Questions that are useful for people learning English as a second language.
85
votes
42answers
4k views
What are your favorite English language tools? [closed]
This will prevent myself from asking an obvious, silly question again. What are the English language tools you found most useful?
I found Corpus Concordance English extremely useful for looking up ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
“a” or “an” for words that don't start with vowels but sound like they're starting with a vowel
Is it correct to say or write an student or an store?
3
votes
1answer
15k views
When is it necessary to use “have had”?
I have read few sentences which has "have had". I would like to know in what kind of situations we will have to use this?
6
votes
2answers
2k views
Correct usage of ‘on’, ‘at’ and ‘in’ from a foreigner’s point of view
As a foreign English speaker who never really studied too much English grammar other than the basics at high school, I am often struggling to use the correct form in certain phrases.
At being ...
6
votes
3answers
825 views
“Emigrant” vs. “immigrant”
While studying one word substitution I came across these two words, what I understood till now is like this:
Emigrant: One who leaves his own country to reside to another.
Immigrant: A person who ...
6
votes
11answers
28k views
Good movies for learning English [closed]
Sometimes, I find it easier to learn so many English vocabulary and expressions and usage by watching movies. If you're a non-native English speaker, you probably noticed some of them that help you ...
14
votes
2answers
14k views
What is meant by “steep learning curve”?
What should I understand from "steep learning curve"? When a computer program (for example a translation program) has a steep learning curve, does it mean that it is not good at learning or it's hard ...
8
votes
5answers
3k views
When do I have to use 'will' instead of 'going to'?
Does going to only express an intention and will some kind of prediction that doesn't necessarily happen?
EDIT:
Thanks for all your answers. I asked this question because I always fail to complete ...
8
votes
3answers
3k views
“Bless you” & sneezing
Why do you say Bless you when people sneeze?
Is there good reason or history?
When someone sneeze, if I don't say Bless you, am I rude?
6
votes
4answers
6k views
How would you define “Fluent” level in English?
Most of us heard about such levels as Beginner, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, Advanced.
As I understand "Fluent" is the highest level when describing someone's English.
But how would you ...
4
votes
4answers
1k views
Pronunciation of “r”
How would you describe the pronunciation of r to somebody who speaks English as second language?
3
votes
2answers
266 views
Is there a general thesaurus for conceptual fields?
My question is about ways to find out about, or remind oneself of, related concepts. Say I'm writing an article and I'm stuck finding the right expression.
I want to say that the author is confused ...
4
votes
2answers
5k views
What is the difference between “I forgot” and “I had forgot”?
I forgot versus I had forgot. What is the difference between the two phrases?
1
vote
1answer
416 views
What are the pros and cons of learning English from movies and radio? [closed]
I dedicate one to two hours each day to learning English. I'm focusing on listening and speaking (and improving my accent, of course). I want to know what the pros and cons are of learning English ...
1
vote
1answer
271 views
Learning Phrasal verbs and idioms
I would like to learn about phrasal verbs and idioms in English.Which book(s) would you recommend for them?
0
votes
0answers
304 views
How to Teach my self english to be fluent in short time [closed]
Please suggest me some steps and rules i should follow to learn English without going to schools or courses.
I can learn from any online tools if you suggest some, and from books, but I want some one ...
