Questions tagged [conversation]
The conversation tag has no usage guidance.
143
questions
1
vote
1answer
33 views
There's no proof of what {you're saying/you said/you say} - which tense is correct?
What tense should I use in this case?
Let's say that John and Paul are having a conversation. John claims to know something. Paul doesn't believe him. Which of the following answers is the most ...
0
votes
2answers
40 views
Is “Should I…?” appropriate here?
Joseph puts a gun to the man's head, and looks to Angelo.
Joseph: Should I shoot him?
Joseph is basically asking: Do you want me to kill him? - Is that conveyed through "Should I shoot him?"...
1
vote
1answer
25 views
“left everything to” or “left everything on”? [closed]
Wich of the two sentence is the right one? why?
a) He never tried to mend things on his own and left everything to her
b) He never tried to mend things on his own and left everything on her
1
vote
1answer
33 views
respond to “I hope I'm successful!”
One of my friends who has applied to a university told me "I hope I'm successful!". How can I respond to that? Is it correct to say "I'm sure you will be fine"? Any better ...
3
votes
2answers
85 views
Does “right upstairs” mean “on the floor directly above”?
Background
This line from Monk: Mr. Monk Makes a Friend (2007) motivates this question. Adrian Monk says this just outside his home to a friend of his.
Come on, I live right upstairs.
Just from this,...
41
votes
11answers
8k views
Do native English speakers notice when non-native speakers skip the word “the” in sentences?
I always wanted to know if you folks notice when someone is skipping articles during a basic talk?
0
votes
1answer
49 views
What about you or how about you
I was wondering, if we want to ask someone their answer on something in this kind of context below:
A: How did you feel after graduating from high school?
B: To be honest, I felt nothing. It was not ...
1
vote
3answers
438 views
Asking 'why are you asking this to me?'
Someone asks me a question in very formal conversation. And I want to know why he/she is asking me this question. Basically, I want to know the reason and purpose behind this question. How can I ask ...
0
votes
1answer
81 views
Using “will” vs “would” to express (desire/willingness) in the present
If I'm in the present time and I'm trying to open the door using the key that doesn't want to go inside the lock. Should I say:
1- The key wouldn't go in.
2- They key won't go in.
0
votes
0answers
14 views
Idiomatic context check!
I have 2 cases with 2 options each.I want to know which option is idiomatic to go for ???
Case 1:
1-I am talking about whatever left on the list.
2-I am talking about whatever is left on the list.
...
0
votes
0answers
14 views
Using (at/in/on) prepositions
I'm confused about using prepositions in the following sentences:
1-You can't flirt someone at/on the first call.
2-He is number one at/in that major.
3-He is number one at/in making pancakes.
4-When ...
0
votes
0answers
23 views
Can we congratulate someone on a birthday or a new year?
What verb should I use instead of an ellipsis?
Suppose I said "Happy birthday" to John. Then, I decided to tell my friend that I ... John with/on his birthday.
The point is I want to ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
“I haven't heard” or “I didn't hear” while asking to repeat something
I wonder how I should reply if someone said something to me, and I haven't made out some words.
I fluctuate between these two options:
I'm sorry. I haven't heard what you've just said.
I'm sorry. I ...
0
votes
0answers
18 views
Using “opened up ” as adjective
I heard the following in a movie
"I want you to open up a little bit"
Can I say instead "I want you to be opened up "
1
vote
0answers
19 views
Is “it's been” correct here?
A: Rough day?
B: No, it's been fine.
A: OK.
B: You?
A: Fine. It's just been long.
1) This conversation is close to midnight, so the day is almost over. In that case is "it's been" natural?
2) ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
Context check (using adv in a context)
Is the following phrase is ok to be used :
I have been doing this for five years (consistently /successively)
0
votes
1answer
41 views
What do you say at the end of an E-Meetings? [closed]
Let's say, in our office, we used to take calls/meetings through Zoom & Webex. Usually, people say "Thank you. Thanks", at the end of the meeting. What else can we say in a polite and formal way? ...
1
vote
0answers
30 views
Can I not use the pronoun “I”?
Is it possible not to use the pronoun "I" when it occurs very often?
For example, there are sentences:
I will have breakfast now. Then I will go for a walk. Then I will go to sleep.
Is it possible ...
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Using present perfect confusion
Scenario 1:
I just met my friend and he asked me to play soccer at night and I just told him, "I haven't played soccer in a long time."
Scenario 2:
We just started to play and I couldn't pass ...
0
votes
0answers
28 views
If I say “Well you have yourself a good bank Holiday” and they reply “Yeah” and don't turn round. Are they rude?
If I say "Well you have yourself a good bank Holiday" and they reply "Yeah" and don't turn round. Are they being rude?
A co-worker had their back to me. I said this as a way to say Bye. They ...
0
votes
1answer
153 views
Will you greet your close friend 'Hi there'?
I thought 'Hi there' was only used to greet people who you didn't know their names, such as you write a complaint letter to customer service. So I feel a little bit awkward when I received messages ...
0
votes
0answers
32 views
“thought I'd/wanted to”
A man walks up to a woman at the bar in a bar and they fall into conversation. He squeezes into the conversation that he's a lawyer. The conversation goes on. At some point in the conversation he ...
0
votes
1answer
25 views
Can we use the modal verb “could” to give permission?
Can we use the modal verb "could" to give permission?
For example:
Mr A: Could I take your car?
Mr B: Yes you could.
-1
votes
1answer
195 views
Using “get over with it” Vs “get it over with”
Dialog :
X:Don't you want to settle this issue?
Y: Definitelt, (1) or (2)
1.I just want to get it over with.
2.I just want to get over with it.
Should I go with (1) or (2) and why??because I'm ...
0
votes
1answer
35 views
What does “why why” mean?
Excerpt from a conversation:
A: I have two oak trees in my backyard.
B: Why why I have two oak trees in my backyard too!
What is the meaning of the double "why"? It doesn't look like it's being used ...
1
vote
1answer
38 views
Is saying “is this (name)'s phone?” rude in business conversation?
Is the following sentence rude in business conversation?
Is this (name)'s phone?
I want to ask if the speaker is the person who I'm looking for.
1
vote
0answers
480 views
On top vs on the top vs at the top
Which preposition to use to describe the following:
1-Countries which are weak will become on top .
2-Countries which are weak will become on the top.
3- Counntries which are weak will become at ...
1
vote
0answers
25 views
What sentences are applicable? [closed]
Which of the following is ok and sounds kind of natural ??
1- It has a quality higher than usual.
2- It has a higher quality than usual.
3- It has a quality higher than usual.
4- It has a higher ...
1
vote
0answers
22 views
Context confusion (adjectives & tenses)
Are the following sentences grammatically right and applicable ??
1- The country didn't take procedures as firm as it is in other countries.
2- The country didn't take procedures as firm as it has ...
1
vote
1answer
19 views
Using conjunctions trouble
Which paragraph sounds sort of a native one and is grammatically right ???
Note : I put the Sentences needed to be checked between brackets.
1-It is true that we can't go out and we can't travel ...
1
vote
1answer
20 views
Paraphrasing and Deleting redundants confusion
I came cross the following text in the cambridge online dictionary.
( Used to refer to something that is of higher than usual quality)
I did some paraphrase and deleted what I thought it was ...
1
vote
0answers
36 views
Using adjectives confusion
I just read the following number 1 sentence in newspaper, but I think that it should have been written either like number 2 or 3.
Can any one please explain to me why they wrote it that way????
1- ...
1
vote
1answer
18 views
Which sentences are ok to use?
Which of the following makes sense to use :
1- I feel fatigue.
2- I feel fatigued.
3- I perceive fatigue in your voice.
4- I sense fatigue in your voice.
1
vote
0answers
22 views
Using the past perfect in a context
Is the following make sense from the context side and the grammatical one. ??
She was the prime minister :
1- she had held this post and she had remained in it for 10 years.
2- she had been in ...
3
votes
1answer
311 views
What does “ under what name” mean in this context?
I was in a foreign country wanting to head to the airport, so I called the taxi company using the hostel's phone and asked them if they could send a taxi.The lady who answered the phone asked for my ...
0
votes
1answer
56 views
How to narrate a story or a situation?
When I want to narrate or tell someone about a conversation that I or some people were involved in, it seems wrong to me to represent the participants with, for instance,
Sam said...blah blah blah
...
0
votes
1answer
45 views
Uptalk with question words such as “What”, “Where”, and “How”
In casual spoken English, is it okay to speak English like sentences in bold below?
01
A: Where you are going?
B: To the movies.
02
A: What you talked about with your friends ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
It, this, that to refer to a situation
When a situation is described using many sentences, can we use "it", "this", and "that" to refer to the whole thing? Down below are just some examples that might help you understand my question.
...
3
votes
2answers
50 views
Maybe it's your friend outside [duplicate]
Somebody is knocking on the door. Which one should I say to my brother:
Maybe it's your friend outside?
Maybe that's your friend outside?
0
votes
1answer
40 views
How to say to end a topic that I have no idea to say [closed]
Sometimes when I was talking with people, suddenly I have no idea what to say to move on. At this moment, what can I say to end the topic and restart a new one?
0
votes
1answer
467 views
Is it okay to say “I will be right back with you” to a waiting customer?
Lets assume I am a cashier in a convenient store. I am serving a customer who is buying lots of stuffs. I do not want second customer on the line to get bored. I can say "I will be with you in a ...
5
votes
5answers
8k views
Is it alright to say good afternoon Sirs and Madams in a panel interview?
I will be attending a panel interview (with two men and two women). I don't know their names. I want to be more polite, but I am not sure whether it is alright to say
Good afternoon, sirs and ...
-1
votes
1answer
542 views
What to say if someone is blocking your way
If you want to go into a subway entrance, but someone is blocking your way, what should you say?
0
votes
0answers
61 views
About “dark l” sound in daily conversation
Could you please tell me that if you really make the dark l sound in words like “call” “wall” “fall” or “hole” in daily conversation, like you can feel the movement of your tongue, or just do it when ...
0
votes
1answer
197 views
how do I ask “are you Jason?” on the phone?
very simple question but I can't find the answer directly on google search.
Is this Jason?
Am I talking to Jason?
Are you happen to be Jason?
5
votes
1answer
75 views
“Let's talk math/geography…” meaning
I was reading this article (linked below the sentence) when I came across this:
First, let’s talk geography.
-- Smithsonian Magazine
I could get what it means but the grammar behind it is ...
-1
votes
1answer
33 views
You can say it again or why not?
I'm confused about this dialog I extract from my exam.
A:Honey,let's eat out tonight. What do you think?
B:_____________ I don't feel like cooking anyway.
A:Perfect.
1.Not again!
2.You can say ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
How do I politely tell someone to leave a room?
For example, I'm talking to A and B in a meeting room, and then I want to talk with B and don't want A to listen. How do I politely ask A to leave the room?
2
votes
2answers
114 views
Can I reply “I am good” to imply “ no, thanks” when the context is not about eating or drinking?
Today someone offered me to join them for a card game, but I was heading out for something. I turned and said
"I am good, thanks"
and left them because I was in such a hurry that I had to leave ...
0
votes
1answer
110 views
“Me either” or “Me too” - what's the correct reply?
My friend, she texted me ' I"m just glad no cougar or bear approached you.'
And I said ' Yeah, Me either'
I mean 'Me too'
Is this correct reply..?