texts:
What is the meaning of take approach in this sentence?

  Most books take a very low-level approach, teaching you how to
  use individual classes and accomplish fine-grained tasks.


texts: What word do we use for necessary but unspecified stuff?

texts:
Here's the question

  where did you go on the holiday?

  Nowhere. I stayed home and did some overdue job/task/work/....

Overdue is not necessary here, other words may fit.
I want to talk about unspecified things like doing some cleaning and doing my homework and so on.

Another example:

  What do you want to do on the weekend?

  I'm going to stay home and........


texts:
What's the meaning of the bold part

  You want me to bust your head open?

I added the scene's picture from the movie (The fighter) to decribe the question better


texts: I am beginning to worry or I begin to worry

texts:
I begin to worry because I have not received the parcel you sent me 2 weeks ago.
If I want to emphasize the anxiety that is growing each day, can I use I am beginning to worry ?


texts: Can we put infinitives at the beginning in order to emphasize them?

texts:
In order to emphasize the infinitive, can I change its position?

Example,

1-) Your brother has some opportunities to get a better education in the U.K, but to go to the U.S, he doesn't have any opportunities.

(or- He has some oppurtunities for a better education in the U.K but, for a better education in the U.S, he doesn't have any opportunities.)

2-) For us to enjoy the party very much, there should be at least 100 people there.

3-) Being handsome is important to convince a girl for the relationship, but, to make the relationship last for a long time, it is not really important.

I think that they are not bad. Even if I was taught that infinitives just give purposes, I see lots of examples including infinitives not giving purposes or not modifying nouns.

I don't also think that I can use the combination "for+gerund" instead of "to+infinitive" in those sentences. So what do you think? Thanks in advance.


texts: "Agree to do something" or "agree doing something"?

texts:
User can postpone receiving notifications.
The doer of notifying is the application not the user.
I wonder if this sentence is correct.

  Do you agree to postpone receiving this notification for 2 days?

or

  Do you agree postponing this notification for 2 days?


texts: "Quit following" vs "stopped following" tv shows

texts:
Which one's correct?

  I have quitted following tv shows
  I have stopped following tv shows.


texts: Henceforth, Henceforward, are they normally used?

texts:
I am translating a document to english and there is a part in which I have to compare some objects, first on their "current state and then in the state that is going to be the standard from now on.

I am looking for one-words that denote this so I put

"Current"

"Henceforward".

I also read that this could be "Henceforth" or "Henceafter" ("from now on" is not a one-word)

Are they commonly used? Which one would be preferable?


texts: he took that chance "by himself" or "for himself"?

texts:
Here is a sentence, in which I am trying to describe a very polite and mild personality. I am not sure if in this case I should say "take that chance for himself", "take that chance by himself" or just simply "take that chance himself".

He is a very polite boy who never dares to interrupt anyone and would
always give someone a chance to say something before taking that
chance for himself.


texts:
Here [https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/verbs-types] I read:
A verb refers to an action, event or state.
I cleaned the room as quickly as possible. [Action verb]
I don’t know the name of the street. [State verb]
Four people died in the crash. Event verb???

Will this be called Event verb?


texts:
If I ask someone:

  Where did you run last night?

It can be understood either as an enquiry about the place in which that person ran, or as a question about the destination that person ran to.

If I specifically wanted to ask the second question while still using the word where, what should I say?


texts:
I've researched about this and can't find any clear rules. I want to know the Rules or Guides on how to distinguish whether to use past participle or present participle in Compound Adjectives?

Examples

Noun + Past Participle vs. Noun + Present Participle:

  This is a sun-powered machine. / This is a sun-powering machine.
  America is an English-spoken country. / America is an English-speaking country.
  Phelps did a record-broken swim. / Phelps did a recording-breaking swim.

Adjective + Past Participle vs. Adjective + Present Participle:

  This is a new-invented phone. / This is a new-inventing phone.
  That is a strong-kicked animal. / That is a strong-kicking animal.
  That is an old-fashioned statement. / That is an old-fashioning statement.


texts:
A wrote:
"I have a web page that is stylized with CSS".
B wrote:
"I have a web page that is stylised with CSS".
(Chrome's spell-checker is already complaining about "stylised)
C wrote:
"I have a web page that is styled by CSS".
Which is correct/is there a "correcter" (I know: "better") sentence?
Background:
A web page is something that a browser shows.
CSS is part of the logic that sets/changes the default style of all/portions of the web page.
(basics, and as best as I can explain...)
PS suggest edit to title...


texts: "Reedit" or "re edit", which one is the correct one?

texts:
I saw many times both reedit and re edit refering to "edit again".

Which one should I write? Are both corrects?


texts:
Can someone explain to me if those sentences are corrects and what is the difference between them:

I need help with moving these books.
I need help moving these books.
I need help for moving these books.
I need help to move these books.


texts: Error Spotting: Essay writing is an art (A) / that requires many planning (B) / on the part of the writer. (C)

texts:
I am an English language learner and was trying a to solve an error spotting set but I am not getting any error in the question below. There is a mistake in the statement classified into 3 parts (A, B & C).

Kindly help me detecting the error with explanation of rule behind that.

  Essay writing is an art (A) / that requires many planning (B) / on the part of the writer. (C) / No Error (D)

The answer set says there is an error in part B, but with no explanations.


texts:
is it ok to say 'crying from' meaning 'because of'? Like in

  I was crying from (because of) a thought about my future.


texts:
As per lexico, "in that" means

  For the reason that (used to specify the respect in which a statement is true)

Consider this example from lexico

  ‘I was fortunate in that I had friends’

Does the following essentially mean the same thing?

  I was fortunate because I had friends


texts:
I encountered a sentence in the Oxford Dictionaries' definition of dead:

  ‘higher up, the marble becomes of a dull, dead colour’

The phrasal verb become of doesn't make sense here. According to the dictionaries I have just checked, it is usually used with "what" and means "happen to." I thought the sentence above would work better with becomes (without of). What does become of mean here?


texts: Is this structure the same as a causative?

texts:
The name "Death in June" refers to June 30, 1934, the "Night of Long Knives", when Hitler had Ernst Roehm and other leaders of the SA (nazi stormtroopers) murdered.

Is  the causative in the above sentence used? I mean the part "Hitler had Roehm… murdered". I am familiar with these types of causative:
(a) HAVE SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING, (b) HAVE SOMETHING DONE
But neither of them fits into the sentence. Here is the pattern different. Is this the causative or a different grammatical structure?


texts:
I am learning from the MIT course Introduction to Algorithms.

The professor says:

  And what you've done is break this matrix up into half the size.

in the context of what the professor is talking about, does "break this matrix down" imply the same meaning?


texts: What does the phrase "contender bracket" mean here?

texts:
Please help me figure out the meaning of the phrase "contender bracket" in the following sentence from the description of the app "Rowdy City Wrestling":

You can Work your way up through the Rowdy City Wrestling contender
bracket by facing opponents in boisterous one-on-one bouts and
multiperson rumbles.

Here is a description of the app from Google Play:
In career mode you will start as a nobody and fight your way towards the RCW World Championships. It's not going to be an easy journey, you will fight in 1 vs 1 matches, six person brawls and royal rumble events. The aim of the game is to earn cash to improve your stats so you can take on the guys at the top.


texts: Is there any hidden meaning to "many suitcases look alike" on the copyright page of a book?

texts:
This is found on the copyright page of any book published by The Floating Press:

  While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike.

I'm curious what "many suitcases look alike" is intended to mean at the end.

Is it to be interpreted literally or figuratively? What exactly does it mean?


texts:
I felt as if I was about to die.

Vs

  I felt like I was about to die.

What’s the difference?
Which one’s better?


texts: I am confused about the meaning of this sentence

texts:
I am getting ready for the TOEFL exam. I saw this sentence in TPo.

In late seventeenth-century Europe, what had been evolution in population followed by stabilization changed to population revolution.

I am a little bit confused.


texts:
What is the difference between:

  Do you ever go to the pop concert?

and

  Have you ever gone to the pop concert?


texts: "who" vs. "whom" and when to omit the relative pronoun

texts:
This is the boy who was asked by the teacher to stay back after school.
This is the boy whom the teacher asked to stay back after school.
This is the boy the teacher asked to stay back after school.

Are the sentences above correct ?


texts:
Source: http://foreignpolicy.com/2014/12/05/can-anything-save-the-ruble-russia-economy-putin-oil/

  At the moment, Russia is probably shipping 5 to 6 million barrels of oil abroad every day. That’s as much as one-third more than it exported last year. Its daily oil production is holding at around 10 million barrels, with no cuts in sight; unless domestic consumption were to spike — unlikely with the Russian economy on the verge of recession — those bumper exports will continue.

How do you understand that phrase?


texts:
I have a sentence as follow:

  Keep in mind that most self-help book is only good as a source of inspiration, not as an exact reference, and nothing complicated should be tried until you master the basics.

What does "nothing complicated should be tried until you master the basics" mean in this sentence? Does it mean "you should have no problem trying until you master the basics"?


texts: "would you like______cup of blood?"count duclia said to lord voldmart

texts:
Q: "Would you like ______ cup of blood?" Count Duclia said to Lord Voldmart.

options given:

a. drinking
 b. having
 c. another
 d. tasting

My Approach:

Drinking, another both can be true according to me.

Is there any other way through which I can analyze the problem to choose appropriate answer or is the Answer correct?


texts:
Does the auxiliary verb 'do' work rather than the modal 'would' in the example below in the sense of permission:

  Would you mind speaking in English?


texts:
Use of “in” to show form of something confuses me. I mean can it be used in every structure while identifying form of something. Would the sentence below be correct ?

  New fish oils will be in pill .

Should i add “form” after pill . If i don’t need to add , aren’t there a few meaning in the sentence?


texts: What is the meaning of "...up close they turn cold"

texts:
I posted a question here, & somebody posted their comment on it.

  Males often have more desire from a distance, but up close they turn
  cold. The opposite applies to females.

What does turn cold means ? Is it another meaning to death?

I used to follow Tom & Jerry shows, if some character dead their eyes usually shows turn cold.


texts:
How should I say when I want to call a noun with another word?

Here we call [noun] a [noun].
Here we call a [noun] a [noun].

edit from comments

  Here we call a tin "a can".

or

  Here we call "a tin" "can."


texts: what is the most suitable article for this sentence?

texts:
the phone number for [article] interpretation service is
  217-000-0000

assuming the service is mentioned in the sentence for the first time,

which article should I use?

  "the ~" sounds ok but still I feel like there will be a better choice
  of an article.
  "an ~" sounds like there will be a service and no more.
  Leaving it blank sounds ok but doesn't seem right.

Thank you!


texts: Are adjectives, prepositions and verbs implied after conjunction "and"?

texts:
I will go and see what I can do.

  Mobile services Switching Center(MSC) has to maintain real time data and traffic distribution on continuous basis.

  He studies to get success and make his parents happy.

Alternatives:

  I will go and (I) will see what I can do.

  Mobile services Switching Center(MSC) has to maintain real time data and real time traffic distribution on continuous basis.

  He studies to get success and to make his parents happy.

Are the alternatives have the same meanings as the original ones? Which ones should be preferred?


texts:
daw‧dle /ˈdɔːdl $ ˈdɒː-/ verb [intransitive]      to take a long time
to do something or walk somewhere:
Don’t dawdle – we’re late already!
dawdle over
I dawdled over a second cup of coffee.

Is "dawdle" a friendly word in everyday conversation or do we have a simpler one?
For example, "don't dawdle along the way and please don't talk to strangers!" or "don't hang about/around along the way and please don't talk to strangers!"?


texts: you will/would be more likely to be kicked out from work

texts:
When you are predicting probability in the future, will+likeliness(less likely, more likely, most likely, etc.)

Do you use present tense(are, is) or future tense(will), or would

  Example: A teacher is giving advice to a lazy student:

  ''You can't do that in first world countries, because if you do, you will/are/would be more likely be kicked out from your job.''

Usually we see more likely in sentences with is/are(e.g children are more likely to be with their playmates than their parents) BUT what about will and Would? are they grammatical to use?


texts: How do you make the flap t sound as in "Better" and "letter"?

texts: How do I make the flap/tap t sound as in words like: better, matter, stutter, moto, but I'm, bottom and so?


texts: What is a word for situation on people ignoring unimportant person?

texts:
What is a word for situation on people ignoring unimportant people?

Precisely in the situation that people are trying to ignore people in a polite way


texts: "Had not being able" or "not having been able"?

texts:
I'm writing an apology letter for missed class. Which of the following should I use?

  I had not being able to attend the class.
  I not having been able to attend the class.

If both are ungrammatical, is there any other way to express this?

When I searched for answers, I got more confused. I couldn't find any legitimate solution, and I'm not sure if the sources can be trusted or not. Can anyone help me on this?


texts: Is the sentence correct: I am gonna lifeguard

texts:
I am gonna lifeguard. (from a movie)

"gonna" is equal to "going to" so it should be written like: 'I am going to be lifeguard', what I think. 'be' was omitted, it's strange. It's a common omission?


texts: "Relative to", "compared to", or "than" which is best to describe a positional relationship?

texts: On most planes, business class seats are located on the front side (relative to, compared to, than) economy class seats.  Which expression is best for this sentence.  Could you please advise if there is any more suitable expressions.


texts: Does "read" alone always refer to silently reading?

texts:
OALD article about 'read':

He read the poem aloud.
She read us a story.

The examples provided by OALD seems to point out that if you want to refer to a person reading something audibly, it should be used as an intransitive verb with a 2nd object, or an adverb to facilitate the designated meaning.
Is my speculation correct? Is there is a case of exception?
And, if I want to point out that someone is reading a book audibly (not specially loudly) in library, instead of saying "read out" and "read to himself/herself", what other choice of words do I have?


texts:
He brushes a lock of hair off of my cheek.

Either I should make a break between "off" and "of" or read them linked "offov"?


texts:
I am looking for word(s) that can fit in the following example sentences.

  We explained our situation to the security standing at the entrance.
  However, I think there is little chance they will ...... what we said
  to their supervisors.

  The decision taken in the meeting will be ..... other
  employees through emails.

So I would like to looking for a formal word such as convey, transfer, transmit, relay that can be used in a context relating to information, problem, complain, decision etc. I am not sure which words fit and if there is any other words I can use as well.


texts:
John bought himself the lightest, the most recently manufactured, and the least expensive camera in Singapore.

Can this possibly mean that there are three cameras in total?


texts: If you win, I will (would?) answer two questions from you

texts:
Assume you want to write a bet between you and your friend, which happened in the past. Then you write:
"I did not want to answer her questions. However, if what she said is true, for example, the moon is round on that day, I would answer the following questions proposed by her: XXX....."
So, I think that the tense of "will" should be "would"?


texts: What does it mean "The logistics of the day and time"?

texts:
Yesterday I attended an interview. They asked me to write a letter inquiry about lost luggage to airport manager. Three key points should include to build a letter. One of the key point is:

  "The logistics of the day and time when you can collect your luggage".

What does it mean? Why here logistics word were used?


texts: Adding a `-` between word, will the word still have same meaning?

texts:
Adding a - between word, will the word still have same meaning?

Example

re-open or reopen
re-install or reinstall


texts: 'that soon' instead of 'how soon' is correct?

texts:
I know about this expression: "it's not that bad!" It means it's not too bad.

Now my question is: can we used 'that' before other adjectives or adverbs?
I want to use it in the following sentence:

  In the train, everyone slept early at night but I didn't use to sleep that soon.

Please, tell me is that correct?


texts:
Is it correct if somebody uses "can have had" instead of "may have had"?

I can have called him yesterday, but I don't remember speaking to him.
She can have done it but without proof we can't say for sure.

Does changing it from Past Perfect to Pluperfect change the meaning?

I could have called him yesterday, but I don't remember speaking to him.
She could have done it but without proof we can't say for sure.

Do "would" and "should" of the "Pluperfect" have similar in "Past Perfect"? While may (Past perfect) = might (Pluperfect) and can (Past perfect) = could (Pluperfect), what do would (Pluperfect) and should (Pluperfect) equal?


texts:
Both writers refer, if only indirectly, to a wealth of other art.

How to understand "if only" in this sentence? What does the sentence mean exactly?


texts:
To my mind, celebration is good to have, but I do not encourage spending too much money.
  To my mind, to have celebration is good, but I do not encourage spending too much money.

Are the two sentences both grammatically correct? Or which one is better and why?


texts:
I'd like to understand what does is to complete mean in the following phrase:

  Is it stated (in the Quality Plan) that the Qulity Plan is to complete the generic Quality Manual with disposals for methods, procedures and materials  specific to the Product concerned?

I need to understand is the relation of the documents listed above (Quality Plan and generic Quality Manual) subordination or they are supplementary to each other.

Another way I could answer the question whether it be:

"Is it stated (in the Quality Plan) that the Quality Plan made to fullfill the requirements stated in generic Quality Plan regarding disposal for methods, procedures and materials specific to the Product concerned?"
"Is it stated (in the Quality Plan) that the Quality Plan made in addition to generic Quality Manual defines requirements regarding disposal for methods, procedures and materials specific to the Product concerned." Or "So did you difine methods, procedures etc. specific to the Product concerned in the Quality Plan whether it is required in generic Quality Manual or not."

The answer is realy depends of the meaning "is to complete" put by author:

Situation 1 where I must define in Quality Plan what generic Quality Manual require to define via Quality Plan. If there is no requirements to define anything about methods, procedures etc. and it is not defined in Quality Plan, then the answer is "Yes, I did define everithing that generic Quality Plan require frome me to define (i.e. nothing but it is "yes" in term of logic)"
Situation 2 where I must define in Quality Plan methods, procedures etc. in addition to what is stated in generic Quality Manual as to be defined via Quality Plan. In this case if gengeric Quality Manual requires me nothing to define via Quality Plan and I did define nothing then the answer is "No, I did not difine in Quality Plan any methods, procedure etc. in addition to what is stated in generic Quality Manual via Quality Plan."

The trick is that generic Quality Manual could be any kind. It can have any reqirments to the Quality Plan and could not - case by case. And I want to understand what do they want from me - "did you followed the Manual?" or "Did you defined the listed stuff anyway?"


texts: Imperative sentence and the following tag question

texts:
If the main sentence is an imperative sentence, such as,

  "Do it at once,"

Grammatically speaking, should the tag question that follows the imperative sentence be "will you?" or "won't you?" not "don't you?"


texts: How to conjugate the verb when the subject is optionally plural?

texts: E.g. I have a sentence "Your ticket(s) was/were sent to you by e-mail.". I write ticket(s) because some recipients will receive one ticket, while others will receive several tickets. I don't want to write tickets because I want to underline the fact that the recipient might receive just one ticket. What is the best way to write the verb? was, were, was/were, was (were)...?


texts: Why Taylor Swift says "The story of us" but not "The story of ours"?

texts: I have a problem in understanding this type of relation between object and possessive pronouns. Can someone help me with this?


texts:
I'm preparing a text for the advertise section of the website. The users will be able to post ads and/or rent some banner space.
There are several different "spaces" on different pages of the website to rent. Which is the correct phrase:

  1) Various locations and sizes are available for your banner.

or

  2) Various positions and sizes are available for your banner.


texts:
Is the polishing used in the phrase "have shifted higher and lower" an oxymoron? I don't quite understand it.
It perhaps means "(goals) have shifted higher and timelines have shifted lower." I am not sure.

Joe Biden's coronavirus goals and timelines have shifted higher and lower
WASHINGTON – When can most people get a COVID-19 vaccine? Do teachers need to be vaccinated before schools can reopen? When will life go back to normal?

Those are some of the basic questions that the White House has sometimes struggled to answer as President Joe Biden tackles the biggest issue of his presidency: ending the pandemic and getting the economy and daily life back on track.

Source: USAToday


texts:
She plays it cool.
He plays / acts stupid.
The headlines showed you played them proudly.

In Collins, the explanations are:

You can describe how someone deals with a situation by saying that
they play it in a certain way. For example, if someone plays it cool,
they keep calm and do not show much emotion, and if someone plays it
straight, they behave in an honest and direct way.

Why can adjectives like "cool" and "stupid" and the adverb "proudly" modify the verb "play"? What kind of constructions are they? How can I understand them?


texts: Present simple. When need `is` with pronoun?

texts:
He always brushes his teeth after meals.
She is often late for work.

Why in the first sentence we do not use is but in second sentence we use is?


texts: I know there is an idiom 'be in' to describe someone is totally immersed in something, but I've never seen the usage where that 'something' is described along with the idiom 'be in'. For example, is it natural to say like 'I'm all in to hear your story'? Here I used to-infinitive to describe what I'm interested in.


texts:
name is usually unchangeable, so

I forgot what her name is
I forgot what her name was

#1 sentence is correct sentence? or #2?
if both make sense, what's the difference?


texts:
Is it correct to write this:

  People at 60 or over are recommended not to work in stressful environment.

By ‘60 or over’ I mean those who are 60 years old and 60+.


texts: "time + for which" or "for which + time"

texts:
The duration for which the robots remain in this trance-like state before resuming normal functions varies.

  For which duration the robots remain in this trance-like state before resuming normal functions varies.

I faintly remember being told that "time + for which" and "for which + time" are exactly the same, but I'm not sure at all now, so I'm asking here.


texts:
There are five leaflets - please take one of each.

I don’t understand why ‘each’ follows ‘one of.’ ‘each’ and ‘one’ are both singular.


texts: An appropriate term for an overly by-the-rules person

texts:
In Swedish, we've got a term that loosely translates as paragraph jockey. It refers to a person, often a clerk or a referee, who is following all the rules, prescriptions and agreements ad absurdum. The application is slightly derogatory but not vulgar.

In many cases, the term is used when a referee or a bureaucrat makes a call and, while being correct rule-wise, they miss the point of the system that the said rule is made to support.

The result of such call or decision may vary from non-essential, insignificant changes up to a totally weird and unintended destruction of the greater good.

Is there a term like that in English? My google-fu gave me Jack-in-office but when I wrote that to a friend, they didn't get the point at all.


texts:
I received feedback that some of the staff didn't receive the email below, so would you please ensure that all your team members were received the new plan for Ramadan.

Should it be were received or are received or anything else?


texts: Can I say: Technology has a word to say?

texts:
I'm writing an essay on how technology has affected our lives and I would like to know if I can say "Technology has a word to say when it comes to communication". for example.

What I would like to say is that technology has an impact but I'm not sure if it is right..
Thank you in advance


texts: Is the given sentence grammatically as correct with the THEM as it is without it?

texts:
If you happen to know who took the picture, we'd be happy to give due credit.

If you happen to know who took the picture, we'd be happy to give them due credit.

Are both the sentences grammatically correct?
Do both of them mean the same thing?
Is the Them necessary in the sentence?


texts:
Do you know what his name is?

  Do you know what is his name?

I saw this in grammar text book. The first is the correct one because "Subject + Verb".
The second is wrong.

We do usually say "What is your name?", "What is his name?", why the sentence is wrong when the front of the question is "Do you know..."


texts: How to tell someone to do (something) B while they have not started doing (something) A?

texts:
Since my friend has not watched movie A yet, I want to tell him that watching movie B in the meantime would be a good idea. So, would it would probably be something like:

  Watch movie B until you have not decided to watch movie A.

I am just looking the best way to say this.


texts: What's the meaning of or/not in logical reasoning questions?

texts:
I have a simple problem basically I am unable to understand the meaning of some questions involving or/not, and using comma with and. I have the following questions:

1. What is the meaning of, say:

  X does not play football or cricket.

What we can infer from this? Can we say X does not play both of them? Or one of them?

2. How the previous line is different from:

  X does not play either football or cricket.

3. If x does not play both of them, why in books such kind of statements are there instead of neither/nor.

4. What is the meaning of:

  M and N, who reads newspaper, are not sitting together.

Here,  Do M and N, both reads newspaper?

Please clarify these things to me. I am not a native English speaker so I found it very difficult to understand and as in logical reasoning questions these statements are common to see I face lot of problems.

Please also tell me about such more things that can be confusing, may be, provide a link.


texts: "a" or "the" when used with "exists" and superlative

texts:
Assume the following situation. Suppose I met an alien called Protoss who can speak English. He said he is from Aiur. Now I want to make the following statement.

  There exists (a or the) tallest Protoss in Aiur who can speak English.

In school, I learned that I should use "the" before the superlative. But somehow I feel awkward if I say "there exists the ...".

By the way, I know the existence because I already met one, although I might not be able to find him. Aiur is too far. I wonder if this situation affects the answer.

[edit] Thanks to the suggestion by Damkerng T, I write below what I wanted to know. I was actually writing a math sentence. I thought it would be boring to most people, so I tried to write down something which seems more popular. The above was my attempt.

  Assume Condition A. Then there exists (a or the) largest integer k satisfying Condition B.

[edit after looking at two more comments] I am trying to modify the original situation more properly.

Let's say Protoss refers to an alien race, the only alien race known, and we call each member a Protoss as well. Let's call the Protoss I met "Fenix". Fenix was quite tall. I like tall creatures, so I wanted to meet the tallest Protoss and then talk to him. But suddenly Fenix began to say nonsense. He said no such Protoss exists. I want to claim that Fenix is wrong. So I told Fenix the sentence in the first box.

This is also awkward. There should be better interpretation and I need to think about it.


texts: Should I use "who" or "whom" in the following sentence?

texts:
Example:

  Someone wants me dead? I can't think of who/whom.

Should I use who or whom? Why?


texts: "matters spiritual" vs "spiritual matters"

texts:
From A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens.

  France, less favoured on the whole as to matters spiritual than her sister of the shield and trident, rolled with exceeding smoothness down hill, making paper money and spending it.

I am wondering how the following is used- or which one of these would be tantamount to correct phrase?

matters spiritual

spiritual matters


texts:
I hear this phrase often when people have different likes. But can I say something like this?

  People have different taste in animals, some people like cats more while some people like dogs more.

I used the phrase in similar way to

  have different taste in music.

I thought this sounds funny because it gives the nuance that people like dogs (or cats) for their taste.

I would like to know how I can apply this phrase to other sentences.


texts: What is this called in English? paper / sheets/ blank page (picture is attached)

texts:
What is this called in English?

  1) page

  2) sheet

  3) blank page

I'm a little confused about the acceptable name.

Context: "Do you want one (here is one of this three options) to write down the exercise?"


texts: Does this sentence make sense? - ''waste of time integral ... well spent' and 'high design'

texts:
Source, last paragraph: 'Life Is Short, Proust Is Long', by James Camp, 2014 April 1

Nabokov didn’t conclude that we should give up reading. He said, rather, that we should do more of it: “A good reader, a major reader, an active and creative reader is a rereader.” The complicated work was part of the complicated pleasure, [1.] the waste of time integral to the feeling that it was well spent.
The inefficiency was also [2.] high design. It must be hard to derive a business model from these contradictions—ask someone in publishing—and, lately, Spritz has been revising. Can “Atlas Shrugged” really be read in a day? “Technically it’s possible,” the text now reads. “You might want to take some breaks though. You might even want to stop to smell the roses.” When contacted, Spritz stressed that there is a pause button.

The bolded confuses me. 1. What do these conflicting words mean altogether (eg 'waste of time' and 'well spent')? How do you determine/deduce how to conciliate them?
2. I'm guessing that high expresses how the writers design[ed] this reading inefficiency, by choosing to use convoluted language? Yet how does high mean this? The following seems the only possibility from ODO, but am I right? If so, how does it cohere with the context?

3. high {adjective} = Great in rank, status, or importance


texts: How do we ask someone to describe their personality?

texts:
Can we use "What are you like?"?

According to Longman dictionary we can ask "What is (s)he like?".
I want to know if we can also use this for "you". Because when I searched it in the internet, everybody said that's an idiom.


texts:
I came across all these sentences in which different prepositions are used to describe the same meaning

1) Wrote it in pencil ( using a pencil)
2) She played a tune on her guitar (using a guitar)
3) I want to do payment by/in cash (using cash)

My question is how do we know when to choose which?
I would be really thankful if anyone could explain this☺


texts: This kind of error ~. What is a subject? kind or error?

texts:
This kind of error, where results are always on one side of the real value, is called “bias.
I Wonder which one is a subject: kind or error
I think kind is a subject.


texts: "past continuous tense" vs "would + infinitive"

texts:
First example:

  Maria thought John was going to invite her to the party.
  Mary thought John would invite her to the party.

Second example:

  They thought the film was going to start at 8:00.
  They thought the film would start at 8:00.

What is the difference in meaning between the "past continuous tense" and the structure "would + infinitive" when we are talking about past expectations and beliefs using the verb "think"?


texts:
I recently came across this sentence in my philosophy book, and it is puzzling me.

  "From this point he was known as Benedict de Spinoza rather than Baruch, his Jewish name."

Should there be a colon there instead of the comma? "His Jewish name" is an explanation of the first independent sentence.


texts: Is this sentence correct? How to use being in the beginning of a sentence?

texts:
All directors retired in accordance with Article 3 of the Company Ordinance and, being eligible, offered themselves for re-election.

I keep suspecting that this sentence is incorrect because it sounded weird. Is "being eligible" even legit to use? How would someone use "being" in the beginning of a sentence?


texts: Say, I have two girlfriends. Which one would be more appropriate to say, "I love them equal" or "I love them equally."

texts: Honestly,the two sentences look identical to me. I have a feeling that there’s a slight difference between, "I love my two girlfriends equal" and "I love my two girlfriends equally."


texts: "the leaders met 'at' or 'in' the g20 summit"

texts:
When the word "summit" is used in the sense of an assembly of leaders, which proposition should be used? At or in?
For example; 'the leaders met AT/IN the g20 summit shared their concerns over the prevailing recession'


texts: clobber in "you may clobber a global variable without knowing

texts:
I read clobber in a sentence in book "Fluent Python"

  you may clobber a global variable without knowing.

the complete context

  This is not a bug, but a design choice: Python does not require you to declare variables, but assumes that a variable assigned in the body of a function is local. This is much better than the behavior of JavaScript, which does not require variable declarations either, but if you do forget to declare that a variable is local (with var), you may clobber a global variable without knowing.

clobber means hit hard in clobber | Definition of clobber in English by Oxford Dictionaries

Which seems not make sense here.


texts:
The Tower is like a small town and its morning routine clatters on
  around him, the guards and the men from the Mint greet him, and the
  keeper of the king's beasts trots up to say it's dinner time – they
  eat early, the beasts – and does he want to see them fed? I take it
  very kindly, he says, waiving the pleasure; unbreakfasted himself,
  slightly nauseous, he can smell stale blood and from the direction of
  their cages hear their truffling grunts and smothered roars.

  — Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

I looked up a few dictionaries but couldn't figure out what the "truffling" means here.


texts: Is it possible to use "sequentially" with the singular?

texts:
I am trying to describe the structure shown in the image. My example is as follows:

  The string is wound on the bobbin sequentially from the left to
  the right.

As far as I searched, it seems that "sequentially" is usually used with the plural.  Is the usage of "sequentially" in my example correct?


texts: Which is correct for future schedules, present simple, future simple or both?

texts:
Normally we use present simple with future schedules. Can we use will+inf. too?
e.g The film ...... at seven o'clock tomorrow.
A. Starts
B. Will start


texts:
Tell me please why the was used in one sentence and omitted in the other! It is from Crash Course Astronomy.(The sentence is at around the first minute and thirty secondth.)

  Hydrogen glows most strongly in the red.

  Kate was dressed in black that day.

I am confused why in the first sentence the is used and in the other left out. Both sentences were said by native english speakers. What is the difference?


texts: Special words for these personality descriptions

texts:
I want to know if there are special words as synonyms for these definitions; all are about human characters:

Someone who gets carried away easily.
Someone whose inner side is a thinker and kinda sad, but his outside deliberately looks like an insane guy.
Someone who is gay (happy, not homosexual) without any special reason; or naturally tipsy, needless of alcohol or any kind of drugs.


texts: What is the best way to express the future in this case

texts:
Which is the best?

  Once you've paid, we will take an appointment with your sister.
  Once you've paid, we are taking an appointment with your sister.
  Once you've paid, we are going to take an appointment with your sister.

I think the first one and third are better because in sentence 2 we could understand that the present progressive expresses the present which is not the case.


texts: Is this sentence correct grammatically? (using article)

texts:
We need to use this method to explore any a new idea? or

We need to use this method to explore any new idea?


texts: “…presume not God to scan” – what does it mean?

texts:
I came across a line from the poem An Essay on Man: Epistle II by Alexander Pope, and I don't understand it in terms of grammar and meaning. Could you help me understand it, please? The passage is:

Know then thyself, presume not God to scan,
The proper study of mankind is Man.

The part that I don't understand is "presume not God to scan". As far as I understand, it means "Don't think about God you could deeply research him". But I am not exactly sure.


texts: Can this prepositional phrase be considered an adverbial phrase?

texts:
In this sentence: "Tom is playing God of War at Tim's house."

The prepositional phrase "at Tim's house" works as an adverbial phrase?


texts:
Oracle Corp., the primary developer responsible for setting up
  Oregon’s Obamacare health-insurance exchange website, sued the state
  claiming it’s owed $23 million.

  The lawsuit escalates a dispute with Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber,
  who in May asked the state attorney general to take legal action
  against the company in an attempt to recoup the state’s payments.

  Kitzhaber, a 67-year-old Democrat who has come under political attack
  on the issue as he seeks a fourth term, has been trading blame with
  Oracle over the failure to create a website that Oregonians could use
  to enroll in health coverage under President Barack Obama’s Affordable
  Care Act.

  Technical flaws in the Cover Oregon website, the portal to a $305
  million state-run insurance exchange, caused thousands of consumers to
  file paper applications until the state gave up in April and directed
  enrollees to the federal website.

  -- Oracle Sues Oregon for $23 Million Over Health Exchange Claims Source

I'm wondering why the simple present tense is used in this context. I would use escalated and is seeking instead.

Besides, I think could is used hypothetically here, because the website couldn't be created due to technical flaws. It's a conditional possibility, not a factual possibility, am I right?


texts: What role does this 'preposition plus relative pronoun' take?

texts:
While the direction was being executed, the lady consulted moved
  slowly up the room.  I suppose I have a considerable organ of
  veneration, for I retain yet the sense of admiring awe with which my
  eyes traced her steps. (Jane Eyre)

Does ‘with which’ plays a role of adverb phrase in its relative clause, and the relative clause (with which my eyes trace her steps) make an adjective clause for the NP before of it?


texts:
http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/can
In the above link, I found this usage of "can".

  The word "can" may be used with the verbs ‘see’, ‘hear’, ‘feel’, ‘taste’, and ‘smell’, and with verbs connected with thinking, to mean that someone sees something, hears something etc-

If so, "Are the following sentences natural? "

She is so beautiful that everyone can love her.
She is so foolish that she can believe what he says.


texts: Is it correct to say, "There is no enough room in the lift (or the elevator)"?

texts:
Let's say I am in the elevator and it is full, when someone is trying to get into the lift.

Is it correct to say, "There is no enough room in the lift."?


texts: An idiom for "as far as it is related to me,..."

texts:
Scenario #1:

Let's suppose a top student is going to give a speech at school and would like to express his gratitude to his teacher for all his efforts in one educational year.
I was wondering how he can imply that message just for himself (not on behalf of the other students)?

I know the idiom: "for one's part which means:

As far as is related to, regards, or concerns someone; to the degree that someone is involved or a part of (something).

But surfing the internet, I could not find this structure with "thanking someone". For instance does the sentence below sound natural to you?

  I would like to thank you for my part.

This is why I think there should be either something wrong with this idiom or the way you normally use it.

Scenario #2:

Let's say, a group of people do something wrong. Later, one of them wants to express his own attitude regarding his wrongdoing and indicate his sorrow and regret (regardless of what the other people who committed the same action in that group would feel.) Is this idiom applicable here?

  I feel sorry for my part.

Or there is any better idiom for these two situations? If so, please kindly let me know about it.

Thank you in advance.


texts: it is of + noun - What does this OF mean?

texts:
Nina: Ky, look at this photo! It's of a dinner my parents went to called 'Dinner in the Sky'.
Ky: Cool! The restaurant is so high above the ground!

What does this OF a dinner mean? Can I say 'It's a dinner my ...'? Is there any difference if OF added?


texts:
Does the following make sense?

What does a taxi to the hotel cost?

Should "ride" be placed after "taxi"?

I'd appreciate your help.


texts: Why is it "to start laughing" and not "to start to laugh"?

texts:
Why do we use:

  to start laughing

instead of,

  to start to laugh

And what is the construction verb + (verb + ing) called?


texts: using present tense for shot period events

texts:
The child goes to bed.
He takes a chair.
He wants to know your name.

are these sentences are valid for present tense.
 can I use present simple for short period events.


texts: "is to discuss", "is discussing", "discusses", when to use which?

texts:
In my another post (Using "far away" and "far from" when talking about the position of adverb) I said

  Provided that post is to discuss the position of the adverb "carefully", similar to the guy A in previous example, is it grammatical and idiomatic to say in the following way?

where I use infinitive form of discuss.

Actually, I am not sure if I use the right form. Consider other 2 possibilities

  that post is discussing ...

  that post discusses ...

In this situation, which one should I use?

Is there some kind of rules for this?


texts:
“Talk of inspiration is sheer nonsense; there is to such thing. It is mere a matter of craftsmanship.”

  — William Morris

I don't understand the quote, particularly the part I highlighted. I am confused about the preposition to as well as the expression to such thing.

I assumed that to such thing could mean to the extent of/that,

  Talk of inspiration is sheer nonsense to the extent that we shouldn't even talk about it.

  It's absolute nonsense, let's not talk about it.

but sheer has already covered that meaning, so we don't need "to the extent" part:

  Talk of inspiration is sheer (=complete) nonsense to the extent that ....

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.


texts: Present perfect tense with specific time definition 'as well'

texts:
I have found a question like below.

  I  _________ (miss) the bus and then I  ________ (miss) the aeroplane as
  well!

According to my view point answer is this;

  I  missed (miss) the bus and then I  have missed (miss) the aeroplane as
  well!

I thought second clause of the sentence emphasizes first clause happened before the second. So I used Present Simple in first clause. But there is no any time definition for the second one so I prefer Present Perfect.

But given answer is;

  I  missed (miss) the bus and then I  missed (miss) the aeroplane as
  well!

Both Present Simple. I have no idea how that happens. Then I thought "as well" define the same time for both clauses, but then again there is no specific time and it leads to Present Perfect again. Confused!

Can anybody clarify this for me? Thanks for reading.


texts: Reactions and expressions, not a native speaker here

texts:
At first sight he couldn't mull exactly about which sort of noise he heard, but he could swear that it wasn't made by the wind.

What word can replace sight, to match better with noise?

At first moment he couldn't mull exactly about which sort of noise he heard, but he could swear that it wasn't made by the wind.

Which is better?


texts: Is this a correct sentence? "I often give in to her."

texts:
I'm the one studying English now.

My girlfriend and I like to watch movies, however, I like to watch action movies while she like to watch romantic movies. So we often have conflicting opinions on choosing movies. And so I might say,

  "I give in to her frequently".

I'm not sure whether this is right or not, what is the better expression.
Could you help?


texts: What is the difference between "disapprove" and "disapprove of"?

texts:
Does adding "of" makes any difference in the sentences?

For example:

  He disapproved of people marrying more than once.

Can't I write in following way?

  He disapproved the people...

Another question related to this: Is there any difference between these two?

  I beg you.

  I beg of you.


texts: What is this smoking thing called? Is it common in the US?


texts: When talking of American money, what does "pennies" mean?

texts:
Time ago, I was talking with an American friend of mine. She was checking how much money she had and said "[…] a dime and four pennies."

Since 100 cents make a dollar, why did she say pennies?
Is there any difference between using cents and pennies in that sentence?
Does a dime and five cents have a different meaning?


texts:
What difference in meaning or otherwise does the inclusion or omission of the definite article make in this sentence?

  When that day comes, you will be (the) first to know.

I would like to add that in Ngram, the results are pretty comparable.


texts:
While reading "the American Pageant" by Thomas A. Bailey, I came across the following text.

  A sharp challenge to Puritan orthodoxy came from Anne Hutchinson. She
  was an exceptionally intelligent, strong-willed, and talkative woman,
  ultimately the mother of fourteen children.

I have checked this similar thread https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/134214/a-challenge-to-x-vs-a-challenge-for-x?rq=1  for more than 10 times.

  "Challenges for food security" sounds like "food security" is some
  sort of entity or organization that is facing challenges......

I am still confused with the difference between "challenge to" and "challenge for". I would be eager to know whether I can use "for" instead of "to" in the text (A sharp challenge for Puritan orthodoxy).


texts: Shouldn't there be "anything" instead of "nothing" in this sentence

texts:
I read this in "Word by Word" by Kory Samper:

  You toil onward with steady plodding, losing yourself to everything but the goal of capturing and documenting this language. Up is down, bad is good and the smallest words will be your downfall. You'd rather do nothing else.

What is the last highlighted part supposed to mean? Is there any pun intended? And shouldn't there be "anything" instead of "nothing" which would imply that you are so tired of the work that you'd anything except that?


texts:
I'm translating a sentence

  the standards are approved by the customer or degreed
  metallurgist/equivalent as applicable

but I'm not quite sure about 'degreed'. Is it the same as graduated or qualified? I couldn't even find it in the dictionary.


texts: afraid of snatching vs afraid of being snatched

texts:
I think you are afraid of snatching.
I think you are afraid of being snatched.

Which sentence is looking more accurate?


texts: What does why would I do it mean in this context?

texts:
I've often heard people saying this. And even I say it when someone accuses me of doing something that I didn't do.

I'd say:

Why would I do that?

But what's the grammar behind it?

Is it future from the past tense or something or what?
It's obviously not a conditional construction

Context from SE01 EP02 Austin & Ally

Austin: what does the jacket have
to do with the music video?

Trish: It's a line in Ally's song,
"my jacket's
in the lost and found."

Ally: "my jacket"?
It says "I like it."
The line is "I like it
when you hang around."

Dez: "hang around"?
I thought it said "kangaroo."
♪ I like it
when you kangaroo. ♪.

Ally: Why would I write "I like
it when you kangaroo"?


texts:
I wonder how to pronounce "reference"?
Google says it with "re" but "refer" is with "ri". I never learned it properly but when I use this word I always say it with "ri" to follow the pronunciation of "refer".

What is right? What  pronunciation is used in  which country or region (btw we have "ri" here as well )? Especially the way british people say it is important for me.


texts:
When, in ordinary life, we speak of the colour of the table, we only
  mean the sort of colour which it will seem to have to a normal
  spectator from an ordinary point of view under usual conditions of
  light. But the other colours which appear under other conditions have
  just as good a right to be considered real; and therefore, to avoid
  favouritism, we are compelled to deny that, in itself, the table has
  any one particular colour.

[Problems of philosophy, Bertrand Russell, Chapter I]

What does "have just as good a right" mean?\

Thanks!


texts:
It is as far from my house as a man's voice carries.

What does the "man's voice carries" part mean?


texts: meaning of a question with the word "how" in context

texts:
It is from Crash Course Biology. It is at around 9 minute and 23 second. Here it is:

  So, how is a teenage boy like the enzyme Helicase? They both want to unzip your genes.

I cannot get the question because the answer of the host does not seem to fit it.


texts: I had thought it was a name that could be used by both genders, but some English teachers (namely, those who designed the exercise book that my son is using) seem to believe it's definitely a female name, so I'm confused. Are they right? Is "Kim" the short form of a longer name?


texts: What does "tumble back against the wall" mean?

texts:
It's in a sample sentence in Oxford Dictionary:

  She tumbled back against the slick, damp wall.

I just can't get the meaning of this sentence. What exactly happened to the woman? What does "tumble" and "against" mean here?

How could she "tumbled back",since "tumble" means to fall headlong or roll down? She was against the wall, then how could "tumbled back" happen? I guess it most probablly means she hastily drew back and was against the wall, but literally, according to the sentence, can it in a way mean she rolled back on a sloping wall?


texts:
In his [Sir Stephen Sedley]'s view:

    The notion that the prime function
    of human rights and indeed the Rule of law is to protect the weak against the
    strong is not mere sentimentality.

Source: p 43, The English Legal System 2012-2013, Gary Slapper

What's the big picture behind similarities and differences? I ask not only about sentimentality here. I can't access this resource, so I resorted to Etymonline:

  -ism: suffix forming nouns of action, state, condition, doctrine

  .-ity:
  suffix forming abstract nouns from adjectives, meaning "condition or quality of being __,

2. When are these suffixes redundant, and does the noun itself suffice?

For example, definition 2 of sentiment = definition of sentimentality. How and why?


texts:
I read a sentence in "The Hindu" which was:

India does not mind mediation as long it puts more pressure on the Pakistanis

At first glance it seemed fine to me. But then shouldn't there be "as long as" instead of "as long"?


texts:
A man and his wife are having a fight. He is explaining something to his wife, and he's being mean to her because he's angry. At some point he says:

  Do you see where I’m going with this? Has your soft mind caught up with me yet?

Can "soft mind" be an insult in a context like this? And if so, how would you paraphrase it?


texts: Understanding a sentence with "Ving as it does"

texts:
Consider this sentence: "Taken together, these effects, occurring as they do in rapid succession, provide a simple interpretation of showers."
Is it correct that omitting "taken together" and "occurring..." does not change its meaning? So at its core the sentence says that the effects provide a simple interpretation.
Then there are "taken together" and "occurring...". Is it correct to paraphrase this sentence as "Because they occur in rapid succession, we can combine these effects to provide a simple explanation of showers"?


texts: What does “avoid the teeth” mean in the following context?

texts:
What does the phrase “avoid the teeth” mean? It makes no sense to me.
Here is the context:

  High School is just one big buzz saw that grinds people up into little byte-sized pieces. Some people just do a better job at avoiding the teeth.

I tried to find out what it means, using Google, reverso context and urban dictionary, but have found nothing.

Source: https://youtu.be/h8ZA40pwpMA?t=26s (0:26)


texts: Hello, what does the word "are dogged" mean in this context?

texts: When many workers’ lives are dogged by insecurity and uncertainty about the future, consideration has to be given to the fact that workers are also consumers, and that if their working lives are very insecure, they might lack consumer confidence.


texts: Is this case of ellipsis acceptable - "encourage in-migration to and inhibit out-migration from that province"?

texts:
Is the following sentence acceptable in formal, academic writing?

  ... relatively higher UI benefits in a particular province encourage in-migration to and inhibit out-migration from that province.

While the sentence seems idiomatic to me, I am not sure if such a case of ellipsis is considered acceptable in a formal setting.

This sentence is different from other simple examples of ellipsis. For example, the omission of regions in  "... reduced geographic mobility from low productivity to high productivity regions" is completely fine in formal writing.

In my original sentence, I omitted the first "that province", which left a hanging "to" there. I think the problem arises because the elements in the two predicates are different - encourage in-migration and inhibit out-migration.

I have seen constructions that use a parenthesis in such cases:

  ... relatively higher UI benefits in a particular province encourage in-migration to (and inhibit out-migration from) that province.

I don't know if that solves the problem or not. It does make it look better than " ... to and inhibit ...".

I am not asking for help in rephrasing the sentence. I can do that. I am interested in knowing if it is grammatical (if not, why?), and if it is acceptable in academic writing.


texts: Can I add an “s” after a specific/non-ten year like 2015s?

texts:
Can I say something like,

The movie became famous in the 2015s

I want to use it as an approximation; it's not really 2015 but somewhere around that period.


texts: It sound the narrator saying "icky shave" in this video

texts:
Watch exactly 45th second of the video.

Does he saying icky shave in that point in this video[it sounds like icky shave], if it is so what does it mean? It sounds he is saying "it is the icky shave which delivered the fatal wound"


texts:
Think its about time Tomas call it quit. His body can't take it anymore and he's 35.

Do you think that the bold part of the text is grammatically OK? Isn't it a better choice "called it quit" as in:  It’s time we went home  – The text comes from a Twitter post.


texts: Why is 'I saw her cry' correct, but 'I saw her cried' isn't?

texts:
Why is

  I saw her cry.

correct but

  I saw her cried.

is not?


texts: In 'having trouble -ing', does the 'ing' have progressive meaning?

texts:
But it is clear that a number of major public employers are having trouble affording the state’s current pension system.  (nytimes.com)

When we have verb-ing form after trouble, does it imply the activity is happening progressively? Or does it only imply there is a specific fact that inflicts hardness and have no on-going meaning of the activity, by the form itself?


texts: present simple to express a specific statement?

texts:
The car doesn’t start. If you get in Tom and I will give you a push.

Why not is starting as it is a temporary state for a car not a general statement

The sentence comes from this worksheet (the answer is shown on Page 2)


texts: Is "down" necessary after "calm himself"?

texts:
Pete, still fuming, tries to calm himself (down).

Is "down" necessary here?


texts: Differences between words indicating residence

texts:
Could a native English language speaker please explain what is the difference between the following words?

Residence
Dwelling
Abode
Habitation

According to dictionaries, they look similar.


texts: Is there any problems on "make a big success to the art exhibitions"?

texts:
Ok. According to the comments, it's a question testing set phrase. So I shouldn't be confused about which is the best meaning for it. No more questions like this kind.
Here is a question.
The University of Sydney makes a big __ to the art exhibitions by its excellent faculty and students.
A. success
B. impact
C. contribution
D. use
The answer is C. I don't know why "success" isn't right. It is supposed to describe how well they held the art exhibitions.


texts:
If you finished this, we would have enjoyed that by now.

Does this sentence sound natural to you?


texts: What is the difference between future continuous and future perfect continuous?

texts:
Context:
'I will be going tomorrow' and 'I will have been going tomorrow'.
As meaning of both seems to be same, so what's the exact difference between the meanings of these two sentences?


texts: Is "I think I could do it too" natural in this context?

texts:
A man is in a session with his therapist and very annoyed with him.
Man: It's an easy job you've got, huh?
Therapist: You think so?
Man: Yeah. I think I could do it too.
Therapist: You do?
Man: Absolutely. If it all it takes is to ask a lot of idiotic questions, then sure I could.
Is the highlighted question completely natural/naturally phrased in the context?


texts: Usage of 'will' and 'would' in a question

texts:
What is the difference between

  When will XYZ bank release the results of clerks?

and

  When would XYZ Bank release the results of clerks?

Which one is the formal way to ask the HR of the bank.

Please explain the difference between 'will' and 'would' (in a question) with examples.


texts: What does 'staggering than 'X' amount' mean?

texts:
I read the sentence on Mirror.co.uk

  Mystery surrounds the withdrawal from sale on eBay of an iPhone complete with the Flappy Bird app - which was fetching a staggering than $94,000.

"...a staggering than $94000?" The conjunction 'than' is used for comparison. What does it compare with $94000 here?

This would have meant better to me - "...which was fetching a staggering $94000." Am I missing something?


texts:
Can we say:

Whom do you call friend?

Or better it would be:

Who do you call friend?

Which is grammatically fine?

Another questionable is:

Whom do you vote for?

Or

Who do you vote for?


texts: Shouldn't there be "analytically" instead of "analytical" here?

texts:
I read a definition of "clinical" in Merriam Webster dictionaries which was:

  Analytical or coolly dispassionate

I suppose there should be "analytically" instead of "analytical" in the definition because there should be adverb before adjective.


texts: “To repair something” vs “To get something repaired”

texts:
How is the phrase “Get the car repaired” different from “Repair the car”?
Is there a difference? If so, how do I use this?

For example:


texts:
What do you call the stuff you use to wash clothes?

I know washing up liquid is detergent, used in washing dishes, but I don't know the proper name for the stuff used for clothes.

If it's powder, you can say washing powder right? But if it's a liquid? Clothes washing liquid sounds silly, washing liquid is ambiguous, and laundry detergent just sounds so weird and formal to me.

I keep trying different words, but English people (I'm in the UK) never understand what I'm talking about...


texts: Usage of shortly: "I will send it shortly"

texts:
Can I use the word shortly in this sentence:

Did you send the email ?

No, not yet , I will send it shortly


texts:
I never use the word implicate because it seems to come from other Latin languages and seems poorly adapted to English. However, could someone please explain to me the difference between implicate and imply, given that both of these words exist. I've been using imply, exclusively, perhaps with its strict mathematical sense.

Thanks.


texts:
Stay lain.

Is this correct to mean to stay lying down on your back and to ask somebody to do so?
If not, how to ask someone to keep staying lying down?


texts:
I'll show you two sentences concerning the preposition of 'in'.

  1) I'm interested in traveling.

In this sentence, there seems to be two possible definitioins to me.
First, taking part in something. Second, concerning something.

  2)She kicked him in the stomach.

Also, I think that there are two possible definitions to me.
First, concerning something. Second, at the point within an area or a space.

Source : https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/in_1?q=in

I'm not a native speaker as you know. There are many confusing definition in preposition to me. It seems to be mother-tongue problem. It is hard to get clear meaning of words and sentence concerning translation. Sometimes, some seems to be similar. I think that a little difference is very important. Is there anyone who let me know correct answer above sentences?


texts:
Are both of these sentences correct? Which is better?

Select a directory to sync with.
Select a directory with which to sync.

From my point of view, the 1st version is better. It's mine.

The 2nd one is an abridged version of the sentence from Scrivener (an app for writers):

Choose a folder with which to sync files from this project.

I believe that in its original form this sentence is OK, but in its abridged form it sounds weird to me, for some reason. I assume that such "acoustic weirdness" is a signal that the sentence is in error.


texts:
I see a doctor.

  The doctor is checking my.....

Sick? Condition? Body? Cause of sick? What is the best word for describing the doctor is checking my problem.

I would like the doctor become the first subject in the sentence.


texts: How can I tell whether an "it" is a dummy "it" in this sentence?

texts:
How can I tell whether an "it" is a dummy "it", or what it might be referring to?

For example, in the following paragraph:

  Lately, for the last three years, it feels like it’s not about me
  anymore, that there’s a well-marked path that I’m following, and when
  I follow it I’m swimming with the current. (Kathy Holwadel)

Does the "it" in this sentence indicate something in particular or is it a "dummy it" for ‘not about me anymore’?
(that clause might be the semantic subject, but this clause seems more like a subordinate to say the reason.)

How would I be able to tell whether an it in a particular sentence refers to a dummy it or a particular object?


texts:
I was driving home from my workplace. And on my way there was a big pizza shop. When I was about to reach home i got a call from my dad and he asked me to buy some pizza from that shop. But I had already left that shop far behind.

Can I reply my dad with:

  I'm past the pizza shop.

  or simply,

  I have already left the pizza shop.

I get the idea of the preposition past from :

  It's past your bedtime, you should go and sleep now.

Like time can I use the preposition past when talking about distance as well?

Thanks in advance.


texts:
In this video they mention “crusty sheets”, what do they mean by that?
2:26 https://youtu.be/6LuHS7ZeSjE
And at the minute 2:00 when the girl is slang talking she says “sliding in” for messaging, is that slang used often? Because I’ve never heard it before, who do you use it.


texts: Help parsing excerpt from Shakespeare's comedy "Love's Labour's Lost"

texts:
I have begun trying to read Shakespeare.

My problem is I can't understand the writing at all.

Why is Shakespeare so hard to understand? I hope that I am not the only one that finds it hard to read.

For example, I don't understand the uses of study in the following. And all my attempts at consulting dictionary definitions have not helped. Is "study" a noun or a verb here? Is the author saying that "study" means "common sense"? And how can study have a "recompense"? And what about "forbid"? Shouldn't it be "forbidden"?

  Long. You swore to that, Berowne, and to
      the rest.

  Ber. By yea and nay, sir, then I swore in jest.
      What is the end of study? let me know.

  King. Why, that to know which else we
      should not know.

  Ber. Things hid and barr'd, you mean, from
      common sense?

  King. Ay, that is study's god-like recompense.

  Ber. Come on then; I will swear to study so,
      To know the thing I am forbid to know;


texts: What does "it’ll just be expected of... " mean?

texts:
“All the teachers are really frustrated,” McDowell said. “We want to meet with parents. We send texts. We call. We try to have conversations. But at the same time, teachers know if they start doing it, it’ll just be expected of them.”

Source: https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/11/are-parent-teacher-conferences-becoming-obsolete/545900/


texts: (have been too focused/ was too focused) and (have felt pain/felt pain)

texts:
I have made up the examples below.
(1a) These few days, I have not been feeling well. When I have been too focused on my work, I have felt pain in my neck.
(1b) These few days, I have not been feeling well. When I was too focused on my work, I felt pain in my neck.
(2a) These few days, I have not been feeling well. I have felt pain in my neck because I have been too focused on my work.
(2b) These few days, I have not been feeling well. I felt pain in my neck because I was too focused on my  work.
I am not sure which tense of "to have and to feel" is correct.


texts:
"The music interleaves multiple themes and variations, { some simultaneous, some sequential }"

  (source: Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday Things By Don Norman)

Is the phrase in the curly brackets a participial construction or an apposition? Could you help me to clarify it?  Thank you always.


texts: Which of these is correct -  "Running on circle" or "Running in circle"? All I want to express is that we are doing same work again and again.


texts: What is single word for omit the details?

texts:
I am writing a manual like below:

do A.
do B.
do C (omit the details).

step 3 is already mentioned in another document, the reader of this manual already knows the details.
so I want to indicate step 3 is only the abbreviation. What is the best word put into ( ? )


texts: He is the best soccer player "on" his team. vs He is the best soccer player "in" his team

texts:
He is the best soccer player on his team.
  He is the best soccer player in his team

Are both preposition correct?
I learned that when we make superlative expresstion, we usually use preposition in or of.
For example, she is the most beautiful girl in the world.
So I wonder if it is right to use other perepositions in superlative expresstion.


texts: Why does the answer key say "the world is changing" instead of "the world changes"?

texts:
The world (change). Nothing never stays the same.

The key answer: the world (is changing).

Why can't we say: the world changes? Isn't it a fact? I mean it should be in present simple (world changes).


texts:
Is it appropriate to say, "Bob was not sure whether Kate was at work. She might be at work."?

In my opinion, "Bob thought, 'She may/might be at work.'"is correct.

Switching it to indirect speech, "Bob thought she might be at work." is correct.

So, omitting "Bob thought" without misunderstanding, "She might be at work." is correct.

However, there is another saying that there's no simple past form of "might". We must use "might have been" to refer the the past time.

Could anyone help me out with this problem? Thanks a lot.


texts:
I'm thinking about buying a new car.
  I'm thinking of buying a new car.

Do we use "about" or ‘of" in sentences above?


texts: Why can't we say "if will there be any novels" as a question?

texts:
Which is correct and why:

I'll be grateful if you give me some details: where can I find the library and if there will be any novels?

I'll be grateful if you give me some details: where can I find the library and if will there be any novels?


texts:
Is it necessary that a phrase used as idiom always works as an idiom? Like I want to say:

Don't linger in bed.

I mean to say that: Get up now. Hurry up. Don't delay getting up. Don't sleep too much.
The child I am waking up is delaying getting up.
But the problem is that 'in bed' also means "to have sex".
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/bed_1?q=bed
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/in-bed#:~:text=phrase%20%5Bverb%2Dlink%20PHRASE%2C,are%20having%20sex%20in%20bed.
If the situation is clear that father is waking his child but the child is not waking up, will this [Don't linger in bed.] be acceptable?


texts:
in the following questions, a sentence has been given in Direct / Indirect Speech. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect/Direct Speech.

  Ques - He said, "Ravi, why are you sounding so depressed today?"

  He asked Ravi why did he sound so depressed that day.
  He asked Ravi why he was sounding so depressed that day.
  He told Ravi why he sounded so depressed today.
  He asked Ravi that why was he sounding so depressed that day

This is something I came across while studying for competitve exams.

My answer - He asked Ravi why did he sound so depressed that day.

Correct answer - He asked Ravi why he was sounding so depressed that day.

So far I've read that in order to change the speech from direct to indirect that we should change the present tense to past tense. Then why was 2. correct and not 1.


texts: Could "natural environment" mean the same as "nature"?

texts:
In this text, for example, natural environment is the same as nature, right?

  We all agree that ensuring water quality is a hugely important
  objective, above all, given the adverse effects of developing a model
  of accelerated industrial growth on the natural environment.


texts: Present perfect or past simple with since

texts:
I think it should be:

  Since my father has joined this post, he has not taken bribe.

The book I am reading says the correct one is:

  Since my father joined this post, he has not taken bribe.

Which is right?


texts: A tricky "you" vs "your" vs "yours" when using conjunctions!

texts:
Which one is correct?

  You need you and your partner's documents.
  You need your and your partner's documents.

Also, am I safe to assume that the following version is certainly wrong?

  You need yours and your partner's documents.


texts: Last year I took the bus to work. Since then I've taken the train

texts:
Just read this in a textbook (not written by natives I believe).

Is that correct, unambiguous? I would expect "Since then I have been taking the train".


texts: Is "home run" the equivalent of four bases?

texts:
We were all more naive a decade ago. We hoped that a single application of drugs would result in a dramatic benefit. We now understand it's much more complicated than that. People are optimistic but we're not expecting home runs. Right now, people would be happy with a series of singles and doubles. (Franck Rauscher, the director of the NCI, 1985)

I think a home run is going all around the baseball diamond (which consists on reaching the fourth base) and a single is the first base and a double is the second base. Is my understanding correct or is it more than that? Would a home run count in points four times reaching a single and twice reaching a double?


texts: I do not see a verb here! why?: "As relative newcomers, ...."

texts:
As newcomers to the South, a place where their climate could be equally inhospitable, the navajo created these art forms to affect the world ...

The author is trying to say that the Navajo used the symbolism and beauty of their works of art to improve their life in an often inhospitable environment. But I think a verb is missed in the bolded sentence, Am I right? Or maybe I cannot understand the meaning of the bolded clause. I am confused.


texts: Does having a temper make you angry or calm?

texts:
Are we using the word "temper" correctly?

Usually when someone is said to "have a temper", we interpret that to mean they are quick to anger or are prone to outbursts of anger.

However I'm wondering if this is the wrong way around. To "temper" something usually means to cool it down or quench it. A temperate climate is cool but not too cold.

Indeed we also say of someone who had a particular bout of anger that they "lost their temper".

So if someone "has a temper", should that not mean they are cool headed or good at keeping calm in the face of provocation?


texts:
The following sentence is copied from the Cambridge Dictionary.

  Our goods sell so well in this country that we have no need to export.

There are two questions of this sentence.

The first part of this sentence has noun phrase but it has one words which is not noun or adjective. Is it allowable to use adjective and adverb in the noun phrase.
The second part of this sentence that we have no need to export looks to me a present simple tense but the rule says that it should be written as we do not have need to export. Needs some comments on it.

Regards;


texts: "Where did you go" or "where have you gone"?

texts:
Where did you go?

Or

  Where have you gone?

A person I am talking to suddenly goes offline, so I ask them: "Where did you go/where have you gone?"

As far as I think,
"Where have you gone?" implies that the person is still not there and "Where as where did you go?" sounds like the person has returned.

I think I should say "Where have you gone?" Right?


texts: The omission of articles before the word "year" in context

texts:
Here is the context:

  Christmas is an especially difficult time of (a) year, but my kids and my husband have been really supportive and I'm much better now.

It is from this article. I am aware that the person tell us not about a specific year there, so logically the indefinite article should have been used. I am confused becausd the word year is countable.


texts: Difference between Determiners and Noun Modifiers

texts:
Hello.

I would like to know whether or not there is a reasonable explanation for why both grammatical classes use different terminologies.

Both Determiners and Noun Modifiers  perform exactly the same function: Modify nouns, and nothing more. So, why has it been termed differently as well as their placement:

  Determiners:

  Pre-determiners

  Central-determiners

  Post-determiners

  Modifiers:

  Pre-modifiers

  Post-Modifiers

There is already a topic that discusses the same thing; however, the answers weren't clear enough to me, also, there was only one answer, and I want to go deep into this topic.


texts:
'She looked 16 going on 25'.

'Going on' means almost. The phrase 'going on' what does this mean grammatically?

Can somebody says that 'going' is the present participle of the verb 'be' and 'on' is a preposition?

If somebody says that 'going on' is an adverb, will he be wrong?


texts: 'Out state' or 'non-state'? What do we refer to the people who don't belong to our state?

texts:
In India, among college-goers, 'out-state' serves as an adjective! I think it's a poor use of that word. The youngsters, though informally, refer the people from different state as 'out-state'.

  Forgive him; he does not know the rituals. He's 'out-state'!

It's a poor use of 'out state' words. Today, I read in the newspaper (Indian)

  The article 370 does not allow non-state subjects to purchase any immovable property in the state.

This looked a bit standard but want to confirm by you all.

What do you refer to a person who is from different state? 'Out-state person', 'Outlander' (but I think this is someone from different country) or non-state subject?

Any better word/term for a person from different state (say -New York State) staying in different state (say -Alaska)?


texts: where do i put `just now` in a sentence i just now posted a blog to discuss something

texts:
on this post, i was telling someone a blog i posted.

here are a list of expressions

i just now posted a blog to discuss something.
i just posted a blog to discuss something.
i posted a blog to discuss something just now.
i posted a blog just now to discuss something.

which expression is more easy to understand and clear?


texts: "To be indebted to someone" vs "To owe to somebody" [transitive / intransitive]

texts:
I have made two self-made similar sentences to find out where one can use each one of the verbs "indebted" and "owe". For me, they both can be used without any change in the meaning in both of the following sentences, though I doubt about it:

  You rescued me and I am indebted / owe to you. [intransitive role]
  You saved  my life and I am indebted / owe my life to you. [transitive role]

Do you confirm it? If not, then please let me know why?


texts:
What is the difference between.

  The word originates from Thai

  The word originated from Thai

Could someone please explain to me, thanks before.


texts: Difference between 'transport' and 'delivery'

texts:
I'll be in charge of the transport,|and you the deliveries, all right?

What is difference between 'transport' and 'delivery' in this sentence?

That line from drama about drug cartel.


texts:
Tell me please if I used the colon correctly in the following sentence.

  What word does convey the meaning better: connote or imply?

I am not sure if it is a correct use of it. So tell me please what punctuation marlk should be used instead. Would the following sentence be better?

  Which word does convey the meaning better? Connote or imply?


texts: 'Code inserting' versus 'inserting of code'

texts:
I found that English language allows using of object - verb instead of verb - of - object to say probably the same. For example

  code inserting

instead of

  inserting of code

or so. And my question is, if those ways are really equal - or if is there any difference.


texts: difference in "good" and "well" in this sentence

texts:
Which sentence is correct:

  your throw was good

  your throw was well

I think that throw is verb so second should be correct ,but the sentence looks odd.


texts: What do we call our conversation partner on the telephone?

texts:
What is a proper word for a person who you have telephone talk with?
I found the words interlocutor, interviewer, addressee and hearer. What is the best to choose, especially for using in a formal way?


texts:
I'm a teacher and every time that it comes to teach possessive 's VS is 's, students get confused and can't distinguish them.

For example:

  Rita's brother's name's John.

They can't understand which is for possessive and which is for be form, "is".
Can you help me?


texts: indefinite article usage with the word possible

texts:
Does the word possible attract the indefinite article?
As in a possible competition.
Does it happen more often than other cases?


texts: I always thought it was correct to say, "The boy who survived" instead of "The boy who lived". Live here does mean "survive", doesn't it?


texts:
Which is more correct:

  Recently I was hungry

or

  Recently I have been hungry

I think that the second variant is more correct.
Could you please explain to me what do you think about it.
Thank you in advance.


texts:
Does the sentence below use present continuous, or is the word "flashing" used as adjective?

  The lights on your computer is flashing.


texts: Plural/singular in the following sentences?

texts:
Vegans and vegetarians are two different things

This one sounds okay.  But what if i say the same sentence this way

  Vegans and vegetarians are/is not the same things/thing

I think it should be vegans and vegetarians are not the same things, because vegans and vegetarians both are plural.

And of there were two singular like:

  Chili and pepper

I guess it should be

  Chili and pepper are not the same thing

Because chili and pepper are singular, so thing should also be singular


texts: "The main reason that online shopping is so appealing and developing so fast is its convenience." Why uses "developing" but not "develops"?

texts:
In my thought, it's natural to say that

The main reason that online shopping is so appealing is its convenience.

The main reason that online shopping develops so fast is its convenience.

So why use "developing" when combine the above two sentences?
Also, I am confused about the pronoun "its", since in my mind I subsect the sentence into
"The main reason | that online shopping is so appealing and developing so fast | is its convenience." So I think "its" is something "out of scope".


texts:
The experiment was a success
  The experiment was not success
  The experiment was not succeeded
  The experiment was not successful

All seem grammatically correct to me, but they do differ in meaning, right?

Could you explain each sentence its construct and when should it be used?


texts:
A: Chips are on sale, friend.
B: I assume you're going to the store then?

Because chips are on sale, B would like to know if A is going to the store.
Is B's question proper English?
Is it only proper to use then at the end of a question when referring to an inferred period of time such as:

A: I am going home this Summer.
B: What will you be doing then?


texts:
May I drop "is" in constructions like "as is shown by the example of..."?

On the one hand, such reduced variants can be met even in Wikipedia. But on the other hand, I don't quite understand its grammatical structure.


texts: Finishing sentences with intransitive verb

texts:
Would you mind telling me the difference between these sentences?

I have no one to talk to.
I have no one to talk.
I haven't got anything to look at.
I haven't got anything to look.

Or number 2 and 4 are wrong? If wrong, then why?  please explain.


texts:
Studying the 504 essential words book, I found the following sentence grammatically incomprehensible:
"Several layers of thin clothing are essential to keeping warm in frigid climates"
Should't it use "to keep warm" instead of "to keeping warm"?


texts: What is the meaning of "He's in the ticket"?

texts: What is the meaning of "He's in the ticket" in the following pictures?


texts: Is adding "in the (professional league)" awkward here?

texts:
I am not sure if this is grammatically correct, I think it's correct, but it's weird and doesn't sound super idiomatic.

Let's take a look at this example:

  We should replace all the old goaltenders in the NHL with younger less
  experienced goaltenders from the AHL to increase the number of goals.

Does "in the NHL" after goaltenders sound weird and unidiomatic? How would you rephrase it?


texts: Book information: designed, produced, published, and printed

texts:
I have an art book under my hands, but am, because of my curiosity, struggling to understand the difference between:

designed
produced
published
printed

I thought the first two and last two were the same thing. Are they not?


texts: better phrase or idiom for "run panickedly"

texts:
The boy is chased by bees and he runs panickedly

Is there a better phrase or idiom that more can replace runs panickedly to make the sentence more vivid?


texts:
She has five kids. I can imagine how busy she would be.

Is the use of would be right in this sentence? What about

  She has five kids. I can imagine how busy she is.

Are both correct? Do they mean different things?


texts: Possessive/genitive case: "tradition of Holy Fathers" vs "Holy Fathers' tradition"

texts:
Which one is generally preferred:

Image of Man in the tradition of the Holy Fathers.
Image of Man in the Holy Fathers' tradition.

I would prefer the first, but is there a general rule or something?


texts: Why verbs are singular for past and future tense?

texts:
I am curious why there is no plural for past/future tense.

i.e

present tense - He hurts himself while cutting the fruits.

past tense - He hurt himself while cutting the fruits.

future tense - He might hurt himself while cutting the fruits.


texts:
Klein student punished for being high despite squeaky clean drug test

What does the word high here really mean?


texts: primary stress of "running repairs" vs. "running order"

texts:
I'd like to know why the primary stress falls on the second word of "running repairs" but on the first word of "running order."

  The computer is in running order.

  He made running repairs to his car.

I'd appreciate your help.


texts: In an ideal world, everybody has/(would have) enough to eat

texts:
I'm doing an exercise and I have the following sentence under "would" unit:

  In an ideal world, everybody (have) enough to eat.

It's obvious, that I should put would have have here but the question is can I use just has:

  In an ideal world, everybody has enough to eat.

Are both options grammatically correct? If so, does 'has' in the sentence sound unnaturally in any way?


texts: Is it correct to say "I don't have time"

texts:
I know that this is correct:

  I haven't got time.

But is this sentence also correct?

  I don't have time


texts:
Why to back shift the tenses in Reported speech when the incident or news is still true?

In New paper reporter back shifts the tense while reporting the news. But some time the speakers reported speech is still true or still happening while reading.

e.g.

"He added that demonetization had hurt the poor and the economy and the policy was a disaster."

Refer this link.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/PM-Modi-is-interested-in-doing-only-TRP-politics-Rahul-Gandhi/articleshow/55743392.cms

If I say

"He added that demonetization has hurt the poor and the economy and the policy is a disaster."
It will mean the same thing.

Please help me to understand when to backshift tense and when not?


texts:
From NPR: Wheels On The Bike Go Round And Round (To Make Music)

The story tells that Baber--a music writer, create music out of bikes.

  BABER: When you first tell people you made a piece of music from bikes, they're not exactly eager to hit play.

What's the meaning of "hit play"?


texts:
Ron glanced at Hermione, then said, "What if pure-bloods and half-bloods swear a Muggle-born's part of their family? I'll tell everyone Hermione's my cousin -"

  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I've look it up in this dictionary. But I don't know which definition fits. What does 'swear' mean here?


texts: ‘Were reports not taken seriously’ or ‘ Were not reports taken seriously’

texts:
One of my homework is changing sentences into question sentences.

  The original sentence is "Reports were not taken seriously."

BI am not sure where the ‘not’ should be put

  ‘Were reports not taken seriously’ or ‘Were not reports taken seriously’

Which is right?  I feel both are right.


texts: can I use "that" after proof, demonstrated, etc

texts:
I am writing an academic paper, and I need to use demonstrated or proof words. I always use that after these words. I really not sure if this is correct or not.

Here is an example,

  The paper demonstrated that method A outperforms method B.

or

  The paper proved that method A outperforms method B.

Are my sentences correct?


texts:
Complete the following sentence :

  I live in New York, but I ___________ (live) in Mexico for many years.

what should we use "lived" or "have lived" and why ? what is the difference in meaning ? and which one is correct ?

I think that both are correct, but this sentence is a little bit vague.This sentence can be treated as life experience of a person(present perfect), or something that happened in the past (past simple), but the Essential Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy that "lived" is the only correct answer.

I really don't know how to use these tenses correctly ? Can you help me ?


texts: Is the position of "related to moving to a new house" alright in this sentence?

texts:
I would like to know if the expression in bold below is correct.

  I cannot have a long talk now. Let's talk later. I am doing something with my mom related to moving to a new house.

This could be a line spoken in a situation where my mom and I are moving some new furniture for the new house and a call has just come from my friend who wants to have a long talk.

The part I am not sure is correct is "related to moving to a new house" in the sentence because it is placed far from the noun "something" that it modifies.
I want to say "I am doing something related to a new house with my mom." but I want to emphasize the part "with my mom" so I have to place "with my mom" right behind "something". Then, the part "related to moving to a new house" goes after that, and it gets far from "something".
Is it okay that the phrase that modifies a noun gets far from the noun?


texts: Is "there" omittable in this kind of sentence, "Have you ever wondered how many atoms are in a drop of water"?

texts:
This post says

  Have you ever wondered how many atoms are in a drop of water or how many molecules are in a single droplet?

If I rewrite this as

Have you ever wondered how many atoms there are in a drop of water ...

Is this still idiomatic? in other words, are both with and without "there" idiomatic?


texts: ‘Feel embarrassed or feel embarrassment’

texts:
Which one is right to say?

He felt embarrassed

Or

He felt embarrassment

Is there any difference between them?


texts: Using the word "out" after the word "thaw"

texts: What is the etymology of using the word "out" after "thaw"? For instance, "I put the food on the counter to thaw out." Are there any other such words that are customarily followed by "out" where "out" could be omitted and not change the meaning?


texts: Need help eliminating em-dash from my sentence

texts:
I had a sentence formed like this:

  "I am an essential part of this society--not only as a citizen but also as a son, a husband, and a parent--which makes me equally responsible."

But, I have to upload this in a textbox which doesn't allow using em-dash (indicated here as --).

I tried two alternatives:

  "I am an essential part of this society not only as a citizen but also as a son, a husband, and a parent which makes me equally responsible."
  "I am an essential part of this society both as a citizen and as a son, a husband, and a parent which makes me equally responsible."

The problem with 1 is that I feel I may have got my punctuation wrong. Introducing extra commas may result in a comma splice.

The problem with 2 is that the 'both ... and ... ' construct is used as 'both  and '. But in my case I am using it as 'both  and '. Not sure if that is correct either.

Can you please help me solve my problem eliminating the em-dash in my original sentence, either by fixing one of my alternatives or any new suggestions?

Thanks.


texts: Parsing the sentences "Let's {go/go and/go to} try it."

texts:
Let's go try it.

I know the above sentence is quite correct grammatically because I have heard it spoken on numerous occasions.
Could anyone please parse it for me?
Also, what's the problem with these versions of the same sentence (Or how are they different)?

Let's go and try it.

Let's go to try it.


texts:
I have a question about some possible error here:

  New general manager Ryan Pace inherited a bloated, talent-deficient and aged roster, and he knew changes had to come. Pace is doing his best Theo Epstein impression here, shedding unwanted and ill-fitting pieces, even if he has to sell on quarters on the dollar.

Is "to sell on quarters on the dollar" wrong?  Would "to sell for quarters on the dollar" be better?


texts:
I am from Poland and my private teacher said that the phrase "What is on TV?" is grammatically incorrect and she told me about phrase "What is on on TV?" which is according to her grammatically correct.

I would like to know which phrase is correct because as I ask my English friends they say that first one is valid and I am little confused.


texts: What is a word that describes both giving something and also the receiver accepting it?

texts: I have another question that seems to me stupid, but I can't answer it with confidence. When you collect recyclables, then arrive at a special place, and then hand it over (whether in exchange for payment or not), what do you call it? 'Surrender' doesn't work, 'take out' doesn't work, 'hand over' only refers to the physical act of transferring things (whereas I want to imply that it has been accepted, not just that it physically ended up in the hands of a recycling person). It's almost funny, but I struggle to find a good word for this. We have a word 'сдавать' in Russian. It means you hand something over, and it's accepted (luggage, essay, anything). So I need some corresponding term.


texts: What relationship do 'it' and 'that' have?

texts:
He'd forgotten all about the people in cloaks until he passed a group of them next to the baker's. He eyed them angrily as he passed. He didn't know why, but they made him uneasy. This bunch were whispering excitedly, too, and he couldn't see a single collecting tin. It was on his way back past them, clutching a large doughnut in a bag, that he caught a few words of what they were saying. (Harry Potter)

It seems ‘it’ and ‘that’ has no relationship of an expletive and its real subject. So the sentence looks clumsy to me. What do I have to consider not to?


texts: What is the name of this grammatical structure?

texts:
I found this structure while reading. Can anyone tell me what it is called?

  Aware of the situation, he answered the phone, and knowing what he has, he decided to enter the competition.

Also, is the same structure being used in the sentence below? I found the use of the word "willing" a little weird.

  He, willing to help his parents, paid a large sum of money

(I created both of the above examples since I couldn’t remember the original sentences I’d read.)

EDIT: I just found out the structure is known as a Reduced Relative Clause. However, it would still be great if someone could tell me whether or not my example sentences sound weird or not.