This tag is for questions about the difference in meaning between certain phrases or sentences.
1
vote
1answer
26 views
“these clues four” VS “these four clues”
Choose, unless you wish to stay here forevermore
To help you in your choice, we give you these clues four
First, however slyly the poison tries to hide
You will always find some on nettle wine'...
1
vote
2answers
25 views
When did you marry? Or get Married ? Why? [duplicate]
I saw a lesson in English, said in Past Simple the following examples:
When did you get married?
When did you graduate?
Now, Why he said at (1) "get married" NOT "marry" like "graduate" in ...
0
votes
1answer
21 views
Believe/believing me right now
Why are you not believing me right now?
Vs
Why don't you believe me right now?
What is the difference? Which one sounds more natural in terms of its usage and what meaning do they carry?
3
votes
2answers
34 views
Why is the present perfect simple used in this sentence (and not the present perfect continuous)
I'm looking for some advice on why this sentence (from a FCE book) is in the the present perfect simple: I have spent ages preparing for the party.
This sentence requires the use of the present ...
0
votes
1answer
22 views
“become known” vs. “come to be known”
Tell me please if following sentences have indentical meanings.
The president became known as the most innovative president of all.
The president came to be known as the most innovative ...
1
vote
1answer
33 views
By the time we get there, he will be/will have been gone
By the time we get there, he will be/will have been gone.
I would like to know whether there is a difference between these two or the perfect tense is wrong here.
I assume that with the perfect ...
0
votes
2answers
43 views
Difference between “India Pale Ale” and “Indian Pale Ale”
Is there a difference in the meanings of "India Pale Ale" and "Indian Pale Ale"? I mean, without considering that "Indian Pale Ale" is an incorrect term for a sort of beer, would a native speaker have ...
0
votes
1answer
20 views
question about “In” vs “For”
The agency expects the U.S. will continue to produce more oil than Russia and Saudi Arabia for the rest of this year.
My question is, can I use "in the rest of this year", it is correct? What are the ...
0
votes
2answers
23 views
What's the difference between “of” and “out of”?
What's the difference between the two?
She crafted the bookcase out of solid pine wood and then painted it.
She crafted the bookcase of solid pine wood and then painted it.
1
vote
1answer
15 views
Which is correct, “one dozen transactions” or “a dozen transactions”? (The cashier conducted one dozen transactions)
Which is correct, "one dozen transactions" or "a dozen transactions"? As in,
The cashier conducted one dozen transactions.
(I researched my Oxford mini dictionary but it did not provide the help ...
2
votes
2answers
35 views
Never in the present perfect and the past perfect
After another grammar repetition, I started thinking about adverb 'never' in the present participle and past participle.
The rules say that using 'never' in the tenses is possible, but what is the ...
2
votes
1answer
23 views
provided chart vs chart provided
Which one is correct?
The provided charts illustrate the information about employment.
or
The charts provided illustrate the information about employment.
1
vote
1answer
23 views
“That being so” & “With that said” vs “Having said this”
I know that these words mentioned above aren't related, however, I wonder why not. As a non-native English speaker it is kind of confusing because both are somehow referring to an antecedent context, ...
14
votes
5answers
4k views
What is the difference between “I still use” vs “I am still using” in this sentence?
What's the difference between :
It's 2018 already and I still use an iPhone 5S.
vs
It's 2018 already and I am still using an iPhone 5S.
Does the use of the word 'using' mean I am thinking of ...
0
votes
1answer
43 views
Bump into/against: The car bumped into/against a tree
I don't know when to use against and when to use into, after bump:
The cat bumped against the door
The clumsy boy always bumps into the furniture
While dancing, she bumped into me several ...
0
votes
1answer
20 views
difference between “for the first time” and “the first time around”?
What is the difference between the following sentences?
He has failed the exam for the first time.
He has failed the exam the first time around.
Do those phrases have indentical meanings? If ...
1
vote
1answer
44 views
Is “you will hurt” correct?
Is it correct to say 'you will hurt' or 'you will get hurt'? I read this quote on the net:
“It’s not a question of whether you will hurt, or of how much you will hurt; it’s a question of what ...
8
votes
3answers
1k views
“I'd like to have something to drink” vs “I'd like to drink something”
What differences in meaning between this:
I'd like to have something to drink.
and this:
I'd like to drink something.
I'm listening English audio course, and there are used "to have something ...
1
vote
1answer
17 views
“study a book” VS “study out of(from) a book”
I'm not sure if 'study a book' is a correct phrasing. "Study out of a book" or "study from a book" looks more correct to me, and they mean to learn from a book.
Will "study a book" mean the same ...
-1
votes
1answer
26 views
(Nouns, not adjectives) differential vs. difference
The European Union: A Beginner's Guide. p. 139 Bottom - p. 140 Top. I, and not the book, bolded.
Gender has traditionally played a key role in the pricing of insurance policies.
In 2004 an EU ...
0
votes
2answers
16 views
Can (adjectives) 'different' and 'differential' be interchanged?
The European Union: A Beginner's Guide. p. 139 Bottom - p. 140 Top. I, and not the book, bolded.
Gender has traditionally played a key role in the pricing of insurance policies.
In 2004 an EU ...
1
vote
1answer
31 views
As of (date), ambiguity?
Yesterday I found out that “as of” is, especially in AmE, used often to mean “on a particular date”, not just “from a date onward”.
So I wonder:
The directive is effective as of now.
Could this be ...
1
vote
0answers
11 views
“taste different” or “taste differently”? [duplicate]
Tell me please if it correct different or differently in the following sentence.
But eggs can taste different/differently depending on how fresh they are, the way they're cooked and the diet of the ...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
“Near the lake” vs. “by the lake”
What is the difference between "near the lake" and "by the lake", meaning-wise?
Just never seen "by the" form in texts before.
0
votes
0answers
17 views
“the only place to provide programs” vs. “the only place that provides programs”
"A Museum" is the only space in the area to provide free educational programs.
Will this sentence mean the same as the sentence below?
"A Museum" is the only place in the area that provides free ...
0
votes
1answer
42 views
“be not a someone” vs. “Be no someone”?
Tell me please if there is any difference between the following sentences.
He is not a doctor to give health advice.
He is no doctor to give health advice
1
vote
2answers
28 views
Is there any difference between “getting” and “to be getting”?
Is there any difference between "getting" and "to be getting"?
Example "Trees getting cut down." and "Trees are getting cut down."
Is there any difference between these 2 sentences ?
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Are marketing ploys the same as marketing gimmicks?
I was trying to translate in my mind right before I wrote to an English friend about the tricks that companies use to draw attention to their products and to drive sales. That's when the word gimmick ...
3
votes
2answers
44 views
What is the nuance between “yet” and “ever” in these sentences?
Here are the sentences:
Her latest novel is her best yet.
It’s one of the toughest warnings yet delivered.
Replacing yet with ever, how does it feel different?
0
votes
1answer
26 views
“to be gained” or “can be gained”?
Tell me please if to be gained means the same as can be gained in the following sentences.
Given the giant sets approach is an advanced training method it is best that it not be used by beginners ...
2
votes
1answer
37 views
Is there any difference between “differ widely” and “differ dramatically”?
The phrases "differ widely" and "differ dramatically" are both translated to "very different" or "have great difference" in my learner's dictionary.
It seems that "differ widely" means differences in ...
3
votes
4answers
64 views
Binge-eating vs eating binge
The Longman dictionary states that binge can be used as a noun and as a verb, but not as an adjective or adverb. And so, expressions like:
A drinking binge.
An eating binge.
A buying ...
1
vote
1answer
58 views
Would you mind if I + past simple/base form (When you want to ask for permission to say something in the class)
My first question is:
What are we talking about, Present or Future?
Student: Excuse me sir, would you mind if I say something?
Teacher: No, I wouldn't. What's the matter?
...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
Consider these pairs of sentences. What are the differences in meaning between them? [closed]
Consider these pairs of sentences. What are the differences in meaning between them? Provide a context and say how you would demonstrate these differences to students.
I’ll buy one when I have the ...
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Do we like things better or more?
I've always thought about why some people say, for example:
I like this web browser better than the other one.
When they probably should say:
I like this web browser more than the other one.
I ...
0
votes
2answers
47 views
key estimate “in” establishing or key estimate “to” establishing
I am struggling to decide which sentence is correct (maybe they are both correct?) and I would appreciate any comments.
The sentences I am trying to decide between are
The following result was ...
8
votes
1answer
949 views
Why do we say “a one-legged man”, with a final -ed, but also say “a one-person job” without?
Why do we say "a one-legged man", with a final "-ed", but also say "a one-person job" without the "-ed"? We also say:
A two-minute walk.
A six-hour flight.
But then we say:
A green-eyed ...
2
votes
1answer
36 views
This is the best day in/of my life
I wonder if there is a steadfast rule for when to use in and when to use of with superlative forms:
I'm so happy. This is the best day of my life.
This is the worst depression in US history.
...
0
votes
1answer
50 views
I am going to/will be 30 tomorrow
According to Cambridge, going to is used for predictions, intentions and commands. However, in my coursebook Interchange, which is also published by Cambridge, there is this example:
I'm going to ...
1
vote
2answers
23 views
How “the sleep” changes a phrase? Where it is appropriate to use the definite article?
There is a computer game called "Silence of the sleep" and I wonder, why "the sleep"? How would you understand it without the article (and do you understand it now?)
In addition
I was searching in ...
1
vote
1answer
36 views
What should be used here? “don't” or “won't”?
The song anything could happen by Ellie Goulding has these lyrics:
cover your eyes so you don't know the secret
https://genius.com/amp/Ellie-goulding-anything-could-happen-lyrics
shouldn't it be ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
“On the surf” or “in the surf”?
Vocal groups include enormously popular bands like The Beach Boys and Jan and Dean whose harmonic voices told stories of days on the surf and nights full of parties and hot rods. (source)
Since "surf"...
0
votes
1answer
56 views
“What color is your car?” vs “what is the color of your car?”
The pattern what x be y? is frequent in English and can be seen in sentences like these:
What color is your car?
What time is it now?
What day does school begin?
What size is this ...
3
votes
5answers
161 views
What's the actual difference between “fire” and “flame”?
What's the actual difference between "fire" and "flame"?
Based on Cambridge dictionary:
Flame is a stream of hot, burning gas from something on fire:
Fire (material that is in) the state of ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
“source to” and “source from” have the same meaning?
Trump slams damning New York Times op-ed as 'gutless' - CNNPolitics
But the op-ed, compounded by Woodward’s book sourced to numerous
current and former White House officials, has left Trumpworld ...
3
votes
1answer
29 views
WILL or continuous forms for habits - which is more common?
Which of the following is more common in everyday speech:
She is always mumbling to herself when she's reading.
She WILL always mumble to herself when she reads.
Is that the emphatic WILL (...
1
vote
1answer
42 views
Does the ordering of relative clauses matter?
Is this sentence correct with respect to the parts in italics? Is there a better way of saying it?
The only person who I know of who speaks English fairly well is my cousin.
Here I have two ...
1
vote
2answers
52 views
difference between “in the day” and “during the day”?
Tell me please what is the difference between the two expressions. Here is the context:
Additionally, eating eggs has been linked to improved cholesterol levels and weight loss. In one study, women ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
“I can't do that, especially not in the house” vs “I can't do that, especially in the house.”
I can't do that, especially not in the house.
I can't do that, especially in the house.
Are both of these sentences grammatical/acceptable? What is the difference in meaning between them?
0
votes
1answer
25 views
“I'm coming back home” equals to “I'm back home”?
If someone tell me that he's back home ("I'm back home now") does it mean that he's coming back home now or it means that he's already at home after some time that he wasn't there?
