Questions tagged [british-english]
for questions specifically related to the English language as spoken and written in the United Kingdom.
653
questions
0
votes
2answers
59 views
Beatles song. “Love me do” as “Love me too”
When I've heard this song I've thought that there was "Love me too" .May be this is example of word playing? Maybe native speakers can hear this song the same way?
Love, love me do
You know I ...
0
votes
1answer
15 views
correct usage with commas (dashes)
1.The actor, a life well lived, died on the stage.
2.The victim, a local solicitor, was killed on impact.
Is it acceptable to use commas with 1, like 2, or should em dashes be used with after.
The ...
0
votes
0answers
19 views
Understanding “Cracker”
What does "cracker" mean in these passages from The Ferryman by Jez Butterworth:
1:
QUINN. Where’s Michael?
CAITLIN. Flat on his cracker in bed.
2:
MICHAEL. Morning, Tom Kettle. Where’s m’da?
...
2
votes
1answer
36 views
Understanding “pallias”
What does "pallias" mean in the passage:
UNCLE PAT. Cow Gum! Now there’s a scent to stir the soul. September,
nineteen hundred and eleven… I was seven years old. Pat, Maggie,
Arthur, Frank and me, ...
0
votes
0answers
38 views
Is it correct to say “the problem of living cost increasing”?
I'm curious about the right way to say the rising of living cost, because usually I will use:
The problem of living cost increasing
The living cost increasing problem
The increasing of living cost
...
1
vote
1answer
28 views
Term for legal procedure of challenging validity of confession
I am looking for a translation for the Hebrew term משפט זוטא (literally, "small trial").
This term denotes a procedure in which a defendant in a trial, after having confessed in earlier interrogation,...
0
votes
2answers
37 views
Do you know or did you know? [closed]
Do you even know how bad that show was
Did you even know how bad that show was?
Which sentence is the correct one ?
If both are correct, can you give me some contexts for these to be ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
What's the difference between “a lawyer” and a “solicitor”?
What's the difference between a "lawyer" and a "solicitor"?
A type of lawyer in Britain and Australia who is trained to prepare cases and give advice on legal subjects and can represent people in ...
1
vote
1answer
29 views
except for=but for in British English?
The following is taken from Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's English Dictionary, an American dictionary. I'd like to know whether it's also correct in British English.
They would all have died ...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
What is the formal mode to say Hello in an mail?
With an example:
I want to write the mail an important person, with this form
Hello Satoshi.
Some text
Regards.
Vincent.
I want to say to the formal salute, or if I use the Hi/Hello don't is an ...
0
votes
2answers
46 views
Do you have or have you?
I am a English learner and I still don't understand why the auxiliary verb "to do" doesn't appear with the verb "to have".
Is it wrong to say
"She doesn't have brown hair"?
4
votes
2answers
110 views
What's the second d in “didn't”, phonetically speaking?
In British English it seems to merge with the n to produce something which isn't on the standard phonetic chart afaict.
0
votes
0answers
8 views
correct usage/definition with sentence
He reached up and pressed an inviting looking red button, a sign lit up saying "Please do not press this button again."
Would this example be considered a comma splice?
Does it not require and then ...
-1
votes
1answer
45 views
Hi I have been studying English for few months by my own as I can't attend courses, I have this example I didn't understand
why they wrote in oxford work book next question as correct answer:
can you tell me where the waiting rooms are?
and the next question as wrong:
can you tell me where are the waiting rooms?
0
votes
0answers
27 views
Correct comma usage in this example?
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/appositive/
When an appositive noun or noun phrase contains an essential element without which a sentence’s meaning would materially alter, do not frame it with commas.
...
1
vote
1answer
27 views
type of usage/definition
Companies to be brought into public ownership.
Introduce a shorter working week within a decade.
Billions to upgrade every home to be energy efficient.
Skilled and experienced sports therapist, ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
“whose” vs “that its” in English
I'm an English learner and today I faced a question where I was supposed to fill in the missing blank.
The question was:
The large family _____ house had been destroyed by the storm was invited to ...
0
votes
1answer
22 views
correct usage with at and as
My best friend committed suicide because he was being bullied for being "blind" at his high school shortly after this song was released. He stated this song and lyrics gave him comfort and solitude to ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
What's the difference between “it seems like” and “it looks like”? [closed]
Is there any difference between the two??
1
vote
2answers
30 views
“It is done” what is the sentence structure?
It is done
Is "done" in the above sentence an adjunctive or a verb?
Or is it a simple past tense in passive form. If so why "is" is used.
Please clarify what is the structure of the sentence. This ...
1
vote
1answer
14 views
context of a phrase in a sentence
https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/89892/clause-vs-phrase-vs-sentence
A phrase cannot be used as a stand-alone utterance, e.g. "reading a book" is a phrase. However, with proper intonation ...
2
votes
1answer
86 views
If I learn British English, should I stop talking with Americans?
I had the opportunity to speak with several native speakers, It's fun, and they learn my native language, the problem is that several of my language partners speak with an American accent and the ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
Meaning of “They were meant to have them”?
There are five pups.
One for each of the stark children.
The direwolf is a sigil of your house.
They were meant to have them.
Can you please explain the meaning of "They were meant to have them"?
0
votes
1answer
42 views
Is there really a difference between the use of will and shall?
Shall I open the door?
Will I open the door?
So far as I know , the first sentence means will you allow me to open the door?
The second question means Will I have the ability to open the door?
(...
1
vote
1answer
22 views
In present-day reality no-one actually uses classical Latin any more.Why can we use “Classical Latin uses the ablative” in present tense?
What is the difference between (a) and (b)
(a)"Classical Latin uses the ablative"
(b)"Classical Latin used the ablative"
0
votes
0answers
18 views
When teachers introduce the outdated theory(for example:Classical element) to students,should teachers use present tense or past tense to describe it?
Example:
1(a)Classical element comprises the simplest substances,namely earth, water, air, fire and Aether.
1(b)Classical element comprised the simplest substances,namely earth, water, air, fire and ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
“Survivors clinging to a raft.” Is this sentence right?
"Survivors clinging to a raft."
There is no verb in this sentence.
I know this sentence is not the present progressive/present continuous.
But can this sentence be used independently?
I found this ...
0
votes
2answers
40 views
I am unintersted / disinterested in English?
I am uninterested in English.
I am disinterested in English.
Some grammar books say that the use of disinterested is wrong in the context as it means unbiased or impartial
But Michael Swan in ...
1
vote
2answers
48 views
How I say in English with the correct grammar “This is the solution that I searched”
How I say with the correct grammar in English "This is the solution that I searched?"
I think the verb searched didn't is the correct conjugation of the verb
2
votes
2answers
70 views
We are committed to rolling up the evil county lines drugs gangs
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the following on the issue of rising crime in the UK:
"We are committed to rolling up the evil county lines drugs gangs. . . . which predate on young kids and ...
2
votes
1answer
69 views
Why is 1000$ called a 'grand'?
Recently I have noticed that people (especially in the USA) call each 1000$ as a 'grand'.
"It costs 48 grand" = "It costs 48 thousand USD"
I have got two related questions about it:
Why is it ...
0
votes
2answers
69 views
Does “to tot up” also mean “to gear up” in British English?
A movie narration goes:
An array of automatic weapons hangs on coat hooks on the wall behind them. They tot themselves up with AK-47 automatic assault rifles, automatic pistols, and plenty of ...
0
votes
0answers
103 views
What is the difference between “to be Ving” and “to V”?
For example,
(1)You are too young to be contemplating retirement.
(2)You are too young to contemplate retirement.
0
votes
1answer
30 views
What is the difference between “the+singular countable noun” and “zero article+plural countable noun”
What is the difference between "the + singular countable noun" and "zero article + plural countable noun" when we make generalisations about classes of things.
0
votes
2answers
46 views
Collective nouns and auxiliary Do
The word “family” is a collective noun so afaik it should be singular in a sentence like this:
Does your family go on holiday at Christmas?
However, what would be the appropriate short answer?
Being ...
0
votes
3answers
165 views
Grammatically , when can we use “you is” instead of “you are”?
Can we say "you is" instead of "you are"?
For example;
"You is smart"
0
votes
1answer
29 views
Sentence Understanding : “at certain phases of the moon”
What "at certain phases of the moon" Means, is this a slang:
Jesus: The whole point of going into the desert is not eating bread. If I wanted bread I'd go to a shop. As for throwing yourself off a ...
1
vote
2answers
31 views
Commas with titles/occupations
Mayor Steven Smith attended a charity event.
Wildlife Liaison Officer, Lorraine Nelson, attended the scene of the incident.
These examples were taken from a newspaper.
How does the ...
0
votes
2answers
116 views
How to answer, how old is your baby?
My question is how to answer when somebody asks this question?
Since my baby is 10 months, I just replied she is 10, and we laughed out loud. Then I said, of course, 10 months.
What is the correct ...
0
votes
0answers
26 views
Have had a meeting
If I have a connection with "today" then can I say "I have had a meeting today"; where had is used in lieu of participated.... Is it okay
6
votes
1answer
403 views
Meaning of “tumbleweed coifs”
I am currently reading this article,, and there was a word,
This isn’t just another hackneyed reference to Johnson’s surface similarities to Donald Trump, which include urine-colored tumbleweed ...
1
vote
1answer
44 views
The word “Scepter'd Isle” Kindly confirm
I encountered this word at an article and after googling I have come to know this word is Shakepear's play origin.
And I found this site., and I found another site, which was explaining that the 'd ...
0
votes
0answers
44 views
Is it okay when I say “My friends and I are a students”?
Is it okay when I say:
"My friends and I are a students in the university"
OR it should be:
"My friends and I are students in the university"
without the a?
-1
votes
1answer
34 views
describing end points of a range in British English
I'd like to know whether "inclusive" can be placed after "between March and July," as after "from March to July" to indicate March and July are included in the range in British English.
And how do we ...
0
votes
1answer
370 views
What is the difference between 'he hasn't said' and 'he did not say'? What are the rules and which should I use?
I am following an exercise to fill in the gaps in a text.
The text is:
Jacques _____ how he pulled off perhaps the most systematic plundering of Britain's great libraries ever carried out by an ...
1
vote
1answer
34 views
Understanding “That's just being down the pub”
what does "That's just being down the pub" means in this sentence from the passage:
Sandy: Come on. You're a philosopher. You like arguments. Show me your stuff.
John: Philosophy is more than ...
1
vote
1answer
104 views
Is the sentence “They are benches” correct?
While demonstrating objects, can we use the pronoun they?
For example:
A: They are benches.
B: These are benches.
C: Those are benches.
I know B and C are correct, but what about A?
0
votes
1answer
17 views
When to use escape and escaped?
A man trying to escape from deadly machine which is about to explode and at the same time victim saw that man is in dangerous situation but victim didn't see whether that man died or not after the ...
2
votes
1answer
71 views
What is the word term paper called in Britain?
I checked term paper on OED and it shows that it is AmE.
So what is the British one for it?
0
votes
1answer
190 views
The meaning of “floored” in: “he was floored when they told him he was 'going viral'”
I need to confess I am a Limahl fan and my feeling goes with this story.
It's a bit long article, so that please forgive me if you need to read to the line I would like to lead to, which is
Limahl,...
