Newest Questions
114,141 questions
-4
votes
0
answers
18
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I picked you some flowers. [completion of delivery] [closed]
I picked you some flowers.
This sentence is using a ditransitive verb.
What does this sentence mean? Where are the flowers?
- 5,151
-1
votes
1
answer
53
views
Interchangibility of 'have got something' and 'have something' in British English
I wonder how it sounds:
1.
A: I have got a dog.
B: Do you?
2.
A: He's got a dog.
B: No, he doesn't.
How common is it to replace the auxiliaries like that? Who does it and why? What connotations does ...
- 77
4
votes
4
answers
619
views
Why does the author use "you almost got us killed" vs "you almost killed us"?
I have this text in the book Dogwood by Chris Fabry:
I whirled in the seat and grabbed his right arm in a death grip.
Carson overcompensated and jerked the wheel left, weaving into the next lane. A ...
- 637
3
votes
2
answers
258
views
in others' eyes
"I have seen a trace of strain
In other's eyes, not spoken"
From the song: "The Sea Refuses No River" by Pete Townshend.
Source:
https://www.streetdirectory.com/lyricadvisor/song/...
- 3,435
3
votes
1
answer
225
views
The difference between /ɪ/ and /ə/ on unstressed syllable
I'm so confused the difference between /ɪ/ and /ə/ on an unstressed syllable when I have to transcribe them phonemically such as: philosophy, visit, supermarket,...
I don't have that issue when /ɪ/ is ...
- 33
1
vote
1
answer
20
views
Stress shift in the last word in questions with the high-rise, for example /du:'in/ as in "How's everybody doing"
I've learnt that in questions, a common intonation pattern is the high rise toward the last word of the sentence.
But I'm not sure about what happens to stress in the last word in the question as to ...
- 321
0
votes
0
answers
66
views
Tense agreement in complex sentences: ‘If someone asked... you wouldn't know what they are/were talking about unless you have/had practised karate”
I am wondering which are correct, idiomatic, and what difference is between these in meaning:
If someone asked you about kumite, you wouldn't know what they are talking about unless you have ...
- 77
-3
votes
0
answers
44
views
I'm sure the work that you have done so far "has been" VS "was" very good [closed]
Source: Series: Silicon Valley (Years: 2014–: 46 episodes) Country: USA Genre: Comedy
I'm sure the work that you have done so far has been very good.
The present perfect "have done + so ...
- 1,500
-4
votes
1
answer
50
views
What does "udder buddy" mean? [closed]
In One Battle After Another (2025), Pat confronts Perfidia about where she is going, reminding her that they
are a family now and have a baby. Perfidia asserts her independence, stating
that she puts ...
- 1,194
0
votes
1
answer
43
views
was asked disrespectfully
a. I was asked disrespectfully to leave the room.
b. I was asked to leave the room disrespectfully.
c. He asked me disrespectfully to leave the room.
d. He asked me to leave the room disrespectfully.
...
- 3,435
0
votes
1
answer
43
views
Use of definite article
Suppose one company has recently been established which manufacture cars. Someone says -
The company will start production from next month.
My question is should definite article before used before ...
-2
votes
1
answer
43
views
What does "as well" refer to?
In On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), James Bond saved Tracy from her debt in the card game, after which she invited
him to her room. Upon arriving, he discovered and defeated a thug. Later, she
...
- 1,194
-2
votes
1
answer
58
views
How likely "was" refer to things not said?
My third example was particularly amusing.
That is said by a speaker after the speaker had been interrupted and urged to hurry up. Is "my third example" more likely refer to one of things ...
- 133
-1
votes
0
answers
78
views
Objects after prepositions cannot be considered as indirect objects [closed]
a. Angela gave me a journal.
b. Angela gave a journal to me.
Question 1:
What is the reason that can be given for not taking "me' in the second example as an indirect object?
My understanding is:...
- 338
-1
votes
1
answer
105
views
Are there English words which newcomers find hard to distinguish? [closed]
Americans learning Spanish commonly confuse certain words: por vs. para, ser vs. estar, and so on. For this reason, posters often hang in Spanish classrooms in America, with help for these confusions.
...
- 1,518
2
votes
2
answers
106
views
"Have I your support or have I not ?"
I have listened to this sentente in a movie : "Have I your support or have I not ?"
I know "have" verb is able to be used as auxiliary verb, only if there is also "got".
...
- 43
8
votes
4
answers
2k
views
How to express a series of coughs when you have a cough?
When you have a cough (an illness), you might not cough all the time but might do burst after burst and a burst might be several hours after the previous burst.
Say, I have a cough. Normally, I don't ...
- 26.8k
0
votes
1
answer
157
views
We can deduce a lot from what people choose to buy. (choose what or to buy what)
We can deduce a lot from what people choose to buy.
Relative pronoun 'what' is the object of the verb 'choose' or to 'buy'?
The verb 'choose' can take to infinitive as its object, so it's confusing.
- 5,151
2
votes
3
answers
232
views
the profile of what I expected
The text in book Dogwood by Chris Fabry:
The parole officer was a middle-aged woman who didn't fit the profile of what I expected.
Can you explain to me why author is using phrase "the profile ...
- 637
10
votes
2
answers
975
views
What do "spelling pronunciation" and "~" mean in Wiktionary?
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Holmes says under "Pronunciation" that
(General American) IPA(key): /hoʊmz/
(Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /həʊmz/
(spelling pronunciation) IPA(key): /...
- 4,775
0
votes
1
answer
48
views
I "will meet" a stranger who "talks to" my friend. - Meeting and talking happen at the same time in the future?
According to Practical English Usage (3rd edition, Michael Swan), in Example 1, the subordinate clause expresses a future time that is further in the future than the main verb. I think the principle ...
- 2,441
1
vote
0
answers
45
views
I have waitlist numbers for several restaurants; I will go to the one that "called" my number first - does it make sense?
Example 1
I have waitlist numbers for several restaurants; I will go to the one that calls my number first.
Example 2
I have waitlist numbers for several restaurants; I will go to the one that has ...
- 2,441
0
votes
1
answer
56
views
when it is fine to walk
a. The doctor will tell you when it is fine to walk.
b. The doctor will tell you when it will be fine to walk.
Do the sentences mean the same?
I think there's a difference. In (a), whenever it is fine ...
- 3,435
-1
votes
1
answer
40
views
Can "I filed my nail off" be explained like the structure "I wiped the table off"?
We can say:
I wiped the dirt off my face ("off" here is a preposition)
Instead of saying that, we can just say
I wiped my face off ("off" here is an adverb)
My question is that,
We ...
- 26.8k
0
votes
1
answer
35
views
"following on from last month's meeting" vs. "following last month's meeting"
Which of the following expressions, if any, are correct?
following on from last month's meeting
following last month's meeting
Context:
Following [on from] last month's meeting and in preparation ...
- 6,465
-1
votes
2
answers
50
views
...women shouldn't sleep with a man until they've spent $2,000 on her. | Who is supposed to spend money on whom? [duplicate]
This is what is written under a photo of a woman (Jana Hocking):
New dating technique says women shouldn't sleep with a man until they've spent $2,000 on her.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?...
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4
votes
1
answer
85
views
Need help with “who/whom” question
_______ is the lady Jim was talking to?
a.) Who
b.) Whom
Hi all, may I know what is the answer to the above question? From my understanding of grammar rules, Jim is the subject and the lady is the ...
CK Kwok
5
votes
2
answers
639
views
Using the word “interwind”
The word “interwind” is listed in the dictionaries, but doesn’t seem to be in use anymore. Is it acceptable to use this word in contemporary poetry, or should it be avoided in favour of “intertwine”? (...
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-4
votes
1
answer
64
views
Is there any sarcasm in this line?
By using violence in the film On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), Marco's goons brought James Bond near to him:
Marco: My apologies for the way you were brought here today. Please
sit down. I was ...
- 1,194
-2
votes
2
answers
48
views
The difference between to discourage and to dissuade
what is the difference between to discourage and to dissuade, please?
At first sight they mean identical things but I have a gut feeling there must be some difference between them.
- 137
-1
votes
0
answers
37
views
Past Simple vs Past Progressive [duplicate]
I am sorry for asking such a simple grammar question, which caused some confusion among teachers at my school.
Is it natural for a native speaker to use the "past progressive" in the ...
- 786
-1
votes
2
answers
74
views
Years ago, I never thought I "would have turned out" VS "would turn out" to be the way I was today
Source: FIC: Playing dirty, Swinson, Kiki, 2009
I became the most sought-after criminal defense attorney in Florida.
Sometimes I didn't know if that was good or bad. But one thing was
sure, my life ...
- 1,500
0
votes
2
answers
61
views
Yesterday I asked him this question many times, but he "would give" VS "gave" me the same short and vague answer
Source: my example
Yesterday I asked him this question many times, but he would give me
the same short and vague answer.
"Would" can be used to talk about repeated past actions/habits that ...
- 1,500
5
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Does "She chipped her bowl" mean only one piece falling off or it could be several pieces falling off?
Oxford Dictionary says
chip: [transitive, intransitive] chip (something) to damage something
by breaking a small piece off it; to become damaged in this way.
She chipped one of her front teeth.
...
- 26.8k
0
votes
3
answers
142
views
The definite article in 'Last night I go through the cemetery and I see the bear.'
I don't really understand why he chose the definite article before 'bear' even though the listener is not supposed to know what particular bear there was:
'Last night I go through the cemetery and I ...
- 77
0
votes
2
answers
73
views
Is the noun "essay" only used for a piece of writing that shows opinions of a writer?
This website says
An essay is a concise piece of nonfiction writing that aims to either
inform the reader about a topic or argue a particular perspective.
It seems that when we say "I am ...
- 26.8k
0
votes
2
answers
88
views
What is the meaning of: "Rather like bulletins issued by the war office"?
This statement is taken from a story named "The Tiger King" by Kalki. This is said by the chief astrologer (a character in the story); when he hears an infant speaking very clearly, he says:
...
- 11
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votes
1
answer
42
views
"During" VS "Over" VS "For" VS "In" the first 40-45 minutes your body burns the glycogen stored in the muscles [closed]
Source: my sentences
In the first 40-45 minutes your body burns the glycogen stored in the muscles, and only after that the underskin fat.
For the first 40-45 minutes your body burns the glycogen ...
- 1,500
0
votes
1
answer
62
views
Last week you told me that you want to build muscle; I thought you "would've used" VS "would use" free weights and machines
Source: my dialogue
A: Did you go to the gym yesterday?
B: Yes, but I did only a light
cardio session.
A: Last week you told me that you want to build
muscle; I thought you would've used free weights ...
- 1,500
-2
votes
1
answer
35
views
The usage of 'It's about time we start/started' [duplicate]
ChatGPT says that 'start' instead of 'started' is a casual, colloquial form, but Grok and Gemini disagree. So, what style markers does this usage carry?
It's about time we start saying that they need ...
- 77
0
votes
2
answers
66
views
It's terrible. She "would've looked" VS "would look" better if she didn't have it
Source: my dialogue
A: You know, Jenny finally got that strange tattoo last week.
B:
And? What do you make of it?
A: It's terrible. She would've looked
better if she didn't have it.
I want "...
- 1,500
2
votes
2
answers
87
views
"they have been married for 10 years" OR "they have been marrying for 10 years"?
If two people are husband and wife and they continue to be married in the present and they hope in the future, can I use present perfect continuous, marrying?
If not, how/why is this different from (...
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6
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Why is November a proper noun but not thalamus?
Google says that it's because November is a specifically named 11th month of a year, while thalamus is a "general anatomical structure". But I can argue that thalamus is similarly a named ...
- 105
5
votes
3
answers
463
views
"run across" versus "stumble upon"
I've already done some research on the differences in usage between "run across" and "stumble upon," even finding some mentions here, but my question remains. In the text below, ...
- 1,411
5
votes
4
answers
1k
views
"her daughter had been by"
Can you explain to me what by means in the following sentence? The text in Dogwood by Chris Fabry is:
On my first day, when they returned from the retirement party for Chief Buret, Eddie was already ...
- 637
3
votes
2
answers
664
views
Speeding fines are based on a/the person's daily income
I have seen this:
In Finland, speeding fines are based on a person's daily income...
https://www.facebook.com/enhancegeneralknowledge/posts/...
- 77
-2
votes
1
answer
77
views
What's the purpose of "too" here? [closed]
In You Only Live Twice (1967), following his faked burial at sea, James Bond was secretly recovered by divers and brought aboard a waiting submarine. He reported to the Sub Captain, joked with ...
- 1,194
0
votes
0
answers
45
views
How versatile is "to be" [duplicate]
He is being nice - this refers only to his current behavior. It may hint that generally he's not that nice, but that sentence is foucsed on his current actions and doesn't say what kind of persn he is ...
-1
votes
1
answer
46
views
'Stylish' = impressive [closed]
STYLISH
Having or showing impressive skill or accomplishment:
the most stylish player in the team
Microsoft® Encarta® 2009
I cannot corroborate this in any other major dict though. Is it regional/...
- 1,221
0
votes
2
answers
71
views
Could you please help me with modal verbs Be to (if there is another way to say it?)
Could you please help me - I can not understand this stucture.
Maybe I can change this academic English? Maybe I can use street English in this case? (And how?)
The train is to leave in 16 minutes.
...
Mira