Most Popular
1500 questions
15
votes
2 answers
Why does "elite" rhyme with "beet" rather than "bite"?
Why is "elite" pronounced /ɪˈliːt/ (rhyming with beet) and not /ɪˈlaɪt/ (rhyming with bite)? Most words that end in ite are pronounced with /aɪ/ — lite, trite, site, etc. — but elite is quite different. Why?
user119042
15
votes
3 answers
"Dream of" and "dream about". Is there a difference?
Are "dream of" and "dream about" interchangeable or is there a difference between them in meaning and usage.
Vic
- 3,674
- 13
- 38
- 52
15
votes
6 answers
What's the word for asking someone to deliver their promise?
Let's say someone promised me something and this person forgot. Is there a single word that means asking this person to deliver this promise? I know that you can "collect" debt, but you cannot "collect" promises, right?
irene
- 253
- 2
- 6
15
votes
5 answers
Why is it not correct to use 2 conjunctions in a sentence?
As the title asks, why can't we use 2 conjunctions in a sentence? For example:
Because it is raining today, so I go out with umbrella.
It sounds correct in Chinese, but my teacher said that it's incorrect in English, without giving any reason.…
haudoing
- 345
- 2
- 4
- 8
15
votes
4 answers
"Keep my mouth shut"....is it rude to say?
Today I had a lot of fun with a group of mums and kids in a muddy obstacle race. I fell into the muddy pool while my mouth was opened and drank some muddy water by accident. Then I said to the other mum I better "keep my mouth shut" as I didn't want…
Maria Lam
- 151
- 1
- 3
15
votes
5 answers
A sentence with listing items: How to remove the ambiguity?
There is a store which trades oranges and 3 kinds of apples. And there is a person there to whom I'm giving directions. Which sentence will be the best in such a case?
Put green apples in the first box. Put red and yellow apples and oranges in the…
user90726
- 693
- 4
- 17
15
votes
3 answers
Can fat change into muscle, or not? What does "Fat cannot change into muscle any more than muscle can change into fat." mean?
I have a problem with the interpretation of this sentence.
Fat cannot change into muscle any more than muscle can change into
fat.
I guess that it would mean either 1 or 2 below.
The change from muscle to fat is more likely to happen than the…
Takashi
- 987
- 10
- 26
15
votes
3 answers
Meaning of "it is as necessary... as vigorous... as it is..." in this long sentence
I read this sentence in an article in the NY Times:
It is as necessary for me to be as vigorous in condemning the conditions which cause persons to feel that they must engage in riotous activities as it is for me to condemn riots.
I understand…
totoga
- 151
- 3
15
votes
8 answers
Is the expression "very worth" proper English, and if not, what are some alternatives?
Is the expression "very worth" proper English, and if not, what are some alternatives?
Example:
This presentation is very worth watching in its entirety.
Franck Dernoncourt
- 5,869
- 18
- 73
- 128
15
votes
6 answers
Why is there no article after "no" in "I have no car"
Examples. "I have no car", "I have no TV". BUT "I have not a car"
There was a thread on it, but the answers were pretty superficial to say the least and only based on someone's opinion. I read a whole book (by Seonaid Beckwith) about articles and…
Leroy
- 402
- 4
- 13
15
votes
3 answers
fall into a category vs. fall under a category
As far as I know, when a group of people or things with particular features in common are classified we can use "fall into a category". But quite recently I came across the following sentence in a linguistics book published by Hodder…
M.N
- 1,801
- 7
- 25
- 34
15
votes
6 answers
Can ‘is’ and ‘are’ be used in the same sentence? ‘The conclusion is both are harmful.’
The conclusion is both are harmful.
My friends told me that you can not use 'is' and 'are' in the same sentence.
Rahul Shukla
- 159
- 3
15
votes
4 answers
Can you use "plague" as a general term?
I thought "plague" was a generic word for a disease. I was corrected earlier when talking about COVID that it is a virus not a plague. I am aware it is a virus. But would it be wrong to say "We live in a time of plague" or something similar?
guest
- 151
- 3
15
votes
4 answers
Do these two sentences convey different meanings?
She tried in vain to prevent the work from being done.
She tried to prevent the work from being done in vain.
Our teacher said these two sentences show different intents, but I can't see the difference. Help？
Jack Liu
- 159
- 3
15
votes
3 answers
What is the grammar of the sentence "this is not some science fiction movie come to life."
The sentence is:
This is not some science fiction movie come to life.
Is this sentence grammatically right? If this sentence is right, please tell me what the grammatical rule about the word come is, why does it use form come rather than the…
Darcy
- 161
- 6