Questions that are useful for people learning English as a second language.
80
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 ...
17
votes
7answers
1k views
Is there software that can determine whether I speak with a neutral accent?
I have a query regarding enhancing my accent. I am searching for a software in which I speak a paragraph and it compares my speech to find out whether it is accent-free or not.
14
votes
2answers
12k 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 ...
10
votes
4answers
803 views
Recommendations for non-native English speaking bloggers
What if someone who is not a native English speaker wants to write for a blog in English, but is not sure about the correctness of his writings? How could one ensure that the article won't annoy ...
8
votes
3answers
733 views
What is the difference between “onerous” and “arduous”?
Is there any difference in the meaning of these words? Which one of them is used the most in everyday conversation?
In my vocabulary for both words I've found essentially the same meaning: "difficult ...
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
6answers
2k views
“Without reason” or “Without reasons”?
Do we say "Without reason" or "Without reasons"?
(e.g. She started laughing without (apparent) reason(s).).
Is "reason" countable or not?
Can we ever use a plural noun after "without".
8
votes
3answers
2k 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
11answers
25k 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 ...
6
votes
4answers
5k 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 ...
6
votes
3answers
734 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
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
619 views
A dictionary based on word occurrence frequencies
Since there are so many language resources on the internet nowadays, I was wondering if there is an online dictionary(or any other language tool) that would list the words not only in the alphabetical ...
5
votes
3answers
674 views
What does the word “respectively” mean in software development?
C# Textreader and TextWriter are the another way to read and write file respectively...
I added a text box and button I called tbUpdate and btUpdate respectively...
In the right hand ...
5
votes
8answers
1k views
Fun and enjoyable ways to practice pronunciation?
English is not my native language and I'm really proud of being able to write it quite well. I have lots of problems with pronunciation though. In Finnish most words are pronounced the same as they ...
5
votes
4answers
646 views
In the format of A.B. Name, which is the given name and which is the family name?
For example, Bill Henry Gates, which of following is right?
Bill H.Gates
B.H. Gates
H.G. Bill
Gates Bill
B. Gates
H. Gates
BHG
HGB
GHB
5
votes
1answer
4k views
Rule on absence of the article “the” with plural nouns [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Definite article with plural nouns
I recently reviewed (as I believe, rather thoroughly) the rules of using articles in English and I do not recall any rule on absence ...
4
votes
3answers
749 views
Pinpointing British accents
After having watched British TV and movies for a while, I came across several accents I liked. But I'm not completely sure what they are, so I need your help :)
David Tennant as The 10th Doctor ...
4
votes
2answers
4k 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?
4
votes
4answers
400 views
Is English becoming easier or harder to learn? [closed]
As we all know, English is evolving. Constructs considered repugnant 100 years ago are widely-accepted today. Thousands of words in our vocabulary have fallen into disuse while thousands more have ...
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
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
5answers
344 views
3
votes
1answer
12k 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?
3
votes
2answers
254 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 ...
3
votes
0answers
236 views
What's the best resource for improving everyday speaking? [closed]
I'm having a job interview in a month. My writing, reading and listening are good. However, I have weak conversation skills. I need an efficient resource to improve my speaking. Any resource is ...
3
votes
0answers
305 views
The best book/books for self-education [closed]
My level is intermediate or upper-intermediate. I have speaking practice several times per week with native speaker(she is not teacher). I write short essays and my friends help me to check it. I read ...
1
vote
3answers
573 views
What do the parts of malevolent and malicious mean?
I understand what the different parts of maladjusted, maligned, and malcontent mean.
But what about malevolent and malicious?
Could someone break these into parts e.g. mal - adjust - ed and explain ...
1
vote
1answer
84 views
Why and when to use “end-of-period”? [closed]
I came across some manuals that refer to end-of-period. I wonder as to when and why they would use this style? Please support your answers with examples.
1
vote
1answer
231 views
Learn correct English pronunciation by non-verbal facial expressions [closed]
I met a guy who was born deaf and learned to pronounce and speak English by watching peoples muscle structure change in their face (i.e., their cheeks moving and lips being manipulated) Is there a way ...
1
vote
1answer
404 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
254 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?
1
vote
5answers
333 views
Should simple present “get” be used here, and why?
Here is the sentence:
You're looking for Bob. Nobody is sure where he is but you get some suggestions.
Why is get used?
I think it should be got or are getting.
Please explain if that's right.
...
1
vote
0answers
395 views
“Yor first bookshelf” for a non-native speaker [closed]
I have a question of somewhat different kind, not grammar related but rather about learning English in general.
I am learning English mostly from reading books. But my choice of books is quite ...
0
votes
1answer
133 views
Word to describe a native English speaker who mixes up words and miscommunicates [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is there a word to describe someone who often inaccurately uses words?
Sometimes when I speak from the gut I mix up words and convey the wrong message. Often times the ...
0
votes
1answer
252 views
English spelling and grammar exercise database [closed]
I have a little odd question, probably borderline applicable to stackoverflow...
What I am looking to do is to write a Windows program, which I will give my kids to exercise in English spelling as ...
0
votes
2answers
79 views
List of your first 1000 english words [closed]
I'm looking for a way to teach English vocabulary to my kids. I wanted to have a list of the most useful and common words to know when you start to learn a language.
Is there any website where a list ...
0
votes
0answers
18 views
site with word used in sentences and expressions [duplicate]
I am looking for a site or tool which would show a word used in actual sentences and expressions, in everyday life, business, scientific books, spiritual books and any other contexts.
Looking a word ...
0
votes
0answers
267 views
How do I improve my communication, grammar and verbal skills? [closed]
This question might look subjective but i please read out my proposition before closing it.
English is my second language also i never went to any "fancy" schools, my communication and grammatical ...
0
votes
1answer
132 views
Practice tool or package for stress and pronunciation [closed]
I think I'm not bad at written English. However, recently, as I started speaking English on a daily basis, I am noticing that my pronunciation, especially on where to put the stress, does not align ...
0
votes
0answers
283 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 ...
-1
votes
0answers
78 views
Where should I go to be fluent in English [closed]
I'm not a native English speaker. I want to learn English to be able to speak and write the way native speakers do. I find it difficult sometimes to understand a lot of phrases and I'm not able to ...
-2
votes
2answers
233 views
Would it help my English skills to copy Oxford Dictionary by hand? [closed]
Question inspired by Malcolm X who allegedly copied every single word from a dictionary by hand and greatly improved his language skills. Is there any merit in doing it, or is it just a romanticized ...
-4
votes
1answer
177 views
Good website for English tutorials? [closed]
I really want to know if there're websites that're suitable for beginners to learn English language (preferably free).
