Problems with my English?

Question

1) The difference among the following words: fee, charge, levy.

2) Any difference between "in the streets" and "on the streets".

3) When to use "did you remember" and when to use "do you remember" in the conversation? Please give me some examples. Many thanks.

Answer 1

1) there is no real practical difference between "fee", "levy" and "charge" when talking about a demand for payment. This is part of the richness of the English Language and enables you to construct varied and interesting sentences. What you wouldn't say is that someone is "charged a charge" - it's not technically wrong but it reads awkwardly because of the repetition. Instead you could use:-

There was a fee for the item
An additional levy was extracted for that service
A charge was imposed for that assistance

Note that you can also combine them:-
He was charged a fee for the item
A fee was levied for the service
A charge was levied for the assistance
A levy was charged
A fee was charged

but you can't say "fee'd"! so for example "a levy was fee'd" is not allowed

2) Again there is no real difference. "The word on the streets" has basically the same meaning as "the word in the streets". In most other usages "in" means inside something and "on" means on top of something but in everyday use "in" and "on" the streets have no real difference

3) DID you remember means something that happens in the past, whilst DO you remember means the present (in other words can you recall something right this minute)

When someone arrives at a meeting they might be asked "did you remember to bring the file of papers?" implying that they had to remember to bring them when they left home (i.e. in the past) and that remembering now would be too late.

At the meeting they might be asked "do you remember what was said at the last meeting?" which means can they remember right this minute (in the present) what was said some time ago.
Asking "did you remember what was said at the last meeting?" is no good because it doesn't help if they can't still remember it now.

Answer 2

A fee is something that costs you. It's something you have to pay to get a service.
A charge can be a fee, but it has different meanings too. You can charge a battery for example, that means you're giving it energy, or you can charge someone with a crime, that means making them claim the responsibility. It is a verb and an adjective.
A levy can be to force a fee ( to tax), to go into war, or to go into the military. It is a verb.

"In the streets" and "on the streets," don't really have that much difference in conversation. If you're talking about what the street is made of, or if you see a piece of garbage lying on it, I guess it'd be important to ask, "What's in the street?"
But in most cases you are ok with saying "on". They are just two different prepositions, that you kind of have to learn usage just by hearing english. So just eavesdrop on a lot of conversations!

"Did you remember?" is asking someone if they made something happen in the past tense. For example, if a wife calls her husband she might ask, "Did you remember to pick up the dog from the vet?" This event could have only happened in the past. You can't say it if you're asking someone to recall a name in the present, for example
"Do you remember that girl's name?" Is asking someone if they can think, at that moment, of a name. "Did you remember that girl's name?" is asking them if they could remember it that time in the past.

Here are some more examples:
Did you remember my dry cleaning?
Did you remember to say you were sorry?
Did you remember our anniversary?
Did you remember that I never ate seafood before?
Did you remember to ask if they took reservations?

*you can use "do you" when asking about something in the past, sometimes too
Do you remember the time when we fell in love? (Haha, I couldn't resist, Michael Jackson lyric)
Do you remember our first date?
Do you remember that adorable dog?
Do you remember our elementary school teacher?
Do you remember my mother?

Answer 3

Fee is pay for service, charge is what payment is expected prior to service or agreement to pay at a later time, levy referrers more to a fine. Did you remember is past tense, "Did you remember to do your English homework last night?" Do you remember is present tense, "Do you remember the name of the store?" In the street and on the street are phrases and depend upon usage in the sentence.

Answer 4

3) did u remember to close the door..its past...

Answer 5

cool