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00:30
0
Q: What does it mean in hospital?

8906335678Go to third west. When a nurse or someone says this to you in a hospital context, what does this mean to you?

A puzzle!
I take it that it means (the) Third floor, West wing.
00:59
Yep. Morning.
Morning!
Oh, if you like good grammar questions, I think you may be interesting in this one: ell.stackexchange.com/q/54390/3281
(I think recently is a bit tricky.)
 
1 hour later…
02:11
The present perfect progressive is the best choice, and there's nothing wrong with including recently.
Stupid outside life is keeping me off ELL lately. :'(
I just came back in before heading out.
Hehe, I don't know why I wrote you may be interesting. Stupid me. :/
Anyway, have a great day. See you later!
02:31
I am interesting! :)
Anonymous
03:09
I make that error sometimes
Anonymous
I remember making it in speech once when I was younger
Anonymous
I think I said someone was irritating when I meant they were irritated :-)
03:31
@snailboat It's deceptively complex to explain to students.
The best way is to make jokes with "I am boring."
:-)
But then there's the stereotypical East Asian value of humbleness! A person who claims to be boring may be showing social intelligence!
Well, so actually I help them see the joke with "I am interesting", which they say not uncommonly.
Good Morning!
Haha. Well, That was probably when it cost a lot of money to make a cell phone call!
Now, we want our smartphones to be smaller and smaller, but we carry around bigger and bigger batteries O.O
it's a trade-off between call expense and battery life... lol
cute... kind of -_- :D
Haha. Every baby is cute to its mother.
Well, I suppose that's not really true, unfortunately.
ouch.He is feeling down if he had heard this
Oh, in his case, his parents think he's cute.
I was thinking about those news stories in which mothers drown their babies in bathtubs, etc.
Not a very pleasant thought, but a real thing in the world.
I think my link pasted about 40 minutes ago needs to be replaced with this one. It's in honor of @snailboat
 
1 hour later…
05:57
Hullo world!
How're you doing?
i'm doing good. how about you?
I'm fine. Thanks.
Just skipped a class in school.
I was supposed to be a guest there.
so, how did the lecture treats for guests? were you the chief guest? i suppose you've not
06:01
Well, it was a class for grade 9 guys. A chemistry class.
Dunno. They already invited some 10 of my classmates.
But who are we kidding? This whole thing lags without me. :P
06:14
how do you feel when your best friend ask for your laptop for 2 days when you have exams on next week?
@JudeNiroshan I feel like punching them.
but i was on my knees; no alternative
You're doomed.
i think so
If I were you, I would've told them that I need it for the exams and I'll give it to them [some impossible time].
Looking for a word-of-the-day
 
3 hours later…
08:54
4
Q: Schools are the only place or schools are the only places?

AlanConsider the below sentences: "Cinemas are the only places where movies are being played" "Schools are the only place where teachers teach" My gut reaction is "places" should be in plural form. However, when I Googled the second sentence with a singular "place", more results are return...

@Jim I think it's more about the generic use of the definite article the.
I would be more confident if the sentence were:
About that, I think both the only place and the only places are possible, depending on the context.
Hullo, BTW.
> a) The place where teachers teach is school.
Hello!
> The only places where F isn't a representation of F*** are schools.
(Or isn't it?)
That's why I'm less confident than I would be.
Jim's answer was worth my upvote though.
08:58
nods -- Though I'm not a big fan of explaining things in terms of ellipsis unless it's unavoidable.
Oh, and it got a juicy downvote.
I didn't downvote, though.
+1 for the last paragraph. — MARamezani 2 hours ago
Hehe! Yes, I've seen that.
I'm not even sure if it's still a generic use if we add only to a).
> b) The only place where teachers teach is school.
But I guess it still is.
It still is.
09:02
Let's assume that it still is. Then, we should be able to invert the whole sentence and turn school into a plural noun.
> c) Schools are the only place where teachers teach.
Hmm, places seems more appropriate.
I didn't say that places is not possible or even more likely.
Maybe we could try corpora.
How can I search for this kind of pattern?!
That's a tough one.
What about only + plural nouns?
I think maybe we need COCA.
Oh, hey!
> This assumption implies that schools are the only place young people learn to be critical.
That's an error. Your client doesn't have permission to get URL from blah blah blah.
09:07
Oh, your browser won't accept goo.gl!?
> Considering that our town schools are the only places of instruction that nine-tenths of the children are permitted to enjoy, and just as they leave school they must enter upon the active duties of life, ...
Google doesn't accept my browser.
I tried Google Ngram for schools are the only place,schools are the only places.
schools are the only places has more results, but the number of schools are the only place results is significant enough.
Next stop: COCA.
@DamkerngT. In Jim's face!
@JimReynolds
(Pinging him to make sure he sees it)
09:10
> I believe that the uses in your examples would be acceptable to most "educated" or "professional" English users or "experts". However, some people would recommend reformulating such language to avoid the potential problem in readers' minds.
I think he was against neither schools are the only place nor schools are the only places.
Oh, nice! I can use tag NN1 and NN2 for singular and plural nouns on COCA!
Oh. I got vox populi in meta.SE.
Dang. So many badges in one day!
Yay!
I earned fanatic on ELL!
What's it for, again?
Feels nice to be the good guy
@DamkerngT. 100 days.
09:14
Vox populi?
Consecutively visiting ELL for 100 days.
@DamkerngT. Vox Populi is for voting 40 times in the day.
Ahh
Oh-oh! This is a big surprise! (COCA)
For the sentence pattern [nn2*] are the ... [n*], there are more singular nouns in the position of [n*] in the results!
Top of these nouns are key, result, way, number, majority, focus, answer, parity.
What the...?
Playing weird.
Compare those results with: corpus.byu.edu/coca/?c=coca&q=38420236 ([nn2*] are the ... place|places)
I hover to key, and options appear. 0.o
09:18
2 for place, and 2 for places.
Seems legit. Kinda.
nods
> Cities are the key to all the grand challenges of the century.
Customers are the key to a successful business.
Partnerships are the key to good business relationships between native people and companies.
As for place/places:
> Booths are the place to be if something big is going down.
Chances are the place is spacious and antiseptic ... <-- oh, we shouldn't count this!
[J]oints are the places where our bones come together.
Attics are the places where temperature extremes are most obvious, ...
hello guys
how are you all
Looks like Xs are the places where ... is the safer choice in the defining context.
Hello, @Freddy! Long time no see!
We are all okay, as always!
@DamkerngT. ya just done with exams
09:23
Yay!
@Freddy Hullo!
@DamkerngT. Depends on how he was done.
Hahaha!
So, Fred How were you done?
Done done, dead done, or well done?
better than expected
well done
So so-so?
Better than expected seems like a done done to me.
Still, having something better than expected is a relief.
09:26
I have expected done done but it was well done
What is that?
firework?
People celebrate Freddy's success with fireworks!
@Freddy I don't think fireworks look like Image not found.
09:27
@MARamezani I guess it's Image not found for you again. -- Yes, that!
hahaha thank you @DamkerngT.
You're welcome!
Ya know, I should be adding an Image not found sticker whenever I see one.
@MARamezani You could even have a badge for that!
@DamkerngT. Unfounder?
09:29
lol
SE likey weird badge names
I guess we have only 4 new questions in the last 6 hours.
@DamkerngT. There haven't been any English exams recently. :P
Ah, it's 20.4 questions per day now. (A little concerned)
Oh, that's probably the reason!
Why? It used to be more?
09:33
It used to be around 25.
@MARamezani I had it yesterday
That's nice. In chemistry we get 18 per day. ELL's 20 per day is around for a while.
@Freddy So that's why ELL got fewer Questions.
yes, that's the reason
09:35
@Freddy BTW, namaste! (Or however you use that)
nameste
I wonder if the stats count closed questions.
place where I live we use "Jai shree krishna"(JSK) more than namaste
Namaste (/ˈnɑːməsteɪ/, NAH-məs-tay; Sanskrit: नमस्ते; Hindi: [nəməsteː]), sometimes expressed as Namaskar or Namaskaram, is a customary greeting when people meet or depart. It is commonly found among Hindus of the Indian Subcontinent, in some Southeast Asian countries, and diaspora from these regions. Namaste is spoken with a slight bow and hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointing upwards, thumbs close to the chest. This gesture is called Añjali Mudrā or Pranamasana. In Hinduism it means "I bow to the divine in you". Namaste or namaskar is used as a respectful form of greeting...
That's too much namaste to be nameste. :O
@Freddy Wait, is it leave or live?
09:37
@DamkerngT. He leaves. Just look at his face.
hahaha that was typo
Wondering if Freddy has recently moved...
Ahh
I see!
Actually i am figuring out how to use Arduino
09:39
Have you guys ever tried that?
Nope. Not here.
Get that thing off my screen!
@Freddy I was busy when Arduino was so popular (it still is!) and seemed like the only choice for affordable single-board computers. I'm now trying Raspberry Pi.
@DamkerngT. Do you know how to connect it on Ubuntu?
09:43
@DamkerngT. why am i having notifications about this conversation please? anyone needs me?
@Freddy Um... sorry! (I run Ubuntu on my Raspberry Pi!)
@MarcoDinatsoli I'm not sure, but I think it was because someone shorten @MARamezani as @MAR.
(Maybe I'm that someone, too!)
Ah, yes! Seems so!
@MarcoDinatsoli The world needs you.
Hullo!
@MAR, meet @Mar! :P
Raspberry pi works like charm on my computer. But no problem we have arduinio S.E. I hope they will help :)
@Freddy I'm sure they know how to help, and they will help!
09:46
Hullo @Mar. How have you been doing? Long time no see.
2
Q: Should I use "could" or "would" in the following case?

alexchenco Life is unpredictable. For instance, he wouldn't have guessed he would win the lottery. Life is unpredictable. For instance, he couldn't have guessed he could win the lottery. I'm a little confused. Both sound good to me (with a slight preference to would).

Thanks @MAR. I'm fine. You?
^ Possibly a duplicate.
@Mar we're pinging other poor people. Let's not do that.
@DamkerngT. You mean Thanks @MAR. I'm fine. You? is a dup?
lol -- I know you know what I mean.
09:48
Perhaps @MARamezani can change his name.
@JimReynolds Hullo Do|t.
Let's see, How about ToiletMouth?
Just one idea.
Too bad @Do|t doesn't ping anyone.
Hello buddy!
<3
@JimReynolds Too fancy.
09:49
Perhaps so
@JimReynolds o.0
Let's have a contest to choose your new name!
OK. FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!
"unfounder"
@Freddy Yeah. Gold badge.
09:52
You can keep that as your name! :p
Ooooooh!
I'm passing out!
That's too God a name!
Unfounder?
0.O
Or Gold badge?
0.0
24 mins ago, by MARamezani
@DamkerngT. Unfounder?
@JimReynolds An imaginary badge for users who always get "Image not found". :P
09:54
hahaha
@DamkerngT. The description is as following:
Image not found
He is so lucky to be protected from inappropriate and unhealthy images.
@JimReynolds Like your face? I'm not protected from that.
o.0
That's why he is always such a positive and uplifting voice in the chatroom.
09:56
:D
Why you little €÷%%£¥%!
@JimReynolds ...Euro?
I will destroy you!
You swear in monetary units!?!
09:57
@DamkerngT. Aliens are the beauty of the mother nature.
Yes. I can afford it.
See? Rain of positiveness.
That's quite something!
No article before Mother Nature, Mr. I'm-so-smart.
And the correct word is rain of positivationness.
I'm not Mr. I'm-so-smart. You are Mr. I'm-so-stupid.
09:59
0.o
There's a difference.
0.o
How dare you speak to your elders on that manner!
@JimReynolds You know. I'm 4.5 billion years old.
You are the planet Earth?
Oh, take a look at this:
-61
Q: Should we reset the all reputation point of all users to 0

user825904I think Stack Overflow has grown much people have lot of reputation in 1Ks. I think we should mark all that to 0 and start the new point system so that there will be more fierce competition. Currently there are people at top who have gathered points years ago when there very less competitors.

Hehe.
o.0
10:02
O.O
I wish there were bigger Os.
Someone wants to start a revolution.
Yeah.
Too bad that was before the me-era.
My credit card issuers always deduct my old points away from my total points!
Hehe. Here's someone who is too lovely to hate:
-63
Q: Stack Overflow should have smileys and friend groups

Monika MichaelI think Stack Overflow is the most awesome site for programmers on the net. It has all the features one could expect from a programming forum. But there are several features that I miss. In particular I think the discussions and posts are just plain text, which looks boring. Apart from superhum...

You put smileys in your code? — ThePower Apr 12 '12 at 10:12
10:07
checking my old code... (-_-)"
Gives @MARa a giant smiley, and a hug!
I have a feeling that I put some!
Image not found
Get those tentacles off me
Gives @Dam multi-colored wire insulation materials.
10:08
@JimReynolds Like those in bomb movies?
Don't worry. I'm not interested in your genitals.
Except ...
:-)
Kicks @MARa in the genitals.
@JimReynolds Dimethyl mercury doesn't have genitals.
hahahahahaha
Just as much as SO isn't a forum.
Current mood: inexplicable 0_O
10:10
Imagining how would one kick with genitals
Or tentacles
I don't think teenagers should say genitals.
@MARamezani Image not found
0
Q: Two years and a half, two years and half,...?

iLearnerWhen I looked up the word "half", I've found "two and a half year" is a correct phrase. But I've seen some Americans use "two years and (a) half" quite often and it confuses me. Is it correct to use any of the following phrases in conversation or writing? two years and a half two years a...

I like the OP's name...
iPod, iPad, iLearner
@JimReynolds o.0
I don't think aliens should chat in chats.
Yeah take that! I'm just kicking you off the field
10:13
ipill #justindianthing
Oh, I missed that migrated question!
@DamkerngT. Don't worry. It's a new one in ELL.
But now I think it's a dup.
Doctor's medical report. Patient: @MARa.
10:16
I see.
Conclusion: Genitals not found.
O.O
o.0 How do you have access to those documents? Those were top-secret.
Didn't you die back at 1 a.m. that night?
o.0
Tentacle-print security vulnerability.
o.o
o.o So that's a bug? Should've known how you hijack this chat.
o.0
10:19
@MARamezani check out this littlealchemy.com
The search for signs of intelligence continues in this chat.
BTW I'm bored to death. Don't we have something linguisty or at least interesting to talk about?
@Freddy I have no idea what am I supposed to check out.
They are as they are.
you need to mix two things and make something new
try earth and water
Oh, so it's a little game.
yup
10:27
Ah, modal verbs are hard.
Earlier, I thought this was just perfect:
> Life is unpredictable. For instance, he wouldn't have guessed he would win the lottery.
After reading pyobum's answer, I agree that this is (a little) better:
> Life is unpredictable. For instance, he couldn't have guessed he would win the lottery.
An answer to that thing? Yes, I'm pretty sure the latter is better.
I think all four combinations are possible, though.
We have identical equivalents to could and would in Turkish, so I'm good at discerning between them like no other!
I feel a little uncomfortable every time someone says, "couldn't" is about ability.
(Though that's not wrong wrong.)
@MARamezani I wonder if they're truly equivalent to the English pair.
Me too. Spine sting
@DamkerngT. They have a bit more complicated grammar.
They have their passives and change with tense.
10:33
Sometimes English model verbs change with tenses, too!
Question:
-63
Q: Stack Overflow should have smileys and friend groups

Monika MichaelI think Stack Overflow is the most awesome site for programmers on the net. It has all the features one could expect from a programming forum. But there are several features that I miss. In particular I think the discussions and posts are just plain text, which looks boring. Apart from superhum...

Answer:
Language indeed influences our thoughts. Take Japanese for example. For most people in other languages, when they enter a room, the first thing they notice would be the objects in the room. For Japanese people, it could be the space in the room.
@DamkerngT. When I enter a room, I notice the room.
Nice! That's another way to see the room.
Do you notice the room from the inside or the outside?
I usually notice its shape, its height etc. Ya know, its properties.
10:39
@MARamezani I'm glad that it's Image Found for you this time! :P
Yeah. So many images not not found.
@MARamezani But nothing in it at first. So maybe its general properties.
@DamkerngT. Depends. I'll notice a crocodile if it's in the room!
Hahaha!
Thinking of a badge for found images: ununfounder
10:41
lol
10:55
Sometimes it's scary to read our old answers!
I'm not reading it! I'm not reading it!
Not sure how many answers I've deleted. Possibly still less than 5.
@MARamezani You won't miss anything!
Why? Something wrong with that answer?
It missed the main point, though not by much. It alluded to something possibly irrelevant, though it could as well be (still relevant). It wasn't exactly a really bad answer, but all in all I think it was at least a bit misleading.
Good. Now I'me time-efficient.
11:51
Good morning and evening, everyone!
Namaste!
Let's ping: @snailboat @Man_From_India @Fantasier
Sawasdee!
Oh, Jude left.
Salam!
Ni hao!
11:53
Konbanwa!
Bonjour!
Hallo!
Anonymous
@DamkerngT. おはよう!
おはよう!
Salama!
What does unconfortable mean?
11:56
A typo?
Yes. But I'm imagining what it could mean.
Uncontrollable, yet comfortable?
Hehe.
So, it's kinda a grape.
So, unconfortable means unable to make wine from?

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