texts: In this film clip one of the characters says "I'm jacked... I'm jacked to the tits!!!" - what does this mean in this context and other contexts?


texts:
He organized a virtual event in VirtualChat, a video game.
He held a political rally in VirtualChat, a video game.
The group held a protest in VirtualChat, a video game.

Not sure if it's in or on. I think it's in, but I am not 100% sure. Also, I am not sure if either one of them is correct.


texts:
The man managed to pull himself and his wheelchair back up/upright, after it flipped on its side.
(the man is in the wheelchair while he pulls himself up/upright)

Is "up" or "upright" correct?

Is the action explained in a natural way to native speakers?


texts:
I heard this phrase from a TV show.

  We thought you bought it up there.

The background is that Mike who is injured in an accident and come back to his friends, one of them said "we thought you bought it up there". I guess it means you're dead or similar, but I need confirm on it. While google says bought it up means buy sth in large amount is definetely not the correct answer I am looking for..Thanks for clarification.


texts: What do you call the bunch of hair you grow long on the back of your head?

texts:
You see, it was quite fashionable for men to grow long hair on the back of their head back then in 1980s, 1990s, especially among singers and actors. I was watching an old show of David Copperfield conjuring up a trick and his hairstyle drew my attention.

I've searched to find what it's called in English, but I couldn't find a clue. I tried semi-finish hair, back hair, but it was useless. Please see this link which helps you to find out exactly what I'm looking for. How do you describe it in English? Something like

  This man has a long back hair.

Or something!


texts:
What's the difference between drug and medication?

Do you agree with Dose of medications=Dose of drugs?


texts:
“A variable so related to another that for each value assumed by one there is a value determined for the other.” (thefreedictionary.com)

I can’t find any possible way how to start with this words. I’d like to say what I don’t know at least, but only to fail to do so. I hope to be got the right parse and its meaning.


texts: Why do Americans say Star Trek like Star Track? Is this correct? Because the dictionary says /trek/. I heard several usual Americans say it this way.


texts:
Definition of inutile by Oxford Dictionary:

  ADJECTIVE
  formal
  Useless; pointless.

I can't find any example sentences of its usage. How can I use the word?


texts: What is the difference between International English and other dialects of English?

texts: What makes International English worthy of the "International" title, and not, say, British English, or American English?


texts:
Tom has got an important job to finish by the end of the month. He
  has stayed at work until after 10 o'clock three days this week already.

Why not has been staying as it is ongoing action is it because of already, without already can I write has been staying  three days


texts:
Is the sentence below correct?

  It is calculated as the ratio of real errors comparing to all
  detected errors.


texts:
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/appositive/

When an appositive noun or noun phrase contains an essential element without which a sentence’s meaning would materially alter, do not frame it with commas.

My friend, Jenny, owes me fifty dollars. (wrong)

My friend Jenny owes me fifty dollars.

When the identifier makes sense in the sentence by itself, then the name is nonessential and you use a comma before it.

So what about these examples? Friend could be anybody so it makes sense to use the commas, but a husband and a partner identifies the subject, so I'd assume commas should be used around the names? We can assume they are only married to one person...so it is nonessential information.

1.Singer Ellie Goulding and her husband Caspar Jopling were seen leaving the Roundhouse in Camden, London,

2.He was dragged away by powerful currents during the evening swim at around 6pm, while his partner Jenny stayed in the hotel room.


texts: every moment of nature/ every moment of being in nature

texts:
I wanted to  advise somebody to enjoy every moment when they spend time in nature. How can I put it in words?

  1)  my advice is to enjoy every moment in the nature

  2) my advice is enjoy every moment of being in nature

Or Is there a better sentence for that?


texts: How to add descriptive text to a sentence end?

texts:
I have seen a lot of sentences that end with another (typically) smaller sentences, often starting with "with", which give a description of some word that was introduced in the main sentence. I do not remember any specific sentence right now (sorry), but I want to compose such a sentence in my academic paper. This is how I write it:

  Bonferroni’s post-hoc test was employed, with its results shown in table 3.

I am suspicious about the highlighted part. I don't know the underlying grammar for it. Is it correct as is? Should there be tense consistency (past-present-future) between main sentence (first part) and the descriptive part? Or always progressive verbs (-ing) should be used? For example, which one of the following is preferred?

  Bonferroni’s post-hoc test was employed, with its results being shown in table 3.

Or

  Bonferroni’s post-hoc test was employed, with its results that were shown in table 3.


texts: Is the phrase "suit yourself" offensive?

texts:
I was using the phrase "suit yourself" quite often since the equivalent in my native language it is a legitimate way to express "do whatever you consider the best."

However, when I used this phrase in a dialogue with a person from UK, I was told that it is quite impolite. I goggled the phrase for clarification, but I did not succeed much.

There is an explanation at The free Dictionary which tells nothing about impoliteness at all. On the other hand, there is a discussion on ELU which implies it is impolite. There is also a link to the phrases.org which honestly confuses me.

Is the phrase "suit yourself" considered impolite, or is it sometimes impolite?
Has the phrase changed its tone recently (maybe due to the non-native speakers)?


texts: Knowledge we pass / give / transfer / convey further?

texts:
When talking about knowledge which verb is more idiomatic and sounds more natural with it?

  I'll pass my knowledge to you, my students.

  We pass our knowledge (further) to the next generations.

or

  I'll convey my knowledge to you, my students.

  We convey our knowledge (further) to the next generations.

or

  I'll give my knowledge to you, my students.

  We give our knowledge (further) to the next generations.

or

  I'll transfer my knowledge to you, my students.

  We transfer our knowledge (further) to the next generations.

?


texts:
Fearing for his life, he pleaded/begged the mugger for mercy.

Which verb is correct here and why?

As I looked up in the dictionary, I found both 'plead for mercy' and 'beg for mercy'. Therefore, I think both words have similar meaning.


texts: What do you call the first areas that you find yourself in after getting off an airplane at an airport? After doing some research, I found the term "passenger terminal", but it's too vague and seem to refer to a big chunk of the airport, what are the parts of the passenger terminal you get off to after getting off an airplane?


texts: What does this esoteric quote mean here?

texts:
And he respects Owl, because you can't help respecting anybody who can spell TUESDAY, even if he doesn't spell it right; but spelling isn't everything. There are days when spelling Tuesday simply doesn't count.
The House at Pooh Corner, A. A. Milne.

What does this quote mean?


texts: Technically Sound vs. Technically Strong/Good. Which one has more value technically?

texts: I got a statement from my colleagues saying I'm technically sound. Usually they used to say “technically strong” or “technically good” to refer to others but when referring to me they said “I'm technically sound”. So I just want to know the difference between Technically Sound and Technically Strong/Technically Good in terms of referring to a knowledge of a person.


texts: usage of the words "unknown if not unknowable"

texts:
Could you please explain the meaning of the words "unknown if not unknowable".
I read online and found this sentence:

While proving to be a useful framework for rationalising illusions of brightness and the like, a problem with this framework is that the visual experience of individuals (with regard to surface reflectance and illumination) and that of their evolutionary ancestors is unknown if not unknowable.


texts: Leaving out "the" article, correct or not?

texts:
I am writing a scientific article and the title reads something like:

  Dimensionality reduction algorithms : tackling complex organization of datasets

I had a doubt question, should I say "tackling the" or is it grammatically correct to leave it out?


texts: off vs of vs off of - Can they be interchanged

texts:
A colleague wrote the following to me :

  I am making a conscious endeavor to clear my mind off trivial thoughts.

Though I read and understood the meaning, what rang a bell was the usage of off.

I have searched online and it appears to me that all of the below are correct:

  I am making a conscious endeavor to clear my mind off trivial thoughts
  I am making a conscious endeavor to clear my mind of trivial thoughts
  I am making a conscious endeavor to clear my mind off of  trivial thoughts.

Please correct me!


texts:
When the client feels the invoice isn’t fair enough for the quality of design:.
In the above sentence, I used the word fair for invoice. Basically I want to say that the client feels the quality of design isn't good and still he has been given an invoice with more charges/bill (sorry I don't know correct word).
I Googled the similar use of fair invoice, but couldn't find satisfactory results. I understand the meaning of fair bill, fair deal, fair commenet/question/answer etc. But I just can't say about this use.
So the fair enough for phrase makes sense here?


texts:
In our tutorial, we provide an in depth introduction on Web service
  composition, focused/focusing/focus on the area of formal verification and analysis.

Among focused/focusing/focus, may I know which is correct?


texts: What does "cause" mean in many music lyrics?

texts:
I have seen the word "cause" in many music lyrics and usually is pronounced "kez". I curious what does this word mean?

For example, here is a part of Taylor Swift's Bad Blood lyrics:

  Cause baby, now we've got bad blood.

Or a part of Linked Park's Final Masqurade lyrics:

  Tearing me apart with words you wouldn't say,
  And suddenly tomorrow's a moment washed away.
  'Cause I don't have a reason, and you don't have the time,
  But we both keep on waiting for something we won't find.


texts: "There are a piano and a phonograph in the room"

texts:
There are a piano and a phonograph in the room

or

There is a piano in the room

I am kind of confused between these two.


texts:
Thisis from Woody Allen movie - Manhattan - Hello Yale, I am sorry for calling ...
Well,no,no nothings wrong
Well I just thought that it”s Sunday out
and maybe if you could get away we could go for a walk or ..

My question is why did they say “Sunday out rather than “Sunday”


texts:
Random sentences with the word "book" .

  Random sentences that have the word "book" .

are both sentences used ?


texts: Which is correct: 'haven't done since' or 'haven't done for'?

texts:
If I want to describe something which I haven't done from a duration of time, then what should I use? Consider example:

  I haven't met my friend since a year.

OR

  I haven't met my friend for a year.


texts: The sequence of tenses in noun clauses_past and past perfect tenses edition

texts:
I found these example sentences in the book English Made Simple, Revised Edition: A Complete, Step-by-Step Guide to Better Language Skills

I am not quite sure the meanings of sentence 3 and sentence 4.

sentence 3:

    He had believed that he trisected angles.

sentence 4:

    He had believed that he had trisected angles.

Down below are my interpretations:

Sentence 3 means he once believed the fact that "he trisected angles" but manybe didn't believe it afterwards sometime in the past.

Sentence 4 means he believed the fact that he trisected angles, and these things all happened before something(something in the past.)

However, it raised my curiosity the differences between them(the past perfect tense in the noun clause affects the meaning at all?)

Down below are two examples sentences I created

sentence 5

    He had stated that he talked to the girl.

sentence 6

    He had stated that he had talked to the girl.

What is the difference?
So would you all help me understand the concept of the sequence of tenses?


texts: Equal meaning of conditional and passive conditional?

texts:
Take the following constructions:

  "How will you get home if someone steals your bike?"

or

  "How will you get home if your bike is stolen?"

Do they have any differences in the suggested ideas, beyond the emphasis?


texts: Correct possessive form of following sentences:

texts:
Which one of the following is correct regarding the possessive forms?

  "The effects of music therapy on students’ depression"
  "The effects of music therapy on student depression"

(Note: 100 students are recruited into the study)


texts:
He ran out of the room before they could stop him.
Before they could stop him, he ran out of the room.
My friend told me the second sentence is mistaken, why?
In my eyes, they are the same.


texts: Notes provide you with comments and asides >are< about the topic at hand - is "are" wanted here?

texts:
Notes provide you with comments and asides about the topic at hand.

...and asides are about the topic at hand. Is my understanding of this correct?


texts:
"Must (Probability)" has this structure: "must have PP". But can "Must (Obligation)" have that structure?

Ok, now, must (Probability) can be used to express the high probability

Ex: She must be on the bus. (I'm fairly sure this is a good guess)

& in the past: She must have been on the bus yesterday. (I'm fairly sure this is a good guess)

But, must (obligation) can be used to express strong obligation

Ex: She must study today.

& in the past: She had to study yesterday (as in textbook)

My question is that:

Can "Must (Obligation)" have the structure "must have PP"?

So, is "She had to study yesterday" (as in textbook) the same as "She must have studied yesterday"?

Or, whenever we say "She must have studied yesterday", people will think "must" here refers to a Probability?


texts:
I'm writing a dossier in which I have to refer a document in one section. To avoid any grammatical mistake, I'm needlessly obsessing over each line. Can any body help me to identify which line is more suitable or grammatically correct between the following? and why?
The Declaration of Conformity is provided in Annexure O
or
The Declaration of Conformity has been provided in Annexure O
personally i feel like former is more appropriate.


texts:
I'm watching 'Into The Badlands' (Season 3, episode 7, timestamp: 21:00--) and I came across a sentence I've never heard before. I would like to know its meaning.

Background: Sunny went to find the other survivor of the massacre happened in the boat when Sunny was a child. Finally, he found the place of that old man. The conversation between them is below:
Sunny: You're a hard man to find.
Old man: Are you here to kill me?
Sunny: The River King sent me. I'm here to talk.
Old man: Suit yourself. (Offers him a drink but Sunny denies). More for me then.
Sunny: The River King says you were the only survivor of a massacre.
Old man: Well, there goes my buzz. What's it to you?
Sunny: I was also on that boat.
Old man: You..... you were the boy. You were the one they were after.

I think it's enough context.
Could you please tell me the meaning of emboldened phrase?
Thank you.


texts: do you say "walk sloppily" to express someone who walks in a tired or lazy manner.?

texts:
Ok, a person may walk like this

-He may slouch

-He may tilt his body from side to side while walking

-He may arch his back forward or backward while walking.

-He may look down at the ground, or up into the sky while walking

-He may be tired or bored or a lazy kind of person.

Do we say "please walk up straight, don't walk sloppily"?

Note: The person may not be drunk


texts:
Consider this sentence, please:

Along with Covid-19 pandemic and cyclone Amphan, here's how locust swarms can devastate India's food grain reserves.

I know "could" would be more appropriate in place of "can" in the above sentence. But does "can"(in the sense of "will be able to", because the second part of the sentence is a hypothesis) sound completely awkward in the above sentence?


texts:
Yes, I can imagine a few situations where these words could be used. (= I am able to imagine...) (it is in response to the question: "Can you think of a context where...?")

I can imagine going to Canada. (= I am able to imagine...)

In reported speech, these would become:
a) He said he could imagine a few situations where those words could be used.
b) He said he could imagine going to Canada.
Am I right? If so, Can I replace the "could"s with "was able to"?
a) He said he was able to imagine a few situations where those words could be used.
b) He said he was able to imagine going to Canada.


texts:
Please, explain the use of 'would' in this sentence

  I'm only 36, but I feel like I'm too old to understand and explain certain expressions sometimes.. (since this is something younger people would usually say)


texts: Which among the following are non-finite verbs?

texts:
In the conversation below which verbs are non-finite?

  Cook: What shall I cook for dinner tonight, sir?
  Master: Prepare some sweets, I am expecting two guests.
  Cook: Fine, sir.
  Master: Also make some fruit salad.
  Cook: Yes, sir.

There are 6 verbs and I'm bit confused.  I think that shall and am are finite verbs, and the rest are non-finite, but I don't understand why.  I read some material too on the topic but it is of no help.

I want to know what characteristics these verbs have which makes them non-finite.


texts: What is the correct term "back-end", "back end" or "backend"?

texts:
I have a question.

What's the correct term?

Back-end, Back end or Backend

I'm a software back-end developer
I'm a software back end developer
I'm a software backend developer


texts:
Is this sentence correct? If this present or past perfect tense? I cannot figure it out.

  I have had been doing this for eight hours.


texts:
Longman Dictionary says:

packet [countable]:
1 (British English)   a container made of paper, plastic, or cardboard    that something is sold in
2 (especially British English) a small flat package that is sent by post or delivered to someone
...

So the picture bellow would be called a packet of spaghetti in British English, but not in American English:

What is it called in America then? A bag of spaghetti? A what of spaghetti?


texts: Campaign or countryside: Which one I've to use?

texts:
I'm translating a Italian review in English and I've a doubt.

Are there any difference between "campaign" and "countryside"? Which one I've to use and when?


texts:
Can I use "for" instead of "based on"? Can they be used as synonyms?
"I don't choose food  for calories."


texts:
today i stumbled upon 2 different sources of information

like/as though/as if
look, seem and appear

and these got me confused, because look like + clause sounds so natural to me and bbc has always been my favorite page for learning english.Howerver as a true learner i simply cannot turn a blind eye to a piece of information because it's unpopular.

So, the bottom line question is : is it possible to have a clause following the look like structure? EX "It looks like it will rain" .


texts: How to better translate "et voilá" from french?

texts:
In English, there is an expression that sound's like Ta-Da or Ta-Taan or Ta-Daaan

It's is the same meaning as the French expression as et-voilá?

If yes how do you correctly spell it?
If not what can be the more appropriate translation in English?


texts:
As a teacher in Germany we teach the rule that relative clauses can be shortened using participles (e.g. "The car driving along the road was blue." as opposed to "The car which was driving along the road was blue.")
Twice I have encountered sentences shortened which are simply wrong and I cannot explain why, they always have to do with the verb have (got): who can help?
"The girl having brown hair is very tall" is wrong so "The girl who has brown hair is tall" cannot be shortened????
Similarly I encountered the following task in a school textbook which to my ears sounds at least odd if not wrong:
"Try to find words having to do with the topic" meaning "Try to find words which have to do with the topic"Is the verb have (got) an exception???
Thanks for any qualified help!


texts: What's the difference between revise, amend and modify

texts: When you revise, amend and modify something, your intention is all to improve them. so does it mean I can use them interchangeably?


texts:
What is the correct way to say this..

I just checked my bank account and that seems to be have been activated.
I just checked my bank account and that seems activated.
I just checked my bank account and that seems to be activated.


texts: What do you call these flowering vaults, gates?

texts: Is there a particular word used to refer to them?


texts: "OF" usage in the beginning of a sentence

texts:
I have found some sentence starting with OF, but these are for plural subjects.

  e.g. Of the model reconstruction approaches using image data,
  data-driven categories, on the contrary, perform well for complex
  objects.

now my question is can I use Of for the singular subjects. if I say you my idea:

  Of the reconstruction scheme presented by ABC (2010), the extracted
  intersection lines are used for model reconstruction.

Since I am not sure whether Of in this case is valid, please let me know how the sentence can be improved.

PS: I want to use OF because in my report, in somewhere in upper paragraphs I have mentioned this ABC's method. Without giving reference to the above paragraph now I want to describe his method in detail.

All comments are welcome.


texts: What does *losing its purchase on reality* mean in the following sentence?

texts:
What does "losing its purchase on reality" mean in the following passage (emphasis added)?

  Vanquishing poverty gave the Bank a new focus and a credible mission,
  and it added moral underpinnings to the economic case for resource
  transfers from the rich to the developing nations. Moreover, growth
  economics, which was in danger of losing its purchase on reality,
  acquired a tangible purpose.  With faster growth, a nation's
  domestic product would increase, and the incomes of the poor would be
  more likely to rise.

Development Economics through the Decades: A Critical Look at 30
Years of the World Development Report, Shahid Yusuf, page 21


texts:
I looked it up in the dictionary and it was given this example:

  Low-lying farmland may be at risk from flooding this weekend

It was also said that the use of of is generally allowed. So I was wondering whether or not

  Low-lying farmland may be at risk of flooding this weekend

would be marked as grammatically correct.


texts:
I'm dealing with people from different nationalities (Indians, Pakistanis, UAE, UK...etc). When they tell me that they have an technical or a financial issue and the would like to submit a ticket/request. I asked them: what exactly is your complaint? When they tell me, I like to repeat to confirm the issue so I say: So you're complaining about...

Somebody told me I'm not complaining. Another one laughed. What's wrong with this word? how can I ask professionally?


texts: I suppose that the picture above is some kind of a joke. But I am not able to catch the point. I would understand if there was something like "where the winning means that the head will stay on your neck". Or is "get a head" an idiom?


texts:
Good evening, everyone. My question refers to a sentence from my exercise in English:

  Some drivers may notice extra vibration. They should bring the car to a dealer for service.

The command of this task sounds in a following way:
Join this pair of sentences into a single sentence. Use that/which and a relative clause, or a present participial phrase. Include modal verbs printed in italics (in this case the word should). My doubts concern the doer. It is some drivers and, as a result, it is for me hard to join the pair of sentences so as not to change the first sentence. If the subject was extra vibration, the task would be easier.

How should I join this pair of sentences into one sentence, avoiding transforming the first one?


texts: Sentence "Open in new window" in the explorer's context menu

texts: Sure, this text comes from MS Windows explorer's context menu when you right click mouse on the folder. I am wondering if it is correct and "Open in a new window" is not more grammatical. If it is so, why Microsoft decided to remove the article from this sentence?


texts: How to explain what takes place during certain times in some movie

texts:
Suppose, you're watching some movie, and you want to tell someone what goes down during certain times in the movie.

Near the beginning- Five minutes in the movie, this happens.
Or
Five minutes from the start of the movie, this happens.

Near the end- Five minutes from the end of the movie, this happens.

Would the constructions above be enough to get across what the speaker is trying to get across?


texts:
If serial numbers are altered, the gun becomes "hot", and selling,
  transferring, or purchasing such a weapon is considered illegal.

.

  Once the gun has been loaded, the gun is to be considered "hot"

I looked up a dictionary, but have no idea what "hot" means.


texts:
Cook to the right temperature.

I didn't find the phrase " Cook to" or " to the temperature" in many online dictionaries. To my understanding, this sentence means that cook something under the right temperature. Or that you need to know the right temperature of what you are cooking and cook it under that temperature.

My question is why for that expression do we use the preposition "to" not "at", "in" or "under"? How would the meaning be different if we changed the preposition?


texts:
When do we use definite article with morning and evening? and when shouldn't we use them?

  It was morning, but I want to sleep a little more.
  I often sit on this chair in the morning to read the paper."


texts:
What could happen if someone puts sugar in a gas tank?
The standard prank lore goes that pouring sugar in a car's gas tank disables the engine and renders the car inoperable.


texts:
I've heard the phrase being used in multiple occasions. But I'm not sure, when exactly it is OK to use this phrase.

It seems to be acceptable in a religious context. For example a priest talking to a member of his church. It is of course OK if you are actually speaking to your son.

But I've also heard it being used in different situations. For example a man talking to some child. Or a much elderly person talking to a younger one. This is what I'm really interested in. Is the phrase always acceptable in these situations?

Are there other situations where the phrase would be acceptable?


texts: A question on plural: The A(s) of B and C is (are)...?

texts:
I often come up with this type of sentences:

The A(s) of B and C is (are)...?

For example:

The size of the batteries of node 1 and node 2 is (are) 100 mAh and 200 mAh, respectively.

In this case, each node has only one battery.

I am not sure about whether:

I should use 'size' or 'sizes'?
I should use 'battery' or 'batteries'?
I should use 'is' or 'are'?

Thank you very much!


texts: Is there an idiom for indicating that someone is overly serious about a particular situation?

texts:
I am wondering if there's an idiom for indicating or suggesting that a person is overly serious about a particular situation.

For example, let's say some friends are caught inside a small lodge due to heavy rains, and someone starts screaming and loses composure over it as if they were going to die. What idiom would you use to indicate that that person is being overly serious about that particular situation?


texts:
My question is that what the difference is between two phrases ,if any, from grammatical or practical point of view

Once my dream was to score the goal during a soccer game

,but it never worked as I expected

OR

,but nothing worked as I expected.


texts:
I will probably visit Berlin tomorrow; I can confirm (it) tomorrow morning. Will you be home?

Could you please tell me if the above sentence is correct and if the use of it is necessary?

Also, should I add the expression to you to the sentence, i.e.

  I will probably visit Berlin tomorrow; I can confirm (it) to you tomorrow morning. Will you be home?


texts: verb matching after a word with a potential (s)

texts:
Which form is correct:

Do you know where your Domain name(s) are registered?
Do you know where your Domain name(s) is registered?


texts:
Virginia Woolf said through a character that

  Once one looks at nature outside, one drops the pen, takes one's cloak, strides out of the room, and catches one's foot on a painted chest as one does so.

What does catches one's foot on painted chest mean.is chest a kind of box kept in open.TIA


texts:
Consider this scenario: my room is messy, I then clean it up. In a day, however, the room is utterly messy again. What should I think to myself?

  The room looks as though I had not done any cleaning up yesterday at all.

or

  The room looks as though I did not do any cleaning up yesterday at all.

?


texts: What do we call a person who makes up facts in order to look smart

texts:
My discourse is like this:

  However, sometimes knowledge could be abused. People should be aware because there are ____ who make up facts in order to look smart instead of admitting their ignorances.

It'd be awkward if I repeat "people", that's why I need a word to define this type of people.

I've found such words like sophists and pathological liars. But they aren't suitable here.

These people don't make up facts for an argument but they just want to look smart and convincing. They also give fake statistics such as "90% of people are...", "20% of our blood is..".


texts:
Does "there is not the hyper-individualism that characterises parts of the USA" mean "there is not the hyper-individualism (in Chinese people) that characterises parts of the USA"?

.
“In China, you have a combination of a population that takes respiratory infections seriously and is willing to adopt non-pharmaceutical interventions, with a government that can put bigger constraints on individual freedoms than would be considered acceptable in most Western countries”, adds Poland. “Commitment to the greater good is engrained in the culture; there is not the hyper-individualism that characterises parts of the USA, and has driven most of the resistance to the countermeasures against the coronavirus.” Poland noted that the Chinese accept the notion that disease control is a matter of science. “China does not have the kind of raucous anti-vaccine, anti-science movement that is trying to derail the fight against COVID-19 in the USA”, he said.

Source: The Lancet


texts: What is the subject of the "Got me..." lines in Iron Maiden's song "Prowler"?

texts:
I'm trying to understand more in depth / translate some Iron Maiden songs, and this is something that has bugged me since the first time I listened to "Prowler".

Here are the lyrics of the song I'm talking about:

  Walking through the city, looking oh so pretty
  I've just got to find my way
  See the ladies flashing, all their legs and lashes
  I've just got to find my way
  Well you see me crawling through the bushes with it open wide
  What you seeing girl?
  Can't you believe that feeling, can't you believe it
  Can't you believe your eyes?
  It's the real thing girl
  Got me feeling myself and reeling around
  Got me talking but feel like walking around
  Got me feeling myself and reeling a-
  Got me talking but nothing's with me
  Got me feeling myself and reeling around

My question is: what is the meaning of the "Got me..." lines?
I would think it is "You, girl, got me while I...", but then there's this line:

  Got me talking but feel like walking around

How can it be paraphrased? Is the subject of "Got me" and "feel" the same? Could "Got me..." mean "I found myself..."?


texts: is "y1 < x < y2" an inequality or inequalities?

texts: I know that x > y1 is an inequality but I am in doubt over whether y1 < x < y2 is an inequality or inequalities. Which is right? I think that it may be a math question, but I will be thankful if anyone answers it.


texts: What verb tense should I use for situations that I don't know how long they will last?

texts:
What verb tense should I use for situations that I don't know if they will last forever?
We use the present simple for things that are permanent, for example

I live in the EU.

And we use the present simple for things that are temporary, for example

I'm living in the EU.

But what if I don't know if it will be like this forever or not?


texts: Is this correct "He should keep himself under a physician"?

texts: My English teacher wrote that sentence and told me that it means "he should always keep in touch with a physician.Is it correct and if not then please explain why


texts: a ticket "to" or "for" each event. Are both correct?

texts: A ticket to the event or for each event? Are they both correct and if yes, what's the difference?


texts: I hear everyday people use gerund and infinitive with nouns and pronouns instead of simple verbs. For Example: "Instead of me calling you ........ "or, "The minister to resign next month". These sentences confuse me, because I learned that infinitives and gerunds are used with verbs as nouns, subjects, or objects; but I never learned anywhere that gerunds and infinitives are used with nouns and pronouns. Please help!


texts:
How do I ask someone for how long they studied in a school in the past? (The are not studying any more.) Is it

  How long have you studied there?

or

  How long had studied there?

or some other question?


texts:
I wonder what exactly "a-swing" is in:

  For he must fly back to his perch and cling

  When he fain* would be on the bough* a-swing;

Sympathy by Paul Laurence Dunbar

If it was "would be on the bough swinging", I wouldn't ask. But a-swing?

I couldn't find the word as it is in any dictionary I have looked up the word in. Could someone say a-flying, or a-verbing for that matter? Was made up for musical poetic reasons?

Note: Fain means gladly and bough, a branch


texts:
We can say:

  It is hard to do it

like:

  To do it is hard

Then how can we say the next sentence with the same turn

  It is hard to be doing it

It will be

  Doing it is hard

Or

  Being doing it is hard

If it's

  Begin doing it is hard

then how can we turn

  Doing it is hard


texts:
Is the usage of 'reason being' ungrammatical?

I heard so many times people use this. I don't know is this correct usage or not.


texts:
Pick out the word in each of the following that is different (Odd One Out)

Intuitive, initiative, talkative, quantitative

The answer is - initiative.

PS - I just want to know the reason or the logic used here to pick 'initiative' the odd one out.

Meanings:

Intuitive : when one feels something to be true without conscious reasoning.
Initiative : ability to initiate and assess things, to take charge before others do.
Talkative : one who talks a lot.
quantitative : ample quantity


texts:
Would it be correct to say that "in the exam" can mean 1. "during the exam", 2. "on the exam" =in the exam paper, 3. "at the exam"=location?
For example,

"I answered the examiner's questions in the exam." During.

"I answered the examiner's questions on/in the exam." In the exam paper.

"I answered the examiner's questions in the exam." Location.

Are my sentences correct?


texts:
From the book "the 100 year old man who climbed out of the window~"
On the page 37

  If he was half as crazy as his father , then he was capable of anything was how Mr. Wholesale Gustavsson saw it,and since he wanted to be around quite a bit longer ...

It is hard to understand the structure of this sentence ,especially the usage of 'how' on the second line.
If I  replace' how' as' that ', would it be ok ?


texts: Why is there no apostrophe in "NEW YEAR MESSAGES"?

texts:
Normally, we say

  NEW YEAR's RESOLUTIONS

but when it comes to saying

  NEW YEAR MESSAGES

where does that little apostrophe go from "YEAR"?


texts: "Let's back to page 3", "Let's go back to page 3" or both?

texts:
I recently started learning Chinese and my teachers use English as a second language. I noticed that many of them use the phrase "Let's back to (page XYZ)" as opposed to "Let's go back to (page XYZ)". I had been speaking English for about 20 years so far and never stumbled upon this phrase, but Wiktionary says it's a valid verb:

  (intransitive) To go in the reverse direction. quotations ▼

  the train backed into the station;  the horse refuses to back

So, is "go" needed here?


texts: What's the meaning of 'The search has been anything but smooth'?

texts:
I'm a student who studies English, and I have a sentence I do not understand.

The sentence is from the article which about the search for aircraft that vanished from radar last year. The article said

  The search has been anything but smooth.

but I couldn't catch what it means.

I think if they want to express that the search was useless (they've found nothing), they should say

  The search has been nothing (not anything).

and I don't know what the "but smooth" means.

Please Let me know about it.


texts:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/should-you-let-your-customer-call-all-shots-martin-connor

Should you let your customer call all the shots?

what is the meaning of "call all the shots"? I guess it means "control everything" but I am not sure. And may I have some simple examples about the idiom "call all the shots" in plain English?


texts: "about all the types of vertebrae" or "all types of vertebrae"?

texts:
I just want to say to my friend that in next class we are going to study about the types of the vertebrae.

What is more suitable to write?

  1) "In this class we are going to study about all the types of the
  vertebrae"

  2) "In this presentation we are going to study about all types of the
  vertebrae".

(By the way, there are 5 types of vertebrae)


texts:
Having taken into account one of the meanings of the phrase account for, would you tell me if the following would bear the same meaning?

Playgrounds account for causing over 1000 accidents each year.

Playgrounds are credited with causing over 1000 accidents each year.

Cheers,
nima


texts:
Which one of the following is correct?
"How did you know what marks I got?"
"How did you know what marks I get?"
"How did you know what marks I have got?"
"How did you know what marks I have gotten?"
I remember someone said that you do not need to use past tense once you used "did"?


texts: “My grandmother, along with two of her friends, (is/are) planning a trip to Mexico.” –What will be in the gap?

texts:
“My grandmother, along with two of her friends,               (is/are) planning a trip to Mexico.”
The summary, plus all these reports,               (needs, need) to be typed by tomorrow.
Fill in the gaps please .I am confused about the correct answer. And please explain why?


texts:
In Italian, when I write a sentence about an action (e.g. eating fish, playing), I would use the infinitive, such as  mangiare pesce fa bene alla salute (which literally is "to eat fish is healthy"), or giocare aiuta ad imparare (which literally is "to play helps to learn").

I would use the gerund in giocando si impara, but that would roughly mean "When playing, you learn." and in this case the infinitive would not be correct. (Giocare si impara is not what you would say in Italian.)

Should I use the infinitive, or the gerund, in sentences similar to the following ones?

To play with fire is dangerous.
To win the lottery is just a matter of luck.
To escape from Alcatraz is impossible.
To practice makes you perfect.

Is the infinitive always wrong, when the verb is the subject of a sentence?


texts: Does "located off to" mean "located closer to"?

texts:
I am trying to describe the positional relationship between the rectangle and the circle in the image.
When my language is literally translated in English, it is described as follows:

The circle is located off to one corner of the rectangle.

Does the sentence above I created describe the positional relationship in the image correctly?


texts:
A lot of people prefer to eat fried chicken with their fingers.

A lot of people prefer eating fried chicken with their fingers

A lot of people eat fried chicken with their fingers.

What do these sentences mean?


texts:
What does 'she made the nipping off of noggins such a crystal mystery' mean? What is 'noggins and choppers' in context?

  When your mama was the geek, my dreamlets,” Papa would say, “she made
  the nipping off of noggins such a crystal mystery that the hens
  themselves yearned toward her, waltzing around her, hypnotized with
  longing. ‘Spread your lips, sweet Lil,’ they’d cluck, ‘and show us
  your choppers!’ ”

Geek Love. A novel by Katherine Dunn


texts: 'miss call' or 'missed call' when it is 'yet to be missed!'

texts:
For many it will be surprising but it is true in India! Often, a person calls on his friend's cell phone and cuts before he picks up. Most of the times it is a 'mutually understood act!' The reasons for that range from saving money to simply notifying someone.

Example: Say, A tells B that once he reaches the venue, he will give B a miss call so that B should understand that A has reached. There is no need to talk or to text because the purpose is just to notify that A has reached! Simple and witty!

Now, on the cellphone of B, it is surely a missed call as it reads '1 missed call from A'. Because it is recent past...so it is 'missed'.

But, I wonder in this case, what do we use?

  Okay, when I reach the venue, I'll give you a 'miss or missed call?'

It is a future tense where the call is 'yet to be missed!' That way, it should be 'a miss call,' but my instinct still says it should be 'missed.'


texts: Subject verb agreement in a sentence with and

texts:
We know that if two or more singular nouns are joined with 'and' they take a plurality verb but if they convey the same idea they take a singular one.

Can you help me out with the following sentence:

  The lack of interest and a high price of books ________ equally
  responsible for people running away from serious reading.

What shall we use "is" or "are"? I am in the favour of using "are".


texts: Are the phrases "such so that" and "such that" synonymous?

texts:
The following sentence come from Drag Shergi Mysteries : The Complete Collection by Kimberly Vogel:

  The room was such so that there was a lounge at first.

Now, I read this sentence and was wondering if such so that meant such that.

  The room was such so that there was a lounge at first.

  The room was such that there was a lounge at first.

To me, these two sentences mean the same thing. Is this the case always? Are there exceptions? Why?


texts: Does the word "shitstorm" emphasize a physical fighting or oral quarrelling situation?

texts:
The definition of "shitstorm" in New Oxford American Dictionary:

  a situation marked by violent controversy.

The definition in Wikipedia:

  a vulgar dysphemism for a chaotic and unpleasant situation.

I want to know what exactly is a "shitstorm"?  Does it include a wrestling scene, or more of a disputing situation?

What's its difference from "chaos", "turmoil"  and "riot"?


texts:
Mank speaks about Modern Quixote movie character:

Mank: Love him enough to make him president. But they won't, and they
don't. How do you suppose that could happen? Could it be because, in
their hearts, they know that he values power over people?
Disillusioned in Congress, he authors not one single piece of
legislation in two terms.

How can a native speaker understand Mank is asking question without seeing subtitles?


texts:
Is this usage of reflect correct?

  He always wears a warm smile.
  His girlfriend looking at his face all the time started to reflect the smile.
  (= she now wears the same warm smile.)

If this usage is incorrect, is there any verb to replace reflect?

Thank you!


texts: "I cannot account for my (be) so talkative. It's just my character"

texts:
I cannot account for my (be) so talkative. It's just my character.

What form of verb "be" should be used in this sentence? I can't come up with anything.


texts: There will be a lot of developers and their `computers` or `computer`, which one is better?

texts:
It sounds like the lecturer is saying

  now that we've explored the relationship between functions and their
  gradient.

gradient is a countable noun, So, gradients would be better here, right?

similarly, in the following expressions (suppose each developer bring at most 1 computer), one is better than two

expression_1: there will be a lot of developers and their computers.

expression_2: there will be a lot of developers and their computer.

Is my understanding right?


texts: What preposition should I use “in” or “on”?

texts:
I'm not quite sure about the use of preposition in the sentence below.

Should I write

  A is located on the north of B

or

  A is located in the north of B


texts: Difference between would/will. Are they interchangeable in certain contexts?

texts:
Words wouldn't be enough to describe my love for you.

  Words won't be enough to describe my love for you.

Are Wouldn't/ Won't interchangeable in the above construction?
What's the difference in their meaning if they're not?


texts: Is it ok to use "what's" instead of "what does"?

texts: Actually is this construction common in NY English?


texts: What this line means: "I’m striking a line through the irrelevant sections."


texts:
This stranger talked to me. Usually, I would have had to think something bad would happen. But I followed him.

(One Day in NY) BY Pat Mathew

What is this "would have had to"?


texts: On a lot of my inbox emails, I get on the top of email "good days", I suppose it should be good day not good days .. why they add s to day ?


texts: How can I introduce (or name) a person who was my colleague?

texts: How can I introduce (or name) a person who was my colleague, but he has changed jobs?


texts: How much is this ride (cost to go on this ride)

texts:
Usually we buy an entry ticket and can go on any ride,(Water parks,  amusement parks)  but at some places we have to pay for each ride. Each ride we decide to go on, we have to pay for it.  (And each ride has a different price).  What's a natural way to ask that:

  How much's this ride?

I am not buying the ride (though I guess it sounds like that), rather I am asking "How much do I need to pay to go on this ride?". What's a natural way to ask this?


texts: What does "likely to be to translate" mean?

texts:
I was just reading Peter Newmark's A Textbook of Translation and ran into:

  In fact, the greater the quantity of a language's resources (e.g. polysemy, word-play, sound-effect, metre, rhyme) expended on a text, the more difficult it is likely to be to translate, and the more worthwhile.

The structure is the greater A, the more difficult B, and the more worthwhile C.

My problem lies in the B part that is it is likely to be to translate. What does this mean? Does it bear any redundancy? Couldn't have it been said as the more difficult it is to be translated?

And C is a placeholder referring to something like it is or they are.


texts: What are the differences between "sorry to keep you waiting" and "sorry for keeping you waiting."?

texts:
What are the differences between "sorry to keep you waiting" and "sorry for keeping you waiting"?

It seems that a lot of native speakers do not distinguish "sorry to do" and "sorry for doing".

But this site says:

  To be sorry to + infinitive = to apologise for a present action

  I´m
  sorry to interrupt but could you come with me for a second?

  To be sorry for + verb with -ing = to apologise for a past/earlier
  action

  I´m sorry for lying to you, I won´t do it again

So,

"sorry to keep you waiting."==> I will let you wait after I say this

"sorry for keeping you waiting."==> I let you wait before I say this.


texts:
Is there any difference in using kind of + noun with or without a at the beginning?

For example,

  It is kind of animal.

vs

  It is a kind of animal.


texts: Name of the part that holds the "fruit" and "twig" together

texts:
I cannot seem to find the name of the part of a fruit tree which holds the "fruit" and the "twig" together that sometimes comes off with the fruit when we pluck the fruit.

Can I call it twig?

Thanks in advance.


texts: Talking about past events using present tense

texts:
I was watching this stand-up show on tv, and this guy said "Two months ago I'm walking down the street and this is walking toward me...". And that's how the conversation started, he didn't say anything like "Two months ago I was walking down..." and at some point go off track and then doubled back to the main thing, saying "So, two months ago i'm walking down the street...". The joke started that way.

I'm just curious whether it's okay to talk like that. Is it grammatically correct?


texts:
What are the differences between "ongoing", "going on" and just "going"? And which one should I use to express that a TV series hasn't concluded and continues to run? For example:

Is 'The Simpsons' still going/ongoing/going on?

Please help me understand them. Many thanks in advance.


texts: Inversion - 'In no clothes does Tom look good' vs 'In no clothes, Tom looks good'

texts:
a) In no clothes does Tom look good.
  b) In no clothes, Tom looks good.

What is the difference between these 2 inversion sentences? Thanks.


texts: Use of the indefinite article before a noun and a number

texts:
Tell me please why an was used before the word option in the following sentence.

  Two - we collapse miserably into ruins and ashes. I don't like "two", Stan, is there (an) option three?

I thought that when there is a number after a noun then articles are not used. For example:

  Read chapter one to get more information!

  He is now in room five.

I am very confused why an was used there.


texts: Would an American native speaker be able to hear a difference between /ʌ/ and /ɑ/ in pronunciation of "done" and "don" and recognize which one was said without a context? For me as a non-native speaker, they sound quite similar.


texts: Time reference of imperative/modal sentences

texts:
What time reference is indicated by imperative sentences/Sentences with modal verbs?

Some say it refers to present time, while others say it indicates future time since the action can only happen after the time of speaking.

Examples-

  Do this work.

  You must do it now.

  Will you stop talking?

  I will do it now.

  What will/would you like to have?

  May i come in? etc.

The above query seems innocuous on the face of it but i have found many native experts differing on time reference of above with some calling them as referring to future time whereas dictionaries and some websites describe them to be referring either to present or future time(if future temporal reference is mentioned) .

I am not referring to their tense part which is clear.


texts:
I have seen the below sentence and I want to know what exactly "happen not to something" means. Is it an idiom or there is a grammatical rule for that?

  ...because we happen not to have seen it in our training text...


texts:
Why do we need to use the definite article when we are speaking about inventions like in the sentence below:

  Alexander Bell invented the telephone.

Thank you in advance!


texts: Why does this sentence use "either" instead of "each"?

texts:
In the first scene of The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon says:

  So if a photon is directed through a plane with two slits in it and either slit is observed it will not go through both slits. If it’s unobserved it will, however, if it’s observed after it’s left the plane but before it hits its target, it will not have gone through both slits.

My question is: Why does he use "either"? Wouldn't it be more appropriate to use "each" ?


texts: Should I use "THE" in "(The) news nowadays is full of crap"?

texts:
Many times I am confuse if I should use "the" or not. For example

  News nowadays is full of crap.
  The news nowadays is full of crap.

Should I use "the" here (and why)?
Is there any rule of thumb?


texts:
What is the modern grammarian's part-of-speech for all in

  Collect them all!


texts: Using comma before a non-essential reduced relative clause which describes the object of the main clause

texts:
I am really confused about dangling phrases. Which sentences below are grammatically correct?  I think just 1 and 4 are correct here?

  1- Did you read Hamlet,  which was written by William Shakespeare?

  2- Did you read Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare? (Is it a
  dangling participle phrase?)

  3- Did you read Hamlet written by William Shakespeare?

  4- Do you know my brother Ben , who lives in Hong Kong.

  5- Do you know my brother Ben, living in Hong Kong. (Is it a dangling
  participle phrase? )

  6- Do you know my brother Ben living in Hong Kong.


texts: Please explain the difference between "He will become a good lawyer" and "He will make a good lawyer."


texts: What is the function/meaning of "it" in this sentence?

texts:
I brought you very important news. It is the latest news.

It is used as a subject here. But  is it personal,impersonal or emphatic?
It's probably personal, however there is some kind of emphasis on the fact that it's the latest news.  So I'm not sure.
What do you think?
I need to know how does "it" function as the subject.  Not what type of pronoun it is.
For example:

"It" as a formal subject (to denote аbstract idea. definite
thing.)
If it is liberty, it isn't going to mean a thing.
The demonstrative "it"
They learn to speak English before they learn to read it.
The impersonal "it"(to denote natural phenomena, time and distance)
It is cold in winter.
It is morning already.
The introductory or anticipatory "it"(introduces a real subject)
It's no use disguising facts.
The emphatic "it"
It was he who had brought back George to Amelia.


texts: Singular noun + linking verb + plural predicate nominative

texts:
Essentially, we have "[singular subject] was/were [plural object]."

Which is correct?

"What mattered was my determination and effort."

"What mattered were my determination and effort."

I understand that "my determination and efforts" can be replaced with a singular adjective (e.g. "What mattered was important."). This makes me think "was" is correct.

However, "determination" and "effort" are two words.

In the above sentence, "are two words" is correct instead of "is two words", which leads me to believe that "were" is correct.

Maybe the fact that "determination" and "effort" are not quantifiable is making the singular choice sound more "right" than the plural choice or vice versa.


texts: Using "just" with 'present continuous tense'

texts:
Can I use just with present continuous as in:

  Mother: We are running late for dinner, where are you right now?
  Son: I am just getting home.

  Friend A: Did you finish the last answer?
  Friend B: I was just finishing but the examiner snatched my copy.

  Father: Have you finished your homework?
  Son: No, dad, I am just starting it, I need one more hour.

Are these uses of just grammartical and idiomatic?

I am a non native learner.

Thank you.


texts: What do you call a person whose mood is affected by the weather?

texts:
Macmillan defines:

  meteoropathy - a health condition, or symptom caused by certain weather conditions such as humidity, temperature or atmospheric pressure

As I can't find it in any other online vocabulary, I guess it's not a very common word.
Any other way to say the same in a more colloquial manner? Is there an adjective for it?


texts: When can we interchange “who/which" and "that”?

texts:
So far I thought the words who and that are usually interchangeable:

There is the man who saw me.

There is the man that saw me.

Both sentences seem fine, who can be replaced with that. But in the following examples:

This is the man to whom I spoke.

This is the man to that I spoke.

The #2 sounds odd, which is why I don’t think it might be correct.
The same observation for the words which and that, while

This is the ball which we used today.

This is the ball that we used today.

Seem to be in order and which can be replaced with that. But in the following examples the #2 sounds odd again.

This is the ball with which I scored.

This is the ball with that I scored.

I wonder if there’s any rule regarding the interchangeability of the above mentioned words.


texts: Preposition to use in "There are lots of managers ..... my company."

texts:
There is a test question with multiple answers:

  "There are lots of managers ..... my company."

  at
  on
  in

I have feeling that it is possible to use both 'at' an 'in' in this sentence. Is this correct? Is there any difference in the meaning?

I did check this ngram which suggests both can be used.


texts:
President Donald Trump’s political adviser Roger Stone was sentenced to 40 months in prison on charges of lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering. Federal prosecutors had recommended up to nine years’ imprisonment, only to have appointed officials step in and recommend a lighter sentence. Mr Trump had tweeted his fury about the process, prompting complaint from his attorney-general.

Is it wrong?


texts:
I have problems with these structures:
Here I think both sentences are correct.

1a) You know it better than me.
1b) You know it better than I do.

In real life I hear mostly a), but I think b) is more correct. Because the first clause shows that it is a question (Do you know) and that's enough.

2a) Do you know who is he? (Wrong but common)
2b) Do you know who he is?


texts: Can I say 'We didn't say a word that doesn't matter'?

texts:
Is it right to say 'We didn't say a word that doesn't matter'?

I mean that 'every word we said had a meaning'.


texts: Which preposition is proper-in or on, and why?

texts:
While writing a case-study, I wrote the following sentence:

  The client wanted live data sync in a mobile device.

But, Grammarly shows me that 'in' is wrong, I should put 'on' instead.

  The client wanted live data sync on a mobile device.

I know that some of the active and distinguished members of ELL are not that much satisfied with Grammarly. Therefore, I ask this question.

If Grammarly  is right here, then I would like to know more about using 'in' and 'on' in this context.


texts: "When the next semester commence..." or "When the next semester commences..."?

texts: Which is correct? :"When the next semester commence..." or "When the next semester commences...".


texts: Can "because of" be shortened to "cuz of"?

texts: As we know "because" is often shortened as "cuz" in informal speech. Now I hear "because of" many times a day, so it came to my mind whether I can shorten "because of" to "cuz of".


texts: Is it true that if we start a sentence with 'the', this 'the' can be omitted?

texts:
The data in Tables 1 were assembled from studies in North
  America...

  Fluxes shown in Table 1 are different from Tables 2 and 3
  because...

  Results of the calculations indicate that ....

These three sentences are from one paragraph from a published research paper. But the first sentence keeps 'the' whereas the second and third choose to neglect 'the'. I wonder why is the case.


texts: "Might" vs. "may". What's the difference?

texts: What is the difference between might and may? Is one a more formal way to speak, or is one correct and the other wrong?


texts:
I want to say that one should make good the loss of other. Can I say;

  I will compensate the damage from your payment.

If "from" in the sentence is ok, I have no further question. If it is not good there, please give some examples for providing the same meaning.


texts: Intransitive forms of "fight" and "talk"

texts:
If I say

The dog and the postman fought.

can this sentence mean that the dog and the postman fought not with each other, but each of them fought with a different creature? That is, can this sentence mean that the dog fought Jack and the postman fought Alex? Or can the original sentence mean that the postman and the dog fought Jack? Or does the original sentence necessarily imply that the postman and the dog fought with each other?

And similarly, if I say

Alex and John talked.

can this mean that Alex talked to Mary and John talked to Sue (or that Alex and John talked to Sue)?


texts: Paraphrasing as they are mediated by the storage of media which are retrieved at indeterminate and undirected times by the eventual audience

texts:
I am not just just stuck audience issue I cant understand what the author tries to say with "as they are mediated by the storage of media which are retrieved at indeterminate and undirected times by the eventual audience"

Other categories of Internet datacast, such as a simple broadcast email, webcasting or bulletin board posting, are asynchronous as they are mediated by the storage of media which are retrieved at indeterminate and undirected times by the eventual audience. Nor do social expectations about Internet datacasting conform to any kind of appointed
regulation, unlike broadcast events.

Source: Communication Theory; Media, Technology and Society belonging to David Holmes


texts: "130 yen to the dollar" VS "130 yen to a dollar"

texts:
I saw this sentence in the dictionary on my phone(so I can't get a link to it here):

  We're only getting 130 yen to the dollar at the moment.

I'm wondering why the definite article 'the' is being used instead of indefinite article 'a'? Can we instead say: We're only getting 130 yen to a dollar at the moment?

I've also seen other examples in which 'the' is used instead of 'a':

  The car will do over 40 miles to the gallon.

  The scale of your map is one inch to the mile.

However, I did see an example in which 'a' is used instead of 'the':

  There are just over four and a half litres to a gallon.

Can someone help to explain why sometimes 'a' is used and sometimes 'the' is used? Or they are just interchangeable in those scenarios?


texts: The meaning of "In years to come any history of the Supreme Court will"

texts:
Statement of Justice Anthony Kennedy:

  In years to come any history of the Supreme Court will, and must,
  recount the wisdom, scholarship, and technical brilliance that Justice
  Scalia brought to the Court.

The bold part doesn't sound very smooth to understand. Could you please tell me what the bold part means?  And how can one rephrase it?


texts: "How great it would be" x "How great would it be". Do both have the same meaning?

texts:
I have seen both forms being used in written English and apparently both with the same meaning, like in the sentences below:
I know you have been extremely busy, but just imagine how great it would be if we could spend an entire weekend together.
I know you have been extremely busy, but just imagine how great would it be if we could spend an entire weekend together.
I'm confused. Wouldn't the use of how great would it be turn the phrase into a question?


texts: Correct usage of the phrase "which, in turn."

texts: His empire created the foundation for the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, which in turn, had their own great works.


texts: Constitutional lawyers and advisers to the architects of new democracies?

texts:
Despite  the  beliefs  of many constitutional lawyers and advisers to the architects of new democracies to the contrary, we will see in
  §7.2.2 that the best evidence currently suggests that these
  institutional devices have no effect, over and above the effects of
  democracy generally, in ensuring institutional protections for human
  rights.

  The Moral Foundation of Politics by Ian Shapiro

I'm not sure about the bold area on the above sentence .

I understand there are some beliefs. These beliefs belongs to constitutional lawyers and advisers. And these lawyers and advisers are advising to architects of new democracies.

Am I right or not?


texts: How to decide the meaning of "Apparent"?

texts:
I was reading the meaning of the word apparent. I found that the word has two completely opposite meanings,
1. Easy to recognize that something is true.
2. Something seems to be true but might not be.

Now, how do I decide which meaning fits in which sentence. E.g. consider these sentences,

  The sun is apparently yellow.
  It is apparent that the sun is yellow.

Does this sentence mean that it is easy to recognize that sun is yellow, or does it mean that the sun seems to be yellow but it isn't yellow actually.


texts: the Ukrainian utility, Ukrenergo -- what do they mean by "utility" here?

texts:
Source: Ukraine Bids for Attention With Crimea Blackout

Example:

  The "blockade" probably did more damage to Ukrainian companies than to Russian power in Crimea: Stores in the peninsula filled with Russian and Turkish goods, albeit at higher prices. Yet the activists who maintain the checkpoints had a more potent weapon. On Nov. 13, the Ukrainian utility, Ukrenergo, announced that the country no longer needed Russian electricity because some new nuclear power capacity had just come online. Just a week later, the first two transmission towers in the Kherson region were blown up.

What do they exactly mean by utility here?


texts: "I learned that...." Vs. "I came to know that" Vs. "I found out that"

texts:
More often than not I come across a sentence structure like this:

  Upon arrival, I learned that she was not in the town.

But if I change it this way, does it change the meaning?

  Upon arrival, I came to know that she was not in the town.

Furthermore, as oerkelens came up with a good point (more common?)

  Upon arrival, I found out that she was not in the town.

The Question:

Is learn preferred if it's news? Or something which is noesis? I thought of several examples and could replace learned with came to know in almost all cases (of course, except learned a lesson). Is there any instance wherein "I learned that..." cannot be replaced by "I came to know that..."

My understanding: As I said, I think learn is more common when it's news that you did not expect. On the other hand, I came to know is less surprising and subconsciously known to us as a second option. Furthermore, I found out... is something that comes after you putting some efforts.

Having said this, If you learn that she's not in the town, it's the news and bit surprising whereas If you come to know that she's not in the town, it's okay without any surprising element. You, though subconsciously, knew the possibility of the second option of her being not in the town. If you found out that she's not in the town, you made some efforts to learn/know the news.

Note: I'm particular about putting the word that in the sentences in question. Or else, I learned... and I came to know... are two different things, it's clear to me.


texts: Is it ok to use the adjective "known" in this context?

texts:
Is it ok to use the adjective "known" in the following context?

  "The first known anatomist was Herophilos"

I mean to say that he is the first anatomist that we know for a moment, but it could be that some day we will discover someone earlier.


texts: Agreement with sentences which have negative meaning

texts:
Which word should be used in this imaginary situation?

Teacher : I am afraid, all your ten answers are wrong.
Student : Well I was sure for my answer for the question number 10. Even is that one wrong [.......]?

A: too
B: neither


texts: Is it correct third conditional sentence?

texts:
Is it grammatically correct?

  If this statement were correct/true then he would not have earned such fame.

I consider it 3rd conditional sentence, is it so?
If not correct then please tell me correct form.


texts: What idiom I can use in place of the non-word "adelphiliac"?

texts:
I need a word to express someone that has a unhealthy obssession for one's own sister. Someone suggested me to use the word "adelphiliac", but I am pretty sure it is not a real world. There is a song by that name, and the greek roots (adelphi + philia) are in there but no dictionary or thesaurus list it.

What idiom could I use? Expressions or single-words are fine.

EDIT: in a non-sexual context.


texts: "not at all good" vs "not good at all" - Do they have the same meaning?

texts:
"The walking is not at all good."

"The walking is not good at all."

I wonder if it is the same or have different meanings like "the walking" in the first sentence is better than in the second one.


texts:
I have bought two books but I haven't read [either - neither - both - all] of them.

Is both choice correct? I know that either sounds more reasonable.


texts:
If it starts to rain just as you have to leave your house, that is
  unfortunate. But if you have to go out, apart from putting on a
  raincoat or getting your umbrella, or cancelling your appointment,
  there isn’t much you can do about it. You can’t stop the rain no
  matter how much you want to. Should you be upset about this? Or should
  you just be philosophical? ‘Being philosophical’ simply means
  accepting what you can’t change. What about the inevitable process of
  growing older and the shortness of life? How should you feel about
  these features of the human condition? Same again?

[A little history of philosophy, Nigel Warburton]

I don't understand of the question "Same again?" in the context. Could you explain it to me?
I think it means "Being philosophical again? Is it correct?


texts: Meaning of "to be sporting designer stubble"

texts:
Consider:

  She has no dress sense or personal hygiene standards. There's no need for any woman to be sporting  designer stubble and go around smelling of Jeyes fluid and hamster droppings.

I am not able to fully understand the second sentence from the above excerpt. I presume that the second sentence develops the description of the first one in an offensive way. But the passage in bold does not make any sense to me. "Designer stubble" should be related to men after all. Can you explain to me the meaning of it?


texts: Is this expression correct?: "It would not be true if we said..."

texts:
Here is the whole sentence:
It would not be true if we said there are no concerns about carrying out the performance.
Does it make sense in English or are there more natural ways to phrase this?
Thank you for your help!


texts: What does this sentence mean by "challenging modern media outlets"?

texts:
The growth, exponential inﬂuence and scope of participation in social media, challenging modern media outlets, is rivalling that of nation states.

What does "challenging modern media outlets" refer to?


texts: Preposition when doing some job with software?

texts:
Which preposition should I use if I do something and I use some software to help me in my job. I mean, which one is correct?

I computed it by Excel.
I computed it using Excel.
I computed it with Excel.
I computed it with the help of Excel.


texts: If standards for capitalization change over time, do documents conforming to the old standard become ungrammatical?

texts:
This is a question that came to mind from another post on this community. Not directly related to the question itself but by circumstance I developed a question.

The question was about the capitalization of elements. Paraphrasing: 'Should it be Sodium or sodium?'

The rule governing this set by the ACS in its IUPAC documentation has changed the rule at least twice. (not sure of all dates)

preceeding 1979 - don't capitalize

1979 - 2004 - capitalize

2004 - present - don't capitalize

Let's assume I wrote a document in 1999 describing the chemical elements of Sodium and Hydrogen, when it is advised to write them capitalized.

Now in the present year 2014, they should be lower-case: sodium and hydrogen.

In a circumstance like this, if we were to technically analyze and scrutinize this document presently, would we say this document is grammatically correct or incorrect? Why? Is there a rule that applies specifically to this technicality?

A document simply isn't out-dated because of old grammatical rules. If the information contained within is still relevant, then certainly, it would be a legitimate source.


texts: What is correct to use 'thinked' or 'thought'?

texts:
What is the correct word 'thinked' or 'thought' in the below sentence?

You would have thinked about me for few seconds.
You would have thought about me for few seconds.

If 'thinked' and 'thought' mean the same then both the sentences will be true right.
Please let me know if I am wrong.
The second sentence is not obvious to pronounce to me.
For me, 'thought' seems to be just 'thought' but not 'taking the decision based on my performance'


texts:
I learned that we can't place the indeterminate article 'a' or 'an' in front of an uncountable noun.
 For example, a bread, an information, are both incorrect.

But I think that we can put 'a' or 'an' in front of uncountable nouns when the situation is allowed.

Like this,

  I saw a love on the desk.

What do you think about this?


texts: What does "switch to the heart of" mean?

texts:
What does "switch to the heart of" mean in the following sentence?

  Why? There are women in the orchestra; people indifferent to a women’s charms. Besides, how many times would you be enraptured by appearances? After all, it’s something you tire of, and switch to the heart of the question. Statistically, of course, there are women conductors.

  -- www.newyorker.com

Does it imply, "as you get older you won't care about the looks of women and more about deep stuff like their ways of thinking or life experiences"?


texts: Why is a euphemism regarded as poor writing by some source?

texts:
Reading this article about careless writing I couldn't understand the item #7:

  Using euphemisms: “He passed away last year” instead of “He died last year.”

What is the reason behind this advice?

According to Alvin's comment:

  Same with the assertion that it is wrong to say "passed away" instead of "died". I consider the former more subtle, respectful and more appropriate when used for an older or senior person for example.

the use of the euphemism wouldn't be quite wrong.

So what would be your advice, using a euphemism or being blunt, or the opinions are divided and the question is opinion-based?


texts: Can we say that the word "wholeheartedly" means the same as the expression "without a shadow of a doubt"?


texts: What does "attribution is dusting for fingerprints" mean in this context?

texts:
Kathie Dello, a climate scientist said the study helps to pin the blame for the heat wave on climate change.

  “If searching for a culprit for the intensity of these recent European heat waves, climate change is the obvious culprit,” Dello said in an email. “Attribution is just dusting for fingerprints. Climate change will continue to be a menace when it comes to extreme heat, making these events more likely and more intense.”

I was reading a Washington Post article and couldn't understand the sentence marked in bold.
I looked up all the words in dictionary and found out the meaning of each word, but still couldn't get what it means in this context.

Was it used in a figurative sense? What does it mean here?


texts: What is the best word for the wish to learn something? e.g. "Learnwish" (but it doesn't exist, right?)

texts: If you could tell me a word meaning "wish to learn something" then I would be really glad.


texts: using two adjectives consecutively "it's best scalding..."

texts:
Could I use two adjectives in this type of construction?

"My car is red clean." Meaning my car is red only when it's clean. Otherwise it's muddy.

The actual sentence that troubles me is "This soup it is best scalding."

Shall I use the italic script obligatorily?

Thanks.


texts:
I have researched on the word "Athwart", but I'm still unsure how to use it correctly. Can I use it like "Across"?

For example : "I looked at the window athwart the room."?


texts:
I'm confused to use "as" and "how", for instance

As you see below, this picture represents for me great emotional value

or

How you see below, this picture represents for me great emotional value


texts:
It took him numerous lectures to elucidate Saussure's linguistic
theories.

[GISTS]

It takes him a lot of lectures to explain the difficult theory.

Can I interpret this sentence as two opposite ways ?
To his students (*He is a teacher and he needs many lectures to give *)  or
To himself (*He is a student and he have to listen to many lectures *) ?


texts:
As far as I know there is is used with singular and there are with plural nouns. However, the following table says:

There is .81 ounces of sugar in an orange.

How can it be explained?
Note: I know there's is used with plural subjects in spoken English, but this is there is, and the context doesn't seem to be informal in an educational textbook.

Source: American English File 1 workbook, second edition, page 58


texts: Is it proper English to use "a" in "you can't reconstruct a history"?

texts:
Macmillan dictionary tell us that history can be either countable or uncountable, so, for example it is correct to say "a history of the Romans" or
"the book provides a comprehensive history of the Second World War," and, although I'm comfortable with this usage of the indefinite article before this word, I'm troubled  to figure out whether the following snippet, quoting a comment from History.SE, is proper English or not.

  "real reconstruction" is vague: you can't reconstruct a history, and if it is a term of art then it is very obscure. (Link)

As far as I understand, the "a history" there is wrong and it would be better to write "history" or "a story", but I don't know why.

Can anybody explain?


texts: The noun-phrase complement as "that-clause"

texts:
Can I use a noun-phrase complement as "that-clause" ?

For example :

  I am looking forward to that they will visit us.


texts:
I see that wallow is an intransitive verb so it means that it should not be followed by an object.

But if I use wallow as:

  Since that kid didn't get the ice-cream so she started wallowing on the road.

Is this sentence grammatically incorrect because now I am using it like a transitive verb?


texts: Using has or have with a single countable noun

texts:
I understand the use of have and has with different pronouns, but what about the following sentence:
A successful athlete should have sufficient funds to support himself in later life.
Why don't we use the verb has because athlete is singular?

thank you


texts: Is the expression "guide insertion of paper " grammatically correct?

texts:
This attachment guides insertion of paper into a printer.
  This tool guides insertion of a thread through a needle hole.

I cannot find this type of usage of "guide" in dictionaries, but can find it on the internet.  Is this usage correct?


texts: Is there a word, or description of someone who uses words like always, everytime, never

texts:
Not sure if I'm asking the question correctly but I thought I had come across the word that defines that can of talk. For example:

  I'm always sick
  Teacher picks on me every day
  You never text me

(Absolutes that just aren't true.)


texts: How (much/many) (note/notes) did you take?

texts:
When referring to information students write down in classes/lectures, we normally use the plural form of 'note' - 'notes' tends to be used. But I am not sure whether 'notes' is  countable/uncountable  in this specific usage.

For example, should I use 'much' or 'many' if I want to ask someone:

  "How much/many notes do you normally take during lectures?"

'Much' seems like the better option to me because 'many notes' sounds as though the student in question takes notes for multiple subjects. However, using 'much' would not be grammatical if 'notes' is a countable plural noun. In that case, should I use 'note' instead?

  "How much note/notes do you normally take during lectures?"

Out of the 4 alternatives, which one is the most correct, natural-sounding question?


texts:
What is the behaviour of kids called when they don't listen to you and end after getting what they want? Such as, your kid has a cold. He wants to icecream. You don't give him money. But he is crying and insisting on getting money. Which of the following is suitable?

The kid is showing stubbornness.

The kid sticks out for icecream.

The kid ends after getting icecream.

My actual concern is the verb form of the adj 'stubborn' that I've not been able to find.


texts: Do native speakers use this construction with numbers?

texts:
We often say something like "a million and two hundred dollars" or "ten thousand and fifty five dollars", which are the common ways to say such things. However, I remember a certain form, which is the inversed way I once spotted that interests me:

Ten hundred and two thousand dollars.
Seventy eight and a hundred bucks.
A thousand and half a million pounds.

And also these two forms:

One hundred dollars and two thousand more.
A hundred over a thousand coins.


texts:
What's the grammatical function of "as" in the following sentence?

  The furniture makers in those early decades of the 1600’s were known as “joiners,”
  for the primary method of constructing furniture, at least among the English of this
  time, was that of mortise-and-tenon joinery.

Any response would be appreciated.


texts: Correct pronoun to refer to 'The London University'

texts:
When referring to institutions (companies, colleges, universities) is it correct to use third person plural (they)? The first time I've ever seen such a thing was years ago here. Recently in a test I was supposed to complete the following statement with a possessive pronoun:

  (...) The London University is poised to take the action because a 'high percentage' of ________ Islamic students regards drinking as 'immoral' (...)

Based on above I used their, however the teacher claims the correct pronoun is its.

Am I correct about such rule? Is it correct (perhaps not obligated) to use third person plural in this(these) case(s)?

While a similar question covers companies, I'm asking for institutions in general. It does not fit the given example (University).


texts:
I read from a web that to pronounce ch[ʧ] in cheek and j[ʤ]  in juice, the front part of the tongue raises and touches the roof of the mouth in the t/d tongue position when they say ch/j sound. Is it correct?

And as native English speaker do you think it is correct if the middle of the tongue (not the front)  is touching the roof of the mouth to pronounce those sounds?


texts:
Which one of these two (external auditory canal/ external part of ear canal) works in the following sentence?

  There is a variety of types of hearing protection devices including ear muffs which completely cover the ear and earplugs which are inserted in the external part of ear canal/external auditory canal.

Thanks!


texts:
Child: I am Papa's child. I am Mama's child.
  Mama: Oh, so you are both of our child?

Is Mama's reply correct?

I want to use "both of" in my reply. How should I form the sentence if the above sentence is wrong?


texts:
Can I use "adj plus uncountable noun" between "as...as"?
Do the two following sentences sound natural to you, native speakers?
"Hardly ever have I heard as impressive music as this."
"I can’t drink as sweet coffee as this."

Thank you very much!


texts: Is it ok to say "I want to take showers / 2 showers now"?

texts:
In the dictionary,

  shower: an act of washing your body while standing under a shower

  I need a shower.

  take a shower

  Nick rolled out of bed and took a shower.

  have a shower especially British English

  Mary loves having a hot shower after she’s been swimming.

Most people say "take a shower".

My question is that

Could we say:

I want to take showers now

I want to take 3 showers now

I take 2 showers every day

I take showers every day


texts:
Consider these

  that's what I learned at school

  that's the major I learned at University

  she works at home

  How many people are working at Microsoft

In those examples "at school", "at home", "at University", there is no article between "at" and "noun".

What are the rules for that? one of them is "at + proper noun", what else?


texts: How to parse 'than that men should attribute the sorts of things'? (1689)

texts:
This article introduced me to the
source: Point 6, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1689), Chapter XXXI, Of Adequate and Inadequate Ideas by John Locke.

  But yet this property has no necessary connexion with that complex idea, or any part of it: and there is no more reason to think that malleableness depends on that colour, weight, and hardness, than that colour or that weight depends on its malleableness. And yet, though we know nothing of these real essences, there is nothing more ordinary than that men should attribute the sorts of things to such essences.

The bolded subordinate clause confuses me.

Is that an ellipsis of 'the fact that'?
What is the antecedent of sorts of things? To which sorts of things does Locke refer?


texts: Is there a word that refers to both a speaker and a writer?

texts: I'm writing an essay and I'm comparing a speaker's work to a writers work. My transition is "Edwards was not the only (insert word) that spread his Puritan beliefs in his works. Anne Bradstreet illustrates the Puritans' plainness..." At the moment I have "literary figure" written, but I'm wondering if there is a better word for it.


texts: Is it okay to say "today is psg vs rma"?

texts:
Is it okay to say:

  Today is psg vs rma

Does this even make any sense?
Or should this be said in a different way?

I want to say is that there is match between rma and psg but writing the whole thing is too long.


texts:
A: You are late, the teacher just left
  B: She is back?
  A: Yeah, can you believe it? I hadn't seen her in a while she has been/was absent for almost a week now!

I don't know which to use, the teacher left their class but probably she has other classes to go to. What do you think?


texts: "get around regulation" VS "get around regulations"

texts:
Some people in the financial sector tried to get around regulation.
  Some people in the financial sector tried to get around regulations.

It I want to convey the message that certain people want to evade regulation(s) and do whatever they want, which one should I choose?


texts: What do you call the large golden arrow in the middle of a wheel of fortune?

texts: Is there a particular word for this? I can't think of anything that comes to mind.


texts: What is meaning of 'sustainability is a style statement'?

texts:
Source

I also wonder why they call 'sustainability' a 'statement.'


texts:
That cake looks good.

In formal proper grammar, may good (adjective) get used as an adverb? Or, may you read it as, That cake (noun phrase, nominal[?], argument[?]), looks (verb, predicate[?]), good (subject compliment[?].? How may I discern this, grammatically?


texts: Which is correct: "the variable X" or "variable X" or "the X variable"?

texts:
I'm writing a description of my code. X is one of many variables.

Which version should I use to refer to X:

"the variable X" or
"variable X" or
"the X variable" ?

Does the same rule applies to "method", "array" etc.?


texts:
As we can see there are many antonyms for the word evolution.

Please help me choose an appropriate antonym that would modify the word leadership. I need it as I want to translate into English the following title of the article:

  Cozmin Gușă about Brexit: European leadership (the requested word) will generate a chain reaction

From the link I provided I'd pick up either decline or devaluation but I'm not sure. The word regression might do the job but I'm not sure either. Is it a good fit?

In my language would be easier as the perfect antonym of the word evolution is involution but its use in English (according to the on-line dictionaries) is limited to fewer fields such as: physiology, biology, medicine, etc.

I may have an additional question about the same evolution's antonym in case we can think of a language degeneration, or the so called degeneration would actually be an evolution too? So what would be the antonym for the language evolution?


texts: I think he will need vs I think he needs

texts:
Please describe the right sentence or both are appropriates? Is it right that the first one is more about future, may be in a month. But the second sentence is more about now, already need.

  He is a little tired – I think he will need a good holiday.

vs

  He is a little tired – I think he needs a good holiday.

Thanks in advance.


texts: What is different between elation and felicity

texts:
I checked both words on the dictionary.
Both meanings are 'happiness'.
When I looked at synonymous of elation,
'felicity' is not included.


texts:
Goodnight Mommy: hello chilly Austrian matricide horror

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/aug/31/goodbye-mommy-hello-chilly-austrian-matricide-horror-venice-review

This is the title of the movie review. Could you explain to me the meaning of the word "hello" in it.


texts: Idiomatic way of saying "stick with crazy glue"

texts:
I am not sure if there's a better way of saying this, but "stick something onto something with crazy glue" neither does "stick something with crazy glue" or any variants thereof. Is there any better alternative?

For example:

  He stuck a hat with crazy glue onto his head.


texts: Are sentences like, "He is a too-good person," correct?

texts:
I wonder if sentences like the ones below are correct.

John is a too-good person. (Trying to mean John is a person that is too good.)
He's had too-young girlfriends. (Trying to mean someone has had girlfriends that are too young.)
His roommates are too-stupid people. (Trying to mean someone's roommates are people that are too stupid.)

The reason I am asking this question is, I saw this video title on youtube, so I wondered if those kind of sentences are correct because I am not used to it. I am more used to a structure like, "Megan Fox Burns Will Arnett On His Girlfriends That Are Too Young." What is your opinion?


texts:
How serious was the accident happened nearby yesterday?

Is the usage of "how serious" correct?


texts:
Is it entirely correct to use the adjective 'whose' when the grammatical subject is not a person but a thing? For instance,

  The first poem whose publication he ever sanctioned


texts: Is it necessary to add comma between adjectives in cases like this?

texts:
The fish had been cut into well-formed bite-sized rectangles

Like in this example, is it necessary to add a comma between well-formed and bite-sized?

Why or why not?


texts: The present simple in "We leave London at 10.00 next Tuesday"

texts:
If someone says

We leave London at 10.00 next Tuesday  and arrive in Paris at 13.00. We spend two hours in Paris and leave again at 15.00..

What do here present tenses mean? Do they mean like:

we have to leave London at 10.00 next Tuesday and we have to arrive in Paris at... because It has been timetabled by someone else(not by us). and It is a fixed arrangement.


texts: 'team' or 'teams' when refering to a specific team?

texts:
I found a listening material online. Below is part of the script the website presents:

On February 3rd, 2008, the New England Patriots were entering the game undefeated, the first time a team has done so since the Miami Dolphins did it back in 1972. That Dolphins teams when on to beat the Washington Redskins to complete a perfect undefeated season.

I really think 'team' should be singular here. But even the audio says 'teams'. Is it supposed to be singular or plural? If plural, then what's the grammar behind it? Thanks.


texts: So, what's the meaning of ' By now he'd be an old man'? Does 'by now' emphasize the time in this sentence?

texts:
I am learning English! There's something that I don't understand. May I know the usage of 'by now'?

In the sentence:

  By now he'd be an old man

... does 'by now' emphasize the time?


texts: there were houses in whch they could not be inserted

texts:
The following is a quote" from "The Social Triangle" by O Henry:
Bill McMahan had a wife, and upon her visiting cards was engraved the name "Mrs. William Darragh McMahan." And there was a certain vexation attendant upon these cards; for, small as they were, there were houses in which they could not be inserted.  Billy McMahan was a dictator in politics, a four-walled tower in business, a mogul, dread, loved and obeyed among his own people.
I am not able to tell if the part in bold is used figuratively.  I'd appreciate it very much if you can paraphrase it in plain English.


texts:
I'm not sure if my sentence is correct. I have doubts if the first sentence correct in its constellation. Is it

In cities the location of a mobile phone on 100 to 500 m can be accurately determined.

or is it?

In cities the location of a mobile phone can be accurately determined on 100 to 500 m.

In the case that no sentence is correct I want to say the the position of a smartphone can be accurately determined within 100 to 500 m. In cities the mobile phone network is more accuarate than outside.


texts:
What is the difference between these two sentences?

  Why are you always late.

and

  Why is it that you are always late.

My understanding is that the first sentence is how you ask why more than one person are always late and the second one is how you ask why one person is always late. Is this correct?


texts:
What does "make something the success it is" mean?

As a language learner, I don't know if the phrase is idiomatic and grammatical.

  These people have made the industry the success it is today.
  You've all made my business the success it is becoming.
  You really helped make it the success it proved to be!


texts: Is it correct to say: My study journey will be ended soon or My study journey is at its final stage

texts:
Suppose that my study degree will be awarded soon. Is it correct to say that:

  My study journey is at its final stage.

or

  My study journey will be ended soon.

Any help, please?


texts:
The two objects were arranged (orthogonal | orthogonally) to each other.

Does "orthogonal" relate to the verb, or to the two objects? In other words, do I need to use the adverb or the adjective?


texts:
The feeling you get when your students get good grades is out of this world.
The feeling when your students get good grades is out of this world.

I'm confused between 'the feeling you get' and 'the feeling.' Please let me know which one's correct.


texts: Meaning of "He is given an individuality best suited to the people he addresses"

texts:
We try to give each advertiser a becoming style. We make him distinctive, perhaps not in appearance, but in manner and in tone. He is given an individuality best suited to the people he addresses.

In the last sentence we read: "He is given an individuality best suited to the people he addresses." What does he mean please?


texts:
My essay was about the advantages and disadvantages of international travel between countries.

When it comes to the disadvantages, I wrote downside to avoid repeating disadvantage, but my teacher suggested to use drawback instead. She said downside was not appropriate.

Can you tell me the difference, and when to use both of them?


texts: Rival and competitor + ter a finish product in the market

texts:
To be able to compete with the other rivals / competitors, first we need to enter a finish product in the market.
In the above sentence, I need to know:

  which one of the bold words "competitor" and "rival" can be used here? (the reference is a company.)
  Is there such expression "enter a finish product in the market" in English language? [This is a self-made / translated expression from my mother language.]


texts: Choice of tense and meaning in "My friend considered going to an event where X came (had come?)"

texts:
My friend considered going to an event to see X.
Now if I wanted to convey a similar meaning, which of the sentences below would you suggest I use? And what's the difference between the two?

My friend considered going to an event where X had come.

My friend considered going to an event where X came.


texts:
Cambridge Grammar says

  Adjectives which describe an extreme quality can be modified by
  absolutely, completely, really and totally but not normally with very.
  Some common examples are:

  amazing, excellent, horrified, awful, exceptional, huge, brilliant, fantastic,
  perfect, delighted, furious, stunning, essential, horrible, terrible,

  Her dress was absolutely stunning.

  Not: Her dress was very stunning.

  That singer is really awful.

  Not: That singer is very awful.

  It is a really fantastic film.

  Not: It is a very fantastic film.

It also says

  We also use so as an intensifier to mean ‘very, very’:

  That motorway is so dangerous. Everyone drives too fast.

  That’s kind of you. Thanks so much for thinking of us.

So, Can "so & very" modify "great"?

Is it ok to say "It's so great" & "It's very great"


texts:
a) Can you imagine a context where you would use sentence "x"?
Q) Are we requesting the person to try to make an effort to imagine a context where..., or are we just asking whether he is able to imagine (or capable of imagining) such a context?


texts:
Resurrect:
Restore (a dead person) to life.

"he was dead, but he was resurrected"

Resuscitate:
Revive: (someone) from unconsciousness or apparent death.

"an ambulance crew tried to resuscitate him"

Revive:
Restore to life or consciousness.

"both men collapsed, but were revived"

How does Resuscitate differ from Revive? and are any of these 3 words interchangeable?
Definition source: Google.