction with the candidates performance:

  We considered your progress against the Ph.D. degree timeline, work habits, publication and research output, motivation and commitment. Based on this review, I would like to encourage you to continue your progress and acknowledge your superior performance to date.

I'm particularly uncertain about the first sentence, which almost sounds like the opposite of what is tried to be said.


texts: I am going to have a talk with you on may 7 or on 7, may?

texts: I am confused with the order of data, which one I should use?


texts: All the pleasures of life vs all pleasures of life

texts:
This is an error spotting question asked in my exam :

  She is wealthy (a) / and can afford (b) / all the pleasures of life (c) / No error (d)

Is the the before pleasures correct here ? I don't think we need the here and removing it will make any difference.


texts: What's the correct preposition for the verb "to mirror something."

texts:
The context of this question: I am writing technical documentation in the field of computational science, i.e. simulating physical systems on the computer.

I am writing about a method, which takes in an existing mesh, creates the mirror image and joins the results. This way, if we have a symmetric problem, we need to create only half the geometry with our meshing tool, and we can then apply the mirroring operation.

What I want to know is the correct preposition for the following sentence:

"Mirror the geometry by(?) the user-provided plane"


texts: "... a constant companion and housekeeper in his sister." What does the "in" mean?

texts:
I'm reading Jane Austen's novel of "Sense and Sensibility". There is coming a sentence as below:

  The late owner of this estate was a single man, who lived to a very advanced age, and who for many years of his life, had a constant companion and housekeeper in his sister.

In which, the sentence, of "had a constant companion and housekeeper in his sister." I have two questions:

What does the sentence "[he] had a constant companion and housekeeper in his sister" mean?
What does the word "in" of "in his sister" mean?


texts: What does the phrase "There is no hurry" mean when it's used as a response to an offer for help?

texts:
For example, say somebody says "I'll rush down quickly and get the papers for you" and then you respond with "There is no hurry."

Does this mean that you've declined the offer for help, or that you're just telling the person that they don't need to rush?


texts: One word, two meanings - bad and good! How to guess the correct one then?

texts:
While writing a short story in which a computer programmer betrays his company, I brought up an event where Henry (the programmer) cleverly gets into the company's billing software and pads a few bills. For this, he needed to understand the entire system first.

I know a word, a verb in fact, 'exploit.' Now, this means to make a productive use of something. So, I wrote,

  Kane was shocked seeing Henry who was still dedicatedly working on the computer even after everyone else had left. It was not the kind of thing he usually did. Kane walked down to him and casually asked the reason, to which Henry replied that he was just exploiting the new billing software.

While confirming the meaning of the word, I was shocked to see a meaning of the same verb that said something completely opposite. 'exploit' means to use something in an unfair way for your own advantage.

All dictionaries support that 'exploit' means ....

  to use something unfairly for your advantage, and  to use something fairly for your advantage!

I referred MW for the same.

Now, this sparks a question in my mind. What if a word has two exactly opposite meanings? How would one guess the meaning then?

The negative meaning of exploit actually destroys the suspense of the story as Henry was actually manipulating the software for his own advantage! :(

Edit:

I see that people have started digressing. Let's not get into the nuance of what Henry's profession is. The question is about a word with both positive and negative meanings and how it creates confusion. While I did not want to reveal the truth of Henry betraying the firm, using 'exploit' created that effect.


texts:
In the Moscow aeroexpress train to Domodedovo airport I heard an announcement, "The trip will last for 45 minutes" and I wonder if for is optional in announcements. Is it said the same way in London for instance? Is it a formal way?

I know we can say, "The trip will last 45 minutes". Is it any different from last for?


texts: What is correct between 'call A as B' and 'call A B'?

texts:
In this section, we consider a cellular network that consists of one base station (BS) and many user equipments (UEs). We call the BS and all the UEs as the nodes.

I learned that the verb 'call' is used like "I call him a superman." Do I have to delete 'as'?

However, the following sentence looks very awkward.

  We call the BS and all the UEs the nodes.


texts: About the usage of modal verb in conditional sentences

texts:
Should the UK leave the EU with no agreement in place, economic growth could be stricken harder.
  Should the UK leave the EU with no agreement in place, economic growth can be stricken harder.
  Should the UK leave the EU with no agreement in place, economic growth will be stricken harder.
  Should the UK leave the EU with no agreement in place, economic growth might be stricken harder.

Among all these modal verbs used, are there any differences, and what are they?


texts:
I know that both "more" and "else" can be used in the meaning of "besides". Well, at least I think so. Here are examples:

I have told you all I know. What else do you want with me?
I have told you all I know. What more do you want with me?

As far as I am aware, the later is less common but carries the same meaning as the former sentence.

For this not to sound like a duplicate, here's the main question: Can "else" and "more' work in an identical way in the following sentences with the words "anything, something, whatever, whenever, wherever, whomever, whoever, someone, somebody, and everything"?

I've already helped your mom and sister. Is there anyone more you want me to help?
That's it. I can't help him. There's nothing more I can do!

Edit: It's not a duplicate. I'm not asking about the difference between "what else" and "what more". I'm asking about using "else" and "more" with words "anything, something, whatever, whenever, wherever, whomever, whoever, someone, somebody, and everything".


texts: what is the most preferrable way to tell people what you studied in a university

texts:
so, I have met some guys in my previous schools, and when I asked them what they studied in schools, I got some different ways of responses, and I am wondering whether there are some most acceptable ways, both in American and British Englishs.Say, I received my Bsc in Biology in 1990 (1987-1990), this is not real, I just make this for the question.Which of these senteces is the most preferrable?
(1): I was doing Biology from 1987 to 1990 in the University.
(2): My major study was Biology. I was doing it from 1987 to 1990 in the University.
(3): I was studying Biology from 1987 to 1990 in the University
(4): Your answer.
Thank you.Kitty


texts: May I use 'to injure' in a figurative way?

texts:
Is the phrase

This behaviour injures our project

a legitimate substitute for

This behavior is harmful to our project

or is it only possible to use 'to injure'  for damaging a living body?


texts: A little help needed here in conditional sentence

texts:
Scenario:
A guy coming from a noble family commits a big sin. His mother says "I'm glad your father isn't alive today, how could he have tolerated all this. So glad he didn't have to see what disgrace you've brought this family to. Poor soul"

Question :
How do I put the conditional sentence here? If your father were alive today, he would've committed a suicide?


texts:
He left the party because he was supposedly ill, but really he didn't want to be there.

  He left the party because supposedly he was ill, but really he didn't want to be there.

  He left the party supposedly because he was ill, but really he didn't want to be there.

Supposedly could be placed in one of three or four positions in the first part of the sentence, so I am not sure where best to place it.


texts: singular (some sound/ some noise) or plural (some sounds/some noises)

texts:
I have made up the sentences below.
(1a) Sometimes, I hear some beautiful sound my neighbor makes with his computer software.
(1b) Sometimes, I hear some beautiful sounds my neighbor makes with his computer software.
(2a) When I got into my house, I heard some strange noise from upstairs.
(2b) When I got into my house, I heard some strange noises from upstairs.
I am not sure which form of the nouns is correct. Please help me. Thank you very much for your time and help.


texts: Does the tense change when we convert between active and passive voice?

texts:
Here are some examples I know of:

Present:

The magic is performed on stage by the magician
The magician performs the magic on stage.

Past:

Chester kicked the ball.
The ball was kicked by Chester.

I want to confirm that in general when we convert between passive and active voice, does the tense ever change?


texts: Should it be "carefully" instead of "careful" in this sentence?

texts:
He paused outside the doors, taking stock of his men, careful not to give any sign of his thoughts. (source)

My understanding is the phrase "careful not to give any sign of his thoughts" is an adverbial modifying the main clause. In that case, shouldn't it be led by the adverb "carefully" instead of the adjective "careful"? If I am in the wrong and the original sentence is correct, what kind of phrase is "careful not to give any sign of his thoughts"? What is its grammatical function? And why can "careful" as an adjective be used here?


texts: "He set so many hopes/ so much hope in that?"

texts: I dont know whether to use singular or plural case here. I couldnt find an answer to this quickly browsing the web and could argue for both being correct.Maybe they are but do they have slightly different meanings then?


texts: Is there a word for "defined by the elements that compose it"?

texts:
In a text I'm composing I try to explain that there are two kinds of definitions:

The first one is the kind where you explain the characteristics of an element that belongs to a set: "A crestboot is a kind of boot that has this, this, and that characteristics".

The second one is given in terms of belonging to other known sets: "A frumboot is a either a snaboot or a fluiboot".

Is there a word or phrase that can be used to refer to each of these kinds of definitions? I was thinking something like "descriptive definition" and "compositive definition".


texts: "That" instead of "those" with plural nouns

texts:
At the first glance, that is used with singular nouns, and those with plural.

However, sometimes I see that that is used with plural nouns as well.

So, both of these examples seems to be correct:

The obvious one:

  The car that belongs to me needs to be repaired.

The not-so-obvious one:

  The cars that belong to me need to be repaired. (That, not those.)

External references:

https://www.englishforums.com/English/ThatVsThose/pxnwl/post.htm
A quote from LibreOffice Writer user guide:

  You can easily check which properties are specific to a style by looking at the Contains section of
  the Organizer page. If you want to reset the properties of a child style to that of the parent style,
  click the Standard button located at the bottom of each Paragraph and Character style dialog.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/relative-pronouns

How can I understand should I use "that" or "those" in such cases?


texts:
I am an English learner. While reading a book I came across this sentence

  Not for nothing has he spent all this time in these parts

In this sentence I didn't understand two things

(1) usage of not for nothing
(2) why are we using has just like as in question


texts:
What is the meaning of language of study in the following sentence

  The gist of the original sentence in the draft NEP was that students could change one of the three languages of study in Grade 6, provided that in Hindi-speaking States they continued to study Hindi, English and one other Indian language of their choice, and those in non-Hindi-speaking States would study their regional language, besides Hindi and English.

Also how can continue be used in its past participle form continued when the sentence is in imperative. It must be provided that they continue to study Hindi, English and one other Indian language of their choice.


texts: Is the preposition 'to' optional in the following sentence?

texts:
We can propose something to someone. Again, if we propose to someone, we usually give the proposal for marriage. But I am confused when 'propose' is used with an object and a that-clause. In that case, can we use preposition 'to' between the verb 'propose' & the object?
I have found the following sentence :

He proposed me that we should go there.

Can it be written in the following way?

He proposed to me that we should go there.

Is the preposition 'to' optional here?


texts: Can you run under a "shade" to protect yourself from the "rain"?

texts: Is it correct to say that you run under a shade to protect yourself from the rain? Or is "shade" only applicable for protecting yourself from the sun?


texts: Do you say "For x times" or just "x times"?

texts:
I am wondering if it is right to say "...for [n] times or just "... [n] times" in a sentence like:

  Repeat this exercise [for] four times!


texts:
A similar problem has already been tackled at English Language & Usage, but it was not identical.

If I wanted to assure my SO, who is worried that we would not get adjacent seats on a plane, that I took care of everything, by asking my assistant do arrange it beforehand, would it be possible to say:

  Don't worry, dear, I made sure my assistant arranged everything, so that we will sit together.

Or would I be better off saying:

  Don't worry, dear, I made sure my assistant would arrange everything, so that we will sit together

As always, I'd really appreciate it if you could also correct my mistakes, should any appear.


texts:
I don't think these sentences follow the rules of conditional I, II, and III (but I could be wrong).
Does that mean I don't have to stick to the tense agreement rule when using conditionals?

  If you had followed orders, you would never have to face it.

(As opposed to "If you had followed orders, you would never have faced it.")

  If I would have known this would happen, I would have just done it.

(As opposed to "if I had known this would happen, I w*ould have just done* it.")

  If they were using this as a stronghold, I would have figured they would be putting up more of a fight.

(As opposed to "...I would figure they would be putting up more of a fight.")

  If they were destroyed, people will become restless.

(As opposed to "...people would become restless.")


texts:
There is this party in August that I cannot participate. So I am writing to a friend and I want to wish/hope that it be a great event for them. Which of the following is correct?

  I hope it will be a great event for you.
  I hope it be a great event for you.

Also, should I use hope or wish for such context?


texts:
I have encountered this sentence:

  Universities should have to record sexual violence claims, says expert.

Like the OP of this question noted, I believe we could choose either should or have to.

So what's the need of using the phrase, instead of the above two options?

EDIT: After some googling, I've found that should have to could mean should be expected to or must have to. Are there any other possible meanings?


texts: Could you simplify the "the instruction permit" in simple English

texts: -Pay a nonrefundable application fee. The fee is good for 12 months and allows you to take the appropriate law test(s) three times. If you fail the law test and/or driving test three times, your application will be void and a new application and fee are required. This fee pays for both the instruction permit and driver license, if you qualify for both documents within the 12-month period. If the application expires, you must resubmit documents, repay the application fee, and retake the required tests.


texts:
I want to say something like

  my interests/interest in basketball and table tennis gradually develops as ....

shall I use interests or interest, and what is the general rule behind this?


texts: What does "fetch" and "stop trying to make 'fetch' happen" mean?

texts:
cambridge gives 3 meanings of fetch

meaning 1:

  to go to another place to get something or someone and bring it, him,
  or her back

meaning 2:

  to be sold for a particular amount of money

meaning 3:

  to hit someone with the hand

this post says

  "'Fetch' hasn't happened because people still try to make it happen," he said. "If people are still gonna try to make it happen, it's not gonna happen. I think that's a good PSA to do. Stop trying to make fetch happen! It hasn't happened because you're trying to make it happen."

  ...

  So just apply that to the word "fetch" and we might make it happen in
  the next 20 years or so.

  ...

  "To clear the record, it's not that I don't want to have a Mean Girls
  reunion," he insisted. "I'm just tired about everyone asking about it.
  Because if I knew, you would know. It's not that I don't want there to
  be a reunion. It's just I don't know when, so that's what I always
  say. Mean Girls reunions are like 'fetch.'"


texts: Does "is designed" vs "was designed" imply anything different?

texts:
A product has already been put into mass market,we can buy it everywhere,so,when I want to write an introduction for this product,should I use

XXX is designed to do sth.

or

XXX was designed to do sth.

Does this two have different meanings?If not, which one will be better?


texts: Is it correct? mom will let me go, will give me permission or other?

texts:
Which is the best:

Will you come here again?
Yes, If mom would let me...      (A)
We are sure that mum will let you go
Will you come here again?
Yes, if mom will give me permission...     (B)
We are sure your mom will let you go
Will you come here again?
Yes, if mom lets me to go...     (C)
We are sure your mom will let you go

or maybe other?


texts: Can the verb "explain" be used as an intransitive verb?

texts: Could a student interrupt their teacher and ask:"Could you explain please?" without specifying what, adding "that" or "that to me" or "what you're saying?"


texts:
When choosing a modifier, is there any difference between using a noun and its adjectival counterpart? For example (but not limited to)

journalism standards

and

journalistic standards


texts: How to use the word "would" in conversation

texts:
i have been studying english for 6 months, i watched a video on youtube last night. it had 3 sentences i couldnt understand.
" what would give you that idea?"
"The fact that you would put my happiness first like that"
"why would he do this?"
I was confused. Can anyone explain it for me, how can i use the word "would" in conversation. thank you so much.


texts: What is the best choice for ing , to infinitive or ing

texts:
the justification given for explaining  his action is unbelievable!
  the justification given to explain  his action is unbelievable!
  the justification given, explaining  his action is unbelievable!

what is the best

I think the first one is the best because the justification  was not the goal of his act  not like  Joe wrote a book to share his experiences more than joe got acclaims for writing a book and the action is already finished


texts:
A. There is not contaminated water.

B. There is no contaminated water.

C. There is not any contaminated water.

Would you please tell me if they are correct grammatically and if they would mean the same thing?


texts:
I heard in the movie Scarface:

  You can't stand for another man to be touching me.

Do people say stand for someone to do something?

Also I am not clear on the difference between stand and stand for, as both can mean tolerate or endure. What is the difference between stand and stand for in this particular sense?

  I can't stand the way Mom talks to him"

  I wouldn't stand for that sort of behavior from him, if I were you.


texts: Having mild uneasiness about a preposition

texts:
I am just looking at this site, for my personal blog purpose, I have begun to have mild uneasiness about a preposition, which is in after the word flaw in the conversation.

John says,

  No, thank you.  I guess that's it.  By the way, in case there's a flaw in this CD player, can I return it?

flaw in.... could there be any chance for us to have another options like, with or about instead of in? Why is "with" not O.k?

Thank you kindly.

Sincerely.


texts:
I was reading a TOEFL textbook and came across this sentence:

[I]t is unlikely that Brachiosaurus could have lifted its neck to reach tree leaves.

I know when it comes to referring a kind of animals, we usually use the plural form or "the" before the word in its singular form to refer to the whole kind such as:

"The cat is my favorite animal"

Or

"Cats are my favorite animals".

It would be grammatically wrong to write

"Cat is my favorite animal."

So my question is why the word "brachiosaurus", a countable noun, doesn't have to follow this rule. Shouldn't it be:

"It is unlikely that the brachiosaurus could have..."

Or

"It is unlikely that brachiosauruses could have..."


texts: Which is the correct form "Timisoara's public transport network" or Timisoara public transport network?

texts:
I often see it without the 's on the maps around the world.
Is it grammatically correct to write it without the 's


texts: "Verge of shutdown" or "Verge of a shutdown"?

texts:
Which one of the following is grammatically correct?

  Abc Country might be on the verge of a shutdown.

or,

  Abc Country might be on the verge of shutdown?.

I think the second one is right.


texts: Is this question trying to find out "whether or not the action was done" or "who did it?" A: Did you plant that tree.? B: My father planted it

texts:
This is from a British film. In a farm, two friends are working heavily and finally they removed an old and dried tree trunk from the soil and then took a break, sitting on the ground and drinking something. And they are talking as follows:
A: Did you plant that tree?
B: My father planted it.
I wonder why B did not answer "No", "No, I did not" or something to that effect, but instead he answered "My father planted it".
A did not actually ask "Who planted it". A simply wanted to find out "Did you plant that tree?", which means "Did you do it(planting) in the past?.
If there is no problem with B's answer -or A's question-, how did B know that A actually meant "Was it you who planted that tree?", although his question did not seem to be trying to find out about it.
I got confused.
Thanks


texts: "I askED him if he knowS..." or "knew" - which one is correct?

texts:
I don't know why but when I say "I asked him if he knew..." type of sentences making both verbs past tense, it seems like I am saying it wrong... I already used the past tense verb in the first part of the sentence and wouldn't it be obvious that I am already talking about the past rather than making the second verb past tense too?

Examples:
Let's say that yesterday I met my friend Chuck and he told me that he had broken the 4K TV his father had brought a week ago. And I asked "Do you know what is going to happen to you when your father comes home tonight?". He nodded.
So, the next day I am telling my mom about Chuck's TV and how he had broken it. When I tell her about the question I asked him how do I say it?

I asked him if he KNEW what IS about to happen tonight.
I asked him if he knows what is about to happen tonight.

which one is correct?


texts: This is already the level of my speaking skills BEFORE I GOT TO

texts:
Let's say you went to an English-speaking country, such as in the U.S.A. for work. You are born and raised in a non-English speaking nation for example in an asian country. And then, after several years, you've decided to visit your home country, and your friend just gave a comment on your native-sounding English speaking skills, where in fact you already had that BEFORE going to the U.S.A. So, making your reaction into a sentence, it goes like:

  This is already the level of my speaking skills before I got there in the U.S.A. for work.

The bold letters are(above), I think, a bit off. Because I'm not sure what verb tenses should I use here in this particular situation. Another alternative is:

  I've already had this level of speaking skills before I got there in the U.K. for work. (I'm more confident on this to be correct.)

Help.


texts: How can I construct a sentence that contains reference to the past?

texts:
I want to construct a sentence in which I talk about the past. But my friend said that the following sentence has some grammar errors since I cannot follow considering my interest with a past tense. I will appreciate any help. The sentence that I have constructed is:

  Considering my interest, attending a private teaching institution that emphasizes communication skills seemed like a great chance for me.


texts:
My English teacher said that it isn't correct to say:
"current of data"
Is he right?
so how can I say a moving data from one hardware(e.i. computer, memory) to other?

I think about:

"stream of data". Is it right?

What is the problem in first use?


texts: Word for a value incremented by certain amount?

texts:
When we take a number and multiply it by 10 we get a value ten times the original.

Then, what do we call the result of adding 10 to a previous value?

i.e., what can I put in place of the ellipsis in the following statement?

When we add 10 to a number we get a value ... the original


texts: "To be or to not be" Is it grammatically correct? , that is the question

texts:
Can we put "not" between the to and the verb in infinitive form? Is it grammatically correct?

Can I say:

  She tried to not offend people.
  To be or to not be, that is the question


texts: Several instances of the same object with different adjectives: singular or plural?

texts:
Should I say

  I've got a red, a blue and a yellow balloons.

or

  I've got a red, a blue and a yellow balloon.

?


texts: Help to understand "the short trip saw ..."

texts:
The short trip saw a North Korean train enter China on Monday but was otherwise cloaked in secrecy.

I saw this sentence in a Yahoo news. The part I am confused is The short trip saw. How come a trip could possibly see something? In my opinion, only a person or animal can really see something. Can someone help me to understand? Thanks!

The full context


texts: Is it wrong/strange to use the simple past tense version of "who the hell [does this]?"

texts:
For example:

  Who the hell eats instant noodles for breakfast?

Is it incorrect/weird to say:

  Who the hell ate instant noodles for breakfast?

(Say, if you're writing in first-person past-tense narrative?)

If so, what's a better alternative?


texts: meanings of delightfully difficult and judicious customs

texts:
I’m reading The Greedy Queen by Annie Gray. Gray talks about a dining style called à la Russe in the Victorian age, and she says:

  The upper middle classes were the first to really embrace service à la
  Russe, which was easy to manage, simple to understand, but could be
  rendered delightfully difficult in practice. A few judicious customs
  around the ‘correct’ way to handle your fruit fork could be invented
  which were unique to each family or group, and enabled people to make
  those all-important judgements about others which litter Victorian
  literature and filled the pages of magazines.

One thing I understand about this paragraph is that this dining style was a writing material for Victorian literature and magazines. But the rest of it seems confusing and contradictory to me. Firstly, if it is difficult in practice, how can it be easy to manage?  What does she mean by “delightfully difficult”? And “judicious” seems to be a positive term, but the tone of the author doesn’t sound approving. Is this part saying that people (each family or group) all have different understandings about the customs of à la Russe, they all think they are doing it right and criticize other people for doing it wrong?  Can anybody explain her ideas for me?


texts: With or without preposition are these sentences correct?

texts:
1.He listens to classical music every night.
2.He listens classical music every night.

In the first, the sentence used the preposition "to" and in the second, no preposition is used.
Are these sentences correct? Do these sentences mean the same? or is any mistake in these sentences with or without preposition?


texts: Difference between saint, holy and sacred

texts:
What are the differences between the words "holy", "saint" and "sacred"? While there are several other synonyms to all of these, these are the ones I see most commonly and I'm wondering if there are any differences between them as to how and for what they can be used.

If I were asked about it, the following would come to my mind, but I am not sure whether I am right:

I usually hear/read the word "sacred" in the context of the ancient American civilizations, such as "The Sacred Temple of [insert arbitrary God's name here]". This (and well, this word has always felt to me kind of "dark" - I don't know a better word) makes me believe that "sacred" is used to describe the religious importance/quality of someone/something that's distant for the average English speaker - both geographically and culturally. Another example which seems to reinforce the "distance" aspect is that - to my knowledge - cows in India are usually qualified as "sacred" animals rather than holy or saint.
I usually hear/read the word "saint" to qualify people, especially Christians. I guess this word must be strongly related to the fact that in order for someone becoming qualified as Saint (s)he must have done a wonder during his/her lifetime.
I usually hear/read the word "holy" again mostly in a context that has something to do with Christianity and I believe it is commonly used for non-living entities, such as Holy Crowns, The Holy Grail, Holy Water, etc.

So what are your thoughts (or rather, the facts)? Are there important differences between these words? I also welcome any important remarks on any other synonyms as well.


texts: Why "being" has been used in this sentence?

texts:
Context:

  I would like to congratulate all the students for being placed in XYZ company.

My question is that why "being" has been used in the sentence as "being" is used for present continuous passive.  I think this sentence mean that the "students are being placed" but this is not possible because the placement process is already finished.

What is the meaning of this kind of context? Is that grammatically right?


texts: Does 'I'm pregnant with nobody' have a contradiction?

texts: Does 'I'm pregnant with nobody' make sense? I try to express I have no baby growing in the uterus.


texts:
Why we use "in" in: I worked in the mailroom.

While we use "at" and "in"
in:

I worked in a place.
I worked at a place.


texts: What is the correct preposition to use for adding a product {on/in/at} a website?

texts:
How is it correct to say:

  What do you think about adding "NameOfProduct" on ProductHunt.com?

I never know if I should use on / in / at.


texts: How do I know if the word is step or glide in English

texts:
Today I had a lesson in school about steps and glides and I didn't understand it.

My first question what is about steps and glides. My second  question is how do I know if the sentence ends with steps or glide?
Here are some examples:

  She is friendly and outgoing.

The sentence ends with outgoing; is it steps or glide  and how do I know if it is steps or glides?

The second example:

  He is quiet and shy.

The word ends with shy is it steps or glide and how do I know if it steps  or glides?


texts: What's the word for someone who is supposed to be your foe but isn't because they're nice?

texts: I'm trying to find the word for Nazis who helped a Jew. I'm hoping for a word that means "should be."


texts: How to handle conditional clauses where it’s unknown whether the protasis’s condition actually got fulfilled or not?

texts:
I have a question regarding conditional sentences, as far I know the “third conditional” is used when we’re talking about a condition from the past that never
actually happened after all.  For example:

If she had come home early, she would have gotten
to meet him.

In this example, the person did ɴᴏᴛ get home early so she
did ɴᴏᴛ get to see whomever she had been wanting to see.
But what about the cases where it’s uncertain whether that if clause’s condition had ever ended up getting fulfilled or not?
If in the example sentence it had ɴᴏᴛ been known whether
she had come home early — maybe she did, maybe she didn’t,
but we don’t know — what then would have been used in place
of If she had come home early, given how that particular
construction would clearly imply that she had ɴᴏᴛ come
home early and we want to allow for doubt about that?


texts: "The Original Data and the Duplicated Data" Versus "the Original and Duplicated Data"

texts:
I already saw these expressions here and there but wonder whether there is a smoother one in this case.

The original data, which have variables W and X, are from the first source. The duplicated data, which have variables Y and Z, are from the second source. The original data and the duplicated data show similar results.

I think The original and duplicated data and The original and the duplicated data are also possible but don't know whether they are better.


texts:
Where should I place the adverb 'usually'?

  The more beautiful the hat is, the more expensive it usually is.
  The more beautiful the hat is, the more expensive it is usually.


texts: Does "provides" refer to the "wiggle room given to the timelines"?

texts:
SOURCE

With a little wiggle room given to the timelines the author, inventor, computer scientist, futurist, and director of engineering at Google provides, a full 86 percent of his predictions - including the fall of the Soviet Union, the growth of the internet, and the ability of computers to beat humans at chess - have come to fruition.


texts: Is "barreling" appropriate in this context?

texts:
Before anyone could stop him, the boy in the wheelchair was barreling toward the laughing bullies.
Hi. I would like to know if barreling seems a good choice in this context to mean he's riding really fast in his wheelchair toward the bullies as if to attack them? Or do you have some better ones?


texts: Which tense should be used after word after

texts:
what is the correct tense after the word after?

to do something after a child will be born
to do something after a child is born


texts: gerund "persuading" and noun "persuasion"

texts:
National governments and states will need persuading that cities should have more power, especially as many will also be begging for money. They should step back anyway. Great cities are obnoxious, but they are normally big contributors to national budgets. And the trick they perform for their countries is not just economic. Cities are where people learn to live in a modern, open society. They are machines for creating citizens.

I think gerund is only used for verbs without noun form. But here persuade has noun persuasion, so why is it "persuading" instead of "persuasion"? Will the sentence meaning change a lot if using "persuasion"?


texts: Can I use multiple complements for a verb

texts:
I wrote:

  We implemented the proposed system as a visual tool. It is a Windows application using an embedded web browser to render the web page to provide the user with the visual identification of the page elements.

Here, I used the pattern "use A .... to do X"; however, I used two "to do", is it a correct usage of this pattern? I mean if I can add extra "to do" as complements of "use" or not? (My question is not about repeating of "to", I don't care it here)


texts:
What's the difference between them? For example,

But for language, there would be no thought.

Can this be replaced like the following sentence?

With no language, there would be no thought.

Also, can they be rewritten using "without"?


texts: Is it true that "bad/good guys" always requires a definite article before itself? If yes, why?

texts:
Because I've never heard this collocation without a definite article. For instance: "You look just like one of the bad guys" or "Damn you, I thought you were the good guys!"
And in both given examples I can't spot any reference to some specific guys. Also pleaseee be kind to list other nouns which, like that one, can't get away with a definite article:)


texts: Hyphen vs. En Dash vs. Em Dash to split a clause

texts:
Which one should I use to split a clause like in the example below?

  Go to Preferences > Settings – Syntax Specific.

The screenshot above shows Sublime Text menu.

I'm sure they did not use the hyphen.
I've gone through the www.thepunctuationguide.com guide but I haven't found this case.

Anyway, apart from what they used, which one is correct?

Other options are listed in the UTF-8 General Punctuation table.

I also noticed StackExchange is using the En Dash in the comments (before the author). Many others, including Bootstrap, are using the Em Dash.


texts: “granting high school basketball recruits permission to sign with agents on July 1 entering their senior years” meaning

texts:
The a Yahoo Sports article by Ben Rohrbach, August 8, 2018:

  Among the rule changes announced by the NCAA were: 1) allowing players who participate in the NBA’s draft combine to return to college if they go undrafted, so long as the NBA makes the “expected rule change” of disallowing players who enter the draft from becoming eligible until the end of their next college season; and 2) granting high school basketball recruits permission to sign with agents on July 1 entering their senior years, so long as they are “identified as an elite prospect by USA Basketball.”

I don't quite get the part in bold above.

I am not sure of the correct way to parse it. Here is my attempt: granting + recruits + entering their senior years; "permission to sign with agents on July 1" modifies the noun recruits. But I think it should add a with, like granting high school basketball recruits with permission to sign with agents on July 1 entering their senior years. So, is a noun phrase like "permission to sign with agents on July 1" eligible for being a modifier of a noun word?
What "agents" are referring to in "sign with agents"? Does it refer to the NBA players, like free agents?


texts:
I am writing an article about programming but I am confused with the usage of 'without' in my case.

The sentence is:

  Goroutines may obtain Read-Locks utilizing RWMutex without having
  blocked one another.

The problem is with the bold part.

Am I supposed to use '-ing' here? When I should use 'having V3' pattern just over present participle?


texts:
Should you use a plural verb if you refer to a fraction?

  Nine tenths of the pillar have rotted away.

I think has should be used here, but I'm not sure.


texts:
see this

  lucky devil (or lucky you, her, etc.) phrase of lucky
  1.used to express envy at someone else's good fortune.

Ok, if a woman has just got divorce, then can I say "unlucky you!"

is "unlucky you" idiomatic like "lucky you"?


texts:
Can I say

  something improves employment opportunities to somebody

when expressing

  something provides more employment opportunities to somebody

If it's correct to say improves employment opportunities, is it better than using provides as stated in my question? Is there a difference?


texts: Is saying 'which team's game is it/today' correct?

texts:
Let's say my friend is watching a game of soccer or something else and I want to know what the teams are. Can I say

  Which team's game is it/are you watching?

Is this construction correct? It sounds a little odd to me. What would be a correct construct in the given context?


texts: What does "turning his flirt" mean here?

texts:
Some context:

"He spots Nimue and serenades her. Nimue walks away so he chases her, turning his flirt and exchanging names so they aren’t strangers — ladies and gentlemen, meet Arthur. "
Source: R29 Binge Club: Netflix’s Cursed Season 1 Recap

Here's the visual occurrence (~ :43). For more context, as Arthur is chasing after Nimue, he calls out to her and she turns to acknowledge him. He invites her to have an ale, but she declines, saying, "We don't drink with strange men." She tries to walk away again, but her friend pulls her back as Arthur asks for Nimue's name. Nimue introduces herself, and he says, "Well, now we're not strangers."
Flirt as a noun is a person who habitually flirts. How can we make sense of HIS flirt?


texts: What is the meaning of "profligate" in this context?

texts:
I read a sentence in Word by Word by Kory Stamper which was:

  Many people - and many people who think they'd be good at this lexicography gig - believe that the dictionary is some great guardian of the English language, that its job is to set boundaries of decorum around this profligate language like great linguistic housemother setting curfew.

I don't see how the dictionaries' definitions (wastefully extravagant) of the word profligate fit into the context. I want to ask how a language can be extravagant.


texts:
I'm an English Learner.

In "Communicating in Business English" (written by Bob dignen), there is a sentence: "Marketing this product would be commercial suicide" on page 52.

The dictionary says "suicide" means "destruction of one's own interests or prospects: financial suicide."

But I can't understand what "suicide" means. Would someone explain this?

Any help would be appropriated. Thank you.


texts:
Is "I gotta go" closer in meaning to "I have to go" or "I should go"? I mean, how strong is it?

Thanks in advance.


texts: Sinks and baths have faucets (that are) attached to them

texts:
A faucet is a device that controls the flow of a liquid or gas from a
pipe or container. Sinks and baths have faucets attached to them.

This is the definition of the word faucet. My question is, if we replace the last sentence with "Sinks and baths have faucets that are attached to them", is it going to sound less natural or even a bit clumsy compared to the original one?


texts: What does "trafficked out and back trail" mean?

texts:
Skyline Drive is a 11.4 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Corona, California that features a cave and is rated as moderate.

I've looked it up in dictionary, "traffick" means "deal or trade in something illegal", I don't know how it relate to the trail. And what does "out and back" mean here? Does it mean starting a hiking then walking back over the same route?

Thanks for your help！


texts:
Sometimes I come across sentences like this:

  He finished his book and would receive its critics.

However, could I say like:

  [...] and recevied its criticism

Another example is:

  Her mother wouldn't let her go to the party.

Could I say:

  Her mother did not let[...].

What would be the difference between "Would + Verb" and "Verb" in these contexts?

And there are some times I cannot distinguish the difference between "Could" and "Would"

  You know that I could/would help you, but I'm too busy these days.

May you please help me?


texts:
Is the word "positive" best used in the headline? At first glance, I naturally linked it with covid-19 - positive in testing? Sad, you've become a new case of the nasty virus. But then I read the content and found that it meant "optimistic". But the word "positive" is indeed too sensitive in 2020, because the link betwwen "positive" and "covid-19" is overwhelming in the global health crisis and is better to avoid using it in narrow space.
What is your opinion?

The Scandinavian secrets to keeping positive in a covid-19 winter
Lockdown restrictions in winter might seem something to dread, but we can combat this by embracing the mindset of people used to long, dark winters, says health psychologist Kari Leibowitz

Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24833112-500-the-scandinavian-secrets-to-keeping-positive-in-a-covid-19-winter/#ixzz6fx3UwdpU


texts: What is the difference between We knew each other vs We had known each other

texts:
I would like to know the difference between these two sentences.

We were good friends. We knew each other very well.
We were good friends. We had known each other very well.


texts: What does “something in white canvas, has long sleeves and ties in the back“ mean?

texts:
I'm watching Baywatch season 5 episode 12.

  C.J.: Well, if there can be aliens, why can't there be elves?
  Matt: C.J., You've been a big help. Now I know what to get you for Christmas.
  C.J.: Really? What?
  Matt: Something in white canvas, has long sleeves and ties in the back.

I don't know the meaning of Matt's last sentence.
I would be grateful if someone helps me understand the sentence.


texts:
Annie said that she couldn't do anything with Helen Keller unless she had her all to herself.

I'd like to paraphrase the sentence as the following.

  Annie wanted to have Helen all to herself because she wanted to control her completely.
  Annie wanted to have Helen all to herself so that she could manage her completely.

Are my sentences correct in meaning to the original sentences?


texts:
Can I use wield to something thats not physical like "the man is wielding a gun".
How often is it used.


texts: the first human beings "to live" or "lived"?

texts:
I am confused why does below sentence use "to live" which implies a future state as far as I know.

“The first human beings to live in the Americas came from Asia more than 15,000 years ago.”


texts:
Some things that happen are determined in advance. For instance, it
  seems to be determined in advance that the sun will rise tomorrow at
  certain hour. It is not an open possibility that tomorrow the sun
  won't rise and night will just continué. That is not possible because
  it could happen only if the earth stopped rotating, or the sun stopped
  existing, and there is nothing going on in our galaxy which might make
  either of those things happen. The earth will continue rotating unless
  it is stopped, and tomorrow morning its rotation will bring us back
  around to face inward in the solar system, toward the sun, instead of
  outward, away from it.

[Thomas Nagel, What does it all mean?]

I don't understand the bold sentence. I can't imagine it.
What does the word "around" mean?
Could you help me please!?


texts: Meaning of "doesn't even begin to cover it"

texts: I saw the movie Ice Age 4, in which there was the quote "Okay doesn't even begin to cover it". After searching on the internet, I couldn't find the meaning of the sentence at all. Is that "Begin to cover" an idiom? What's the meaning of the sentence?


texts: Comparing "to make them 'alive'" and "to set them 'aliving'" under a grammatical perspective

texts:
McGonagall transfigured the chessmen to make them alive.
  (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)

If "to make them alive" is correct, why "to set them alive" is not?

In fact, after some searches, it seems to me that if one uses the verb "make" then "alive" has to be used, whereas if one uses the verb "set" then using "aliving" is mandatory.

Or, perhaps, am I wrong?


texts: Differentiating between "income" and "turnover"

texts:
My teacher has asked me to give a presentation about an imaginary company. According to the instruction, I should introduce both income and turnover of that company, but I was really confused about the difference between these two words.

After some googling, I found "income" means "money received, especially on a regular basis, for work or through investments.", whereas "turnover" means "the amount of money taken by a business in a particular period." However, the difference is still not clear to me. Does a company's "income" include its "turnover" in some sense, or vice versa?

The instruction is posted here as the context:

  Your dream company:

  What is your company called?
  ......

  Figures for the last year:

  What was its turnover?
  How was this divided up by region(country)?
  What was its final income?
  What % was spent on Research & Development(R&D)?


texts:
In Disney's Hercules there's a scene (at 57:30 on Disney+, or on Youtube) in which Megara tries to convince Hercules to spend some time with her instead of doing whatever his trainer Phil planned for him. The conversation goes like this:

Megara: You sound like you could use a break. Think your nanny goat would go... Berserk if you played hooky this afternoon?
Hercules: Oh gee. I don't know. Phil's got the rest of the day pretty much booked.
Megara: Ah, Phil, schmill. Just follow me. Out the window, round the dumbbells, you lift up the backwall and we're gone.

(Phil is a satyr, which is why Meg calls him a goat.)
What does "schmill" mean? The only definition I've found is on Urban Dictionary, which says it means "a fat jewish person".


texts: Checking for ingredients in a meal you order in a restaurant

texts:
At a restaurant, I'd like to make sure that a meal doesn't have milk or cheese. What would be the right way of asking this?:
"Do you add milk or cheese to this dish?" ("meal" or "plate"?)
"Does this meal have milk or cheese?"
Thank you.


texts: What is the meaning of "The egg I made them shows how much"?

texts:
What is the meaning of "The egg I made them shows how much" in the sentence,
"I love my MAMI and PAPI. The egg I made them shows how much" ?


texts: What is the difference in meaning between these sentences?

texts:
What is the difference in meaning between these two sentences:

Shall I get her to wait outside?

Shall I get her waiting outside?

I am not sure of using "get" correctly.


texts:
Can we use "surmise" as follows in the conclusion section of an essay:

  To surmise my aforementioned thoughts, [a summary of the essay].

Generally, this statement is written as follows:

  To summarise my aforementioned thoughts, [a summary of the essay].

Since surmise means deducing a conclusion from available but incomplete facts which are not sufficient to act as evidence. So, through this conclusion statement, I want to convey that from the ideas that I have mentioned in the previous paragraphs of the essay, I have deduced the [summary of the essay].


texts: Is this correct? I often see "how many pairs of underwear", but this doesn't make sense. How is underwear a pair? There is only 1. I've googled and I've seen both "how much underwear" and "how many pairs of underwear". Which one is correct?


texts:
I'm writing some informal texts with some slang words, and I've been wondering if I should put "are" after "you" in some of them:

  1- "You gonna lose that key." or "You're gonna lose that key."
  2- "You gonna buy that car?" or "You're gonna buy that car?"


texts: what phrases to express this feeling “the serendipity is over”？

texts:
There is a beautiful phrase in Chinese “缘尽于此”. My attempt to translate it and express this feeling is “That predestined realtionship ends here” or " “the serendipity has run its course” or " “the serendipity has played itself out”.
Let me try to describe this feeling:
I met someone by serendipity. It was destiny that brought us together. And this force continued to guide us, so we had chance to experience so many things together, and maintain a good relationship for a time. Then the relationship ran its course. Now that binding force was gone, fate has decided that at this point we shall part, and never see each other again. The serendipity and luck in terms of that realtionship have played themselves out and there is nothing left now. It has ended.


texts: Why Queen Mary got angry after Elizabeth said this words?

texts:
Queen Mary asks Elizabeth to promise:

  Queen Mary: When I am gone, you will do everything  in your power to
  uphold the Catholic faith. Do not take away from the people the
  consolations of the Blessed Virgin, their Holy Mother.

  Elizabeth: When I am Queen, I promise to act as my conscience
  dictates.

  Queen Mary: Well, do not think to be Queen at all! (It clearly
  indicates she got angry)


texts: "had a test in English today" vs. "had an English test today"

texts:
Is it ok to say:

  "I had a test in English today"

Or should I say:

  "I had an English test today"

instead?

I think I actually have seen it expressed like "in English" but I just read it wasn't correct.


texts: Does 'sic' behave as any other English adverb?

texts:
This question is motivated by my attempt to complement [sic] with some text to clarify the original errors. I wanted to elucidate that the original website erroneously displayed two quotation marks with:

  ODO, Definition 1. sic {adverb} = used in brackets after a copied or quoted word that appears odd or erroneous to show that the word is quoted exactly as it stands in the original...

So far as sic resides in brackets, did I enlarge on sic grammatically and rightly?
Can I use sic, of Latin origin, with other words?


texts:
Recently,  a friend of mine was having a speech and he used the word effing. I did some research on it and then I realized it is vulgar.

Is it okay for me to use it in an annoying sentence in public?


texts:
When I commits mistake on any topic then always I learn by my mistake.
  When I do mistake on any topic then always I learn by my mistake.

.

As per my understanding both are having same meaning but some people are not agreed with my perception. So please correct me if I am wrong.


texts:
If something is up and running, it is in operation:

  The engineer soon got the air-conditioning up and running again.
  The Transfer Council is up and running.
  The Conference has tried for over 10 years to get this organization up and running.

What words/phrases/idioms could we use to describe a person who is fully prepared (for the day, work etc.) and is already working?

The other day I heard "I am up and running" but it sound like a metaphor to me because a system or a machine is usually up and running. So, what would you say to describe such an active person, presumably an early riser, who is already up and... well, running errands, working hard etc.?


texts: "He sits on a chair" Is 'sit' transitive or intransitive?

texts:
He sits on a chair

Is 'sit' transitive or intransitive in this case?
I think it's transitive since the object is chair.


texts:
When I woke up this morning, she was sleeping on my bed and she looked very happy!

The sentence is about a female cat who was ill.

Why isn't was looking (at this precise moment she was looking)? Since she was ill, the sentence I quoted seems to imply her happiness won't last for long.


texts:
I think the following sentence is not correctly framed (The highlighted part)

  Jannayak Janta Party leader Dushyant Chautala on Friday said his party was ready to support any political party in the State willing to take them along with the Common Minimum Programme. He said that 75% reservation in jobs to the youth in Haryana and increase in old age pension were on top of the party’s agenda.

 Link

Because take somebody along is the correct construction, why are they using with?


texts: Correct use of tenses in an "in which" clause

texts:
In the following two sentences that I wrote:

After many years in which no progress was made, Tony found the first red stone. Since then, several other red stones have been found.

is it better to use "had been made" instead of "was made"? or "were found" instead "have been found"?


texts:
'Little pig, what! are you here before me? Are they nice apples?'

  'Yes, very,' said the little pig. 'I will throw you down one.'

  And he threw it so far, that, while the wolf was gone to pick it up,
  the little pig jumped down and ran home. The next day the wolf came
  again, and said to the little pig:

This is from "The story of The Three Little Pigs" in English fairy tales.

What's the meaning of "that" in this content?


texts: "we met at a party" vs. "we didn't meet at a party"

texts:
Would you be able to explain to me why do they use met in the first sentence, and meet in the second? I thought there is a past tense in common:

  We met at a party
  We didn't meet at a party


texts:
Is it clear to you that the phrase "the team had held off"probably means "the NCBI had stayed away (stopped responding or something similar)"?  I am not sure what it means.

Zhang asked Holmes for a minute to think, but the flight attendant was telling him to hang up. He reflected on the grim conversations he’d had in Wuhan. “It was getting serious,” he recalls. “I said, ‘Eddie, I authorize you to release the data.’” Holmes posted it on the website virological.org, and Zhang asked the NCBI to release the genome. Holmes says the team had held off because of the government order, but Zhang says he wasn’t aware of the edict at the time. He does say, however, that he realized some health officials might be angry if he posted the sequence online.

Source:  Nature  Nature’s 10: ten people who helped shape science in 2020


texts: Is there a correct word to mean "early draw"?

texts:
I am currently working on a software that is the abstraction of a game in which draws are possible between two players. Recently, I wrote a routine that is able to detect if a game will be a draw, even though it is not yet completed.

I a looking for the correct word/expression for the situation in order to name my routine correctly. I have thought of the word "tie", but from the reading that I have done, it seems like tie mostly refer to a current state, nothing more. For example at a certain point in time, the game might be a tie, but still be winnable (hence we cannot say it will be a draw).

Is there any word/expression that indicate a game will certainly be a draw if the players complete the board?


texts:
Should I use HIS or THEIR in the sentence:

  Which of the students of your group does __________ homework together?


texts: How many people I know..but However much people I know..?

texts:
1.However much people know about a risk..(noun clause)
2.However much people I know..(noun clause)
3.How many people know about a risk..
4.How many people I know..
As grammar books say, 'much' is used with uncountable nouns and 'many' is used with plural nouns. so 1.why are plural nouns used after 'however much'?
2.Is there any grammatical theory using with 'however much'? (like however much +plural and uncountable nouns)


texts: Are these phrases exchangable when talking about math? refer to, denote, represent, stand for?

texts:
Are these phrases exchangable when talking about math? refer to, denote, represent, stand for ...

for example, is it acceptable if I make following expressions?

X refers to an unknown variable.

X denotes an unknown variable.

X represents an unknown variable.

X stands for to an unknown variable.


texts:
https://youtu.be/jU7I5UpTMrM?t=2m20s

Here, Gilbert says "invested", staring at Anne. I searched the dictionary but it says "invested" means "Officially endowed with authority or power", which doesn't make any sense to me.

What exactly does "invested" mean here?


texts:
In Tomb Raider (2018), Rog and Bill discussing about fox hunting i.e i.e person is supposed to carry a fox tail on the back of her bike while a team of bikers chase after them :

  Rog: Got 30 hounds signed up. Just gotta find a fox now.

  Bill: Tough one, that. Need someone quick enough to make it
  interesting.

  Rog: Yeah. No fun if they ain't quick.

Why is "that" placed at the end of the sentence? Why can't written as that is tough one?


texts: Difference between 'speech', 'talk', 'presentation' and 'story'

texts:
I want to speak about my experience abroad and I want to say:

  Today, I'd like to (speak/talk/presentation) about my experience in Denmark.
  Please listen to my (talking/speech/story/presentation) until the end.

Which one is the better?


texts:
Based on Merriam-Webster: "all clear" means a signal that a danger has passed

I would like to use it for another purpose in the sentence:

  I have rejected him the moment he came all clear about his feelings
  toward me.

Is my usage of the phrase proper?


texts: "How good do you think it is?" or "How good do you think is it?"

texts: Which one is correct? Leaning towards first one but I am unsure because a more basic version would be "How good is it?"


texts: What does "pull down the tone of something" mean?

texts:
It is from this video. It is at 15 minute and 4 second. Here is the context:

  What if we were living in the most possible reality? Imagine the exestential pressure on us to live up to that, to be elegant not to pull down the tone of it.

Does he mean not to spoil it? Where does this phrase come from?


texts: some one has difficulties "on", "in", or "with"?

texts:
Which one of following expression is more clear, grammatical and idiomatic?

  He has difficulties on complex mathematical computation.

  He has difficulties in complex mathematical computation.

  He has difficulties with complex mathematical computation.

I prefer last one, but I am not sure and need double confirmation.