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1500 questions
26
votes
10 answers
Why do you say "air conditioned" and not "conditioned air"?
For a non-native English speaker, it seems that "air" is a noun and "conditioned" is an adjective. Following the correct word order, the adjective should precede the noun, so it should be "conditioned air". So why "air conditioned"? Are there other…
Carlos
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26
votes
2 answers
Terms to refer uniquely to each of the grandparents
In Swedish, there are different words to refer to grandparents which explain whether they are on your mother's side or your father's side. The words are (and literally translate to)
Mormor - Mother's mother
Morfar - Mother's father
Farmor -…
Deco
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26
votes
5 answers
"my" vs "mine" (adjectives vs. possessive )
Is correct to say "my question is" or "mine question is".
When I talk, I automatically use "my question is", but "mine" is a possessive pronoun and somehow when I think about it (and translate it literally from my mother tongue) then somehow it…
Dantes
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26
votes
9 answers
Why do Russian names transliterated into English have unpronounceable 'k's before 'h's (e.g. 'Mikhail' instead of just 'Mihail')?
Why can't it be just 'Mihail'? I guess the 'k' is inserted to ensure correct pronunciation, but I don't see how 'Mikhail' and 'Mihail' are pronounced differently.
Sergey Zolotarev
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26
votes
3 answers
'Hard work never hurt anyone' Why not 'hurts'?
I saw this sentence:
Hard work never hurt anyone.
It's a good phrase, but I wonder why it is 'hurt' not 'hurts'? I think 'hurts' (3rd-person singular present) is more correct. Why is it 'hurt'?
Dasik
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26
votes
2 answers
My lady, Your honour, Your grace, how to decide whether to use "my" or "your"?
After watching some period dramas and courtroom dramas, I'm really confused of whether to use "my" or "your" when speak to someone with respect.
Are there some rules for these statements or are these just fixed patterns?
Evelyn1986
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26
votes
3 answers
Why is "He is the kind of person who, if he had lived ..., people would not have been able to categorise him." ungrammatical?
Could anyone explain why this sentence is considered ungrammatical?
You often hear quite literate people saying hideously ungrammatical things such as: "He is the kind of person who, if he had lived in the 19th century, people would not have been…
FroztC0
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26
votes
7 answers
Should "cooking" and "cleaning" be taken literally in "...two men at once. One cooking. One cleaning."
Just read a tweet,
My fantasy is having two men at once. One cooking. One cleaning.
Is it a word play in which 'cleaning' refers to a sexual intercourse or, actually, 'cleaning' is there intended having its literal meaning?
user2793
26
votes
5 answers
What's the difference between "vanilla" and "plain" when talking about yogurts?
Merriam Webster explains vanilla (when used as an adjective) as:
lacking distinction : plain, ordinary, conventional
It's not obvious why vanilla has such a meaning, and why plain is listed as its synonym. As you can find in the grocery store,…
Cyker
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26
votes
4 answers
The meaning of "half woman, half girl"
"It was the same mirror I'd gazed into as a child, then as a girl, then as a youth, half woman, half girl."
Educated by Tara Westover
What does "half woman" mean? (For example: A girl that has boyfriend?)
What does "half girl"…
Peace
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26
votes
3 answers
"Best regards" vs. "Best Regards"
I have been told that I should use "Best regards" in emails. However, I also see many native English speakers using "Best Regards". I'm confused which is correct.
walterhuang
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26
votes
1 answer
How to pronounce "Gradle"?
We use a building tool named Gradle in our project, but we don't know how to pronounce the a in it.
Someone speaks it like a in cake, but someone speaks it like a in bad.
How may we determine the correct pronunciation of this unique proper name,…
Freewind
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26
votes
1 answer
Why can "populace" be used as an adjective in "most populace cities?"
I wanted to talk about the cities where the population is high. My correspondent told me we must say:
The most populace cities
Instead of:
The most populated cities
I don't understand how the noun populace can be used as an adjective. Can you…
lionel
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26
votes
13 answers
Would saying "who is this" in normal tone be rude in an occasion not on the phone?
I am not a native English speaker; I am not sure how to interpret such an event. For example, suppose I approach my friend to say hello; suppose he is together with someone I don't know; suppose this someone says "who is this" in normal tone to us.…
Yes
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26
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7 answers
When is "me" used as a possessive pronoun, instead of "my"?
In books I often see characters speak "me" instead of "my":
I saw it with me own eyes.
I'm going to the bathroom to wash me hands.
What English is this?
SovereignSun
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