4
votes
What does the clause "giving a nod to the original looks" mean here?
In this context, "giving a nod to the original looks" means that the person who redrew the game characters acknowledged and respected the original appearance of the characters by ...
- 164
4
votes
How to understand the sentence,"Both were wonderful hackers, but they could otherwise have hardly been more different. "?
It's understandable, but the word order seems strange to me.
I think it would be better like this:
"Both were wonderful hackers, but otherwise, they could hardly have been more different."
- 40.3k
4
votes
Accepted
Any difference in meaning: "So, just how deep is the Black Sea." / "So, how deep is the Black Sea."
This is sense 16 of Collins. "Use just to indicate you are asking for exact information".
You could paraphrase as "So, exactly how deep is the Black Sea". As it is a rhetorical ...
- 176k
3
votes
"I was set" versus "I was sat"
However it is also possible that he said: "I was sat at this table by the waitress."
Yes, that is what you heard.
Are native English speakers able to hear a subtle difference between the ...
- 1,891
3
votes
If "some paper" means "a sheet of paper", then what would be the plural form of "some paper"?
Some paper means any number of sheets of paper, not specifically one sheet.
So the phrase "get some white paper" is equally good whether you need one sheet, two sheets, five sheets, or fifty....
- 1,461
2
votes
How to understand the sentence,"Both were wonderful hackers, but they could otherwise have hardly been more different. "?
Yes, it's easily understood by native English speakers.
I means that there was one thing, hacking, that both Kildall and Gates did very well, but otherwise the two men were very different.
- 5,420
2
votes
Accepted
what’s the difference between dumb and stupid?
There isn't much difference between dumb and stupid when referring to intelligence. Dumb is probably more of an insult, while stupid can refer to a temporary state such as drunken insensibility, but ...
- 1,161
2
votes
Accepted
Why is it "Have you got the 25?" but not "Have you got a 25?"
"Have you got the 25" is referring to the 25 pence that is mentioned as part of the price. Because it has already been mentioned, "the 25" can be used. On the other hand "a 25&...
- 5,180
1
vote
"Right now", it is relaxing to sit here under the sun and chat with you. - correct?
Both examples are grammatically correct to me as an American (other than I'd use a contraction it's for it is, but that is purely a style thing). Example 1 strikes me as more natural, since it focuses ...
- 436
1
vote
put our money in
You are missing the context, which is difficult if you have never seen it before: They put money in the slot of a ticket kiosk. There is a slot, you put your money in, select a ticket and it then ...
- 39.3k
1
vote
Is "couldn't help doing something" used when you did have some control over doing it?
I disagree somewhat with earlier posts. Yes, "could not" has two rather distinct meanings. It can refer to physical inability, and it can refer to self-control.
"I could not get here ...
- 59.5k
1
vote
Accepted
Where have you ever traveled to or where have you traveled to?
"Ever" serves merely to add a little emphasis to the question. The meaning is exactly the same as 2 but it sounds unnatural.
"Already" is redundant. It serves no purpose except to ...
- 25.4k
1
vote
Is "couldn't help doing something" used when you did have some control over doing it?
There are at least two related meanings to "can't/couldn't help".
Talking about stuff you do because you lack mental or physical means to stop yourself from doing it:
"I can't help ...
- 1,050
1
vote
Is "couldn't help doing something" used when you did have some control over doing it?
The test-setter is wrong. We don't use couldn't help for things that you have to do for a good reason.
It is used, as you say, for things you can't stop yourself from doing (laughing at something ...
- 41.1k
1
vote
How to understand the sentence,"Both were wonderful hackers, but they could otherwise have hardly been more different. "?
The sentence is grammatically correct, and it effectively conveys the idea that the two individuals are skilled hackers but possess many differences in other aspects.
- 261
1
vote
Accepted
Difference between using "otherwise" and not
No. All things considered is a set phrase. Otherwise here means 'apart from one thing that made it a bad day'. The paragraph goes on to say why it was a good day, then the next paragraph explains why ...
- 41.1k
1
vote
"My pyjamas are all wet." Does the word "all" refer to the word "wet" or to the word "pyjamas"?
"All" is frequently used as an exaggerating or emphasizing figure of speech in many contexts, not only for being wet.
If I dribble a little water, my shirt gets wet; but if I spill the ...
- 796
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