The name of a country on this planet is what we consider a proper noun. Usually, a proper noun — a person's name, for example — is not preceded by an article (a, an, or the) . However, you can't mention these countries without the article "the": the United States of America, or the United … Continue reading Countries that Must Start with “the”
Category: Learning
很多同學混淆這四個表達方式, 其實它們非常容易區分: some 表示「一些」或「某一個」, time 不可數名詞表示「時間」, 可數名詞表示「次數」或「時間點」, 於是: some time = 一些時間 (Mary said it would need some time.) some times = 一些次數, 幾次, 若干次 (Mary has been to Tokyo for some times.) 它們都是名詞短語. sometime = 在某個時間點 (I saw Jim sometime in April. | Let's go swimming sometime.) 替換詞: at some time, at some point, … Continue reading some time / some times / sometime / sometimes
A little boy's toy car is missing. He asks his mom where it is, and she tells him to ask his dad. Then he asks his dad, who tells him to ask his mom instead. It's not uncommon that we see two parties shift responsibilities for something to one another. In Chinese, this behavior is … Continue reading pass the buck / 甩鍋 / 踢皮球
Despite the fact that the two words are interchangeable in some certain context, there are some shades of meaning. As a verb, replicate = (1) reproduce ... as a more desired result; (2) repeat the procedure for making ... because the new outcome is wanted An artist replicates a painting probably because the original one … Continue reading replicate vs. duplicate
[usually with negative] find fault with something that has been received as a gift or favor: They did not look a gift horse in the mouth when the opportunity for victory presented itself. [earlier as "look a given horse in the mouth" –– prospective purchasers would often inspect the condition of a horse's teeth.]
