Questions tagged [verbs]
A verb is a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence.
1,679
questions
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1answer
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Doubt on the construction of a sentence
I am writing a document with some mathematics and I need help with the construction of a sentence.
Is it correct to write "the function f measures the failure of the space M to be smooth"? I am not ...
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0answers
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The right verb after “ensure”
Which forms of verb can I use here?
The client must ensure that accurate records be/are/will be kept.
I don't know why Google translate example uses "be" here.
1
vote
1answer
28 views
What grammatical construction is the idiom “to look the part”
Normally, "look“ is used with prepositions like "at, towards". However, there is this neat construction "to look a part / one's age etc.".
Is this just a shortened version of a comparison with like?
...
0
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0answers
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Are adverbials inclined to the subject?Rather than simply modifying the verb
"He writes the word on the board."
If adverbials are simply about the verb, then “on the board” in “He writes the word on the board” can be explained as either an adverbial or an complement, for on ...
0
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0answers
15 views
Which is correct? : Recommend some routes to take or to be taken
I would like to know which of the following sentences I created is correct. I first created the second sentence, but after googled, I found some sentences like the first.
This navigation system ...
0
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1answer
41 views
Is Headache used as verb in “it does my headache”?
In Australia I hear this phrase all the time, like.
You are doing my headache.
It does my headache.
You do my headache, mate.
He does my headache.
My previous knowledge of the word tells ...
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vote
2answers
45 views
Using “half-assed” as an verb?
You half-assed getting the phone back! (He supposed to get the phone
back but he got caught in the middle of getting the phone. So his
captain rebuke him.)
Is "half-assed" used as a verb here?
0
votes
1answer
18 views
Had and would stick
In the following sentence
Further, he said, implicit in the emphasis on private investment was
the fact that the government had and would stick to its fiscal
consolidation glide path.
I think ...
1
vote
1answer
29 views
What should be used after plural nouns. makes or make?
Which one of the following is correct?
1) The things makes it look beautiful.
2) The things make it look
beautiful.
2
votes
1answer
22 views
omitting “for” when using the verb “wish”
Is it correct to say this?
I don't wish everything to be simple, that's not gonna happen (nor do I think it's what we want)
Someone pointed out to me that I should've said,
I don't wish for ...
0
votes
0answers
20 views
“to ensue” : usage questions
Is there an active form to "to ensue" ? I'm familiar with constructions like "The fire started, chaos ensued".
Can one write "The fire ensued chaos" or "The fire ensued by chaos" ? If not, which verb ...
12
votes
8answers
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What verb goes with “coup”?
The coup was ______ in this country by the United States.
It was indeed United States that ______ the coup in this country.
If the problems take a turn to the worse, then the army would ...
5
votes
1answer
281 views
What is the exact meaning of 'shout over' in a sentence?
I'm a Persian who is reading the novel, The Talented Mr Ripley. I have come across the following sentence:
The Italian had a long, gray car with a loud radio that he and Dickie seemed happy to ...
1
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1answer
17 views
<Get along>, <Compromise>, <Put up> and <Cope with>
I wonder which choice works in my sentence and which one doesn't and why?
I never forget the time Sam fought the BBC's reporter when he offended Sam by saying those words! I think as a diplomat, he ...
0
votes
1answer
16 views
“Than need be” vs “than they need to be”
I am not sure, but I don't think they're equivalent. However, I have no idea when you would use the first one, would you use the first one if you are talking about something general that's not related ...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
When someone acts obstinately / stubbornly towards you
I have a very long-lasting question about some quite close concepts which I am sure they have some equivalents in current English. I really appreciate it if you could do me a favor and let me find the ...
0
votes
1answer
21 views
Making up illogical, unreasonable and unimportant excuses/objections
What do you call the the action of making up or seeking very illogical, unreasonable and unimportant ("excuses") or/and ("objections"). I wonder what idiom/expression/verb do you normally use for that?...
0
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0answers
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Question about the tense of “until …” in a object clause
Quite confused about it. Here is a sentence:
I was wondering if you could lend me a few dollars until I get paid on Friday.
Why is got or would get improper here?
Compared with:
I said I would go ...
1
vote
1answer
25 views
Type of verb “saying” in a given sentence
let's consider this sentence :
"I've read some posts of users saying that the elephant is greater than the lion."
In a grammar point of view, what the type of "saying" here in the sentence?
And, ...
1
vote
1answer
27 views
“And am happy” is correct or not in this context?
I work as a police and am happy with it.
or
I work as a police, and I am happy with it.
or
both are correct?
-1
votes
1answer
24 views
Why do we add s/es to the verb for third person singular in Simple Present Tense?
Simple Present Tense:
He catches the bus.
She studies English.
It runs fast.
0
votes
0answers
25 views
Use “bridge” as an intransitive verb?
I found the following sentence:
The system controller interfaces to the PCI bus and bridges to other buses.
I can guess the meaning of it, but looking at all the dictionary the verb "bridge" does ...
1
vote
1answer
10 views
“Verb1 preposition1 and verb2 preposition2” VS. “Verb1 and verv2 preposition2”?
When we have two verbs followed by a preposition separately, should we omit the first one?
I am addicted to and pleased with the new drug.
I am addicted and pleased with the new drug.
...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
“Going red” or “Blush”
Please have a look on the scenario below:
We both loved each other. When we met each other for the second time, we both conveyed some messages through our looks and the way we stared at each other, ...
0
votes
1answer
45 views
“He is sat on a bus”
I have occasionally heard or seen the verb "sit" used in the passive. My initial impression was that it was a typo/error. But I have seen it occur enough to start to doubt that. For instance:
Shaun ...
1
vote
1answer
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Is “to have been working” a correct form?
Can I say “I appreciate the opportunity to have been working with you”? My friend is leaving a job and wants to write a note to a colleague.
0
votes
1answer
11 views
(Making oneself / getting) (dusty/soiled)
Suppose a mother takes her kid to a park. Mother lets her child go and play and the child gets the playing started. The mother begins reading newspaper for a couple of minutes. The mother turns her ...
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vote
3answers
31 views
An natural verb / idiom for “getting by with someone”
When you (with difficulty) try to manage or continue to exist in a state or situation where something is lacking (especially money) you use the phrasal verb "get by"; for example:
Example:
When ...
0
votes
2answers
22 views
Is the format be+on+trial grammatically correct?
See, for example, the following example;
He is on trial for selling illicit goods in his store.
Is that sentence grammatically sound or should it better be like;
He is put on trial for selling ...
1
vote
2answers
43 views
A director will tell us how she chooses/chose the actors
(An excerpt from an English book's audio script)
Situation: You and other students will meet a director of a play.
"We're going to meet a director. She'll describe the whole process of producing a ...
0
votes
2answers
21 views
have somebody do something
We don't have any desire to have you come into our community,
"Come" in here is present or past participle?
0
votes
0answers
16 views
Using correct auxiliary verb
In the following sentence
The mass protests in Hong Kong this week against an extradition Bill the city legislative council is planning has brought the focus back on the difficult relationship ...
0
votes
2answers
20 views
Is “themselves found in a bad position?” correct?
I am wondering if it possible to use a pronoun like: "Him", "Her", or "them" (I think we called them relative pronoun) in an active way in a sentence.
For example:
"Them found in a bad position" If ...
1
vote
1answer
21 views
Orders X third person verb?
I came across this title: EU on brink: Emmanuel Macron squirms as Donald Trump orders France leaves EU.
I'm wondering whether it is a matter of sloppiness or simply I'm wrong. My ear would have ...
0
votes
3answers
40 views
<Get beaten up> or <get beaten badly>
Beat up as a transitive verb means: "to give a severe beating to, etc."
Example: I got beaten up by thugs on my way home.
Also, Cambridge says:
Beat up: to hurt someone badly by hitting or ...
1
vote
2answers
35 views
Getting cold in doing something
I need to find a/an verb/idiom/expression to describe the situation that someone suddenly becomes too disappointed/cold in doing something they had planned to do.
Formerly, perhaps because of the ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
why is the correct answer “the”?
Gilbert Stuart is considered by most art critics ……………. greatest portrait painter north American colonels
1-that he was
2-as he was
3- who was the
4- the
why is the answer "4" not "3" or"1","2"?
1
vote
1answer
15 views
Using “is to be” instead of “has to be”
In a sentence like "The topic has to be interesting for you" "is to be" can be used instead of "has to be"?
Is it correct, is it sometimes used or neither?
0
votes
0answers
23 views
Present perfect or simple past
Which of the following is correct?
It has been two hours since I have left LA.
It has been two hours since I left LA.
I know everyone will pick 2 but why one is 1 is not correct as we use ...
0
votes
1answer
16 views
Is this sentence grammatically correct (placement of helping verb)?
I'm not sure about How and have here.
2 possibilities:
a) How health care monitoring devices have helped in changing your life?
b) How have health care monitoring devices helped in changing ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
What is correct meaning of this sentence: “The drinks included some wine, which was apparently not very good.”?
I am confused with the correct meaning of this sentence:
"The drinks included some wine, which was apparently not very good."
Which of the following should be implied from it:
Whether all of the ...
7
votes
6answers
3k views
A word that means “blending into a community too much”
I found two phrasal verbs that are close to the meaning I want to convey:
1- Fit in: to feel that you belong to a particular group and are accepted by that group.
2- Blend into: to look or seem the ...
2
votes
3answers
49 views
“I am safe” vs. “He is safe”
(A) I am safe.
(B) He is safe.
How do I distinguish the meanings above in sentences with the verb "to report"? For example:
"I reported him to be safe."
Who is safe?
3
votes
3answers
34 views
what is the verb for “to make something humorous”?
Initially I thought "to humor" means "to make something humorous". Per OED and Merriam-Webster, however, I learned that to humor means "to indulge", NOT "to make something humorous".
While "to ...
0
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0answers
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this book “is” intended vs this book “was” intended [duplicate]
I am confused about a thing I know the meaning but the fact that I don't know is what is the difference between them. I know where "was" used for but this made me confused a bit so please let me know ...
5
votes
2answers
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Why does something “belong to someone” and not “belong someone”?
The confusing language lesson bewildered John.
Detective Frey believed the suspect's story.
You're trying to befriend someone who doesn't trust you.
If the examples above are correct, this one ...
1
vote
1answer
57 views
Explaining S suffix to non-native English speaker
I am assisting a Hebrew speaker in improving her skills in English. She is having a difficult time understanding how English speakers use the S, and I am looking for the simplest way to explain this. ...
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2answers
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It wonders me. Possible?
Is there such a usage with the word "wonder"?
It wonders me whether you've been to Paris.
I know of "bothers me" and "amuses me".
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3answers
149 views
'suppose' and 'think' in passive voice
I came across this task during my exam.
Ted Sanford was born nine minutes later than his brother Harry. It was his twin brother, Harry, who was (supposed/thought) to become an earl, to inherit a ...
1
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1answer
21 views
Can Present perfect continuous and Simple Past be used together in one sentence?
Take a look at these sentences:
I knew that something terrible was happening to my daughter and husband.
I knew that something terrible has been happening to my daughter and husband.
Which ...
