Hi! Does “set in motion” have any unique functions comparing with using other synonyms? Like “trigger” or “propel”. I am not good at using “phrasal verb”, but sometimes it could work better than using a single verb. Do you think so? 🤔🥺 “The introduction of calculators into classrooms didn't set in motion the demise of mathematics education; instead, it significantly broadened its scope while inspiring educators and academics to rethink the educational limits of mathematics. ”

Hi there! Here are some questions about vocabularies: •acknowledge: Is it formal or informal to express gratitude? -acknowledge my appreciation •adopt: Is it formal or informal to express "taking advice"? -adopt suggestions •adventurous: Is it positive or negative at the most of the time? (a brave personality or thoughtless behavior? •affective: What's the difference between "affective" and "emotional"? •alter: Is it the advanced expression of "change"？

Hi! When I first read this sentence,"Stephanie envisions a future in which seemingly unsightly everyday objects will be made from materials with properties that now seem "completely impossible", I thought it meant that new materials would be able to produce some seemingly unsightly everyday objects in the future, but realizing that now is completely impossible. The phrase 'be made from' led me to think so. But I guess my interpretation is wrong because the logic may not make sense. Could it be: New materials will be able to transform seemingly unsightly everyday objects into something remarkable. This idea is currently completely impossible to realize. Or: These seemingly unsightly everyday objects will be the ingredients of new materials, and nobody had thought that it could work. Sorry for making such a 'long' post 😥. I am curious why this sentence is hard to interpret correctly

Which word means "To have advantages because of your wealth, social position etc"?

Hi everybody, I've got a doubt about the use of tenses with modal verbs governed by a past tense. Should the modal verb be present or past in a sentence like the following, with the verb "think" in the past? Here are two possible solutions. 1. He wasn't sure, but thought the new plan against unemployment could work. 2. He wasn't sure, but thought the new plan against unemployment could have worked. Possible explanation 1. If it is possible to accept both, is it correct to say that the meaning of the first sentence refers to the future and that of the second remains anchored in the past? Possible explanation 2. If, instead, the second sentence is not acceptable, what grammatical principle is implied? (A principle analogous to that of the future in the past which requires the use of a present conditional for actions that occur in the future compared to the past? Or is an agreement similar to that necessary with reporting verbs in the past simple that require the simple conditional after them? In addition to 'would', can we reason by analogy with all other modal verbs and follow this general rule? ) I hope my question is clear enough. Thank you.