Questions tagged [spoken-english]
The way in which English is spoken, either formally or informally. As opposed to written usage.
686
questions
0
votes
1
answer
24
views
Computer English situational dialogue [closed]
My teacher gave me a task, asking 3 or 4 people to have a situational dialogue, the theme is about computer professional English, can give me some advice 😄
0
votes
1
answer
26
views
"This one is a question, too" vs "This one is a question. Too"
Is "This one is a question, too" the same as "This one is a question. Too"?
Is the "Too" understood in the second case? Are the two spoken differently?
0
votes
0
answers
25
views
How can older adult learn English?
My mother is 68, and currently visiting us in Canada for a year or more. Her English level is very basic. Maybe she can recognize several 100 words reading, and much less when listening, especially ...
- 1
0
votes
2
answers
80
views
That sounds like 'that do a full three men '. What is this guy exactly saying after the streamer said something to him?
I was watching videos on twitch. After one guy say something to one, I heard the guy saying that which sound like "what do you mean one guy that do a full three men". I understand what they ...
- 3
0
votes
2
answers
53
views
In a sentence with double negatives, how do I tell if I'm allowed to cancel them out or not?
Asking this because I'm worried that canceling out double negatives can completely change the original meaning of the sentence. I know context and the speaker/writer's intent are also important but is ...
- 31
0
votes
1
answer
27
views
Is it rude to ask “do you want one” to an adult?
Is it rude to ask “do you want one” if you’re trying to ask if an adult also wants something? (ex: food) I’m worried if this would sound rude or disrespectful.
0
votes
2
answers
24
views
meaning of "make an everlasting first impression"?
i have this sentence "The competitive world has forced everyone to make an everlasting first impression". what does everlasting first impression meaning?
0
votes
2
answers
81
views
"I have got to sing" or "I have gotten to sing"
I know that normally in American English we use "gotten" after has/have but in this type of construction, do Americans say "got" or "gotten"? As in
"I have got to ...
- 159
3
votes
1
answer
633
views
What is the meaning of "Things the way they were"?
This sentence "Things the way they were" is part of the song "I See the Light" which is from the movie Rapunzel.
All those years living in a blur
All that time never truly seeing
...
- 77
0
votes
1
answer
44
views
What does "drinks hit someone" mean?
In the song Lucille by Kenny Rogers, a part of the lyric goes like this
When the drinks finally hit her ...
What does hit mean here? And is it an old-fashioned language which is probably not used ...
1
vote
0
answers
35
views
I wish I knew in my 20’s vs I wish I had known in my 20’s
I am a little confused with the usage of I wish structure. I understand that when speaking about present we use I wish + Past Simple while speaking about past we say I wish + Past Perfect
So I don’t ...
0
votes
2
answers
22
views
How to use "I am the one"
Is it correct to say the following?
"I think I am the one who did it"
Let's say In the past I created some article. But not sure whether I really created it or not. And at the same time ...
0
votes
1
answer
23
views
leave or left in the situation mentioned below
I was talking to my co-worker about another annoying co-worker. My co-worker asked, "Is she still here?" referring to that annoying co-worker.
I said,
"I don't know but I wish she left.&...
- 55
0
votes
0
answers
19
views
Does it make sense to put a lengthy subject after "for" and use "they" to refer to it
I always hear sentences like below in conversations with English learners.
For successful people in the world, they always work hard.
For most employees in the sales department, they have a good ...
- 161
0
votes
1
answer
37
views
What type of speech is "In person"?
What type of speech would the phrase: "In person" be part of the English Language?
2
votes
1
answer
23
views
Sentence Construction with put up
So yesterday I was driving my friend back to his home and he wasn't sure where we were. So I asked him
"put up your address on Google maps"
Now I am wondering if the sentence above is ...
- 55
0
votes
0
answers
31
views
Construction of phrasal verbs
I was thinking about how phrasal verbs are constructed. You take a verb and add a preposition to it. Like, Put off, Break up, Make out e.t.c.
As a learner of English I kind of have to memorize them if ...
- 55
3
votes
1
answer
26
views
The temperature will increase "during" or "throughout" the night?
If I want to tell someone that the temperature is going to increase over the period of night, how can I say that?
The temperature will increase during the night.
or
The temperature will increase ...
- 55
0
votes
2
answers
66
views
The background of "Can you pass me the salt"
My textbook says that It is considered rude to reach out your hand and take something in front of others. Being Japanese myself, and when in Rome do as the Romans do is my policy, I'd rather they ...
- 535
2
votes
1
answer
102
views
How do you go to school or How do you get to school?
Which is correct between How do you get to __ vs How do you go to ___? Can you also explain why it's the correct way to ask this question or how do they differ?
1
vote
1
answer
54
views
oral expression of calendar years
Consider the following written sentence:
By 1911 the company had grown considerably since its humble beginnings, ten years earlier in 1901.
In vernacular speech, a common oral representation is one ...
- 1,691
0
votes
1
answer
113
views
Can some one help me understand a sentence in this video? [closed]
This wonderful YouTuber has helped me a great deal learning algorithms but the subtitles don't seem to make sense to me, here the subs merged with what I hear:
"... I have told you in one video ...
- 111
2
votes
1
answer
25
views
Is it normal to reverse the placement of (adjective/noun) with (subject + verb)?
I've seen this type of sentences in Harry Potter books. I've made these up, but I'm sure Rubeus Hagrid or whoever talks like this:
Tiring, those blokes are.
Such a great man, Dumblodre is.
Why do ...
- 4,093
0
votes
0
answers
20
views
he said to me, "traitor" change to indirect
he said to me, "traitor" change to indirect
would the indirect be : He called me a traitor. or
He told me that I have been a traitor.
- 29
0
votes
1
answer
261
views
Always" "usually" "often" "sometimes" "never"
Usually we use words like "always" "usually" "often" "sometimes" "never" in present passive as in "He is always given a surprise" and past ...
- 159
0
votes
1
answer
45
views
Does it sound werid to native speakers if the learners use formal words in casual/everyday speech?
I'm always curious whether using formal words in a casual/everyday speech sounds weird to native speakers. Or maybe the native speakers can notice such uses but don't care at all?
For example, the ...
- 283
0
votes
0
answers
19
views
Does Relative pronoun in relative clause always follows the noun it modifies/referes?
I have studied about relative clauses in many blogs and i noticed in every blog that, the relative pronoun was followed by the noun it modifies, is it thumb rule of relative clause? Or any situations ...
- 181
0
votes
0
answers
17
views
When reading a text VS When we are reading a text
Compare the the fallowing two :
When reading a text instead of listening to someone speak, we miss
out on the speaker’s intonation – that’s the way the voice rises and
falls when speaking.
When we ...
- 17
0
votes
1
answer
34
views
Is the word 'Jargon'?
The online dictionary Merriam-webster says there is a word 'ungotten'. But Can we use it like we use the words such as unseen, unheard etc.? Is there any other word we can use for 'not obtained'?
-2
votes
1
answer
72
views
What is the actor saying [closed]
What is the actor talking about from 5:25 to 5:55. Especially at 5:41. "...make the mistake of showing my son..." YouTube subtitles aren't really helpful. He mentions something that is ...
- 1,931
0
votes
1
answer
35
views
Why do some people use 'It's ain't' as in "It's ain't true" with "Is + ain't"?
I found that many people use the form of 'is ain't' on the Internet.
I don't know why they use "Is" + "Ain't" whereas it doesn't make any sense?
According to Google, there are ...
- 33
0
votes
0
answers
37
views
Is “happy time” spoken English?
So – and here comes the question – why is there not as much happiness
as there is happy time gone by?
Happy time means the time when someone is happy, but it doesn’t mean the time which feels happy. ...
user139825
0
votes
1
answer
88
views
A word is not allowed to ask here [closed]
Guess this question will be closed soon. But, I still need to figure out what it means in the context of a garage sale. Is "hard-xxx" negative or positive in the clip, "You are such a ...
- 333
0
votes
1
answer
41
views
What does the actor say?
I hope it is allowed to ask this question on this forum. What does Gerard Butler say from the beginning of the video till 0:15?
https://youtu.be/T4AM_I5b1CM
Please don't ban me. If this is the wrong ...
- 1,931
-1
votes
1
answer
24
views
I need help for a definition [closed]
Does this sentence make sense, and is it correct?
“ Her honest opinion seemed very abrasive to others”
6
votes
6
answers
4k
views
Per American pronunciation, "a ear" or "an ear"?
I just watched YEAR vs. EAR - American English Pronunciation (EAR vs. HEAR), and I hear absolutely no difference between the pronunciations of "ear" and "year", given we should use ...
- 746
-1
votes
2
answers
23
views
Can "compounded" be used as an adjective? For example "this is a compounded issue"?
Today I found this sentence on the CBC news site:
"We know that people have been feeding animals in the park. So that is contributing," she said. "I think this is a compounded issue.&...
- 3
-2
votes
1
answer
293
views
What does "Book skin" mean in this context? (I've got extra book skin from breastfeeding) [closed]
"I've got extra book skin from breastfeeding"
What does "book skin" exactly mean here?
- 33
1
vote
2
answers
122
views
How commonly used are "sir" and "madam" in spoken English in America?
Are "sir" and "madam" considered old-fashioned in spoken English in the US? Do native speakers use these words to address their teacher, boss, or customer in conversations?
- 183
4
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Do native English speakers pronounce every final letter when speaking fast? [closed]
I came across situations where it looks like they don't pronounce the final letter of every word in a sentence? Personally, I feel that skipping the final letter somehow seems beautiful? What is the ...
- 340
0
votes
1
answer
33
views
Difference between blow up and blow up over
I saw the meaning of blow up which is explode or anger. but could not find any reference related to blow up over.
Sentence - This was an embarrassing moment for company that blew up over social media. ...
- 295
1
vote
1
answer
31
views
Difference between come up and come on up
What is the difference between come up and come on up?
I was able to check the meaning of come up here: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/come-up
but could not search for come on up.
- 295
0
votes
0
answers
31
views
Intonation changes meaning
The audio includes two short conversations in which the speaker answers with different intonations of "pretty" so as to cause different meanings of the two answers. The second one means she ...
- 333
-1
votes
1
answer
53
views
Is "there" often omitted in colloquial speech?
I am reading Post Office by Charles Bukowski. The writing style of the book is quite conversational and colloquial.
This sentence came up in the book.
I think he wanted to use the word “hygienics” ...
- 163
0
votes
0
answers
74
views
Can " was" and "were" be used interchangeably?
I am reading Post Office by Charles Bukowski. The writing style of the book is quite conversational and colloquial. This is a paragraph from the book.
As I stood there, the 10,000 flies began to come ...
- 163
1
vote
0
answers
45
views
What's the intonation pattern of "ideas"?
The utterance of the audio is "But I need your ideas. I need two heads." The intonation pattern of "heads" completely goes down because the speaker's statement is finished. However,...
- 333
14
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Meaning of "I just look out and go" in "Doctors will be, walk a couple of miles every day. And I just look out and go, can't be bothered."
From a speech by a depressed man who was told to exercise more:
And the doctors will be, just go out and do a couple of mile walk every day. And I just look out and go, can’t be bothered. Can’t be ...
- 36.1k
0
votes
1
answer
20
views
What's the difference in meaning and formality between these questions?
A. "You're feeling a little nervous, aren't you?"
B. "Feeling a little nervous, are you?"
C. "A little nervous, are you?"
My questions are:
Are B and C correct?
Is there ...
- 1,189
0
votes
1
answer
50
views
Meaning of "The other right" and "back looping"
I was watching the sci-fi series "The Flash".
Character1 is instructing Character2 about direction:
Character1: "Turn right"
Charater2 moves in the wrong direction.
Charater1: &...
- 251
0
votes
0
answers
28
views
Alternate ways to say if you want/if you want to/if you'd like
Alternate ways to say if you want/if you want to/if you'd like
I'd really appreciate if any could help me out here.
- 1