Questions tagged [semantics]
The semantics tag has no usage guidance.
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Is it possible to use "look down on" in a phrase without meaning disdain?
Is it possible to use "look down on" in a phrase, without meaning disdain?
Example: (if I'm standing on the moon) Can I use "look down on Earth", to describe a physical act of ...
- 23
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560
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Is there a comma needed in this sentence, and if so, why?
The sentence in question: "I met with a psychologist to see if I was on the autism spectrum but they told me that I was not."
Is this a complete sentence: "They told me that I was not.&...
BalticSea
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565
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To infinitive VS bare infinitive
He made me laugh(active)
I was made to laugh by him(passive voice)
In the active voice made is followed by personal object and bare infinitive.
But in the passive voice made is followed ...
- 3,413
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You can be famous but not be a celebrity
This is from a school task:
You can be famous but not be a celebrity.
What they mean is:
You can be famous without being a celebrity.
Can some people (depending on prosody?) interpret (1) to mean (...
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Is there a situation where and and or means the same thing?
I am sure you didn't read the documentation and understand the
document.
I am sure you didn't read the documentation or understand the
document.
The first one means you didn't do either.
The second ...
- 13.5k
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Adverb "honestly" —At the beginning & At the mid position
I can't honestly say what time I'll be home.
Vs
Honestly, I can't say what time I'll be home.
I think there is subtle difference in meaning, but I am not sure, Explain me the usage of the ...
- 1,925
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Why are "to feel" and "to be" only sometimes interchangeable?
I am angry and I feel angry seem to have the same meaning, as do many other I am [adjective] phrases, like I am sad, I am happy, I am ecstatic.
But am and feel cannot always be swapped out: I am weird ...
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A collective idea - noun pharse
" The concerns that the teachers have risen is an indicator for having training the soonest .
My question here is , can I use the singular verb "is" with the main plural subject "...
Wael Tarek Mohamed
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Rheme and theme in connection with a tense
This is an explanation by a native speaker. It includes the notions of RHEME and THEME
The explanation
"I live in France but I usually travel abroad", sounds odd because there's no context, ...
- 4,410
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Is there a difference in meaning between "many" and "many of"?
Is there a difference in meaning between "many" and "many of"? and if so what is it?
For example, if one says "many of them are confined" ("them" representing ...
- 101
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Construction: "Is also to do."
This is a construction that lingered in the back of my mind for my entire life.
But for me "is to do" does not mean "has to do" as in:
"Surely this is also to do with ...
Ruh Muhaccer
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have+to go or have to go
I have to go now. I have to leave now. I have to study Englsih.
Can I stop after "have" for a moment?
I have (a few seconds later like 2~3 and continue to say) to go now.
Or Do I have to ...
- 4,306
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93
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Looking to name a specific semantic relation
When one makes a choice, he is faced with some alternatives: "go by car" or "go by bus"; "prefer sightseeing" or "go shopping", "buy a house" or "...
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What is the difference between "criteria of" and "criteria for"?
The criteria of 'dog-ness' are the following...
The criteria for an animal to be a dog are the following...
Are both phrases correct and, if so, what's the difference between them? Are 'of' and 'for' ...
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1
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I didn't have enough time, however, I read the book till the end
This sentence is from an exercise ('use "However' to join the sentences : 'I didn't have enough time. I read the book till the end.'):
' I didn't have enough time, however, I read the book till ...
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Using "the" with past participle but not with the present participle
I am currently working on a book review of verb presentation in two texts. I am contemplating the nominal function of present participles. Of course, we know that a present participle is called a ...
Marc Santos
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I thought/ didn't think you were/ not coming
We usually say :
I don't think he will pass.
Not
I think he will not pass.
I didn't think he was coming.
But not I thought you were not coming.
I know that it is called ...
- 3,413