All Questions
109,276
questions
40
votes
6
answers
36k
views
What is the brown cardboard covering coffee cups called in English?
I recently got into an awkward situation when I wasn't able to ask for a 'warmth protector thingy' in Starbucks, and wasn't accurately able to describe it, so could someone tell me what you would call ...
2
votes
1
answer
428
views
Present perfect vs past simple complex example
I have come across this question and locked up the internet for the answer but it is so complex to do such thing
The students ______ (go) to America a few years ago. No one of them has completed his ...
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
In the storm Vs. by the storm
your hanging flower pots might get blown down in this storm.
Could we use “by storm” instead of “in storm” ?
Since the storm could blow down something, I think, it means we can use “by storm” ...
2
votes
1
answer
34
views
application of the word 'vision' in writing reports
What are the differrences between "vision of" and "vision for"?
If I want to use the word 'vision', is it right to say 'vision for the energy industry in the USA'?
I think they use 'vision for' and ...
3
votes
2
answers
8k
views
Does ‘Dear [surname]’s family’ sound friendly?
I’m writing a letter to my host family in Australia. They are a family of five and I’d like to write it in a friendly way.
So, does the expression ‘Dear [surname]’s family’ sound friendly?
I’d like ...
1
vote
1
answer
56
views
What is the grammar of the sentence like "Deleting a node z from .." that usually accompanied with figures in textbook
When I am going to write some explanations in a step-by-step form that accompany with diagram, I found out it is difficult to decide what the subject is, for example:
Calculate the sum.
Maybe it ...
3
votes
1
answer
814
views
Could we say "honorable mentioned" to express "I have got honorable mention"?
When I wrote my CV, I found that I would like to say "Honorable Mention at Mathematical Contest in Modeling", but I put on "Honorable Mentioned" instead. After searching on the internet I found no one ...
1
vote
1
answer
100
views
Does "at all costs" work in this sentence?
I'll get a job this year at all(any) costs.
From the dictionary definition of "at all costs" (regardless of the price to be paid or the effort needed), it seems right but I wasn't sure if this fits ...
2
votes
1
answer
731
views
How to use the word 'suitable' properly?
Let's say, I'm exlaining a meaning of some words to someone giving specific situations as an example. And I want to say one of these sentences.
"This word is more suitable to this situation."
"This ...
0
votes
1
answer
40
views
"Gaining access" to cultural heritage
In my university application essay, I would like to indicate that by getting admission into the university, I'll "gain access" to the university's rich cultures and traditions, which are over a ...
2
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Which would be better? 'Last two weeks' or 'Take two weeks'
Sorry I will not able to check the attached reports because I have an important task to fulfill and that task might last two weeks.
What it is better to say, 'last two weeks' or 'take two weeks'?
1
vote
1
answer
246
views
I got paid "for" or "by" the job?
I got paid for my part time job.
I got paid by my part time job.
What I want to say here is "I got paid by working part time."
I know I can just say "I got paid", but I want to say that I earned ...
0
votes
1
answer
284
views
What does "should" mean in this sentence?
"why change in the independent variable should affect the dependent variable in a particular way. " Does it used to emphasize "affect"?
Thanks.
3
votes
2
answers
224
views
Present Simple Tense with For
Is it grammatically correct or colloquial to use "for" with present simple tense as in the following examples :
I do this business for ten years.
I teach Math for five years.
I run this ...
3
votes
1
answer
384
views
"the whole thing isn't necessary" meaning not all is necessary?
I'm writing some technical explanation, and I've written this sentence The whole thing isn't necessary, we mostly use what's in the devices folder. This should mean that not everything is necessary ...
1
vote
1
answer
3k
views
How to refer to *one side* of headphones?
How to refer to one side of headphones?
The word "headphones" is in only plural form, referring to two main components (speakers?) that are put in two ears.
Now my question is how to refer to each ...
1
vote
1
answer
105
views
I'll bring you to your mother's [duplicate]
I'll bring you to your mother's
I'll take you to your mother's
I am a bit confuse of these.
Should it bring or take?
1
vote
1
answer
78
views
word for hesitation, "well" or "actually"?
"Aren't you going home?"
"Well, can I stay a little longer?" / "Actually, can I say a little longer?"
Both "Well" and "Actually" work here? Do they have the same meaning?
1
vote
1
answer
109
views
What is the difference between “advise” and “advice” [closed]
What is the difference between “advise” and “advice”
3
votes
2
answers
131
views
Third conditional statements
How does the third "if" conditional statement affect the present since it is used for events that cannot be changed in the past? E.g., "if you had known, you would have done the work last week."
8
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is "aways" a misprint by EVE Online Customer Support?
We noticed that you have not yet logged in to EVE Online. You're just a few steps aways to get started in the world of wealth, power, adventure and opportunity that is New Eden!
EVE Online Customer ...
1
vote
2
answers
53
views
What is first-generation? [closed]
what is the first-generation and so-and-so generation?
How am I supposed to understand if someone says they're something-geneartion?
0
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What is the best verb for "undertaking an IPO"?
There are many verbs to use here that I thought of as follows:
A company
has an IPO
conducts an IPO
undertakes an IPO
offers an IPO (redundant?)
does an IPO
initiates an IPO (sounds like it might ...
2
votes
2
answers
146
views
What is wrong with this sentence? "Becoming a leader is a very predictable process."
Something about this sentence sounds awkward but I cannot figure out what it is.
"Becoming a leader is a very predictable process."
"Being a leader is a very predictable process."
Does ...
1
vote
1
answer
103
views
'a' with 'composure'
Every English dictionary marks the word ‘composure’ as an uncountable noun. However, sometimes I come across sentences like this:
They had a composure and self-confidence to them I've never ...
1
vote
1
answer
94
views
What does "You have the right to an attorney" mean? [closed]
Does attorney means lawyer? and What does "You have the right to an attorney" mean?
0
votes
3
answers
848
views
Capable of being proven or proved?
Someone has posted somewhere that an Egyptian man had been arrested and jailed in USA around 1996. At the time, a crime took place in New York, and the criminal ran by him, telling him to run. Out of ...
1
vote
2
answers
16k
views
We wait or we await [duplicate]
Is there a stylistic, tense, or plural difference between the words (wait) and (await)? Does one hold more weight or emphasis than the other?
more so than their promises they await for a new day.
1
vote
3
answers
7k
views
Meaning of the phrase "as is the case for"
Here is the context it was used in:
As is the case for many countries still suffering wounds from old
wars, it may take a long time for these two to settle their
differences.
2
votes
3
answers
460
views
Why do we reverse the order in one sentence but not the other?
1a) “What is it?”
b) “What do you think it is?” (is it reversed)
2a) “What would be a good way to go about this?”
b) “What do you think would be a good way to go about this?”
2b apparently does ...
1
vote
1
answer
115
views
Why is only one event reported out of two
When Dante Fowler was stopped by police for speeding July 15, he had a unique reason for why he couldn't show officers his registration documents.
According to TMZ, the Jacksonville Jaguars star ...
0
votes
1
answer
172
views
not a particularly
I am not particularly an ardent jazz fan.
I am not a particularly ardent jazz fan.
I am not sure about the position of the article in the above sentence. Can you tell me which sentence is correct?
3
votes
1
answer
540
views
Where is the joke in "prime minister"?
At a certain webpage, someone claimed that the term prime minister was originally intended as a joke. I don't get see the jokiness in it.
“Prime Minister” was also originally a joke at the expense ...
3
votes
2
answers
456
views
Can I drop the "h" sound in the words "himself", "herself" and "hers"?
We can drop the "h" in the words "he", "him", "his" and "her" if there is a consonant before them and if there is no punctuation between. For example like in "I like him." Can we do the same in the ...
1
vote
2
answers
621
views
Having past participle
Am I correct in thinking that having + past participle conveys the flowing meaning?
Pharse:
Tomorrow, having finished the game, I will go home.
Means:
Tomorrow, after finishing the game, I ...
0
votes
1
answer
83
views
Usage of "had" in this context
We had better get out of here before they see us.
Is "had" absolutely necessary here? Will the sentence be correct without "had":
We better get out of here before they see us.
0
votes
2
answers
46
views
What is "house committee" called in the UK?
I looked at the entry "house committee" in Cambridge dictionary, and it states about it:
in the US, a group of people chosen by the House of Representatives to
consider a particular subject.
In ...
0
votes
1
answer
4k
views
"Accomplice of" or "accomplice with"
I have this sentence:
This man was an accomplice with the thief.
It sounds very unnatural to me as, correct me if I am wrong, "accomplice" conveys that the man was with the criminal i.e helping ...
3
votes
1
answer
536
views
Is there a rule for when a demonym can be used as a noun and an adjective?
A fairly common mistake for English language learners from certain countries is to say something like, "I am a French" or "I am a Spanish", which is incorrect (today you would say "I am French/Spanish"...
1
vote
1
answer
91
views
the usage of the word - Can we save "the word"? What can I use instead of it here?
"Save" means "to keep and store up (something, especially money) for future use". But I thought this verb is used only with some words(save the day, save money, save time etc.), and doesn't fit in ...
2
votes
1
answer
76
views
Is there a subject in this sentence?
"kindly share how you felt when you heard
an announcement that a bus, plane or train you’ve been waiting for will be delayed."
Is there a subject in this sentence? thank you.
0
votes
1
answer
233
views
Identifying the correct tense
Im in beginer level of learning english and i want to learn english logically.
Sometimes i know certain statements are correct but i dont know how to explain to someone.
As an example
I am Jack,
My ...
0
votes
1
answer
141
views
his being vs being
Being a well-known scientist, he was invited to deliver a lecture on artificial intelligence.
shouldn't be the sentence should be
his Being a well-known scientist, he was invited to deliver a ...
4
votes
4
answers
4k
views
What is the positive form of "stalk"?
What I want is the verb that has the meaning of "stalk", as in a person following someone he or she likes, but which doesn't have any negative meaning like "stalk".
For example,
She asked him, "...
1
vote
1
answer
27
views
What does "get children on the right path to success" mean?
Does it mean "choosing the right path for children to succeed"?
"We want our children to be successful in school and life. Getting children on the right path to success is where the discrepancies ...
0
votes
1
answer
739
views
...enroll in/at/for a festival?
Suppose there is a festival like the one in my city which is called " Dates Festival", a festival where people can sell or buy dates fruit. And people who want to sell dates should book a stall in the ...
0
votes
0
answers
76
views
Why place a connective in between a subject and an auxiliary verb?
Sometimes it is the people that(or who) nobody imagines anything of, who do the things that(or which) no one can imagine.
I question why should we place who in the above sentence. For example:
The ...
0
votes
0
answers
21
views
Why should not past perfect be used here?
Source
Before his death, Zeenat filed for divorce.
Since, we are talking of two events with one occurring before the other, we should use the following structure:
Before his death, Zeenat had ...
25
votes
7
answers
8k
views
What is this mop-like tool called in English?
What this pictured object is called in English?
I was googling for mop and squeegee and got confused since based on the pictures in google images the most mops and squeegees look different. Then ...
1
vote
1
answer
73
views
What's grammatically wrong with this sentence?
What is wrong with 'I do have two brothers.' ? I'm doing English grammar exercise and I think that's a correct sentence. But it isn't.