Wordwizard

a. I bought two beers for them.
b. I bought two beers for five of them.
c. I bought two beers for the boys.
d. I bought two beers for all of them.
e. I bought two beers for them all.

Which could I use if I bought two beers for each of them?

Many thanks.

a. I poured a cup of tea for her, before everybody else. Could that sentence mean a1. I poured a cup of tea for her, before I poured a cup of tea for everybody else. ? b. I bought a sandwich for her, before everybody else. Could that sentence mean b1. I bought a sandwich for her, before I bought a ...

Can one say a. Unlike you, I didn't shout at him so that he'd be scared. I talked softly to him. b. Unlike you, I didn't shout at him to scare him. I talked softly to him. c. I didn't shout at him so that he'd be scared. I shouted at him because I know he's hard of hearing. d. I didn't shout at him ...

Can one say
a. I sent my son to the conservatory to be taught music.
b. Our country produces fruit to be exported.
c. Our country produces fruit for export.
?

In (b) and (c) is all the fruit we produce exported or only some of it?

Many thanks.

Can one say
a. I don't know what I will be doing next week, other than that I will meet John.
b. I have no idea what I will be doing next week, other than that I will meet John.
?

Many thanks.

Can one say
a. I am ready if he starts a fight. I hope he won't.
b. I will be ready if he starts a fight. I hope he won't.
c. I am ready for him to start a fight. I hope he won't.

d. Be ready if he starts a fight.
e. Be ready for him to start a fight.
?

Many thanks.

Can one say a. This instrument is used to measure radiation. b. This instrument is used for measuring radiation. c. I need the Geiger counter to measure radiation. d. I need the Geiger counter for measuring. e. I need the Geiger counter to measure radiation in my office. f. I need the Geiger counter...

Can one say a. The letter was written as if by a madman, but we knew that whoever had written was quite sane. There was nobody mad among us. b. The letter was written like by a madman, but we knew that whoever had written was quite sane. There was nobody mad among us. c. The room had been vandalized...

a. What was your job again?

Can't this sentence mean two things?

1. Tell me one more time what your job is. You told me once, but I forgot.
2. Tell me one more time what your job was. (maybe I am the boss and I have just decided to fire you. There are other possibilities too.)

Many thanks.

a. He will drink beer or eat a cookie. b. He will either drink beer or eat a cookie. c. Her boyfriends were good-looking or smart. d. Her boyfriends were either good-looking or smart. e. They hired tall or strong men. f. They hired either tall or strong men In which of these cases, the 'or' could b...

Thank you so much Phil.

One more question, if I may.

Do these work?

e. I mostly sell books I have read, but I sometimes give them away for free.
d. Mostly I sell books I have read, but I sometimes give them away for free.

Many thanks.

Can one say a. We mostly get good deals in this country, but sometimes our rivals do. b. Mostly we get good deals in this country, but sometimes our rivals do. c. We mostly get research grants at this university, but sometimes they do. d. Mostly we get research grants at this university, but sometim...

Can one say a. This motorcycle is good to ride on sand. b. This motorcycle is good for riding on sand. c. This professor is good to teach advanced courses. d. This professor is good for teaching advanced courses. e. Once the wound heals, you'll be fine to play football. f. Once the wound heals, you'...

Can one say a. Do you know whether he is there now or whether he will be there later? b. Do you know whether he is there now or he will be there later? c. Do you know whether he is there now or whether he will be there only later? d. Do you know whether he is there now or he will be there only later...

a. In our city, people live in apartments more than any other type of dwelling. b. In our city, people live more in apartments than any other type of dwelling. c. In our city, more people live in apartments than any other type of dwelling. Given the fact that in general, each person lives in the sa...