Questions tagged [usage]
For questions about how certain words, phrases or grammatical aspects are typically used.
0
votes
1answer
18 views
Why “change my schedule around”, instead of “change my schedule”?
I heard some people say
I changed my schedule around,
instead of just saying "I changed my schedule." when they, for example, are making college class schedule.
Can I use this expression without ...
3
votes
1answer
25 views
What is the meaning of the phrase “staring at starvation”?
I read a sentence which was:
A lack of dignified employment, non payment of adequate wages on time
and insufficient food mean that the family of four is in a dicey
situation and staring at ...
3
votes
4answers
37 views
Can “Madame” be used instead of “Madam”?
In President Trump's letter to Speaker Pelosi, he addressed Pelosi as "Madame Speaker".
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear ...
5
votes
1answer
41 views
Is “10% finished” or “finished 10%”?
I have worked on a task for 3 days and finished about 10% of the tast.
How to report to my boss about this status?
The task was finished 10%
The task has finished 10%
The task was 10% ...
6
votes
1answer
619 views
The difference between sick and ill [duplicate]
I feel ill or sick. Both mean the same. But when they modify a noun, do they mean the same? For example,
Sentence A: He is a sick person.
Sentence B: He is an ill person.
Do they mean the same?
I ...
0
votes
1answer
29 views
How can i use both of them correctly (“there + a place” in a sentence)
I know that " There Refers to a Place ". However, i'm a little bit confused. I know it's wrong but I'm trying to use both words "there" and "a specific place" in a sentence and the examples below make ...
2
votes
2answers
55 views
Is “get hairs cut” proper English?
A friend always writes in her emails that she and her husband are going to get their “hairs cut at a salon”, not hair cuts or haircuts. She grew up in the 1930s in L.A. so perhaps this was normal for ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
Would using “one of either” be correct?
I was writing a comment the other day when I wrote a sentence similar to the one below:
You can choose one of either (Pizza, Mac and Cheese, or Spaghetti).
Obviously the choices are made-up, but ...
0
votes
2answers
27 views
Usage and grammar rules for the verb “remain”
i have google the usage with different combination of tenses for the verb remain such as
is/are remained
will be remained
it seems like it's wrong in grammar to use past participle and future ...
0
votes
1answer
21 views
The correct usage?
I want to my friend to choose the right people in her life. Which one of these sentences should I use ? Be around the right people or be around with the right people ?
0
votes
1answer
13 views
Using non-continuous verbs in continuous form
I was learning non-continous verbs once again when I came across a site (I won't post a link to it, it's in russian). And it says that sometimes when we want to emphasize the action, we can use non-...
1
vote
2answers
28 views
“I hope” vs “I want”
One says from bottom of his heart,
I don't want him to be humiliated because of me.
I hope that he will not be humiliated because of me.
Until this day, I thought "I don't want" makes more ...
2
votes
2answers
196 views
“What a relief?” – Why do we need an article?
“Oxford learners Dictionary” states that “relief” (at least when it means removal of anxiety/pain) is an uncountable noun. Then why do we use the indefinite article in this phrase? Are there any other ...
1
vote
1answer
63 views
words a speaker says in the video?
I cannot make out what the speaker said in this video. It is at the 9 minute 44 second point. It sounds like he said chores up, but that doesn't make any sense. Here is the context:
It is difficult ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
Distinction with non-finite clause/subordinate clause
He left the party and went home, not having anyone to talk to.
**A clause is a collection of words that has a subject that is actively doing a verb.*
Non-finite clauses contain a verb which does not ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
Do you sometimes omit “what” in the “No matter what + noun ~” structure?
Do you sometimes omit "what" in the "No matter what + noun ~" structure? I came across one, and I want to make sure the omission is acceptable.
0
votes
1answer
20 views
“We met” vs We've met"
Can somebody please explain the different between the following sentences?
"Thank you to all of the people we've met and worked with in 2018."
&
"Thank you to all of the people we met and ...
2
votes
1answer
28 views
Does the word “otherwise” disregard the sentence before it or include it?
I filled out a form for permission to use a branding logo.
The reply I received was something like the following:
"You may use the icon only if it (does a specific something A). Otherwise, as a ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
Where to put the word “then” in this sentence?
When I sat with a friend yesterday, she told me that she was sad a day ago and she wanted to call me. I told her that If I knew it I'd call her then. It was as follow:
She: I was so sad yesterday.
...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
Using 'a' + 'kind of' + noun [closed]
Is there any difference in using kind of + noun with or without a at the beginning?
For example,
It is kind of animal.
vs
It is a kind of animal.
1
vote
2answers
44 views
“As far as I know” v.s. “as I know”
As Katy Perry has sung,“After hurricane comes a rainbow.” We should bravely face the hardship together.
In this sentence,"as" means "in the same way".
Thus,can the following sentence make sense by ...
1
vote
1answer
23 views
Using was versus were
Which one do I use for this sentence?
"I would be jealous if John was/were kissing another girl."
I'm guessing "were" would be the correct choice?
1
vote
2answers
81 views
Hadn't/haven't- difference in meaning in the given context
Life would be so much easier if people could anticipate your needs and work to satisfy them.
Like, if somebody got you that cup of coffee you hadn't asked for yet.
Life would be so much easier if ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
May I know which are those contexts in which state verbs are used in progressive forms?
I heard the following news a while ago.
59 percent of the voters are wanting Mr Modi to be the next PM of the nation. What is the justification for the usage "wanting"?
1
vote
3answers
52 views
A dog ran down/along the street- meaning difference
The dog ran along the road.
The dog ran down the road.
I was doing a test paper on English and came across this question "the dog ran __ the road", and from the options only two made sense, along ...
0
votes
1answer
26 views
In an auditorium a comperer announces and asks the audince to take their seats on the left side. What does it mean? [duplicate]
In an auditorium the announcer asks the audience to be seated on the left side seats. Doesnt it mean the left side of the audience??
0
votes
2answers
39 views
How to talk about “vision problems ” and “eye glasses ”? [closed]
How can we ask a person if one has a vision problems? and what is the other name for "eye glasses?
11
votes
3answers
2k views
Difference between “I know where I stand” and “I know my place” and their interchangeability
I shouldn't have talked back to him. I know where I stand.
I shouldn't have talked back to him. I know my place.
What's difference between the two sentences and the difference between I know where I ...
2
votes
2answers
52 views
What expressions are used to mean “people who usually meet to consume alcohol together”?
In my home language in a very informal situation the English term TABLE MATE is used for a group of people who get together usually to consume alcohol. Is this expression in use in English? Or else ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
Is “NASDAQ to launch etc..” is a right usage? [duplicate]
I saw this title at a website:
What Crypto Winter? Nasdaq to Launch Bitcoin Futures Market: Report
It seems to me that there is a problem with this sentence. To my point of view, it should be : ...
3
votes
3answers
68 views
Prepositions of Place: “next to” or “behind”?
I'm a non-native teacher of English and I work with adults.
On Monday we studied prepositions of place and when my students were working with the picture one of them asked if we should say
"The ...
1
vote
1answer
24 views
Ourselves, together or separate?
When I say "ourselves", am I talking about us together, separate or it actually depends on the context?
Example:
In the context of a project that involves many people I am talking with a colleague ...
0
votes
2answers
48 views
A full head of hair vs a head full of hair
Someone who has a lot of hair on their head is said to have a full head of hair. The order of the words, I must admit, struck me as strange when I first saw the phrase (just as a full man of pride ...
1
vote
2answers
62 views
What is the difference between 'detail' and 'example'?
Sometimes I've encountered some questions which ask me to state my opinion and give details or examples to support my opinion.
I am a little confused about using details and examples. For me, as ...
-2
votes
2answers
22 views
get product by name or from name [closed]
Is there a difference between:
"get product by id" and "get product from id"
"get product by name" and "get product from name"
2
votes
2answers
161 views
In cases like the one mentioned, can good/nice be interchangeable
He can't have good things because, he doesn't look after them.
He can't have nice things because, he doesn't look after them.
In cases like this are nice and good interchangeable?
0
votes
1answer
32 views
Usage of ellipsis as a pause or break in the sentence
Are the ellipsis used like em-dashes or pauses in these examples? They are not omitting information but rather feel like unneccessary breaks in the sentence where commas should be used.
I ask because ...
0
votes
1answer
16 views
Can I say “Here are the celebrity SAT scores you are looking for, up to 80 rows of data.”?
I want to say that I have found 80 celebrities' SAT score information for my boss. Can I say this?
Here are the celebrity SAT scores you are looking for, up to 80 rows
of data.
Thanks
0
votes
1answer
24 views
What is the appropriate timing of the language function parting expression GOOD NIGHT?
When can one greet using the parting expression GOOD NIGHT? can one use it while parting at day time. Plz reflect
0
votes
2answers
31 views
Usage and grammar of 'be to'
I just came across a passage about Sir Winston Churchill on the Internet.
He was to spend most of the next four years of his life with the
Regiment in Bangalore and the North West Frontier in ...
1
vote
0answers
50 views
How to speak english fluently [closed]
I am here to share one of my personal problem with you. I am not a native English speaker. I learn to read how to read or write in English. I am not very fluent in english. Sometime people ask me ...
1
vote
1answer
39 views
Subject/verb agreement for [closed]
Which one is correct?
A series of policies across the DoD and Federal Government has/have been developed.
1
vote
2answers
27 views
Each of the actors did their part well [duplicate]
Can anybody help me ? Which is correct ?
Each of the actors did their part well. or
Each of the actors did his part well.
Thanks in advance.
0
votes
2answers
54 views
Downtown vs the downtown
1. My house is 3 km away from downtown Alexandria.
2. I live in Alexandria. My house is 3 km away from (the) downtown.
Dictionaries list downtown as an adjective, adverb and noun. And so the two ...
1
vote
1answer
21 views
“Come” vs “come on”-“The bus should come on in at any minute.”Is it idiomatic to use “come” to talk about something that's going to happen?
I know I can say
The streetlights come on automatically at dusk.
Now suppose that you and your friend have been waiting for a bus for a while.
And you turn and say
The bus should come on at any ...
1
vote
1answer
51 views
Why two names for the headset which we use?
The headset which is used for listening why it is called EARPHONE and AIRPHONE both?
0
votes
1answer
40 views
What is your para? [duplicate]
To know a person's number or order among his /her siblings can this question be asked or is there any alternate?
What is your para?
1
vote
1answer
36 views
While talking and describing a person, can we use the phrase “our own ”
Can one use the phrase "our own" while describing a person or a place. For example:
Our own Charles Dickens has written novels on industrial revolution.
Or
Our own Mr. Gandhi is a symbol of ...
1
vote
1answer
27 views
'Kiss rocks'? Why would anyone want to kiss rocks?
A joke from “Buffy” (S3E6):
A huge inscription is spray-painted on the lockers “Kiss rocks”. Willow says: “ "Kiss rocks"? Why would anyone want to kiss... Oh, wait. I get it.”
Well, I don’t get ...
1
vote
2answers
36 views
“in months” in place of “for months” on BBC web site. Is it correct?
I have been reading some news on the BBC web page (at https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-37935357), which is about people migrating illegally into USA.
And the text of the news has the ...
