-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Across and over can both mean ‘on or to the other side of a line, river, road, bridge etc’. You can use both in this way: His village is just across the border. He ran across the finishing line and raised his arms in victory. But here’s the difference that you need to keep in … Continue reading
Before as a preposition, is normally used to refer to time. For example, I must get home before nine o’ clock. However, it can refer to place or position in the following ways: To talk about order in queues, lists, documents etc Example: Could you move back please? I was before/in front of you. We … Continue reading
Less is the comparative of little (used especially before uncountable nouns). Example: I earn less money than a clerk. Fewer is the comparative of few (used before plural nouns). Example: I’ve got fewer friends now than I used to have. Less of and fewer of are used before determiners (like the, my or this) and … Continue reading
Can and be able often mean the same: ability. Example: Some people are able to/can walk on their hands. So when do we use can and when do we use be able? We use can to mean ‘know how to.’ We use it to mean what people or things are able to do (or unable to do) because of their … Continue reading
‘On time’ means ‘at the planned time’; that is, neither too early nor too late. The opposite is ‘early’ or ‘late.’ It is often used to refer to timetabled events. Example: I just checked with the airport; the flight is on time. I want the meeting to start exactly on time. ‘In time’ means ‘with … Continue reading
During is used to say ‘when’ something happens; for is used to say ‘how long it lasts.’ Example: I was in London during the summer. I was in London for six weeks. It rained during the night for two or three hours. We use both during and in to say that something happens inside a particular period of … Continue reading
We use except for before noun phrases. Example: The classroom was empty except for a little boy at the back of the room. We also often use except (for) after generalizing words like ‘all’ ‘any’ ‘every’ ‘no’ ‘everything’ ‘anybody’ ‘nowhere’ ‘nobody’ ‘whole’. Example: He ate everything on his plate except (for) the spinach. Nobody came … Continue reading
The words besides, except and apart from are sometimes confused. Here’s a note on how to use each of these properly: ‘besides’ usually adds; it is like saying ‘with’ or ‘plus.’ Example: Besides English and French, he can also speak Spanish. [He speaks three languages] ‘except’ substracts; it is like saying ‘without’ or ‘minus.’ Example: … Continue reading
We do not use ‘in front of’ to mean ‘across a road/river/room.’ We use ‘opposite’ for that. In American English, ‘across from’ is also used for this purpose. Example: There’s a shop opposite my house. ‘in front of’ is used often to imply the opposite of ‘behind’ [location]. Example: The woman in front of me … Continue reading
THAT should be used to introduce a restrictive clause. WHICH should be used to introduce a non-restrictive or parenthetical clause. A restrictive clause is one which is essential to the meaning of a sentence – if it’s removed, the meaning of the sentence will change. Example: The book that you gave me last night has several pages missing. Can … Continue reading
English Notes 