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1500 questions
16
votes
3 answers
Why is 'enjoy to [verb]' incorrect?
I can say:
I love to read. I hate to read.
But it must be:
I enjoy to read. I enjoy reading.
What is enjoy so different?
mosceo
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16
votes
7 answers
Draw or tie in sports
This is valid for many sports, but in the context of the FIFA World Cup it makes sense to particularize it to football.
A team, say X, can win or lose. Then we say X won or X lost.
Sometimes it happens that both teams end up even, i.e. in a draw or…
myradio
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16
votes
4 answers
"This book *reads* very well."
This book reads very well.
The usage of the verb read is unusual. Because it doesn't say here that the book reads something, but someone reads the book. Can you give me a hint what is this grammar point called?
Can I say these?
This story tells…
mosceo
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16
votes
6 answers
Spelling/pronunciation of "gross" different from "moss","floss", "loss", "toss" etc
I am puzzled by the spelling of "gross". I always heard it pronounced as a diphthong, and my dictionaries confirm this. Now my English teachers always taught me that while a repeated consonant in spelling can indicate several things (that the…
new_user
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16
votes
5 answers
'especially' vs. 'particularly'
I was reading this sentence,
During high school I was very talented student especially in math.
Automatically, I mentally corrected it as,
During high school, I was a talented student, particularly in mathematics.
Then I paused, thinking why I…
Damkerng T.
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16
votes
1 answer
meaning of the phrase "play humans"?
Here is the context:
Some dogs were skilled at finding and snatching food and avoiding dogcatchers, unfriendly dogs, and people. Some were good at “playing” humans for food, whereas others weren’t.
Does that mean that when dogs want to get food,…
Dmytro O'Hope
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16
votes
5 answers
What is the difference between "general" and "generic"?
I am finding an example to clearly differentiate and demonstrate the use of these two words. At the moment, I am relying more on my feelings to decide which word to use. Say I am writing an article that talks about a solution or framework, should I…
drhanlau
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16
votes
4 answers
Is the use of "one of the" correct in the following context?
I want to know what the constraints are on using the phrase one of the.
Is it used correctly in this example?
He is one of the soldiers who fight for their country.
WSS
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16
votes
6 answers
What is the name of such a "lamp"?
What is this kind of lamp called?
To call it simply a "lamp" doesn't makes sense to me, nor to call it a "chandelier", since I've noticed that "chandelier" refers to an impressive group of lamps which hang from a ceiling. I would like to know what…
Virtuous Legend
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16
votes
6 answers
American equivalent of British "takeaway"
What's the American English equivalent to the British "takeaway" when referring to prepared meals that are intended to be eaten elsewhere?
Trey
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16
votes
4 answers
"to be jealous" Vs. "to envy" - what is the difference?
What is the difference between "to be jealous" and "to envy"?
I always used both interchangeably but I was told that actually there is a difference between these two.
I opened the dictionary ("jealous" and "envy") and checked the definitions which…
Virtuous Legend
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16
votes
5 answers
Is "Bunch of people" a valid phrase?
Some time ago I was told that use of the expression bunch of people is incorrect. Apparently, bunch should not be used along with people meaning group of people.
But the problem is that I can hear that expression from lots of people, especially…
Tom
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16
votes
8 answers
What is the difference between "being" and "having been" in this context?
Being a teacher, she likes children.
AND
Having been a teacher, she likes children.
What is the difference between these two?
nima
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16
votes
5 answers
Is it grammatical to say "according to the law" instead of "according the law"?
Is it grammatical to say "according to the law" instead of "according the law"?
If so, is there any difference in meaning?
Anixx
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16
votes
8 answers
How is "pwned" pronounced, and what does it mean?
Following the new Troy Hunt web site, http://haveibeenpwned.com/, I'm curious to know exactly what it means and how to pronounce it. Since it seems there are many jokes about it, I don't want to make a mistake with my English colleagues.
Troy gives…
Cybermaxs - Betclic
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