Questions tagged [british-english]
for questions specifically related to the English language as spoken and written in the United Kingdom.
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what is the most preferrable way to tell people what you studied in a university
so, I have met some guys in my previous schools, and when I asked them what they studied in schools, I got some different ways of responses, and I am wondering whether there are some most acceptable ...
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Is did so love idiomatic? [closed]
From tressure at an island - enid blyton
They did so love the house at Polseath.
Is that sentence idiomatic according to the 21st century British English? If not, what is?
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Which out of "Climbing up the ladder" or "Going up the ladder" is idiomatic according to British English?
Which sounds better according to British English?
Does climbing down make good sense and is it idiomatic?
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The usage to 'study' and 'revise'
I've heard many people say that
I am going to study tonight for tomorrow's test
Is the usage of 'study' in that sentence correct? If so, why? Would the usage of revise be better in that sentence?
I ...
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Is there any difference or even slight difference between the following? [closed]
United Kingdom, Britain, England, Wales and Scotland
I have seen it more than once written as "England and Wales" and I always thought Wales is part of England. I hope my question is not silly.
...
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In a TV Series, I heard an actor say 'Love' as in British |o| Job and not Love as in |la|, is it a British Dialect or something?
Yet, when I looked it up in the dictionary, the word 'love' is pronounced the same either in British or American Accent. Thank you & Have a lovely day!
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"Student Jacob was in Italy" - is "student", here, an adjective or a noun?
I am currently writing a paper on British newspaper articles; however, I keep on encountering constructions such as:
"Student Jacob was in Italy" or
"jailed Samantha said yesterday..."
where words ...
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American's 'I've got' and British 'I've got'
So when I think I heard an American said “I got (something)”, actually he/she said “’ve” after the “I” and it’s present perfect? And this is the time where present perfect should be used? And then it'...
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What does gave it into the fire mean? [closed]
It's Ariana grande one last time.
Does it mean that she just went in and passed away.
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as author of this work -- no article?
Example with a context (Introduction to Graphical User Interfaces with Java Swing by Paul Fischer, 2004) (From the page that comes at the very beginning of every book and contains copyright and ...
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Writing IT articles in english language - basic rules
I plan write an IT blog in english language, but this is not my native language. I would like to know some basic rules when writing articles. Each advice will be valuable.
Is it good to use two (or ...
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Could things go in vain? Or they just were in vain?
What verb usually goes with "in vain"? Just "to be" or any other?
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You're at a restaurant waiting for a table. People leave a table, now can you say "a table just became free"?
You're at a restaurant waiting for a table. People leave a table, now can you say "a table just became free"? or "a table just became available"? or something else? What's the most common/natural way ...
user19057
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What is the difference between "could we" vs "could you"?
Sales clerk : Looking for anything in particular, sir?
Harry : Yes, em, that necklace there, how much is it?
Sales clerk : It's ￡270.
Harry : Erm, all right, er, I'll have it.
...
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What does 'to wind up' mean in 'to wind up through steep hills'? [closed]
What does 'to wind up' mean in 'to wind up through steep hills'? Is it the same meaning that 'to wind up in steep heels'? Thank you in advance.
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'agree' as a transitive verb
[OED:] 15. {trans.} = To arrange or settle (something requiring the consent of several parties); to come to an agreement on.
In modern use chiefly Brit. Apparently RARE in the 19th cent.
I already ...
user8712
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The car crashed into a bend -- meaning?
Example with a context:
The car accelerated and crashed into a bend, avoiding the missile and leaving the passengers unharmed, he added.
Dictionaries define A bend as a curved or angled part of ...
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May I use 'Good job, sir' to appreciate my boss' work?
Somewhat, I feel it down using this sentence to our seniors, especially our boss.
Good job, sir
Or...for that sake..
Well done, sir
I need natives' input for this. If I'm working for you/under ...
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Singular they and gender neutrality
Gender neutrality seems like a tough nut in English. "One" seems very helpful, but since it's pretty difficult to phrase a right question regarding its usage because of the countless possible uses of ...
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Language; math vs maths
I've heard of the term "maths" used by my UK friends, I am from the US and I use the word "math".
Is "maths" grammatically correct?
For me, it rolls off the tongue oddly;
My maths teachers gave us ...
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"They have *both* got ..." or "They *both* have got ..."
So I had to check my friend's homework, but I myself don't even know the answers. For instance:
"Yes, they are. They are both tall and they have both got brown eyes.
"Yes, they are. They ...
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"Wherever I go you get shops that offer materials..."
I spot this sentence in a passage in a grammar book, which is written by Longman but I could not figure out how the word get was used grammatically? As far as I know we can get to somewhere. Does it ...
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Where does "Can't see the wood for the trees" come from?
I looked online for the meaning of the expression "Can't see the wood for the trees"; see for example, this. It means getting so much involved in the details of something such that you can not see the ...
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Word choice: centring or centric?
Personally I am fanatical about collecting collocations, phrases and sentences for my writing. I heard this sentence while watching a documentary and I didn't hear it well.
The two words,
centre: ...
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How to pronounce education?
Well, Oxford, Cambridge and Macmillan lists /ˌɛdjʊˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/, /ˌed.jʊˈkeɪ.ʃən/, and /ˌedjʊˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/ respectively as the pronunciation for education. Yet, people say /edʒʊkeɪʃən/.
Can you please ...
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The usage of "where"
Is it OK to use "where" for explaining non-physical place?
For instance, is it OK to say "It is a social network where users can ..."?
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Do Americans use the word dodgy as a synonym of the word shady
What does it mean when a dictionary indicates that a word is British English? Does this mean Americans do not use it at all?
For example: Do Americans use the word dodgy as a synonym of the word ...
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Is the collocation "rekindle a relationship" mostly British
I have read this verb in newspapers many times where it is used mostly as synonym of restart and it is collocates with relationship.For example if a couple break up and then if they become couple ...
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is there a one word synonym for tears in happiness
can someone tell me whether there is a one word letter in Britain English for tears which come out in happiness?
It might be of two words also, but do not use 'tears of joy' kind of words..
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What do the British call the dish which is called 'pudding' in the US
I think the word pudding is used mostly as a general name for sweet dishes in the UK, whilst in the US it is a specific dessert. What do the British people call it? It looks delicious innit?
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I have to go vs I have got to go [closed]
Can we say one of them is more American English or British English?
I have to go to school.
I have got to go to school.
I got to go school.
I gotta go.
Gotta go.
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Why connection is "pronounced" as C while "concert" is pronounced as K [duplicate]
I was wondering why connection is pronounced with C while concert is pronounced with K.
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What does the term "Queens English" Mean? [closed]
I am reading a book and I stumbled apon the expression "Queen's English".
My question is:
What does it mean.
Thanks a ton in advance
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Special term/phrase for the 'perfect' or 'impossible' object or solution?
In German there is a phrase that describes a fictional animal that can lay eggs and at the same time provide wool, milk and meat. Also this animal manages to finish your tasks yesterday (funny).
This ...
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Manners in UK - language problem
I moved to the UK (Scotland), as non native English speaker.
Since then I discovered, for example, that when somebody offers you something, and you don’t want it, you can’t just simply say “No” (as ...
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Usage of "General direction"
I heard this in a Monty Pythons sketch ("I fart in your general direction") and I understood its meaning, but I can't quite understand the "General" part of it. Does it mean that it isn't a perfect ...
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Pronunciation of "headachy all week"
I was listening to this British English (BrE) clip, but I could not make out the bold words section by myself. I slowed down the clip but still couldn't make out that sound.
Do BrE speakers drop the "...
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What is the meaning of "date for a date"?
I was in a meeting in Ireland where we were choosing deadline for tasks.
In the meeting note there was the following statement:
Task should be done by January 2015 (i.e. "date for a date" )
What ...
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Just + simple past: "I just watched" vs. "I've just watched"
I don't know if I'm supposed to write an intro before the question since I'm new here lol I'd like to know if it's correct to use just followed by the simple past, e.g.:
I just watched the first ...
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Usage of articles before the noun 'hospital'
Swan provides the following examples (Second editions/unit 134/2):
Will you come and visit me in hospital when I have my operation?
According to the dictionary, hospital is a singular count noun, ...
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What should a language learner know about political correctness?
There are many impolite expressions. In the European country I come from, using the (translation) of the word gypsy is considered rude, yet as far as I know Americans say the word openly. On the other ...
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rent a car, rent out a car, hire a car
English not my native language.
I'm trying to understand what would be correct in British English.
If I want to use a car for some time. I can say, "I want to rent a car". But from my knowledge there ...
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What do we call this? Tea cup circles?
How do you refer to these circles by tea cups? Suppose, I want to say an office boy, how should I say it precisely. I'm stuck because I don't want to call it as 'spilled' tea. Nor do I refer them to ...
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like/love + to infinitive for habits and choices - shades in meaning
I have come across the following sentence (no context, the rubric of the task is to fill in the gaps with the words in capital letters, making all the necessary changes) in Macmillan Exam Skills for ...
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Clothes Washing Liquid?
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, ...
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Can we use the modal verb "could" in the present and future to show possibilities?
I have some basic knowledge of English grammar (this is what I think!!!). I have a question about the modal verbs can and could. Let me share what I know about these modal verbs. I have explained ...
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American vs British pronunciation of `i`
Have you ever noticed that the American pronunciation of the letter i in various words is exactly "opposite" of the British way. Look at the following two word groups to understand what I mean...
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What date format does an American prefer while writing a letter to a British? OR Vice versa
I know that the US English uses mm/dd/yyyy and the Queen's English prefers dd/mm/yyyy (and so InE).
Now imagine Mike from New York City is writing a letter to Joe in London. And the letter is ...
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An agency or company who will help you [duplicate]
I know that "which" or "that" should be used to refer to entities, and "who" to people. However, I have come across "who" being used to refer to companies and agencies in a UK ESL textbook for the ...
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who takes you for English ? - And why not 'Who takes your English?
Who takes you for English ? (Who teaches you English)
The above one is an example from Longman Dictionary
Why 'for' is used in that example ?
Is ''Who takes your English ?'' incorrect sentence ?
...
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