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1500 questions
19
votes
6 answers
difference between "came along" and "along came"
What is the difference between the two?
For example
John came along.
Along came John.
I don't understand the difference in usage and yet I come across too many sentences starting with 'Along came'
Could you please explain how to understand this.
Leo
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19
votes
5 answers
Is there a simple and clear way to explain the difference between past simple and present perfect?
I read (or do I say "have read"?) many rules for when to use the present perfect. I found them complex and hard to understand (or do I say "have found"?). I am finding it hard to apply these rules in real sentences.
Is there a simple and clear way…
user37421
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19
votes
2 answers
What can I say when someone has dialed the wrong number?
Let's say I get a wrong number and I want to politely tell them that it is the wrong number. To do that, can I say/ask
What number are you trying?
Who do you want to speak to?
Max
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19
votes
9 answers
She wants to 'poop' -is that okay if used for humans?
I know the verb 'poop' but then not sure whether it's used for humans. More often than not, I've come across this verb when we talk about pets.
But here, I'm searching for a verb in both ways - formal and informal. And yes, I want to learn how…
Maulik V
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19
votes
4 answers
What is the term for music without singer voice?
In Portuguese, instrumental music is the version of a piece of music without a singer's voice.
Is this the same term in English? I don't know if there is a specific word because, for example, when searching about the music transcript we need to…
Click Ok
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19
votes
2 answers
Is it wrong to say "You are smarter than me"?
You are smarter than me.
You are smarter than I am.
Is there any difference between these two? One of my friends told me first sentence is wrong, but the second one is correct. But he could not explain me the reason. So is it true? Iff so, why?
Mistu4u
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19
votes
5 answers
Why the use of "mystery" instead of "mysterious" in this case?
In this text:
New Yorkers are contending with a bewildering and miserable mix of symptoms as Covid, flu, R.S.V. and various mystery illnesses circulate.
Why "mystery illnesses" instead of "mysterious illnesses", if "mysterious" is an adjective,…
Berinja tela
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19
votes
11 answers
Why can't you say "A doll was made me by my sister"?
I would really appreciate it if someone could help me understand why the following sentence is grammatically incorrect:
A doll was made me by my sister.
The reason I think this sentence is incorrect is because of the following:
I can’t piece…
Ben
19
votes
1 answer
The meaning of "seven’s sixteen and a half"
“That’s what Mother Gunga thinks, is it,” he said, reading. “Keep cool, young ’un. We’ve got all our work cut out for us. Let’s see. Muir wired half an hour ago: ‘Floods on the Ramgunga. Look out.’ Well, that gives us—one, two—nine and a half for…
Hiroshi Inagaki
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19
votes
5 answers
"Furthermore" versus "moreover"
Is there any difference in meaning between furthermore, and moreover?
In other words, can I easily replace these words with one another in any sentence, or should I do it carefully?
moudrick
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19
votes
6 answers
"Whoever" or "whomever"
Which of the below sentences is correct?
I shall challenge whoever approved of the decision.
I shall challenge whomever approved of the decision.
The reason for my uncertainty about whether 'whoever' or 'whomever' should be used is that there are…
Eric
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19
votes
7 answers
Female Devil (and other -ess problems)
Somewhat related: "Are feminine nouns ending with -ess the only proper option for females?"
In German, I can slap -in on anything that shall be gendered. No exceptions (or at least I can't think of one at the moment, feel free to make me eat my…
Hauke Reddmann
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19
votes
2 answers
Why is editted wrong?
The general rule is that when we have vowel + consonant + vowel we should double the consonant, in order to properly pronounce the whole word.
The examples include: submitted , shipping, etc.
So why don't we say editted and editting?
Why are edited…
Snack Exchange
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19
votes
11 answers
Is it "common" to use "not at all" as a "no"? If so, is it rude?
(I'm not a native speaker) In this example:
A: Oh. Since we are getting a bar, does that complicate shipping at all?
B: Not at all. It will take the same time to arrive.
Does not at all sound weird, misplaced or rude in that sentence? I've found…
lili
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19
votes
1 answer
Why is “others” used here?
During my English test, I wrote the following sentence:
There’re many people in the park. Some are walking; the others are flying kites.
My English teacher says that “the others” is wrong, and the correct word is “others” because “the people in…
shawn_xu
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