"Come out" means to emerge or present oneself or volunteer. In this example, the report responded to receiving the note by presented himself (or volunteered) to write the article. "Taken with" means to be enamored by something. If you are taken with an event or story or object, you have had an strong positive emotional response to it.

This is very tricky in English, as it is based on context. If the individuals that make up the group are acting in unison or as a group, then you use the singular form of the verb and pronouns should be singular. If the members of the group are acting as individuals, then you use plural. For example, using the collective noun "jury": When the judge enters the court room, the jury stands to show its respect. (The group acts as one = singular verb and pronoun) The jury disagree about verdict and tell the judge that they are deadlocked. (The members of the group are not acting as one = plural verb and pronoun) In reality, especially spoken English, people use whatever sounds best.

Sometimes you will see participles (or gerunds) of verbs used as adjectives. In the phrase "a blocked up sink," the words "blocked up" are functioning as an adjective, therefore you see article + adjective + noun (a + blocked up + sink). If you were to turn the sentence around and use "block up" as a verb, you could say that "Hair and food can block up a sink." Note, while "up" is usually a preposition, in this sense it is a verbal adjunct. "Block up" should be considered as a unit to be the verb. This is a remnant from English's Germanic origins. You will hear people say "Hair and food can block a sink up." According to prescriptive English grammar, this is incorrect as you should not end a sentence with a preposition (even though in this instance "up" is a verbal adjunct).

"Near to" is not standard English. It is likely a combination of "near" and "close to", which essentially mean the same thing. Using your example: "I live near the cinema." "I live close to the cinema." Both have the same meaning. Informally, you may hear people say "near to," but it would not be used in any formal situation. If you are trying to learn standard English, I would not use "near to."

Sometimes, the English tenses are not so tidy. In addressing your examples: I have been struggling. I have struggled so far. (Both mean that struggling has occurred in the past and continues in the present. They are essentially interchangeable.) I have struggled for years. I have struggled. (Both mean that struggling occurred in the past, but may or may not continue to occur. You would need context to determine if struggling continues now.) He has been working for the company for three years. (Worked in the past, and clearly continues in the present.) He has worked for the company for three years. (Worked in the past, likely continues in the present.) He worked for the company for three years. (Worked in the past.)

I am writing to inquire if anyone has found a red bag that I lost on Train 4. If someone finds it, please contact me at this number: 66689558. Do not hesitate to call at any hour.