In Idioms^x, Clauses^x

I know 'would' carries many meanings. My problem is sometimes I find it difficult to tell which meaning the speaker uses. I think I understand its hypothetical usage, and in some contexts, its politeness usage. Below is a post that has several woulds I have trouble interpreting. I also...

Mister Micawber wrote:Not really an appropriate use of that idiom, LiJ. I would just cut the last clause-- the statement is clear enough as is. Or use 'on the other hand'. Thanks, Mister. I might have written too many words. Got it!

Not really an appropriate use of that idiom, LiJ. I would just cut the last clause-- the statement is clear enough as is. Or use 'on the other hand'.

Philip wrote:common sense "corrects" the intended meaning.C.B. Thanks for pointing this out. I love the way you exprssed it! I am seldom guilty of this common error myself, but I often don't catch it it others' writing. I guess I have a good deal of common sense.Hi PhilipAs I said, similar...

Here's what I would say:We are going to stay in/at a nice hotel, just like famous actors.I wouldn't use the same as here at all. I might say: We stayed at the same hotel as famous actors. You have an indefinite article in the main clause, though.I am interested in learning foreign languages and...

Hi Vu,I do not use the adverb to start a sentence; and I don't remember seeing its use in that position either. Occasionally, I have seen people start a sentence using the idiom. Here is an example pattern and you can find more on the Internet:STT designs and manufactures highly specialized...

There are quite a few idioms where tell is not used exactly the same as in to tell someone something. The following are usually negative and usually followed by an indirect question or a that clause. These mean that something is not obvious or easily seen by the subject of the...

Why not? There is nothing in the sentence to suggest the son is still a child? I'm still called my parents' daughter even though I'm (ahem) years old, and definitely not a child. My brothers are still 'sons' even though one is over 50. "I think that in most activities, he 's just typical/one of...

It's called heavy movement if I'm not mistaken. A heavy (wordy) phrase or clause is moved from its usual position in a sentence to make other grammatical relationships more clear. In the two cases under consideration, the movement occurs to place the head of the subject noun phrase closer...