Questions tagged [usage]
For questions about how certain words, phrases or grammatical aspects are typically used.
1,051 questions
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Meaning of as early as
As early as can be used to mean at a time that is sooner than people expect.
We may announce the winners as early as tomorrow.
The DRDO announced it as early as in 2011.
But if I say
The ...
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1answer
393 views
Participal clause vs perfect participle
I'm often confused the participle clause used in English grammar.
He broke his leg and he went home. (= Having broken his leg, he
went home.)
He had broken his leg and he went home. (= Having broken ...
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2answers
689 views
I was accompanied by my friends “for” or “to” a picnic
A) I was accompanied by my friends for a picnic.
B) I was accompanied by my friends to the picnic.
Which of two is correct? Can we use 'for' with the word 'accompanied'>
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2answers
93 views
Does my sound sound good?
Let's say I am playing an online video game where I need to use my microphone for chatting with people. For checking if the people who are in the same game as me get my voice(sound) properly (I mean ...
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1answer
12 views
Why do we use capital letter in this sentence?
I am not too sure why we use capital letter with the word ‘Site’
here is the context
The Kellers’ caravan is on Site 24.
I did some google research but I did not find anything!
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2answers
1k views
subject “of” or subject “on”
If you were to indicate that a subject belongs to a specific field (say, physics), would you say "the subject on physics" or "the subject of physics"?
I found a similar question as to whether "the ...
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2answers
35 views
“took a bath” or “have taken a bath”
Which sentence is correct (if not both) and what is the difference between them?
I just took a bath. [moments ago]
I've just taken a bath.
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0answers
20 views
“being” usage as relative clause
I'm dwelled on usage(s) of being in the following sentence.
Even with the model of memory being just physical memory, several
options are possible.
Can it be written alternatively as the ...
0
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2answers
368 views
Is it correct to say “understood question” as well as “understandable question”?
Is it correct to say "understood question" as well as "understandable question"?
Someone wrote me it and I'm not sure if it is mistake or another variant.
The context is: " It is an understood ...
2
votes
1answer
143 views
Is “When to use which” Correct ?
Let's assume we have n methods of doing X,
When i ask "When to use which ?" i expect the answer to be something like : "Use A when ... , Use B when ..."
By asking this question I want to ask "When ...
2
votes
1answer
102 views
It has more to do with that I am lazy than that I am tired
Are all these sentences below correct and interchangeable?
1) It has more to do with that I am lazy than that I am tired.
2) It has more to do with the fact that I am lazy than that I am tired....
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1answer
666 views
Can we say sentences like “They are so/too good of people”
As far as I know we can say "He is so good a person" for meaning "He is a very good person" or "He is a person who is so good" while we can't say "He is a so good person". Also we can say "He is too ...
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1answer
356 views
Available In/As
I have a question about the preposition to use when talking about different versions/varieties of a products:
NY Times:
Coke's biggest brand in Japan is no longer Coke Classic. It's a brand ...
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1answer
1k views
“50% percent of people are unintelligent” or “50% of the people are unintelligent”?
My First Question:
As far as I know, after the phrases like "many of", "some of" and "all of", we can't use a noun without the article. For instance, we cannot say "All of people are unintelligent", ...
28
votes
6answers
6k views
Is “plugging out” electronic devices an American expression?
Are these valid in American English as opposed to "unplug".
Plug out the charger from the wall.
I plugged out my TV.
I found my radio plugged out.
I started hanging out with some guys ...
0
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2answers
30 views
type of usage with finite clauses
I heard this song played on the radio.
I heard this song (finite clause)
So 'I heard this song' feels like it requires more information alone, but you could say it in speech or:
I heard this song....
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3answers
42 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
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1answer
38 views
Absence of inversion when adverbs of place and direction go in front position
Adverbs of place and direction usually go in end position. However, they can be put in front position to emphasize location (and in this case, inversion is frequently used):
“Next to the bookshelf ...
2
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1answer
2k views
What is the difference between “a portion of food” and “a helping of food”?
What is the difference between "a portion of food" and "a helping of food" ?
0
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1answer
24 views
To reign is worth ambition
be worth something can be used as--
The Taj Mahal is worth a visit.
The idea is worth our attention.
In this kind of sentences either an article or a determiner is used after worth . But in ...
0
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1answer
22 views
South Australian Country
I have noticed in South Australia that country folk will ask the question "where are you to" Can someone elaborate on this. I know that basically it means "where are you".
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1answer
23 views
How to describe the achievement of your subordinate
what is the apt word that is to be used to describe the enthusiasm to learn and involve in work.
Completed the assigned work well within the time and also proactive in
learning the subject.
Does ...
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2answers
4k views
What's the difference between convenience food, ready-made food and ready food?
I'd like to know the difference between convenience food, ready-made food and ready food. I'm not sure, but I thought they are all interchangeable. I can warm them up in the microwave and eat ...
22
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5answers
54k views
Difference between “fast food” and “junk food”
What is the difference between "fast food" and "junk food"?
Are they the same or not?
"Are they used in the same way?"
0
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1answer
16 views
Sentence start using ''of''
is the below usage of ''of'' correct?
Of all the components which lead a person to happiness, money plays the most pivotal role.
0
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1answer
70 views
“Were you able to go to their office and have an on-site interview?” or “Were you able to go to their office and had an on-site interview?”
In this context, should I use "have" or "had"? I am not really sure. Please help. Thank you.
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2answers
13 views
some oaths vs oaths
Is there any difference (in nuances, or commonness, ...) between the following sentences?
When John is angry, he lets out some oaths.
When John is angry, he lets out oaths.
When John is ...
0
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2answers
38 views
Do these sentences have the same meaning with past perfect?
"I saw a movie before I came here that I had never seen." vs " I had never seen such a movie before I came here". are these have same meaning?
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1answer
18 views
Favorite Vintage Life Photo's / Favorite Vintage Life's Photos
I have a title that I need help with. I have a community on G+ called The Vintage Life where members show photographs of the past. I created a collection of my foavorit pictures from there, and called ...
0
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1answer
20 views
“Buy not only seasonal and local but also seeded produce.” Is this sentence grammatically okay?
Just one sentence.
"Buy not only seasonal and local but also seeded produce." Is this sentence grammatically okay?
Do you use this structure 'not only A and B but also C'?
0
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1answer
16 views
Which of the two versions is correct and why?
The results are expressed in terms of percentage slowdown on a standard and a high-end PC.
The results are expressed in terms of percentage slowdown on a standard and high-end PC.
0
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3answers
24 views
What does 'human and financial alike' modify?
What does 'human and financial alike' modify in this passage?
human and financial are adjective, so I can infer that an omitted noun is costs, but I am not sure.
The old maxim “I’ll sleep when I’...
0
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1answer
37 views
Comma question.. speech usage terms
I have a basic question regarding commas, and I have not found the answer I was looking for.
So the rule of thumb is to never separate the verb from the subject or main subject should I say...but in ...
2
votes
2answers
34 views
Can 'which' be used as just a conjunction, not a relative pronoun?
Please, look at the bolded which it is in the following passage. I don't think it is a relative pronoun, but I can't find which used as a conjunction in a number of dictionaries. How is which used in ...
0
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1answer
1k views
“here's it” versus “here it's”
Which is correct?
Weird is hard to spell. Here's it spelled correctly: weird.
or
Weird is hard to spell. Here it's spelled correctly: weird.
In conversation, both seem acceptable, but on paper ...
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1answer
802 views
Difference between “so rude” and “too rude”
What's different between
You are so rude.
and
You are too rude.
I want to know difference in grammar, social communication, rigor, manner and where they are used! (other things as well).
3
votes
4answers
131 views
Which one is true or better?
With this sentence, I'm talking about an experience I never had:
I've never had a motorcycle.
or
I never had a motorcycle.
Two of them look correct, but I think there is a difference between ...
13
votes
5answers
14k views
Difference between “I'm in the school” and “I'm in school”
What is the difference between these two sentences??
I'm in the school.
I'm in school.
Do they have the same meaning or not?
1
vote
1answer
14 views
Question of “may” and “might”
This discussion clarifies the difference between "may" and "might".
Now my question to the more knowledgeable native English speakers:
Is any of them preferred over the other in every-day speech? ...
1
vote
1answer
9 views
“The page address” or “the address of the page”?
Which would be more correct: “The page address” or “the address of the page” in the sentence:
“Check the page address, or use the form below to search the site:”
in the meaning of the URL?
1
vote
1answer
31 views
Is 'the tedious' the same as 'tedious things'?
I mean, does it mean 'tedious tasks' in the context?
According to the consulting firm McKinsey, knowledge workers spend up
to 60 percent of their time looking for information, responding to
...
2
votes
1answer
102 views
two consecutive adverbs ending in -ly
Please consider the following sentence:
"He walked home seriously angrily."
This sentence sounds a bit funny to my ears, even as a non-native speaker of English, an impression that is shared by ...
1
vote
1answer
21 views
can see someone is doing or can see someone doing? Are both the same?
is it the same to put "I can see he is jumping on his bed" and "I can see him jumping on his bed"? I need to use the first one in a picture description. Can I use it? Would that not sound strange to ...
1
vote
1answer
41 views
Is it correct to use the phrase “it´s about finding the city´s DNA”?
The phrase:
It's about finding the city's DNA
is used in a CNN promo for its program "Quest´s Worlds of Wonder". I can see what they want to express, but does it make sense in terms of language ...
1
vote
2answers
275 views
will or be going to in this situation
Let's assume, before the january 20, votes are announced. Donald Trump is not the president yet. But it's certain that he will/is going to be(I don't know which one to use). We use "be going to" for ...
3
votes
1answer
6k views
Is “the very end” grammatically correct?
I've come across this news about 'music and love are the only truly international languages', and found this:
"Towards the very end, the video gets a little shaky as even the person filming starts ...
14
votes
4answers
2k views
Started in 1987 vs. Starting in 1987
I think both started and starting make sense. Which is preferred? Is there any subtle difference in meaning?
Started in 1987, the festival exhibits more than 550 varieties of mangoes and provides a ...
5
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2answers
135 views
'I photographed her sing'?
I have seen many times the structure 'photograph + object + -ing,' but I rarely saw 'photograph + object + infinitive.'
Do native English speakers say or write that way?
0
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4answers
949 views
Is “take a long time to wait” grammatical?
Would it be grammatical to ask:
"Did it take you a long time to wait for us yesterday?"
Some Russian guy on another forum is insisting that he has researched this and that it's grammatical and ...
1
vote
1answer
13 views
Can I say “what was the war a reaction to?”
If I mean to ask the main causes of something, so I want to know what something reacted to, can I say “what was the war a reaction to?”? It sounds pretty weird to me... I’d rather say “what did the ...
