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(A) John will be an excellent leader.

(b) John will make an excellent leader.

Thank you. I'd appreciate your feedback.

What is the difference in meaning between these two?

1. The professor likes a chair to sit on when he lectures.2. The professor likes to sit on a chair when he lectures.

When the clerk guides the customer to the items that she's looking for, which one would the clerk say? Or, are both okay?

A. Come right this way.

B. Come over this way.

Thank you. I'd appreciate your feedback.

a) Last year, Sapporo had the heaviest snow in 20 years.

b) Last year, Sapporo had the heaviest snow for the first time in 20 years.

c) Last year, Sapporo had heavy snow in 20 years.

d) Last year, Sapporo had heavy snow for the first time in 20 years.

e ) I bumped into Shelly in two years yesterday.

f) I bumped into Shelly for the first time in two years yesterday.

(A) Last year, Sapporo had its heaviest snow (for the first time) in twenty years.

(B) Yesterday, I bumped into Maria for the first time in twenty years.

Thank you. I'd appreciate your feedback.

a) I could do 50push-ups when I was in high school, but not now.

b) Thanks to my parents, I could get a good education.

c) (Talking about the assignment that was due yesterday with your friend.) I could hand in the assignment by the deadline.

A. When I was watching a video, my sister came in.

B. I was watching a video when my sister came in.

Thank you. I'd appreciate your feedback.

Many students use "it's interesting for me" as in the sentence below.

The difference between 思う and “think” was very interesting for me.

I think "interesting to me" or just say "interesting" is better. What do you think? Are they all okay? Or is there any difference in meaning between these three?

A) The difference between 思う and “think” was very interesting for me.

B)The difference between 思う and “think” was very interesting to me.

C) The difference between 思う and “think” was very interesting.

Thank you. I'd appreciate your feedback.

I saw a sentence in which "in two years" is used, meaning "for the first time in two years," and looking for the sentence, but I can't find it. Do you think it possible to use "in two years" in the same meaning as "for the first time in two years"? If you come up with an example, would you share it with me?

I should have written the sentence down. 

Do you feel any difference in meaning between these two?

(A) Do you have any idea?

(B) Do you have any ideas?

My understanding is that (A) means that I don't think you know the answer and (B) is used when you ask for opinions. (A) sounds a bit offenstive.

So, (B) is usually used.

What do you think?

I'd appreciate your feedback.

"Out" is used in these two sentences, but the meaning is different according to where you observe the situation.

(a) The sun is out.

(b) Th light is out.

In (a), as you observe the situation from where the sun comes out, it's bright. In (b), as you are where the light is on, if it is out, the room will be dark. This is what grammar book generally explains.

I wonder if it's also possible to interpret (a) as the sun has set? 

Regarding these two expressions, I think (c) is okay, but I wonder if (d) is okay.

(c) The sun came out.

(d) The sun went out.

Do you feel any difference in meaning between these two?

(a) I'm short on cash.

(b) I'm short of cash.

My understanding is that in (a) the situation continues for a long time, while in (b) it's only for now. When you forgot to put money in your wallet, (b) is used. If you can't get enough money to live on, (a) is appropriate.

What do you think?

On the JR Yamanote Line in Tokyo, Japan, the next three signs are displayed on the cars' screams. 

When the training leaves the station, the scream says, "Next Ebisu."

When the train is about to stop at Ebisu, it says, "Now arriving at Ebisu."

And while the train is at Ebisu, the scream says, "Now stopping at Ebisu."

I found "Now stopping at Ebisu" strange as it means the train is about to stop at Ebisu. Can the expression also mean that the train is at Ebisu for the time being?

Thank you. I'd appreciate your feedback. 

How about this example? Does this sentence sound okay? Or is it better to say, "I could have answered the question." instead of "I could answer"?

I could answer the question, but the teacher did not give me a chance because the time was up.

Thank you. I'd appreciate your feedback.

If you hear the sentence below, do you think Jack handed in the report on time to not? Or are you not sure?

Jack: I could hand in the report on time.I think it would be better to say, "I handed in the report on time" or "I was able to hand in the report on time" if you want to say that you have actually accomplished something because "could" shows ability and does not indicate the accomplishment. Thank you. I'd appreciate your feedback.

You may have heard the Japanese made English expression used under the corona chaos, "go-to travel," and I thought this is incorrect, and no native English speakers would use it. 

I also asked some native speakers, and they all said, "go-to travel" sounds weird or awkward. However, someone told me that he found the expression in the Wisdom English-Japanese dictionary, and I found out the expression is in the dictionary without an example sentence. A) is a sentence that is found in COCA. Does (A) sound natural to your ears? How about (B) and (C)?

(A) I never go to travel without this stuff.

(B) I never travel without this stuff.

(C) I never go traveling without this stuff.

Thank you. I'd appreciate your feedback.

Which construction do you hear people say most frequently? Do you feel any difference in meaning or situations between these three?  

A) I had my wallet stolen on the train.

B) Someone stole my wallet on the train.

C) My wallet was stolen on the train.

I think B) is most natural. If the topic of the conversation is my wallet, C,) is used. If you want to focus on the situation you're in, A) is used.

Thank you. I'd appreciate your feedback.