texts: Question about meaning of the phrase "unless otherwise"

texts:
The maximum speed limit on most California highways is 65 mph. You may drive 70 mph where posted. Unless otherwise posted, the maximum speed limit is 55 mph on two-lane undivided highways and for vehicles towing trailers.Other speed limit signs are posted for the type of roads and traffic in each area. All speed limits are based on ideal driving conditions. Construction zones usually have reduced speed zones.

My perception is that the maximum speed limit is 55 mph on two-lane undivided highways. Is this correct?

Could you simplify the term unless otherwise in simple English?


texts:
What does "Significant Other" mean in Wheel of Life?

Someone asked me to rank my level of satisfaction with each area of my life by specifying a number between 0 to 10. So more "Significant Other" means more what ?


texts: Differences between 'He tells a lie to me' and 'He lies to me'

texts:
What are the differences between these below?

He tells a lie to me
He lies to me


texts:
In addition, sewage treatment plants in Baghdad were so badly damaged during or after the war that no raw sewerage is being treated. (The New York Times)

After having searched for on some online dictionaries, I'm still unsure whether "raw sewerage" is correct or not.

In Merriam Webster's definition of "raw",

  2a (1) : being in or nearly in the natural state : not processed or purified "raw fibers" "raw sewage"

it is written "raw sewage", but, I suppose, this circumstance doesn't exclude the correctness of "raw sewerage".

Problem is that I found only a few occurences of "raw sewerage" on reliable sources.

Can anybody explain?


texts: Should I ask "At what time I should come" or "At what time should I come"?

texts:
Which one is correct among these two sentences

At what I should come tomorrow.
At what time should I come tomorrow?

According to me I think first sentence is correct. Can anyone please tell whether my option is correct or wrong and why?


texts:
Could you think of any synonym phrase or words, so that they would be synonym with the following?

That idiot of a doctor
The real palace of a house

Thanks in advance


texts: Please help me to finished my sentence: article usage and present tense

texts:
"The main reason for this is the traditional Chinese way of teaching English language tends to stress the importance of grammar and reading practice, but attention paid to speaking probably was even less than a half of that of reading, subsequently, speaking has been becoming more trivial every year since the 80s."

This is the original sentence I wrote, I am not sure about two parts, 1: but attention paid to speaking probably was even less than the half of that of reading.
should I use a, nothing or the here?

2: speaking has been becoming
is it fine to use has been becoming here?

please help with this bit of my essay!


texts: Any alternatives to and the Meaning of "You are finished"

texts:
I was watching MasterChef on TV. The amateur cooks were told to cook three dishes in the allotted time (I am not sure if its 40 minutes).
When Gregg Wallace was counting down from ten to one and then he said"time's up. You're finished".
I am not a native speaker of English, and the sentence "you're finished" sounds like to me that Gregg Wallace was trying to say "you're sunk".
Before he counted down to one, I was expecting that someone would announce it this way: "time's up. Put down your hands..." instead.
My question is that, what's exactly is the meaning of "you're finished"?
Could you suggest some other words to replace the words in the sentence "you are finished" and make it sound good or courteous?


texts:
How do native speakers express a kid's age like "7¾" or "7½" in the spoken language?

Can I say "almost 8"?

How many ways are there and which one is the commonest?


texts: I HAD / HAVE never seen a match like that before!

texts:
"Have never seen" or "Had never seen": Which one is correct in the following context? If they are both correct, then which one would you prefer?

John, did you see the match between Liverpool and Chelsea yesterday? What a beautiful match it was! It was the best match I have ever seen. I have never seen/had never seen a match like that before.

I asked a similar question yesterday, where the answerer said present perfect and past perfect both are correct. But in this one I have used yesterday and I am not sure whether both tenses can be used or only one is correct.


texts: The verb to friend is used for making friends in social nets connecting people with similar interests. What is the antonym, the negative verb, meaning to delete somebody from your "friends"? What's the correct prefix? I found different versions on the Internet.


texts: "form" in the phrase "come well formed into"

texts:
I don't understand the "form" in this sentence. Is the "come well formed into" a set phrase?

  Those (men) who come well formed into the world she (Nature) renders strong and robust, and destroys all the rest


texts: What is the proper way to use "ones" or "one's" this word in sentence?

texts:
It's said that this is not a good idea to think in my native language (Turkish) then try to translate it to English.

But I couldn't find to correct word/phrase to express this sentence:

  I didn't download any extra library except ones in the code.

Should it be ones or one's?


texts:
Can we call some rituals or some traditional actions of aboriginals a criterion they do?

For example:

  The native here pass their clothes to their child as a legacy, though this criterion is fading.

(please let me know if I made any grammar mistakes or some strange usage in this article, so I can improve my English)


texts: What is the meaning of the phrase "trading the sensible for the pat"?

texts:
In the following paragraph, what does the highlighted phrase means?

In Don Giovanni, what is perhaps Mozart’s best-known opera, there exist two distinct endings, a phenomenon not entirely unknown during the composer’s time, but one that invites the obvious question: Why did Mozart decide to include alternate endings for Don Giovanni when he did not do the same with his other famous operas, Die Zauberflöte and Le Nozze di Figaro? Another question, and one not so obvious, is: Why was Mozart himself uncertain as to which of the two endings to choose, as is evidenced in his correspondence with Lorenzo Da Ponte, the opera’s librettist?
A common answer is to treat both these questions as one: Mozart was uncertain as to which ending to provide, so he wrote both endings. Such a reply ignores an important consideration: Why did Mozart decide to provide these specific endings? Libard provides a reasonable answer: The traditional ending—in the sense that it is the one that was popular during the composer’s day and continues to be so today—is clearly more palatable for audiences. The hero, Don Giovanni, is chided for his libertine ways and then the cast appears in tutti, bellowing a merry chorus as the curtain falls. The audience is left having a light dose of entertainment, which, after all, was the aim of many of the operas of Mozart’s time. Fine, but then what of the tragic ending? Libard—trading the sensible for the pat—offers little more than that such an ending reflects the political climate of the day.


texts: Do some people call all horses “Pony” and if so, why?

texts:
I’ve recently noticed the word “pony” being overused, in books and conversation. Sometimes it seems highly unlikely that ponies are so prevalent in the setting.

So I was thinking. Maybe there is a region in which “pony” is colloquial for “horse”? And why would it become colloquial in the first place?


texts: Would you please suggest some expressions with the same meaning as "is built around something"?

texts:
Suppose a background context as below

  There are three important and highly influential parameters. Therefore, the operating system is built around these three parameters.

Now I am wondering which other similar constructions I can use to avoid repetitiveness?

I can think of expressions like "is based around", but I believe such expressions put the emphasis solely on the root and the basis. However, I want to evoke a sense of development, like an idea which is sort of present and influential in every stage of development.


texts:
Can "accompanied" be followed by preposition with?
I've only heard about accompanied by. But I want to know If there is any context in which we should use accompanied with.

  My last year was accompanied by hardships, struggles, and ups and downs.

  My last year was accompanied with hardships, struggles, and ups and downs.


texts:
"The Owls Are Not What They Seem" vs "Owls Are Not What They Seem".

This is a popular statement from Twin Peaks TV series, but is there any difference if you put "The" at the beginning or not?


texts:
If I want to get a "screen protector" on my phone, I know it is natural to used:

  I am going to get a screen protector installed on my phone.

But if I already have it on my phone but it has cracked and I want to get a new one,  is the use of "install" still natural? Or will it be better to use "replace"?

  I have to get this guard replaced.

Or can "install" be used as well? I guess,  it won't sound natural as I already guard on my phone. Am I right?


texts: Why is "My boss is going on holiday tomorrow" better than "My boss will go on holiday tomorrow"?

texts:
I need help about the use of the future tense. The sentence was like this:

  My boss--------on holiday tomorrow.

I have chosen ''will go'' but the key was "is going".
Please explain it.

I think if there were the present progressive or construction "be going to" there should be "is going to" but there was not "to".


texts:
In the children song below, I'm bit confused on the two lines highlighted:

Dance to your daddy
My little baby
Dance to your daddy
My little lamb
You will have a fishy
In your little dishy
You will have a fishy
when the boat comes in.

I get the meaning, but I wonder: how come the adjectives fishy and dishy are being used as nouns here?


texts: An adjective describing a person that travels a lot

texts:
I used to know this adjective in English, but now I forgot. It describes a person who likes to travel a lot. It's a one-word adjective that, as far as I remember, sounds somewhat similar to the adjective "hypothetical". That adjective would probably fit into this simple sentence:
She is quite __________________ , so she travels a lot.
What is that adjective?


texts:
Kristin: I just wanted to give you a call and ask how your Chattanooga
  trip was.

  Susan: Oh, it was great. It was great. It was more fun than
  a barrel of monkeys.

  Susan: You know, we took Ethan and be-, his being only eight, it was
  fun to watch him at different places and see him, y’know, enjoying the
  activities.

Why does Susan use "his being only eight" to refer to his age? Shouldn't it be "He is only eight"?

Source: A.J. Hoge, Effortless English, Real English Conversation (Lookout Mountain Conversation)


texts: The meaning of "'I wouldn't for ten pound "

texts:
I heard through the window Father Hickey's voice, saying, 'I
  wouldn't for ten pound that this had happened, Phil. He's as mad as
  a march hare. The Cardinal told me so.

This is from "Miraculous Revenge" by Bernard Shaw.
http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/0606441h.html

I do not understand the meaning  below.

I wouldn't for ten pound that this had happened,

I am glad if some one would kindly teach me.


texts: Would the phrase, "in my area," be a non-restrictive clause?

texts: Would "in my area" be a non-restrictive clause in the sentence, "These are the only two parks I know, in my area"?


texts: What's the meaning of "breaking the tie among several equally liked names"?

texts:
it’s worth considering those associations when breaking the tie among
  several equally liked names

I know the meanings of the words. But I don't understand who "breaking the tie ..."

Do those associations break the tie? (assotiations & breaking?)

And as a result I don't undrestand the meaning of the last sentence.

The fuller text is:

  Names Influence Life Outcomes Every name is associated with
  demographic baggage: information about the bearer’s age, gender,
  ethnicity, and other basic personal features.[...] One reason why
  personal names are so important, then, is that they allow people to
  categorize us almost automatically [...]

  Names, then, have the capacity to shape our outcomes because they’re
  tied to important concepts that have real meaning. Sometimes they’re
  associated with racial groups or socioeconomic status, sometimes with
  charity appeals or being called on last at school. Some of those
  associations are positive and others are negative, and when you’re a
  parent faced with a smorgasbord of choices, perhaps it’s worth
  considering those associations when breaking the tie among several
  equally liked names.

Drunk Tunk Pink  By Adam Alter


texts: interpretations of "She did not buy the cell phone because her sister had one"

texts:
She did not buy the cell phone because her sister had one.

Does the sentence has the following three interpretations?

She bought the phone not because her sister had one.
She didn't buy the cell phone not because her sister had one.
Her sister having a cell phone was the reason for her not buying one.


texts: How to use "myself" as a reflexive pronoun?

texts: in the phrase "I________ cooked the dinner because my wife was sick" which reflexive pronoun should I use between the words I and cooked?


texts:
Does "make something a hit" mean "make something a success" or "make something canceled" here?
(I used this link https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/make+a+hit)

  Transparent, an Emmy winner, was watched by 1.49 million people between Sept 21. and May 2 according to data cited by Variety. Even Man in the High Castle -- Amazon Prime Video's highest-rated show at the time (the 2016 TV season) -- only lured in 3.44 million viewers during the entire TV season.

  Those numbers would make High Castle a hit by cable standards, and canceled if it aired on a network. Transparent wouldn't have made a second week on a network, and it would be an iffy proposition on any major channel.

  Source:https://www.ibtimes.com/apple-making-multi-billion-dollar-mistake-2741084


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

texts:
I used this link: http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/engagement?q=engagement

"Given the policy weight these days being placed on central banks' shoulders, and the changing social and technological landscape facing them, it is probably as good a time as any to begin exploring these new frontiers of central bank engagement," he told a conference at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-boe-haldane-idUSKBN1722V6?il=0


texts:
For a non-native speaker as myself, such a complex structure is really giving the creeps.

This book ought to have been going to have been being bound for six month since Tuesday.

What tense is it? How to understand it? Is it Future perfect continuous in the past?

The sentence was found in a comic strip on this Language Log website.

  In a comment at that website, a user (Dan Lufkin) said, "Wow! This opens up new vistas in complex
  tenses. Chomsky's trifecta P This book has been being bound for six
  months can become Come next Tuesday, this book will be going to have
  been being bound…. And if something happens before Tuesday, you can
  add a little modality: This book ought to have been going to have
  being bound… A syntactic structure to be proud of, indeed."

  in next post, he added, "Whoops! Make that This book ought to have been going to have
  been being bound … Dunno how I could have made such an elementary
  mistake."


texts: How should i start to tell story , joke etc.. For example is it correct to say : There is story that goes that a man walks into a bar... ? Or can make it without using goes that .


texts: May I say that my name is known "in a" lot of versions?

texts:
I want to say that my family name has many versions.
Could I say "The name of the family is known in a lot of versions such as Been, Bin , Veen, Vin etc."

The part of "is known in a lot of versions" is correct?


texts:
I have some problems with Present Perfect tenses. I often see in movies or in books where 2 characters are talking about situation that take place right now. When they see the result, instead of using present perfect, they use past simple. Even when they see the result they use past simpel tense.

For example :

I have a plenty of time ----------- I have got a plenty of time.

Of course we can add "now or tommorow to indicate which time to use, but what if there aren't any additional times that indicate which one to use ?

Next example:

This city has been occupied so be carefull ----------- This city was occupied so be carefull.

New gadget  has been annouced ----------------- New gadget was annouced

I don't know how should I know which one to use (if there is no time emphasized)
Somebody can say that Present Perfect is about past action but we see the result right now, but I often see that people describe past action with past simple tense but they still see the result of that action. It's pretty the same when we talk about Present simple. I just don't get it.

Thanks for any answer and help.


texts: This Russia thing .. Is it really what Trump is saying?

texts:
This NBC interview with Lester Holt
at 0:21
is transcribed as:

  When I decided [to fire Comey], I said to myself, I said, 'You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story.'

I don't understand the word following "You know, this ..."

If it's actually Russia, it doesn't sound like the second instance of Russia in the same sentence, which makes me think that he's not saying Russia. I hear something like ... rush her

Trump has been mistranscribed in the past according to this article

Maybe related, Trump sometimes slurs his words as witnessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmk6oC2CuT0

Is there an alternative word, that sounds more or less like Russia and would make more sense in that sentence?


texts: What's the difference between "must not be" and "must be not"?

texts:
I hear that:

That must not be Toby! - correct

That must be not Toby! - doesn't make sense

Do you agree?


texts:
In his Commentaries on the Laws of England, William Blackstone contended that the distinction between private wrongs and crimes was:

... As if I detain a field from another man, to which the law has given him a right, this is a civil injury, and not a crime; for here only the right of an individual is concerned, and it is immaterial to the public, which of us is in possession of the land: but treason, murder and robbery are properly marked among crimes; since besides the injury done to individuals, they strike at the very being of society; which cannot possibly subsist, where actions of this sort are suffered to escape with impunity.

Source: P138-139, How the Law Works, Gary Slapper
User Josh61 writes that 'of' = 'are among'. I know that William Blackstone lived from 1723 to 1780.

Yet there's no verb in which of us? Where's the are from?

How and when does 'of' mean 'among'?

Is the use of which exceptional and rare? Is the cited explanation in that link right?


texts: Is it possible to be grammatically correct without using past perfect?

texts:
Can you guys please help with which verb tense to use when talking about numerous specific events?
In the example below, I'm not quite sure if past perfect really is necessary.

"She sent me a new book as soon as I finished the book."
"She sent me a new book as soon as I had finished the book"

Then in the example below, I'm not sure if it will be incorrect without using past tense.

"Do you remember when my son got sick last Tuesday and I had to go pick him up? That's why I got worried when his teacher called me this morning."
"Do you remember when my son had gotten sick last Tuesday and I had had to go pick him up? That's why I got worried when his teacher called me this morning."

In the example below, I'm not even sure how to change it into past perfect. Maybe it's because it is not necessary at all?

"He said that the moment he first met her, he felt something special and began to keep a diary."

Edit:
I don't really understand the answer that was given to me.
Why should I use past perfect at all in my "Do you remember when my son got sick" example? Am I not explaining things in chronological order? I thought I was starting to grasp this past perfect thing, but now I'm even more confused.
Also, Why is it not "He said that the moment he had first met her, he had felt something and had begun to keep a diary"?
Didn't the meeting take place before his saying it? Or is "first met her" modifying what kind of moment it was? Also, didn't the "feeling something" and "beginning to keep a diary" happen simultaneously?


texts: Is there a formal/better word than "skyrocket" for the given context?

texts:
The labour market condition in a region where the unemployment rate skyrocketed from 6 to 10 percent is no better than in the region where the rate fell from 13 to 12 percent.

I can't find a word that fits there except "skyrocketed". "Soared" or "surged" does not work there for some reason. It just does not sound right to my ears.

I am happy with how skyrocketed sounds, but the word is informal. And I am writing an academic paper.


texts:
Tree of mine, tree of mine,

  Have you seen a girl

  With a willy-willy wag, and a long-tailed bag,

  Who's stole my money, all I had?'

This is from an English fairy tale "The Old Witch". This was said by a witch, when she run after a girl who stole a great bag of money of her and arrived at a tree which a girl hid behind. What's the meaning of "a willy-willy wag"?


texts:
She's an employee of the law firm. They were having an office party when the man arrived and shot her.
Is "having" perfectly natural here to mean the law firm had a party and during that the man arrived?


texts:
A: How is your weekend going?

B: I have been sightseeing (today) and earlier I was at the beach/I had been at the beach(?)

Which form should I use?


texts: What are the cause and effect in this clause?

texts:
  "Call me Hagrid," he said, "everyone does. An' like I told
  yeh, I'm Keeper of Keys at Hogwarts -- yeh'll know all about Hogwarts,
  o' course.        "Er -- no," said Harry.
       Hagrid looked shocked.        "Sorry,"
  Harry said quickly.        "Sorr?" barked Hagrid,
  turning to stare at the Dursleys, who shrank back into the shadows.
  "It's them as should be sorry! I knew yeh weren't gettin' yer letters
  but I never thought yeh wouldn't even know abou' Hogwarts, fer cryin'
  out loud! Did yeh never wonder where yet parents learned it all?"
         "All what?" asked Harry.
  "ALL WHAT?" Hagrid thundered. "Now wait jus' one second!"
       He had leapt to his feet. In his anger he seemed to
  fill the whole hut. The Dursleys were cowering against the wall.
         "Do you mean ter tell me," he growled at the
  Dursleys, "that this boy - this boy! -- knows nothin' abou' -- about
  ANYTHING?"  (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)

What does the phrase mean? (I don’t find any relationship between angering and he filling the hut.)


texts:
It is at this point that I am woken by my own screaming. I switch on the light and try to control the desperate gasping for air which always seizes me after the dream. Around me stands the familiar furniture of our bedroom, and, over the bed itself, the family portraits, ikons in their high starched collars and braided coats, Hungarian Baroque and Beidermeier, my all-seeing, all-knowing ancestors. They alone are witness to the number of times I have raced down during the night to open the door to the rescuers and the ambulance; and they alone know how often I have stood there while the silence of the early-morning streets slowly gives way to the sounds of restlessly tossing trees and the cries of prowling cats that flood in through the open door, imagining what would happen if my struggle with the key proved in vain, and the lock failed to turn.

Dose "gives way to" mean: replaces with?
and the whole sentence in bold mean: while little by little the silence of the early morning repleces with sounds of tossing trees and the cries of cats?
Source:The Door
By
Magda Szabó

Translated Len Rix


texts: When you go out of the room, please close the door.----Is it correct?


texts: Can "before" modify a noun like an adjective?

texts:
I would like to know whether "before" can modify a noun like an adjective, for example as follows:

  This picture shows the pizza I bought before being baked.


texts: What is the meaning of `light my fire` in this sentence?

texts:
What is the meaning of light my fire in this sentence:

  You light my red fire. Hot white, and blue.

American Flag?

The context is the song On Our Way by Lana Del Rey:

  You, ooh-ooh-ooh
  You light my red fire, babe
  Hot white and blue
  I, I think that you
  I think you're so cool, babe
  Lovin' everything you do

The full lyrics can be found here.


texts: why "next planet" and why "over" in "NASA has said it plans to send humans to the next planet over by 2030"?

texts:
Source: NASA on Eve of Big Announcement: 'Mars Mystery Solved'

Example:

  The agency's most advanced Martian explorer, the Curiosity rover, has
  been milling slowly about a tiny tract of the Red Planet since
  mid-2012, beaming back unprecedented photos and data that have
  captivated public attention.
  NASA has said it plans to send humans to the next planet over by 2030. Whatever the agency reveals on Monday seems likely to become a key detail in its ongoing mission to Mars.

First of all, I don't understand what they mean by the next planet. Obviously, they're talking about Mars, but why are they referring to it as the second planet to send humans to? Was there ever a first planet? I though the moon was a satellite. Secondly, do we really need the preposition over there? Is it equally alright to say send humans to the next planet by 2030?


texts:
What is the meaning and difference of XXX-facing and XXX-oriented?

examples:

customer-facing
document-oriented


texts: What is the synonym for "Inclined" that is less technical?

texts:
"My every conversation with them was inclined towards physics."

Also, Can someone come up with a better statement that adds more depth?


texts: "English techniques" vs. "English skills"

texts:
Meaning of technique on Cambridge Dictionary

a way of doing an activity that needs skill

Meaning of skill on Cambridge Dictionary

an ability to do an activity or job well, especially because you have practiced it

Googling "common English techniques" gives just 10 hits while googling "common English skills" gives 56,700 hits, which indicates the latter is more common than the former, why is that?
question 1
In the following sentence, which one should I use?
Intonation is an useful English technique/skill. ESL learners better to master it.

question 2
suppose skill is the answer, should I call intonation "a skill" or "part of speaking skill"
Intonation is an useful skill...

Intonation is a useful part of speaking skill...


texts: Should "come to know" be used with "about"?

texts: Can it be used like "that's how I came to know about them"? E.g., being introduced to the work of artists.


texts: how to answer the question 'what is it that '

texts:
Please tell me how to answer this question

  What it is that your friends may not admit?

a. Our friends may not admit that they feel insecure.
 b. It is their insecure feeling that our friend may not admit.

Which answer is more appropriate, a or b?


texts: Can I omit the "it had" in the following sentence?

texts:
The beach looked as dazzling as (it had) from the highway.

The sentence is past-tense narration. Do I need the "it had"? Why or why not?


texts:
Someone told me that we can't use brother or sister with cousin. Please check the examples and let me know which one is correct?

  My cousin brother asked me to come with him
  My cousin asked me to come with him

Which one is correct?


texts: I came across Nutrition Information on the back of a packet of crisps recently and wondered if this should be Nutritional Information? Which is correct and what's the difference in meaning between the two?


texts:
I have just run into  the sentence that has two verbs in my English textbook "

"Every morning, he left home dressed in a fine black suit."

Is that sentence correct ?

Thanks, I got the message.


texts: To hear(infinitive) vs to hearing (gerund)

texts:
Why this sentence

  I look forward to hearing from you (gerund)

is correct instead of

  I look forward to hear from you (infinitive)


texts:
Could you tell me if I have to use to after call in the following context?

With this cell phone plan you'll get 500 minutes of calling numbers other cell phone carriers.
With this cell phone plan you'll get 500 minutes of calling to numbers other cell phone carriers.


texts:
This problem can be solved by collecting more taxes on private cars' fuel.
This problem can be solved by raising taxes on petrol for private cars.

A native English speaker prefer the second version, and he did not tell me the reason for this. So why "collecting more taxes" and "cars' fuel" are wrong phrases?


texts:
I suppose the modal verb 'must' works like below:

  I am sure that he is busy. → He must be busy.
  I am sure that he was busy. → He must have been busy.

I want to know how 'must' itself changes in past tense like this:

  I was sure that he was busy. → ?


texts: When there is 'could' in the indirect as complement clause, what meaning does it add?

texts:
“I feared I might be too late.”  “You nearly were, I couldn’t
  have kept him off the Stone much longer –”  “Not the Stone, boy,
  you — the effort involved nearly killed you. For one terrible moment
  there, I was afraid it had. As for the Stone, it has been destroyed.”
   “Destroyed?” said Harry blankly. “But your friend — Nicolas
  Flamel —”  “Oh, you know about Nicolas?” said Dumbledore,
  sounding quite delighted. “You did do the thing properly, didn’t you?
  Well, Nicolas and I have had a little chat, and agreed it’s all for
  the best.”  “But that means he and his wife will die, won’t
  they?”  “They have enough Elixir stored to set their affairs in
  order and then, yes, they will die.”  Dumbledore smiled at the
  look of amazement on Harry’s face.  “To one as young as you, I’m
  sure it seems incredible, but to Nicolas and Perenelle, it really is
  like going to bed after a very, very long day. After all, to the
  well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure. You know,
  the Stone was really not such a wonderful thing. As much money and
  life as you could want! The two things most human beings would
  choose above all — the trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing
  precisely those things that are worst for them.” (Harry Potter
  and the Sorcerer's Stone)

When there is ‘could’ after the conjunction ‘as’, what meaning does it add? I mean, what is the difference from ‘as much money and life as you want’?


texts: Which is right: It's Christmas Eve...The children are in bed now. Dad is putting the decoration on the Christmas tree.Tomorrow morning when kids wake up, they will be surprised to learn that the tree will have been decorated/is decorated/was decorated/has been decorated by their Dad.


texts: Can I say: "I'm very glad to be a part of X's team"?

texts: Let's suppose you've just been hired by Google, so you wanna say that you're very happy to be a part of the team, would you say: "I'm really happy to be a part of Google's team"? Is the apostrophe necessary here? Or is there a better way to say the thing?


texts:
Is this sentence structure is correct?

  We count the number of members that meet the criteria while their
  peers do not do so

Will using the following sentence instead provides the same meaning?

  We count the number of members that meet the criteria while their
  peers do

what I mean by do not do or do not do so, is they do not meet the criteria.


texts:
I am not sure whether this sentence is correct:

  Since you was not online today, I assume you were not able to make it
  on time.

In the first half of the sentence, I would replace "was" for "were". However, I have the certainty he did not come online today, so I am not sure whether I should use "was" or "were".

Can you please help me?


texts: Why do we 'wear' deodorant though it is a spray?

texts:
This always makes me wonder:

Why do we wear a deodorant?

It is just a spray i.e. mist that you put on your body.

I tried to find the verb 'wear' for this special usage in popular dictionaries but did not get the answer.


texts:
Tell me please which preposition I have to use after the word originate in the following sentence.

  I know what this phrase means, but it difficult to tell where it originates in/from.


texts: when is it suitable to use of `are to be +pp` structure?

texts:
I saw this sentence, and I am wondering what is its structure and its purpose

elements are to be displayed on screen

what is the structure, what is the meaning?


texts:
I got a question about negative form. Could you please help me deal with that? Here is the question.

If someone says, “I don’t think that he will come tomorrow.”
What does it mean actually? “I disagree on his coming” or “I agree on his not coming?”

I am trying to figure out where “not” is put in the whole sentence.


texts: "I can't do that, especially not in the house" vs "I can't do that, especially in the house."

texts:
I can't do that, especially not in the house.

  I can't do that, especially in the house.

Are both of these sentences grammatical/acceptable? What is the difference in meaning between them?


texts: Word(s) for a long-term / cultivated hatred

texts:
If I had to combine the word "Odium" with "Cultivation", what word would come closest to explaining that meaning? This is in relation to a certain fantasy / sci-fi book series (the Cosmere) which I'm a fan of.

If anyone wants a bit of a puzzle, I guess they can engage their brains on this if they want! I've thought of words like "Grudge", "Animosity" and the such, but they just don't seem to explain my meaning as well as I like.


texts:
In English, we can say

"we went on holiday with some friends of ours"

or,
"we went on holiday with some friends of our own",

but we can say

  "we went on holiday with our some friends"

or not?


texts:
Is it okay to say :

  This building is built by company A.

I thought this is okay because the sentense delivers truth.
But I am not sure since I haven't seen many examples of built with present tense.

  This building was built by company A.

But the action of building happened in the past, so past tense seems correct.

Which tense is correct? Or are both correct?


texts: My question in the title. Or should I talk I like it very much and etc? Just foreigners never said me about this error but my English teacher said. And I want to know what is a true.


texts: Interchangeability of "such" and "which"

texts:
Can anyone shed some light on the interchangeability of these sentences:

"... speaking of which"
.. "speaking of such"

I used to think that they are always equivalent and therefore interchangeable but I haven't seen the latter in a while so I'm not sure about its usage. I'd appreciate some examples.


texts: Are these sentences all mean the same thing? (word placement)

texts:
There are still people who keep denying its existence
Still there are people who keep denying its existence
There are people who still keep denying its existence

Are these sentences all mean the same thing? Are there any differences?


texts:
Example:

  VBA has a few module-level utility statements, known as options, that are used for naming
  conventions, string comparisons, and other internal settings. First off, you may have already
  noticed the Option Compare Database statement located in the general declarations area of
  the VBE Code window.
  Per Microsoft, the Option Compare Database statement “performs string comparisons based on
  the sort order determined by the locale ID of the database where the string comparisons
  occur.” This statement can be modified to either Option Compare Binary or Option Compare
  Text instead of Option Compare Database. If your VBE code module does not include an Option
  Compare statement, VBA will default to Option Compare Binary, which results in string comparisons based on a character’s internal binary representation.

How should I understand per used in this type of context? And what does per Microsoft exactly mean?


texts:
George, however, leaned in toward Hermione.

I've never seen the phrase "lean in toward" before. Is it a common collocation? What will be the difference between "leaned in toward Hermione" and "leaned toward Hermione"?


texts: Is "In case of the developments in medical research..." grammatically correct?

texts:
In case of the developments in medical research, many patients would have died.

My textbook presented three other alternatives:

  If it weren't for…

  Without…

  Unless…

and said that in case of is correct. However, in case of seems unsuitable to me.

The correct form I can think of is:

  If it hadn't been for the developments...


texts:
I'm writing a poem. Does this sentence make sense?

"That song I have not yet of heard."

In particular, is the word order correct?


texts: Order of prepositional phrases after voice change

texts:
Q1 - He selles mangoes in the market.

My answer is Mangoes are sold by him in the market but my uncle says that I'm wrong , Mangoes are sold in the market by him is the right one.

Q2- let them go.

I think Let them be allowed to go. Am I right folks ?


texts:
Let's say you have a girlfriend. As the saying goes, opposites attract, and you want to use this idiom regarding your huge difference from each other:

  "We are like from both ends of the spectrum, but we love each other no matter what."

Did I use it correctly without missing something? I think you will hear it often from britons...


texts: the more...the more pattern with or without inversion

texts:
1- The sooner rehabilitation started and longer it lasted, the faster
and the better was the improvement in patient's walking and
breathing capacities. (Article)
2- The sooner rehabilitation started and longer it lasted, the faster
and the better the improvement in patient's walking and breathing
capacities was.

Hi, I saw the first sentence reading an article on COVID treatment and made the second sentence up. I wonder if there is any grammar rule about the placing of "was" in these sentences?


texts: "They are Australian" vs "They are Australians"

texts:
On the very first page of "Essential Grammar in Use" book of R.Murphy. He wrote

  Those people aren't English. They're Australian.

My question are

Is this sentence grammatically correct?
What is plural forms of "English" and "Australian"?
"English" and "Australian" play role as adjectives or nouns here?


texts: The correct comparative to use in this sentence

texts:
Comparative adjectives are adjectives that we used when comparing two nouns, pronouns or objects. We add either 'er' or more to the positive form to give us comparative. e.g Nice-nicer, handsome-more handsome.

What is the correct comparative suitable for this sentence?

  Obi is ........ troublesome than I had imagined.

less, more less, much less, very least.


texts: Examples of modal verbs with Zero Conditionals (Present Real Conditionals)

texts:
Yesterday I asked this question, but haven't got any answer so far... So I try to ask that my question in another way (thorough some simpler questions):

Can the following sentences be considered using the Zero Conditional?

If you get a burn, you might use aloe gel
If you drink green tea, you may lower your blood sugar
If you take ginkgo, your memory might improve
If you take evening primrose oil, you could lower your cholesterol
If you may take his telephone, you may take his pen as well
If you should complete some hard task, you should decompose it to a few smaller.

Can you provide your own examples in which:

"Could" is used in dependent clause (if-clause) (I think, that it is
impossible, because using "could" in dependent clause is in general
associated with Second Conditional)
"Should" is used in dependent clause
"May" is used in dependent clause
"Might" is used in dependent clause (think it is impossible by the same (mentioned above for "could") reason)

And can there exist Zero Conditional sentences with modals will, would, shall? I think, that these modal verbs are "reserved" only for other kinds of conditional sentences, and we cannot use them in Present Real Conditionals.

P.S. I  knew  that terms such "Zero Conditional" are rather vague for native speakers, so to be more precise - I mean conditional sentences, which are used to talk about general truths, facts, habits in present, etc.


texts: What is the word for someone who is up for everything?

texts:
I need an adjective that describes a person who is always up for every offer. For example:

A: Who's up for going to the cinema?

B: me!

A: Who's up for pizza?

B:me!

A:I'm going to Paris tomorrow, who would like to join me?

B:me!

Person B is called a --- person?


texts:
If assuming that -:

  The ability of being 'Accessible'= Accessibility
  The ability of being 'Read'= Readability
  The ability of being 'Scanned'= Scanability

So

  The ability of being Interacted to/with = ?
  The ability of being Trusted = ?
  The ability of being Navigated = ?
  The ability of being Understood = ?
  The ability of being Felt (feel) = ?
  The ability of being Find = ?
  The ability of being Customized = ?
  The ability of being Adaptive = ?

Please tell me the appropriate words (ending with bility).


texts: Trend of or trend for in the academic graph

texts:
I want to write an introduction about this graph:

Are these sentences correct and have a good structure ?

“The graph gives information about the percentage of recycling trends of four different types of materials (paper and cardboard, glass containers, aluminum cans and plastics) over 28 years between 1982 and 2010.”

I am a little bit confused about the use of “trends”

Should I use Plural or singular?
About preposition: trends of or trend for ?
Is trend a suitable word here?
It seems that I repeated preposition “of” a lot. How I can change the sentense without repeated “of”?


texts: I don't know how to translate when Comma is used in sentences when listing things

texts:
There is a sentence

This percentage is higher among women, managerial and professional groups and those aged 35 to 44.

It's confusing me
Because I am not really sure what is it from 1 to 3
1 there is 3 groups:
women / managerial and professional groups/ those (who are) aged 35 to 44
2 there is 2 groups:
Women / managerial and professional groups and those(from managerial professional groups) aged 35 to 44
3 there is 1 group:
Managerial and professional groups who are aged 35 to 44 and women.


texts: "What were you doing at 7 o'clock yesterday?" vs "What did you do at 7 o'clock yesterday?"

texts:
As far as I see, both forms of question "What were you doing at 7 o'clock yesterday?" and "What did you do at 7 o'clock yesterday?" could be used to ask about someone's action in past. But are there a difference between them?
As far as I understand, when we ask "What were you doing at 7 o'clock yesterday?" we let know that we ask about some process (like "what were you doing when I've entered the room at 7 o'clock"), and if we ask "What did you do at 7 o'clock yesterday?" we let know that we ask about some momentary action (like "You did something at 7 o'clock that caused computer crash. What exactly did you do at that moment?")
Am I right or not?


texts: Present/ Past tense between sentences with past tense?

texts:
She overcame all of her difficulties and created her own destiny as a merchant all by herself.  That is not all. After making a large fortune,  she willingly donated almost all of her wealth to her starving neighbors. I really respect her way of life.

Here, if i use was instead of is, the focus of the thing verb indicates would be changed?


texts: Difference between "turns out that" and "turns out to be"

texts:
E.g:

  Turns out that it was a conspiracy against him.
  It turned out to be a conspiracy against him.

I'm confused here in the usage of these phrasal verbs.


texts: Would vs should when used to make a polite request

texts:
I know the differences between would and should and their use, in general. Yet, both of them can be used to make a polite request:

I would like to meet him…(definition #4)
I should like to meet him…(definition #6)

According to Ngram Viewer, there is a tendency for should to be on the decrease while would is on the increase.
I wonder whether the use of should when making a polite request would look now old fashioned or archaic. Nowadays, do people still use it?


texts:
My gf sent me a message "My sister is showing me a sh*t."

Is that a correct way to write a sentence that doesn't talk about fecal matter? It stood out as weird to me, but I don't know the official reasons/rules why.

English is second language for both of us and we don't share the first langauge.

If I had to write the sentence from what she later explained to me she meant, that there's some specific unimportant thing on youtube that her sister is showing her, I'd say "My sister is showing me [some] sh*t.", but never with "a"

I'm sorry if questions about vulgarisms aren't allowed here, I didn't see anything in the rules. I censored it, if it's unnecesarry feel free to edit the stars out


texts: Help to understand this sentence from the foreword of The Lord of The Rings

texts:
Or to take a less grievous matter: it has been supposed by some that "The Scouring of the Shire" reflects the situation in England at the time when I was finishing my tale.  It does not.  It is an essential part of the plot, foreseen from outset, though in the event modified by the character of Saruman as developed in the story without, need I say, any allegorical significance or contemporary political reference whatsoever.

I don't understand the part in bold above.  Can anyone help me with it?


texts: I have received my last month salary and I want to give a receipt to my employer. Should I write “I have got paid for last month”? Or “I got paid for last month”?


texts:
    "Welcome back, Mr. Potter, welcome back."
       Harry didn't know what to say. Everyone was looking at
  him. The old woman with the pipe was puffing on it without realizing
  it had gone out. Hagrid was beaming.        Then there
  was a great scraping of chairs and the next moment, Harry found
  himself shaking hands with everyone in the Leaky Cauldron.
       "Doris Crockford, Mr. Potter, can't believe I'm meeting
  you at last."        "So proud, Mr. Potter, I'm just so
  proud."        "Always wanted to shake your hand –– I'm
  all of a flutter."  (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)

There seem to be not a few ‘all of a Noun’ phrases –– all of a dither, all of a heap, all of a jump, all of a muddle. Is ‘all of a’ a kind of determiner?


texts: Is box in so-called "Kid's Box Quiz" refer to the thing pointed out by red arrow?

texts:
This is so-called Kid's Box Quiz.

Is box refer to the thing pointed out by red arrow?

related link


texts: Is the "who" clause restrictive or nonrestrictive in this sentence?

texts:
Could you please tell me if I should insert a comma before who in this sentence that I've written? I feel that the "who" is nonrestrictive here since the clause "who hadn't wanted kids" is not required to identify the "boyfriend of twenty years." Am I right?

Jane had gone to adopt a child after breaking up with her boyfriend of twenty years who hadn't wanted kids.


texts:
I would like to promote mutual understanding between two peoples

Is the -s added on the word people a mistake or an abbreviation that can be interpreted as the following?

  I would like to promote mutual understanding between two country's people.


texts: Word for the person who calls people on stage in a function

texts: What is the person who welcomes the audience and calls people to stage in functions like graduation is called?


texts: Can any one explain me why the below paragraph contains "has had" at the same time?

texts:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to abruptly withdraw legal tender status for Rs.1,000 and Rs.500 notes to save the country from “the grip of corruption and black money” has had one predictable side effect.

In the above paragraph why 'had' is used followed by 'has'??


texts: I resist to use I turn the lights on brightly, redly, etc instead of I make it shine brightly, redly, etc.


texts:
I use et al. to refer to a paper with more than two authors. However, the word et got separated by a line (due to line end) and the word al. cam in the beginning of a new line.

  ... Authorname [end of line]

  et al. [4] find ...

They are separated by a space, so my editor did not add - and consideres them as two words.

Is this ok? Or do they have to come as one word?


texts: Word for the money you return to a customer when they give too much

texts:
Let's say I'm selling something for $80, someone pay me $100 for it, so I have to give him $20 in exchange.

What is that $20 called?


texts: "He'll have lunch." what exactly does this sentence mean?

texts:
He will have lunch 12:30 ~ 1:00 according to this sentence.

The anwers are 'b, d' in the question 4. I wonder why can't 'a' be the answer?

a. he'll have lunch.

b. he'll be having lunch.

I think this two sentence has same meaning. but 'a' is wrong. what is difference 'a' and 'b'?
Why is 'a' wrong?


texts:
I realized that I could use an adjective with a definite article to nominalize that adjective. Like this;

The rich should help the poor.

And I wrote these sentences;

  The superior's desire to subjugate their subordinates is a perpetual
  tradition.

  The superior are usually blamed for that.

Is my nominalization understandable? A native speaker could not recognize the purpose of it, that's why I am asking.

It does not refer to a superior, which is a standardized noun form.


texts:
Which sentence is grammatically correct?

  I don't know why did I write it
  I don't know why I did write it

Thanks for any answers


texts: "We are going inside to the someone's heart" vs "We are going into someone's heart"

texts: When we love someone, what's more appropriate for use? "we are going inside her heart" or "We are going into her heart"?


texts: Is there a term or a phrase for when a person mumbles through a part of song when not knowing the lyrics?

texts:
I was watching the famous TV show Friends and there was a scene when Phoebe sings a song which goes something like .."Monica, Monica have a happy Hanukkah. Saw Santa Claus, he said hello to Ross. And please tell Joey, Christmas will be snowy. And Rachel and Chandler..(and then she mumbles something) "

I was wondering if there is a term or phrase for this?

Also if you were to better phrase my question. How would you do it?


texts: Is there any difference between "on doing something" and "after doing something"?

texts:
Is there any difference between on doing something and after doing something? For example:

  On finishing my homework, I watched a movie.

  After finishing my homework, I watched a movie.

If there isn't any difference, as I suspect, then which one is more common?


texts:
She cooked and is preparing the dinner (She is still preparing it now)

Is it correct? I can't find the term for the structure, what is the name of such sentence? I found about compound verbs, but it shows double verbs for single subject and is not for present participle, could someone please explain to me the official rules? Thanks before


texts:
Could you say if both sentences are correct?
Which sentence construction is used more frequently?

  Do you know what time the first train goes to London tomorrow morning?

vs

  Do you know when the first train to London is tomorrow morning?

TIA


texts: Is there an adjective for "full of people"

texts:
He was walking in a ___ street.

I can only think of a way to say this:

  He was walking in a street brimming with people.

However, I am looking for an adjective and I can't think of any.


texts: Comprehension of 'he doesn't say NOT after everything'

texts:
Bunky and I frequently watch TV program called Future Ratboy.

I'm Future Ratboy and Bunky is his annoying sidekick, Not Bird, except Bunky's not a bird and he doesn't say 'NOT' after everything.

I read the cartoon 'I am not a loser'. The above is not understood by me. Here Bunky's role is a helper of name 'Not Bird'. But I am stuck with the following part after the word except. How can we understand ?


texts:
Which of these two sentences are correct?

  a) My other sister is taller than me
  b) My another sister is taller than me


texts: "I use my phone to keep in touch with my friends asking them about homework."

texts:
I heard a native speaker say this sentence

I use my phone to keep in touch with my friends asking them about homework.

I wonder why he said ‘asking’ instead of ‘to ask’. Is it a gerund?


texts:
"Could we move the meeting to 3pm?"

Is it a correct way to ask somebody to postpone a meeting? If so, does it sound natural? If not, what could be used instead?
Can one use "shift" instead of "move" in this sentence?


texts: "Before finishing the project, you need to finish your homework."

texts:
I have a question regarding the usage of gerunds. Are the following sentences correct? If not, Can you explain why?

Before finishing the project, you need to finish your homework.

Before your finishing the project, you need to finish your homework.

I know for the above I can say:

Before you finish the project, you need to finish your homework.

But when I try to use gerunds, the problem arises.
Another example using gerunds:

John there's a good show going on the TV on career making. Watch It before Its ending.

I know I can say:

John there's a good show going on the TV on career making. Watch It before It ends.

Can anyone who is a teacher or good knowledge of the language please explain how I should use gerunds In those sentences?


texts:
What is the meaning of outing against in the following sentence

Off-spinner Ashwin joins Tamil Nadu to take on Gujarat at Just Cricket ground, and opening batsman Mayank joins his Karnataka mates in their M. Chinnaswamy Stadium outing against Chhattisgarh.

I looked up it’s meaning but didn’t find anything satisfactory. Somebody help me


texts: Use of "to do" when referring to feelings

texts:
Is it possible to use the verb "to do" when you are referring to feelings that, at least hypothetically, you could control, like in the phrases below:

  I admit I have been a bit jealous, but you would do the same if you
  were married to a woman and everywhere you go, there are always a lot
  of men trying to get her attention.

and

  I won't deny that I'm feeling a bit nostalgic lately, but you will probably
  do the same when you get to my age.


texts:
My wife’s fear of spider

If I say the phrase below instead of the one above by making propositional phrase with “ of” would it means the same or would it means “fear of my wife’s spider. I thought it has two meaning. Such propositional phrase confuses me.

  Fear of spider of my wife


texts: Getting excitement through people’s experience? A word to describe this situation!

texts:
I know there is a word that describes the situation when you get an excitement when, for instance, your friend tells you about their adventures.

I forgot the word.

Put differently, you get a sense of enthusiasm of other people’s experience as if you were involved!

Could you suggest a word to be the same or similar to the one I forgot?


texts: Replacing "it" with "that" in some cases? Is that okay?

texts:
Someone on Facebook said that iPhone 7 doesn't have features according the price.

So I said:

  Go for Galaxy S8. That even has fast-charging feature.

Is it right to replace it with that here?


texts: What's 'ironic' about dismissing charges of a samaritan that was wrongly injured by a police officer?

texts:
[First 3 paras herefrom] Tonie Farrell is a grandmother, and the sort of person who posts
  messages on her Facebook page that say, "be an encourager. The world
  has enough critics already." So why was she beaten and permanently
  maimed by an Ontario Provincial Police officer when she'd stopped to
  help a mugging victim?

  That's the question she and her lawyer, Angela McLeod, are trying to
  answer after a judge this month issued a blistering judgement against
  OPP Sergeant Russell Watson, saying his attack on the 49-year-old
  caused "catastrophic injuries."

  Ironically, the judge issued his statement while categorically
  dismissing charges of obstructing a police officer laid against Ms.
  Farrell by Sgt. Watson.

I consulted the dictionary entry for 'irony' but remain mystified. Even without para 3, para 2 already discusses the judge's castigation of Sgt Watson, which implies the judge's rejection of Sgt Watson's charge against Ms Farrell. So what in para 3 could be possibly be ironic?


texts: Is "cancel posting of my letter" or " cancel sending of my letter" correct?

texts:
I am writing an email to cancel the posting of my application. But I am quite confused as to whether it is

  a. I wish to cancel posting of my application to the company mentioned on my form

or

  b. I wish to cancel sending of my application to the company mentioned on my form

Which one is right?


texts:
Is it grammatically correct to use the preposition "as" in a comparative manner?

For example:

I want the badges to be placed in the exact same position as in these images.


texts:
Having recently been completely remodelled, they thought the house lacked charm.

According to the assignment this sentence is incorrect. But I can't figure our how.
My best guess is to add of in-between lacked and charm so it reads, "lacked of charm"? But really I have no idea.


texts:
Why does the author say the information was "correct" but after that he says "the information was wrong"? Does it means that the information of the letter was wrong but she spelled them out?

  What is a good deal more to the purpose is that Mr. Funk sat with Margaret, that he heard the raps "all round the room" without detecting their origin, and that they spelt out to him a name and address which were correct and entirely beyond the knowledge of the medium. The information given was wrong, but, on the other hand, abnormal power was shown by reading the contents of a letter in Mr. Funk's pocket. Such mixed results are as puzzling as the other larger problem discussed in this chapter.

from The History of Spiritualism, Vol. I by Arthur Conan Doyle


texts: How to understand the omission of "he had been" after "while" here?

texts:
I saw this sentence in New Concept English 3 lesson 5.

  However, he had at last been allowed to send a cable in which he
  informed the editor that he had been arrested while counting the 1084
  steps leading to the 15-foot wall which surrounded the president's
  palace.

I believe the items in bold is reduced from "he had been arrested while he had been counting".

I've come up with 2 explanations for this omission, but neither seems flawless to me.

I know that we don't repeat words in coordinate clauses, but I'm not sure if this rule also applies to subordinate clauses which the while-clause here belongs to. If it does, then omitting "he had been" after "while" is completely reasonable. However, as this omission has nothing to do with "while", I believe "while" is replaceable. It follows that "he had been arrested as counting" should also be correct, which seems odd to me.
I know that it is acceptable to omit subject + auxiliary verb "be" in
while-clauses if the main and subordinate clauses refer to the same
subject. However, I doubt if this rule applies here, because the
auxiliary verb here is "had been", not just "be". In my opinion, the
items should be rewritten as "he had been arrested while having been
counting" if we apply this rule here.

I know there must be something wrong with my reasoning, but I can't figure it out.


texts: Word for describing a predominant orientation for an academic degree

texts:
When faced with the task of translating academic documents, I often encounter difficulties with translating the dominant of a field of study. Let me take an example.

  Your studies were about cooking in general. In the last year, you specialized in cooking pastas. At the end of the last year, on your diploma, you'll get :
  Bachelor in cooking, _____ (specialty ? dominant ? mention ?) pastas.

I want to express the fact that you know how to cook, however your knowledge of pasta is predominant over the general knowledge you have acquired. I have put some words I have thought of, but I am uncertain if they fit the situation I described.

If needed, here are a few more similar examples where the word I look for is missing :

Master of Art, ______ Photography

B.Sc. Biology, ______ Stem cells and bioethics


texts: What is the saying to use when someone has long worked for an accident to happen?

texts:
What is the English saying/phrase to use when someone has long worked for something bad to happen to him?

For example he was so long involved in risky activities, or he was treating other people badly, so that it was to be expected, that sooner or later he will pay for it.


texts:
Does "enhance your looks" sound natural?
For context: "Changes are important for us. We need them. My friend is going to have a plastic surgery to enhance her looks. She wants to be as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside."


texts: Photographer service or photography service

texts:
I was talking to a friend about his wedding. I run a company and give assignments to photographers. I asked him if I could offer him my photography services (one of my photographers). What would have been more appropriate?
 "My photography services"  or "my photographer services"?


texts:
Can I use "while" after "In addition"?

  In addition, while reuniting elder parents with their migrant children seems an attractive proposition, it is so different from expectation in long term.

Is my sentence grammatically Ok?


texts: You are ___ to relocate them; what's the proper word for this?

texts:
Commander: You are to relocate civilians to safer areas.

  Sgt: Yes, Maam.

1) Here, if you would put any word in between 'are' and 'to', what would that be? You are sure to? You are needed to?

2) If I would put any word there, would it kill the original nuance?


texts: The Participle in Participle Phrases, is an adjective, an noun or a verb?

texts:
For example, I know a pond teeming with fish.

The Participle Phrases teeming with fish is an adjective describing pond.
But what about teeming itself?


texts: Why two names for the headset which we use?

texts: The headset which is used for listening why it is called EARPHONE  and AIRPHONE both?


texts: try+gerund/infinitive (Difference in meaning)

texts:
I tried to open the door.
I tried opening the door

We can use both infinitive and gerund with verb "try" as used in above sentences. Does it change the meaning of the  sentence if use gerund or infinitive?.(here i don't know if the meaning of sentences is changed.)

The same confusion arise in these two sentences.
1.I stopped seeing him. 2. I stopped to see him.(But in case of these two sentence i know the meaning is changed but don't know exactly what the change is).


texts: What is it called when something creates itself by itself or something is made by itself?

texts:
Like in this sentence:

  Fashion is not ________ . It's made.

Obviously I can not write "made" in the blank, because it would imply an involvement of some external factor. I want a word which refers to create itself on its own or by itself.

"It's made" implies that some external thing like humans or designer are responsible for making it.


texts: What article would be correct here? A belief that / The belief that

texts:
Can I change the definite article in the following sentence and remain grammatical?

  Once you adopt the belief that there's nothing you can do to change
  something, you start to take a pernicious poison into your system.

I might mean that of all the beliefs someone might adopt you adopt one of them.
On this assumption, I might say ''There's a belief that there's nothing you can do etc.''
On the other hand, there might be only one belief that there's nothing you can do: the belief. If I can, what's the principle by which a native speaker chooses between the two? Thanks!


texts: What does "ethnic X", where X is the people of a country, mean?

texts: In http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-15263826 there is the phrase "ethnic Russian". Will you please tell me what does it mean? (I know what the word "ethnic" means)


texts:
To say "I got greatly impressed ", could I say,
"I got a great impression."

Thank you.

The question is whether I could say it both ways.


texts:
Is the following use of that natural? I suspect it's an error.

  And even Scrooge was not so dreadfully cut up by the sad event, but that he was an excellent man of business on the very day of the funeral, and solemnised it with an undoubted bargain.

(From Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol)

I'd appreciate your help.


texts: Subject Verb Agreement: Singular and plural

texts:
Singular must go with singular and vice versa for plural.

However, Grammarly mentioned one sentence as correct and other as incorrect. Please check the below two sentences.

I usually post questions on this website.
I usually posts questions on this website.

Subject: I. (Singular)
Verb: post (this also need to be singular), so posts

However, "posts" is shown as incorrect on Grammarly. Why post? It is plural.


texts:
In this quote from the picture, what does the word "part of the deal" mean?
I assume it means "the time  when the devil gives out cards to us in a life game"


texts: "are they" vs "aren't they" with negative statements in questions

texts:
They never agree with us, are they?

Is this a mistake to use "are they?" instead of "aren't they?" in this sentence?


texts: What is the correct way to compare two dates and say which is recent?

texts:
I have two dates like this:

  first date = 01 January 2014

  second date = 01 January 2013

I want to tell that the first date is always "greater" than the second date.

I am sure that "greater" is wrong in that context

So what should I say?

I tried this:

  The first date is always most recent than the second date.

Is this right?


texts: Why is the past perfect used here? It doesn't seem to refer to two past actions...

texts:
"Although the waves barely covered my knees on this crossing, I still stopped on far bank and looked back to the mainland with a sense of exhilaration. I had made it back to my childhood island.(From Coastlines by Patrick Barkham ).

It seems not to be an example of "what happens earlier and what later",does it?  Why did the author use past perfect here? I have some thoughts about the completion of the action. I don't think the usage was covered in the suggested explanation because though there are some examples of completion and they mention it,but there are always two verbs and two actions. What we are having here is one verb,no time reference, but a result of his efforts to visit the island of his childhood,the event he had been anticipating all his life.


texts: American English pronunciation: basically or "basicly"?

texts: Does the final "a" drop out in words like "basically", "logically", etc, or should I pronounce it?


texts:
I think the meaning of this sentence --

  A man severe he was and stern to view.

is he was a severe and stern person.
But I don't understand the grammar rule that this sentence follows.


texts: Question tag: I like the color on me, don't you?

texts:
Customer：I'll take this green sweater, I like the color on me, don't you?

  Shop assistant：I think it looks terrific on you.

From what I have been taught, I would say "I like the color on me, don't I?"
Why does the Customer change I to you? Is that correct? If so, what's the difference in meaning?


texts: What is the difference: 'was seated' vs 'seated'?

texts:
Could you please explain what is the difference between this two:

  Mr. Sherlock Holmes was seated at the breakfast table.

  Mr. Sherlock Holmes seated at the breakfast table.


texts:
Is it idiomatic to use an infinitive after a gerund? For example:

  Stop trying to impress others.
  Stop trying to please everyone.

Can we use an infinitive after gerund?

Is it grammatically normal?


texts: I am still not sure about "ask someone out {for/to} {a/zero article} something"

texts:
I usually hear something like

  I am going to ask her out.

That made me follow the preposition discussion on the WR. However, I am still not sure how things work in AmE.

Which one(s) is (are) correct in AmE?

Ask someone out for (a ?) something.
Ask someone out to (a ?) something.
Ask someone out as (a ?) something.

What is the idiomatic way to describe this course of action in AmE? I mean to express "asking someone to go together somewhere to do something there".

Shouldn't I use the indefinite article? Could you advise me on article too?

No offense, please, I am only asking for AmE. I am already confused.


texts: why the past tense in this sentence that appears in a dialogue?

texts:
can you fix me up with a part-time job?
-Anything in particular that appeals to you?
-I was rather hoping to find something in a school.
-Have you done that kind of thing before?
Yes, I was doing the same job last summer.

The third line. When the speaker says," I was rather hoping...," I feel puzzled. Why the past tense?  To say "I'm rather hoping" sounds OK to me.


texts: Could you help me finding some less colloquial equivalent to highlighted phrases of this speech

texts:
Today I want to be able to give you some good tips on parallel parking. It's part of your road test. It's something you need to learn. For most new drivers it's real difficult, because they're not able to judge angles. And parallel parking is all about angles. I'll take you through a typical parking, I'll take you through how I teach it , and maybe that'll help you in passing your road test. The first thing you want to do is you want to pull over over and you want to stop alongside a parked car. Typically, an inspector will give you a command to pull over, stop next to the red or blue car. You're just going to pull over, put your blinker on to the right, and pull over even with that car.

taken from a series of videos teaching driving

Why did the man use  be able in his speech? What is the difference between be able and I would like to or I want ? I mean what the listener should make of  I want to be able to give you ...  . Why did not he say I want to give you... ?
When he says I'll take you through a typical parking , I get the meaning of take one through ,It means I am going to teach you , isn't it? But my real concern is what the second I'll take you through means, while saying I'll take you through how I teach it . Perhaps it doesn't mean I will teach you that how I teach it ! , does it?
The man always says the first thing you want to do . Why does not he say the first thing you should do , the first thing you need to do ? What are the diffrences in meaning? Isn't it unnatural saying you want to do ?
In the last sentence he says You're just going to pull over, is the use of going to just weakening would and will? I think here it means something else. I think it means you just want to or you just start


texts: The exact meaning of "we have to get Regal Escrow their refund"

texts:
we have to get Regal Escrow their refund by five.

Hello, I am an English learner and I am confused the meaning of this sentence.
Does it means we have to get refund from Regal Escrow?
or we have to refund Regal Escrow?


texts:
If a student is ranked #2 in his class in terms of exam grade, which is better to describe him? "second", "second best", or both are appropriate?

e.g.
1. He is the second student overall among nearly 100 in his cohort.
2. He is the second best student overall among nearly 100 in his cohort.


texts:
A: I will try to... B: Say what is you try!

I think it should be Say what is your try!
Do native speakers say like that? Is it correct?


texts:
Being chosen, however, is probably not enough.

May this be understood as a complete sentence? Chosen appears to be the verb, but then what is its subject? In this sentence, is being a participle combining with the verb chosen to construct a gerund phrase, a verb participle that may function as a subject noun phrase?


texts: " was stemming from " vs " was stemmed from "?

texts:
The last time I put my pen to the paper, was suffering from a great deal of regret, wrote something about the things that I thought this regret was stemming/stemmed from.

I couldn't figure out which form should I pick " was stemming or was stemmed ?


texts: identification of recorded voice: "portions" or "burgeons"?

texts:
In this clip (1:09) is the woman saying "portions" or "burgeons"?
As a non native English speaker it's difficult to me to understand the spelling in this part of the video and that's why it's impossible to me to understand according to the context (she wont judge me because...).


texts: Why do we add "s" in verb like bring and know even though we don't whether a subject is singular or plural?


texts: Is "I achieved better efficiency ..." proper grammar?

texts:
Some woman told me that it was not.

If something was "efficient", you could not make it better. You could however say, "Greater efficiency".

Is this true?


texts:
Which one fit better in the context of "Complete the next mission"

  Hit enemies with bullets 50 times

or

  Hit enemies with projectile 50 times


texts:
What's the correct verb to describe the action of a hungry person's stomach making some noise?

For example:

I hadn't had breakfast and lunch, so this meeting was a huge embarrassment for me as my stomach was constantly _________________ to everyone's amusement, but I couldn't do anything about it.


texts:
I see definition of liquid like this:

  a substance that flows freely but is of constant volume, having a consistency like that of water or oil.
  "drink plenty of liquids"

I don’t understand why liquid considered plural, while water not.


texts: Are "Has he said that?" and "Did he say that?" interchangeable?

texts:
"He thinks I'm an idiot."

"Has he said that?" / "Did he say that?"

Are these interchangeable?

Also, if someone said "He said that?" is that always a short version of "Has he said that?"


texts: Use of simple present vs. present perfect to announce something

texts:
"The car is sold for thirty thousand euros," the auctioneer said.

Vs

"The car has been sold for thirty thousand euros," the auctioneer said.

Also

You are fired.

Vs

You have been fired.

What's the difference?


texts:
I wish I were able to fly.

  I wish I was able to fly.

Is subjunctive optional in English? If so, are these two equivalent? I heard there were 12 tenses in English and subjunctive present or past are not among the 12.


texts: Does this Homer-style sentence have a correct meaning?

texts:
My friend is writing a poem and I am reviewing it. It is based on Greek Mythology and this is one stanza of the poem:

  Upon Zeus the burden of the decision fell,
  And he felt his lightning bolt quiver in his hands,
  For he would not let the apple of Eris sell,
  But give to the most deserved in all of heaven and lands.

My friend claims that the bold phrase (bold for reference here) is a typical Homer style and so should be allowed.

However, I am of the view that the phrase "let the apple ... sell" implies that the apple is selling something, which is contrary to the logical observation that only humans (or animals?) can sell/buy things. The correct phrase would be "let the apple ... be sold".

My question:

  Which observation is correct? And why?


texts: Which of these sentences is grammatically correct?

texts:
People who commented before me did not notice.
  People who commented before I did, did not notice.

The usage of two 'did's did not sound good to me, so I was confused.


texts:
Does this phrase sound natural?

  Is there a requirement about [something]?


texts: What is the differences between using "was" or "is" or even others like "will be" in these conversations?

texts:
I found that in discourse, "that" or other pronouns can refer to many things. Sometimes it is an idea or it can involve specific elements in the discourse.
But because I am not a native English speaker, I ask my questions here to make sure I understand the nuances.
Also, I want to know the differences between using "was", "is", and others such as "will be".

Examples I came up with:
(a)

A: John cheated on his girlfriend.

B: That was/is/will be wrong.

Question 1: What are the differences in meaning between using "was" and "is" and "will be"?
Question 2: Does "that" refer to the action of cheating on someone in general or John's cheating on his girlfriend?
I ask (2) because I think B might've replied, "That was wrong. But if John's girlfriend were bad-tempered, the cheating thing would not be wrong." But I am not sure my understanding is right. I need your help.

(b)

A: Nick took off his clothes and showed his body on the streets.

B: That was/is a crime.

Question 3: What are the differences in meaning between using "was" and "is" and "will be"?
Question 4: Does "that" refer to the action of one's taking off clothes and showing the body in general or Nick's taking off clothes and showing the body?
I ask (4) because I think B might've replied, "That is a crime. But if Tom Cruise did that, it wouldn't be." But I am not sure my understanding is right. I need your help.


texts: Which British accents feature pronouncing [i] like "eyi"?

texts:
Pronouncing [i] like "eyi" has always been in my life, but I don't know who from I heard it so much. I finally found a person who actually speaks like this. It's Matthew Murphy, the vocalist of The Wombats. We can hear him saying "lyrically", "melancholy" and "musically" in 1:33 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN85VXvsn0Y
Actually, I think there are accents where it's even more emphasised. But I think it can be heard only at the ends of words, words like "really", "creepy", "we".
What is Murphy's accent and what other accents have got this feature?


texts: Is it called "sale copy" or "business plagiarism" in English language?

texts:
Shop A and Shop B are operated by people of different nationality. Shop A sells Japanese and Thai products, and when some of these products become more popular, shop B will follow and sell the same products.

Given that situation, are there any words that can describe what shop B is doing?

Is it called "sales copy" or "business plagiarism" in English language?


texts: "a pair of variables" and "mixture of Gaussian models", why in the first sentence `a` is correct while is not required in the second sentence?

texts:
As I mentioned in my previous question, a is a determiner used with a noun. However, I am confused about the usage of a in the following sentences.

  Let (x_1, x_2) be a pair of variables.

The second sentence is wrong. Why?

  We fit a mixture of Gaussian models.

I think the first sentence is correct. That is because a refers to the word pair, not the variables. However, the second sentence is wrong. Someone told me that I should not use a as we have the word models which is plural. I am really confused why a in the second sentence refers to models and not to mixture.


texts: How to use "the day of the week" properly?

texts:
After having done some research, here are my understandings of the uses of "the day of the week", but I am not sure I am right.

First Source:

  with a singular day of the week to refer to one occasion:

  I’ve got to go to London on Friday.

  with a plural day of the week to refer to repeated events:

  The office is closed on Fridays. (every Friday) In informal
  situations, we often leave out on before plural days:

  Do you work Saturdays?

Second Source:

  Normally, "Monday", etc are nouns. However, In American English,
  "Monday" could be an adverb & "Monday (adv)=on Monday"

  I'll ring you Monday

  Similarly, "Mondays (adv)=on Mondays"

  The restaurant is closed Mondays

Third Source

  a Monday (=one of the Mondays in the year)

  My birthday’s on a Monday this year.

So, based on the 3 above rules, I would think these following sentences are correct:

  I often do yoga on Mondays (repeated event)

  I often do yoga Mondays (repeated event)

  I will do yoga on Monday / next Monday (one occasion)

  I went to Paris on Monday (one occasion)

However, I don't understand, why oxford dictionary has these example

On Monday(s) (= Every Monday) I do yoga.

On Monday I do yoga. (repeated event) ---> is this correct?

I always do yoga on a Monday. (repeated event)  ---> is this correct?

I work Monday to Friday. (repeated event)  ---> is this correct?


texts:
I get thoughts: like, why may he go there?

How may you, properly, and grammatically, indicate thoughts in maybe formal writing?


texts:
Is "really" correctly positioned in the following sentences?

  He always seems innocent when he is really not.

  He always seems innocent when he really isn't.

  He always seems innocent when he is not really.

If all are correct, what is the difference?

I'd appreciate your help.


texts: 'We are starting class now' or 'We are the starting class now'?

texts:
I saw the sentence: 'We are starting class now' in a book of English grammar exercises.

But, I don't understand why the sentence has no article (the), like:
'We are starting the class now'.


texts: Questions regarding the differences between simple and progressive past

texts:
I have a few sentences in which I don't know which tense to use.
In the first sentence, I want to describe how a zoom meeting ended, but everybody stayed. So should I say:

I saw that everybody was staying.

or

I saw that everybody stayed.

and without saw, would It be everybody was staying or everybody stayed?
In the second sentence, I want to describe what someone thought of me while writing a book. So should I say:

Every time I was writing something, she was impressed.

or

Every time I wrote something, she was impressed.

I'd also like to know why the correct answer is correct.


texts:
I'm wondering: is it necessary to repeat the subject - or the verb - of a sentence in subordinate clauses introduced by words such as "but" or "like"? Are the following sentences equally correct?

  a) Flight attendants share 22 things they'd love to tell passengers but can't.

  b) Elizabeth Warren is the US president we need, but can’t have.

  c) We thought she'd know the answer to this question, but she didn't.

  d) She thinks I'm jealous, but - surprise, surprise! - I'm not.

  e) Over time people started to get older, things didn't pan out like they were supposed to.

  f) As much as I used to, nowadays I don't go to gigs that often.


texts: What is the difference between the three sentences in the body?

texts:
What made you think that I love you

Why did you think that I love you

How did you think that I love you

What is the difference between these three sentences?


texts:
"Hagrid," said Harry, panting a bit as he ran to keep up, "did you say there are dragons at Gringotts?"
     "Well, so they say," said Hagrid. "Crikey, I'd like a dragon."
     "You'd like one?"
     "Wanted one ever since I was a kid –– here we go."
     They had reached the station. There was a train to London in five minutes' time. Hagrid, who didn't understand "Muggle money," as he called it, gave the bills to Harry so he could buy their tickets.
     (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)

Does the phrase mean ‘let’s go’ or ‘said when something bad starts happening again’?
(I guess the latter is more likely that Hagrid seems to blame himself.)


texts: In what way should I ask someone about someone's acquaintance with another person?

texts:
Are both of them correct and have the same meaning?

Options:

  Do you know Tom?
  Have you met Tom?


texts:
The first and most important rule of legitimate or popular government, that is to say, of government whose object is the good of the people, is therefore, as I have observed, to follow in everything the general will. But to follow this will it is necessary to know it, and above all to distinguish it from the particular will, beginning with one's self: this distinction is always very difficult to make, and only the most sublime virtue can afford sufficient illumination for it.
Source: a sample passage for interpretation

Would you please help me to understand what the portion in boldface means?
And, to continue, is the following a question?

As, in order to will, it is necessary to be free, a difficulty no less great than the former arises


texts:
I wants to know Difference between related and relevant

Example:

it's related to my topic
it's relevant to my topic


texts:
The territorial dispute over South China Sea among China and its neighbors is being intensified with an increase in both a potential value of natural resources in the region and a strategic value of sea lines of communication.

The reason that I put among instead of "between" is to avoid ambiguity.
For example, if i say "between," I thought the sentence means "China versus other neighbors allied".

I wanted to mean "China versus country A versus B versus C.. ."
So, the question is, my usage is correct? If not, how can I edit this?


texts: What is the difference between 1."compared with" and "compared to" 2.'Match up with' and 'Match up to'?

texts:
What is the difference between...

  "compared with" and "compared to"  Match up with' and 'Match up to'


texts: third person singular: it is grammatical to say "someone gets beaten, so they get angry"?

texts:
I found a teacher mix used third person singular and pronoun.

  A simpler way to understand this is basically to receive an action. Okay? So when somebody
  gets punished, it means that someone else punishes them. It is used as a passive, but
  many people use "get" instead of "be".

where somebody obviously refers to a single person, so the use of "gets" makes sense, and then that teacher used a plural pronoun "them", does not match the former part. I guess that's because the teacher was trying to use a easier way to say he or she.

Is my understanding right? Is there a better solution?


texts: The explanation of the word phrase "understudy execution"

texts:
I am translating one text about pedagogy and I have there such a sentence:

Understudy execution, in any case, is additionally dependent upon educator expertise and level  of exertion or inspiration.

Could you please explain what "understudy execution" means here?


texts: Can I use "great" for a work or something?

texts:
Which sentence should I use?

  Your work is great.
  Your work is very good.

  Your cloth is great.
  Your cloth is very good.


texts: I don't understand what he is saying in a context

texts:
Let's say, a student is counseling with an academic adviser about his next year's class selection.

  Student : Now that I finished up my second year of coursework, I feel like I need some direction and I've come to see what you think of my proposed schedule for next semester.

  Adviser ( hereunder same ) Let me take a look at what you've been doing and then I'll take a look at what you are doing.

  Fair enough. When I was a Freshman, I took only courses that fulfilled basic requirements, you know Geology 101, Economics 150, Philosophy 102 and the like.

  Yes, and your transcript indicates that you did very well in all of the courses.

  That was part of my problem. I enjoyed all of the courses and it didn't help that I excelled in whatever class I took.

Can anyone teach me the last italic part, what the phrase it didn't help me that I excelled in whatever class I took could indicate? I am sorry I lost here   what he would like to say. Would he have lost another non fundamental class not like that he took to fulfill the fundamental requirements?

Thank you in advance.


texts: Help to understand the quip "If there were only so much freedom of expression in Iran"

texts:
Ten minutes into his speech, he was heckled by a protester, who shouted about the Trump administration "kidnapping children." The protester continued to shout, but she was drowned out by audience members shouting her down, and chants of "USA! USA!"

  The chaotic scene lasted for 30 seconds or so, with Pompeo eventually
  quipping, "If there were only so much freedom of expression in
  Iran," to cheers and applause.

I can't get the quip made by Pompeo in this context. If there were only so much freedom of expression in Iran seems to have nothing to do with this context.
Can somebody help me to understand it?

Here is the full source.


texts: 'One type of [noun]' v. 'one type of [plural noun]'

texts: I have a suspicion that you can use all nouns after 'type of' as if they are uncountable nouns regardless of what dictionaries say, e.g. 'a type of pie' instead of 'a type of pies' (if you think 'a type of pie' sounds worse than 'a kind of pie', don't nitpick, it's not the point). Does it mean that, for example, I can say 'a type of missile' instead of 'a type of missiles'? Can the latter be used at all (not just with this specific noun but generally)?


texts: We may would accept your story - Using may would together

texts:
"We may would accept your story."

The sentence want to speak in future, they "probably" (at the place of probably have used "may") would accept it.

Here "may" and "would" have used together.

Is it grammatical to use them both together at this sentence?


texts: Is this a common scolding expression "Your night is dark, just wait for me till we back home."

texts:
I was watching a video about scolding in English and one of the expressions the instructor in the video said was this:

Your night is dark,  just wait for me till we back home.

This sentence makes perfect sense in arabic, the native language of the teacher in the video. But I've never heard any native English speaker say it before.
Its meaning in arabic should be equivalent to this.
Your night is dark: your day (not necessary the child's night) isn't going to be good because of what you did aka you'll be scolded, punished, grounded, etc.
Just wait for me: in arabic the verb 'wait' can also be used to say 'give me some time' or 'be patient with me' and may be used before a thread as if to say 'give me some time then you'll see what I'll do to you'. I've just checked the dictionary and I don't think 'wait' is used in the same way in English.
For 'we back home' part. I've no idea why verb To be is omitted, I guess to make it sound informal.
Writing the question down, I come to realize there's a very great likelihood the sentence is wrong but the guy in the video has a very good accent and the rest of the phrases or words he said were all right so I've some hope this expression is actually used.
The video link (note: not all English): https://fb.watch/1EFCl81bVx/


texts: can I use 'will' in the past tense sentence?

texts:
Tom said that he will/would save his allowance.
'will' and 'would' are both possible in the given sentence?


texts:
I happened to come across a sentence in a school textbook as follows:

  " All you need to do is keep that passion burning in you and never give up."

Why is the bare infinitive form "keep" used here?
Can't we use "to keep" instead?


texts:
"Near" can be a preposition, an adjective or an adverb.
Of course, as an adverb or adjective, you can put it in the comparative: nearer.

But can you do so when you use "near" as a preposition?

My house is nearer the school than yours.

is a grammatically correct sentence, even though I would prefer

is nearer TO the school

So my question is: is "nearer" really a preposition in the comparative, or is the real preposition "to", but there's an ellipsis, and only "nearer" is left, and then it would be an adverb.

Thank you for your input and your answers.


texts: Does back-shifting with "have" give perfect properties

texts:
It is a simpler version of my previous question in which two native speaker gave opposite answers. The question consists of two parts to make it more complete and thorough.

The keys must have been found.

Does this statement mean that we have the keys now and they have not been lost again? In other words, does have been here bring any properties of the perfect aspect?

The keys are sure to have been found.

Which sentence is it equal to?

=2a) I'm sure the keys have been found.
=2b) I'm sure the keys were found.


texts:
Here is a phrase where this combination is used in a book:

  The  panels  kept  on  growing,  until  they  required  complex,  sloth-tech
  machinery  to  hold  them  aloft  against  gravity  and  weather.

Could you explain what "sloth-tech" here actually means?


texts: How to say the one before a last one of a last one of a last one?

texts:
Say I used to live in City A and moved to B now. City A is the last city I lived in.

But if I lived in City A, then moved to City B, then to City C, then finally to City D. What should I call City A for?


texts: What are idiomatic terms for "out-of-class knowledge"?

texts:
I am trying to say that I used knowledge beyond what has been taught in the classroom, things I have learned from extra readings or research on my own. I can think of a couple possible terms but they don't seem idiomatic.

  In the report, I used out-of-class knowledge points / beyond-textbook knowledge.


texts: What noun is appropriate to use in this sentence?

texts:
What noun is good to use in the following sentence instaed of ...

"I had many ups and downs throughout my life, but I considered each obstacle in my life as ... to become stronger and successful person in my life."


texts:
Please look at the following

He faces 5 years in prison, if convicted. This sentence means that if he is convicted he will be in jail for 5 years. Right?

But what if I say the following, which is after he has been convicted and sentenced to 5 years in prison.

He has been now been convicted and faces 5 years in jail.

Can I say the above 'faces 5 years in prison' after he has been sentenced guilty? Can I use 'face' here in the sense of experiencing the jail?

He faces jail. Can this mean he is experiencing jail now and is in jail now as we speak?

Thank you.


texts: When do you place a comma before a pronoun?

texts:
My gut feeling often tells me to add a comma, but I'm not 100% sure. I'd like to know when you should and when you shouldn't use a comma. For example, does the following line requires a comma?

  During my research, I discovered that Captain Hook was not able to fly.

Perhaps the sentence could be arranged differently, perhaps better. Since the time & location of the event could be hidden, I think a comma should be placed.

The comma placing in the above sentence is identical as the example given. But is the comma correct? When is and when is a comma out of order in cases when there is a pronoun halfway during the sentence?

Assuming I, he, she, we, etc. are pronouns. My native tongue is Dutch, so I'm not 100% sure what it's called in English.


texts: Is present continuous with when not possible here

texts:
When I ... (leave) London next month I will have studied here almost a year
Why is the answer leave and not am leaving
"Am leaving" in this case expresses the future, so "am leaving" should be good,all the more that  leaving can be a process.
I don't understand why "am leaving" is not good


texts:
Just as I was entering the room, the family was going for a party.
  Just as I was entering the room, the family was going to the party.

Out of the two which one is correct and by which grammatical rule?


texts:
Can a preposition be used before "that"?
For example:
The house in that I live is nice

or maybe:
The house that I live in is nice

I think which is correct in these cases but why? Could someone explain me?


texts: Is it necessary to add "on it" to the end of "This PC has Windows 10 installed (on it)"

texts:
This PC has Windows 10 installed (on it).
  This memory card has games stored (on it).

I have seen two versions of these sentences; one has "on it", the other doesn't have. Please could you advise me on which is correct?


texts: how to say that this question or issue is understood by me and I am good now?

texts:
If someone asks for particular issue pointing to me:

  do you want add some thing,  is it understood

then how to reply with a good short sentence? Or what is the best way to say

  yes, it is understood by me and I am now good for this issue or questions

(analyst speaking over call)?


texts:
Is there any difference in meaning between furthermore, and moreover?

In other words, can I easily replace these words with one another in any sentence, or should I do it carefully?


texts: "A intersects B at C" or "A and B intersect at C"?

texts:
Two expressions for using the word "intersect":
"A intersects B at C" OR
"A and B intersect at C",
Which one is more natural?


texts:
How to translate to english from a foreign language an idiom that uses two different words that have the same meaning “empty”, to say “pouring from empty to empty”, which means if you pour something from one empty vessel into another empty vessel your achieve nothing.

Specifically, I am asking for an idiom that means: talking about something again and again ( wasting time) without a real desire to solve a problem. What would be the nearest equivalent in English language?


texts: Doubts about the tone of a sentence "I allow myself..."

texts:
I have just written this simple sentence to someone I don't know (researcher).

  I allow myself to contact you in order to request one of your interesting paper, entitled "..."

I suspect this sentence that comes to my mind does not sound very natural for an english-native interlocutor. Could you point out what is natural and what is not ?

More specifically I have doubts on

Allow myself (It is a direct translation of French. Does it work ?)
a probable and unwantted firm tone used here ('order', 'request' are strong terms in an other context).

Are these doubts unfounded ?