February 2021
Choose giving reasons.
Before I read this story, I --------- dreams were of so much importance. A) haven't thought B) wouldn't think C) didn't think D) don't thinkRead More...
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run out / run out of something / be out of something
Now I am confused that somebody or something can be used as a subject in the following idioms. 1) Run out of Somebody run out of something: We were running out of food 2) Run out Something run out: The milk has run out. 3) be out of something 3-a) Somebody be out of something: Would you mind going to the store? We're out of milk. 3-b) Something be out of something: The official Olympic umbrella is out of stock. My question is, 1) "Run out of something" can be used with Somebody as a subject?Read More...
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Reported speach
I asked him who had broken the window, but he..........he didn't know. [ said \ answered ]Read More...
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Adjective Clause or Noun Clause as Appositive?
I have been wondering whether "which they did not realise was being publicly live-streamed " from following sentence is adjective clause or noun clause as appositive ? "An entire school board has resigned after making disparaging remarks about families in an online meeting which they did not realise was being publicly live-streamed ." Thank you so much.Read More...
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she is said to be ill or to have been ill
When turning the sentence "They say she has been ill" into the passive pattern, is it possible to say "She is said to be ill"? Or "She is said to have been ill" is the only correct sentence?Read More...
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wish could - would
Hello. Which one is correct? - I wish my son (could - would) join the faculty of Engineering. This is my dearest hope. Thank you.Read More...
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whether , if
Hello. Which one is correct? He asked me (whether - if) I had written my report or not. Thank you.Read More...
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Grammatical construction
I'm curious about the grammatical construction of this sentence: I am glad you are here . It appears to contain 2 independent clauses, which doesn't seem right (no conjunction) . Possibly "that" is understood which would make the second clause dependent, but again, that really doesn't seem right either. I've tried diagramming it, but I can't make it work properly. I guess I'm just missing something. I'm betting someone here can explain this sentence's construction. Thanks for your help.Read More...
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A minor change or changes
Which of the above is correct? Thank you for the draft version and I just made a minor change/changes? assuming I made few changes and I wanted to use the word "minor".Read More...
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fight to keep his job
1) He has to fight to keep his job. 2) He has to fight for keeping his job. I think '2' means he has to fight because he kept his job, which is probably a strange thing to say. '1' seems to mean 'In order to keep his job, he has to fight.' Is that correct? Gratefully NaviRead More...
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chicken, a chicken
Hello. Which one is correct? I'd like (a - no article) chicken, please. Not some. Thank you.Read More...
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What's the name of this grammar rule?
I've seen native speakers using question form to talk about strong emotion instead of asking question like this. >> I ate my girlfriend's cooking last night. Man, Was it bad! >> I got a massage yesterday. Does it feel good! Does anyone know the name of the grammar rule for this kind of expression?Read More...
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a single chair 'vacant'
Hello, everyone, “ Many people were standing, for there wasn't a single chair vacant nor any space left on the benches .” Could you explain to me why the writer prefers ‘a single chair vacant ’ to ‘a single vacant chair’ in above sentence, while I often see such a post-modifying adjective in “There is noun ~ ” pattern? What is the writer intending through the post-modifying adjective? Thanking in advance,Read More...
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who is
A says: "My coworkers drink a lot." B asks: "I didn't hear you. Who did you say drink a lot?" B asks: "I didn't hear you. Who drink a lot?" Are B's sentences correct in this context or should it be 'who drinks'? ============ A says: Our neighbors smoke. B asks: "Who smoke? Your neighbors above you or the ones below?" Is B's sentence correct in this context or should it be 'who smokes'? =================== A says: "Tom's brothers are naive." B asks: "I didn't hear you. Who did you say are...Read More...
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Confusion about using the definite article with adjective + noun
Hello, One thing that always confuses me about using (or not using the definite article) is when to omitt it before an adjective and the noun it modifies. For example: 1 T he education system (here we are describing what type of system= the education system.) 2. simple tools (here we describe what type of tools) but no article is used). Both 1 and 2 above use the same adjective + noun structure, but I don't understand what the rule is here and hope you can it explain it to me. Thank you as...Read More...
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Count and NON
Is it ok or not? Ten is the least number of cars........ Be care of «TEN», it expresses the amount!!Read More...
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causative case
Hi, "I got the students to stop sleeping during the class.", "got" here means...... a-persuaded b-forced And does the meaning of "got " differ from "made" if we say: "I made the students stop sleeping during the class."Read More...
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withholding vital information "from"
Hello, everyone, While I have a single sentence quoted from Longman dictionary - “ She was accused of withholding vital information from the police .”, which interpretation is correct in following two?; 1. She was accused of holding back vital information which was received from the police. (= She was accused of refusing to give someone vital information which was received from the police.) 2. She was accused of holding back vital information against the police. (= she tried to keep vital...Read More...
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The function of the phrase "in turn"
a. What is the role/function of the phrase "in turn" in the sentence below? Preposition, conjunctions? b. What is the best replacement word for "in turn" in lay terms for the sentence below? example: As the case for most of the employee shares, he cannot exercise the options straight away, rather these options only vested and in turn became exercisable over a 4 year period after he became an employee.Read More...
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possessive s
Hi, is the following sentence OK "We spent our two weeks' journey in a hotel."Read More...
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Conditional structure - type 2
When we talk about something hypothetically, I believe we have to use conditional formatting of type 2, that is past tense, followed by past future tense. But I often see people use past tense followed by present tense instead as in the example shown below. Please kindly shed some light regarding this. e.g. if the underlying asset was acquired by the vendor and is not subject to main residence exemption, there are no CGT consequences. Why don’t we say there would be no CGT consequences?Read More...
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Exercise as countable and uncountable noun
Swimming is good exercise. Swimming is a good exercise. I checked all the major dictionaries and they say that it is uncountable when it means (physical or mental activity that you do to stay healthy or become stronger) I have seen the following examples - Swimming is great exercise. (Longman Dictionary) Swimming is great exercise. (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary) Cycling to work is great exercise. (Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary) None of them have used "a" before exercise...Read More...
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required by or required of?
Hi I came across the following in a job description in a call for applications: PERSON SPECIFICATION - The experience, qualifications, knowledge, skills and attributes required by the job holder. In my opinion this is incorrect and should read, required of. Anyone can verify this please? Thanks!Read More...
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