the use of "the rest"

I wonder if "the rest" is singular or plural:
1. Three of us will go, the rest is/are to stay here.
2. The rest need/needs no telling.
3. Tom is going to the zoo, the rest of the students is/are going to the park.

Actually, it depends on what the speaker or writer means: if 'the rest' is treated as a unity (i.e. a group), then it's singular; if treated as several people, then it's plural.

So: they both work, depending on what you mean.

Same for other collective nouns: The Beatles was/were a great grounp, the States is/are the dream of many people, etc.

meaning of the word "complex"

What is the meaning of the word "complex" in the following sentences?
1. Non native English speakers often try to use complex words when they are speaking, but they use the words in the wrong context, thus I can't understand what they are saying.
2. When students take the essay part of the TOEFL test, they often use complex words. These students should know that a word may be complex, but it won't necessarily help them get a higher score. In fact, a simple word may be a better choice for them to use.
I'm having trouble thinking of a good definition for the word complex. I think it means a "big" word, or a word that isn't often used. Can you please tell me a better definition.

This is a good question, because often the meanings of words have layers that articulate the meaning greatly, though they arise from the same core meaning.

The way complex is used here, there could be several meanings as to what qualities the complex words have.

- Yes, often big words are considered complex; words that have many syllables or are difficult to spell.

- Uncommon words are often considered complex -- in any language. Sometimes people just don't use them and they are just unfamiliar. But sometimes, they're not used often because they are complex. And sometimes a very complex word becomes popular and no one knows what they are talking about cause they don't really know what the word means.

- Also, new words in English -- more important than simply slang -- are being born all the time. It's always good to have "The Urban Dictionary" saved to your favorites to use as a reference beyond Websters.

- There are many other qualities that make words complex - at least for some people, or some of the time. I often meet native English speakers, though, who don't seem to know the exact or complete meaning of many of the words they're using; they may even have the meaning of a word confused with the meaning of another word.

- So, because there are so many things that could make a word complex, I think we just have to conclude that any word that more difficult to understand than a lot of others is complex. It can have four letters, or eighteen letters. It can be based in Latin or Greek, or a Native American language, or Spanish or French or German. It can be slang or street language. It can be Internet English. It can be the vocabulary restricted to physics, or linguistics, or biology or software inventor geeks. Or combinations of many of these. Some are complex, some are simple. Some are "elegant," i.e. complex, but also simple.

I'm sorry I don't have access to a TOEFL vocabulary list at the moment. If you'd like to show me some words you find complex, or like to use and don't feel that you should have to be so careful about using them, I'd be glad to go over some vocabulary with you if you are studying for the TOEFL now.

Speaking for myself, as an American native speaker of English, I find that there is usually a word or pair of words I might tend to have trouble with at any given time. Maybe trouble pronouncing, or spelling correctly, or totally understanding all the meanings and uses of. Or sometimes I get words confused.

About 20 years ago, I remember I had these two words confused often when I would be talking. If I was writing, I would have time to look it up.

Antidote and Anecdote : this is just a bit amusing because the only thing they have in common is they both end with "dote" and begin with "a." This is not all THAT similar! It was just a little thing I stumbled upon whenever I was speaking. It was not a problem writing or reading them and understanding the difference.

- Antidote = a medicine against a poisonous bite, or a cure or answer to an ailment or problem - physical, technical, scientific, philosophical, metaphorical, behavioral, etc.

- Anecdote = a little story or the relation of an event or thought that is an offshoot or result of a larger thought or conversation.

I think a few people in most languages would admit to getting words a bit crossed now and then, and that it is not so unusual.

So evidently, you need to make a list of words that you have difficulty with, or words that you feel have elevated your vocabulary in the past year and/ or six months, and check yourself on them - see if your understanding of them is complete and near to exact. If it is, then go next to those words you find challenging and interesting now, and check yourself on those. Be sure to use both Websters and the Urban Dictionary on them, and use them in some sentences. Don't forget to learn the multiple meanings.

Remember, the entomology of a word can help you remember its meaning and spelling if you know any other languages like Latin or Greek, French etc.

meaning of the words "just' and "simply"

What is the meaning of the words "just" and "simply" in the following sentences?
1."You shouldn't think he's innocent just because he was found not guilty. It's possible that he is guilty, but they simply didn't have enough evidence to convict him."
2. You shouldn't treat me badly just becuase I'm a little stupid. I do try to do my job well. I'm simply a slow learner, thus I make many mistakes."
Do "simply" and "just" mean "only; nothing more than; with no one or nothing else added or inlcuded; i.e. only five minutes more. Perhaps " simply" and "just" are used to emphasize what you are saying: i.e.This work is simply not good enough.
Thanks for taking the time to answer my question.

I think this is much easier than you realize, but I want to make sure it is clear, and that a few things are made very clear.

1.

".... just because he was found not guilty." (only; nothing more than "because he was found not guilty.")

".... but they simply didn't have enough evidence to convict him." ( this does emphasize the statement; nothing more than/ this is the only reason he was found not guilty)

IMPORTANT NOTE: "simply" and "just" do not mean EXACTLY "only;" it's what comes AFTER the use of "just" or "simply" that is the one thing that is important, or the "only" important thing. So for instance, you cannot replace "simply" or "just" with the word "only." You can choose not to use "simply" or "just," but the sentences/ statements won't have the emphasis on having one important reason.

2.

".... just because I'm a little stupid." (here, just does mean "only" since it has the word "because" after it. Because ---> explains "I'm a little stupid." (the reason)


"I'm simply a slow learner ...." (only)

"....thus (which is the reason) I make many mistakes."



YOU CAN: replace "just" with "only" in the following examples, but you have to change the wording.

- Don't worry, it's just me.

- It's only me, relax!

In the two sentences above, the meaning is not only is it YOU alone, and no one else, but the meaning is that YOU are not the person expected or being worried about. It means "less than" in this case. You could not use "simply" in this way, to mean "less than."

Below is another way that "just" and "only" are the same, where "simply" won't work. This is when you are saying that there is not enough.

- Sorry, but I just have enough time for my own kids today. I can't watch yours.

- I was going to buy a bottle of wine for our dinner, but I just had enough to get milk for tomorrow.

ANOTHER NOTE: There are also some uses of "simply" that are used when "just" and "only" are not used.

- She eats simply.

- We live simply.

The meaning of "simply," above, means without many complications or without using too many resources or having more than you need.

Is this sentence correct?

1) Would you please help me to find out whether or not this sentence is correct?
>>> But if your boss DOESN’T like it, that COULD be the end of the story.

Shouldn’t it be as below:
>>> But if your boss DID NOT like it, that COULD be the end of the story.
>>> But if your boss DOESN’T like it, that MAY be the end of the story.

2) Instead of ‘could’ as in the original sentence below, what would be the meaning if we used ‘may, might’ or ‘can’?
>>> But if your boss DOESN’T like it, that COULD (may, might, can ?) be the end of the story.

In terms of the meaning of 'possibility,' what is the difference amongst them?

There really is nothing technically wrong with any of the examples you have provided.

You seem to be getting hung up on the contextual meaning of Can/Could and May/Might.

I've answered this a couple of times before, so I'll be brief;

Can/could imply a particular person's ability/desire to do something.

May implies permission needed or granted to do something.

Might implies an ability to do something.

Word formation

when we add 'ing' with a word .does it change it's meaning. for example "help" and "helping"
what is the dffreance beetwen these two words

Any time you add anything to a word you change its meaning. In this case, "To help" still retains its overall semantic meaning, providing assistance, but the contextual meaning changes;

"Help" could be someone asking for help as in, "Help me."

But "Helping" is the present progressive, as in someone is actively assisting someone.

Or, it could be the gerund as in, "Helping people makes me feel good."

Action verbs used with form of Be+ ING

what is the difference beetwen these two words HELP and HELPING.i mean when we add 'ing' with word does it change its meaning.

= ACTION verb

Can I "help" you? (Simple Present tense.)

Sorry, but I can't help you now. (Simple Present tense.)

I am helping pratab. (Present Continuous tense.) Also called "Progressive" tense.

I (form of BE) am HELP (action verb) + ing (noun Pratab).

ACTION VERB = Subject + form of BE + ing + Object.

Remember this is only for action verbs. They are used in present continuous tense, so you use a form of BE + verb + ing.

Let me do a few more for you below:

SEW - Do you like to sew? Yes,I am sewing a dress for my daughter.

WRITE - Are you a writer? Yes, I have been writing since I was very young.

CHOP - Do you have to chop your own wood? Yes, John is outside chopping wood right now.

THINK - What are you thinking? I am thinking about what I will have for dinner tonight.

EAT- Does she eat much? Yes, on her new formula,she seem to be doing better.

I have eaten / I have already eaten

If somebody asks you "Have you eaten?", is there any difference in meaning between answers one and two below?

1. I have eaten.
2. I have already eaten.

Not really. In the end, all you are really saying is, "Yes."; the rest is just extra information. You are using the present perfect tense which usually implies something that was done in the past, something that might happen now and will probably happen in the future. Typically, you would use this form if the response was something like:

"I've eaten, but I could eat again."

or something like that.