Questions tagged [spoken-english]
The way in which English is spoken, either formally or informally. As opposed to written usage.
481
questions
0
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0answers
14 views
Is “having” necessary here
Today I heard a sentence:
Do you want more potatoes peeled.
But I have always used it as:
Do you want having more potatoes peeled.
Which one is grammartical?
Please explain with examples.
...
0
votes
1answer
21 views
“No more someone doing something” meaning
By the phrase no more we mean Someone doesn't want something anymore.
Eg:
Son: Mom, I am going to play cricket.
Mom: No more cricket! Your exams are very close.
The same way, can I say:
No ...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
“Survivors clinging to a raft.” Is this sentence right?
"Survivors clinging to a raft."
There is no verb in this sentence.
I know this sentence is not the present progressive/present continuous.
But can this sentence be used independently?
I found this ...
1
vote
1answer
36 views
“I learn a lot talking to you” vs. “I learn a lot by talking to you” [duplicate]
I've heard both of the sentences:
I learn a lot talking to you.
I learn a lot by talking to you.
Does the first one means I learn a lot while I talk to someone and the second I learn a lot as ...
-1
votes
1answer
28 views
words that starts with c but does not sound as k [closed]
The title say it all, i'am looking for all the list of words which starts with c but does not sound as k, as many know most of the words that starts with c usally have a k sound in it, e.g cat,clam,...
0
votes
0answers
21 views
English practice [duplicate]
Iam a new learner but i canť completely understand English films or distinguish between the words when I hear it
And
What is the best way to acquire the sense of language?
And is that take too ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
“John's” or “of John” in this context
In the sentences below:
All the mistakes are mine.
Likewise,
All the mistakes are John's.
Now,
Can we say:
All the mistakes are of me.
And
All the mistakes are of John.
Are these ...
0
votes
2answers
20 views
Sentence without subject in this context
We often hear sentences like:
Wishing you a very happy birthday.
Wish you a very happy birthday.
We are a omitting the subjects in these sentences.
Are these grammartically correct or just a ...
0
votes
2answers
20 views
Adjective for the noun “scraps” in this context
Leftover food is called scraps.
Now,
I kept a whole plate of soup on the table for my dad, suddenly my brother came and lifted the plate and just licked the soup and saying that tasted disgusting ...
0
votes
0answers
7 views
More appropriate “participial clause” here--
He took all my books, threatening to throw them if I revealed his secrets.
Taking all my books, he threatened me to throw them if I revealed his secrets.
Do they both mean the same?
Which is ...
0
votes
1answer
9 views
“Indirect form” of the sentence
Direct:
John said, "Do you know if Tom plays cricket."
Indirect:
John asked me if I know if Tom plays cricket.
Is it correct grammartically and in terms of spoken English?
Thanks in advance.
0
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0answers
46 views
What is the difference between “to be Ving” and “to V”?
For example,
(1)You are too young to be contemplating retirement.
(2)You are too young to contemplate retirement.
1
vote
3answers
23 views
“Just” for recent future
As we use the word just for recent past:
I've just arrived.
They just completed their task when the manager called.
Now,
Can I use just for recent future that is going to happen shortly? As ...
0
votes
1answer
25 views
What is the difference between “the+singular countable noun” and “zero article+plural countable noun”
What is the difference between "the + singular countable noun" and "zero article + plural countable noun" when we make generalisations about classes of things.
3
votes
1answer
81 views
Is “North.5” the same as “0.5”?
I've just heard a native English speaker saying this:
"North.5"
which means:
0.5
I mean seriously?! What kind of number is that? I may have misheard him but in mathematics, I've never heard of ...
1
vote
1answer
72 views
Is the word “homophone” misleading?
I remember a language learning app that claimed to help users to distinguish between the words like right-write, break-brake, heal-heel, principle-principal, etc.
However, I have long known them as ...
0
votes
1answer
20 views
What Marge says about Giant's Causeway?
I have seen the following video, where Marge and Family go to the Giant's Causeway. I don't fully understand what she says, even if I slow the playback speed. This is the video: https://www.youtube....
-1
votes
2answers
67 views
“Where do you lived?” or “Where did you live?”
Which is the correct question?
Similarly,
"When did you move to New York?" or "When do you moved to New York?".
Please tell me the reason behind each question.
3
votes
1answer
50 views
A (imaginary) point or An (imaginary) point
A or An is usually decided by whether you pronounce the beginning of the following word as a consonant or not. Does a word in parentheses count as ' following'?
A (imaginary) point or An (imaginary) ...
0
votes
2answers
85 views
How to answer, how old is your baby?
My question is how to answer when somebody asks this question?
Since my baby is 10 months, I just replied she is 10, and we laughed out loud. Then I said, of course, 10 months.
What is the correct ...
1
vote
1answer
33 views
Take up doubts, a topic
When a teacher discusses something in the class, is it be okay to use "take up"?
We'll take up this topic tomorrow.
We'll take up X tomorrow.
And about "doubts" and "queries":
We'll take ...
5
votes
1answer
55 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
Can the word “help” be used as the example sentence below
Does "thanks for making me feel like it's a help" make sense ?
0
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0answers
38 views
How to ask someone for cycling?
I moved into a new apartment and don't have any friend in this apartment. I want to make new friends but don't know how to initiate the conversation. I thought asking someone for cycling would be good ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
what does mean by lose your phone?
I was watching a series of video about English teaching, I heard a word like lose your phone, I am not sure that whether the word is right or not, thanks everyone for helping me.
Does anyone say to ...
0
votes
0answers
20 views
What kind of movie would you all like to watch? ---CORRECT?
I'm not sure about the following sentence-constructions:
What kind of movie would you all like to watch?
What kind of movie you all would like to watch?
Which one is correct (and idiomatic)?
1
vote
1answer
33 views
'We put new carpet on the floor or we put [a] new carpet on the floor'?
I wonder should I precede the noun with the article 'a', but I don't think that is necessary?
I put [a] new carpet on the floor.
Reason: Carpet is a mass noun.
Am I correct?
0
votes
0answers
80 views
How does that have anything to do with it?
Recently I was having a conversation in which someone said something off topic:
Person 1: Hey do you like video games?
Person 2: Yeah my favorite is.....
Person 3: I'm hungry.
Person 1: How ...
34
votes
6answers
12k views
Can fluent English speakers distinguish between “steel”, “still”, and “steal”?
Can fluent English speakers understand this sentence the first time they hear it?
What? They still steal steel?
Can they hear a difference between the pronunciation of the words still, steal, and ...
1
vote
1answer
23 views
Dogs are the best pet/pets?
I always think that the best must be followed by a singular noun as follows:
Dogs are the best pet.
However, I found this while reading:
Dogs are the best pets.
Is this grammatically correct?
0
votes
1answer
29 views
Dilemma in using “so” or “too”
I always believe that the usage of so and too is different from each other:
He is so busy until he is able to forget his problems. (=+ve sense)
and another one
He is too busy until he does not ...
0
votes
1answer
57 views
Learning accents
What is a good way to learn speaking english with good accent?
I know english very well, but have a problem with speaking like a native speaker. I have a problem with the letter "r" and can't get ...
0
votes
1answer
35 views
Apart from a good student, he is a good son too
I argue that the following sentence is grammatically correct:
Apart from a good student, he is a good son too.
Wouldn't it better to say:
Apart from being a good student, he is a good son too.
I ...
1
vote
1answer
27 views
Why not simply put “ It is a kind of insect.” to “ It is an insect”?
I stumbled upon a sentence in my reference book. It states that:
It is a kind of insect.
Is there any specific reason for the author to use that kind of sentence construction?
Wouldn't be easier ...
2
votes
1answer
41 views
A question regarding: Here is some medicine
My reference book gives me an example as follows:
Here is some medicine.
To me, it does not make sense since some implies things more than one; thus, should medicine becomes medicines?
Having ...
1
vote
1answer
25 views
What loud thunder! or What a loud thunder!
My reference book gives me an example as follows:
What loud thunder!
Should it be written as:
What a loud thunder!
1
vote
1answer
32 views
Vegetable or vegetables?
The book I'm using writes vegetable in a plural form.
I don't think this is correct.
Do you like strawberries or lettuce?
No. I like neither fruit or vegetables.
Should it be written as:
...
1
vote
1answer
41 views
“Your clothes are small size” — Is this grammatical?
I am having trouble with this sentence:
Your clothes are small size.
Would it be correct if I changed it to either:
1) Your clothes are small-sized. (=adjective)
2) Your clothes are small ...
0
votes
0answers
32 views
I don't know what the author trying to say
I was doing my revision, and I found these sentences in the grammar book I was using:
1) I know that a spider is a type of arthropod that makes webs to trap and eat prey.
2) I know what you mean, ...
1
vote
1answer
18 views
cause you to sleep late or affect your rest
The situation is, I phone somebody in his evening and I feel sorry because it's late.
In my mother language, there's an expression like, "Sorry for causing you to sleep late" or "Sorry for affecting ...
3
votes
2answers
90 views
Lie on the same plane vs. Lie in the same plane
We in mathematics say (so if you'll have to use, what will sound natural to you "on/in"?):
Two objects are coplanar if they both lie in the same plane.
Or
Two objects are coplanar if they both ...
1
vote
1answer
21 views
“Pay your way through”
I now "pay your way through" means paying for your expenses yourself or maybe parents can do that as well. Like:
His parents payed his way through the college.
But can it be used to mean "paying ...
0
votes
1answer
22 views
Root for or support (American English usage)
I had another question related to AmE usage....
I found out in a Dictionary that "support" isn't common in AmE and it is BrE. So is that so? Google Ngram says that "root for" isn't really common..
...
3
votes
2answers
60 views
Leftover, scrap, extra cloth
If we cut a cloth a have a bit cloth left, will it sound idiomatic to use "leftover" or will it be more natural to use "scrap" or "extra cloth"?, Actually it a cloth is clised and a part of it is cut ...
2
votes
1answer
40 views
Turn it on from here/there; it has been turned off from here/there
If we have to talk about turning off the switch by using the place (main switch; like something is connected to a secondary power socket, which is in turn connected to the main socket)
So something ...
2
votes
2answers
50 views
Food that feels a bit rough (though it was meant to be smooth)
What will be a natural way to describe the food that feels a bit rough though it was meant to be smooth? (Like something rough, gritty texture....)
Will it be called "grainy", "gritty"? I mean it ...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
“On the double”, is it old-fashioned?(american English)
Under an explation of "on the double" by the Free Dictionary about "on the double", is it used in day-to-day conversations:
Rapidly; faster than one normally goes.
Can you please drive on ...
1
vote
1answer
24 views
Out of eye or with eye
Someone is having a vision problem.(that person can't see clearly wity one eye)So what should be used:
I can't see with my left eye.
I can't see out of my left eye.
What would sound more ...
1
vote
1answer
142 views
“Far apart” vs “Far away” (about comparing two objects)
Are "far away" and "far apart" interchangeable in this context:
A <--------->B
A and B are far apart from each other.
A and B are far away from each other.
Are "apart" and "away" ...
0
votes
1answer
112 views
What’s the difference between ‘a hundred’ and ‘one hundred’? [duplicate]
For instance, let’s take a look at the next conversation:
A) How many questions does the test have?
B) A hundred.
And the difference between the conversation above and this one:
A) How many ...
