This tag is for questions about verbs. Verbs are words that express an action, occurrence, or a state of being. Add this tag to single-word-requests if you are looking for a verb. Add the tag word-usage if you are asking about the usage of the verb.
0
votes
1answer
57 views
Non-metaphoric term for “selling snake oil” [on hold]
Is there a single verb that denotes promoting or proselytizing an idea to a victim who stands to lose in some way if fallen prey to it? Other than "politics"...
An idiomatic or metaphoric expression ...
-1
votes
1answer
29 views
Can I “unindex/deindex” a variable?
It is a fairly established terminology in mathematics and programming that one can "index a variable", in the sense of appending a dimension of variability to it (e.g. here and here, respectively). ...
5
votes
2answers
310 views
Is “buffeted” the AmE version of the BrE word “buffetted”?
I am referring to the use of the verb "to buffet" meaning
"(especially of wind or waves) strike repeatedly and violently; batter."
The use of "buffeted" and "buffeting" is widespread. However use ...
1
vote
2answers
51 views
Which to be verb do you use when listing items?
I'm confused about what "to be verb" to use when you create a list of items.
I mean when you talk about 3 or 4 items. What "to be verb" goes after "how much"? I read that "how much" always goes with ...
1
vote
0answers
27 views
How much is or how much are? [on hold]
How much [are/is] a pair of scissors, three bottles of glue, a red pen and a stapler.
2
votes
2answers
64 views
Is there a verb for attacking someone's mind (psychic damage)?
In gaming nomenclature, when you use fire damage, you burn. When you use cold damage, you freeze. When you use holy damage, you smite. And so on.
What's a good verb for using psychic damage, i.e., ...
1
vote
0answers
32 views
Difference between “label”, “categorize” and “arrange”
Can the verbs, like label, categorize, and arrange, be used to mean the same, as in:
The states are labeled with their U.S. postal abbreviations, their founding date and capitals.
The states ...
-2
votes
1answer
42 views
“Could have been” contrary to fact [on hold]
I am interpreting a statute, the important part of which boils down to: "he is precluded from bringing up something he raised or reasonably could have raised in an earlier proceeding." Intuitively, ...
0
votes
0answers
89 views
What verbs in English never take nouns as complements, and is there a term for this?
I can think of only a few verbs like exist and belong that never take ordinary nouns as object complements. (see below)
We never say things like, *She exists a doctor.
Rather, we would say, She ...
7
votes
6answers
206 views
What is the verb for “cognition”?
Going by known pairs of nouns and verbs, it would be "cognite", but is it valid? If not, what's the right word?
Update: I know cognise or cognize, but it doesn't cover the full meaning of "cognition" ...
1
vote
2answers
26 views
How to concisely describe the act of engaging in pork barrel politics?
Is there a verb that means 'to engage in pork barrel politics'?
To give an example, suppose John, a legislator, tells the proponents of a bill that he will not vote for it unless they add a line item ...
0
votes
1answer
37 views
Oblige and the active voice. Why not used more? [closed]
I've have never (or close to never) heard someone use oblige in the active voice or read it being used as such. Does this hold up to others' experiences and if so, why? Is it improper? Out of fashion?
2
votes
1answer
66 views
What is the term for “‑ate” noun/verb pairs, and why can’t I find references to “hyphenate” used that way?
When you conjugate (verb, conjuGATE) things you get a conjugate (noun, conjuGIT).
When you precipitate (verb, ...TATE) a solution you get a precipitate (noun, ...TIT).
When you concentrate (verb, ......
0
votes
1answer
59 views
What is the real meaning of these words when you are translating to spanish? [closed]
I'm working on improving my English to apply to the official translator title and I'm currently studying the concept of "Calco" Which means words that has meaning in English but when translating to ...
0
votes
0answers
28 views
I want to know the grammatical structure of a sentence
What is the grammatical structure of this sentence?
Please share salary slip of below mentioned ex-employee.
0
votes
2answers
41 views
Does “His eyes fell shut” make sense? [on hold]
This is something I've been writing for a while, but I know that I tend to keep writing things from my tween years that may not make sense.
Have you ever read a sentence like "his eyes fell shut" or ...
-1
votes
2answers
71 views
Is it correct to say “the truth is” when the rest of the sentence is in the past?
Is it correct to say:
The truth is, he was a great explorer.
Or do I have to say:
The truth was, he was a great explorer.
Or are both okay?
-1
votes
1answer
25 views
Is it proper to say you equivocate on a word?
I have heard or read several times a sentence similar to: “he equivocated on the word progressive.” I think it pops up mostly in debate/ polemical settings.
I cannot conceptually grasp how ‘on’ is ...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
There is a practical mechanism to identify unfinitive verbs in a sentence? [closed]
Having, for example, the following two sentences:
I must go there
go->bare infinitive
I go there
go->finite
Is clear to me the difference; however, there are the practical rules to ...
-1
votes
0answers
52 views
Difference between “tell” and “tell of”
What's the difference between "tell" and "tell of"?
For example, is there a difference in meaning in the following sentences? Which one should be preferred and why?
I was offered to tell my ...
1
vote
1answer
77 views
In my house, “there were” or “there was” many toys
Which of the following is correct and why:
1) In my house, there were many toys.
2) In my house, there was many toys.
An answer with an explanation would be greatly appreciated.
1
vote
0answers
27 views
Which verb to use with noun “action”?
In technical manual how would you write: “to run the default action press the button” or to launch the default action? Or to activate? Or something else?
0
votes
1answer
23 views
Singular or plural use of to be verb in the following instance
Which is correct?
A woman and her clothes was serious business
OR
A woman and her clothes were serious business
Please provide an explanation.
Thank you
1
vote
1answer
40 views
Different twist on “public” is or are?
I just read this sentence: "Note that 'public' have also other usages:" Since in this use of "public," we're talking about the word itself & not the group it's referring to, shouldn't the verb ...
-1
votes
1answer
67 views
Verb meaning “to present a fact/the facts” [duplicate]
I need a verb meaning "to present a fact/the facts".
E.g. "If you cannot lie you must word here".
I know using multiple words is easy but I need it to be one word.
I do not mean "to speak honestly" ...
0
votes
2answers
54 views
Appropriate tense for asking when event occurred
I'm working on a little project about a man who died in 1987. I know he wanted to marry a woman, but I don't know the period. I'm writing a letter to a relative of this woman who can help me. I want ...
2
votes
2answers
62 views
Question about English and verb tense
Bob wants to know if he is a father or not. A day later, Bob learns that he's a father. Then three years passes.
Now which of the following is correct and why?
1) Three years ago, Bob wanted to ...
0
votes
0answers
20 views
Grammar and be verbs [migrated]
"Sam and I at the club."
Or
"Sam and I are at the club ."
Which one is correct
1.for a photo caption?
2.when someone says 'where are you? "
1
vote
2answers
48 views
Sit and stand are oppositive, but look alike in some context
As a second sense, astride means extending across. But I am getting confused with some of its usage examples.
I found an example of a preposition astride used with the verb stand in an Oxford English ...
5
votes
2answers
113 views
Why does this sentence use “does not” instead of “do not”? [duplicate]
I have two sentences that I was unsure if I needed to use "do not" or "does not". Now I know that the correct one is the one with "does not" but I don't understand the reason why. The two sentences ...
1
vote
0answers
10 views
Simple Past or Past Continuous? - Action taking place in the middle of another action [migrated]
I am a newbie and I have a problem with this sentence, should I use past continuous or past simple?
When I realized that no one was paying any attention to me I decided
to go home. But just as I ...
1
vote
1answer
47 views
Help to interpret a tricky component - 'understand' from a sentence by McCloskey
Can someone please explain to me what grammar role the verb 'understand' plays in the sentence below? What does it mean? I get the parallel verbs 'hate', 'have never heard of', 'dismiss' and 'favor'. ...
0
votes
1answer
66 views
Correct usage of “consists of”
I found a confusing usage of "consist of" in Belles Make Up site:
Water consists of 70% of our whole body.
I think that above sentence is wrong because water is within our body, not the body ...
-1
votes
0answers
43 views
What is the basic concept of “It is time”/ “It is high time”? Please Explain and Which one is correct in following sentences?
It is time to pass the Exam.
or
It is time you should pass the Exam.
or
It is time, you should have passed the Exam.
or
It is time for you to pass the Exam.
Please Explain thanks .
3
votes
1answer
53 views
“believe someone to do something” - (why) is it wrong?
Edit: I added a comment to address the duplicate issue.
I had an issue with English grammar a few weeks ago, that is still haunting me, and I assume it to be related to mixing up grammars.
I ...
0
votes
2answers
32 views
What does “dashed by” mean in the context of “Cavalin has dashed by major milestones”?
Life is filled with contrasts for Cavalin, a 17-year-old from San
Gabriel, California, who has dashed by major milestones as his
age seems to lag behind. He graduated from community college at
...
2
votes
0answers
54 views
How does one find the subject in a sentence with more than one verb? [migrated]
For example, in the sentence “Let me help you” there are two verbs, let and help. Me is an objective pronoun, so that would sound as though it can’t be the subject. But you doesn’t seem to be the ...
3
votes
2answers
56 views
Prepositional verbs: why don't we put proposition 'with' after some verbs?
I have the verb 'meet', and I mostly think that there should have been the preposition 'with', as in:
I meet with him.
I meet him.
Is first sentence appropriate? If so, then why is it appropriate to ...
0
votes
4answers
106 views
Verb for when cats meow other than meow itself
If
a dog barks "woof" (or some other variation)
a frog croaks "ribbit"
is there a verb for when cats "meow" other than "meow" itself?
I am specifically looking for a word that is usually only ...
0
votes
2answers
40 views
What is the grammar rule that states preference (in this example) between “exceeds” or “is exceeding”
A coworker and I have been discussing the grammar of an error message on a computer when downloading a file that is too big. The debate is between whether it should say "The file exceeds the maximum ...
1
vote
1answer
47 views
What does “train off” mean?
Here is the sentence:
And you find that you've been training off very nice high-quality images downloaded off the Internet.
What does "is training off" really mean?
Could you please rephrase the ...
2
votes
1answer
215 views
Which is idiomatic: “kite is flying” or “kite is floating”? [closed]
Is it idiomatic to say "A kite is floating in the sky"?
Most of the time I see "A kite is flying in the sky".
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Using 'Out' with some verbs [closed]
what is the the difference in meaning when we say
"help me"
and when we say
"help me out "
i saw so many verbs like this,and i dont know the exact difference.
0
votes
2answers
60 views
How do you say rolling's one's eyes or describe an eye roll in this situation?
How would you describe this situation:
Rolling one's eyes due to orgasm.
I checked most English dictionaries but most definitions are negative, e.g. due to frustration.
0
votes
2answers
54 views
“Push against boundaries” meaning? [closed]
What does the phrase " to push against boundaries " mean as in "it is important to be able to say ‘no’ to children when they misbehave or try to push against these boundaries"?
0
votes
4answers
55 views
Verb for removing gaps [closed]
What is a verb for removing gaps between a sequence so that it is all contiguous again ?
This action happens for example when you defragment your computer disk, or let's stay you are in a store and ...
1
vote
1answer
52 views
Which verb form should I use in the sentence “What we really do is supply/supplying our customers with top-notch services”?
To me, 'supplying' sounds more natural. Yet, a friend of mine from the UK says it should go without -ing. Please advise, which verb form is more preferable.
4
votes
2answers
87 views
What is the action of “breaking up clumps of rice” called?
I'm really not expressing the verb well. What's the correct way to instruct
You have to "break" the rice before eating?
1
vote
2answers
56 views
verb for making new oath
I saw two verbs for making new oath.
Take an oath
Swear an oath
What is the difference between them ?
Which one we should use ?
-2
votes
1answer
30 views
Which tense should these sentences be? [closed]
Whatever has happened recently even just for a second ago that was the past
And
Whatever has happened recently even just for a second ago that is the past
