Questions tagged [spoken-english]
The way in which English is spoken, either formally or informally. As opposed to written usage.
460
questions
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0answers
26 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
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1answer
21 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
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0answers
16 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)?
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1answer
27 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?
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0answers
33 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 ...
32
votes
5answers
11k views
Can fluent English speakers distinguish “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 ...
1
vote
1answer
19 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
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1answer
25 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
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1answer
56 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
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1answer
23 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
24 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
17 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
21 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
24 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
33 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
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0answers
28 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
16 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
40 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
19 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
20 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
45 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
38 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
47 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
32 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
23 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
24 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
28 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 ...
-1
votes
1answer
30 views
Are these two uses of “rip-off” common?
Under an entry for rip something off, The Free Dictionary says:
To steal (something). A noun or pronoun can be used between "rip" and "off."
The kids were caught going to different shops ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
Paid extra vs paid extra cash
A peron was travelling on a cab. Later (by mistake) a person payed more than he had to pay,so what would be a natural way to express this idea:
He paid extra cash to the driver.
He paid extra ...
2
votes
2answers
51 views
Break off (ice-cream, spoon)
A small part of ice-cream is taken (from a brick of ice-cream) on a plate. So if someone is talking about taking a spoon and breaking off a small part, what will be a natural way to describe that:
...
0
votes
1answer
22 views
In front of people/to people (around people)
Does "in front of people" sound natural in English?
.
It is how you present yourself in front of people.
It is how you present yourself to people.
(It is how you present yourself when you are ...
0
votes
1answer
43 views
Go for tuition (extra classes) (private tutor)
This question is about the use of "tuition" in AmE.
In America are there "private institutions" [not schools, universities]. So will it be okay to use:
I go for tuition .
What about:
A:"Where ...
2
votes
2answers
29 views
Coming and going (for hiccups)
I know "I can't stop hiccuping" is natural. But if we have to say that "I stop hiccuping after a while only to start hiccuping again", is it okay to use:
My hiccups are coming and going.
Is the ...
1
vote
1answer
24 views
Do I need to know something except phrasal verbs and collocations to use colloquial English?
What do I really need to know about colloquial English except phrasal verbs and collocations?
0
votes
1answer
14 views
Hold on to the bike seat behind/from behind
Should "from" be included or dropped in this sentence?
Hold on to the seat from behind.
Hold on to the seat behind.
Should "from" be included or dropped here? It is about a parent helping a ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
Egg someone on to do something
Is the use of "egg on" common in colloquial American English? Is it used? I looked up its use on Ngram, but it dosen't hint at the actual usage, so I just felt like asking.
To urge someone to do ...
0
votes
2answers
28 views
Which is grammatically correct, “I'm no Lord Ram” or “I'm not Lord Ram”? Why?
I'm reading "Immortals of Meluha" and while reading I encounter a sentence that was delivered by Shiva, he said "I'm no Lord Ram". What I'm thinking is that he should have said "I'm not Lord Ram". ...
0
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1answer
26 views
Is it okay to use “go to” with facial expressions
In Urban Dictionary I happened to stumble across a sentence. "This is my go-to expression". Is the use of "go-to" okay with facial expressions?
Here it is:
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?...
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0answers
35 views
Showering with an antique shower
A person loves antique showers (showerhead). So is the use of "with" natural in this context?.
He loves showering with an antique shower. (Shower = Showerhead)
Is the use of "with" natural in this ...
1
vote
1answer
24 views
A part of the power has gone off
More than half of the appliances are working. But a few are not working because (it's not like half the power is out, actually more than half the power is on and just a part of it is out, maybe ...
0
votes
1answer
25 views
What do you use to express that the marker lines are visible on the other page
I drew something in pencil, then I outlined it with a black marker. Maybe it got too dark, and I could see the outline of that diagram on the other side of the page (when I turned the page.) I could ...
2
votes
5answers
153 views
Asking for something with different prices
I want to buy a Coke bottle. Now there are different prices of Coke for different amounts. So what will be a natural way to ask for a Coke of a particular price?
Can I get a Coke priced $1.50.
[I ...
0
votes
0answers
39 views
What is it called?
In English what is the terms used to refer to the hair on the sides of the head? Some people have it naturally and some people get a haircut.
Like "the natural curls on the side of the face" or "...
0
votes
1answer
15 views
I'll pick you up/carry you on my back
A kid falls down and gets hurt, so her mother says:
I'll pick you up on my back.
Or
I'll carry you on my back.
What should be used: "pick up/carry"? Do both of them sound equally?
0
votes
2answers
48 views
Section two pieces, take two segments of hair
Will all the three sentences express this idea naturally?
Section two roughly symmetrical pieces of your hair at the front. (Used by an American on a website.)
Or
Take two sections of your ...
0
votes
2answers
49 views
Dry fruits are hot [closed]
We do not eat a lot of dry fruits, and not especially during summers as they tend to increase our body temperature and heat us up and in excess can give rise to those nasty pimples as well.
Now if we ...
0
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0answers
16 views
Is the use of “till” natural here?
I am writing about a book. So what should I use "till/to"?
This book is so gripping, that it keeps you ensnared till the last word.
This book is so gripping, that it keeps you ensnared to the ...
0
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0answers
22 views
I'm in (name) and she's in math or she's in math class
Here in my country, the eleventh graders are spilt up into fields like Commerce ,Medical , Non-Medical , Humanities.
.
So here's some basic knowledge:
Commerce: Business Studies, Economics, Math, ...
0
votes
1answer
22 views
This was not a full deck, the deck was not full
A few people were playing cards. So in the end the person who lost thought that "a few cards were missing". So can be expressed as:
This was not a full deck.
The deck was not full.
What ...
1
vote
1answer
28 views
Can you “change/exchange” it to an orange juice?
I know we don't ask the waiter to get us a different order once it has been put on our table, but anyways if you changed your mind and the waiter brought your order and you want to say "can I get an ...
