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1500 questions
17
votes
2 answers

"I and John" vs. "John and myself" vs. "John and I" -- Which is the acceptable way to refer to myself and my friend?

I need to find out which one of these ways to refer to me and a friend in one sentence is correct? I and John... John and myself... John and I...
McGafter
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17
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5 answers

What do you call this thing that comes with any Apple product

I bought a MacBook Pro, and it came with this thing: I don't know how to use it or where should I stick it, that is why I need to ask about it in any Apple forum. Unfortunately, I don't even know the name of it. What is this called?
Marco Dinatsoli
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17
votes
3 answers

These look like fragments. Help me to understand why they are okay to use

“How did I escape? With difficulty. How did I plan this moment? With pleasure. ” ― Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo I recently found out that when writing lists, items in a list don't have to be complete sentences, like "You might…
saySay
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17
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3 answers

Using "Contain" vs. "Include" vs. "Consist of" appropriately

I am looking for the differences between contain, include, and consist of; I am interested in precise use of each word in an appropriate context. Aside from their general meaning which implies something exists inside something else, can anybody…
qartal
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17
votes
2 answers

17 billions of bottles VS 17 billion of bottles

What is the right form for these expressions: "In 2000 Coca-Cola has sold 17 billions of bottles" or "In 2000 Coca-Cola has sold 17 billion of bottles" Could you please, explain why? UPDATE based on answers The present perfect should not be used…
Ilan
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17
votes
3 answers

Difference between "two years old and two-year-old"

What is the difference between 'two years old' and 'two-year-old'? Are they the same or not? What is the function of using dash in this phrase: 'two-year-old'? When we use dash we cannot say 'years' why? What's the reason for that?
Ice Girl
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17
votes
3 answers

Differences between "hatred" and "hate"

As I understand them, when used as nouns they both mean the same: a strong feeling of dislike, but I'm not sure about how "intense" are each one related to the other. Does one of them represent a stronger feeling than the other, or their difference…
Nicolás
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17
votes
2 answers

What is the difference between "don't" & "won't" in the given sentences?

Are these sentences different or same? They don't let you smoke in here. They won't let you smoke in here. Also, is it necessary to use in in the sentences? Would the meaning of sentences change if I do not use "in"? Can't I just say "They…
Ankit
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17
votes
6 answers

What is the saying to use when someone has long worked for an accident to happen?

What is the English saying/phrase to use when someone has long worked for something bad to happen to him? For example he was so long involved in risky activities, or he was treating other people badly, so that it was to be expected, that sooner or…
Danubian Sailor
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17
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2 answers

When should I use "didn't" instead of "haven't"?

Is haven't supposed to mean something I may still do and didn't not? Can I use didn't for something I might still do?
user47
17
votes
4 answers

Can I say "copied-and-pasted"?

As far as I understand copy-and-paste is used to mean the operation of copying, and pasting. If somebody did that, can I say (for example) the following? She copied-and-pasted what I wrote on my blog, changed some words, re-ordered some phrases,…
apaderno
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17
votes
3 answers

What is the difference between "look at" and "look to"?

I've heard/read/seen both "look at" and "look to" (and "look up at" and "look up to"). Is there a difference between the two? When should I use one over the other?
yoozer8
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17
votes
9 answers

Is "Tweety" suitable as a person's name?

My name is Chia Yin. I am a Taiwanese. We usually have two names in this generation: one Chinese, one English. I don't know why. For my English class, my teacher asked me my English name, I don't really have one, but I have a nickname, "Tweety",…
Tweety ko
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17
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2 answers

Can you use "understand" in progressive constructions?

In an answer to a question asked today on EL&U (Antonyms of “lesser” and “greater”), I read the following sentence : "If I am understanding your question accurately" To my knowledge, the verb understand is marked as non-progressive in grammar books…
Paola
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17
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2 answers

Why would they call a petri dish of germs "preschool"?

On track, until the winter of 2014, when as it always does, the petri dish of germs, otherwise known as “preschool”, claimed its first victim. This is what I get when I listen to this video, I could hear it wrong, it may not be "preschool" at all.…
Alina
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