Questions tagged [sentence-meaning]
Use this tag for questions about meanings of whole sentences rather than phrases.
3,081
questions
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Which one of the understandings of this sentence is correct?
The sentence goes as follow:
and what modern epistemologist would greet an authoritative
pronouncement that she in fact possessed knowledge by trying to refute
it?
I have two different ...
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1answer
15 views
What does here “creepy puppy dog” mean?
He is always looking to Walt for some sort of appreciation like a really creepy puppy dog. To be honest, I did not really get what the author wanted to say with this sentence. Can someone explain it ...
1
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1answer
15 views
“As such” vs. “When used in such a way”
In the following example, "." is used to delimit the fractional part of the number from its whole part. As such, it is called a decimal point, not a period.
In the following example, ".&...
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1answer
25 views
She'll be here any minute (now)
She'll be here any minute (now).
What does adding "now" add to the meaning of the sentence? When is it appropriate to include it?
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1answer
40 views
what does the author (Mario Pujo) mean by the following sentence?
What does the author (Mario Pujo) mean by the following sentence from The Godfather?
There was no greater natural advantage in life than having an enemy overestimate your faults unless it was to have ...
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1answer
31 views
What's the meaning of this sentence? (I'm confused by the sentence after the comma)
What's the meaning of this sentence ? (I'm confused by the sentence after the comma)
To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom, in the pursuit of truth as
in the endeavor after a worthy manner of ...
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1answer
29 views
Your order is “ready to be delivered” or “ready to be shipped”?
English is my second language and I need some help.
I was wondering which of these sentences applied better to a store that is sending a product to their customers. Do they have the same meaning?
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1answer
25 views
rewriting a thesis statement
Our teacher said that this is an example of how to write a thesis statement in your words again.
The thesis statement: Making healthy food choices are not easy.
Her example: Making healthy food ...
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1answer
10 views
need help for paraphrasing “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so”
It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.
I have been having a problem in interpreting "it... that...". the first sentence is ...
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1answer
47 views
“Why aren’t films true ? Why aren’t songs true?”
There’s always this inherent kind of limit to the self,” he says. “You know, there is a limit to how far one can connect with the world because of the self, and I think that’s what I’ve been talking ...
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2answers
37 views
Would you please interpret the following GRE Text Completion in layman sentences?
Being a non-native English speaker, I could not understand at all the meaning of the following GRE Text Completion. That was basically a three blank answer choice. For convenience, I'm filling the ...
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1answer
14 views
What does “dramatic” mean in this context? [closed]
"Name one moment in time that has had a positive effect on you. Preferably, choose a moment in which you took action in some way. This moment doesn’t have to be dramatic, simply any moment that ...
2
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1answer
20 views
Written like this, using “as”, will it be understood that…?
Mike slips around a corner in the hallway just as two police officers enter from the stairwell.
Written like this, using "as", will it be understood that Mike makes it around the corner ...
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1answer
17 views
What does the phrase “culturally coherent” mean in the follwing statement? [closed]
New York is a culturally coherent region.
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2answers
25 views
Threw/Dropped it on the floor
A man is trashing an apartment.
Moments later, the man came back into the living room carrying a fridge, which he threw/dropped on the floor.
I feel that a fridge is a too heavy thing for one to be ...
1
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1answer
33 views
we've gone over all the instruments and controls [closed]
Driving school
Driving Instructor: OK, Mario, we've gone over all the instruments and controls.
Man: Uhum.
Driving Instructor: Are you familiar with those?
Man: Yeah.
Driving Instructor: OK. Before we ...
0
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1answer
24 views
the meaning of 'waiting on Beyonce' part in this sentence [duplicate]
I have seen the sentence like 'I have been waiting on Beyonce to call me.' on the internet.
And I can't understand the meaning of 'waiting on Beyonce' part.
What is the meaning of the sentence 'I have ...
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1answer
38 views
Use of whispers/whispering
As the terrorist walked off, whispers started among the hostages.
As the terrorist walked off, the hostages started whispering.
Are "whispers" and "whispering" used correctly in ...
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1answer
41 views
Is the meaning of “holding the door” clear here? [closed]
The man went to the door and tried to open it, but couldn't as Phil was holding the door from inside.
Is the meaning of "holding the door" clear here?
Is there something I could write ...
2
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1answer
34 views
What does “For” mean in “For Mr. Perlstein…”?
I'm currently reading an essay "Two years are better Than Four", Liz Addison.
In the third paragraph, third sentence is quite problematic for me.
It's saying:
For Mr. Perlstein, so rooted ...
2
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1answer
65 views
What does “so take it” mean in this conversation?
The weather segment on the TV news from a production of TVOntario. Produced in association with Television Language Training Inc. in co-operation with Canada Employment and Immigration Commission. (...
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1answer
53 views
Meaning of: You can’t beat a bite on a biscuit for a quick and easy sweet treat
Can someone help me to understand this sentence (I made it bold):
You can’t beat a bite on a biscuit for a quick and easy sweet treat. They make me feel good – as long as I don’t eat too many!
The ...
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1answer
35 views
The tornado is building with wind speeds of over 100 kilometers an hour
Weather report
Weatherman: A severe cold spell is forecast for northern regions this week with temperature dropping to minus 20 degrees Celsius.
The tornado is building with wind speeds of over 100 ...
1
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1answer
30 views
I wonder if the sentence after the comma is complete or not and am having a problem of translating it
Hume was tireless, his ponderous public style betraying a quicksilver ability to analyse the issues.
I found this sentence on some website. I'm afraid there are more contexts other than this sentence....
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1answer
43 views
The phrase: I got told off
Today I've come across a phrase and now I'm at a loss and confused a little bit.
It was:
I don't cook sushi because I got told off I was trying once.
It sounds very "English" and for a non-...
1
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2answers
18 views
Is using “or” instead of “and” in this sentence a mistake?
Game theory shows that in a single game, self-interested actors defect
from cooperation when it offers them an extra profit. This risk is
considerably reduced if the same actors play many games. In ...
1
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1answer
62 views
“bubble” 's possible new meaning in English
What is the meaning of the following sentence:
And I shall carry on with the 40 hour week working with people who are in more bubbles than a bloody aero !!
This is a top up-voted comment from the ...
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2answers
44 views
What does “an inch or two off in the back” mean at a hair salon?
Context : Mom and her daughter went together to the hair salon. and Mom is telling hair dresser her requirements about daughter's haircut.
Mom : I would like to see some layers around her face to ...
1
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1answer
24 views
Does “should” mean all 6 are required in “A maximum of 6…should be solved”?
Can someone please explain this sentence to me?
A maximum of 6 problems should be solved in a solution paper.
I am confused. Does this mean it is required to answer 6 problems in a paper? Or can I ...
4
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1answer
37 views
What does “go jarringly with something” mean?
I'm having difficulty understanding this piece of Stephen King's "The Stand":
He was Bible-reading with her in the living room, but he looked
nervous and anxious to get away. Nick could ...
0
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2answers
39 views
When can I remove “yet” from a sentence?
When can I remove "yet" from a sentence?
I can say for example:
"Has the teacher arrived yet?"
OR
"Has the teacher arrived?"
is there any difference in meaning ...
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0answers
17 views
do my weather forecast
The weather segment on the TV news
Weatherman: I hate my job. I hate doing the weather forecast; every day probability of this, probability of that. Even if I get the weather forecast right, I still ...
0
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2answers
26 views
Does writing “And as he does” make the intended meaning clear?
Pete walks down a hallway, armed with a baseball bat. He looks into an office. And as he does, Jack appears from a door at the end of the hallway and slips around a corner.
My intention is that Pete ...
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0answers
18 views
Is “it started to grow arms” understandable here?
I write kinda fairy-tale, and there are two people who turned into other beings. When they begin to change into human form, I wrote that one sentence:
"In their stony bodies it/there started to ...
0
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2answers
35 views
'A scientific thing is not scientific'
This scientific thing is not scientific.
This scientific thing doesn't have a state of being scientific. (This scientific thing isn't without a state of being scientific).
Do verbs of these sentences ...
0
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1answer
17 views
the group set out for Athy having had an enjoyable, interesting and fun weekend
However, on landing all was well and the group set out for Athy having had an enjoyable, interesting and fun weekend. https://www.lexico.com/definition/fun
This sentence is an example listed as one ...
0
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1answer
33 views
Inversion in the sentence [closed]
Is it possible to use an inversion in this way?
Only after people had started working harder, did they improve their skills
Is it natural enough or awkward?
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1answer
21 views
“I speak a little English.” vs “I speak English a little.”
Are these sentences have the same meaning or the second one means that I not often use it?
I speak a little English.
vs
I speak English a little.
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2answers
34 views
If there are an A bag and a B bag [closed]
I have an A bag and not a B bag, and I just say 'I have a bag,' then can it be wrong because 'a bag' indicates the B bag?
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8 views
What does “leading” imply here?
"He was a leading spirit in the conference."
Does the statement infer that the subject was leading as if an influential or in a mere literal sense?
1
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1answer
43 views
What does the word “come” mean in a sentence like “Come autumn's scathe”?
So, I've been trying to read "The Autumn" by Elizabeth Barret Browning. There, I stumbled over the following verse:
Come autumn's scathe — come winter's cold —
Come change — and human ...
0
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1answer
36 views
the interest comes in
At a bank
Teller: "Well, let's see... this money that you're depositing comes to almost $100."
Boy: "Right".
Teller: "So, if you put this into a savings account and save it ...
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0answers
24 views
What does “The party is rocking” mean?
"The party is rocking"
What does this mean?
Does it mean the party is great? Does it mean the people at the party are having a great time?
Also, is it natural to use "rocking" ...
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1answer
35 views
you leave your money longer
Woman: Hi. I'd like to open up a bank account.
Teller: What sort of account do you want, a checking account or a savings account?
Woman: What difference does it make?
Teller: A checking account is an ...
0
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1answer
18 views
Is there any difference between “as if to check” and “as if she's checking” in the context?
She starts whistling into his ear as if to check whether he really is dead.
She starts whistling into his ear as if she's checking whether he really is dead.
Is there any difference these?
Does &...
2
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2answers
31 views
How is 'nor' used in this sentence?
In the following lines taken from Book 2 of The Iliad (Pope), (1) what does nor mean in the context? (2) are heard and obey'd transitive or intransitive?
...
Your own resistless eloquence employ,
And ...
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1answer
32 views
What's the meaning of “substance-fuelled” in this sentence?
I have two questions about the following sentence:
"A child star's shelf life is now shorter than ever, with many only making headlines for their substance-fuelled antics on the descent from ...
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2answers
27 views
What is the importance of “however” in this specific sentence?
Kindly read the last sentence of this paragraph:
"In the 1920s, a German named Adi Dassler created a new sneaker brand that he named after himself: Adidas. His brother, Rudi, later started his ...
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0answers
18 views
does “never see your pockets empty anymore” make any sense?
We were talking about money in our English class and I said this:
learn programming and never see your pockets empty anymore
does it make any sense to you? is the sentence correct?
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1answer
42 views
Are you making this up? [closed]
Man: But do you make enough money for everything you do?
Woman: Just enough. I make do.
Man: So do I. I make do as well. I get by. I get up in the morning. I get dressed. I get on the bus. I get off ...
