Questions tagged [british-english]
for questions specifically related to the English language as spoken and written in the United Kingdom.
610
questions
1
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1answer
11 views
correct usage/sentence structure
The terrorists had used their influence — fear— to keep the women as prisoners.
The power of believing in the myth (fear) kept its spirit alive.
How should these types of examples be punctuated? ...
0
votes
1answer
25 views
Struggling understanding IELTS reading comprehension answer key
I need some help with explaining this IELTS reading exercise.
The question from the exercise is: Rocket as war weapons were first invented or used by ________?
The options are:
a. The Chinese
b. ...
1
vote
1answer
23 views
Correct usage with as
He was late for work, as although he needed the money, he didn't like the job.
He was late for work. As although he needed the money, he didn't like the job.
Are both of these sentences correct? ...
1
vote
1answer
21 views
There will not be after school class tomorrow, will be?
There will not be after school class tomorrow, will be ?
Is this question grammatically correct ?
0
votes
1answer
35 views
Are you ready for Sports Day?
I wonder why the book wrote:
Are you ready for Sports Day? (=the Sports Day)
Why there is no article 'the' preceding the word Sports since it is a Proper Noun?
2
votes
1answer
17 views
A question regarding: Here is some medicine
My reference book gives me an example as follows:
Here is some medicine.
To me, it does not make sense since some implies things more than one; thus, should medicine becomes medicines?
Having ...
1
vote
1answer
21 views
What loud thunder! or What a loud thunder!
My reference book gives me an example as follows:
What loud thunder!
Should it be written as:
What a loud thunder!
1
vote
1answer
24 views
Vegetable or vegetables?
The book I'm using writes vegetable in a plural form.
I don't think this is correct.
Do you like strawberries or lettuce?
No. I like neither fruit or vegetables.
Should it be written as:
...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
The missing “from” in British English— is it really correct?
Typical American construction: "I drew my pistol and stopped the intruder from attacking me."
Typical British construction: "I drew my pistol and stopped the intruder attacking me."
Is the ...
0
votes
2answers
85 views
“It's just rammed up again”
I heard in a British show this line:
We cleared this place out before, but it's just rammed up again. (source)
The subtitles on Netflix also give "rammed up", but this phrase doesn't make sense to ...
0
votes
0answers
12 views
commas with names
The talented local runner and medal winner, Joanne Smith, has won gold in the local race for charity.
The daughter of a local councilor, runner Joanne Smith, has won gold in the local race for ...
0
votes
1answer
16 views
Is 'I can't imagine what would that be like' a correct sentence?
I don't like literary theory, I can't imagine what would that be
like..
That's my own sentence, but I've got no idea how to correct this.
0
votes
0answers
28 views
“high school” in UK/BrE?
I was under the impression, that high school is typical AmE while in UK secondary school was used. However, I was confronted that in British English high school is also used, and I was provided with ...
3
votes
1answer
42 views
Run 2 runs, run 2 (can “runs” be dropped in colloquial language) [cricket]
I had a question related to Cricket. Colloquially, where the context's obvious, can "runs" be dropped to avoid duplication?
The batsman ran two runs.
But can it be (in a obvious context)
The ...
0
votes
1answer
13 views
You have to choose an hour that isn't already taken by someone
I always have problem using the word already, or simply have trouble with tenses;
in the first place, is the sentence in the question correct? secondly, when should we use already, can we use it in ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
timeout vs. time-out vs. time out in British English
I have a term called time out which refers to the maximum amount of time the program will wait for a response, after which it will close the connection. I do not know how to spell it. There is the ...
1
vote
1answer
36 views
what are the words used to describe pronunciations called?
Following are some examples of words that describe the pronunciation of other words. What are these descriptive words called? I tried using search but it didn't help.
hipster - hip.stuh
say -...
0
votes
3answers
55 views
Use of “shall” with third person pronoun in British English
Is this still common in British English to use the modal 'shall' with a third person pronoun? If so, what is the difference between the following?
He shall repent.
He should repent.
0
votes
1answer
20 views
Order of two prepositional phrases
Which of these would be better:
I came here from England for my education
or:
I came here for my education from England
2
votes
2answers
51 views
Pronunciation of the prefix de- (UK / NA)
Example words:
Decode
Demilitarize
Are given in Wiktionary with a short i sound
"Dick-oh-d"
"Dim-ill-it-ugh-rise"
But I can‘t find anything in other dictionaries or examples on Youtube to back this ...
0
votes
1answer
15 views
What does “Something has to go” mean
Hello to all community members.
I am preparing for the IELTS listening and rehearsing the cambridge books IELTS listening tests. I marked one question wrong and when i checked the typescript and ...
0
votes
1answer
33 views
correct usage with although/therefore
but cannot be used in the same way at although/though. We use
but to connect items which are the same grammatical type.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/conjunction
The ...
1
vote
1answer
39 views
Difference between mean and tight
I'm trying to guess if an English speaker says mean or tight when you are talking about a person who don't like to spend their own money.
Do you use different words depending on the friendship with ...
3
votes
2answers
285 views
If current results hold, Man City would win PL title
The line under the scoreboard says
If current results hold, Man City would win PL title.
I am totally confused about why would is there. It describes a particular condition (winning the game) and ...
0
votes
0answers
15 views
About correct preposition
It appears from/ through the study that the author is inspired by/with/from historians of Ghazna period.
tell me the correct preposition to be used here.
1
vote
1answer
28 views
Hazard SEALS Europa League final spot
Chelsea 1-1 Frankfurt: Hazard seals Europa League final spot after Kepa penalty heroics
The title is confusing. How can one seal the spot in a competition? What does to seal mean here? Is it to cover,...
1
vote
1answer
53 views
“WHAT do you want to be?” vs “WHO do you want to be?”
I came across this
What do you want to be when you grow up?
[...]
Are you right now who you want to be?
and the first sentence sounds weird to my English learner's ear. Specifically, I am ...
0
votes
2answers
46 views
How do you call “a bicycle pump” informally?
I said
I borrowed a bicycle pump yesterday.
and it bothers me because I think there should be nicer options (less formal, more conversational).
Is there any colloquial alternative to "a bicycle ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
Understanding Last lot & New lot
What does "Under the last lot. Under the new lot" mean in this passage:
Paul: Have you ever seen me cry? Do I look like a man who cries? Has
there ever been a day … ? Christ, we’ve known each ...
1
vote
2answers
39 views
Does “the care of A” mean that “someone looks after A” or “A looks after someone”?
They shared the care of the children.
This is a straightforward sentence telling us that "they looked after the children".
The study showed a deep fear among the elderly of being abandoned to
...
1
vote
1answer
22 views
correct usage with phrases
Why doesn't just a sense work as the subject in the following sentence? Why does it need in a sense?
A sense we were witnessing someone pushing boundaries and defying conventions.
You could have:
...
0
votes
2answers
44 views
Is there a polite and natural way to welcome the stranger you've already met today?
Is there a polite and natural way to welcome the stranger you've already met today? A usual greeting seems inappropriate since you've already seen the person. Even if it was a brief encounter (in a ...
5
votes
4answers
555 views
Fizzy, soft, pop and still drinks
I was curious what people call a carbonated (with gas) and non-carbonated (gas-free) beverages / drinks in English speaking regions around the world. I need two fixed terms in everyday English which ...
1
vote
4answers
62 views
An equivalent for “Carrying coal to Newcastle” widespread in both AmE and BrE
What is the Americans equivalent for the following proverbial sayng which means: "to supply something to a place or person that already has a lot of that particular thing":
Carrying coal to ...
26
votes
16answers
7k views
What's the polite way to say “I need to urinate”?
What's the polite way in the UK to say "I need to urinate" (both for men and for women)? Or maybe there's no problem with that sentence?
N.b. I'm asking about situations in which I know where it's ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
usage with with is in this example
A film scene is made all the more powerful by its score.
Can we say something is made powerful?
Should it be something like: brought to life by its powerful score.
1
vote
2answers
16 views
What should I use here?
All I see is a dead crowd and people on their phones
All I see are a dead crowd and people on their phones
Which one is grammatically correct?
1
vote
2answers
73 views
To study english with Sherlock Holmes movie is fine?
I am studying english with movies Notting Hill and Sherlock Holmes, but the Sherlock Holmes movie (Robert John Downey Jr) is based in 100 years ago.
Do you think it is good to study?
0
votes
1answer
147 views
Does anyone know how to distinguish between (1) [ Subject(plural) + are + Object(plural) ] and (2) [ Subject(plural) + are + a/an Object(singular) ]?
For example:
Computers are important research tools
Computers are an important research tool.
Does anyone know how to distinguish between (1) and (2)?
3
votes
1answer
600 views
Do British people often use the word lightning conductor?
Do British people use the word lightning conductor more frequently than a lightning rod?
0
votes
1answer
14 views
Understanding a line through a passage
What this line means: That’s what I always you see?
(Edward canes Anna once)
Edward: One. That’s what I always you see? I think it’s fairer you see to
count aloud. So that the boy knows ...
0
votes
1answer
48 views
I was having a bath with my glasses wore/wearing?
I want say a sentence like: I was having a bath with my glasses wore/wearing
I've definitely come cross similar structure like this, with my stuff + past simple(or perhaps past participle). Hopefully ...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
“Cause unwholesome inspiration and impact on viewers”
So I have this sentence, and I don't know if you can say "cause" or if I should replace it with another word.
Thank you,
thegirlinneedofhelp
1
vote
2answers
48 views
What is the basic difference between these two?
1) I have seen everything today
2) I saw everything today
How is the first line different from the 2nd please explain?
1
vote
1answer
39 views
“public transport” vs. “public transportation”
Buses are the main form of public transportation
Buses are the main form of public transport
Which one is correct?
3
votes
1answer
29 views
It is so lovely a day
I know "such a lovely day" is definitely correct, but what do you think of "it's so lovely a day"? Is it okay as well?
This part of an exercise I did in FCE use of English, 'it's so lovely day' is ...
0
votes
1answer
37 views
Correct usage with conjunctions
The performer died after falling ill on stage. This was thought by the audience to be a part of the act, until emergency services were called in, the audience was evacuated, and he was declared dead ...
1
vote
1answer
16 views
understanding words in a passage about Caning
this conversation is about caning, but I have a problem with the meaning of this line:
"Take this firmly in both hands and bend and you could snap it in
two."
the context is about "snap" the ...
0
votes
2answers
32 views
type of usage with finite clauses
I heard this song played on the radio.
I heard this song (finite clause)
So 'I heard this song' feels like it requires more information alone, but you could say it in speech or:
I heard this song....
-1
votes
1answer
24 views
Numerals: how to read and understand [closed]
Please, help me to puzzle it out:)
I've read the sentense in the text about school:
"There are about one 600 pupils". The author writes how large the school is.
I understand the meaning of the phrase, ...
