Questions tagged [british-english]
for questions specifically related to the English language as spoken and written in the United Kingdom.
3
votes
2answers
30 views
What's the common usage of the term “innit” in British slang?
This question is primarily for Brits, although anyone knowledgeable is welcome to contribute.
Recently I conducted an activity at my school to spread a bit of information about common British slang. ...
0
votes
0answers
43 views
Can someone solve this? [on hold]
Can someone solve this? I don’t know how.
Complete the sentences with the correct forms of used to, be used to or get used to and the verbs in brackets:
1 He _____ (be) an engineer, but now he ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
Reflexive pronoun vs pronoun
Which one is correct?
He engraved photos of himself and his wife on the coins.
Or
He engraved photos of him and his wife on the coins.
1
vote
2answers
12 views
Whose or who? Help please in understanding the difference between them. What's the use of it?
Can you please help me understand the difference between using whose and who
And why in this sentence whose is useful?
whose umbrella is this? Is it your mother's?
The choices were
Who
...
0
votes
2answers
14 views
correct usage with paragraphs
The next car to test was the Dodge Challenger. This vehicle was excellent to drive, and it had great handling. However, the interior was dated, and it had cosmetic faults, but these could be rectified ...
0
votes
3answers
36 views
English Grammar: When+past simple
Can you please explain me how can 'shone' be after 'when' ?
Or another example. When added to a liquid,antifreeze lowers the freezing temperature of that liquid'
1
vote
1answer
38 views
Plural of school subject
What is the plural of "school subject"? Is "school subject" also common in American English?
5
votes
4answers
107 views
The meaning of “up” in the phrase “up in London”
He'd been to a lecture the previous night up in London.
I looked it up in a dictionary. 'Up' as adverb has many meanings. Would you tell me if the meaning I chose is applied to the sentence?
From ...
2
votes
2answers
19 views
Prefer to vs prefer than
Which one is correct, explain with reasons. 'He prefers to watch hollywood movies because they have good stories' or 'He prefers watching Hollywood movies because they have good stories'.
Please also ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
Among Vs between
I saw a sentence, "Between videos games, television, and the internet, kids these days are spoilt for choice when it comes to their entertainment".
We can't use 'between' for more than two entities so ...
0
votes
2answers
28 views
What's the most common name for the owner of the apartment (in which rents it to others)
What's the most common name -in the UK- for the owner of the apartment (in which rents it to others)?
I found three choices: homeowner, landlord, owner. Is one of them is more common in usage than ...
0
votes
1answer
20 views
What does “be not for turning” mean?
It is from this article.
"But what about the money?" I press on. "Going by your declaration, it's going to take 10 years for you to earn the registration fee - let alone to pay it back." Yuriy's ...
1
vote
1answer
29 views
It's a few weeks off/away
If something is just going to happen,is it common to use "off"?
Like:
It's just a few weeks off.( Like something, well anything could be used instead of "it's " ,to mean that thing is just a ...
1
vote
1answer
12 views
Subject verb agreement case
More than one tree/trees release/releases oxygen even at night.
Can anyone explain me which options are correct in both the cases?
0
votes
1answer
18 views
Subject verb agreement error
Slow and steady win the race.
or
Slow and steady wins the race.
I know that 'wins' is the correct answer but can anyone explain me why? And why 'win' can't be filled there and where is ...
1
vote
1answer
25 views
Definition of parenthetical element
**A parenthetical element is a phrase that adds extra information to the sentence but could be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence-**grammarly*.*
1.This strange inertia of the camera,...
0
votes
0answers
13 views
Question formation, helping verbs usage
What could have we done? Or What could we have done? Which one is the correct usage.
As in an interrogative sentence, helping verbs should come before the subject so I think first structure is ...
0
votes
1answer
11 views
What is the difference between Cryptography benchmark and Cryptographic benchmark
I read an article in which I saw
Sandra cryptography benchmark
My question is shouldn't it be
Sandra cryptographic Benchmark
1
vote
1answer
32 views
Preposition used for curtains
is ''the curtains are on the window'' correct in British English?
The preposition ''by'' sounds weird to me when talking about curtains. I'd say '' in front of'' or ''next to''.
1
vote
1answer
66 views
Please help me understand this sentence “It was possible that the barbarian suspected…”
"It was possible that the barbarian suspected as much, that by some slow process of rumination he had arrived at his fixed and inveterate impression, by no means a clear reasoned conviction."
This ...
0
votes
2answers
80 views
He will join us soon / He will be joining us soon
He will join us soon.
He will be joining us soon.
This is little confusing, both options seem correct to me. Please explain.
0
votes
1answer
11 views
Comparison by 'as'
I have two questions and both of them can be solved by the same concept then I want to say that the 'explanation of second sentence is same as first sentence'. Is it correct, can I say this?
or should ...
0
votes
1answer
25 views
'May I know…' if 'May I know when this group was established?' sounds natural? May I know other ways to ask this question?
May I know when this group was established?
Hello. I learned in a text that we can say 'May I know...?' in formal situations. But an American teacher of English told me it sounded unnatural. He said '...
4
votes
3answers
83 views
Singular vs plural: maths
There's no doubt in my mind that most people reading this will have been faced with this most tedious question: should I use maths as a singular/plural noun in the following sentence?
[random ...
1
vote
2answers
32 views
how many friends do you get to meet there?
Is this correct way to ask a question to a person who went to party function, there he wanted to meet his friends?
1
vote
0answers
40 views
The meaning of 'There must be blocking it.' [closed]
I came across this expression in the sitcom IT Crowd(S04E04 00:17:44).
Here is the context.
Jane:Where is it?
Moss:There must be blocking it.I'll try to move to clear the passage.
(They are ...
0
votes
0answers
11 views
Whats the formal expression for picking up an exam ticket?
"May i take a ticket please ? " Or "May you allow me to pick up a ticket? " or whats the best suitable expression for this matter ?
0
votes
1answer
23 views
type of usage with phrase
1.The sun shining bright and the pale blue sky forming a backdrop of the Sacre Coeur, Carl stepped into his future as a traveler and observer.
2.He won his favorite competition, the long jump, and ...
0
votes
1answer
20 views
Usage with noun phrases and determiners
https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/noun-phrase
(I don't think we can really say that an NP is equal to a noun because nouns represent a category on a lower level than a noun phrase.
A noun ...
0
votes
2answers
53 views
I am confused on which to use “that” or “by which”
Q: In the US, a primary election is a method -------- voters select the nominees for public office
A: that B: is that C: by which D: by those
I am stuck between A and C
0
votes
2answers
33 views
How to understand “got a good bit of use out of them”
‘Fred and George have invented Extendable Ears, see,’ said Ron. ‘They're really useful.’
‘Extendable—?’
‘Ears, yeah. Only we've had to stop using them lately because Mum
found out and went ...
1
vote
1answer
29 views
“replace by” Vs “replace with”
As a step to renovation he has decided to replace old furniture by/ with new one.
I'm little confused in this sentence .
can you describe it ?
-1
votes
2answers
27 views
“this qualifies for” vs. “this qualifies as”
What is the difference between "this qualifies for" and "this qualifies as"?
I don't understand the difference between "qualifies for" and "qualifies as"
0
votes
1answer
19 views
Difference between “play at” and “play upon”
We are playing at cards.
She is playing upon the piano.
In both sentences why are we using prepositions ?
0
votes
1answer
28 views
How can I improve and speak English fluently? [closed]
English is not my first language and I am very bad in English. But I want to learn English so I could speak in English. It's my dream to learn English. But I do not have money to attend English ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
Is “of” or “off” correct?
Films representing the Duke saying good-bye to his favourite canary on
the eve of the trial were in readiness weeks before the event was due
to take place; other films depicted the Duchess holding ...
2
votes
2answers
19 views
Difference between “advance for” and “advance by” [closed]
He is advanced for his years.
The visit of viru has been advanced by two days .
1
vote
1answer
30 views
What is the meaning of “rather”?
It is rather a nuisance.
It is a rather nuisance.
Which sentence is correct, and what is the meaning of rather here?
0
votes
1answer
16 views
comma splice and type of phrase
Rocking a massive clock around his neck, he puts most rappers to shame.
He is now set to be released from category prison in Suffolk, to a bail hostel after Christmas.
Is the part after comma a noun ...
0
votes
1answer
37 views
Type of usage in these examples
When an absolute phrase is described as a phrase/clause (as was in the below example) what is meant by this. Is it not clearly one or the other ? I'd imagine phrase as there is no subject.
The winter ...
0
votes
1answer
64 views
Is it called in BrE - switch or button?
I saw two translations for this thing and I'd like to know if it's called switch or button in British English.
"She touched the ?_ and she was electrocuted."
0
votes
1answer
13 views
Should I use “in” or “of”?
Which one is correct
This is the last November of our college life.
This is the last November in our college life.
1
vote
2answers
59 views
ing clauses coordination
-ing co-ordination
He returned and closed the front door, making sure it was unlocked.
We play a fun game, trying to remember the day’s coaching tips.
The bullet missed, passing over his head
How ...
0
votes
1answer
25 views
Repeating prepositions after not
I would like to ask about repeating the preposition in this sentence
"he focused on learning the poems by heart not (on) how to write poetry."
Is it necessary to use the preposition with the bracket ...
1
vote
2answers
55 views
UK: Is “How do you do?” overly formal in these business situations?
I have learned that "How do you do? is very formal and is not used very much, especially by younger people, these days." (source: BBC — Learning English).
I would still like to know if using "How do ...
33
votes
7answers
10k views
Does one call “regular” men “Sir” in the UK?
I've lived in the US for a couple of years and ended up using "Sir" when addressing "regular" men in a large range of situations (in which I would use "Ma'am" if I was addressing a woman):
[on ...
1
vote
1answer
25 views
Type of usage in this example/accuracy
After entering the fountain of youth, she was now young not old.
After entering the fountain of youth, she was now young and not old.
Are both these ok. Any difference?
Can you leave out the comma ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
What does it refer to in this sentence?
Armani's move into hotel business is considered the boldest by a luxury goods company, but "it" is not the first.
For what does it in "it's not the first refer to?
2
votes
1answer
50 views
How does a phrase differ from a clause
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/price_is_right
Is this a phrase or clause. How do they differ aside from active verb.
A group of words that is part of, rather than the whole of, a sentence
A phrase ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
Type of usage in these examples?
*That feeling you get when your kid won't let you do your housework.
Me stressed at the thought of tonights traffic.*
What do we call these types of sentences that commonly come with a picture or ...
