http://www.englishforums.com/search/pro.htm?q=user%3aRayH&o=DateDescendingSearch results for 'user:RayH'en-USXMOD (Build: 3616.28671)http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowCome/lgzwd/post.htm#950057Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:04:35 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:950057rayhI didn't know you had it in you -- past tense This is the usual formualtion. I don't know you have it in you -- present tense I've never heard this. The first is used after someone does or says something unexpected. The second would be a kind of preemptive use that expresses doubt as to whether the person can or will take the action in question.http://www.englishforums.com/English/NamedInCapitalRespect/lgzdd/post.htm#950039Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:44:06 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:950039rayhIs it true? I agree with Clive. You show respect to your client by spelling its name as it (the client) wishes not by applying arbitrary spelling and capitalization.http://www.englishforums.com/English/AHistoryEnglishLanguage/lgrhd/post.htm#948433Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:57:31 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:948433rayh1.A history of the English language 2.The history of the English language There's really no difference between the two. It's just a matter of what the author wants for his title. To the extent that there is any difference I guess you could say that "a history..." is the author's way of saying that he has written just one of many histories of the language while "the history..." is the author's way of saying that he has written the (one and only) history of the language that anyone could ever need. The fact is, though, that no one would ever take "the history..." as meaning that so, at the risk of repeating myself, there isn't really any difference.http://www.englishforums.com/English/One/lzkpw/post.htm#946460Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:21:59 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:946460rayhI wouldn't use any of your three examples to convey the meaning you intend. Instead the speaker should refer either to the title of the book ("if Gone With the Wind is missing") or to it's subject matter ("if my history book", "if my math book", etc).http://www.englishforums.com/English/KindlyCorrectionBelowLetter/lzknv/post.htm#946440Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:01:27 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:946440rayhI have been suffering some health problems for the from last few months, so I am planning to go for a medical checkup and treatment in India. Therefore kindly grant me 15 days no pay leave effective with effected from 1st December 09 to 15th December 09. I hope you understand my situation and will grant my me request leave .http://www.englishforums.com/English/AQuestionAboutAlcoholic-Beverages/lzkmg/post.htm#946429Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:50:07 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:946429rayhA: What kind of proof is this thing? Your question will certainly work. I might be inclined to ask "How strong is this stuff?" or maybe "What's the alcohol content of this stuff?"http://www.englishforums.com/English/PurseMoney/lzkmw/post.htm#946427Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:45:45 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:946427rayhIf I get my half of the purse money ...( Pledge money? ) If there's big fight and I win No. The "purse" in a prize fight is the money the winner gets. Update: The term "purse money" is not normally used, it's just "purse" as in "Tonights fight has the largest purse ever seen in this venue." I have no idea why the writers chose to use a non-standard expression.http://www.englishforums.com/English/IncomeTenthPosition/lzzxg/post.htm#945319Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:06:56 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:945319rayhIt's not a term I've heard but it seems to be a standard way of comparing incomes. See this for example from this site: http://www.heritage.org/Research/Welfare/tst040209b.cfm Studies which claim that the U.S. has a higher poverty rate than European nations use a distorted technique that creates higher income standard for assessing poverty in the United States than in other nations. Because of these biased methods, many Americans are deemed "poor" when, in fact, they have higher real incomes than persons identified as "non-poor" in Europe. By contrast, if a fair, uniform standard of comparison is used, the lowest income tenth of the U.S. population is found to have a real income that is roughly equal to, or...http://www.englishforums.com/English/ExtraordinaryPowerExtraordinary-Power/lvxhw/post.htm#943422Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:38:30 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:943422rayhI'm not sure I can explain the situation to your (or my) satisfaction. I guess whether an author uses a normally uncountable noun as though it is countable is a matter of the tone or feeling he wants to convey to the reader. Saying "a love" or "a power" adds a kind of emphasis or draws the reader's attention in a way that the uncountable use doesn't. I wouldn't tie myself in knots trying to make fine distinctions between the two uses, often the countable use can be replaced with the more usual uncountable use without doing great violence to the overall meaning, although (to the native speaker anyway) there will be a subtle change in the overall "feel" of the piece. Well, as I feared when I...http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhenPrepositionsAboutOn/lvqxw/post.htm#943332Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:52:13 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:943332rayhIn the sentences above, why can't we use ABOUT instead of ON? Not to take anything away from the above answer but the unfortunate truth is that there is often no particular reason other than "that's just the way we say it" for choosing among prepositions. Your question provides a perfect example. I don't see any compelling reason to use either "on" or "about" in your examples, each fits equally well to my ear.http://www.englishforums.com/English/ExtraordinaryPowerExtraordinary-Power/lvxhw/post.htm#942754Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:58:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:942754rayh"extraordinary" is an adjective and therefore doesn't take an article. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/540/01/http://www.englishforums.com/English/ASetenceConfused/lvxmv/post.htm#942744Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:38:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:942744rayhThe dialog is barely understandable but I'll take a guess: A: It should have made it to your inbox but maybe it got lost in all the clutter on your desk. B: You know how things pile up on my desk when I am busy.http://www.englishforums.com/English/MobUp/lvprl/post.htm#942741Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:30:09 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:942741rayhIt refers to a person or an organization that is heavenly involved with organized crime.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheExtinctSabreTooth/ldqpp/post.htm#939848Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:30:22 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:939848rayhI've always heard 'sabre-tooth tiger' . Just for clarification it drives paleontologists nuts when people use the term "saber-tooth tiger" they insist on "cat" since the animals weren't in fact tigers at all, not even close. From the UCMP site: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/mammal/carnivora/sabretooth.html The "saber-toothed tiger," Smilodon, is the California State Fossil and the second most common fossil mammal found in the La Brea tar pits. The name "saber-toothed tiger" is misleading as these animals are not closely related to tigers.http://www.englishforums.com/English/ShouldHave/ldpdn/post.htm#937924Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:24:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:937924rayh1. You were supposed to be here an hour ago. 2. You should have been here an hour ago. I think it's fair to say that number two is more accusatory that number one and therefore somewhat less polite.http://www.englishforums.com/English/LookingForAFittingPhrase/ldhxc/post.htm#935748Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:07:54 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:935748rayhI'm having troubles translating a text into English. I need (ideally) a phrase meaning something like "the constellation of stars was just suitable (for something to happen)". You will probably get better answers if you provide more context but you might try this "the stars were aligned." A Google search will give you examples of how it's used.http://www.englishforums.com/English/VerbWithWithoutAnObject/lcnxl/post.htm#935732Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:49:33 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:935732rayhI think my explanation was inadequate. So it was. Given your clarified meaning I would say that both of your original sentences are ambiguous. You have however provided a solution, namely this from your post (as edited): The hood should lift up automatically when unlocked.http://www.englishforums.com/English/GrammerQuestion/ldhkp/post.htm#935696Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:18:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:935696rayhBoth are correct assuming the proper context. We are commited to living our values. We are commited to live like sisters and brothers.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Shes/ldhjp/post.htm#935694Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:15:23 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:935694rayhCan She's also be She was? No.http://www.englishforums.com/English/SweptScript/ldrqh/post.htm#934007Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:47:29 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:934007rayh1. Does it mean they destroyed the Old European culture just like the fire destroys the forest? Given the following sentence it seems that the author means that the old culture was literally destroyed. 2. Does the "script" here mean "alphabet" or "everything that they wrote" or maybe "Scripture"? I would say everything they wrote.http://www.englishforums.com/English/IsOpenerHouse/ldbcl/post.htm#933987Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:34:13 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:933987rayhI don't detect any significant difference in meaning in any of your alternatives.http://www.englishforums.com/English/ATestQuestion/ldbdx/post.htm#933985Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:29:56 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:933985rayhI find both answers equally acceptable. I would be hard pressed to come up with a reason to choose one over the other.http://www.englishforums.com/English/ReducingLossNaturalResources/ldbzb/post.htm#933976Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:25:40 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:933976rayhMaybe this page will help: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commercial_fishinghttp://www.englishforums.com/English/FishingTourism/ldbhz/post.htm#933955Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:10:32 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:933955rayhIs " fishing charter " an activity similar to the one I described? My google search seems to suggest it's a sport, while the one I have in mind targets especially couch potatoes, families, and even schoolchildren who are seeking "adventure" (but no associated risks). They usually do this out of curiosity, possibly once in their lifetime. As far as I know people from all walks of life can and do charter fishing boats for any of the reasons you suggest. I guess it can be a sport with competitions for biggest fish caught and such but as I understand it the primary patrons are vacationers (including families) looking for, as you say, some adventure or just a once in a lifetime chance to catch a really big fish.http://www.englishforums.com/English/SentenceChecking/ldbdc/post.htm#933929Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:56:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:933929rayhMy new English teacher confidently stated that they are BOTH right. That can't give you much confidence in your teacher.http://www.englishforums.com/English/ReducingLossNaturalResources/ldbzb/post.htm#933921Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:52:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:933921rayhIs there a word for species (of fish) that can be caught? Or a better expression? How about "game fish." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_fish I'm unhappy with this. I meant to refer to those natural features, lankdmarks etc. that people want to visit (and are willing to pay for this) and are therefore a selling point for economic activities based on tourism (restaurants, hotels, museums etc.). How would you say this? Other than possibly being a touch opaque I don't see much wrong with it. Maybe "assets that are of significant economic value to the tourism industry" I'm also unhappy with this. What I mean is: if a hotel profits because it's close to a natural asset, they will care for this...http://www.englishforums.com/English/FishingTourism/ldbhz/post.htm#933888Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:33:48 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:933888rayhI've searched for a word (or a phrase) in English to no avail. I'm looking for the translation of the Italian pescaturismo which, if it were to be literally tranlated, would be " fishtourism " or " fishingtourism " (one word. pesca= fishing ; turismo= tourism). I think the closest you will come is "fishing charter." I'm not aware of a single word that carries the meaning you want.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Confused/lcqmv/post.htm#933594Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:25:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:933594rayhDoes anyone know if "for migraine relief" only relates to "even meditation" or with all symptoms? It relates to all of the possible treatments mentioned.http://www.englishforums.com/English/PartOfTheSameCloth/ldrdh/post.htm#933584Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:16:22 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:933584rayhThe professor means that bioterrorism and the emerging pathogens are both part of the same problem.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowUnderstandSentence/ldrvv/post.htm#933573Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:10:41 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:933573rayhWhy did the author use " it is " after the word "whatever"? can't I just say "... a timeline for whatever our enemies are planning"? To my reading "it is" is used for emphasis. You can omit "it is" without changing the meaning of the statement.http://www.englishforums.com/English/DisruptionHadFlourished/ldrvh/post.htm#933565Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:02:26 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:933565rayh1. Can "disruption" mean "destruction"? Not in general but I suppose that in this context some destruction could have been involved (from natural forces, invaders and the like). 2. Does "had flourished" mean that "tell sites" flourished or that people who lived there flourished? A location on the ground can't "flourish." The settlements flourish to the extent that the people who make up the settlements flourish.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatIsMeantByDownTown/lcmhq/post.htm#932682Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:12:51 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:932682rayhWouldn't it be more natural to say "I live downtown" (the "in" is dropped out) ? Yes, I missed making that correction in the original post.http://www.englishforums.com/English/GetWorkedUpOverSth/lcnhx/post.htm#932680Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:05:27 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:932680rayhIt means to become angry, annoyed, or perhaps excited about something.http://www.englishforums.com/English/UsageOfShe/lcxdj/post.htm#932664Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:54:59 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:932664rayhWhat is the rule? I don't think there is a rule. You just have to memorize the few nouns in English that are customarily given a gender. Note that you won't be considered wrong if you use "it" to reference such a noun. For example, if you said of a submarine that "it is hiding" only the most pedantic would correct you. Here are a couple of Web pages that discuss the issue: http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/NOUNS1.cfm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_in_Englishhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/LevelOfAttitudes/lcnkd/post.htm#932649Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:40:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:932649rayh1) Is it OK to use the word examinees here? Yes 2) retain or keep? Neither, see my correction. 3)Can I use 'on the level of attitudes' here like this? No . See my correction. Firstly, the examinees from multi-ethnic areas in which remained peaceful („peace areas") during conflicts in 1990's will show, on the level of attitudes , a higher degree of general openness towards the members of other ethnic groups than the examinees from the „conflict areas". I'm not clear why you set off the term „peace areas" as you did. It's customary to put such a term in double quotes in written English, like this: "peace areas"http://www.englishforums.com/English/MeaningOfLayOnOneSide/lcxrd/post.htm#932615Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:20:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:932615rayhIt means that the "question" will be ignored while considering the "objection."http://www.englishforums.com/English/VerbWithWithoutAnObject/lcnxl/post.htm#932612Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:16:42 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:932612rayh- The hood should lift when unlocked. I take this to mean that the hood can be lifted but not as an instruction to do so. - The hood should be lifted when unlocked. I take this as an instruction to lift the hood or to ensure that it is lifted when it is unlocked. Your use of "lift" is correct.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheInterior/lcnnk/post.htm#932585Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:06:37 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:932585rayhin the above sentence, is the use of the word 'interior' idiomatic? Not really. Note that "insanitary" is used so seldom that I had to look it up to verify that it is in fact a word. You should use "unsanitary" as it's far more common. If you are talking about a restaurant it's taken for granted that you mean the interior. Stating it explicitly comes across as redundant. Try this as an alternative: In a second-rate restaurant the service is unpleasant, the food may taste good but it's never healthy and the whole place is unsanitary.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Sentence/lcmwm/post.htm#932180Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:00:02 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:932180rayhIt's okay grammatically but without its context it's pretty much just meaningless gibberish.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatIsMeantByDownTown/lcmhq/post.htm#932176Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:55:47 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:932176rayhI' m living in downtown nowadays. Where do you live by the way?? The word you are looking for is "downtown" and it has different meanings in different cities. The best you are likely to do as far as a formal definition is this at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown and this at Answers.com: http://www.answers.com/topic/downtownhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ConfusedTheseSentences/lcmrx/post.htm#932168Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:44:14 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:932168rayh" put on more clothes" Wear more clothes. "take more clothes" Carry more clothes with you (possibly in your suitcase) but don't wear them right this minute.http://www.englishforums.com/English/IImposition/lcmbc/post.htm#932142Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:25:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:932142rayhI don't want to be an imposition. I don't want to impose. Of your suggested alternatives only this one fits: I don't want to be a burden. As you can see I've removed "on you" from your sentences. It's implied by the word choice and feels redundant when it's explicitly stated.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatIsAScore/lbdpz/post.htm#924788Thu, 01 Oct 2009 23:13:54 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:924788rayhOne score equals twenty so four score equals eighty.http://www.englishforums.com/English/MostPopularCoursesUniversity/lbcpj/post.htm#924533Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:44:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:924533rayh- Japanese has become one of the most popular courses at university since the Asian studies program was established. I take this as referring to all or most universities (not any particular one). - Japanese has become one of the most popular courses at the university since the Asian studies program was established. I take this to mean that you are talking about a particular university that has been mentioned, or otherwise made clear, previously.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Quarter/lrmrc/post.htm#922348Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:04:35 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:922348rayhSo it says, for example: there is one boy, next there is a girl, next a boy and again a girl and then they killed that last one just because it was a girl? I wonder if they would do the same if the fourth one was a boy and not a girl? The author states clearly that he talking one fourth of girls, not one fourth of all newborns. Anyway, you can't look at statistics like this on a family by family basis. You need to understand that it is talking about the population as a whole and even then the author is careful to point out that he is talking about "some districts." So, as horrific as it is, the statistic only applies to those districts that it applies to, as it were, not to the population of the entire country.http://www.englishforums.com/English/SomeoneHelpMe/lrlvv/post.htm#922116Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:43:36 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:922116rayhCan I use your bathroom? Can I use the bathroom? Most of what J apan borrows from abroad comes from the West -- from Europe and the US. "West -- from Europe" what's the meaning of -? It's a way to set off part of the sentence, a kind of parenthetical expression. Note the difference between "--" and "-", the first is the so-called em-dash (as well as it can be represented using this editor, anyway) the second is a hyphen. There are many sites describing the differences and proper use. As always, Google is your friend.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Abbreviations/lrgml/post.htm#920878Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:20:20 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:920878rayhwhat is the abbreviation for july? There is no "official" abbreviation but you will sometimes see it written in a date as follows: 23-JUL-09 or maybe just JUL-09. If you are using it as a standalone word always spell it out in full, it's only one extra letter after all. And don't forget to capitalize it.http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenToAndFor/lrgdz/post.htm#920540Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:13:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:920540rayh"I bought a gift TO Jane." It's Jane's birthday. I bought a gift 'with my money' and I'm going to give it TO Jane. It's from me to her. No, this isn't correct. You would say "I bought a gift for Jane." in this situation. "I bought a gift FOR Jane." It's Jane's daughter's birthday. She needs to buy a gift to her daughter, but she is unable to leave work earlier. So, she asked me to buy the gift. So, I bought a gift 'with her money', FOR her, that is, in her place. I'm not going to give her the gift. It's not from me to her. It was just a favor I did to her. Correct, although you would probably say something to indicate explicitly that you are doing...http://www.englishforums.com/English/BrokeFreeTheseForeignPowers/lrdzh/post.htm#919693Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:02:23 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:919693rayhIs it better to say "free from these foreign powers?" I wouldn't say that "free from" is wrong but "free of" sounds better. Besides, should I insert "the" before "control" in the above? No.http://www.englishforums.com/English/AskingForHelp/lrcph/post.htm#919608Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:08:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:919608rayh(With question marks, of course.) Indeed. My bad.