Use this tag for questions about meanings of whole sentences rather than phrases.
0
votes
2answers
37 views
Can I use “The mike is yours” implicitly?
Is it necessary when I say: "The mike is yours, confound me." that you really have a microphone, or you should have a microphone?
If yes, then what should I say instead that sentence with the part "...
1
vote
1answer
33 views
Reduction of Relative Clauses
1-They denied that they had stolen the money.
2-They denied stealing the money .
3-They denied having stolen the money .
My textbook says I can use the second sentence instead of the first one . I ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
Meaning of “it does not do (to do something)”
This is about the meaning of Dumbledore's quote “it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live”
From the Time article, "10 of the Most Magical Harry Potter Quotes to Inspire You":
"It does ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
Form of being+v3
We managed to climb over the wall without being seen.
We managed to climb over the wall without we were being seen.
Are these sentences exactly the same? if so is there any special name for the ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
You will never be getting it back vs. you will never be able to get it back
Let's say you left your watch at your friend's house in England, and then you came back home in Ireland. 2 days after, your friend phoned you to tell you that you forgot your watch, while laughing at ...
1
vote
2answers
33 views
What is the meaning of the sentence, “Consider it a courtesy for the inconvenience.”?
"Consider it a courtesy for the inconvenience."
What is the meaning of the above sentence, which I am not sure of the context of usage?
And what are the possible contexts (if more than one) of its ...
1
vote
1answer
26 views
Could - Past ability or Polite offer
I am an English learner. I came across below sentence, which shows the use of "Could" as Polite offer.
I could lend you my car till tomorrow.
Is below sentence correct if I want to express my past ...
0
votes
1answer
21 views
quite high enough sentence meaning with one word
He couldn't get quite high enough
can anyone explain the quite high enough sentence meaning with one word.
is that meaning of too much high.
0
votes
1answer
39 views
until, until after and quote from 1984
Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious.
Until they become conscious they will never rebel. Is this part meaning that
if ...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
Past continuous in reported speech
I am confused with present continous tense in reported speech do we need backshifting or not ? and if we do backshifting should we backshift the second part of the sentences? ( "when" part )
He said ‘...
0
votes
3answers
49 views
I don't understand the sentence of “people have grown used to wasting water”
I don't understand the sentence "people have grown used to wasting water". Does it mean that the people who were used to wasting water have grown?
The original context is:
"Unfortunately, the ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
What's the meaning of this dialogue?
I'm reading the book The Little Prince, but a dialogue in it really puzzled me.
"Oh, I understand you very well," said the little prince. "But why do you always speak in riddles?"
"I solve ...
1
vote
2answers
29 views
Problem understanding a specific part of a sentence
This is from a book.
That individual distress as such would not elicit any substantial government
succour became clearer than ever during the hard-hitting depression of
1913-14. Public ...
1
vote
0answers
35 views
What does “hype high on java” mean?
For newbies, those who have simply e-mailed or surfed
the Web, the “community” of the Net is an odd sort of mysticism. How can
anyone think of these pages full of advertisements and spinning icons ...
-1
votes
1answer
35 views
Which of this sentences is correct, who are my or who are mine [closed]
who are my
or
who are mine
Which one is correct?
5
votes
5answers
2k views
Right or left? When the teacher says: “If you look at the diagram on the left hand side, you will solve this question!”(In a position like this?)
● Right or left? When the teacher says:
"If you look at the diagram on the left hand side, you will solve this question!"
Is it the teacher's left hand side or students' left hand side?
Imagine,...
0
votes
1answer
78 views
What does “you took long mate” means? [closed]
In SMS messages:
You took long mate
Abit too much
What does “you took long mate” “abit too much” mean?
1
vote
2answers
59 views
Like to do vs like doing [duplicate]
I like to play basketball
I like playing basketball
What's the difference between these two?
3
votes
3answers
215 views
Hypothetical past conditional
When we were children, we lived by the sea. In summer, if the weather was fine, we would all get up early and go for a swim.
Sometimes I get confused with the conditionals. In this specific example ...
2
votes
1answer
23 views
Introduce someone to something / something to someone?
What are the differences between the following to sentences? Are they all correct?
Jack introduced me the beautiful world of mathematics.
Jack introduced me to the beautiful world of mathematics.
...
3
votes
2answers
28 views
What's a wind is blowing In the direction North meaning?
What's the different between "wind blowing IN" and "wind blowing FROM"?
0
votes
1answer
24 views
Never+would have
Chuck never in a million years would've given to Jimmy.
(from Better Call Saul which is tv series)
What is the meaning of this sentence ?
1-He didn't give but he would.
2-He didn't give and he ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
What does the sentence “It won't be until later on in the week given a last minute work trip” mean?
In reply to an inquiry someone wrote:
You will get an answer, but it probably won't be until later on in the
week given a last minute work trip.
What does the sentence mean? And what is the ...
0
votes
1answer
22 views
Past Perfect Requirement
I would have gone with her. But she didn't ask me .
I would have gone with her .But she hadn't asked me .
Do we have to use past perfect in this example ? Is there any difference in meanings ?
1
vote
1answer
29 views
Meaning of could
Sometimes I don't understand the meaning of "could " .
The situation is bad, but it could be worse.
In this case what is the meaning of the could ?
1-It might be worse(there is a possiblity to be ...
0
votes
1answer
26 views
What is the meaning of “He who dies with the most toys wins”?
I've recently encountered this saying and got confused how to interpret the message of it. I wonder if that is supposed be sarcastic or possibly proud to be greedy.
0
votes
1answer
33 views
What does author means in this sentence?
I understand word meanings, but cannot put them together and understand what author meant in following:
I enquire now as to the Genesis of a philologist and assert the following:
If you need ...
0
votes
0answers
23 views
The question “where do you come from ?” is confusing for me [duplicate]
I don't live in my native country, I regularly move throughout Europe and North America.
So it's a little bit confusing for me when someone asks me "Where are you from?" or "where do you come from?"
...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
There is to such thing [closed]
“Talk of inspiration is sheer nonsense; there is to such thing. It is mere a matter of craftsmanship.”
— William Morris
I don't understand the quote, particularly the part I highlighted. I am ...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
Present Perfect Simple vs Present Perfect Continuous
She is away on holiday.
Is she? Where ... ?
Where has she gone? (Correct)
Where has she been going?
Why we can not use the second choice here ?
0
votes
2answers
27 views
Which boyfriend suits you - can I understand this in two different ways? [closed]
Which type of boyfriend suits you?
When I made up a sentence like this. I am confused. This can have two understandings:
What kind of boyfriend you should date (You are a girl and this article will ...
1
vote
2answers
44 views
Meaning of “he knew he looked insulted”
"Maybe you should take a few things out of your pocket before you go," said Mr. Carr.
Alfred replied, "What things? What are you talking about?"
"You have a compact and a lipstick and two ...
0
votes
2answers
27 views
Use of 'having' as experience vs. possession
Look at the example below:
The manager is having his problems (A)/ but we have (B)/ ours as well. (C)/ No error (D)
The site that I am following says:
The verb "have" can work as continuous and ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
What does “to begin with the more obscure as a way to build recognition about the familiar” mean?
My strategy in this chapter is to begin with the more obscure as a way to build
recognition about the familiar.
There is not a single word in the above sentence that I do not know; nonetheless, the ...
0
votes
2answers
18 views
Meaning of blossom in the given sentence/meaning of the sentece
I don't think you should tell him about the conversations that blossomed between us the other day.
What does the sentence mean?
Does it, in its most basic sense, mean "don't tell...the conversations ...
0
votes
2answers
21 views
use of appropriate preposition 'in' or 'of' after decline
The decline of her morale was fascinating.
The decline in her morale was fascinating.
Which one is correct? Additionally please tell me if the use of 'in' or 'of' after 'decline' is a use of ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
Is this sentence Participial Construction?
When it comes to social policy, President Trump embraces conservative politics as usual, continuing a nearly four-decades-long effort to make these policies more restrictive. (excerpt from NYT The ...
0
votes
1answer
26 views
What does the “left to” in this sentence mean?
What's the meaning of the sentence I highlighted below? Does it mean that the code should be both correct and shared?
[...] The read-only nature of shared code should not be left to the correctness ...
0
votes
1answer
21 views
“It would have been best written in a more concise way as it does tend to ramble.” meaning
It would have been best written in a more concise way as it does tend to ramble.
I came across this sentence in Collins dictionary. I'm not sure what the sentence is trying to convey. The author ...
0
votes
2answers
28 views
Recurrence meaning
In a book I'm reading, there is a way to use recurrence as follows:
Obviously, astronauts have to be in exceptionally good physical
condition and to have as low a risk of developing health ...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
Meaning of “Please call free on 000-000-000”
I am a IELTS learner.
I am wondering about this sentence:
Please call free on 777-777-7777
It means "call me anytime you want"?
Or "you are not charged for the call on the number"?
0
votes
1answer
35 views
How to understand the following quotes of Edmund Burke?
Can anyone please shed some light on the following quotes of Edmund Burke?
Society cannot exist unless a controlling power upon will and appetite be placed somewhere, and the less of it there is ...
-1
votes
1answer
22 views
Using “when” to talk about the future
When the new park opens, I’ll go there every day.
When the new park has opened, I'll go there every day.
Can we use both of these? What is the difference between them?
1
vote
1answer
35 views
Difference between past simple and past perfect in mixed conditionals
Is that second sentence wrong ? If it is wrong , why?
If you remembered to bring a map ,we wouldn't be lost now
If you had remembered to bring a map ,we wouldn't be lost now
Can we use both of ...
0
votes
1answer
21 views
'out of something' usage
I came across some sentences using out of something or someone and I can't make its meaning clear all the time, say I want to make a supersonic man out of you. How can I understand this sentence and ...
1
vote
2answers
24 views
Meaning of “roll down” in “Bill and I rolled down the runway not knowing whether this airplane would leave the runway in a controlled manner”
In a book I'm reading there is a phrase "roll down" as follows:
When we checked the airplane again in the morning, it had been repaired - it turned out two wires had been crossed. My RIO, Bill ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
I am to go / I have to go
There is a sentence from GoT: I'm to go north to the Wall. Are there any differences between the sentences:
I am to go north
I have to go north
?
1
vote
3answers
38 views
She was sitting with the Princess, all smiles and admiration
There is a sentence from GoT:
She was sitting with the Princess Myrcella, all smiles and admiration.
Could you explain the meaning of the second part of the sentence
all smiles and admiration ...
1
vote
1answer
37 views
Did remember/ remembered
There is a sentence from GoT: And perhaps the dragon did remember, but Dany could not
What the differences between sentences:
And perhaps he did remember, but she could not
And perhaps he ...
0
votes
1answer
20 views
It is dark down (below)
There is a sentence "It is dark down below", which I met in a song.
Why is there the word "below"? What are the differences between
It is dark down below
and
It is dark down
?
