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1500 questions
24
votes
2 answers
Talking about inanimate objects in plural: they or it
Should I say:
Wash some apples and put them into a vase.
or
Wash some apples and put it into a vase.
Is it correct to use they with inanimate objects?
Denis Kulagin
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24
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4 answers
Difference between "ignite" and "kindle"
Can't grasp the difference and the use cases of these 2 words. They both seem to mean something close to "set on fire", but what is the exact meaning, and are their use cases the same?
Can one ignite a candle, or kindle a candle?
The second sounds…
YB_Evil
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24
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2 answers
Any chances "spell" means "pronounce"?
Inspired by this question of mine and that @BenKovitz suggested that I should ask a new question, I attempt to do so. Here goes:
The Persian Wikipedia (Persian: ویکیپدیا، دانشنامهٔ آزاد Vikipedia, Daneshnameye Azad / "Wikipedia, The Free…
M.A.R.
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24
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3 answers
"I don't give a rip!" What's a "rip"?
The title is pretty self-explanatory, but let me give some detail.
I'm a native English speaker from the USA. I know exactly what that statement means and how to use it. I heard my Pastor use it recently in a sermon, and it got me thinking how one…
mbm29414
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24
votes
4 answers
What does 'aye' mean in this context?
So, I'm actually a native American English speaker, but I can't figure out what 'aye' could mean in this song.
"At the sad decree...they'll depart for aye", "for alas I'm doomed...for aye".
The Lost Soul by Doc Watson Family
I already know aye can…
Kasenjo
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24
votes
5 answers
Is there a special word for the numbers 11 to 19?
In my language (Ukrainian), there are special words describing amounts between 11 and 19. They are constructed in a similar way as the numerals, but do not specify the numeral itself:
Це коштує надцять тисяч ("this costs over-teen thousand" —…
Danubian Sailor
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24
votes
2 answers
What does the word "though" mean and on which occasions can be used?
I'm a little confused about the word though. I hear it a lot of times in different sentences in different sequences, as well as in speaking and writing.
Sometimes it seems to me that this word is used randomly in a sentence.
Here are some…
Mr.Eee
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24
votes
2 answers
What do "M", "G" and "B" buttons mean in an elevator?
What do "M", "G" and "B" buttons mean in an elevator, besides "1", "2", ...? Confusing. Thanks.
Tim
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24
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5 answers
Difference between "fast food" and "junk food"
What is the difference between "fast food" and "junk food"?
Are they the same or not?
"Are they used in the same way?"
Ice Girl
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24
votes
4 answers
Next month, I _______ John for 20 years
Q) Next month, I _______ John for 20 years
(A) know
(B) will have known
(C) am knowing
(D) will have been knowing
Question bank says (D) is correct. Surely, (B) is the correct one, right?
Edit:
I request answers/comments that reflect common…
tryingtobeastoic
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24
votes
7 answers
Does "upset victory" mean "a victory that people are not happy about"?
I'm reading a book Merriam-Webster's Vocabulary Builder. When it comes to the word acme, the author gives the following example:
Last Saturday's upset victory over Michigan may prove to have been the acme of the entire season.
I'm confused about…
Just a learner
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24
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3 answers
What does "cap" mean in this football (soccer) context?
What does "cap" mean in this football (soccer) context?
GOAL! Liverpool 1-4 Man City (Foden 83)
Phil Foden caps a majestic second-half performance with a blistering goal!
This can't be related to the noun cap, because that's only for international…
Jembot
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24
votes
1 answer
What is the name for this sarcasm-like form of words?
Is there a technical name for the common form of words whereby we refer to a thing -- often a person -- having a low level of some property, by saying that it does not have an especially high level of that property?
For example:
John is not the…
tkp
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24
votes
9 answers
I'm baffled at this expression: "If I don't talk to you beforehand, then......"
A client wrote to me and ended his email with this line:
If I don't talk to you beforehand, I hope you have a very happy,
healthy and safe holiday!
It seems to me that this expression is for giving a heads-up of information to someone when you…
Dean
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24
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3 answers
What does "Yes, you can. But you may not." mean?
In a cultural function, some seats were reserved for the distinguished persons. But an ordinary spectator wanted to have one of those reserved seats which were empty. He said to the guard, "Can I sit there?"
The guard replied, "Yes, you can. But you…
Sandip Kumar Mandal
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