Questions tagged [understanding]

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Court literature- What does this sentence mean

The court reserves jurisdiction to allocate the guardian ad litem incurred as the previously appointed guardian at litem is no longer available
Virginia Placeres's user avatar
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1 answer
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Because “away” and “from” have similar ideas, “away from” is a common collocation

se16teddy: English verbs of motion feel almost naked without a little adverb such as up, down, through, over or away, at least in conversational English. The prepositional phrase adds additional ...
Aaaaaaassssss's user avatar
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1 answer
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...to be in process of continual change, of motion

Far from being dead, lifeless, inert, it is the very nature of matter to be in process of continual change, of motion. Once we realise this, then there is an end of appeal to the "initial impulse&...
XVI's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Using of "spread"

When I try to write or read it is okay. No problem. I can quitely understand. But when I think about it I get confused a little bit. For example look at the following sentence: They were supposed to ...
user123960's user avatar
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2 answers
52 views

Doubt regarding the airline ticket information [closed]

I recently had an English test where we had to read a passage and answer questions about the meaning. I completely failed to understand certain portions of this passage and do not understand the ...
Fin27's user avatar
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1 answer
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What the author is referring to with the word "aquatic ecosystems" [closed]

River pollution A team from Cemagref in Lyon (FR) has identified a pertinent indicator of the level of pollution in rivers: the biofilm. A complex combination of bacteria, algae and fungi, the biofilm ...
Oliver's user avatar
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1 answer
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In this passage researchers are saying that biofilm indicates the level of pollution. But I didn't understand how it does this

River pollution A team from Cemagref in Lyon (FR) has identified a pertinent indicator of the level of pollution in rivers: the biofilm. A complex combination of bacteria, algae and fungi, the biofilm ...
Oliver's user avatar
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-1 votes
1 answer
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"Sedgefield Yellow" and "Mallowflier"

the text is from a play called The River. characters are talking about fishing. What are "Black Bomber", "Sedgefield Yellow" and "Mallowflier" referring to? are the same ...
user103409's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
64 views

Understanding "Boss the stone" and other phrases

The Passage is from Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth. Ginger is a DJ and he never had the chance to work as a DJ and he is high at the moment. According to these lines, what's these phrases means: "...
user103409's user avatar
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0 answers
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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 ...
Melissa's user avatar
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0 answers
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through-wall meaning

I was reading a standard (DS-1 Drill Stem Inspection) and I saw the following sentence: The reference standard for flux leakage transverse flaw detection units shall be a through-wall drilled hole ...
Abol_Fa's user avatar
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1 answer
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Understanding 2 Trevs

the passage is from Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth. What 2 Trevs stand for? GINGER. I’m a DJ. JOHNNY. He’s an unemployed plasterer. PROFESSOR. I see. Are you pure or applied? GINGER ( to the PROFESSOR) ....
user103409's user avatar
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1 answer
401 views

understanding house sister

what "esteemed house sister" means in the sentence? Alice. In my short time as your head of dorm. I and Mia, your esteemed house sister. The passage's from That Face (Play)
user103409's user avatar
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1 answer
23 views

Understanding edges past the body

What is "He edges past the body" means in the last paragraph? The living room. Alice hangs in the open doorway to the bedroom. Billy sits at the table with his back to her. Screwed papers on ...
user103409's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
29 views

Understanding been up half the night lying in wait for her

I'm having trouble understanding of this passage from The Ferryman (Jez Butterworth) What is the meaning of:"been up half the night lying in wait for her"? UNCLE PAT. She’s been up half the ...
user103409's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
45 views

Understanding separate parts of passage from The Ferryman

I'm having trouble understanding of the separate parts of passage from The Ferryman (Jez Butterworth) What are the meanings of these sentences according to the passages: "spread-eagled round the ...
user103409's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
86 views

Understanding sentences from The Ferryman

I'm having trouble understanding of this passage from The Ferryman (Jez Butterworth) What are the meanings of these sentences according to the passage: "get a bead on", "I’m a ways past ...
user103409's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
52 views

What is the meaning of "in the long daisies"? [closed]

What "the long daisies" mean in the passage? The passage is from The Ferryman (Jez Butterworth) AUNT MAGGIE. No, I’ll answer. The truth, girls. The truth is… I loved a man who loved another. He ...
user103409's user avatar
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1 answer
60 views

Understanding word in the college is 1987

The Passage is from Jez Butterworth's Jerusalem. what is this line: "Word in the college is 1987 is going to be worse." means? Also, who is Maureen Pringle? PROFESSOR: A DJ, eh? GINGER: That’s right,...
user103409's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
85 views

I don't understand that sentence, even though I know conditionals well

"If David didn't give up smoking, Liza wouldn't marry him." I only can see that sentence in the 3rd conditional (unreal past) - "If David hadn't given up smoking, Liza wouldn't have married him". But ...
Ceejay's user avatar
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1 answer
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What do draft and swine mean?

the passage's from Frankenstein play. it's a part of the opening song. What do draft and swine mean? Come gather ye feast on our Empire's riches New heaven on Earth shall to all ages rise Those ...
user103409's user avatar
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1 answer
60 views

What does "if the children breed with the children" mean?

It's from a play based on Mary Shelley's novel. What does "if the children breed with the children" mean? Victor: I don’t know. I have travelled where no man has travelled. I wonder how far I can go....
user103409's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
106 views

What does Meat for the dogs mean?

What does Meat for the dogs mean? it's from a play called Frankenstein Victor: I shall need a steady supply of internal organs. Ewan: Very good, sir. Rab: Organs! Ewan: Quiet, Rab. Meat for the dogs....
user103409's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
57 views

The understood subject of "instructing."

I have read from a previous post: What part of speech is "instructing ..." here? 1.The editor at once sent the journalist a telegram instructing him to find out the exact number of steps ...
ForOU's user avatar
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2 answers
351 views

Does ''Blurt out'' mean to say something unintentional?

Like to say something bad,offensive,embarrassing,etc to somebody you didn't you mean to say
むさつ's user avatar
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0 answers
77 views

Understanding "Cracker"

What does "cracker" mean in these passages from The Ferryman by Jez Butterworth: 1: QUINN. Where’s Michael? CAITLIN. Flat on his cracker in bed. 2: MICHAEL. Morning, Tom Kettle. Where’s m’da? ...
user103409's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
210 views

Understanding "pallias"

What does "pallias" mean in the passage: UNCLE PAT. Cow Gum! Now there’s a scent to stir the soul. September, nineteen hundred and eleven… I was seven years old. Pat, Maggie, Arthur, Frank and me, ...
user103409's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
37 views

Sentence Understanding : "at certain phases of the moon"

What "at certain phases of the moon" Means, is this a slang: Jesus: The whole point of going into the desert is not eating bread. If I wanted bread I'd go to a shop. As for throwing yourself off a ...
user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
381 views

"He couldn’t hear her voice above the noise.", Someone help me understand this sentence

So in this sentence "He couldn’t hear her voice above the noise.", does "above the noise" describe "her voice"? if so, how come "he couldn't hear her voice". Shouldn't he be able to hear the voice ...
aggressionexp's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
85 views

Usage/understanding of "holding it all"?

In the Off Camera Show (timestamp), Brit Marling says today many people take many photos a day as a way to say I'm here, I'm alive and I'm holding it all. Is this a way to express someone has ...
Probably's user avatar
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1 answer
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Understanding Last lot & New lot

What does "Under the last lot. Under the new lot" mean in this passage: Paul: Have you ever seen me cry? Do I look like a man who cries? Has there ever been a day … ? Christ, we’ve known each ...
user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
78 views

Do I understand the tense forms correctly?

I made the following sentences up by myself and I would like to know if they are grammatically correct. Past Continuous: “I was searching for a job in the newspaper when I got a phone call.” or ...
Heda's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
17 views

Understanding a line through a passage

What this line means: That’s what I always you see? (Edward canes Anna once) Edward: One. That’s what I always you see? I think it’s fairer you see to count aloud. So that the boy knows ...
user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
31 views

sentence fragment to be improved

I ask the following as a non-native English speaker. In this question, I have trouble understanding how does "accompany me to my office" connect to anything else in the sentence. Original sentence: ...
virolino's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
114 views

"you can" vs "you cannot" How to understanding? What is difference?

When I try accept my answer, I seen a prompt: You can accept your own answer in 2 days This sentence make sense to me as miswritten for: You cannot accept your own answer in 2 days I post ...
illiterate's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
44 views

Which type of coin is which?

The type of the receiving coin, upon which another set of dies are struck, is referred to as "undertype", while the type being struck over it is called an "overtype". (Source) Am I understanding ...
user64617's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
119 views

How to quickly understand mutliple continuous parenthetical phrases?

The problem comes when I try to understand (multiple) continuous parentheses, for example: Summary of text leading up to this: someone purpose to eliminate 13 majors about humanities since they are ...
Fopopo's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
54 views

a means to the end of

There is a misconception held by some that Stoics have no interest in worldly goods and pleasures. This is not correct, as previously stated. The acceptance of a period of discomfort, similarly, ...
XVI's user avatar
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1 answer
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Meaning of “very confined"

What does "Very confined” mean in this short news update? Shortly after news of the fire broke, Trump, who was in Washington, tweeted: “Fire at Trump Tower is out. Very confined (well built ...
Zhang's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
145 views

Expression UK radio hosts and MCs use to shout out to friends/fans

I notice this mainly in drum 'n' bass/grime/dubstep radio shows from UK where an MC or the host frequently talks over the tune. Similar to terms like 'shout out to xxx' or 'big up xxx', where xxx ...
UnbescholtenerBuerger's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
39 views

meaning of "grounds on"

This is one of the answer choices given in LSAT exam. The music critic challenges the grounds on which the music professor generalizes from the particular context of rap music to the broader ...
user198952's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
149 views

"This" modifier

Biologists have found that all tadpoles of that species begin life as omnivores, feeding mainly on organic debris in their soon-to-be-dry pool in the desert, but that occasionally one tadpole eats ...
user198952's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
72 views

"Unwelcome liberty", "taken with"

His works were praised by many literary critics as fresh, inventive approaches to the form of the novel. Others, however, dismissed his works as simple retelling of local tales, full of unwelcome ...
user198952's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
57 views

What's the exact meaning of "a role dispatched with some....and so on

Could ypu please explain and paraphrase the last part of the sentence. The whole sentence: "Colin Firth gives a warm and sympathetic performance as Bertie, the Duke Of York, an introverted and ...
Maria Sukhareva's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
163 views

"purely out of"

Some consumers will not continue to patronize a company purely out of brand loyalty. I have two interpretation for this sentence. consumers does not go to the company because it is completely ...
user198952's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
83 views

as being arbitrary

Many people object to mandatory retirement at age 65 as being arbitrary, arguing that people over 65 make useful contributions. However, if those who reach 65 are permitted to continue working ...
user198952's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
619 views

Is "can be viewed using many different devices" correct? Is it missing a word?

Web pages can be viewed using many different devices: desktops, tablets, and phones. I don't understand "viewed using" section. I think it miss a certain word.
Pham Van Duc's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
139 views

Passage understanding

There is a passage that I cannot understand. It is from one of the LSAT prep tests. Superconductors are substances that conduct electricity without resistance at low temperatures. Their use, ...
user198952's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
29 views

poem to someone

Even in a laudatory poem to famous Chinese poet Li Po, which partly serves to place Lum's work within a distinguished literary tradition, Lum refuses to offer a stereotypical nostalgia for the ...
user198952's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
210 views

Is my interpretation of this paragraph from a horror short story by Arthur C. Doyle right?

I'm reading Arthur Conan Doyle's LOT NO. 249, and I'm having some troubles understanding the first paragraph. Of the dealings of Edward Bellingham with William Monkhouse Lee, and of the cause of ...
Soha Farhin Pine's user avatar