English Language Learners Stack Exchange
English Language Learners Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [usage]

For questions about how certain words, phrases or grammatical aspects are typically used.

1850 questions
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"Hello, This is" vs "My Name is" or "I am" in self introduction

I am from India and not a native English speaker. I do often hear people introducing themselves like "Hello everyone; This is James" Is it an acceptable form in native English? Usually, I know that "This" is used for animals or non-living things?…
Jamess
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How to say 'give your seat/place to somebody' on transport?

How would you call that if I'm on public transport, sitting comfortably on a chair, and then a senior or a lady in red walks in and so I want to stand up and give my place to that person ? like, I ... my place/chair (to) that person. I'm not sure,…
Arman
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6 answers

"couple" versus "couple of"

Are there any specific rules that restrict the use of "couple" and "couple of"? I have a couple of months left. versus I have a couple months left. Are the both sentence above correct and formal? and if we are talking about other object —aside…
user49119
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Why is it "she really done me"?

And from the first time that she really done me Oh, she done me She done me good I guess nobody ever really done me Oh, she done me She done me good This is a lyric of the song "Don't let me down" of the Beatles. "done" is the past participle of…
Yuuichi Tam
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9
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5 answers

"a lowly profitable company": is it correct?

Can one comfortably say in English "a lowly profitable company"? My research indicates that there are almost no instances of this usage. My guess is that, maybe, it is awkward to combine "lowly" with "profitable", because the concepts are…
user167784
8
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2 answers

Usage of "If any"

I have seen this pair of words several times and could roughly catch the meanings in the contexts encountered. However, I do not understand properly and hence can't use it. What does 'if any' really mean? How to use it? Eg: The effects of the…
user76911
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2 answers

In 1913 they tried to make planes that take off (or took off) from water?

What is the right choice here, take off or took off? The float-planes were in fashion that time. Like many others, the Wright factory was really trying to make and sell machines that take off/took off from water as can be seen in an interview given…
Robert Werner
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7
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1 answer

Can "mistake(n) as" "mistake(n) for" "mistake(n) with" be used indifferently?

I'd always used "mistake(n) for" until today I came upon you could easily be mistaken as one. I wanted to see if it was correct or if it was a mistake so I looked into the matter and found: my dictionaries only give "mistake for". The doctor…
None
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6
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1 answer

The difference between sick and ill

I feel ill or sick. Both mean the same. But when they modify a noun, do they mean the same? For example, Sentence A: He is a sick person. Sentence B: He is an ill person. Do they mean the same? I want to know the difference because 'ill' can mean…
Little Papa
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5
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2 answers

Why can't we use "to" after tell?

I said to him. I told him. Why can't we use to after tell, when we are using to after say?
user1114
5
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1 answer

Using "have had " and "had" to answer the question

My friend asked me, "Why don't you drive your car?" Should I answer with "I have had a car accident." or "I had a car accident."?
Amish Aa
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5
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2 answers

'I photographed her sing'?

I have seen many times the structure 'photograph + object + -ing,' but I rarely saw 'photograph + object + infinitive.' Do native English speakers say or write that way?
Lifeispicnic
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5
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1 answer

Is "10% finished" or "finished 10%"?

I have worked on a task for 3 days and finished about 10% of the task. How to report to my boss about this status? The task was finished 10% The task has finished 10% The task was 10% finished The task has 10% finished Which is right? Or is there…
user88350
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5
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1 answer

'I find it surprising seeing so many people here.'?

This is an example sentence from Cambridge Dictionary. I find it surprising to see so many people here. What I want to know is whether to see can be replaced with seeing. I find it surprising seeing so many people here.
Lifeispicnic
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What's the difference between "get all my work done", "finish all my work" and "be done with all my work?

I'd like to know the difference between these three expressions. What I want to express is that yesterday was my last day of work for this year and I have two weeks off work from today. Which of these should I say: "I got all my work done for this…
tennis girl
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