May 2023

Well, there it seems to me that it was the person's attitude when turning off the light that bothered the speaker. One thing is clear, at least in the sentences provided: "in a way that" introduces a relative clause with a resultative meaning.Read More...

Thank you so much for you reply. Even though I have many grammar books that I can consult with, it's often hard to get the exact information that I want to know from them.Read More...

Thanks! I appreciate the help on this!Read More...

Thank you for explaining it so clearly, David.Read More...

Hi, Tony. The two words are not synonyms. To predict is usually to foretell with precision of calculation, knowledge, or shrewd inference from facts or experience: The astronomers can predict an eclipse. (From Collins Dictionary.) However, If something foreshadows an event or situation, it suggests that it will happen. e. g . W hat are the signs that foreshadow a suicide. (From Collins Dictionary.)Read More...

Hi, Tony C. Turnaround or turnround is an established dictionary entry, therefore, fast turnaround time is the right expression. Moreover, "turnaround" without "time" means turnaround time. The word "time" is optional, unless you'd like to put emphasis on it. (The turnaround or turnaround time of a task is the amount of time that it takes. From Collins Dictionary)Read More...

Hi, Medo, and welcome to the Grammar Exchange, When we talk about frequently repeated actions, ' when ' sounds more natural to use (like your example above). However, when two things happen at the same time or when one thing happens immediately after the other, we use on/upon doing sth ( NOT when )". From 'Longman Dictionary Of Common Errors', page 356: - When hearing that the child had been found, she burst into tears. × × × - On hearing that the child had been found, she burst into tears. √√√Read More...

Yes, both are correct depending on the context, but different in meaning. a) is correct, meaning the car outside the house is mine. b) is correct only on condition that the listener knows the car you are talking about. The car (that, you know, we have talked about) is mine and is outside the house.Read More...

It is often the case that there are different ways of saying the same thing in English. It all depends on the context to decide which one is most appropriate. As to your question, if the speaker was 100 % sure that she arrived at the station too late, and then "must have missed" should be used," because it is logically necessary. If the speaker was not 100 % sure and only speculated, then "should have missed" is also appropriate.Read More...

Hi, Andrew—One alternative to using quotation marks to mark a neologism as a neologism, at least on the first mention, is to put a hyphen before the suffix: cartoon-ize, cartoon-ization . Also, you might consider the -ify and -ification suffixes as alternatives in forming your neologism: cartoon-ify, cartoon-ification . I couldn't say whether I prefer cartoonize to cartoonify , or cartoonization to cartoonification .Read More...

Thank you so much Gustavo, Co-Moderator and ahmed_btm As we can see, there are 4 ways of talking about the future. Sometimes I don't know to choose the form to use and the differences between them. Here are some of my opinions, please help me check if it is correct or not: (1) I am visiting Pairs next month. => If I already have fixed arrangements ( already booked tickets, hotels...). I have a question here: if the listener hears this sentence, do they think that the speaker already has...Read More...

Thanks! That makes sense!Read More...

I managed to work around it, actually! I managed to change the quote so that I could use my own words and use a hyphen. Thanks for your help on this; I really appreciate it. The issue still remains as to where the boundary is between error and bad style; maybe there are no clear rules that allow one to form such a boundary.Read More...

I think that you're probably correct that he meant it as a sequence just like you said. But if there's any room for doubt then it's important to approach this accordingly and not restrict the meaning. But we don't want ambiguity either.Read More...

Hi, Tony, I'd say: - I need to place an order for my name cards in a quantity of 500. - I need to place an order for (a quantity of) 500 of my name cards.Read More...

Hi, Tony, The word "prospective" entails a sense of expectation or probability which the term "future" lacks. It seems to me that "prospective clients" is less certain than "future clients."Read More...

Hi, Tony, I agree with f6pafd. Notice that your sentence contained an undesired redundancy: which f6pafd solved by eliminating the first instance of "attached": As for the use of "totaling," this is called a reduced relative: - Please find the water rates summary in the attached spreadsheet for the period from 3/1/2023 to 3/31/2023, which totals $100.00 = Please find the water rates summary in the attached spreadsheet for the period from 3/1/2023 to 3/31/2023, totaling $100.00.Read More...

Hi, David, really appreciate your fine explanation. This is the first time I've ever seen the explanation which clearly shows even the verb “ will be ” could be used in the cleft sentence, since there has been no clear comment with examples in the quite well known grammar books (of course, I have read only a few books).Read More...

Hi, Ray—Perhaps Steven Spielberg did not mean to dub Tom Cruise as THE savior of the movies but rather as A savior of the movies. If so, the dubbing act, or the titular effect thereof, need not involve either article. Imagine someone who is dubbed manager. There are countless managers in the world. If someone said, "I hereby dub you manager," that would not imply that he was the only manager in the world, or even of a certain company.Read More...

In the sentence: - I don't know who to drive in my car. "who" refers to the person to be driven in the speaker's car, and is therefore the object of "to drive," just as "John" is the object of "will drive" in the sentence below: - I just decided I will drive John in my car. No, that sentence is not correct.Read More...

Thank you, Gustavo, for the clear and exhaustive explanation.Read More...

Hi, Tony, "Borrowing capacity" is perfect. Alternatively, you could use "leveraging capacity" (the capacity to use debt). I think "capacity" is needed in this context.Read More...

Very interesting information here, thank you for your answer!! I understand!Read More...

Thank you so much.Read More...