Questions tagged [usage]
For questions about how certain words, phrases or grammatical aspects are typically used.
1,145
questions
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0answers
23 views
What is wrong in the following sentence and why? [on hold]
Xuan Truong is one of the Vietnamese football players coming to Thailand this year.
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1answer
24 views
How do we use the idiom “come down on”?
How do we use the idiom "come down on"?
Looked up a dictionary and found the following:
come down on (someone or something)
To scold or reprimand one harshly. It was a mistake, so don't ...
0
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2answers
34 views
Makes the prequarterfinals
Is the following sentence correct?
Makes in pre-quarterfinals; Ashwini & Sikki get a walkover in their opening match
Here is the context.
I think it should be
Makes the pre quaterfinals
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0answers
22 views
Is the usage of trip correct?
The following is an example sentence in my book
Some passengers flew to Paris on the last trip
Is the use of trip idiomatic?
Trip is a short journey made for pleasure. I think it is not correct ...
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0answers
20 views
Meaning of safe water [closed]
In the following sentence what is the meaning of the term safe water?
The ship is being taken to safe water by the captain and not his crew.
I found this sentence in my grammar book hence no other ...
1
vote
3answers
38 views
Verb with as if
In my grammar book I found the following.
He walks as if the whole Earth belonged to him.
And it says that second form of verb is used with as if
But at many places I have found usage of first ...
0
votes
1answer
20 views
How to properly mention that a line of business with a different name is licensed under a company?
Let's say B services is a line of business which is licensed under A company.
When promoting B services, how to properly mention that it is licensed under A Company (with very small font size)?
1
vote
1answer
40 views
be like somebody in looks, by looks, with looks
Someone meant to say: "She's a lot like her, though she doesn't look like her, but the way she thinks".
So can it be put this way:
She's a lot like her, not in looks, but in the way she thinks.
...
-2
votes
1answer
34 views
Seikh on the 169th floor
Is the following sentence correct?
Last night I dreamed I was a Sheikh on the 169th floor of Burj Khalifa.
I think it should be:
Last night I dreamed I was a Sheikh (standing/living) on the ...
0
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0answers
24 views
Which one to use either from or since
The modal will is used to express or state something that you imagine is true
It is used in the following two sentences. Are both the sentences same?
He will have been playing from 2 O'clock.
...
0
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0answers
24 views
different kind of hospital bed
What do you call "the bed in the hospital which was considered for that hospital at the time of the approval of the project for building the hospital or its development."
What kind of bed is it?
0
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1answer
18 views
“would” or “would have” in a conditional sentence
Is the following sentence correct?
If your jogging clothes were not made of permeable fabric you would drown in your sweat.
I think it should be
If your jogging clothes were not made of ...
0
votes
2answers
18 views
It's very cold here
In the following sentence
It's very cold here I should have brought my woolen clothes but I didn't.
I think it should be
It's very cold here I should have brought my woolen clothes but I haven'...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
Past form of ought to
Which one of the following two sentences is correct?
When you were young you ought to learn good habits.
When you were young you ought to have learnt good habits.
To me none of the sentences ...
1
vote
2answers
27 views
“(the) most greatest” or “(the) greatest”
I'm a beginner so soory for my English. I don't know and couldn't find which one is right on the internet. Is"(the) most greatest" used by people? Or like, is it right to use that? I saw this in a ...
0
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0answers
24 views
The phrase “in duplicate”
What does the following statement mean ?
Admit card should be submitted in DUPLICATE.
a) 1 original & 1 photocopy.
b) Both originals.
c) Both photocopies.
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1answer
15 views
Appropriate phrase
What could be the informal antonym for the phrase 'on vacation' ? Is it on work or on a job or something else?
For example, in this sentence below what should I fill in the blanks with. :
I came ...
1
vote
1answer
34 views
“It was me who brought it (my puppy) up” or “It was me who brought up it”
I've heard people use "It was me who brought it (my puppy) up" all the time and never heard of anybody use "It was me who brought up it" because when using "object pronouns" with phrasal verbs, we ...
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0answers
13 views
Use of definite article to convert An adjective into a noun
Is the following sentence correct?
Failure must not have permanent effect because only the tough survives.
I think when the is used to convert an adjective into a noun it refers to a class
And I ...
1
vote
1answer
86 views
“In the end” or “At the end”
Which of these phrases is correct:
"We are in the end."
"We are at the end."
I know that most of the time when using "at the end" there should be a noun. Like, "...at the end of something". But ...
0
votes
1answer
22 views
meaning of to in the given sentence
In the following sentence
Last week the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Centre, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the State governments to a plea seeking the implementation of ...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
Though he slay me [closed]
Is the following sentence grammatical?
Though he slay me, yet will I trust him.
Is it archaic?
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vote
1answer
37 views
How to use subjunctive mood
What is the difference between the following two sentences
I would die before I lied
I would die before I lie
Is the first one in subjunctive mood?
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1answer
44 views
Is the word “stock” being used correctly here?
I read a definition of "sarcastic interrogatives" at this link which was:
stock questions with glaringly obvious yes or no answers.
Now, most of the dictionaries define stock, as an adjective, as
...
0
votes
1answer
65 views
if a group have boys and girls is correct to say “all the boys”
If we have a group with both boys and girls, is it right to use "all the boys"?
In particular, is it right to take "that" as gender neutral when I made a translation in to Spanish?
0
votes
1answer
12 views
Impute motives to somebody
What is the meaning of the following sentence
You were not justified in imputing motives to him.
Is this an idiom? I looked up its meaning but didn't find anything.(no further context can be ...
1
vote
2answers
20 views
Articles to use with instruments
Could anyone tell me which of these is correct?
The intro to this song is played on A guitar
OR
The intro to this song is played on THE guitar.
Thank you in advance :...
0
votes
1answer
20 views
Blamed equally with his brother
I am not able to understand the grammatical structure of the following sentence though I am able to comprehend its meaning
He is to be blamed equally with his brother.
I looked up the meaning of ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
Is “offering” the right word to use in this context?
I read a sentence in a chapter in my book which was:
Will you stop writing a wee while, Mr. Evans, and listen carefully. Candidates offering German, 021 - 1, should note the following correction.
...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
Is there any difference between “into” and “to the inside of” in this particular context?
Is there any difference between "into" and "to the inside of" in this particular context? I understand that "into" and "to the inside of" don't have the same meaning in all contexts, but I was ...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
On the authority of
The following sentence is my grammar exercise.(no context provided in book, it is just a single sentence in which I am to fill in the correct preposition)
I say this on the authority ______ the ...
0
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0answers
26 views
Adapted from English
Is the following sentence correct?
Many Urdu plays are adapted from English
I think it should be
Many Urdu plays are adapted from the English literature.
0
votes
1answer
19 views
Can you use a noun + the possessive marker ('s) in the expression 'to make someone's day"?
Can you use a noun + the possessive marker ('s) in the expression 'to make someone's day"? Looking up the dictionary, it seems that the expression is only used with possessive pronouns "his", "her", "...
0
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1answer
25 views
What is the meaning of “profligate” in this context?
I read a sentence in Word by Word by Kory Stamper which was:
Many people - and many people who think they'd be good at this lexicography gig - believe that the dictionary is some great guardian of ...
0
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1answer
20 views
Defining and non-defining relative clauses
Today we were learning defining and non-defining relative clauses in a class, e.g. using this exercise:
The rule seems to be relatively clear:
If there are commas, then we are talking about all ...
2
votes
1answer
15 views
using “has been” for actions other then just visiting
If I want to say that Jack went to Italy and is not back yet, I would say:
He's gone to Italy.
If I want to say that Jack went to Italy and came back, I would say:
He's been to Italy.
If I ...
1
vote
2answers
31 views
Tariff wall to protect home industries
Is the following sentence correct
America has raised a tariff wall to protect home industries from foreign competition
raise means to end something. So the sentence means America has ended tariff ...
-1
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1answer
42 views
Whom you are referring to [closed]
Is the following sentence semantically correct?
I don't understand whom you are referring to.
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0answers
20 views
Can “dangling” mean “something that won't leave your mind”?
Can "dangling" mean "something that won't leave your mind"? One of the definition is: 2. to hang around or follow a person, as if seeking favor or attention. So if the thing follows a person, then I ...
1
vote
1answer
28 views
It is with A as with B
I saw the following passage and am wondering whether "it is with A as with B" is current English. What is it used for? And what does "it" refer to?
It is with learning as with wealth. A few cannot ...
0
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1answer
27 views
Meaning of “part” in the following sentence
In the following sentence
Mr. Gandhi’s letter of resignation is part self-reflection, about the Congress in general and his own personal role in it, and part a critique of the state of affairs of ...
5
votes
3answers
783 views
How can a desk dictionary be abridged?
I read this definition of "desk dictionary":
an abridged dictionary of a size convenient to hold in the hand.
I think it should be clear from the name itself that it is a type of dictionary which ...
0
votes
3answers
36 views
Shouldn't there be “bogie” instead of “bogey” in this sentence?
I read a sentence in a chapter in my book which was:
A bogey of a train that was returning from Ayodhya and was full of Karsevaks was set on fire.
I didn't find any dictionary describing the word "...
1
vote
1answer
24 views
Can we use the verb “adjoin” this way?
Can we use the verb "adjoin" this way? Adjoin means attach according to the dictionary, but attach can be used in a figurative way, so I was wondering if you could use the word adjoin with non ...
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votes
1answer
27 views
What is the meaning of “all night long”?
What is the meaning of "all night long"? I think it means "throughout the whole night" like the dictionary says, but is it really the case? I am asking because it never really means that if you ...
1
vote
1answer
34 views
“Sea level” vs. “The sea level”
The term “sea level” is sometimes used with and sometimes without the definite article. For example:
a) Longer-term changes in sea level are influenced by Earth’s changing climates.
b) The sea ...
0
votes
1answer
15 views
a joint defense agreement vs a defense agreement
I only found the phrase "a joint defense agreement" that seems to relate to the forcing laws but I'm a foreigner and don't get it so well.
About the other, what is "a defense agreement" though? Give ...
0
votes
1answer
14 views
Which ~ effect on vs influenced by ~
Can I use which ~ effect on, instead of using influenced by ~?
For example:
People's lifestyles are based on individual choices, influenced by personal interests and social interactions.
People's ...
1
vote
1answer
27 views
Extend something to somebody
We usually say extend something to somebody but in the following sentence
The law created a group called ‘Socially and Educationally Backward Class’ and included Marathas as the sole group under the ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
Can infinitives replace gerunds after 'rather than'?
I learned from grammar books that rather than can be used both as a conjunction and as a preposition.
So can live replace living in the following sentence (A) like (B)? I think it can according to the ...
