Advice vs Advise

Today I'd like to present two confusing words in the English language: advice and advise. The first one is spelt with "c" (advice) and is an uncountable. It means an opinion you give someone about what they should do. Examples:
There's lots of advice in the book on baby care.
Could you give me some advice about buying a home?
If I were you, I'd get some legal advice.
I want to ask your advice about where to stay.
I followed my father's advice and sold the car.
Take my advice and study something practical.
Let me give you a piece of advice. Wear a blue suit to the interview.

However, the word spelt with "s" (advise) is a verb and it refers to an activity where you tell someone what you think they should do, especially when you know more than they do about something. Examples:
She needed someone to advise her.
'Make sure that you keep the documents in a safe place,' Otley advised him.
advise somebody to do something
Evans advised him to leave London.
You are strongly advised to take out medical insurance when visiting China.
Experts advise that sunscreen be reapplied every one to two hours.

Make

Now it's time for make.

make an appointment
make a bed
make a cake
make a change
make a choice
make coffee
make a comment
make a decision
make breakfast / dinner / supper
make a difference
make an effort
make an exception
make an excuse
make a film
make a fool of yourself
make a fortune
make friends with
make headway
make a list
make a living
make love
make a mess
make a mistake
make money
make a noise
make a phone call
make plans
make profit
make progress
make a promise
make sense
make a speech
make a suggestion
make a phone call

Do

Throughout my teaching career I have noticed my students struggling with the verbs do and make. Therefore I have decided to make their life easier and I have compiled a list of expressions that should go with do and make. Let's begin with do.

do your best
do business
do the cooking
do a course
do a crossword
do damage
do an exam
do an exercise
do sb a favour
do good
do your hair
do harm
do homework
do housework
do the ironing
do your job
do the laundry
do your nails
do the paperwork
do the shopping
do the washing
do the washing-up

Teach vs Learn

Many of my students often mix the two verbs up: to learn and to teach. To make thinks clear, have a look at the following explanation and examples.

learn – learnt / learned - learnt / learned - to gain knowledge of a subject or skill, by experience, by studying it, e.g.
What's the best way to learn a language?
I learnt to drive when I was 17.
Hector spent the winter learning how to cope with his blindness.

teach – taught – taught - to give lessons in a school, college, or university, or to help someone learn about something by giving them information, e.g.
Neil teaches at the Guildhall School of Music in London.
He taught geography at the local secondary school.
We were never taught anything about other religions.

TEST YOURSELF
1. The teacher's task is to help the pupil …........
2. I …...... a lot from my father.
3. Miss Himes …..... the youngest class, the four and five- year-olds.
4. Kids can have fun and …..... about music at the same time.
5. I'm …........ English to Italian students.
6. It took us several hours to …........ all the dance moves to the girls.
7. I prefer …...... the older children.
8. Youngsters must …....... what is dangerous and what is not to be feared.
9. The student will …....... from experience about the importance of planning.
10. I …....... 18- to 21-year olds.
11. Before you sail, you need to …....... about basic boat controls.
12. Grandpa …...... me a new card trick.

Overhear vs Eavesdrop

The two verbs to overhear and to eavesdrop are very similar in meaning, although there is one substantial difference between them. Have a look.

To overhear means to accidentally hear what other people are saying, when they do not know that you have heard, e.g.
I overheard part of their conversation.
She overheard the management discussing pay rises.
We overheard the teacher say there would be a pop quiz today.
I couldn't help overhearing your argument.

To eavesdrop refers to a situation in which you deliberately listen secretly to other people's conversations. When you eavesdrop, you do it on purpose, this is your aim and intention, e.g.
There was Helena eavesdropping outside the door.
Sue was able to eavesdrop on them through the open window.
How did you know I was going? You've been eavesdropping, haven't you!
Hackers can eavesdrop using software that monitors packets sent over the network.

Allow vs Let

In the English language there are two verbs which mean exactly the same. They are to allow and to let. The only difference is in the usage.

While using the verb to allow, we need to use the following structure:
to allow sb to do sth
e.g. My parents wouldn't allow me to go to the party.

While using the verb to let, we need to use the following structure:
to let sb do sth
e.g. My parents wouldn't let me go to the party.

The only difference is the lack of to while using the verb to let. Here are some more examples:
Don't allow your problems to dominate your life. = Don't let your problems dominate your life.
We do not allow people to smoke anywhere in the building. = We do not let people smoke anywhere in the building.
Some people seem to allow their kids to do whatever they like. = Some people seem to let their kids do whatever they like.

TEST YOURSELF
Fill in with allow or let.
1. Alice’s mum won’t …..... her come with us.
2. …..... your imagination run wild.
3. Sue doesn't …..... her kids eat candy.
4. Unfortunately, they didn’t …..... me to explain the thinking behind my decision.
5. I stepped back and …..... him pass.
6. I can …..... you have another £10, but no more.
7. …..... me have a look at that letter.
8. She only …..... the children to watch television at weekends.
9. …..... Johnny have a go on the computer now.
10. DVD …..... you to record programmes and watch them later.

Subject Questions

Questions about the subject or subject questions (PL podmiot) are slightly different from typical English questions. Let's have a look at the difference:
Who wrote that book? (subject question)
When did he write that book? (typical question)

For subject questions you don't use the following auxiliary verbs do, does and did. The only thing you need to do is to put who + the verb in the correct form, e.g.
Who stole my ring? but Why did he steal my ring?
Who read the book? but When did you read the book?
Who told you about it? but Why did he tell you about it?
What makes you happy? but Why does music make her happy?
Who is swimming now? But Why is Jack swimming now?

You need to remember to use only the 3rd person singular to make subject questions.

TEST YOURSELF
Make the correct question:
1. Who …......... us every day? (visit)
2. When …......... they you? (visit)
3. Who …......... in Paris last weekend? (be)
4. Why …......... you to France last year? (go)
5. Who …......... TV last night from 10pm to 2am? (watch)
6. Who never …......... his room? (clean)
7. Who …......... the first prize recently? (win)
8. What …......... she the first prize for? (win)
9. Who …......... you? (love)
10. Which car …......... first? (arrive)
11. What type of food …......... less? (cost)

Between vs Among

The prepositions between and among are very similar in meaning and they are a bit problematic for some students of English. Let me explain the difference to you.

Between refers to the space, time or number that separates two things, people, places, times or events. Examples:
I sat down between Sue and Jane.
Are there any public holidays between Christmas and Easter?
You shouldn't eat between meals.
The project will cost between eight and ten million dollars.

Among refers to many people or objects. It means in or through the middle of a group of people or things. Examples:
The girl quickly disappeared among the crowd.
Among the collection of photographs are two taken in Hamburg in 1911.
Among women in their later thirties and early forties, the figures are higher still.
At the meeting they discussed, among other things, recent events in Japan.

TEST YOURSELF
1. She was the eldest .......... them.
2. Most of the victims were young men .......... the ages of 16 and 21.
3. .......... you and me, I think Schmidt's about to resign.
4. I could hear voices coming from somewhere .......... the bushes.
5. A lot of students spend a year abroad in .......... school and university.
6. Jim relaxed, knowing he was .......... friends.
7. The ball rolled .......... his feet.
8. The problem is causing widespread concern .......... scientists.
9. The team have a lot of work to do .......... now and Sunday.

Receipt vs Recipe vs Prescription

There are 3 confusing words which cause English students trouble, both in meaning and in pronunciation.

The first word is a receipt and it means a piece of paper that you are given which shows that you have paid for something. Examples:
Can you give me a receipt?
Keep your credit card receipts until your statement arrives.

The second word is a recipe and it refers to a set of instructions for cooking a particular type of food. Examples:
a recipe for tomato soup
a recipe book
Could you give me the recipe for that chocolate cake?

The third word is a prescription and it means a piece of paper on which a doctor writes what medicine a sick person should have, so that they can get it from a pharmacist. Examples:
a prescription for sleeping pills
We are trying to cut the price of prescription drugs.

TEST YOURSELF
Fill in with the correct word: receipt, recipe or prescription.
1. During the past few decades, ........ drugs have also been widely used to control the symptoms of depression.
2. Purchases may be returned if you show your .........
3. I've found a really great ........ for barbecue sauce.
4. She asked the doctor a ........ for tranquillisers.
5. Make sure you get ........ for everything.
6. This soup is really good - you must give me the .........
7. Keep your ........ in case you want to bring it back.

Few vs Little

A few refers to countable nouns and means a small number of things or people, e.g.
I've read a few of her books.
I have to buy a few things at the supermarket.
There are a few more things I'd like to discuss.

Few refers to countable nouns and means not many, not enough, e.g.
low-paid jobs that few people want
Very few of the staff come from the local area.
The team that makes the fewest mistakes usually wins.

A little refers to uncountable nouns and means a small amount, e.g.
Susan speaks a little French.
Fortunately I had a little time to spare.
Would you like a little more milk in your coffee?

Little refers to uncountable nouns and means only a small amount or hardly any of something, e.g.
There's little doubt in my mind that he's guilty.
I paid little attention to what the others were saying.
Changes in the law have done little to improve the situation.

TEST YOURSELF
1. There is ………….. time to prepare for the exams.
2. She has done ………. today besides sleep.
3. I spoke with ………… colleagues about it.
4. There was too much rain and too ……… sun.
5. She approached several people, but ………. were interested.
6. We managed to save ………. money.
7. With ………. luck, you might write the next best-seller!
8. Only ……… managers attend the meetings.
9. They live in a very small flat because they have …..... money.
10. I really need to see him. I've got …..... questions to ask him.
11. Could we have …..... champagne, please ?
12. They've already been to Spain …..... times.
13. These plants require …..... water and it's very handy.
14. At home, the kitchen was a pleasant place. There were always …..... flowers in a vase.
15. 'Sandra is fluent in Italian, French and Spanish.' 'It's quite rare, …..... people can speak several foreign languages.'
16. This boy isn't very popular at school. He's got very …..... friends.

Lie vs Lay

The verbs to lie and to lay are quite problematic for English students. The reason why they are so confusing is their irregular Past and Perfect forms.

Let's begin with the verb to lay, which means to put or place sth. It's quite easy to remember the irregular forms because they are similar pay - paid - paid:

lay - laid - laid, e.g.
She has laid her hand on my shoulder.
He laid the money on the table as they walked out.

However, the verb to lie may be both regular and irregular. Let's start with the regular form, which means not to tell the truth:

lie - lied - lied, e.g.
She lied about her age.
I have never lied to you!

The irregular form means to be in a position in which your body is flat on the floor, on a bed etc. And here come the irregular forms:

lie - lay - lain, e.g.
For a few minutes he just lay on his bed.
Don't lie in the sun for too long.

Please note that the gerund form of the verb to lie is lying.

TEST YOURSELF
1. He …....... on the track for five minutes before being rescued by two friends who were also out riding.
2. I looked at her face and just knew that she was …....... .
3. The camera never …………..
4. I could tell from her face that she was ………….
5. They ………… flowers at the place where so many people died. (past)
6. He was …………. on the bed smoking a cigarette.
7. I would never ………… to you.
8. The dog was …………… dead on the floor.
9. Libby switched off the light and …....... on the couch, staring into the darkness.
10. We ……….. flowers on her grave once a week.
11. The children's clothes were …....... all over the bedroom floor.
12. It was an invention which …....... the foundations of modern radio technology.
13. Almost every night I …....... awake in bed worrying about my family.
14. The project involved …....... an oil pipeline across the desert.
15. Her packed suitcase was …....... near the door.
16. The carpet was …....... last week.

Land & Take Off

If a plane takes off, it rises into the air from the ground (synonym lift off), e.g.
I felt quite excited as the plane took off from Heathrow.
Noun -> take-off, e.g.
At the beginning, the key moment is take-off.

If a plane lands, it moves safely down onto the ground, e.g.
Flight 846 landed five minutes ago.
Noun -> landing, e.g.
take-off and landing procedures

At

at + time of day e.g. at 9.20am, at midnight
at night

at + address e.g. At 65 Sutter Street
at + building e.g. at the Prado Museum
at home

at present
at the moment
at first / at last
at times (=sometimes)
at once (=immediately)
at a high / low price
(not) at all

On

on + date e.g. on 27 Apr
on + day e.g. on Friday

on + street e.g. on Wall Street
on + coast e.g. on the East Coast
on + floor e.g. on the 3rd floor

on a vehicle e.g. on a bus, on a train, on a plane
on foot
on the cover (of)
on a trip
on sale (=for sale at a reduced price)
on schedule
on TV / radio
on the phone
on a farm
on a map
on the other hand
on purpose (=intentionally)

In

The next 3 posts will be devoted to the usage of the following prepositions: in, on, at. Feel free to ask any questions in the comment section.

In
in + century e.g. in the twenty-first century
in + decade e.g. in the 1940s, in the nineties
in + year e.g. in 1987
in + season e.g. in the summer
in + month e.g. in September
in + parts of the day e.g. in the morning / afternoon / evening
in + continent e.g. in South America
in + country e.g. in Japan
in + state / province e.g. in Ontario
in + city e.g. in Berlin
in + building e.g. in the Empire State Building
in + room e.g. in the bathroom
in + clothing e.g. in a grey suit
in + language e.g. in French
in + book e.g. in the Beast and the Beauty
in + newspaper / magazine e.g. in the Financial Times
in + department e.g. in the legal department
in + field e.g. in computer science, in architecture

in my opinion
in the past / future
in the world
in a car / taxi
in trouble
in danger (of)
in part (=partially)
in front of
in the middle of
in line
in the process of
in the market (=trying to buy sth)

Above vs Over

The two prepositions above and over are very similar in meaning, and in some situations you can use them interchangeably. However, there is a small difference between them.

Above refers to a certain position. You use static verbs (e.g. to be) with above.

The house is above the city. ( - the house is standing still on the mountain)
Our office is above the hairdresser's.
He had a bruise just above his left eye.
I heard a strange noise coming from the room above.

Over refers to movement (in time or space). You use dynamic verbs (e.g. to fly) with over.

UFOs flew over China. ( - over the whole of it, to its borders or even beyond it)
A lamp hung over the table.
We watched a helicopter flying low over the harbour.

TEST YOURSELF
1. We lived in the room ... the shop.
2. Somehow the sheep jumped ... the fence.
3. Government troops fired a few shots ... their heads.
4. Curran’s leg was broken ... the right knee.
5. Flocks of geese flew ... , calling loudly.
6. The lamp is ... me.
7. We could see the Angolan flag flying ... the governor’s palace.

Rise vs Raise

The verb to rise /raiz/ is an irregular verb (rise – rose – risen) and it means to go up or upwards, increase (in number, amount etc). This is an intransitive verb and it doesn't have an object, e.g.
The Sun rose.
Her hopes rose higher than ever.
The unemployment rate has risen dramatically.

The verb to raise /reiz/ is a regular verb (raise – raised – raised) and it means to move or lift to a higher position, increase an amount, number etc. This is a transitive verb so it needs an object, e.g.
The government has raised VAT.
She knew the answer so she raised her hand.

TEST YOURSELF
Please use the correct verb (rise or raise) in the correct form:

1. Sales ….. by 20% over the Christmas period.
2. Drinking too much coffee can ….. blood pressure.
3. The research budget ….. from £175,000 in 1999 to £22.5 million in 2001.
4. Temperatures rarely ….. above freezing.
5. The university is working to ….. the number of students from state schools.
6. The number of people seeking asylum in Britain has ….. sharply.
7. The divorce rate has ….. steadily since the 1950s.
8. Many shops have ….. their prices.
9. The floodwaters began to ….. again.
10. ….. your hand if you know the right answer.
11. William ….. his hat and smiled at her.
12. Smoke ….. from the chimney.
13. The road ….. steeply from the village.
14. Can you ….. the torch so I can see?

You Are Right vs You Have the Right to

There are two expressions with which seem to be a bit problematic for students of English. Both of them contain the word right:

You are right - it means that you have said something that is true. Opposite - you are wrong.
I think you're right. We should have set out earlier.
I think the Prime Minister is only half right.
Am I right in thinking that you two have met before?

You have the right to do sth - it means that you are morally, legally, or officially allowed to do or have something:
You have the right to consult a lawyer.
Everyone should have the right to freedom of expression.

Fall vs Feel

The most common mistake regarding the two verbs to fall and to feel are their Past Simple and Past Participle forms. Both verbs are irregular:

fall – fell – fallen

feel – felt – felt

In order to memorise them, feel free to do the following exercise.

TEST YOURSELF
Please use either the Past Simple or Past Participle form:

1. She … asleep at 9pm yesterday. (fall)
2. Marie immediately ... guilty. (feel)
3. I think that I've ... in love with Angela. (fall)
4. The book ... from his hands. (fall)
5. When his dad left, he ... as though his world had turned upside-down. (feel)
6. I ... like I'd really achieved something. (feel)
7. Rob ... down the stairs. (fall)
8. She ... his warm breath on her cheek. (feel)
9. “What has happened?” “I have slipped and … on the ice” (fall)
10. The earthquake was ... as far south as San Diego. (feel)
11. The house was empty for many years and ... into disrepair. (fall)
12. A tree had ... across the road and blocked it. (fall)
13. It ... wonderful to be wearing clean clothes again. (feel)
14. Fred ... out of the tree and broke his arm. (fall)

I Wish

We use I wish + Past Simple when we want to talk about the present. We want to express regret for a present situation.

I wish I were you. (= but I'm not)
I wish I knew the answer. (=but I don't)
I wish I could speak Hungarian. (=but I can't)
I wish you had more time for me. (=but you don't)
I wish she didn't have to work sho hard. (=but she has to)

We use I wish + Past Perfect when we want to talk about the past. We want to express regret for a past situation.

I wish I had studied English at school. (=but I didn't)
I wish I had taken your advice. (=but I didn't)
I wish she had visited me yesterday. (=but she didn't)
I wish you hadn't stayed at home last weekend. (=but you did, you stayed at home last weekend)

We use I wish + would when we want to express our annoyance / anger at somebody's behaviour (something is annoying / irritating / something gets on your nerves.)

I wish my neighbour would stop listening to music so loudly!
I wish you would listen to me!
I wish you would stop throwing things around the flat!



TEST YOURSELF
1. I wish you ... (give up) smoking! I can't stand the smoke!
2. I wish I ... (can) play the piano.
3. I wish Jack ... (attend) my birthday party last week.
4. I wish I ... (not choose) philosophy when I was graduating.
5. I wish my boss ... (not scream) at me! It's so difficult to concentrate.
6. I wish it ... (not rain) today.