some vs. any I've just learned the some vs. any rule. It says that 'any' is used in negative sentences, some is used in positive sentences and both 'some' and 'any' used in questions. But what we are to do with such examples as 'Talk to your doctor if you have any questions' or 'If you have any such knowledge'? Probably the rule I read was not complete.

What do you keep in your kitchen cupboard?

What do you keep in your dresser? In your closet? In your kitchen cupboard?

I know that some people will have a very long litany of items, so please name just a few.

in the hospital vs. at the hospital I have just learned from my textbook that when people say "She is in the hospital," they mean that she is ill and needs treatment, and if people say "She is at the hospital," they mean that she is visiting someone. Which preposition should I use if I am talking about a friend who is a nurse and I want to say that she is at her workplace, which is a hospital.

to tote a double-springed steel trap, beautifully dull with oil The sectence in question is this: The boy was toting a double-springed steel trap, big enough it seemed to take all four feet of any bear that ever walked—and it was beautifully dull with oil! Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/18894/18894-h/18894-h.htm What does it mean to be dull with oil?

language test preparation I have one week left to prepare for a formal English language test, probably similar to OOPT. How should I spend it? To read a book on English book on grammar from front to end is a non-starter, I would need at least a month for that.

A question to the teachers of English What would be the most common pronunciation problems learners of English might experience with each of these two sentences (e.g. connected speech, stress, intonation etc.)? You must have been doing it for ages. Last month my husband lost his job, but he found a new one almost immediately

Grammar points I learn English grammar. Further there is an incorrect sentence first, and then my correction of it, which could be an improvement for the worse. I would like to ask native speakers of English to correct the sentences (also my 'corrections', if need be) and people who are well versed in the English grammar to tell me what four chapters in the grammar book I should read to eliminate such mistakes. 1. Do you think we should talk to her first? — I think yes. My correction: Do you think we should talk to her first? — Yes, I think so. 2. They have been knowing each other for years. My correction: They have known each other years. 3. If I'll pass my exams, my mother will be very proud of me. My correction: If I pass my exams, my mother will be very proud of me. 4. They gave me useful advices. My correction: They gave me useful pieces of advice (This one looks unnatural to me, but I don't know any better). Thank you in advance!

Looks like coffee house, but... I've heard this expression on the radio. According to the context it probably means that something looks pretty innocuous at first sight , but I am not sure. Please confirm or refute.

выдаваемый не в зачет оклад жалованья В "Записках из мёртвого дома" у Достоевского отдельные персонажи уже на первой странице прельщаются "выдаваемым не в зачет окладом жалованья". Я в одном словаре нашла, что "не в зачёт" означает "не засчитывая, не принимая что-либо в счёт чего-либо". Возможно есть какое-то ещё значение, потому что в этой фразе смысла я всё равно не вижу. Или мне нужно объяснение. P.S. Существует ли книжка комментариев к "Запискам из мёртвого дома"? Если кто-то знает о такой, напишите пожалуйста библиографические данные.Ещё они прельщаются "двойными прогонами". Кто-нибудь знает, что такое "двойной прогон"?