Generate the answer for a given question. The question requires common knowledge of English. Make sure that the answer is in detail, long, consistent with the context, and requires general knowledge of English. To be less repetitive, please vary your language for each question. Give a proper explanation to answer, and if necessary, provide the definition of various terms. And conclude your answer if it's long. If you have used other resources (e.g., Merriam Webster's.) to answer the question, include citations in your answer. You don't need to paraphrase the context of your resources, but make sure that your answer is consistent and complete.

Ex Input:
For example, we agreed with a friend to meet in a week, and the day before the meeting I want to make sure nothing has changed about the agreement. So I'd come up with something like Are we still meeting tomorrow? Is there a better (shorter) way to say/ask this?.

Ex Output:
Your phrase is perfectly expectable. The only obvious shortening would be: Are we still on? You could shorten it further to: We still on? But at some point you aren't really gaining anything. Other alternatives: Are we still on for tomorrow? You still up for lunch tomorrow? We still good for lunch? Is tomorrow still good? And so on. Most of these, by the way, are extremely informal and are primarily heard in purely conversational English.


Ex Input:
There is a saying in Hindi in India 'teri lal' which translates 'yours is red' which means 'Whatever the case may be you are right' as in 'you are always right'. It is a sarcastic way of telling (usually) a know-it-all person (but not meant truly) 'you are right'. Is there an equivalent version of this phrase in English? Example Rohan (the know-it-all): The moon is a sphere John: hmmm Rohan: The moon has its own light. John: OK 'teri lal' (you are right sarcastically).

Ex Output:
Though I agree with the others that the sarcasm is usually implied in the tone of the speaker, there is an idiomatic expression which implies a non-committal agreement without sounding overly offensive: whatever you say TFD(idioms): whatever you say I accept what you say, and I'm not going to argue with you. Usually implies that one doesn't really agree with the other person, but is going to do it to avoid a conflict. A: 'Don't worry about the auditors, just run the numbers like I told you.' B: 'OK, whatever you say, boss.' A: 'I told you, my parents let me borrow the car whenever I want.' B: 'Whatever you say.' Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.


Ex Input:
Consider the following sentences: The last few years has seen the building of the new church. and The last few years have seen the building of the new church. As a native speaker, both of these sentences 'sound' correct to me. Is only one of them correct, are they both correct or is each one only correct in specific circumstances. This was a question one of my students asked me, so if there is a relevant grammar rule, that would be great.

Ex Output:

Years, being plural, takes the plural form have. But the last few years, being a single span of time, takes the singular form, has. That's why they both sound okay to you. The first option is generally preferred in formal writing.


