Sunday, April 25, 2021

Recent Questions - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

Recent Questions - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

Is "who" used correctly in the sentence "Or he's a supernatural demon designed to torture people, who got offered his dream job"?

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 08:12 AM PDT

I was watching the TV series The Good Place when I came across this line:

Or he's a supernatural demon designed to torture people, who got offered his dream job and has flipped on us like a ten-stone griddle-chip.

I have been taught "who" as a relative pronoun should be used right the person it's referring to. However in this case, the word ahead is "people", which confuses me.

I have looked into many online sources and could not find the explanation on this.

Is the sentence "I wished we went there and borne him away" correct?

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 08:07 AM PDT

Is the sentence "I wished we went there and borne him away" correct?

What's the proper pluralization of this linking verb? Did I violate the subject-verb agreement law?

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 07:55 AM PDT

This is the quote I'm having trouble with.

Help me prioritize my tasks. By "tasks," what I really mean is programming languages.

I'm particularly confused in the line where I say, "what I really mean is programming languages." It just feels stilted to say "what I really mean are programming languages," since the initial declaration of what is being referred to here was singular. Did I do it right, or am I just being paranoid?

When is the "Short A" sound actually spelled with an AE?

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 08:53 AM PDT

I was reading a book on English spelling (Dictionary of the British English Spelling System, by Greg Brooks) and it mentioned that the Short A sound (æ) can be spelled using the following graphemes:

  • a, as in cat
  • i, as in timbre
  • ai, as in plaid
  • al, as in salmon
  • ei, as in reveille (only in British English)

It also mentions in a table that the Short A sound can be spelled with the letters ae. But I didn't see any examples in the book.

Does anyone know of any words that have the letters "ae" used to make the Short A sound (æ)? A single example would be really helpful - and an exhaustive list would be even better.

"How could I" and "how I could"?

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 07:24 AM PDT

Which one is correct?

I don't know how could I help you.

or

I don't know how I could help you.

Equivalently,

I don't know how could you do this to me.

or

I don't know how you could do this to me.

It's not a question but it's of the form [I don't know argument] where the argument is a question?

If the italicized "thes" in this sentence are removed, will that affect its meaning?

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 07:33 AM PDT

The favored form is thus ever more fascinating. It was poetry in the Tang and the Song dynasties; opera, the Yuan dynasty; novel, the Ming and the Qing dynasties. At present, it is motion picture.

Information: "Tang", "Song", "Yuan", "Ming" and "Qing" are all names of dynasty. Any suggestion will be appreciated.

What is the best word to describe the feeling of being nervous, intimidated, excited etc which may be felt upon meeting a person you greatly admire? [duplicate]

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 08:11 AM PDT

Every time I've had the opportunity to meet a moviestar/rockstar who I idolize and imitate in every way (and call it influence), I always flub it up. Without fail. This is because I get so nervous and I want so badly to strike up a rivetting conversation that I lose my ability to talk, or even think.

But still, somehow, I muster up the courage to approach my personal epitome of awesomeness, trusting my social instincts will kick in by the time I actually try talking to him. But the closer I appproach, the blanker my mind grows. Eventually I reach a proximity that forces him to acknowledge my intention to speak to him; and so he makes eye contact with me, waiting.

I can't just tell him how much I love his music, being just like every other annoying fan. But still... that'd be better than what I was actually being like: some weirdo who walks up and stares with mouth agape and eyes wide, as if staring into the ark of the covenant, manifested in the form of Cedric Bixler the vocalist of 2 revolutionary post-punk/screamo bands as well as half the reason why hipsters wear skinny jeans.

It was the most painfully awkward 30 seconds of my life and it took years of psycho therapy to finally heal from the trauma caused by my Oscar winning portrayal of Captain Awkward.

But what I'm really needing to know ASAP would be the perfect word and/or phrase to describe that feeling that left me speechless? It was kind of like an amalgamation of being nervous and feeling privileged to be in the presence of such an amazing human being. It's similar to words like intimidated, overhelmed, daunting, honored, umworthy, nerve wracking, mind-blowing, formidable, impressed, flustered, veneration, revery, dazed, bewildered, dumb-struck, and of course, nervous or privileged. But I feel like there's yet another pseudosynonym that embodies the precise meaning of this word that is lodged within my subconscious state of awareness, beyond the reach of my self-awareness. Whatever that perfectly descriptive adjective is, I'll know immediately upon hearing it. It will possess all the expected connotations, implications, and inspirations that are conjured when I unsuccessfully attempt to recall this ellusive adjective (presumably. It may turn out to be any variety probably combination of words, but used in such a way to describe a complex emotional state)

The reason I'm asking is because I have, by a stroke of luck, become engaged in an online conversation with a member of the royal family of a very rich nation. (it is a long term convo: days or weeks btwn replies) noooo it is not the Prince of Nigeria. I was skeptical at first but he seems to only be interested in the human connection and has said nothing suspicious. But I was trying to be appropriately humble as I suspect civilians are expected to be towards royalty in his culture, and I was trying to say that it made me nervous but immensely grateful at the same time to be in conversation with such a person as his lordship. But I juSt could not find the exact right word. Help me to ingratiate this genuinely regal fellow who may possibly become another one of my many friends in high places. Thank you

The exact wording of the sentence that I am planning to use this yet to be determined adjective is as follows:

"I must admit it is rather __________ to be conversing with royalty."

I might say "a bit" instead of "rather."

If I can not find my perfect descriptor, I will just be forced to describe the 2 juxtaposed emotions separately. I've already written a rough draft as a back up just in case the unimaginable happens and it turns out I'm hunting a word that doesn't exist. Here it is:

"I must admi it is a bit intimidating to be conversing with royalty. However, it is also a great honor. I feel very fortunate that..."

I think using "a bit" makes it less formal. And I don't wAnt to address him as MY prince, but rather A Prince that I happen to be friends with. So I am trying to maintain a careful balance between formal and casual types of parlance

Best term for a household farm

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 07:04 AM PDT

Russian law allows households to possess a certain amount of land (1-6 acres) where family members can grow vegetables, fruits and so forth and sell such agricultural products freely without paying taxes.

I am looking for the best translation of the definition for such farms in English. Therefore, my question for native speakers is this: which variant from the below seems most appropriate to you?

  • household ancillary farm
  • private subsidiary farm(ing)
  • household plot

Or something else?

Why did John Wells need three lexical sets--NORTH, FORCE and THOUGHT--for the same vowel /ɔː/?

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 09:55 AM PDT

The standard Lexical sets for English were introduced by professor John Wells which are widespread. Each lexical set represents a vowel present in a number of words, for example: the THOUGHT vowel /ɔː/ is found in taught, sauce, hawk, jaw, broad. The GOAT vowel /əʊ/ is found in soap, joke, home, know, so, roll etc.

However, there are three lexical sets NORTH, FORCE and THOUGHT for the same vowel /ɔː/ especially in British English. He has included different words in each lexical set:

  • THOUGHT: taught, sauce, hawk, jaw, broad
  • NORTH: for, war, short, scorch, born, warm
  • FORCE: four, wore, sport, porch, borne, story

(All the above information comes from Wikipedia)

All those words sound the same to me (a non-native speaker of English who is learning British English). I can't detect any difference between them and looking the sets up on UCL website, there is no information on whether there is any difference between them or not.

Why did John Wells need three lexical sets for the same vowel when he could easily have incorporated those words in one lexical set (say for example THOUGHT)? Are those vowels--NORTH, FORCE and THOUGHT--different in British English? Can anyone provide the phonetic values/realizations of those vowels they have in British English?

Got something down

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 01:52 AM PDT

Please help me to understand two last sentences in the following dialogue. What does "you got that X thing down" mean?

MURPHY :Just being blind, it's exhausting. I spent three hours trying to find a cigarette I dropped the other day. It's just my life which is exhausting
MAX: Why would you spend that long looking for a cigarette?
MURPHY: Because they're expensive and I'm poor. The point is, I'm at the mercy of the world and I, I hate it.
MAX: I'm at the mercy of the world, I hate it.
MURPHY: Shut up. It's now how…
MAX: Oh, it's not?
MURPHY: I didn't sound like that.
MAX: Are you sure about that? You know, you got that, uh, you got that tortured hot girl thing down, don't you?
MURPHY: Yeah, you got that narcissistic douche thing down don't you?

Source: (TV Series) In The Dark, S1.E2, "Mummy Issues".

What's the meaning of 'Had you?' in the lines from Michael and Mary (1930) by A. A. Milne?

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 02:47 AM PDT

Could someone help me understand 'Had you?' in the following lines from Michael and Mary (1930) written by A. A. Milne?

Michael. Oh, well, I've read enough to dine out on. (He throws it on to the sofa. She picks it up and looks at the back.)

Mary. Never heard of him.

Michael. Yes, he would pretend to like that, but really he wouldn't.

Mary. Had you?

Michael. Certainly. I'm a well-read man.

Mary. Do you think he's more famous than you are?

Michael (hiding a smile). Much.

Is "where" the only relative pronoun that cannot be omitted from an adjective clause?

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 09:25 AM PDT

When using adjective clauses, the relative pronoun can be omitted when it is not the subject of the sentence. For example:

"She is the person I ran into."

In the above example, being the object of the sentence, the relative pronoun "who" (or whom) was left out.

BUT

This is true as long as the relative pronoun is not "where". In case of "where", even if it's not the subject of the sentence, it cannot be omitted from the sentence. It can only be replaced with "that" or "which", and that requires a preposition at the end of the sentence. For example:

"This is the building we met." is wrong, but

"This is the building where we met." is correct, as is "This is the building that/which we met in."

You don't have to do this with other relative pronouns. They can be left out from the sentence without a problem, as in "I'm thinking about the time we met." The pronoun "Where" is the only one that cannot be omitted from the clause altogether.

I just need to know if I'm right about this. Thank you.

to do it vs of doing it

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 04:02 AM PDT

I often get confused between gerunds and infinitives, could you please help me in this example ? ;

Ask him about the abilty of doing it.

Ask him about the abilty to do it.

Sentence: A clear alpha and beta state?

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 07:05 AM PDT

I am writing my thesis in English. The full sentence I want to express is,

  • The results showed a clear alpha state and a clear beta state

I am trying to use short sentences.

Can I write like the below sentence? Which one is proper?

  1. The results showed a clear alpha and beta state

  2. The results showed clear alpha and beta states

  3. (other??)

Grammar rule: ONE sentence; ONE subject, ONE predicate. Is it?

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 08:08 AM PDT

I just watched a video on grammar (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Drv6jD8xWdw) that states that English sentences can only have one subject. At first, I thought it was obvious, but then I thought of some exceptions.

"I found it strange being in her house"

"It is wonderfully beautiful, the chair"

"They're very polite, your children."

Then I realized that they did actually have just one subject, even when the pronoun reiterates it. But then I came across a way more interesting example:

"Those kids work very hard, most of them".

Structurally, it is the same as "They're very polite, your children", for example. But in this case, "most of them" is not an equivalent of "They". It is just a portion of the subject. So, I guess that it is to assume that "most of them" is the actual subject and "those kids" something different.

I am aware this sort of sentences tend to omit the pronoun, as in: Very polite, your children. But you can't really do that in this case without changing the whole order of the sentence.

What do you think? It really got me thinking. Does this have two subjects?

PS: Some other member suggests that this other post could solve the problem. I don't think it does, but I find it interesting and complementary. Omitting "is", like in "I think it strange"

What is a word/expression for useless advice?

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 03:58 AM PDT

In Czech there is an expression "hraběcí rada". It refers to meaningless/useless advice - something which is factually true but cannot be meaningfully applied by the recipient of said advice. The best example would be the phrase "Let them eat cake". Another example given in the Czech thesaurus is:

A: Man these loans are killing me. I can barely keep up the payments on time. What should I do?
B: Well if you didn't get a loan in the first place, you wouldn't be in this situation today...
A: Please stop with your <expression I'm looking for>

Is there an equivalent expression in English?

What is a collective noun for holy things or objects?

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 10:29 AM PDT

I've checked Word Hyppo, but I cant find a synonym for'holy things' that is quite what I want. I feel so sure that there's a word for such things collectively, and I'm looking for a particular one that sounds close to 'acoustics' because that's how I remember it. Any help here, please?

What is the opposite of 'lockdown'?

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 07:04 AM PDT

The opposite of 'lock' is quite clearly 'unlock'.

But what is the single-word opposite of 'lockdown' ?

The family were relieved when the time came to _________________.

EDIT : The comment is noted that this looks for a verb.

I would also accept a noun in the following sentence :

The family were relieved when the time came for ________________.

These two politicians were, by no means, the first of which who insinuated that violent video games cause mass shootings

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 01:06 AM PDT

Is the following sentence grammatically correct?

"These two politicians were, by no means, the first of which who insinuated that violent video games cause mass shootings."

I want to say that the two people introduced beforehand were not the first people who blamed video games for mass shootings. The composition of "of which" and "who" seems incorrect.

A situation where the adjective being used to describe the noun is actually the opposite of the adjective being used

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 04:11 AM PDT

Forgive me, for I am not very eloquent.

If someone were to tell a bad joke but in the given scenario it got some laughs and could be recounted as a "good joke" then the joke was _____.

On the surface and out of context, the object of the sentence (in this case the joke) was bad, but in the given situation it was actually good, what would be a word to describe that?

When something could be described as one thing, but in a certain situation it is exactly the opposite. It would be _____.

"with" + number/somebody + gerund

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 03:03 AM PDT

In IELTS writing tasks, I often come across examples like these:

For part-time work the opposite is true, with women earning an average of $5 per hour.

and

Canada is the reverse of the world average, with 8% of the water consumed by agriculture.

What kind of structure is the with + number/somebody + gerund?

Present perfect - future perfect in a subject question

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 05:01 AM PDT

So I know that future perfect cannot be used in conditions or time sentences..instead, it is shifted to present perfect:

We do it when she has returned.

But is the following a valid, natural language?

I do not know if she will have been returned next week.

I would like to express that I do not know whether or not she will be already back by then.

Or:

I am not sure if they will have been there by the time you arrive.

Would that work to put emphasis on the fact that they might have been there for some time by the time he arrives? Or simply "if they will be there" is enough/only possible?

What’s the reason for the zero article after a preposition and countable noun in “a change of X” and in “a switch from X to Y”?

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 09:07 AM PDT

I am a non-native speaker of English and therefore need your help. The question is: why do we use the zero article in the phrases "a change of X" and "a switch from X to Y"?

For instance:

  • a change of address

  • a change of government

  • a switch from student to teacher

The words following the prepositions set in bold (that is, address, teacher, student, and government) are all countable nouns, are not they?

So why do they get to be used without an article given that they are countable nouns?

How are they different from a change and a switch, which do have an article before them?

Is it acceptable to say "fed up OF" - surely it should be "fed up WITH" or "bored WITH something" rather than "bored OF something"?

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 05:16 AM PDT

I hear people using of when I have always thought it was with in the circumstances explained above. It seems to be getting more common.

"In such case" and "in such a case"

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 04:56 AM PDT

Could you please explain to me the difference in meaning and usage of in such case vs. in such a case ?

be intended to vs intend to

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 07:47 AM PDT

I see a lot of examples of be intended to and intend to. Both of them mean plan to do.

Some examples:

Selling was my game and I intended to be a winner.

The ban is intended to be permanent.

I guess the difference between them is if the subject is human, it should use be intended to. Otherwise use intend to. Is that right?

What do you call someone who doesn't know how to swim?

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 06:58 AM PDT

Is there one word for someone who does not know how to swim?

Even better if there is one word for someone who doesn't know how to swim but dives to save a drowning person?

If no, then suggest a similar phrase.

At practice vs of practice

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 09:16 AM PDT

Suppose I want to know how many hours are needed to be able to do it on my own, like for instance, driving a car.

How many years of/at practice do I need to became a basic user?

In the quoted sentence which one preposition would you use?

If both are acceptable, in which context would one fit better than another?

"The train will leave" vs. "is going to leave" vs. "leaves" vs. "is leaving"

Posted: 25 Apr 2021 09:42 AM PDT

From the grammatical point of view all are correct, just the meaning are different, please bring your clarification, thank you.

  1. The Train will leave at 10:00 tomorrow morning.
  2. The Train is going to leave at 10:00 tomorrow morning.
  3. The Train leaves at 10:00 tomorrow morning.
  4. The Train is leaving at 10:00 tomorrow morning.
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