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About Andrew Russell
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
You can try me on any point of grammar and structure, or on vocabulary. English comes alive most in its usage, and I am very experienced with questions of that kind. One of the pleasures of teaching second-language English is when a student raises a point that I have never had to think about before. I work in British English, but have enough knowledge of American and other variations to be able to help. I'm afraid I don't have the time to to any proofreading, so would have to reject requests, and can't help with translations from other languages. Also, having two small children to keep me busy, questions asked at weekends may have to wait until Monday.

Experience
I have been teaching English for 20 years, on and off, and now run my own small school attached to a theatre and arts centre in Chelsea, London.

Organizations
NATFHE (lecturers' and teachers' union)

Education/Credentials
University to BSc (Zoology) Certificate in TEFL, but mostly educated on the job.

Past/Present Clients
Literally hundreds of students over the years, as a teacher, many more as a Director of Studies, School Administrator and Director.
If you wish, you can check out my school at: www.theenglishschool.co.uk But please don't use this to ask questions - that's what Allexperts is for.

You are here: Experts > Homework Help > Immigration Issues > English as a Second Language

Questions Answered By Expert Andrew Russell
In Category English as a Second Language

Subject	Date Asked

idiom	10/6/2008
Q: while translating one lecture I came across the following expression: • « Sand in the wheels » of ... A: It's not a common idiom, but has a clear simile meaning - in other words, it's not an idiom drawn ...
English usaga	10/6/2008
Q: Supposing you were in a bookstore and found books titled (1) Rain in London, (2) A Rain in London, ... A: What an interesting question. I'm assuming none of these books are meteorological, though of course ...
phrases	10/5/2008
Q: Would you agree that the article is semantically relevant in discriminating between THAT'S AN IDEA ... A: As is usual with definite and indefinite, you are dealing with general (a/an) and specific (the). ...
What does it mean?	10/4/2008
Q: I am Brazilian , so I can not understand some stuff or expressions. What does it mean when a guy ... A: It's "groove", as in 'groovy'. This is a slang word that goes back quite a long way, and in this ...
Like / Love /Enjoy	10/2/2008
Q: What is the difference in these sentences? - I like this book / I enjoy this book / I love this ... A: Between like and love it's really a matter of degree - you can like something at many levels (it's ...
revers order	10/2/2008
Q: How can I indicate paragraphs in an article in the reverse order? For example if there are five ... A: Sorry, I missed that in the original. 'Up to a point' is a modifying phrase showing that the ...
slang	10/2/2008
Q: According to the Longman Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs: stick it to someone – (sl.) 1. treat smb. ... A: My feeling is that the second meaning is a specific example of the main usage, probably separated ...
soft money	10/1/2008
Q: Is the expression SOFT MONEY used in the sense of "paper money" (as contrasted with coins) familiar ... A: Paper money (banknotes) is usually referred to as 'folding money' or simply, in slang, as 'folding ...
Usage Difference	9/27/2008
Q: Andrew. How have you been? I'd like to ask you the following question. Answer it as soon as ... A: 'Something' means some specific thing, while 'what' is more general - 'whatever you want', and not ...
It took ages to clean (up) the mess.	9/27/2008
Q: -It took ages to clean up the mess. -It took ages to clean the mess. Do to clean and to clean up ... A: My point about 'up' was purely in relation to its use in phrasal verbs, and I should have made clear ...
revers order	9/25/2008
Q: How can I indicate paragraphs in an article in the reverse order? For example if there are five ... A: You've got the right idea. Just as you can number in order from first through second, third, etc to ...
It took ages to clean (up) the mess.	9/24/2008
Q: -It took ages to clean up the mess. -It took ages to clean the mess. Do to clean and to clean up ... A: As with many other questioners in this section, you have fallen victim to our very wide vocabulary. ...
query	9/19/2008
Q: Would you agree that A SECOND TIME and THE SECOND TIME mean different things and are not ... A: nice to see you again. It's a quite a key point with English that any time you switch from ...
What's the difference between 'for me' and 'to me'?	9/18/2008
Q: Russell, I’m uncertain about when to use "for me" and when to say "to me". When I translate "for ... A: I'm afraid I don't speak Chinese, though I find the whole language group very interesting. Actually, ...
A pair of items --singular or plural	9/16/2008
Q: Russell, I’m not sure of the following two points. Would you mind explaining them to me? 1) When I ... A: I can understand why this would be confusing. No-one is quite sure why some items of clothing need ...
Verb tense and time	8/21/2008
Q: Applied linguists maintain that there are only two verb tenses in English. What are the two tenses? ... A: Applied linguists maintain a lot of things, most of which are probably true, but all they have to do ...
grammer-tenses	8/21/2008
Q: ANDREW Would you please tell us how to differentiate between the (past perfect continuous ) and ... A: There are really two things to consider in this question, so I hope you do not mind if I divide it ...
query	8/20/2008
Q: Would you agree with the somewhat ‘loose’ use of FEEL BADLY as a variant of FEEL BAD or would you ... A: Very well put. 'Bad' is of course an adjective, so to 'feel bad' describes the 'thing' you are ...
Verb Phrases	8/19/2008
Q: Forms of verb phrases involve the following concepts. Explain and give examples of the following. ... A: Are you writing a book? I'm afraid there is only space here to give a rough outline, but it should ...
query	8/19/2008
Q: Would you agree that the ambivalent expression HAVE THE TIME can only mean "know the correct time of ... A: I agree as to interrogative use. You will find that a lot of English is concerned with the correct ...
idioms	8/17/2008
Q: Would you say that RIDE HIGH ON THE HOG at: ... A: What are you doing to my reputation for omnipotence? (ha ha). You keep finding expressions I've ...
Language	8/17/2008
Q: - Can you help me to answer this question (How can I speak English fluently and correctly and how ... A: There is only one real piece of advice for this, the old English expression: "Practice makes ...
gerund	8/15/2008
Q: I am not sure about the sentence below. Is it OK to say "The woman talking yesterday is busy now" I ... A: Sorry to keep you waiting. Your sentence: "The woman talking yesterday is busy now" is fine, though ...
idioms about sickness	8/14/2008
Q: Can you list some idioms about illness such as "he has a bug". Thank you. A: I'm afraid I'm out of my office at the moment, so away from my big collection of dictionaries. You ...
When, While, and As	8/12/2008
Q: I wonder what's the difference among when, while and as, if any. I think they are exchangeable ... A: I think you have your concept correct with these words, so I'll just try to firm up your practical ...
on the base	8/12/2008
Q: I am writing an essay and I got stuck with the title. I am not sure that the title that I wrote is ... A: Your title makes sense, but you haven't really given me enough to go on. Ideally, a title should ...
What's the difference between "whatever" and "whatsoever"?	8/10/2008
Q: Could you please teach me what's the difference between "whatever" and "whatsoever"? (in meaning and ... A: They are mostly exchangeable, and you are correct that 'whatsoever' is stronger, but it is also ...
query	8/9/2008
Q: Will you agree that PLAY IT LOW DOWN and PLAY IT LOW share only one meaning in common and may be ... A: More Americanisms here, I'm afraid, so feel free to check anything I say. Firstly, we had better ...
Informal Verbs	8/8/2008
Q: What is the definition of an 'informal verb'? The reason I ask is this: Some people say they 'itch' ... A: 'Formal' and 'informal' is the same as saying 'proper' and 'everyday' language. The way you would ...
query	8/8/2008
Q: Will you confirm that PERSON OF FEW WORDS and SHORT-SPOKEN PERSON share only one meaning in common ... A: I'm familiar enough with ".. of few words" but I'm afraid I had to look up the other, which appears ...
out of question	7/24/2008
Q: Whereas OUT OF QUESTION is used to mean: 1. doubtless; unquestionably: He is out of question the ... A: You're really testing my knowledge of Americanisms here, as I haven't heard this construction used ...
Grammar Question	7/23/2008
Q: In the following sentence, "It is known who invented the telephone." Is "who invented the ... A: For the benefit of any others consulting this answer, an 'appositive' is simply a piece of ...
Grammar Question	7/23/2008
Q: In the following sentence, "It is known who invented the telephone." Is "who invented the ... A: I think your confusion here comes from the fact that 'known' is not an adjective in this sentence, ...
pretty good	7/17/2008
Q: I was asked a question today: " How did your exams go?" My reply was : Pretty well. Please tell me ... A: You may hear us (ie, native speakers) saying 'pretty good' in such a sentence, but actually we'd be ...
query	7/17/2008
Q: I found it somewhat challenging to draw distinctions between the meanings of NOTHING BUT, NOTHING IF ... A: You're right in your assumption that these phrases aren't interchangeable. They're all fixed as to ...
lexicology	7/16/2008
Q: I would appreciate if you could help me with one word, Bushist, as it may be found in the following ... A: What is confusing about the capital letter, is simply that it is derived from a proper noun: the ...
Go out or go away	7/16/2008
Q: I have had a problem when I was speaking to a person. A asked him a question and he said that he ... A: 'Go out' is a very common phrase and, yes, if you simply say it on it's own: "I'm going out" or "I'm ...
English countable/uncountable nouns	7/15/2008
Q: Is the word vegetable a countable or uncountable noun or both? A: It is countable, as you can have 'a vegetable' or a range of vegetables. In compound nouns, ...
head figure	7/15/2008
Q: Is HEAD FIGURE a common enough expression (apparently meaning "a person who guides, directs, or ... A: For a start, from the searched examples, this looks like an 'americanism' - a colloquial expression ...
"Myopic..."	7/15/2008
Q: Sir....while discussing some out of way physical chracteristics used to desribe people figuratively, ... A: 'Myopic' certainly isn't slang, it's a scientific term - 'Myopia' is the scientific word for ...
english grammar	7/13/2008
Q: What is a Syllable and how do we count them in words? A: A syllable is a unit of a word that has a vowel in it. That is to say, it is either a very short ...
would arrive soon / would be arriving soon/ was going to arrive soon/was going to be arriving soon.	7/12/2008
Q: What is the difference in meaning if we use Would arrive/Would be arriving/Was going to arrive/Was ... A: Firstly, note that there is a difference between 'will/would' and 'going to'. This has to do with ...
Questions about"Global Warming"	7/11/2008
Q: What is the meaning of "global warming"? What are the causes of the global warming? How can we stop ... A: I hope these questions are for general interest, and not homework. Certainly, though, it is a matter ...
science	7/11/2008
Q: What is the meaning of "global warming"? A: Not really an EFL question, but I'll have a go. Over the past few decades, we have come to realise ...
different questions	7/10/2008
Q: WHat is The meaning of BLoG-Spam ? When Could we use 'Any'? What are the rules of using "'s"? Thank ... A: I don't know what 'blog-spam' is, unless it is sending spam e-mails onto somebody's blog. A 'blog' ...
"since" usages	7/10/2008
Q: Russell, May I say, first of all, that your thorough and clear answers have helped me a lot. Thank ... A: I just try my best. On your first question, this is something that come up a lot in English ...
no worries	7/10/2008
Q: 1. Is the Australian expression NO WORRIES: no worries – (Austral. coll.) you’re welcome (used as ... A: In a city like London with a very large 'Aussie' population, most Australian slang is pretty ...
English grammar	7/8/2008
Q: I have seen use of double verb especially in magazines. I am confused whether it is correct. For ... A: What you see here is simply an English verb tense. Tenses are the form of the verb, as it is used in ...
name day	7/8/2008
Q: Many thanks for the previous - you have convinced me! Now, will it be right to assume that a person ... A: You've got me slightly here, as we don't celebrate 'name days' in the UK. It seems to be mainly a ...
world war two	7/5/2008
Q: which way did the bouncing bomb rotate when it was dropped from the plane A: This isn't really about English as a Second Language, so please be aware that you're not dealing ...
idiom	7/4/2008
Q: Will it be right to assume that the expression MORE THAN ONE BARGAINS FOR may be used in two ... A: actually, I've only ever seen this idiom used in a 'negative' sense - as per your first example. I ...
perfect vs perfectly	7/2/2008
Q: We discussed some standard phrases that are used at a restaurant. I posted the following message: ... A: Guess what? You're right. 'OK' is the same as 'all right'. You are describing something as being ...
about "nowadays"	7/1/2008
Q: I have two questions to ask. The first one is about the word ¡°nowadays¡±. I once read in an article ... A: I don't know where you saw that article, but it would be entirely wrong - the word is perfectly ...
vocabulary	7/1/2008
Q: While analysing some newspaper headlines I came across a headline that reads: After 5 years, ... A: You're right that it's a metaphor - from the single identifiable event, these 'ripples' spread out ...
make a meal	6/28/2008
Q: Would you say that MAKE A MEAL OF and MAKE A MEAL FROM are equivalent in meaning: The men made a ... A: Careful here, because 'to make of meal of smg' is actually an idiom, and not to do with food. In ...
slap	6/27/2008
Q: A word escaped from me. I can' recall what you call the word when you slap someone below his/her ... A: if you slap someone ON his/her back (or pat them if you are being gentle), it means that you are ...
ABout the subjunctive mode	6/26/2008
Q: I'm a teacher of English.I have to teach the subjunctive mode for esl students but i don't know it ... A: you may have to follow-up to let me know which subjunctive you mean, as there are actually quite a ...
“Second world war” or “world war two”	6/24/2008
Q: Would you please inform me which expression is more common in speaking? “Second world war” or “world ... A: both versions are pretty much interchangeable, and used with equal frequency - a lot of the time, ...
pronunciation of the	6/24/2008
Q: I have read that “the” should be pronounced before consonants and /ði/before vowels. Would you ... A: this is similar to using 'a' before consonants and 'an' before vowels. It is not so much a 'decided' ...
noun form after 'no'	6/24/2008
Q: I would like to ask, is it a must that a countable noun following the word 'no/no more' in its ... A: You are right, this is the 'zero means not one' rule in action. Remember, there is an alternative ...
Could and Can	6/19/2008
Q: Sorry to bother you again? Could you please tell me what's the difference between the following two ... A: No bother, this sort of thing keeps my mind sharp. The difference between 'could' and 'can' in ...
query	6/19/2008
Q: Could you comment on the expression KNIGHT OF THE PENCIL as in: We have mentioned the knights of ... A: this is 'colourful' language - good writers should be able to 'conjure' phrases with just the right ...
Till...Until	6/18/2008
Q: Sir, I study English language and often I (may be lots of classmates) wonder whether there is a ... A: Til and until are in fact the same word (note that there is only one 'l' in both forms). You will ...
Use of would	6/18/2008
Q: I hope you and your family are well! Which sentence is correct? 1. Clara was always very kind. She ... A: You're obviously doing something right in your studies, because sentence 2 is the better one for ...
QUERY	6/17/2008
Q: Hope you've enjoyed your short holiday. Now, do you think we should differentiate between the way ... A: I had a great weekend at a 'clan gathering' in Glasgow (where my family comes from, though I'm a ...
about "except"	6/10/2008
Q: Last time I asked you about two sentences which contain the words “besides” and “except”. I want to ... A: I didn't think I could cover everything in a single reply. To focus on 'except', this is used to ...
usage of words	6/9/2008
Q: I want to ask you a question about two sentences which confused me. (1)There will be five of us for ... A: There is some confusion here, as sentence 1) is fine, but sentence 2) doesn't have the meaning that ...
'fall' and 'drop'	6/8/2008
Q: I would like to know whether there's a difference between the word 'fall' and 'drop' when we are ... A: They can change over when you are talking about the action of simply descending through the air, but ...
Singular / Plural confusion	6/8/2008
Q: I have been struggling when it comes to singular / plural. I just don't know what to use ( as you ... A: For someone 'confused and struggling', you've got most of this right, and are asking the right ...
QUERY	6/8/2008
Q: Are you familiar with the UK slang term GIRLIE-BOY as interpreted at: ... A: yes, 'girlie-boy' and 'lady-boy' are quite distinct, and not because the latter have grown up. Both ...
in the worst way	6/6/2008
Q: Would it be right to assume that IN A BAD WAY and IN THE WORST WAY only partially overlap in their ... A: You are pretty much correct, and your example sentences are both good, but the key here is that 'in ...
Question Words	6/4/2008
Q: I have troubles in using question words to ask questions. E.g. "Have you put on weight?" or "Do you ... A: Every language has a different way of forming questions, so it always takes some getting used to ...
QUERY	6/3/2008
Q: Will it be right to assume that WITH WIDE –OPEN EYES can only replace WITH ONE'S EYES WIDE OPEN in ... A: You are right. The first definition is an idiom, and as such is a fixed phrase - the eyes are ...
A followup question regarding the word 'interesting'	5/28/2008
Q: I am going to ask a followup question regarding the word ‘interesting’, but it seems I can’t. I feel ... A: if you are having problems with receiving Allexperts notifications and e-mails, try checking that ...
The usage of "still"	5/28/2008
Q: Andrew. Answer the question below ASAP, please. IQ. Ann and Thomas happen to see again in ... A: The correct question would be 1 - "Do you still live there?" This is because the question relates ...
Translation	5/23/2008
Q: Please let me know whether we can translate the names of places, building, bridges, streets, ... A: Actually it was a big, complicated question, since each of your examples would have a different ...
The usage of the word "interesting"	5/22/2008
Q: Russell, Someone told me that "Playing baseball is interesting" is not a correct sentence because ... A: You've no idea how many students get confused over the '-ed' and 'ing' endings when using verbs as ...
Translation	5/22/2008
Q: I am not sure what this quote mean. "Can Gladiator defeat a foe who is twice as powerful as he?" ... A: Ah, I didn't realise that you were talking about super-heroes. My answer was based on a simple ...
Translation	5/21/2008
Q: Please let me know whether we can translate the names of places, building, bridges, streets, ... A: I always try to give detailed replies, but it does depend on how much detail I know. There is no ...
What does the phrase "Awim away" mean?	5/21/2008
Q: Russell, My elder sister introduced me a children’s song named "Ring Around The Jungle". It is one ... A: What a nice question. As with a lot of songs, but children's songs especially, this doesn't actually ...
Translation	5/20/2008
Q: I am not sure what this quote mean. "Can Gladiator defeat a foe who is twice as powerful as he?" ... A: Yes, the foe has twice the power (mainly meaning strength), but it says nothing of (eg) skill, ...
serve him smthg	5/20/2008
Q: A person said his story about how he applied for a visa. In the course of the interview a consul ... A: We do use the verb 'serve' in a metaphorical sense, but tend to say that something serves you well ...
usage	5/20/2008
Q: Here are four sentences to meann the same: 1. Tell me when it is most convenient for you to see me. ... A: What you have here is an illustration of the way that many things you can 'get away with' in spoken ...
present perfect v.s. past tense	5/20/2008
Q: Could you tell me which one is married now (from A to F)? Why and why not? A：I have been ... A: On the face of it, only C and D are actually married now. E may be married, but see below for the ...
singular or plural	5/19/2008
Q: I was having a discussion with a couple of friends. This one guy said this: "All that matters is ... A: As far as is given here, you are in the right, but that doesn't mean your friend's sentence cannot ...
information regarding pursuing online TEFL courses	5/19/2008
Q: I am a non-native English speaking graduate from India.I wish to know whether online TEFL course ... A: There's nothing wrong with on-line TEFL courses, and as I understand it, ITTT are pretty good. After ...
english lexicolohy	5/15/2008
Q: I have been analyzing some newspaper articles. In of them I have come across the following sentence: ... A: you're doing some good thinking there, but I'm afraid you are more correct in your doubts - don't be ...
out of or of	5/13/2008
Q: Here is a sentence: "However,of all attributes , customers valued most the grade, which determined ... A: English is full of this sort of thing, at least when native speakers use it. It helps to remember ...
conjunctive adverbs	5/13/2008
Q: Would you please inform me whether there is a compound sentence, or there are two simple sentences ... A: Careful - it should be "I would not like to ..." as you are only speculating, not talking from ...
singular or plural	5/13/2008
Q: Could you please tell me which of the following sentences are correct or more natural? 1. I do not ... A: 'Nature' in this sense means something like 'character' - the way someone (or something) behaves and ...
plural forms	5/13/2008
Q: Hi again. I have another question. I find the plural forms of English always creating problems for ... A: OK, more work for me here. I would probably start your sentence as: "We should eat proper food, ...
'raise' and 'rise'	5/13/2008
Q: I understand that 'raise' is a transitive verb, that you need a subject to 'raise' the object, e.g. ... A: Yes, you are correct, well spotted and thank you for making my work easier. The only complication ...
possesives	5/12/2008
Q: Which one is correct or are they both? FCC's officers or FCC officers Telmex's shares or Telmex ... A: The first one might depend on what FCC stands for (or what sort of an organisation it is), but if I ...
vocab usage	5/12/2008
Q: Russell, Please explain the correct usage of "authentic" and "genuine." Are they interchangeable? ... A: Both word, of course, have the general meaning of 'real' or 'not fake', but I guess you have come to ...
Preposition Usage	5/12/2008
Q: Mr.Russell. I'd like to ask you the question below. I hope you'll answer it ASAP. IQ. Which is ... A: Strictly speaking, there is no grammar rule that can separate two equal pronouns, so this comes down ...
inspired by or with	5/9/2008
Q: Which sentence is correct ? 1) I am inspired by love for this woman. or 2) I am inspired with love ... A: You can be 'filled with inspiration' when something prompts you to, for instance, paint a picture, ...
It be "past particle" that~	5/9/2008
Q: Mr. Russell! I've got a question. Is it possible that I use "plan" and "schedule" in "It is ~ that" ... A: the form is passive, which is why it uses the 'past participle' (careful!) form of the verb. (a ...
low quality	5/8/2008
Q: Can you say about somebody who who did his task badly something like: His job was of a low quality? ... A: You can say this with or without 'of a', since it is one of those examples where 'eliding' this bit ...
Books for English Starter	5/8/2008
Q: I have a friend who is now 15 years old, but she has problem with this language. She doesn't have ... A: For a starter, you should look for what are called 'graded readers' - modern or classic novels, ...
books for business english	5/7/2008
Q: Sir, I am working in a big manifacturing company but I've some problem with my english.I need to ... A: If you take a look at: www.keltic.co.uk and browse to the Business English section, you will find a ...
Used to / Would / Past Simple	5/7/2008
Q: What is the difference between Used to / Would / Past Simple? Thanks. A: One of the main things that simple tenses are used for in English is to express habits or habitual ...
It's time smb. did sth.	5/7/2008
Q: Russell, What I wonder is, what happens to the second part when we say "It WAS time..." Which one ... A: This example isn't quite wrong, just very complex. The second part is in present simple, so we can ...
a or the	5/7/2008
Q: I have a feeling that in the following sentence an article before the ordinal number should be "a". ... A: It all depends on the nature of the list. As a rule, the indefinite article (a/an) is used for ...
It's time smb. did sth.	5/7/2008
Q: Russell, What I wonder is, what happens to the second part when we say "It WAS time..." Which one ... A: When you want to change a sentence like this into the past, you naturally have to make it 'sensible' ...
usage of could	4/30/2008
Q: Could you please explain which one of the following sentences is correct or preferable? 1. What ... A: They are both grammatically correct, so the one you prefer would depend on the situation or on how ...
in a tree @ on a tree?	4/30/2008
Q: I'm confused with the preposition for 'tree' (The bird builds its nest in/on the tree). I was told ... A: Well done for finding the missing preposition. The hive would hang 'from' the tree/branch - you can ...
shapes	4/30/2008
Q: Which is the correct way to describe shapes? e.g. The aquarium is in rectangle/in the shape of a ... A: You could simply say 'rectangular', which is good enough as the actual object is known, but to be ...
"The whites" or "Whites"? "The blacks" or "Blacks"?	4/29/2008
Q: I just came across the question if it's right to speak of "the whites" ("the blacks") or "whites" ... A: Ethnicity is different from Nationality, so the grammar rules are different as well. We would say ...
see / can see / saw / could see / seeing.	4/29/2008
Q: What is the difference between HE see / He can see / He saw / He could see / He is ( was) seeing ... A: These are basic verb tenses, with some modals. The first one to remember is Present Simple, which ...
What happened? @ What has happened?	4/29/2008
Q: When I meet a friend with cuts and bruises, for instance, should I ask 'What happened to you?' or ... A: What you have found here is a case where you could actually use either, without much change in ...
in a tree @ on a tree?	4/29/2008
Q: I'm confused with the preposition for 'tree' (The bird builds its nest in/on the tree). I was told ... A: Prepositions often cause problems, as once you go beyond the basic rules/meanings they simply don't ...
Word order	4/26/2008
Q: I hope this e-mail finds you very well! Please let me know whether the pair of sentences below are ... A: The 'No. 1' problem is simply that this has to go with a noun, but there are several possible ...
Grammer question	4/26/2008
Q: I have a question regarding the phrase "Your the best", or should it be written "You're the best". ... A: "You're the best", which I'm sure you are. The whole phrase is: 'you are the best', so it's just a ...
A Grammar Question	4/25/2008
Q: Could you please tell me whether the sentece "There are no pencils in these pencil-boxes." is right ... A: Yes, it's perfectly correct. Zero is always expressed in plural, because ONLY 1 is singular; it's ...
as easy to fly a plane as to drive a car	4/25/2008
Q: Russell, How are you doing? a) John thinks it is as easy to fly a plane as to drive a car. b) John ... A: You can always cut bits out of an English sentence if the meaning remains clear enough - in fact, ...
a question	4/25/2008
Q: can you tell me something about the word order in Old English as well as the post-modifying genitive ... A: sorry, but the simple answer regarding OE word order is that I'm happy to speculate, but am by no ...
Word order	4/24/2008
Q: I hope this e-mail finds you very well! Please let me know whether the pair of sentences below are ... A: Let me start with the 3rd pair. "in your acceptable form" would be possible, but only in formal ...
Word order	4/23/2008
Q: I hope this e-mail finds you very well! Please let me know whether the pair of sentences below are ... A: One exercise for resolving confusion with sentences like these is to think of where you could insert ...
Blood specimen or blood sample?	4/22/2008
Q: I met a question on an exam, and this is it: This type of apparatus can produce more than 40000 ... A: Firstly, are you sure you've copied the question correctly? Surely it should be that the machine ...
Subjunctive past perfect	4/22/2008
Q: Russell, Could you please tell me if the following sentences are grammatically correct? In my ... A: Back to my point about 'unreality', this last sentence has to be: "If I had known I would be sick ...
phrase	4/22/2008
Q: Could you comment on the meaning of a semantically peculiar and obviously ambiguous expression BE ... A: yes, it is a bit peculiar - and a little old-fashioned, though still in use. One of the problems ...
Subjunctive past perfect	4/22/2008
Q: Russell, Could you please tell me if the following sentences are grammatically correct? In my ... A: I think you have spotted that being grammatically correct and making sense are not always the same ...
Subjunctive past perfect	4/19/2008
Q: Russell, Could you please tell me if the following sentences are grammatically correct? In my ... A: Your opinion is correct, although one thing about English is it's ability to 'shoehorn' (ie force) ...
A clarification	4/18/2008
Q: I just used the expression 'an honest question' while talking with one of my friends. She insisted ... A: You are right, but mainly because you use the word 'colloquially' - you clearly understand that this ...
Any hole / any holes / all holes / all the holes	4/18/2008
Q: What is the difference between Any holes / All holes / All the holes in this sentence? - Any holes ... A: To start with the singular or plural, follow the noun: Any hole = it Any holes = them 'All' will ...
Word Usage	4/18/2008
Q: Would it be correct to use the word Emeritus insted of Retired for a Defence officer once he ... A: as I said, it is one of those individual words, so while it may be correct in definition, it may not ...
Word Usage	4/18/2008
Q: Would it be correct to use the word Emeritus insted of Retired for a Defence officer once he ... A: 'Emeritus' is one of those odd words that exist just for one purpose, and don't really get used ...
an idiom	4/16/2008
Q: Could you coment on MAKE ONE'S NUMBER WITH SOMEONE as in: Tom spotted Sebastian further along the ... A: and of course you are right. In fact, the examples you have given illustrate this point very ...
Is this correct?	4/13/2008
Q: The computer is the greatest invention because it have made our lives easier. Even though there is ... A: the mistake is in singular and plural. The computer is singular, so it 'has' made our lives easier. ...
an idiom	4/12/2008
Q: Could you coment on MAKE ONE'S NUMBER WITH SOMEONE as in: Tom spotted Sebastian further along the ... A: it's not an idiom I'm at all familiar with, and sounds like American English slang. It has a 'pulp ...
Footnotes	4/11/2008
Q: I am writing an essay over this weekend, but I am not sure when to use footnotes. After searching on ... A: Footnotes can actually be anything - including, for instance, an extra piece of information or an ...
Asking a question	4/11/2008
Q: What is the exact use of words:However,Inspite and Despite. A: Sorry to keep you waiting, Mohammed, but this weekend has been very hectic for me, being my ...
gerund - NP or VP?	4/9/2008
Q: I would be grateful for your help... I would like to know if the gerund is a noun phrase or a verb ... A: One problem with 'rules' in English is that they are so flexible, that quite often they are not true ...
result clause and purpose clause	4/8/2008
Q: - a)Put this bit over here, so it fits (so it will fit -?-) into that hole. b)Put this bit over ... A: It would all depend on the situation, and where the bit and the hole are relative to the speaker and ...
History of language english.	4/7/2008
Q: my name is Jessica, and I am a student doing a research on the history of English. I found you on ... A: It's a bit hard to answer such big questions quickly, but it's an interest of mine, so I'll try my ...
in the front/back of one's mind	4/6/2008
Q: Mr. Russell, I hope you have had a wonderful weekend with your family. I have recently run across ... A: I'm afraid for all your good work, what you've run across here is a 'false' idiom - one that either ...
preposition "after"	4/5/2008
Q: Can you use the preposition "after" in a sentence like "the shop is after the church", meaning that ... A: yes, you can certainly use 'after' in that way - what you are saying is that if the person follows ...
Have these sentences the same meaning?	4/5/2008
Q: Have these sentences the same meaning? a)Put this bit over here, so it fits (so it will fit -?-) ... A: It's not that clear what difference you are looking at. If you mean separating the two parts with a ...
Jesus	4/4/2008
Q: Which is correct? Why? - a)'Penny has been climbing before'- ' Oh, has she?When was that?' (when ... A: many students assume that a perfect tense statement has to have a perfect tense response if you wish ...
bite off more than one can chew	4/3/2008
Q: Mr. Russell: I have made it a rule to pick up five phrases from a book I am reading, and make three ... A: well thanks for the compliment, but you don't seem to need me that much. The sentences are fine: ...
question	4/2/2008
Q: whats the difference between either and whether? A: 'Either' refers to a choice between two equal 'things', and goes with 'or'. "I can either take the ...
Omit relative pronoun or not?	4/1/2008
Q: She has bought a new computer that she uses for her work. Have you seen the new computer that she ... A: I think you've got the key to the answer right there in your question. Relative clauses can be ...
Countable or Uncountable?	4/1/2008
Q: I can't understand why Acting is an uncountable noun and Performance is countable or why Panic is ... A: 'Acting' is a profession, so does not divide up into individual 'actors' - it has neither limits nor ...
get vs take vs do vs make	3/13/2008
Q: Can you please tell me if there is a general rule for using get vs take vs do vs make? A: I make a habit of giving general rules, but always stress the word 'general' - they are the sort of ...
radiant with ...	3/13/2008
Q: Russell, How are you today? It's getting warmer day by day here in Tokyo where I live. I made up the ... A: it's not getting warmer here in London, just cold wet and windy - still, rain in March usually means ...
english	3/11/2008
Q: complete the statement:- if i had a money_________ i)i would buy a car. ii)i will buy a car. iii) i ... A: To start with, it should be 'if I had money' or 'if I had a lot of money' - I assume that is just a ...
Which is the correct form? Is SHE=Anna or another person?	3/10/2008
Q: Which is the correct form? Is SHE=Anna or another person? a) Anna had to go into town and SHE ... A: the key here is that sentence a) could mean Anna or another woman, whereas sentence b) could only ...
BY THE TIME	3/10/2008
Q: Russell, Yes,you're right! It's "A Tale of 2 Cities" by Charles Dickens.This Time I have a question ... A: Sorry Bayan, but it did look like homework. Thanks, also, for the compliment. To try and explain ...
get/let ... off the hook	3/10/2008
Q: Russell, I have made up the following three sentences using the phrase "get/let ... off the hook", ... A: your sentences are actually very good, so well done. The key to thinking about these expressions is ...
correct plurals	3/9/2008
Q: I wonder about the correct plural for computer mouse. Would that be mice or mouses? Also, do I tell ... A: you've hit on something here which has raised a fair amount of debate recently - new things coming ...
BY THE TIME	3/8/2008
Q: Russell, Yes,you're right! It's "A Tale of 2 Cities" by Charles Dickens.This Time I have a question ... A: you obviously have a good teacher there, who has posed an interesting question and wants you to ...
The conjuction YET	3/7/2008
Q: Which is the correct position of the conjuction YET, in front or at the end of a sentence? - We'll ... A: 'yet' actually has two different functions. One meaning is time, and would not be used in a ...
on vs. in	3/6/2008
Q: What is correct? To say "experience on" or "experience in"? Thank you. A: As a noun, 'experience' is quite general, so as you have observed, it needs a preposition to link it ...
What is the difference between happen and occur?	3/6/2008
Q: What is the difference between happen and occur? Regards, lzzzz A: The short answer is: very little. However, if you want a longer answer, read on. These are two ...
forming a right question	3/6/2008
Q: I have come across one point in grammar I just can´t pass through. I do not know how to form a ... A: You are quite right to be puzzled, because the truth is that we don't have a form that specifically ...
OTHER and ANOTHER	3/5/2008
Q: Which is the difference between OTHER and ANOTHER? Thanks. Jesus A: Essentially, it's good old singular and plural - there can be any number of 'others' but only one ...
PAST PERFECT	3/4/2008
Q: This's my"Outside stood the owner of the shop, Mr.Defarge.He was a strongly-built man of about 30& ... A: is this from Dickens' 'Tale of Two Cities'? I haven't read it, but am quite familiar from ...
I will see you next week	2/28/2008
Q: -I will see you next week refers to 'one week from today' or 'sometime from Monday to Friday, after ... A: I should have made clear that these 'week' expressions can be very broad. This particular one would ...
Pompous way ?	2/26/2008
Q: Sir... Two of my class buddies left the class-room before a particular professor was about to enter ... A: 'pompous' isn't specific to lecturers, though I can see why your colleagues would avoid one on the ...
Is it correct?	2/25/2008
Q: When we want to refer to a thing that happens immediately after something else, is it correct to say ... A: with your first examples, only one is immediate: "What I'm going to do next ..." Remember that the ...
wish...would	2/14/2008
Q: Russell, I'm a teacher of English, and in my mind, there is some confusion over the use of "would" ... A: that's a pretty good summary, but I would never say 'never' when it comes to 'rules' in English. In ...
wish...would	2/14/2008
Q: Russell, I'm a teacher of English, and in my mind, there is some confusion over the use of "would" ... A: your resources will tell you what is correct, but should also tell you that native speakers don't ...
English!!!!!!	2/14/2008
Q: i apologize if this is dumb but is their a synonym to tell the truth because my English teacher gave ... A: there is always a synonym in English - that is a strength, but also a problem (knowing which one to ...
Next week/The next week	2/13/2008
Q: I understand your last answer about (The)next week, year, month, Sunday. But if we are now, for ... A: a week, in English, lasts from Sunday to Saturday, and is a set period (hence, the weekend is ...
(THE?) next Sunday, (THE?) next month, (THE?) next week, (THE?) next year.	2/12/2008
Q: Which is te correct form? Why? (THE?) next Sunday, (THE?) next month, (THE?) next week, (THE?) next ... A: articles (a, an, the) do give learners quite a bit of trouble, especially where no article is ...
Nouns	2/12/2008
Q: I am writing research paper on theme of "Nouns of Arts in English" can you help me to find any ... A: the best place to start might be with the Oxford Dictionary of Art (Oxford University Press, ISBN: ...
around/round	2/11/2008
Q: My question is: 1-I read"Round the world in 80 days" Why is"round"used here and not "Around",though ... A: I'm afraid it's just one of those things we do. The two words are so similar, and have such similar ...
Balance/Expresssion	2/11/2008
Q: How are you? I hope this e-mail finds you in good health! (by this way, is this sentence correct? I ... A: The phrase is so familiar (a 'cliché') that I missed this point entirely. A 'cliché' is a phrase ...
Are ANY LONGER/NO LONGER=ANY MORE/NO MORE?.	2/9/2008
Q: Are ANY LONGER/NO LONGER=ANY MORE/NO MORE?. - I wanted the job, but I couldn't wait ANY LONGER/ANY ... A: there isn't actually a specific question here, though I can see what you are trying to find an ...
Balance/Expresssion	2/6/2008
Q: How are you? I hope this e-mail finds you in good health! (by this way, is this sentence correct? I ... A: yes, this e-mail find me well, and your sentence is correct - careful, though, your question isn't - ...
Is NEXT=NEXT TIME? Next time or The next time?	2/6/2008
Q: Is NEXT=NEXT TIME? Next time or The next time? -When you see me NEXT/NEXT TIME. Thanks, Jesus. A: once again, it's the problem of what we SHOULD say against what we ACTUALLY say. It should be the ...
figurative use of words	2/6/2008
Q: please tell me the figurative use of following words: Charms;texture;catalogue;haunted. A: English uses a very large amount of figurative language, especially in our lively idiomatic ...
present perfect or past simple	2/6/2008
Q: I was going to use in my CV the following sentence: "I stopped Ph.D. study in half of regular ... A: always remember that WHATEVER you say in a CV, always make it sound positive. Hence, you didn't ...
meaning	2/6/2008
Q: I send you a paragraph of an article please explain me in detail about selected word of paragraph ... A: 'in honour of' (UK spelling) is similar to 'celebrating' something, commonly as in this case a ...
Name pronunciation	2/5/2008
Q: Russel, a friend of mine is translating a medieval text into Russian and he is having difficulty ... A: I'm afraid medieval language is not my speciality (you may find other experts here under 'history') ...
past perfect vs simple past	2/2/2008
Q: My question's simple: Do we say"I'm looking for clients in your ountry to deal with them". Or"I'm ... A: yes, a simple question and hopefully a simple answer. You say: ".. to deal with." because the rest ...
I need Eassy about	2/2/2008
Q: I need Eassy about "Relate an exciting experience from which you developed a particular talent or ... A: Then write it, dear Umair, write it. [Sorry, that's from a famous song] I'm hardly going to write ...
Why is it written in capital?	1/30/2008
Q: I read this sentence in a grammar book. - There was ice cream that Mum had made herself. Why is MUM ... A: the only words that normally take a capital letter in English are 'proper' nouns, which are such ...
important question	1/28/2008
Q: i am working on my thesis about reading aloud, but it is very difficult to find information here in ... A: you don't say what aspect of reading aloud you are addressing in your thesis studies, but where it ...
sentences meaning	1/27/2008
Q: I am Iranian and interested reading english articles ,could you tell me about meaning some of ... A: this is more like it - something I can 'get my teeth into', as we say. Always remember that ...
Would vs Would have	1/27/2008
Q: I have not been able to use would / would have correctly, especially when I am talking about future. ... A: don't worry. Much as I was afraid of this, you are perfectly welcome to chapter three of my 'how to ...
percent / percentage	1/23/2008
Q: Russell, Please clarify the usage of "percent" and "percentage." I use "percent" after specific ... A: you're dead right, spot on, right on the mark, so I don't have much work to do here. A 'percentage' ...
Is THE WAY=IN THE WAY and A WAY=IN A WAY?	1/22/2008
Q: Is THE WAY=IN THE WAY and A WAY=IN A WAY? - We make it move THE WAY/IN THE WAY that we want it to. ... A: Forgive me if I answer with "yes and no". The phrases have several meanings, but in two of the ...
Would vs Would have	1/21/2008
Q: I have not been able to use would / would have correctly, especially when I am talking about future. ... A: I was trying not to go into too much detail on your original question, because this can be a very ...
meaning of sentences	1/21/2008
Q: Hello please tell me more about meaning of following senteces: thanks in advance ham mir ... A: Again, I see the context, but you aren't specific about which words are giving you trouble. Could ...
grammar	1/21/2008
Q: is it good to use the native language when we teach English as a second language ? A: It's a good question, and not one with a 'perfect' answer. My experience is mainly with ...
grammer websites	1/20/2008
Q: i'm a member in world-links organization in Syria. would you please suggest good and usefull ... A: I'm afraid I don't have that much internet-teaching experience, however, Oxford University Press do ...
information of wh questions structure	1/19/2008
Q: I need to explain how to write wh questions, thank you A: apologies if you have been kept waiting but I have had a VERY busy weekend - hope yours was more ...
Would vs Would have	1/18/2008
Q: I have not been able to use would / would have correctly, especially when I am talking about future. ... A: Try to avoid using 'would have' in conditionals referring to the future, as this is a present ...
When and Where? Help please	1/14/2008
Q: I have just started learning English and got a question that I should have asked ages ago :) For ... A: Correct again, good for you. What you have done here is to make your sentence more 'real' - ie, more ...
grammar&tense	1/14/2008
Q: Mr.Adndrew Russell: I'm not sure about the tense after"it's the first time...'£¬such as: it's the ... A: It's not altogether clear, so I hope I can find the right advice for you. I assume that: 'It's the ...
When and Where? Help please	1/13/2008
Q: I have just started learning English and got a question that I should have asked ages ago :) For ... A: Pat yourself on the shoulder, because you are right - they are the same. B is slightly more ...
esl	1/12/2008
Q: sorry to take up your time but i really would experience all the help you could give me. I'm a Celta ... A: Careful - your structure in 1, should follow "If I could' .." or something similar. Also, remember ...
English Grammar	1/11/2008
Q: Which is correct to use, to or too, in the following--Do you know of a website I can direct folks ... A: It's only a little word, but 'to', along with 'too' (and 'two') causes more confusion than any other ...
There seems ( ) a big earthquake	1/11/2008
Q: My question is about the next sentence: There seems ( ) a big earthquake here several hundred years ... A: I hope this isn't a homework question, as we're not supposed to do those. If you don't mind, I'll ...
Usage of "Backed up"	1/11/2008
Q: Please help me understand the correct usage of Backed in sentence like "Backed with his nine ... A: Careful here,'backed' is a verb but 'backed up' is a phrasal verb. A lot of students think that ...
Is or Are?	1/11/2008
Q: Mr. Russel. I went to England and I saw a signboard. (Though my memory is a bit hazy) It said " ... A: Yes, this has to be a difference between British and American usage. There are plenty of examples ...
waek /r/	1/10/2008
Q: I have a question on how I can improve my weak /r/s. Although I speak English fluently have have ... A: Actually, this is fairly common impediment among native speakers - several famous television ...
Is or Are?	1/10/2008
Q: Mr. Russel. I went to England and I saw a signboard. (Though my memory is a bit hazy) It said " ... A: What you have seen is a badly-written sign. I don't know why, but Britain is notorious for ...
words	12/31/2007
Q: Would you please explain with examples the differences between REAL,TRUE, GENUINE and AUTHENTIC? A: You have probably noticed that English is full of synonyms - words with similar meanings - and it ...
IELTS	12/18/2007
Q: i am taking IELTS next year. i would like to know is there any tips to get a high band? TQ A: The key thing to remember about IELTS is that it is a test of how well you can USE English, not how ...
Word Diff.	12/16/2007
Q: What is the difference between: Jogging & Walking. Difference & Discrepancy. A: A way of moving on your feet is called a 'gait'. Humans have three basic gaits: walking, running and ...
civic education/civil education	12/16/2007
Q: Does civic education equal to civil education? Is there any difference in meaning? A: Both these words come from the same Latin root, which also give us the word: 'Civilisation' which ...
collocation	12/16/2007
Q: "They greeted each other by the nod of their fans." In this sentence the word BY is used. Normally ... A: Here is where you find the confession of every native English teacher - what we teach is 'good' ...
Grammar doubt	12/15/2007
Q: Is the sentence "It is sometimes told that democratic government originated in the city-states of ... A: In the usage you have here, "it is sometimes said" is the only correct structure, since 'to tell' is ...
Word Usage	12/15/2007
Q: Please help me to select the most appropriate word to form a correct sentence in my following- "The ... A: you're quite right on the one hand, which is that 'censoring' a movie is the job of film censors- ...
word difference	12/10/2007
Q: What is the difference between CROSSING and CROSSROADS. Thank you. A: I think I can see the context you are using here, which is about roads and streets, though I may ...
Must and Have to	12/4/2007
Q: Please comment on the correct use of "must" or "have to" in the following sentence: I must keep my ... A: in sentences like this, the main difference between 'must' and 'have to' is to do with where the ...
english paper	12/4/2007
Q: Do you know where i can the AQA GCSE English Language June 2007, paper 2. pleasse helpp! i need it ... A: I don't normally deal with GCSE's, as we do the Cambridge ESOL exams, but I don't think the 2007 ...
Sleeping Consider a verb?	11/30/2007
Q: Sleeping - it consider a verb or a noun when it appears as 1 word A: I can understand why you're being careful here, as you are entering the scary world of GERUNDS. Say ...
Difference between the word Register and build	11/29/2007
Q: english is not my native language, just wanna ask, if someone had register a group, does it ... A: in the sense relating to groups, then no, or not necessarily. Registering in this sense means to do ...
Is threre any difference between clear and clean ?	11/26/2007
Q: Is threre any difference between clear and clean ? thanks, lzzzz A: you've picked a good pair of words here. They don't have very similar dictionary meanings, but are ...
Verb "Live"	11/25/2007
Q: Mr Andrew, My name is Guillermo and I am writing from Colombia. Last thursday I was tested at my ... A: Prepositions are always a problem (in whatever language you may try to learn) but with this example ...
names	11/22/2007
Q: I have problem with the pronunciation of the following names: [Vincent] Miceli [William] Luijpen I ... A: These names aren't English, but I'll have a go. 'MIceli' sounds to me Italian or maybe Slavic ...
English	11/22/2007
Q: How can I improve my spoken Engish and vocabulory A: I've been asked this question a few times, so here is a summary of the advice I have always given ...
ESL-specialised online radio	11/21/2007
Q: In order to improve my skills, I use numerous podcasts available on internet. But I would like to ... A: Podcasts are about the best I can suggest if you're looking for actual teaching/learning material. ...
Prepositions	11/19/2007
Q: What's the difference between the expressions "on the beach" and "in the beach"? I would also like ... A: don't worry, prepositions are tough for EVERYBODY. There are actually quite a small number of ...
language	11/17/2007
Q: I'm an English teacher in China, and English is my second language. I want to ask you a question. ... A: you should remind your students here that the key word in the question is 'probably'. It is ...
relation and relationship	11/15/2007
Q: Tell me the usage of "relation"and "relationship", will you please? They are almost the same in ... A: You obviously know that a relation or relationship is a common connection between two or more ...
vocabulary	11/11/2007
Q: Russel, my name is Lena and am a Croatian student. I study English, German and Italian. Yesterday ... A: Pop songs are full of colloquial and slang expressions - so pop lyrics are either a good or bad way ...
Correct use of "should"	11/9/2007
Q: Russell, Please let me know which one of the following sentences is correctly formed and why: (a) ... A: Although the second one is correct, you could get away with the first one in spoken English - though ...
choice or a choice	11/2/2007
Q: Would you tell me the difference between "have a free choice" and "have free choice"? A: As with many such examples, the clue is in the different letter - the indefinite article 'a'. 'A' is ...
Uses of Can, Could, May and Might	11/1/2007
Q: Sir, I feel a lot of difficulties in using words like can, could, may and might please tell me where ... A: The whole field of Modals can become quite complex (and it can be hard to find an interesting way to ...
Difference	10/26/2007
Q: What is the difference between these two pairs of sentences: 1. This matter is not possible to ... A: Not all words have an exact opposite (antonym), but where they do, it is usually possible to create ...
Vocabulary	10/26/2007
Q: i would like to know what is the best way to memories Vocabularies for a long period of time. As it ... A: It is possible to memorise long words, but unfortunately only if you have the right kind of memory. ...
Appropriate use of terms of endearment	10/25/2007
Q: Good afternoon, Andrew. Thank you so much for offering me some of your precious time. I'm not a ... A: You'll have to ask him, I'm afraid, as this is mainly due to personal style and preference. ...
Finally, eventually and in the end	10/25/2007
Q: I am a native English speaker (born and breed in the UK!) and have recently studied Spanish in ... A: Yes, in all honesty, I can't lay claim to any extra genius or insight, just years of having students ...
Appropriate use of terms of endearment	10/24/2007
Q: Good afternoon, Andrew. Thank you so much for offering me some of your precious time. I'm not a ... A: Australians are quite a bit more relaxed about using endearments than the British, so I may not be ...
ruder versus more rudely	10/23/2007
Q: More questions about adverbs, adjectives and words ending in "er" and "ly". Would it be correct to ... A: Going back to the 'rule' about short and long adjectives, remember that here we are dealing with ...
Among/Amongst	10/22/2007
Q: What is the difference between among and amongst? I assume it's the same difference in British as ... A: Sometimes these little differences can be surprisingly hard to explain. Basically, they mean the ...
ayuda	10/22/2007
Q: can you help me? I spend one year studing english here in Venezuela but even the fact that I spent ... A: Careful when using songs to practice your English. With lyrics and poetry, the rhythm of the verse ...
Past Tense vs Past Perfect	10/22/2007
Q: In the following sentences, which tense should I used? 1 I came part of the way by taxi because the ... A: In many cases, you can use either past or past perfect, but with a difference in meaning - look for ...
difference	10/21/2007
Q: Andrew Russell, can you tell me the difference between the word "disabled" and "handicapped"? Which ... A: This is a bit tricky. Both terms are familiar, and used frequently, though the first is more likely ...
ruder versus more rudely	10/19/2007
Q: More questions about adverbs, adjectives and words ending in "er" and "ly". Would it be correct to ... A: You are right with the first set (1 a & b), 'rudely' is the adverb form, and like most of these ...
Pronunciation	10/18/2007
Q: French speaking person asked me, a native English speaker, the following: Why do you say "to ... A: A bit of a tall order, that. I don't know any particular book offhand, but you could try the ...
Pronunciation	10/17/2007
Q: French speaking person asked me, a native English speaker, the following: Why do you say "to ... A: Several reasons, but the main one is that we don't use accented letters in English - I wish we did. ...
Definite article	10/16/2007
Q: Can I delete "the" in this sentence? "We would like to inform you that we have strong relations with ... A: You can delete the 'the', but this will change the sense slightly. "... the sugar companies in ...
Pronouns	10/16/2007
Q: Can I delete the second "it" in this sentence? "We are expecting your offer to study it and show it ... A: There is no reason why you can't delete both 'its', as the object is implicit in both the later uses ...
More slowly versus slower	10/16/2007
Q: I was told recently that I should speak "more slowly". Why didn't my teacher say "slower" instead of ... A: Yes, 'more quickly' would definitely be right, and 'quicker' would definitely be bad English. ...
slowly and more slowly	10/15/2007
Q: Which is correct 'Could you speak more slowly?' or 'Could you speak slowly?' Or 'Could you speak a ... A: Actually, all are correct but in different situations. In each case, 'slowly' is an adverb ...
euphemism	10/15/2007
Q: I want to ask where I could find the marerials about euphemisms,thanks A: Fowler's Modern English Usage is always a very good source for euphemisms in current English, but be ...
More slowly versus slower	10/11/2007
Q: I was told recently that I should speak "more slowly". Why didn't my teacher say "slower" instead of ... A: It may be easiest if I start with adjectives, where the rules are clearer, and then move on to ...
Everybody	10/11/2007
Q: I often hear people say "Everybody has their ---." Is it acceptable colloquially? Shouldn't it be ... A: This is perfectly acceptable, and not at all colloquial. We quite often use plural in the third ...
GO TO or GO IN?	10/9/2007
Q: Andrew. I have a doubt about the use of "go" with a preposition. I had always thought you had to ... A: There is a big difference between 'go to the forest' and 'go in the forest'. The second one is bad ...
More slowly versus slower	10/6/2007
Q: I was told recently that I should speak "more slowly". Why didn't my teacher say "slower" instead of ... A: Always be careful of the difference between an ADJECTIVE and an ADVERB. It can sometimes be tricky ...
Noun	10/6/2007
Q: I need to say: "all kinds of people" or "all kind of people". Please tell me which one is correct. ... A: 'kinds' is correct. It might be easier if you think of the phrase: 'different kinds of people'; ...
omission of "where" in the relative clause	10/3/2007
Q: I know that the "where" can not be omitted in the next two simple sentences. This is the house ... A: You can't simply omit 'where' in these sentences, because there will be nothing to connect the house ...
Teams	10/1/2007
Q: I want know are teams(Manchester united, AC Milan, Barcelona) Plural or singular? Sometimes i see ... A: This is an example of when a noun (in this case a proper noun) can singular or plural due to its ...
history of english language	10/1/2007
Q: pls give me the origin of ten words used in the fashion feild. A: OK, how about: wimple, bodice, bustle, knee-britches, buttonhook, torc, tabard, toga, trews and ...
"To be"	9/30/2007
Q: Are these sentences corret? - What I like is her eyes. (If I make a reverse sentence structure" "Her ... A: Strictly speaking, "What I like is her eyes" is wrong, but it's the sort of thing we would quite ...
Subject-verb agreement	9/29/2007
Q: Please let me know if construction of the sentence is incorrect in the following example. Example: ... A: Actually, your argument has brought you around to the correct construction: "How much time does ...
Different grammatical points	9/23/2007
Q: I read the following: "You have heard people complaining - every time I eat watermelon I burp, when ... A: When you meet problems like this, you will find that a lot of the time it is due to the word having ...
verb phrase	9/21/2007
Q: Dear Mr Russell, I have another question for you today: Is 'sleeping soundly' a verb phrase? ... A: Oh boy, I can really let myself in for trouble when I open my big mouth, can't I? Examples aren't ...
verb phrase	9/20/2007
Q: Dear Mr Russell, I have another question for you today: Is 'sleeping soundly' a verb phrase? ... A: An adverbial phrase is a phrase which, taken in its entirety, will modify a clause's main verb, ...
forum, seminar & conference	9/19/2007
Q: May I know what's the difference between forum, seminar and conference? Thank you. A: I'll try and answer this one myself, and THEN reach for a dictionary. A forum (named after the ...
Definite article	9/17/2007
Q: I think the definite article must be used before "farmer". Right? "Firefighters quickly realized ... A: Remember, definite articles really specify WHICH item you are talking about - the apostle Paul is ...
French-based?	9/16/2007
Q: Two questions here today: 1. I keep seeing variations of this in the newspaper: The FRENCH-based ... A: I sometimes wonder if English actually has grammar rules at all, or whether the rules are so ...
question about "so"	9/16/2007
Q: I hope you are well! Is the statement below grammatically correct? I am particularly concerned ... A: Naughty native-speaker friend! I would say that you were right. In fact, both expressions are ...
Definite article	9/15/2007
Q: I think the definite article must be used before "farmer". Right? "Firefighters quickly realized ... A: You don't need a definite article here, because the word 'farmer' is being used as an adjective, and ...
Different grammatical points	9/15/2007
Q: I read the following: "You have heard people complaining - every time I eat watermelon I burp, when ... A: Firstly what you are correct about: It should definitely be 'on' an empty stomach, and not 'in'. ...
Sentence structure	9/14/2007
Q: Can I change "Pavarotti always admired the God-given glory of his voice." into "Pavarotti always ... A: 'God-given' is a fixed phrase, an adjective formed from 'given by God', so I'm afraid it can't be ...
articles, countable and uncountable nouns	9/13/2007
Q: I have two questions to ask: 1. Is it a must to have an article in front of a singular noun? e.g ... A: As I said, countable, uncountable and articles seem like an innocent and simple part of English ...
articles, countable and uncountable nouns	9/12/2007
Q: I have two questions to ask: 1. Is it a must to have an article in front of a singular noun? e.g ... A: Countable and uncountable are one of the language concepts that look plain and simple, but then ...
noun or adjective?	9/11/2007
Q: This is a question on the sentence: Although it is only September, some stores have already begun to ... A: English is what is called a 'non-inflected' language, which means that it doesn't have to mark each ...
adjective forms	9/10/2007
Q: Russell, Is it correct to use a plural form of a noun as an adjective? For example, should we write ... A: I would say that "Sports day" would be correct, as usually more than one sport is involved, whether ...
Hazard x danger	9/9/2007
Q: I'm not a Brazilian and I teach my work mates private English lessons here. One of my students asked ... A: Dictionaries are tremendously useful, but there is always a limit to what they can tell you, ...
grammer	9/9/2007
Q: which of the sentence is correct ? 1 a Will he not be going there? b Will he be not going there? ... A: Both examples use a rather formal style of English. The answers are 'Will he not ...' and "Can he ...
Vocabulary building	9/9/2007
Q: How is the vocabulary build? For example, sensitive, how is that word made. What is needed ... A: The best way to build up your vocabulary is to explore all the 'relationships' of a word - if it is ...
Difference	9/8/2007
Q: Dera Andrew, What is the difference between each pair of the following and how can I use them? ... A: To take the last part first, 'action' and 'state' are usually used to refer to verbs. A very simple ...
Verb 'to be'	9/7/2007
Q: I think the verb 'to be' must be in the singular form in this sentence. "The content of this ... A: Sorry, but no, because you have used 'and'. This makes the message and attachments a subject phrase ...
pronoun use	9/7/2007
Q: I have a question about the sentence: "Ballroom dancing has a long history, and it is extremely ... A: It's not strictly wrong, but is a little awkward due to the problem your tutor has highlighted. Your ...
Grammar question	9/6/2007
Q: I just wonder why it should be "the times comes" and not "the times come". Shoud one consider times ... A: Actually, unless I am missing something from the original context, the phrase should be 'the time ...
Has or have	9/6/2007
Q: Could you please tell me whether I should use 'has' or 'have' in answering this question below about ... A: Students often have problems where a countable and uncountable noun have to be taken together, as ...
Riddle	9/5/2007
Q: Am a Kenyan, currently in college and am taking English as my minor course, am interested in English ... A: It's certainly best described as a riddle, and I'm afraid I can't give you much help with it. ...
Negative Questions	9/4/2007
Q: I would like to ask about negative questions. I often hear, especially in American movies, form of ... A: Negative questions tend to be used either when you want confirmation of an answer than you are not ...
english	9/3/2007
Q: . are the following sentences correct .. "it was necessary that she bring the book".. "it is ... A: Actually, they are both correct, the first one is more formal as it uses an 'imperative' form - the ...
phrasal verbs	9/3/2007
Q: Is "identify with" a phrasal verb? A: Yes, to 'identify with' something or somebody is a phrasal verb. These always seem to confuse ...
punctuation	9/2/2007
Q: Would you please tell me when an adverb should be separated by commas? Thank you, Behzad A: Generally speaking, you would only need to separate an adverb using commas when it is in the form ...
Sentence structure question	8/31/2007
Q: I think the sentence below sounds odd (especially the first three words). Could you tell me what is ... A: I don't know where you are located, but we get all our ESL books from the specialist distributor at: ...
Sentence structure question	8/29/2007
Q: I think the sentence below sounds odd (especially the first three words). Could you tell me what is ... A: Sorry, I meant to make that clear as well. Your assessment 'hits the nail on the head', as we say. ...
english	8/28/2007
Q: . are the following sentences correct .. "it was necessary that she bring the book".. "it is ... A: The first one isn't good, but is still possible - better to say: "It was necessary that she brought ...
The word "well"	8/28/2007
Q: Hey Andrew, What type of word would "well" be in the following sentence. "Well, the decided to go ... A: Well, what can I say? The word is being used here as a 'discourse marker' - the sort of word or ...
English Grammar	8/27/2007
Q: I know that strictly speaking, this category was supposed to be English as a second language, but ... A: I've never had to think about this before, just taught it as a rule. One thing, it is plural only ...
singular nouns or pronouns with plural verbs	8/26/2007
Q: When did the use of plural verbs with singular nouns or pronouns become the rule? I was taught to ... A: Languages are always very dynamic things, and English more so than most, especially in its dialect ...
A Question on English Grammar	8/26/2007
Q: I saw a sentence in a book: "We've such difficult problems that no one would like to solve". Well, ... A: OK, you've got us here. 'Real' English can be pretty lazy sometimes. True, "we've" should always be ...
possessive apostrophes for nouns who already have a possessive apostrophe	8/25/2007
Q: I was wondering if you could help me out the use of the apostrophe. Specifically, how do you show ... A: You're putting your toes into a big argument going on in Britain at the moment. Ever since Lynne ...
unintelligible line in Rolling Stones song	8/21/2007
Q: "In the hotel I'm excited by the smile on her face But I wondered how was time gonna change her" I ... A: This is known as a 'future in past' form. English tenses are mainly about time, so if you think in ...
Pronoun usage	8/21/2007
Q: In the following sentence is the subject or object pronoun used. The teacher made John and I/me ... A: This is a tricky one. At school, I was taught that 'John and I' is the correct form, but most people ...
Personification	8/21/2007
Q: I know that the sun is masculine so if I "the sun is sending his rays", can I consider this as a ... A: To take your own example first, you can certainly say this, and let me say that it is a truly ...
Figurative use of words	8/21/2007
Q: I have no idea about the figurative use of words. 1. How can I find our that a certain word is used ... A: When you use something figuratively, you are really trying to build a picture in the listener or ...
Grammar	8/15/2007
Q: Please advise whether the following sentences are correct: - We are in August - We are in 15th ... A: The first and last are correct, but we would be far more likely to use the last one than the first, ...
Comment on "Find mistakes in the paragraph"	8/15/2007
Q: I would like to comment on your e-mail dated 8/5/2007 whose subject was "Find mistakes in the ... A: Yes, sorry, I'm using sloppy 'everyday' English, and should have checked more carefully. In 1., the ...
grammar	8/14/2007
Q: is the first clause in the sentence " who died yesterday is buried today" a noun clause used as ... A: There are a couple of technical points here, relating to the terms 'sentence', 'clause' and ...
Lavatory ( correct or old fashioned)	8/14/2007
Q: When it comes to British English usage, is it correct to use the word 'lavatory' when I refer to a ... A: Probably nothing in the English language has more euphemisms that the simple lavatory which, lets ...
DIfference	8/11/2007
Q: I just want to ask you what is the difference between"inspirationable" and "inspiring"..It confuses ... A: Yes, a language so full of synonyms as English can't help but throw up this sort of confusion now ...
Find mistakes in the paragraph	8/5/2007
Q: Please help me to find 28 mistakes in these paragraphs Smoking clauses lung cancer. Lung cancer is ... A: This looks a bit like homework, but since your request is for 'help' rather than 'answers', I'll do ...
Grammar (tenses and definite article)	8/4/2007
Q: are these sentences correct? "I would be great if you can give me this information". Two tenses ... A: The first sentence may be common in spoken English, but properly, it should be 'could' rather than ...
english grammar sentence	7/29/2007
Q: i am very confused about why the following sentence is correct. She has a dictionary that cost over ... A: It does look puzzling, but actually the answer is quite simple. 'Cost' is an irregular verb, and ...
prefix help	7/28/2007
Q: If the prefix ob- means "against", why does obsequious mean "subservient"? Isn't that the opposite ... A: OOh, this is the first question I've actually had to look up, so give yourself some extra Brownie ...
English mechanics	7/27/2007
Q: Is this sentence correct? "Please find attached the two meeting reports that we held with the ... A: You are becoming a lot sharper, it seems, because you are quite right. This sort of thing happens ...
Tense	7/26/2007
Q: The reason of my question is to understand the mechanics of English. In any case, you did not point ... A: If you simply ask whether a sentence is correct, then the basic answer is either yes or no, and that ...
Tense	7/24/2007
Q: Please whether this sentence is correct. "Yesterday I held a short meeting with the customer who ... A: There isn't much at all wrong with this sentence, only that it should be 'by' the end of next month ...
Tense	7/24/2007
Q: Please advise whether this sentence is correct: "The customer advised us that they are in the ... A: There are a couple of points here. The sentence is good overall, with only one major error - English ...
Propositions	7/17/2007
Q: I speak pretty good English. However, after speaking it for over 15 years, I still have trouble with ... A: I'm afraid the only general rule with prepositions is that they DO NOT TRANSLATE. There actually ...
please help	7/14/2007
Q: Could you please help me with following sentences.... 1) I tried to charge it, but it doesn't power ... A: Ok, I'll have to take these one at a time. 1) I tried to charge it, but it doesn't power up. If ...
ayuda	7/12/2007
Q: I am a 44 years old man who learned English when 25 years old but even doing a great effort to try ... A: The problem is not as uncommon as you may think. We use different parts of our brain for the skills ...
Structure	7/12/2007
Q: If I have more than one invoice and I need to refer to this, what is the correct way to express ... A: you've got the right one now. If this was a compund noun, you would only need to make one plural ...
Structure	7/11/2007
Q: If I have more than one invoice and I need to refer to this, what is the correct way to express ... A: In this case, the word 'number' is a noun - each invoice has a number, and only a noun would have an ...