Questions tagged [usage]

For questions about how certain words, phrases or grammatical aspects are typically used.

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How does "would" work in "I would agree"?

In this dialogue, why does Donny say "I would agree" rather than "I agree?" How does "would" works in this context? Telek's #1: Is there any difference between 'He snuck ...
Nyambek's user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
531 views

"Make Our Life ..." vs "Make Our Lives ..."

I had thought "Make Our Life easier" was wrong and that I should use the plural form, "Make Our Lives easier" but I find I see the form "Make Our Life ..." from time to ...
Qiulang 邱朗's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
33 views

Why is in this example?

I found this example in Grammarly When I was out there this morning cleaning off the door, I remembered that just last week I had noticed what a muddy white color it is, and I had thought about other ...
Yves Lefol's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
587 views

the proof of <the> pudding is in the eating

the proof of the pudding is in the eating Question 1: What is the role of the? Question 2: Is it possible to replace the with "a"? (I am assuming that "proof" means "test&...
Kaguyahime's user avatar
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0 answers
26 views

Can I put the article 'the' before a proper noun which also has common noun after it?

Can a proper noun (Oxford University) take the if it is followed by a common noun (journal), like in the following sentence? We can get more data in the Oxford University journal.
Meera's user avatar
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0 answers
70 views

Present perfect for three consecutive events

John, Peter and Sarah are at a ski resort. John loses his balance and falls down. He then tries to get up, but he can't, so Sarah and Peter call for an ambulance. When it arrives, the doctor says John'...
prof1589's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
39 views

Today would have been or today is

Why does this sentence use "would have?" Why not say "Today is the birthday of our FA Cup winning captain, Jack Nicholas?" Today would have been the birthday of our FA Cup winning ...
Nyambek's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
27 views

She is one of (the) better speakers. - need "the"?

Example 1 He was one of many American writers. He was one of the many American writers. Example 2 He was one of few famous American writers. He was one of the few famous American writers. ...
vincentlin's user avatar
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1 answer
98 views

"brother," "brotha," or "bro" when I just want to sound good and sociable and don't want to be associated with cowboys, etc

I know young English speakers like to use "bro" to refer to their good friends. I think "bro" is too casual; I would use it only when the friends are close and I know them well, so ...
vincentlin's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
42 views

There is a table in a/the kitchen? (if 1st sentence)

I'm confused as to why internet shows a lot of hits like 'There is a table in 'the' kitchen?' after 'There is a table in'. Is it because the sentence(s) are assumed to be already in the middle of the ...
Martian2020's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
529 views

any problem these children have

a. We have to find the root cause of any problem these children have. b. We have to find the root cause of any frustration these children feel. Could these sentences be used if the speaker is not sure ...
azz's user avatar
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1 answer
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Can 'it' refer to a plural noun?

I think it refers to all the tasks that AI-powered by artificial intelligence can do. But is it possible for it to refer to the plural noun, all the tasks? If so, all the tasks must be used as a ...
TUALL's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
34 views

Is 'adapt to [infinitive]' generally used?

Is to adapt to [infinitive] generally used in addition to to adapt to [-ing] form? If so, is there any difference in meaning, like using to [infinitive] to express a purpose or intention or something ...
Lifeispicnic's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
73 views

Why is it present perfect here?

I'm reading a book where the author describes the process of his work. Referring to what he wrote in the past, he says: Often in the notes and essays I have had to break off just at the point where a ...
Arseny Aleev's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
47 views

Symbols used in a dictionary

I came across this little bar located on lower part of a word in a dictionary, and I am wondering what it means. Unfortunately even my keyboard doesn't have the symbol so that I can show you. It looks ...
Afaq Nafar's user avatar
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1 answer
65 views

Why are there two "woulds" in this sentence?

I'm a little bit baffled why there are two "woulds" in this dialogue? Why doesn't speaker B use "will?" A: Which sentence is your choice? If I study hard then I will succeed. If ...
Nyambek's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
52 views

Passive voice with it and infinitive

Practical English Usage says: A few verbs that are followed by infinitives (for example decide, agree) can also be used in passive structures beginning with it. They decided to meet at twelve. -> ...
Zygl's user avatar
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0 answers
35 views

Questions about verbs

70% (700) of the total data is used as training data, and the remaining 20% (200) are used as validation data. I am in the process of creating presentation PPT materials. Is are used as correct in ...
seo hyun's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
113 views

Why don't we use "a same" in some cases? [duplicate]

Suppose there are three options: "A", "B", and "C", and two people each have to choose one of them. I want to say a sentence like the following: "They both chose ...
Honza's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
73 views

Difference between “somewhat like” and “something like”

What's the correct usage of both terms? Is it possible to use both constructions interchangeable? Like in these examples: It's something/somewhat like that. It sounds somewhat/something like jazz. It ...
Learning English's user avatar
6 votes
5 answers
3k views

What's the modern version of 'I will drown and nobody shall save me!'?

'I will drown and nobody shall save me!' cried the man who had fallen into the canal two hundred years ago. I am wondering what he would be crying if he fell in the canal today.
Quirkier's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
197 views

Either this or that in the sentence

To combine these two sentences into one, we can use coordination structures such as 'either...or...' You should go to a hospital. You should go to a clinic. As in: You should go to either a hospital ...
Englishfreak's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
52 views

Using 'powerful' as a noun - "Britain's powerful"

The bane of Britain’s great and powerful is a couple of inches long, has warty skin and a bright orange underbelly—and the power to disrupt some of their most heartfelt ambitions. 'Britain's great ...
SHIN JaeGuk's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
60 views

What is the usage of "is, am, and are" and "do and does" in terms of closed question?

When we want to ask the yes-no question, we will use verbs like "is, am, and are" or "do and does", and we put it in the head of the sentence. And the question is, what is the ...
Cast W's user avatar
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1 vote
3 answers
48 views

Understanding this particular usage of "only if"

I am confused about the usage of "only if" in the below sentences: Only if the two votes are in agreement will the deal go through. Only if Ted and Kate both bring pies to the picnic, will ...
Ray Siplao's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
77 views

She sees her boyfriend vs She is seeing her boyfriend

I have been wondering about the meaning of "to see" in relation to visiting someone and/or having an affair. Could you confirm (or not) that I understand the difference correctly? I have ...
Penguin422's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
65 views

Why is "would" used in "have to"

Why does speaker B add "would" in his response? Here is a dialogue. A: Is it correct to say, "It would be appreciate if you can do something"? B: For me, it would have to be, &...
Mbutt's user avatar
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1 vote
3 answers
136 views

What is the use of "would" in this context

Could you explain what the use of "would" in this sentence is? In this context, someone opens the conversation with the question: A: what does this mean? A man who never drew but selfish ...
Nyambek's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
73 views

What's the use of the word 's in this sentence

Could you explain how the apostrophe 's works in these sentences? I understand the word 's to show possesive meaning to belong. But it doesn't make sense in this case. "A huge victory for ...
Nyambek's user avatar
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13 votes
3 answers
3k views

I wonder if the sentence is grammatically correct? "I wonder who it was defined man as a rational animal." Am I missing something?

So, I was reading "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde and stumbled across this sentence: I wonder who it was defined man as a rational animal. It was the most premature definition ...
Fallen Empire's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
98 views

What's the meaning of "would" in this sentence?

Could you explain Damian's use of "would" when he answers a someone's question in the following? I can't understand the meaning. Dwi: What does "emphatic" means in this sentence? ...
Nyambek's user avatar
  • 109
2 votes
1 answer
97 views

How to put an article before a word in a phrase if the first word is uncountable and the second word is countable?

Clinimetrics corner: the many faces of "selection bias" Now, selection and bias are both nouns. Selection is an uncountable noun and a countable noun. Bias is a countable noun. So, can I ...
Aryendu Kumar's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
35 views

Fall or fall down/ fall off

Is it correct if I say: He was repairing the bulb when he fell. (not fell down or fell off, just fell without any preposition after fell)
Mira 27's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
40 views

Does removing the definite article in "The Association between Economic Status and…” matter?

The Association between Economic Status and Depressive Symptoms: An Individual and Community Level Approach I know that "the" implies a particular association that is between "economic ...
Aryendu Kumar's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
25 views

Why "the" is used before the word "association" in the given sentence?

"The" association between socioeconomic conditions and health differed between countries of different economic development. I know that "The" implies a particular association that ...
Meera's user avatar
  • 11
0 votes
1 answer
38 views

"The" is used to refer the specificty. Which particularity is indicated by "the" in the given sentence?

There is a protein in our body called Intrinsic factor. So, if there is a sentence - "The" intrinsic factor is a glycoprotein. By putting "the" before intrinsic, the sense of the ...
Meera's user avatar
  • 11
1 vote
3 answers
92 views

Why do some type 1 conditional sentences use "can" instead of "will be able to"?

I've always thought that when using a type 1 conditional, we should always use "will/won't be able to" instead of "can/can't", but then I come up with some contexts where "can/...
Skywarrior's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
43 views

Why doesn’t this sentence use “will be able to”?

I think the future form of can is will be able to, and when using type 1 conditional, we should use future tense in the main clause, but then I think in some cases, “will be able to” sounds weird. I ...
Skywarrior's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
55 views

"Why is there the definite article in “The increase of GDP…”

The increase of GDP factor helped the country to combat paucity. Why "the" is used before "increase" when already there is a particular factor that is GDP? If it hadn't be given, ...
Aryendu Kumar's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
232 views

Is it possible to use the present perfect tense with the time marker "last night"?

The ground is all wet. It must have rained last night. Why is the present perfect tense used in the second sentence if there is a 'last night' time marker?
Elizabeth's user avatar
  • 269
-1 votes
1 answer
64 views

Why is "would" used in this sentence, not "will?"

This question is about why my friend Jane used would be in her response to a particular language question. Here's the question: Context: Lady Catelyn's husband was murdered by Joffrey who belongs to ...
Nyambek's user avatar
  • 109
0 votes
2 answers
81 views

Is "the" used in the names of stadiums?

Is "the" used in the names of stadiums? For example. Etihad or the Etihad Wembley or the Wembley White Hart Lane or the White Hart Lane Old Trafford or the Old Trafford Stamford Bridge or ...
Nyambek's user avatar
  • 109
1 vote
0 answers
45 views

"ought" with or without "to"?

We usually say "ought to" not "ought". (Although more often we say "should"). I wonder when I can say "ought" without "to". Some examples: 1: Ought I ...
Kyamond's user avatar
  • 392
1 vote
1 answer
99 views

Usage of going to vs going to go

I'm going to Japan. I already have my plane ticket. Correct! I'm going to go to Japan. I already have my plane ticket. Wrong! I thought there was no difference in meaning between these two ...
user424874's user avatar
-1 votes
2 answers
71 views

Why does this sentence have the word "...again...": "The world's largest Eagle, stellar sea eagle, a third as big again as a golden

"The world's largest Eagle, stellar sea eagle, a third as big again as a golden." BBC-SEA EAGLE (see:1:53-1:58) I got confused by this sentence. As far as I understand, the sentence means &...
yunus's user avatar
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0 votes
0 answers
71 views

can the definite article ''the'' be omitted when describing a well-known evaluation metric

I wonder can the definite article ''the'' be omitted when describing a well-known evaluation metric? using average squared Euclidean distance as a measure of closeness Source: https://drive.google....
xinehc's user avatar
  • 33
1 vote
0 answers
79 views

Is ‘be’ without a complement grammatical? [closed]

The following quotation (with a link to the source) is from a title to an Amazon product review. Not selling the product as they claim it to be. I can understand the meaning, but not figure out the ...
Mr. Wang's user avatar
  • 613
0 votes
2 answers
44 views

Relative pronoun "which" [duplicate]

The below sentence was taken from one of TOEIC questions. I chose "that"(relative pronoun), but the answer was "which". I understand if there is a comma after the word 'month', ...
user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
146 views

should articles be added when explaining abbreviations

I wonder are the sentences below grammatically correct if we omit the articles? RPG stands for (a) ''role-playing game'' RPG, also known as (a) ''rocket-propelled grenade''
xinehc's user avatar
  • 33
1 vote
4 answers
92 views

Why is the use of future perfect incorrect in this scenario?

I'm working on: Raymond Murphy - English Grammar in Use - English Grammar in Use Fifth Edition In this exercise, I have to choose the correct answer(s): Andy goes to work every day. He leaves home ...
F. Zer's user avatar
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