672 Answered Questions for the topic ESL/ESOL

03/19/19

When verbally expressing metric units do people use decimal places?
I am writing a script for an audio description, and am including an estimation of a statue that is 1.5 meters tall. For metric users, would this be expressed in speech as: "one point five meters"... more
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Esl/esol Speech

03/19/19

Is it possibly to say "take this" or "take that"?
Sometimes could be see sentences like "take this one". And I don't know which one is correct.
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Esl/esol English Grammar Esl

03/19/19

I will learn better English -- should it be "I will learn English better."?
Somehow, I think "better English" is incorrect, because I think there isn't better English; English is English. But I hear this phrase from other ESL students a lot. Is this correct way of saying... more
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03/19/19

Seeking rules about adding grammar-based pauses in spoken English?
I believe the following topic is in the scope of the site: Pronunciation/phonology, more specifically: how sound is structured for conveying linguistic meaning. I am seeking rules about where to... more
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03/19/19

Different pronunciations of "-ead"/"-ed"/"-aid" words?
I find that American/British English dialects tend to pronounce words like "*bed*", "*red*", "*dead*", "*bred*", "*said*", etc. with the exact same vowel sound: the IPA **ɛ** vowel (- and so this... more
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Esl/esol Grammar Nouns Clauses

03/19/19

How can you tell which noun a clause modifies?
I'm a ESOL teacher, and I'm having trouble answering a question that a student asked me recently. We were going over long sentences, and found this one from the New York Times: > Saudi Arabia... more
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03/19/19

How do I make the velar nasal /ŋ/ sound?
Can someone please explain how to pronounce the velar nasal sound (/ŋ/, as in English "ng", but that's why I'm asking). To restate the question: How do I pronounce /ŋ/? (Note: *This isn't a... more
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Esl/esol English

03/18/19

Why is there such an emphasis on accent reduction in English but not in other languages?

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03/18/19

What word do Americans use for dirt?
I'm aware that in America the word "dirt" is a synonym/replacement for earth/soil/peat/turf.etc whereas in the UK "dirt" would typically refer to uncleanliness, detritus, and granular rubbish (i.e.... more
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03/18/19

which group I belong to vs to which group I belong?
1. I don't know which group I belong to. 2. I don't know to which group I belong. Which one of the sentences is true? --- Note: An answer was given to this question when it still read "I... more
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03/18/19

To hyphenate or not?
As a non-native speaker of English and an engineer by training, I always get confused about hyphenation and almost always end up referring to Google every time I need to make that decision.Does... more
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03/18/19

How do I use "as of now" correctly?
Just to clarify, I am not a native English speaker. I occasionally hear from other non-native English speakers the use of the phrase: "*As of now*" with the meaning of *Currently*. Initially I... more
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03/18/19

Why is the "J" in San Jacinto pronounced like an English "J" instead of an "H" in Texas?
Many Spanish words taken into English have a "J" sounding like "H", but San Jacinto follows a different rule: - San Jose - La Jolla - San Juan - Jimenez Why is San Jacinto not pronounced... more
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03/18/19

How does a salesclerk in England welcome a customer and ask what they want?
When you go to a bakery in England in the afternoon, and you are not a familiar customer, how does the salesperson greet you, and how do they ask what you would like? “Good afternoon, sir. How may... more
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03/18/19

Fronting correct use?
I have this phrase (created myself) > He was entering into the office slowly / Slowly, he was entering into the office. (there shouldn't be difference I suppose) Now, the rules say that if... more
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03/18/19

Use definite article or not in conjunction with a German institution's name which contains a strongly declined article?
Picture some German university's arthistory department, and its official title would be "Kunsthistorisches Institut". "Kunsthistorisch" is an adjective, and "kunsthistorisches" is its nominative... more
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Esl/esol Speech Questions

03/15/19

Problem in formulating question?
Consider this scenario..*.Sam ate 4 cookies*. Now if someone asks Sam *How many you had*, then Sam will reply 4. But how should the question be formed so that the answer Sam gives will be 4th... more
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03/15/19

How should the first "o" in "operator" be pronounced?
I've always been taught that a vowel before a double consonant following another vowel should have a short sound. Conversely, there are many situations where a vowel preceding a single consonant... more
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03/15/19

Try and get some rest OR "Try to get some rest"?
Which sentence is grammatically correct? >Try **and** get some rest (or) Try **to** get some rest
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Esl/esol Speech

03/15/19

Answering your own question?
I have been wondering if this particular speaking device had a specific name. My wife uses a speaking technique where, instead of just making a statement, she presents it in the form of a question,... more
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03/15/19

first time as an adverb meaning "for the first time"?
Can **first time** be used as an adverb meaning "for the first time", e.g. *when I met him first time* (Confession Tapes, third episode, 02:40)
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03/15/19

Should I use contracted forms in scientific presentations?
In a scientific paper am I right in believing that one would write “it is” instead of “it’s”? In a scientific presentation, would one use contracted forms like “it’s” instead of “it is” or is... more
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03/15/19

Is there a word that captures the different moods and ways a word can be pronounced in?
I am looking for a way to categorize these different ways a given word can be said to convey completely different emotions in different contexts, and I feel like there is some proper term for it... more
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03/15/19

Should we pronounce "T" in Won't?
I have noticed that some native English speakers do not pronounce the "T" in "won't" in the middle of a sentence. For example: > I won't make you happy sounds like: > I wo make you... more
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Esl/esol Speech Phrases

03/15/19

Does “snatch something over” or “snatch something away” sound native?
I’ve learnt that you can say things like: >She snatched the biscuit out of his hand. (snatch ... out of) >She snatched a biscuit from the plate. (snatch ... from) But how does it sound if... more
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