Wordwizard

a) I don't remember most of them. Can't this sentence mean two things? 1. Most of them I can't remember. Most of them are things/people etc. that I don't remember. 2. It is not true that I remember most of them. They virtually boil down to the same thing, but there is a slight difference. My feelin...

Can one write a. A group of not well-educated people are very happy with the new measures. b. A group of people not well-educated are very happy with the new measures. c. b. A group of people, not well-educated, are very happy with the new measures. d. A man, not six feet tall, walked into a store. ...

John says: There are a lot of commas missing in your essay! Patrick replies: a- Really? Where in my essay should I have used a comma that I haven't? b- Really? Where in my essay should I have used a comma and I haven't? Are the sentences (a) and (b) both acceptable in the context of this dialogue? M...

Can one say a. They have a week to deliver my medication. If they don't, my situation will be very bad b. There is a week left for them to deliver my medication. If they don't, my situation will be very bad. ? In each case 'if they don't' is supposed to mean 'if they don't deliver my medication in a...

a. One cannot expect to be treated like everybody else without respecting the law. b. Some cannot expect to be treated like everybody else without respecting the law. c. One can find anything on the net these days. d. Someone can find anything on the net these days. Are (a) and (b) both acceptable?...

Can one say a. How much money is he losing now that he doesn't take orders from us any more? b. How much money is he losing after he stopped taking orders from us? c. How much money is he losing since he stopped taking orders from us? d How much money is he losing every day now that he doesn't take ...

a. There was a sudden gust of wind. The leaves moved up and sideways. b. There was a sudden gust of wind. The leaves moved up or sideways. c. There was a sudden gust of wind. The leaves moved either up or sideways. Which could be used if 1. All of the leaves moved up first and then sideways and whi...

Are these sentences grammatical? Do they make sense? a. These are some of our favorite stand-ups to watch. And now we are meeting them in person. b. These are some of our favorite stand-ups to pay and watch. And now we are meeting them in person. (b) is a bit jocular. We normally love to pay and wat...

Can one say
a. He gave in under no amount of pressure.
?

What does it mean?

Does it mean he gave in without being under pressure?

Many thanks.

Thank you both so much. I have a related question. a. I have a book to read tonight. b. I have a book to be read tonight. First, I don't think (b) is very natural. Would you agree with that? Second, my feeling is that (a) could have two meanings a1. I have a book that I can read tonight. a2. I have ...

Can one say 1. This is a jacket which is to wear in cold weather. 2. This is a jacket which is to be worn in cold weather. 3. This is a jacket which is for wearing in cold weather. 4. This is a jacket to wear in cold weather. 5. This is a jacket to be worn in cold weather. 6. This is a jacket for we...

Let us say I want to ask a student which of two possible answers A or B is the correct answer.

Could I say

a. Would you say A or B is the correct answer?
b. Would you say A is the correct answer or B?

?

Many thanks.

Can one say
a. His answers to all questions were not correct.
b. His answer to every question was not correct.
c. His answer to each question was not correct.
?

Do these sentences mean
1. Not all his answers were correct
or
2. All his answers were incorrect
?

Many thanks.

Can one say

a. To help is nice.
b. It is nice to help.

if one means by those sentences
c. One is being nice when one helps.
?

Can one say
d. To help is kind.
e. Helping is kind.
?

Many thanks

Can one say a. I was supposed to vote for two people: John and Pete. John, I had voted for. Pete, I hadn't yet. b. I was supposed to vote for two people: John and Pete. For John, I had voted. For Pete, I hadn't yet. c. I had to give a book and a notebook to my two best students. John, I gave the boo...