Questions tagged [usage]
For questions about how certain words, phrases or grammatical aspects are typically used.
0
votes
1answer
28 views
Preposition : For versus To
you are unfit for this post /you are unfit to this post
which sentence is correct and it would be helpful if explained where to use "for" and where to use "to"
tnq
1
vote
1answer
34 views
was looking or looked in this sentence
When I woke up this morning, she was sleeping on my bed and she looked very happy!
The sentence is about a female cat who was ill.
Why isn't was looking (at this precise moment she was looking)? ...
0
votes
1answer
29 views
Is this sentence a medio passive voice?
I saw a sentence written as:
Recently an ISRO satellite failed to place into specified orbit.
I was wondering if this usage is correct and a medio passive voice. Would it better if we write ...
2
votes
1answer
142 views
Be he right or wrong?
Consider the following paragraph from the essay entitled "The usefulness of useless knowledge" by the founder of the Institute for Advanced Study, A. Flexner:
The subject which I am discussing has
...
1
vote
2answers
260 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
256 views
Will or Be Going To
They ....... (play) golf this afternoon.
I'm bored, I think I ....... (do) a crossword puzzle.
They are making a lot of noise. They .......... (wake) the baby.
You've got a bad cold. I .......
0
votes
1answer
33 views
time expression with from … to vs between
Which of these two expressions are correct?
I studied at school N4 between grades 1 and 4
I studied at school N4 from grades 1 to 4
16
votes
10answers
13k views
Ways to say 'get smaller', 'decrease in size' in one word
What are the proper ways to say that something gets smaller (decreases in size) in one word?
I am not asking about cases when what we discribe represents a measure of something (price, volume, ...
0
votes
2answers
29 views
help with the correct usage of 'Ensure' in a future tense [closed]
Please tell me the correct form(s)?
1) How can parents not use all their resources to ensure that their children will succeed?
2) How can parents not use all their resources to ensure that their ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
How to use 'my own self' in this sentence?
Would you say "My own self is doing his homework" or "My own self is doing my homework"? Or is it wrong to use "my own self" in this way?
Technically, I think it should be possible even if not widely ...
0
votes
0answers
21 views
Which phrase is correct or better? [on hold]
I wonder which use is correct or better in sentences below to say a written phrase to someone ?
I saw a car on which it says “ fast boy “.
I saw a car that says “ fast boy “.
0
votes
1answer
38 views
Meaning of 'beware' in this song from the latest WoW trailer
The song has the following lines:
"Beware, beware the Daughter of the Sea."
"Beware," I heard him cry.
And, in the ending:
To his nation, with his last breath, cried,
"Beware the Daughter ...
2
votes
2answers
5k views
Is my use of “so as to” in this sentence grammatically correct?
Is my use of "so as to" in this sentence grammatically correct?
Guiding students down the right career path is a designated role for the government so as to ensure the students to get a big picture ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
correct form of word 'exist
Correct one?
1) Nepotism, a practice that has existed as long as mankind permeates our society, from business to politics.
2) Nepotism, a practice that has been existing as long as mankind permeates ...
-1
votes
1answer
27 views
function of 'As' in this sentence
Chosen not as much for his charm, or lack thereof, as for his minatory appearance, the singer's bodyguard proved to be an effective deterrent for many autograph-seekers.
What is the role of 'as' in ...
1
vote
1answer
39 views
All we people are the same
As far as I know, the structure in the sentences like
All you people are the same
is not wrong (I just asked a question about it on this site). What about
All we people are the same
Is the ...
0
votes
2answers
18 views
Set store by improved or improving?
I read a sentence in "The Hindu" which was:
The Narendra Modi government has set much at store by India's improved ranking in terms of the EDB index.
Shouldn't there be "improving" instead of "...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
Help + in + v-ing or Help + on + v-ing?
Help + in + v-ing or Help + on + v-ing?
Example:
I used to help my friends in coding C++
or
I used to help my friends on coding C++
3
votes
1answer
119 views
Can we say “How much guitar do you play a day?”?
In my experience, people can say sentences like:
"How much guitar do you play a day?"
instead of:
"How much do you play guitar a day?"
Do you think they are interchangeable? I think so.
0
votes
3answers
23 views
You eliminated me(game) ,out
We were playing. So a girl got eliminated.(out). What's a more natural to say that?
Why did you out me?
I mean doesn't "eliminate" sounds a bit formal. I know "out me" sounds unnatural. What would ...
1
vote
1answer
71 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
38 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
59 views
Is your parent's spouse your step if you don't live with them?
If your parents get divorced and each marries someone else considering that you don't live with them, should we call them stepfather or mother or simply my mother or father's spouse? What I mean is ...
0
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1answer
22 views
1
vote
2answers
50 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 ...
0
votes
0answers
42 views
Cambridge English Certification
I'm not sure if this is the right place to post a question like the following (and if not, I'd be happy to be redirected to a better one, maybe still on StackExchange), but since I have no other ideas,...
1
vote
1answer
41 views
All you politicians are the same
Are these five sentences correct and interchangeable?
1) "You politicians are all the same."
2) "All of you politicians are the same."
3) "All you politicians are the same."
4) "You ...
1
vote
1answer
26 views
many more complex problems vs. much more complex problems
I think much in much more complex problems is grammatically correct because it modifies more complex though it convey a different meaning from many more complex problems. Do you think my assumption to ...
0
votes
2answers
74 views
use of the verb NAG in reference to pain, discomfort
As a native speaker, I know that persistent pain can be described as nagging, as in nagging back pain. However, would it be correct/idiomatic for a doctor, for example, to ask a patient How long has ...
2
votes
1answer
89 views
Meaning of “anyplace useful” in this sentence?
While writing or speaking informal American English, can we use the adverb "anyplace" this way? Or is the preferred usage "any place" (separate words)? As I understand it, the adverb "anyplace" means "...
0
votes
1answer
53 views
The phrase “bundle of nerves” [closed]
I heard one people saying to another:
But now he is a bundle of nerves, he can not perform this particular task.
Does the phrase have any meaning at all? Is the phrase safe to use without hurting ...
0
votes
1answer
42 views
would I be making - what kind of grammatical structure is that?
How would I be making it his day by buying myself a new dress?
Tell me please what kind of grammatical structure is that?
Why -ing form is there?
0
votes
2answers
43 views
how to say yes to the question “do you want me to take a look?” in a polite way
how to say yes in a polite way to the following question. for example to our
supervisor.i want to know a polite way to answer the above question.
"do you want me to take a look?"
0
votes
1answer
42 views
“What kind of person are you not?” vs “What kind of person aren't you?”
When I want ask somebody what kind of person he (or she) isn't, which one between these is correct? Or are they interchangeable? I guess they are interchangeable.
A: "What kind of person are you ...
0
votes
1answer
42 views
What is the correct way to frame this sentence?
What would be the correct usage?
The box of chocolates is over.
OR
The box of chocolates is finished.
0
votes
1answer
33 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
13k views
To you vs for you
I want to know the correct usage "for you" vs "to you" for example:
Congratulations for you too.
Congratulations to you too.
Which sentence is correct?
3
votes
1answer
29 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
54 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 ...
1
vote
3answers
332 views
passives vs adjectives
Past participles can modify
nouns in much the same way as
adjectives.For example
I am told = I am a told
man.
You are invited = You are
a invited man.
He is questioned = He is a
questioned man.
Are ...
2
votes
1answer
44 views
“…one of the best movies of my childhood” or “…one of the best movies from my childhood”?
Are these sentences interchangeable?
It is one of the best movies of my childhood.
It is one of the best movies from my childhood.
Context: Let's say someone mentioned the name of a movie and ...
0
votes
2answers
56 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 ...
5
votes
1answer
42 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
685 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
50 views
Is using interrogative words such as “why” and “how” unsophisticated or inappropriate for technical writings?
Whenever I write sentences of the form
I don't understand why X did Y.
or
I wonder why she did that.
or
I would like to know how you did it.
These sentences are actually not good examples ...
1
vote
1answer
43 views
Adjectives order
I have come across different Adjectives Order Lists on the internet. A web page of Bristol University says as follows: Number - Opinion - Size - Age - Shape - Color - Nationality/Origin - Material-...
0
votes
1answer
49 views
“who is going to do what”
Can this phrase "who is going to do what" be used in English? For example can I say "The teacher wanted me to write down who is going to do what in the next week's class" or "The teacher wanted me to ...
0
votes
1answer
36 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 ...
0
votes
2answers
70 views
Should I use past tense for something just happened?
For example, I break a pot. Should I say I broke or I break to tell someone immediately?
Another example is the word remember. Should I say I remember it or I remembered when someone mentions ...
2
votes
2answers
59 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 ...
