Miscellaneous

Question 1

Is capable to use correct idiom?

Answer 1

No the correct idiom is capable of using

Question 2

Which of the following are correct idioms?

1. Just Like X, Y
2. Just Like X, so Y
3. Like X, so Y
4. Just as X, so Y

Answer 2

1. Correct
2. Incorrect
3. Incorrect
4. Correct

We cant have so after Like

Question 3

What is the difference between ‘rather than’ and ‘instead of’

Answer 3

We use rather to talk about priority while we use instead if we need to replace something with another thing

Question 4

How is “So x as to Y” used vs “So that” used?

Answer 4

Both “So x as to Y” and “So that” can be used to mean below two things

1. Intent: I drove fast so as to reach work on time. This sentence tells us why we drove fast. Here it is the intent, Replace “so as to” with “so that” and we have the same meaning
2. Casualty: I bet so high as to lose all my savings, Cause: Betting high; Effect: Losing all my savings. This could also be written as “I bet so high that I lost all my savings”

So if you see “So X as to Y” construction it doesn’t mean that it is always used to show intent it could also be used to showcase causality

One important note is in case of casualty. So X as to Y implies that Y seems to be true and it is not actually true while in So X that Y. Y has already been established and it is actually true

Question 5

Some insights in comparison.

Answer 5

1. A has better P than does B
   The verb has demands the verb does in comparison. Above comparison is wrong as it compares what does A has vs B
2. A has a better P than that of B
   ‘That of’ can be used to refer to a noun but as stated above “has” demands a verb, so above is also incorrect

When do we use that of then?

We use “than that of” when we compare an attribute or a possession of two objects.

For example, the correct use of ‘than that of’ will be “A’s P is better than that of B”

or “His job is even more complicated than that of a pilot.”

Question 6

Use of possessive

Answer 6

A. Obama’s pictures are frequently used all over the internet. (pictures of Obama)

In the above sentence possessive is used literally as a possession for e.g. pictures of Obama are frequently used

B. Da Vinci’s painting of the Monalisa is world famous. (painting by Da Vinci)

From the context, you need to observe if the possessive case (’s) is used to denote the “possession of an object” or if it hints at a “doing of an action or an action already done” (Da Vinci painted… in this case)

Question 7

What is the difference between Other vs each other

Answer 7

You’re right that the term “each other” would be used when there are at least 2 objects or people in a group. But the thing you’re missing is that “each other” suggests that everybody in the group is performing the same, reciprocal action. Using your examples:

“My friend, Nicole and I exchanged gifts with each other last Christmas.” – You and Nicole BOTH perform the action of exchanging gifts.
“[Everybody in] our group exchanged gifts with each other last Christmas.” – EVERYBODY in the group performs the action of exchanging gifts.

Question 8

What are different uses of with?

Answer 8

‘With’ is a preposition and has many different uses, some of them are listed below

1. Accompanying or in the same place as of someone
   a. She arrived with her boyfriend
2. Using:
   a. They opened the package with a knife
3. Having:
   a. She woke with a terrible toothache
4. Because of
   a. With all this work, I’d better stay in tonight

Question 9

What is the difference between will and would?

Answer 9

Will has below usage:

1. It is used to denote simple future tense
   a. It will rain tomorrow
2. It is used to denote that something is compulsory
   a. You will obey your parents
3. It is used to coney routine actions
   a. My dog will sit at the gate for hours waiting for me to return home from work

Would:

1. Used in hypothetical sentences
   a. If I had money, I would buy you a car
2. Used as the past tense of a future prediction.
   a. Ram said, “it will rain tomorrow”.
3. In polite requests
   a. Would you do this for me?

Question 10

Some light on the usage of could

Answer 10

Could itself is used to indicate possibility - then you need to see the rest of the context to understand whether it’s a past possibility, present or future.

Could be = always a present possibility.

Could have been = this would indicate past possibility.

Question 11

Is the below idiom correct?

more likely to X than to Y is the correct idiom form

Answer 11

Yes