Speaking about someone from a rural area, should we rather say “he’s living in village” or “he’s living on country”? Country as a word has other meanings, such as the entity including the whole territory, so I’m cautious when this word is concerned. But that’s only my feeling, and I’m not a native speaker. Answer … Read more
While describing a sovereign political entity, when is it appropriate to use the words country and state? To me, state sounds more official and academic, and country more informal, but this might come from the way the words from my language are translated into English. Making things worse, country is sometimes used to describe rural … Read more
Sometimes I encounter ain’t, but I really don’t know how to translate it properly. What does ain’t stand for? If I really wanted to use it, in which contexts would you say it’s acceptable using it? Answer Ain’t is a negative present-tense form of the verbs be and have employed in all persons and numbers: … Read more
I can say I’ve skyped someone. But when referring to chat, such as ICQ, is it correct to say that I’ve chat someone, with the meaning that I’ve sent someone a message on chat? Answer What you are talking about is called “Conversion“ in linguistics (turning one form of a word into another) and more … Read more
Can I say someone to mail me when I’m referring to sending me to an e-mail? I’m aware of other meaning of the word mail, but is it nowadays used in older meaning? In many languages mail and e-mail are synonyms. Would an average native speaker younger than 40 also understand it that way? Answer … Read more
Is it correct word usage to say that I’m mobbed by a single person? The word mobbing comes from mob, which refers to a large number of people, so only one person mobbing sounds a bit strange. Answer It depends on the usage. Perhaps I woudn’t say: I was mobbed by Bill. but that doesn’t … Read more
You were just having some dream. and You were just having a dream. Are both correct? What is the difference, if any? Answer Yes, both are correct. In your first example some is being used in an informal way. There are two plausible interpretations for some. The first possibility is that some means the dream … Read more
Is the following statement correct: I have found a very unique book. meaning that the book I found is very rare. I was told that statements very unique and extremely unique do not make much sense. If that is true, can you please explain why that is? Answer It depends on who you ask. The … Read more
I can say I’m ill or I’m sick. But what is the difference between the usage of these terms? I’ve heard that one can use sick for longer-term and ill for shorter-term, but is that really correct? How are these terms different for native speakers? Answer While those might mean the same for the laymen, … Read more
