English Language Learners Stack Exchange
English Language Learners Stack Exchange

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"Animals which lay eggs are called birds." and "Animals that lay eggs are called birds." What is the difference between these two sentences?

I am confused between "which" and "that". I don't know in above sentences which is correct. According to me, both sentences are right. I have read some posts on the usages of "which" and "that", but I didn't get my answer. Which of these sentences…
1010
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“I talk dog talk to the dog.”

I read a kids’ story book. In the story book, it says: I talk dog talk to the dog. [. . . .] I talk baby talk to the baby, and the baby talks back to me.Source: Talk, Talk, Talk, by Joy Cowley Is it grammatically correct?
bingo bin
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"Have been doing" and "have done"

What's the difference between I have been playing tennis for five years. and I have played tennis for five years. Are they grammatically correct? If yes, how are they different in meaning/nuance?
user1677
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4 answers

Do I have to use “do” in any “wh-” question?

What did you say? What you said? What did you wear? What you wore? Where did you go? Where you go? I know that sometimes in English, people do not use “do” in “wh-” questions. I have heard somewhere that people do not use “do” when the…
user5036
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"All languages are interesting." "Every language is interesting." Do they mean exactly the same thing?

All languages are interesting. Every language is interesting. Don't they mean the same thing?
Vic
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7 answers

What is the difference between "within five to six days" and "within six days"?

Symptoms will develop within five to six days after contracting the disease. Symptoms will develop within six days after contracting the disease. What is the difference between (1) and (2)? They both mean before six days have passed, don't they?
azz
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6 answers

What is the difference between stealing and robbing?

I saw someone insisting "loot can be robbed" and he said there are lots of instances as below. She'll work in the New York Public Library, despite the fact that she once had her purse robbed there. (Washington Post; 1979) But I learned the…
Englishy
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Difference between Track and Trace

What is the difference in meaning of Track and Trace. Are both similar in meaning? Please give some examples related with that. I have lots of confusion with this, like tracking mobile phone or tracing mobile phone, tracking location or tracing…
A. Prasad
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What does “nine bells” mean?

I have read a sentence: Wake me at nine bells. When to wake the people?At nine o'clock?
showkey
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Why "previously learned knowledge" is a natural phrase in English, although "learn knowledge" is not?

Learning transfer refers to the degree to which an individual applies previously learned knowledge and skills to new situations. - source I already know that the phrase "learn knowledge" is grammatically correct, but it is not commonly used in…
joy2020
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3 answers

"China's history" vs "Chinese history"

What is the difference between using "China's history" and "Chinese history"?
glance
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9 answers

Is there a word for immediate future just like "just" for immediate past?

Let's say, Someone asks me Are you having dinner right now? But right now I have an important call to make, so I say Not right now but I will have it in 4-5 minutes. Even though I say 4-5 minutes, I don't mean it literally. I want to say that I…
Max
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10 answers

What is the difference between "a spade" and "a shovel"?

In the Oxford Learner's Dictionary, a spade has a squared metal part and a shovel has a metal part with curved edges. This is the picture from Oxford dictionary. In Cambridge dictionary, a shovel has a squared metal blade (source). This is the…
Tom
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Are patients and patience homophones?

I thought "ts" should sound differently. I believe rights and rice are not homophones; if so, why should patients and patience be homophones? Because the sound t is canceled after n? These two words, Patients vs. Patience, are no different. The…
joy2020
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How do I use the word "documentation"?

I am not sure how I should be using the word "documentation". A documentation (on/of) X will be created soon. A documentation (on/of) X is coming soon. In the near future, I will create a documentation of X.
user823
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