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1500 questions
15
votes
6 answers
What's the meaning of "there you go"?
I'm not a native English speaker and always get confused with this expression. For instance:
Me: What's the current state of [some subject] discussion?
Bob: There is none. It was brought up in the past and was rejected.
Me: Last time I checked,…
marcio
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15
votes
4 answers
"She is at the dentist's now"
Why must we add an 's? Why "she is at the dentist's now" instead of
"at the dentist"?
dr_yand
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15
votes
2 answers
When to say 'dog', and when to say 'hound'?
When refrerring to Canis lupus familiaris, what word is better to use, dog or hound? Wikipedia translates it as dog, but I've heard also the word hound in many contexts, and that version is a lot easier for me to remember because it resembles the…
FolksLord
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15
votes
2 answers
How to pronounce "router" in English
How to pronounce router in English? I've heard it pronounced two different ways, ruter and router. Which is correct?
Rolf Schröder
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15
votes
2 answers
Is there a standard technique for practicing the "th" phonemes?
My son is still young enough to be practicing his pronunciation. He has trouble (not surprisingly) with th in particular. I have modeled the correct mouth shape for him but it still takes him a lot of effort to get the sound right. In regular…
Kit Z. Fox
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15
votes
6 answers
'Haha' over 'lol' -Do natives consider 'hahaha' as an offensive gesture?
Most of the times, I don't lol. Yes, there's no loudness in my laugh at all. And, 'lol' is probably used by everyone on the Internet/mobile even though when they laugh little. 'lol' is also used when the matter is not of some joke [However, I…
Maulik V
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15
votes
4 answers
What should a language learner know about political correctness?
There are many impolite expressions. In the European country I come from, using the (translation) of the word gypsy is considered rude, yet as far as I know Americans say the word openly. On the other hand, while the (translations of) words blind…
user7610
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15
votes
2 answers
"Be yet to do" vs "have yet to do"
This theory has yet to be proven.
This theory is yet to be proven.
This is yet to be done.
This has yet to be done.
I have yet to spend summer in the mountains.
I am yet to spend summer in the mountains.
Are they all correct? How are "have yet to…
user1677
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15
votes
2 answers
When describing a ratio, should 'between' or 'of' be used?
When describing a ratio, should ratio between or ratio of be used? Example:
The ratio between floor area of smallest rectangle to the enclosed contour area of a polygon is tested with a defined threshold.
The ratio of smallest rectangle's floor…
niro
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15
votes
3 answers
Multiplication: names of some mathematical symbols
As far as I know, in Italian mathematics books, the symbol for multiplication can take several forms:
B × 3
B · 3
B * 3 (rare)
I'm not sure of having ever seen case 3 in English books, perhaps because "*" is not used in the English mother…
user114
15
votes
8 answers
'Strong' presence, but ________ absence?
What would be a good collocation to emphasize the absence of something. A 'strong absence' sounds a bit oxymoronic to me.
I want to talk about the absence of certain important aspects in someone's critique of something. Sorry, the context is kind of…
asef
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15
votes
4 answers
I left them (at) home
Consider this question:
Where are they (things or people)?
Would the following answer be with (at), without it or either one?
I left them (at) home
I have done a quick Google search and found quotes for both cases, with and without:
This…
learner
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15
votes
1 answer
"Might" vs. "may". What's the difference?
What is the difference between might and may? Is one a more formal way to speak, or is one correct and the other wrong?
user47
15
votes
3 answers
In those days, you could have been (could be?) killed for any trifle
Let's take a hypothetical sentence pronounced by a hypothetical person who speaks, say, of events that are more than 100 years in the past:
"The civil war period was very violent. In those days, you could have been killed for any trifle."
Would…
CowperKettle
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15
votes
3 answers
"Suggest me" or "Suggest to me"
Could you please suggest me which word to use.
Could you please suggest to me which word to use.
I am not sure which of the above two forms is grammatical. I am confused because for tell verb we use 'tell me', and for explain 'explain to me'.
Can…
Max
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