Monday, March 14, 2022

Recent Questions - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

Recent Questions - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

whip’s gotta be full-on

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 09:18 AM PDT

I would like to know the meaning of "whip's gotta be full-on European luxury" in the context below. Is it something like: the car is going to be full of European luxury goods? Thanks

The minute I started getting smart about my finances was the moment I finally got into the driver's seat of my life. And you know that if I'm going to drive, then the whip's gotta be full-on European luxury.

using me and I in a sentence [duplicate]

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 09:05 AM PDT

Which one is technically correct and most used:

"John and me are going to the store."

or

"John and I are going to the store."

What does "expensive dinosaur" means?

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 08:55 AM PDT

I'm studying english watching a netflix drama "Emily in Paris".

I don't understand that mean of "expensive dinosaur" in a conversation.

Emily is working for Savoir as marketing company.

Olivia Thompon in Duree's CMO. (Duree is a cosmetic company)

Duree was used to be a client of Savior.

Olivia wanted to hire Emily as an influencer to promote Duree products.

Emily declined an offer and suggested that work with Savoir to Olivia.

Olivia said "I fired your agency. They're a very expensive dinosaur"

Is it an idiom? Could you let me know how to understand it?

"i am the co-founder" or "i am a co-founder"?

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 09:27 AM PDT

I and my business partner are co-founders of our business.

When we write emails what is best practice to describe our positions?

"I am the co-founder" or "I am a co-founder"

The former makes (imo) it sound like I am "the" co-founder, as in the only one. But the latter does not sound as good :D

Which is better?

"Would" for Habitual Actions [migrated]

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 07:18 AM PDT

I would like to ask if the first "would" in this sentence is correct:

"Every time she would come to our house, she would talk to Mom about that subject."

Thank you so much!

Is it grammatically ok to capitalize first letters of important phrases?

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 09:32 AM PDT

Say I am writing an article on something like the Riemann integral or morphogenesis. I have two questions regarding capitalization.

  1. Is it allowed to capitalize the first letter of a composite name of importance. E.g.

    "The importance of the Lebesgue Integral cannot be overstated."

I feel like the 'integral' is as much part of the name of the thing as the mathematician Lebesgue it was named after and I would like to emphasise that. And speaking of emphasis:

  1. Can I capitalize the first letter of a word that is the primary subject of a paragraph? Like e.g.

    "..trans-membrane signaling during Morphogenesis.."

It might be because I am german and we capitalize the first letter of nouns in general but I feel like this makes the word more significant and makes the writing more understandable in this way. (Ah, we are talking primarily about morphogenesis and not primarily about membranes.)

Article use in English (America) [duplicate]

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 05:20 AM PDT

When we should not use "The" article before of phrase?

I am confused when I have to use "The" or not before a construction like this noun+of+noun.

Is there one simple word which means the inverse of the word "apply"? [closed]

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 07:11 AM PDT

I am looking for a simple word which would mean the opposite of the word "apply". The first thing that comes to my mind is "unapply". But I am not sure if it is elegant and maybe there is something better?

I have curves on my chart and I want to update those curves with another curve (not create a new curve on the chart but I want the old curve to be updated with new values from the other curve). So in that case I would say: "Apply other curve in (or on) old curve". And now I need to say to do opposite, so probably "Subtract other curve from old curve" would be ok. But I was wondering if there is any special word corresponding exactly to "apply".

Cambridge IELTS 13 General Training's answer looks incorrect [closed]

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 03:46 AM PDT

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Hi guys,

I am doing IELTS 13 - Test 3 - Reading. The question #2 say "An ability to read music is essential". My answer is "false". The correct answer given by the book is "true". I think the book's answer is incorrect because the 2nd paragraph states "Pariticipants should have basic music reading skills". Based on RFC2219, "Should" is not "must", meaning it doesn't require the thing. Meanwhile, "essential" means necessary or needed, it's more likely so important that one can't live without. As I understand, "should" in that context means whether you have music reading skills does not matter.

Am I correct?

Why did the writer use a comma in this construction? [closed]

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 07:16 AM PDT

Usually we don't use a comma before because, except when the comma is a must to clear the meaning of the sentence. But l wonder why the writer uses a comma before because in this construction.

He was drunk, because he had to support himself on a friend's arm.

How does one differentiate a "conceptual metaphor" from other kinds of metaphor?

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 01:58 AM PDT

There is a rather long list of metaphors: standard (stock) metaphors, extended metaphors, visual metaphors, implied metaphors, mixed metaphors, allegorical metaphors, absolute metaphors dead metaphors, etc. In terms of all having one property in common, I have (thus far) read that they all involve a transfer of quality (from one item/idea to another) in some way. I have not found a lengthy, detailed discussion on this topic.

Can these other types of metaphor be (in some way) subsumed under the "conceptual metaphor"? And what are the characteristics that differentiate a conceptual metaphor from these other kinds of metaphor?

(Rather than) as a conjunction

Posted: 13 Mar 2022 11:06 PM PDT

It is said that, as a conjunction, the two constructions on each side of (rather than) must be parallel. So can this phrase join two sentences like this? (I know there are better ways of doing it) Ex: I will tell her rather than she tell me.

"Something won't happen because something is good." It seems the 'something is good' would affect the first 'Something' negatively but doesn't

Posted: 13 Mar 2022 10:19 PM PDT

I am writing about minimal web design, and these are the first lines I wrote:

Minimalism was one of the major web design trends throughout the 2010s. And it likely won't fade away in the 2020s because it's a fundamentally solid concept.

I want to say 'minimalism won't go away because minimalism is a good concept to build websites upon.' The way I've written my sentence, it seems I am saying, 'Minimalism is a fundamentally solid concept, but that won't affect its popularity.' Or am I reading it wrong, and the sentences are perfectly alright for communicating the message I want to communicate?

'may be' or 'might be'?

Posted: 13 Mar 2022 09:39 PM PDT

If I share my teacher's instructions with a friend from another class do I say
"It may be different for different classes though" or "It might be different for...".

Is there a way to know which one to use when?

Pronunciation of ‘-eru’

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 04:13 AM PDT

I've just come across the word 'glomerular' and I'm genuinely irked by how difficult it is to pronounce the eru bit. It seems online that the r is omitted, turning it into more of a yuh sound.

Does anyone have any idea why this particular combination is so tricky?

Repair verb with present perfect and present perfect continuous

Posted: 13 Mar 2022 10:07 PM PDT

I have been working on tenses of English and I have been confusing about present perfect and present perfect continuous. So, I wonder about the repair verb with present perfect and present perfect continuous.

I haven't repaired my bike since 2012

and

I haven't been repairing my bike since 2012

If I didn't repair my bike in past and I am still keeping this behavior, I have to use present perfect continuous. But I saw someone use present perfect in many source.

The _English Grammar in Use book uses both sentences dependent on content.

So, when we select appropriate tense, must we decide depending on content? Which is correct?

What is the difference between register, subscribe, sign up and opt-in?

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 01:10 AM PDT

What the difference between these words ?

  • register
  • subscribe
  • sign up
  • opt-in

I'm creating a website registration page and was wondering what name to use in the URL https://my website.com/register

What is the best way to reword the parenthetical plural "diagnosis(es) and remedy(s)"?

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 12:33 AM PDT

What is the best way to word the following sentence?

A diagnosis(es) and remedy(s) remain elusive as we continue to seek help from various medical professionals.

Since diagnosis ends in -is, should the parenthetical plural "diagnosis(es)" be something else? I could reword but it sounds a little...wordy. Plus, if not also spelled out, "remedy(s)" then seems inconsistent:

A diagnosis (or diagnoses) and remedy(s) remain elusive as we continue to seek help from various medical professionals.

How do you say that "while" is frequently followed by past continuous?

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 09:01 AM PDT

I usually explain grammar in private lessons and there's an expression I would like to know.
For example, I was trying to explain that when you use while, it is frequently followed by past continuous.
In Spain we say, "Cuando utilizas while, normalmente va con past continuous".
I would like to know if the literal translation is "When you use while, it usually goes with past continuous"
Or what is the most common way to say, that while is frequently followed by past continuous ?

Thanks!

Recognizing phrases with determiners

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 01:06 AM PDT

I've just started learning syntax, from Jim Miller's Edinburgh introduction. Please answer for Miller's analysis, if possible. Currently, I am concerned I'm being too zealous in recognizing new phrases and heads. E.g. in

My plants are good for me.

the determiner, 'my', can I think be omitted, which I believe is one of his tests for being a phrase.

But then the noun also seems to pass a test for being a phrase, conjunction:

My plants and pets are good for me.

I also wondered if the answer means that the determiner and its noun can be separated in a clause.

Plants I don't nurture my.

Which reads like poor English: but why? Specifically, if both 'plants' and 'my' are phrases, then why aren't they syntactically independent enough to separate?

Any one thing: syntactic analysis

Posted: 13 Mar 2022 08:07 PM PDT

None remembered any one thing he'd said.

How should any one be analyzed here?

Can the adverb "strongly" be use with the verb "try"? If not, is there a clear reason?

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 07:03 AM PDT

It doesn't seem to me to be possible to use the adverb "strongly" in connection with the verb "try" but I can't figure out why not. It feels as it it ought to be possible but never sounds right. Is this a correct observation and if so is there a clear linguistic reason for this? The obvious answer is to use the adverb "hard", but why not "strongly"?

Is "Not that we would have expected anything else, of course" sound?

Posted: 13 Mar 2022 10:05 PM PDT

In the GSMArena article Xiaomi denies any ties to the Chinese military in response to being blacklisted by the US, "would have" is used:

Today Xiaomi has issued the following statement on the matter:

.....

Not that we would have expected anything else, of course.

I am not a native speaker, and this feels odd. Why not just say the following?

Not that we expected anything else, of course.

Variant My analysis
I expect you to do this and that. Basically an order
I would expect you to do this and that. What you're going to do or a subtle suggestion what to do
If you were injured, I would expect you to seek help. A hypothetical situation in the future
I would have expected you to do this and that. "If a past situation was different, this is what I think you would have done as a result."
If you had been injured, I would have expected you to seek help.
I expected you to do this and that. A disappointment. Seems like the choice for the article.
Not that I expected you to do this and that, of course. "I didn't think you'd do it, and you didn't, confirming my prediction."

to shame something out of someone

Posted: 13 Mar 2022 11:06 PM PDT

What does "to shame something out of someone" mean? Specially in this sentence by Walt Whitman:

the look of the bay mare shames silliness out of me.

Does it mean the look of the bay mare shames him, because he realizes that how much silliness he has?

The full stanza:

I believe in those wing'd purposes,

And acknowledge red, yellow, white, playing within me,

And consider green and violet and the tufted crown intentional,

And do not call the tortoise unworthy because she is not something else,

And the jay in the woods never studied the gamut, yet trills pretty well to me,

And the look of the bay mare shames silliness out of me.

Use of The Verb "LIKE"

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 08:00 AM PDT

Consider the following sentence, please:

I don't like these comments coming from you.

How would a native speaker of English analyze the above sentence? I tried to analyze it myself in the following ways:

1) I don't like these comments that are coming from you, with a relative clause at the end and probably an emphasis on the phrase 'these comments.'

2) I don't like these comments' coming from you, with an apostrophe after 'comments', meaning "I don't like the fact that they are coming from you." 'coming from you' functions as a gerund phrase here.

3) I don't like (these comments) and also (the fact that they're coming from you), with "LIKE" as a di-transitive verb and the two bracketed parts as its two objects. An analogy can be drawn with the verb "see" in the following sentence: "I saw him doing this."

So, my question is: To a native speaker, which one/ones seems/seem correct. I know a proper context could limit the number of analyses of the given sentence. But, without a given context, in how many possible ways the above sentence could be interpreted by a native speaker is of my concern. Thank you in advance.

Why is it called zero conditional?

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 07:50 AM PDT

What's the meaning of the zero conditional or the first or the second .. Does it mean the form of the verb and what does that exactly mean does it mean infinitive although the present simple is used! so what does the numbers in the .. conditional mean?

I want to use a definition from dictionary.com but I can't find it anywhere else.

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 12:03 AM PDT

My essay is about the Greek Tragedy "Oedipus the king". I want to use the term cosmic irony in a paraphrase but I am unsure whether or not it would weaken my argument. Since I can not find support for this idea in another credible website.

"Main Entry: cosmic irony Part of Speech: n Definition: the idea that fate, destiny, or a god controls and toys with human hopes and expectations; also, the belief that the universe is so large and man is so small that the universe is indifferent to the plight of man; also called irony of fate Example: Crane uses the theme of cosmic irony."

My sentence would be: "Consequently, this demonstrates how fate victimizes Oedipus and hints the idea of cosmic irony" then followed by a quote/paraphrase of the definition. Should I use this term or not? Would there be a better way to phrase my argument?

"PIN Number" — why do we say it?

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 07:43 AM PDT

We often say "PIN Number", this is part of everyday conversation. But why?

PIN stands for Personal Identification Number, so what we're actually saying is Personal Identification Number Number.

Is there a reason for this?
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