http://www.englishforums.com/search/pro.htm?q=user%3aInfinik&o=DateDescendingSearch results for 'user:Infinik'en-USXMOD (Build: 3616.28671)http://www.englishforums.com/English/SentenceStructuQuietCatsFeltBoots/2/lwlhk/Post.htm#962245Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:17:29 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:962245infinikGG, I did imagine Antonio the cat in his boots when I was thinking about "cats in their felt boots". I've just started the book. The story looks interesting.http://www.englishforums.com/English/SentenceStructuQuietCatsFeltBoots/2/lwlhk/Post.htm#962242Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:09:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:962242infinikThanks Yankee, you reinforce my untold reasoning.http://www.englishforums.com/English/SentenceStructuQuietCatsFeltBoots/lwlhk/post.htm#962024Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:52:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:962024infinikThat's what I thought on my first read. But I was told that by the way the sentence is structured, "their" should mean "cats" to be more grammartically correct, or otherwise ambiguity arises. Any comment on that?http://www.englishforums.com/English/SentenceStructuQuietCatsFeltBoots/lwlhk/post.htmWed, 04 Nov 2009 09:38:59 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:961343infinikHi The following sentences appears in Ken Follett's "The Pillars of the Earth", first page in prologue. "The small boys came early to the hanging. It was still dark when the first three or four of them sidled out of the hovels, quiet as cats in their felt boots." Could anyone tell me what does the word "their" refer to, the first three or four of them or the cats ? And why? If it's cats , does "cats in felt boots" have any special implications? I mean cats already walk quitely without boots. Plus, if it's metaphor, I think cats have no fur in their palms---not quite similar to felt boots which have fur as bottoms. Thanks, ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/SerratedVJagged/kwjkw/post.htmFri, 28 Aug 2009 00:24:06 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:877293infinikHi, I would like to know the usage of the words "serrated" and "jagged". Does "jagged" especially mean pointed/sharp structures and "serrated" more curved ones? Also, is there a situation where these two words can be used interchangeably? Thanks in advance, ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ALedVAnLed/kgggr/post.htm#866611Tue, 18 Aug 2009 02:59:52 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:866611infinikYankee, thanks for your clarification. I got this another related question. Does acronym exempt from this "an LED" rule? Do we always try to pronounce an acronym before we precede it with an "a" or "an"? Like RayH's reply, or take this example: We are operating on an LASIK machine. (If we pronounce L-A-S-I-K) We are operating on a LASIK machine. (If we pronounce as one word beginning with a consonant sound)http://www.englishforums.com/English/ALedVAnLed/kgggr/post.htm#866535Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:45:48 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:866535infinikYou are absolutely right. But I'm just wondering if people in the field of LED would pronounce it as "led". If that's the case, it may justify high percentage of "a LED" used.http://www.englishforums.com/English/ALedVAnLed/kgggr/post.htmTue, 18 Aug 2009 01:33:14 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:866524infinikHi, a LED v. an LED Which is correct? Google and you'll find they are nearly equally used.http://www.englishforums.com/English/InequalityInWords/jmzmm/post.htmThu, 09 Jul 2009 03:47:40 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:812306infinikHi How do you put the following inequality in words? 0.1 ≤ x ≤ 1.0 Specifically, does the following sentence properly describe the above inequality? "X is equal to, or greater than 0.1 and equal to, or less than 1.0." Regards, ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/WhenPluralFormUnitUsed/jkblp/post.htmTue, 30 Jun 2009 06:03:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:801310infinikHi there, got his very simple question (not one I can answer though...) When is the plural form of a unit used? For any amount less than unity, is it proper to give them plurality? (am I missing some linguistic reasoning here) For example, is the following usage of the units correct (singular or plural)? It weighs 0.5 tons . Add 0.5 grams of salt. How about "half a ton"? It weighs half a ton . (which means 0.5 ton(s)!?)http://www.englishforums.com/English/FileWith/jdnzb/post.htmMon, 08 Jun 2009 08:56:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:770271infinikThe application was filed with the Commission last week. Why use "file with" but not "file to"? Is it just custom usage?http://www.englishforums.com/English/ThePeriodProblem/wmbww/post.htmWed, 13 May 2009 01:58:54 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:727557infinikHi Is this where American English differs from British English? The project would have been taken over by the "unwised." The project would have been taken over by the "unwised". The period comes before the last quotation mark in the first sentence, and after in the second. I found the first case is rather illogical because it does not end in a period (that is it breaks the sentence-end-in-a-period rule), and the quotation marks should not emphasize the period. Opinions are very much appreciated. ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/TheSameAs/wmbhj/post.htmWed, 13 May 2009 01:36:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:727541infinikDear the grammar savvy: We know this is wrong: I have the same book as yours. But can anyone offer explanations why it is grammatically incorrect? Is it really that wrong? What part of speech is "as"? Is it a relative pronoun? What about: Mine is the same as yours. Using the subject/object-case pronoun analysis, one can explain: I like her as much as he . I like her as much as him. But can that analysis be applied to the sentence " I have the same book as yours "? ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/InThat/wmbzk/post.htmWed, 13 May 2009 01:01:51 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:727508infinikHi I come across the phrase "in that" many sentences (see examples below). I'm not sure what it actually means. Can anyone explain what it means or is it tied to certain words? A is different from B in that A is.. A differs from B in that A... A will not meet the criteria in that A is... A is helpless in that A is... Thanks, ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/AHalfSmallerThan/wdwxm/post.htm#685482Wed, 11 Mar 2009 09:27:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:685482infinikThat's a good point. So can I infer that it's clear that the below means B=4A? B is 3 times greater than A? I'm wondering if 1/3 goes with smaller than or 3 goes with greater than would create less ambiguity?http://www.englishforums.com/English/AHalfSmallerThan/wdwxm/post.htmWed, 11 Mar 2009 08:07:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:685469infinikSay, A and B are some quantities or sizes and A=3B. Regarding the usage of comparative forms, which one sounds right? 1) B is 1/3 times smaller than A. (B is one-third smaller than A.) This is very ineresting, since "1/3 times smaller" would actually mean 3 times bigger, wouldn't it? (Otherwise, "smaller" is redundant or not meaningful.) 2) B is 3 times smaller than A. A=4B, maybe? 3) B is 2 times smaller than A. This does not sound natural, but think about "B is 1 time smaller than A", which must mean A=2B (If A=B then there's no comparison!), therefore, "1" actually means "2" here. So for 3), 2 means 3, and A=3B. I know should write properly like "A is 3 times as much as...http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhyUsingDirectlyParallelMean-Parallel/wcghl/post.htmWed, 25 Feb 2009 07:32:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:679858infinikHi If you are describing two tangible objects and saying that they are "directly parallel", does that mean anything more than just parallel? I'm having two guesses: 1) the adverb "directly" is just emphasis that they are truly parallel and ideally parallel. 2) they are in some kind of orientation that they are face to face and parallel? If you think in a mathematics sense, there can't be any degree of parallel, unless otherwise (ultra parallel). ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/DependentPrep/hmcnr/post.htmFri, 16 Jan 2009 03:55:21 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:644402infinikHi, Is there different usage between "dependent on/upon", "dependent to", "dependent of", and "dependent from"? I'm not so sure I can differentiate them. Thanks, ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ManchesterCommon/hzccp/post.htmThu, 11 Dec 2008 07:39:47 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:609839infinikHi I'm trying to translate into Chinese (don't ask why) an address containing the word "Common" and can't figure it out what it means. Does it mean a road? a public ground? It'd be a plus if someone can explain or reference the road system used in the US. Addr.: ..., Manchester Common, Fremont, CA Thanks ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ObjectVObjective/hvmjc/post.htmMon, 08 Dec 2008 05:49:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:607922infinikHi, Could anyone think of a situation where the word "object" is different from "objective"? Maybe in some specific contents? My idea is that in most cases they mean the same (goal). Thanks, ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/WeReadSittingEvening/glqzk/post.htm#559926Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:31:14 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:559926infinikWell, it came from a non-English English teaching book. The author, not a native, is actually trying to explain the grammar and meaning of "We sat reading all the evening" by comparing it to the OP, which I find strange too. Could it be a mistake? (but the author does explain that "read sitting" means something, something I can't understand.)http://www.englishforums.com/English/TwoWordVerbs/gkgmp/post.htm#559890Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:14:38 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:559890infinikHi there, Is it adequate for "make do" to have a non-human subject? e.g. The company just has to make do what it was offered.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WeReadSittingEvening/glqzk/post.htmFri, 29 Aug 2008 01:06:12 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:559888infinikWe read sitting all the evening. Question: What does "sitting" function here? Is it emphasizing "we were sitting while we were reading"? Thanks in advance, ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/NoFoolVsNotFool/glqzj/post.htmFri, 29 Aug 2008 01:01:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:559887infinikHi, When people say: He's no fool. Does it mean "he is smart" but not "he is not a fool"? Likewise, the following means "this is serious" but not "this is not a joke". This is no joke. Thanks for clarification, ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatDoesEssentiallyModify/glkkd/post.htm#558631Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:06:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:558631infinik"Essential biological processes" would have an entirely different meaning. That is, only those biological processes which are essential , vs. only those processes which are essentially biological . I really appreciate your patience on me. You couldn't imagine how much trouble I was (and still am, and perhaps will be..) having with English adverbs. Also, thanks to MM's pinpoint accuracy from the very beginning. ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatDoesEssentiallyModify/glkkd/post.htm#558284Mon, 25 Aug 2008 07:06:35 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:558284infinikI think "essentially" in (a) is just a garbage word which has no function. It's usually used like "mainly" to fatten up someone's poor speaking style, and I'm surprised to see it in a written technical piece. You may exclude A and B and (essentially) all this other stuff which fits the following definition. You may exclude (broadly) such things as I'm going to describe . I think if it modifies anything at all, it modifies the verb, "exclude." The bare sentence is, "Members may exclude plants, animals, and processes." What kind of processes?? Biological processes. All biological processes?? No. Only essential biological processes. I don't think this is what the speaker...http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatDoesEssentiallyModify/glkkd/post.htmMon, 25 Aug 2008 03:16:38 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:558232infinikHi, What (part of speech) does "essentially" modify in the following sentenses? (a) Members may also exclude from patentability: plants and animals other than micro-organisms, and essentially biological processes for the production of plants or animals other than non-biological and microbiological processes. (b) The argument is essentially a technical one. I'm inclined to explain that in the two sentences "essentially" modifies verbs (exclude and is), but I'm not sure. Thanks in advance, ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CallingWithSomeone/glznr/post.htmWed, 20 Aug 2008 08:07:26 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:556835infinikHi I got this letter, the sender wanting to call me on the phone in an arranged date, he wrote: I would be calling with Ms. X of my firm. What does this mean? He'll get Ms X to call me first and put him through to me? Thanks in advance, ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Cooperator/glzjl/post.htmWed, 20 Aug 2008 05:27:35 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:556778infinikhi Could anyone explain what a cooperator (as one word) is? Can it be used as a rank or title in a private company, or some sort of partnership like law firms? I've checked upon a few good dictionaries and still don't get it. Is there anything such as an "administrative cooperator" (this doesn't make sense to me)? Appreciate all feedback, ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CraveVsCraveFor/gkvgw/post.htmWed, 06 Aug 2008 09:10:58 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:551522infinikHi, If a pregnant woman is eager to eat meat constantly, is she "craving meat" or "craving for meat"? Thanks in advance, ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/AudienceAreLaywers/gkvgh/post.htmWed, 06 Aug 2008 09:04:28 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:551521infinikIs the SVO agreement in this sentence correct? "The audience is lawyers or judges." Shouldn't the verb be "are"?http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhenToUseUndergo/gjbjp/post.htm#545819Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:27:47 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:545819infinikAlright, so it shouldn't deviate from the meaning, but just a way it is written. I was afraid it would mean differently, even if slightly, such as sounding passive or something.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhenToUseUndergo/gjbjp/post.htmThu, 24 Jul 2008 08:07:13 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:545800infinikhi there I'm not sure how to use the word "undergo" as a verb, particularly in scientific writing. I've seen a lot of usage such as "undergoing oscillation", "undergoing compression", "undergoing the motion". The question is, why not use "oscillating", "compressing/compressed/being compressed" directly? Does undergoing have more than "be subject to" meaning in such condition? You would say "the spring undergoing ocsillation" but not "the projector undergoing display(ing)", wouldn't you? Or "the layer undergoing compression" = "the layer being compressed"? You would say "the company undergoes a massive...http://www.englishforums.com/English/SwimmerKicksUpwards/gwprj/post.htm#544907Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:40:33 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:544907infinikYes, but when explaining to someone who does not know how to swim: "The legs make a scissor kick, in which the legs are held straight out, knees unbent, and swung back and forth in opposite directions (out of phase). (" cited from wikipedia under entry "sidestroke") If "swung" is replaced by "kick", would it be OK?http://www.englishforums.com/English/SwimmerKicksUpwards/gwprj/post.htmTue, 22 Jul 2008 01:30:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:544774infinikhi I want to describe a swimmer's movement, particularly the legs' movement. Say the swimmer is swimming free style, is it appropriate to say that "when one leg kick upwards, the other kicks downwards" to describe the alternating motion of the legs? Does it sound odd? Thanks in advance, ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ConnectConnectConnectWith/gwwpb/post.htmFri, 18 Jul 2008 09:58:29 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:542998infinikhi Two pipes A and B are connected together, so: Pipe A connects to pipe B. Pipe A connects with pipe B. Pipe A connects pipe B. Which one(s) are correct??? A bit confused here with prepositions, with or without. Thanks in advance, ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ToMountFixedElseCausative/gwgzv/post.htmWed, 16 Jul 2008 07:15:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:542253infinikhi Can I use "... to mount A fixed to B" to say "mount A on B so that A is fixed to B"??? e.g. Mount the flat-screen TV fixed to the wall. Is there any chance "mount" is used as a causative verb in this way? Thanks in advance, ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CompoundNounUsageNN/ghwqv/post.htm#538204Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:01:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:538204infinikUpon checking in the dictionary, some are considered better in one word: multicolored, multilayered..etc But for "stone-washed", I think the jeans are really "washed" (or done by similar process) so "stone-wash" may sound a bit different to me.http://www.englishforums.com/English/CompoundNounUsageNN/ghwqv/post.htmTue, 08 Jul 2008 03:03:19 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:538105infinikHi Is it "a single-layer film" or "a single-layer ed film" or both are correct? (The film can have multiple layers, and each layer is formed separately.) Thanks in advance, i PS. Is the hyphen correctly used here?http://www.englishforums.com/English/OpnionVsOpinions/ghdwd/post.htmFri, 04 Jul 2008 03:30:13 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:536523infinikHi, A bit confused by the counting of "opinion". My boss is asking how I feel about the company's outsourcing projects. I write a report on it. The report has many points and comments. So can one say: many opinions, when referring to my many points and comments (i.e., "a point is an opinion"); or an opinion, when referring to my points and comments as a whole? Can you say "many opnions" to mean "all the points"? Or should one opinion cover all your ideas and comments in the report? Thanks in advance, ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/InsideObjVsInsideOfObj/ghrgh/post.htmWed, 02 Jul 2008 08:36:19 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:535626infinikHi, Is the prepositional phrase "inside + obj. " different from "inside of + obj. "? Or is one is wrong here? Specifically, such as: A is built inside B. A is built inside of B. (say, A is a component in the machine B, or A is a five-star lunge in the biosphere B...) Thanks in advance, ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/APluralityOfV/gvxdv/post.htm#524902Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:39:28 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:524902infinikWell, you are absolutely right. I was just making an example. However, the term "a plurality of" has a defining use and it has legal implication in the patent system. I'm just trying to understand if it abides English grammar as you know some legal usage is really weird.http://www.englishforums.com/English/APluralityOfV/gvxdv/post.htm#524892Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:14:56 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:524892infinikThanks for the suggestion. This word is a standard term in patent claim, it says two or more objects. Thus suppose you claim "a car comprising a plurality of doors", any car in the world with two or more doors would infringe your patent! I'm just suddenly lost in whether to use sg. or pl. verb if "a plurality of doors" is used as a subject.http://www.englishforums.com/English/APluralityOfV/gvxdv/post.htmMon, 09 Jun 2008 08:51:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:524879infinikHi Is a singular or plural verb used with "a plurality of" or is it depends? Like we use "crowd"? Like, "a plurality of pinettes are/is fitted to the end the arm." Thanks in advance. ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/BetterProduced/gcbmp/post.htm#511515Fri, 09 May 2008 06:36:26 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:511515infinikHi, Goodman, thanks for your suggestions. I know it doesn't sound technical enough, that's why I doubted it first, though it occurs in a patent specification (not in claim though). But I guess it's OK considering context, unless USTPO considers otherwise. ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Possessor/gcbmq/post.htmFri, 09 May 2008 02:24:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:511461infinikIs there a word like "possessor", but can be thing rather than a person? My knowledge is that "possessor" is typically used for a person/organization, but not objects. Like, "possessor of th fund", "possessor of the lost keys", but "__ of the handle (eg. on an object)"? Wondering if there exists a general term describing that? Thanks in advance, ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/BetterProduced/gcbmp/post.htmFri, 09 May 2008 02:18:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:511460infinikThis is regarding semiconductor manufacturing: The process is used to provide better produced 300mm, 450mm or other diameter wafers. Here, "better produced" means something close to "optimal"? Thanks in advance, ihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Lines5To8VLine5To8/gbzbh/post.htmWed, 30 Apr 2008 07:41:50 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:507508infinikWhen referring back to a text, is the following usage of "line" correct? In lines 5 to 8, the author has made clear that... Should it be "lines" or "line"? Thanks in advance.http://www.englishforums.com/English/CoordinationCounterpart/2/grnmz/Post.htm#505243Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:21:34 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:505243infinikhow about: They drank and puked all night. It might be possible to drink while puking and/or vice versa (some fluid dynamics required here?) but I doubt on first reading it would create such impression. I would think if the two actions are emphasized as happening together they'd be better to add a following "at the same time"?http://www.englishforums.com/English/CoordinationCounterpart/2/grnmz/Post.htm#505214Fri, 25 Apr 2008 06:38:42 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:505214infinikI guess that might be the reason why the OP asked this question. hi, it's not what I wanted to ask but interesting though. Your case might be better conveyed as "Bats can feed while flying in the dark." You are thinking phrases like "fire-and-forget", "trick-or-treat" right?