Like and as

Like = 'similar to', 'the same as'.

• What a beautiful house! It's like a palace, (not as a palace)


• 'What does Sandra do?'   'She's a teacher, like me.' (not as me)


• Be careful! The floor has been polished. It's like walking on ice. (not as walking)


• It's raining again. I hate weather like this, (not as this)

In these sentences, like is a preposition.
So it is followed by a noun (like a palace), a pronoun (like me / like this) or -ing (like walking).

You can also say '... like (somebody/something) doing something':

• 'What's that noise? 'It sounds like a baby crying."

Sometimes like = for example:

• Some sports, like motor-racing, can be dangerous.

You can also use such as (= for example):

• Some sports, such as motor-racing, can be dangerous.

As = in the same way as, or in the same condition as.

We use as before subject + verb:

• I didn't move anything. I left everything as it was.


• You should have done it as I showed you.

Like is also possible in informal spoken English:

• I left everything like it was.

Compare as and like:

• You should have done it as I showed you. (or like I showed you)


• You should have done it like this, (not as this)

Note that we say as usual / as always:

• You're late as usual.


• As always, Nick was the first to complain.

Sometimes as (+ subject + verb) has other meanings.

For example, after do:

• You can do as you like. (= do what you like)


• They did as they promised. (= They did what they promised.)

We also say as you know / as I said / as she expected / as I thought etc. :

• As you know, it's Emma's birthday next week. (= you know this already)


• Andy failed his driving test, as he expected. (= he expected this before)

Like is not usual in these expressions, except with say (like I said):

• □As I said yesterday, I'm sure we can solve the problem,   or Like I said yesterday ...

As can also be a preposition, but the meaning is different from like.

• Sue Casey is the manager of a company.
  As the manager, she has to make many important decisions.
  (As the manager = in her position as the manager)


• Mary Stone is the assistant manager.
  Like the manager (Sue Casey), she also has to make important decisions.
  (Like the manager = similar to the manager.)

As (preposition) = in the position of, in the form of etc. :

• A few years ago I worked as a taxi driver, (not like a taxi driver)


• We haven't got a car, so we use the garage as a workshop.


• Many words, for example 'work' and 'rain', can be used as verbs or nouns.


• London is fine as a place to visit, but I wouldn't like to live there.


• The news of the tragedy came as a great shock.

At the end, in the end

At the end (of something) = at the time when something ends.

• at the end of the month


• at the end of January


• at the end of the game


• at the end of the film


• at the end of the course


• at the end of the concert

• I'm going away at the end of January / at the end of the month.


• At the end of the concert, there was great applause.


• The players shook hands at the end of the game.

You cannot say 'in the end of ...'. So you cannot say 'in the end of January' or 'in the end of the concert'.

The opposite of at the end (of ...) is at the beginning (of ...):

• I'm going away at the beginning of January, (not in the beginning)

In the end = finally.

We use in the end when we say what the final result of a situation was:

• We had a lot of problems with our car. We sold it in the end. (= finally we sold it)


• He got more and more angry. In the end he just walked out of the room.


• Alan couldn't decide where to go for his holidays. He didn't go anywhere in the end. (not at the end)

The opposite of in the end is usually at first:

• At first we didn't get on very well, but in the end we became good friends.

Although / though / even though, In spite of / despite

After although we use a subject + verb:'

• Although it rained a lot, we enjoyed our holiday.


• I didn't get the job although I had the necessary qualifications.

Compare the meaning of although and because:

• We went out although it was raining.


• We didn't go out because it was raining.

After in spite of or despite, we use a noun, a pronoun (this/that/what etc.) or -ing:

• In spite of the rain, we enjoyed our holiday.


• I didn't get the job in spite of having the necessary qualifications.


• She wasn't well, but in spite of this she went to work.


• In spite of what I said yesterday, I still love you.

Despite is the same as in spite of. We say in spite of, but despite [without of):

• She wasn't well, but despite this she went to work.(not despite of this)

You can say in spite of the fact (that) ... and despite the fact (that) ... :

• I didn't get the job in spite of the fact (that) I had the necessary qualifications.
  I didn't get the job despite the fact (that) I had the necessary qualifications.

Compare in spite of and because of:

• We went out in spite of the rain, (or ... despite the rain.)


• We didn't go out because of the rain.

Compare although and in spite of / despite:

• Although the traffic was bad,/In spite of the traffic, we arrived on time,
  (not In spite of the traffic was bad)


• I couldn't sleep, although I was very tired./despite being very tired.
  (not despite I was tired)

Sometimes we use though instead of although:

• I didn't get the job though I had the necessary qualifications.

In spoken English we often use though at the end of a sentence:

• The house isn't very nice. I like the garden though. (= but I like the garden)


• I see them every day. I've never spoken to them though. (= but I've never spoken to them)

Even though (but not 'even' alone) is a stronger form of although:

• Even though I was really tired, I couldn't sleep, (not Even I was really tired ...)

Difference between a/an and the

Very simply:

a/an just means 'one of a class'
the means 'you know exactly which one'.

Compare:

• A doctor must like people. ( = any doctor, any one of that profession)
  


• My brother's a doctor. ( = one of that profession) I'm going to see the doctor. ( = you know which one: my doctor)
  


• I live in a small flat at the top of an old house near the town hall, (a small flat, there might be two or three at the top of the house — it could be any one of these.


• an old house: there are lots near the town hall — it could be any one.


• the top: we know which top: it's the top of the house where the person lives — a house only has one top.


• the town hall: we know exactly which town hall is meant: there's only one in the town.)

afternoon, evening and night

Afternoon changes to evening when it starts getting dark, more or less.
However, it depends on the time of year.
In summer, we stop saying afternoon by six o'clock, even if it is still light.
In winter we go on saying afternoon until at least five o'clock, even if it is dark.

Evening changes to night more or less at bedtime.

Note that Good evening usually means 'Hello', and Good night means 'Goodbye'
— it is never used to greet people.

• A Good evening Terrible weather, isn't it?
  B-Yes, dreadful.

• A:Hasn't stopped raining for weeks. Well. I must be going. Good night
  B Good night

Talking: Say, Tell, Ask, Speak, Talk, Answer, Reply

Say (say/said/said)

We use say when we report someone's words.

• She said 'This is horrible!'


• He said that he wanted a drink.

We use say when we ask about language.

• a: How do you say 'book' in Spanish? b: 'Libro'.

We say hello / goodbye   please / thank you /Happy Birthday / Merry Christmas / Happy New Year / Congratulations

Tell (tell/told/told)

Tell is usually followed immediately by a person. Say is not followed immediately by a person.

• He told me his name. [not He said me his name.]

We use tell when we want to know how to get to a place.

• Can you tell me where the bus station is, please? [not Can you say me ...?]

We use tell with other wh- words too (when, how, why, where), e.g. you can tell someone how to do something, where something is, why something happened.

• He told me how to send a fax.


• Tell me when you want to have dinner.


• You can tell someone the time / a story / a joke / your name / address / telephone number.

Ask

Ask is used for questions.

• My sister asked me where I was going, (or My sister asked (me) 'Where are you going?')

• a: Can I ask you a question? b: Yes.


• a: What day of the week were you born? b: Thursday.

You can ask someone the way / the time / a question.

Ask somebody to do something and ask someone for something.

• I asked him to turn off his radio, (or I said 'Please turn off your radio.'


• She asked for the bill, (or She said 'Can I have the bill please?')

Speak/talk/answer/reply

Do you speak Japanese?   [not Do you -talk Japanese?]

I like talking to you. (having a conversation with you)

Can you answer the telephone / the door, please?
(pick up the phone / open the door to see who it is)

I wrote a letter to him but he did not reply.
(for letters/faxes/e-mails) (he did not send me a letter

somebody-anybody, something-anything

The difference between somebody and anybody, someone and anything,

at - in - on (time)

at + exact time

in + part of day

on + particular day

at + weekend, public holiday

in + longer period

1. Exact times

• I usually get up at six o'clock


• I'll meet you at 4.15


• Phone me at lunch time

In informal English, we say What time...?
(At what time...? is correct, but unusual.)

2. Parts of the day

• I work best in the morning


• three o'clock in the afternoon


• we usually go out in the evening

Exception: at night.

We use on if we say which morning/ afternoon/ etc we are talking about,
or if we describe the morning/ afternoon/ etc.

• See you on Monday morning


• It was on a cold afternoon in early spring...

3. Days

• I'll phone you on Tuesday.


• My birthday's on March 21st.


• They're having a party on Christmas Day.

In informal speech we sometimes leave out on (This is common in American English)

• I'm seeing her Sunday morning.

Note the use of plurals (Sundays, Mondays etc)
when we talk about repeated actions.

• We usually go to see Granny on Sundays.

4. Weekends and public holidays

We use at to talk about the whole of the holidays at Christmas, New Year,
Easter and Thanksgiving (US)

• Are you going away at Easter?

We use on to talk about one day of the holiday

• It happened on Easter Monday.

British people say at the weekend. Americans use on.

• What did you do at the weekend?

5. Longer periods

• It happened in the week after  Christmas


• I was born in March


• Kent is beautiful in spring


• He died in 1212


• Our house was built in the 12th Century

6. Expressions without preposition

Prepositions are not used in expressions of time before
next, last, this, one, any, each, every, some, all.

• See you next week.


• Are you free this morning


• Let's meet one day.


• Come any time


• I'm at home every morning.


• We stayed all day.

Prepositions are not used before yesterday, the day before yesterday,
tomorrow, the day after tomorrow?

• What are you doing the day after tomorrow?

as if - as though

as if / though + subject + present /past verb

as if / though + subject +past verb with present meaning

1. As if and as though mean the same .
We use them to say what a situation seems like.

• It looks as if/ though it's going to rain


• I felt as if/ though I was dying

2. We can use a past tense with a present meaning after as it/though.
This means that the idea is unreal.

• He looks as if he's rich (perhaps he is rich)


• She talks as if she was rich (but she isn't)

We can use were instead of was when we express unreal ideas after as it/ though.
This is common in a formal style.

• She talks as if she were rich.

3.  Like is often used instead of as if/ though , especially in American English
This is very informal.

• It looks like it's going to rain

as and like

I. Similarity

We can use like or as to say that things are similar

1. Like is preposition. We use like before a noun or pronoun

like + noun/ pronoun

• You look like your sister (not .. as your sister)


• He ran like the wind .


• It's like a dream


• She's dressed just like me

We use like to give examples

• He's good at some subjects, like mathematics
  (not ..as mathematics)


• In mountainous countries, like Switzerland...

2. As is a conjunction. We use as before a clause,
an expression beginning with a preposition

as + clause

as + preposition phrase

• Nobody knows her as I do


• We often drink tea with the meal, as they do in China


• In 1939, as in 1914, everybody wanted war


• On Friday, as on Tuesday, the meeting will bee at 6.30

In formal English like is often used instead of as.
This is very common in American English

• Nobody loves you like I do

II. Function

1. We use as, not like to say what function a person or things has-
   what jobs people do, what things are used for, etc.

• He worked as a waiter for two years (not ... like a waiter)


• Please don't use your plate as an ashtray

after (preposition)- afterwards (adverb)

1. After is a preposition: it can be followed by a noun or an -ing form

• We ate in a restaurant after the film


• After seeing the film, we ate in a restaurant

1. After in not an adverb: we do not use it with the same meaning as afterwards, then or after that

• We went to the cinema and afterwards (then/ after that) we ate in a restaurant.
  (NOT... and after we ate in a restaurant)

List A

-able/-ible	Adjectives ending in -able or -ible can be difficult to spell because both endings sound identical. You’ll always need to be on guard with these words and check each word individually when you are in doubt, but here are some useful guidelines: (i) Generally use -able when the companion word ends in -ation: abominable, abomination irritable, irritation (ii) Generally use -ible when the companion word ends in -ion: comprehensible, comprehension digestible, digestion (iii) Use -able after hard c and hard g: practicable (c sounds like k) navigable (hard g) (iv) Use -ible after soft c and soft g: forcible (c sounds like s) legible (g sounds like j)
abridgement/ abridgment	Both spellings are correct. Use either but be consistent within one piece of writing.
accept or except?	We ACCEPT your apology. Everybody was there EXCEPT Stephen.
accessary or accessory?	If you want to preserve the traditional distinction in meaning between these two words, use ACCESSARY to refer to someone associated with a crime and ACCESSORY to refer to something that is added (a fashion accessory or car accessories). However, the distinction has now become blurred and it is perfectly acceptable to use one spelling to cover both meanings. Of the two, accessory is the more widely used, but both are correct.
acknowledgement/ acknowledgment	Both spellings are correct but be consistent within one piece of writing.
adapter or adaptor?	Traditional usage would distinguish between these two words and reserve -er for the person (an adapter of novels, for instance) and -or for the piece of electrical equipment. However, the distinction has become very blurred and the two spellings are considered by many authorities to be interchangeable. Use either for both meanings but be consistent within a single piece of writing.
adrenalin/adrenaline	Both spellings are correct.
adverse or averse?	These two words have different meanings. The ferries were cancelled owing to ADVERSE weather conditions. (= unfavourable) She is not AVERSE to publicity. (= opposed)
advice or advise?	My ADVICE is to forget all about it. (noun = recommendation) What would you ADVISE me to do? (verb = recommend)
adviser or advisor?	Adviser is the traditionally correct British spelling. Advisor is more common in American English.
affect or effect?	Use these exemplar sentences as a guide: Heavy drinking will AFFECT your liver. (verb) The EFFECT on her health was immediate. (noun) The new manager plans to EFFECT sweeping changes. (verb = to bring about)
ageing or aging?	Both spellings are correct but many would prefer ageing as it keeps the identity of the base word (age) more easily recognised.
agreeto/agreewith	The choice of preposition alters the meaning of the verb: IAGREEDTO do what he advised. IAGREEDTO all the conditions. IAGREEDWITH all they said.
alley or ally?	An ALLEY is a little lane. An ALLY is a friend. alley (singular), alleys (plural) ally (singular), allies (plural)
all most or almost?	There is a difference in meaning. Use these exemplar sentences as a guide: They were ALL (= everyone) MOST kind. The child was ALMOST (=nearly) asleep.
allowed or aloud?	There is a difference in meaning. Use these exemplar sentences as a guide: Are we ALLOWED (= permitted) to smoke in here? I was just thinking ALOUD (= out loud).
all ready or already?	There is a difference in meaning. Use these exemplar sentences as a guide: We are ALL (= everyone) READY. It is ALL (= everything) READY. She was ALREADY dead (= by then).
all right or alright?	Traditional usage would consider ALL RIGHT to be correct and ALRIGHT to be incorrect. However, the use of ‘alright’ is so widespread that some would see it as acceptable although the majority of educated users would take care to avoid it.
all so or also?	There is a difference in meaning. Use these exemplar sentences as a guide: You are ALL (= everyone) SO kind. You are ALSO (= in addition) generous.
all together or altogether?	There is a difference in meaning. Use these exemplar sentences as a guide: They were ALL (= everybody) huddled TOGETHER for warmth. His situation is ALTOGETHER (= totally) different from yours.
allude or elude?	There is a difference in meaning. ALLUDE means to refer to indirectly. ELUDE means to evade capture or recall.
allusion, delusion or illusion?	There is a difference in meaning. An ALLUSION is an indirect reference. A DELUSION is a false belief (often associated with a mental disorder). An ILLUSION is a deceptive appearance.
all ways or always?	There is a difference in meaning. These three routes are ALL (= each of them) WAYS into town. She ALWAYS (= at all times) tells the truth.
altar or alter?	There is a difference in meaning. The bride and groom stood solemnly before the ALTAR. Do you wish to ALTER (= change) the arrangements?
alternate or alternative?	We visit our grandparents on ALTERNATE Saturdays. (= every other Saturday) I ALTERNATE between hope and despair. (= have each mood in turn) An ALTERNATIVE plan would be to go by boat. (= another possibility) The ALTERNATIVES are simple: work or go hungry. (= two choices)
amend or emend?	Both words mean ‘to make changes in order to improve’. Use AMEND or EMEND when referring to the correction of written or printed text. Use AMEND in a wider context such as AMENDING the law or AMENDING behaviour.
among or between?	Use BETWEEN when something is shared by two people. Use AMONG when it is shared by three or more. Share the sweets BETWEEN the two of you. Share the sweets AMONG yourselves. However, BETWEEN is used with numbers larger than two when it means an exact geographical location or when it refers to relationships. Sardinia lies BETWEEN Spain, Algeria, Corsica and Italy. It will take a long time before the rift BETWEEN the five main parties heals.
among or between?	Use BETWEEN when something is shared by two people. Use AMONG when it is shared by three or more. Share the sweets BETWEEN the two of you. Share the sweets AMONG yourselves. However, BETWEEN is used with numbers larger than two when it means an exact geographical location or when it refers to relationships. Sardinia lies BETWEEN Spain, Algeria, Corsica and Italy. It will take a long time before the rift BETWEEN the five main parties heals.
amoral or immoral?	There is a difference in meaning. AMORAL means not being governed by moral laws, acting outside them. (note -m-) IMMORAL means breaking the moral laws. (note -mm-)
amount or number?	AMOUNT is used with non-count nouns: asmall AMOUNT of sugar; a surprising AMOUNT of gossip. NUMBER is used with plural nouns: a NUMBER of mistakes; a NUMBER of reasons.
-ance,-ant/-ence,-ent	Words with these endings are difficult to spell and you’ll always need to be on your guard with them. Check each word individually when in doubt, but here are some useful guidelines: (i) People are generally -ant: attendant, lieutenant, occupant, sergeant, tenant (but there are exceptions like superintendent, president, resident . . . .). (ii) Use -ance, -ant, where the companion words ends in -ation: dominance, dominant, domination, variance, variant, variation. (iii) Use -ence, -ent after qu: consequence, consequent, eloquence, eloquent. (iv) Use -ance, -ant after hard c or hard g: significance, significant (c sounds like k) elegance, elegant (hard g) (v) Use -ence, -ent after soft c or soft g: innocence, innocent (c sounds like s) intelligent, intelligence (g sounds like j)
annex or annexe?	To ANNEX is to take possession of a country or part of a country. An ANNEX is another word for an appendix in an official document. An ANNEXE is a building added to the main building.
ante-/anti-	ANTE- means before. antenatal = before birth ANTI- means against. antifreeze = against freezing
arbiter or arbitrator?	An ARBITER is a judge or someone with decisive influence (an arbiter of fashion). In addition, an ARBITER may intervene to settle a dispute (-er). An ARBITRATOR is someone who is officially appointed to judge the rights and wrongs of a dispute (-or).
arbitrator or mediator?	An ARBITRATOR reaches a judgement but is not necessarily obeyed. A MEDIATOR attempts to bring two opposing sides together and to settle a dispute.
artist or artiste?	Traditionally, an ARTIST is skilled in one or more of the fine arts (painting, for example, or sculpture). Traditionally, the term ARTISTE is reserved for a performer or entertainer (a music-hall ARTISTE). However, ARTIST is now being used to cover both meanings in the sense of ‘skilled practitioner’, and ARTISTE is becoming redundant.
as or like?	Use these exemplar sentences as a guide: You look AS if you have seen a ghost. You look AS though you have seen a ghost. AS I expected, he’s missed the train. You look LIKE your mother.
assume or presume?	To ASSUME something to be the case is to take it for granted without any proof. To PRESUME something to be the case is to base it on the evidence available.
assurance or insurance?	Insurance companies distinguish between these two terms. ASSURANCE is the technical term given for insurance against a certainty (e.g. death) where payment is guaranteed. INSURANCE is the technical term given for insurance against a risk (such as fire, burglary, illness) where payment is made only if the risk materialises.
astrology or astronomy?	ASTROLOGY is the study of the influence of the stars and planets on human life and fortune. ASTRONOMY is the scientific study of the stars and planets.
aural or oral?	AURAL refers to the ears and hearing. ORAL refers to the mouth and speaking In speech these words can be very confusing as they are pronounced identically.
autobiography or biography?	An AUTOBIOGRAPHY is an account of his or her life by the author. A BIOGRAPHY is an account of a life written by someone else.
avenge or revenge?	The words are very close in meaning but AVENGE is often used in the sense of just retribution, punishing a wrong done to another. Hamlet felt bound to AVENGE his father’s death. REVENGE is often used in the sense of ‘getting one’s own back’ for a petty offence.

-able/-ible

Adjectives ending in -able or -ible can be difficult to spell because both endings sound identical. You’ll always need to be on guard with these words and check each word individually when you are in doubt, but here are some useful guidelines: (i) Generally use -able when the companion word ends in -ation: abominable, abomination irritable, irritation (ii) Generally use -ible when the companion word ends in -ion: comprehensible, comprehension digestible, digestion (iii) Use -able after hard c and hard g: practicable (c sounds like k) navigable (hard g) (iv) Use -ible after soft c and soft g: forcible (c sounds like s) legible (g sounds like j)

Among and Between

- Between: Somebody/ Something is  between two or more clearly separate people or things

-  Among: when somebody/ something is in a group, a crowd or a mass of people or things, which we do not see separately

• She was standing between Tom and Jerry


• She was standing among a crowd of children


• Our house is between the wood, the river and the village


• His house is hidden among the trees

Almost and Nearly

- Almost = Nearly

- Sometime Almost = nearly + little nearer



- usually almost + negative works (not nearly)

• almost never, almost nobody, almost no money.

Also, as well and too

- clause + as well = clause + too

- as well and too can refer to dirrerent parts of the sentence depending on the meaning. When we speak, we shom the exact meaning by stressing the word that they refers to.

• Other people have meetings on Sundays and we have meetings on Sunday as well


• We go for walks on Sundays and we have meetings on Sunday as well


• We have meetings on Tuesday and we have meetings on Sunday as well

- also + verbs= be + also

• I don’t like him I also think he’s dishonest


• She sings and she also plays the piano


• I’m hungry and I’m also very tired

- as well (too) in short answer (not also)

• I’m hungry. I’m too/ So am I/ Me too/ I’m as well (not I also)

- not use as well, too, also in negative sentences = not.. eigher, neither or nor

• He’s there too -- He isn’t there either


• I like you as well -- I don’t like you either


• I do too -- Nor do I.

All and whole

- All + determiner + noun = determiner + whole + noun

• all my life/ my whole life


• Julie spent all the summer at home/ Julie spent the whole summer at home

- more common: whole + singular countable noun
- more common: all + uncountable noun

• She wasted the whole lesson


• She’s drunk all the milk.

All and Every

- Every = all without exception

- All (+determiner)+ plural = Every + singular

• All children need love/ Every child needs love


• All cities are noisy/ Every city is noisy


• Please switch off all the lights/ Please switch off every light


• I’ve written to all my friends/ I’ve written to every friend I have (not… every my friend)

- All + uncountable nouns (not every)

• I like all music (not.. every music)

- All or Every + singular countable nouns = every part of/ the whole of

• She was here all day (from morning to night)


• She was here every day (=Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday…, Sunday)

- Negative sentences= Not all/every + noun + affirmative verb

• Not all Scottish people drink whisky


• Not every student passed the exam

II.

We use every + singular noun (every house / every country etc.):

• Alice has been to every country in Europe.


• Every summer we have a holiday by the sea.


• She looks different every time I see her.

Use a singular verb after every

• Every house in the street is the same, (not 'are the same')


• •Every country has a national flag, (not 'have')

Compare every and all:

• Every student in the class passed the exam
  All the students in the class passed the exam


• Every country has a national flag.
  All countries have a national flag.

every day and all day

every day = on all days:

• how often? EVERY DAY=SUN + WON + TUE + WED + THUR + FRI + SAT

• A: How often do you read a newspaper? B: Every day.


• Bill watches TV for about two hours every evening. (= on all evenings)

all day = the complete day:

how long? ALL DAY=Beginning of the day-->End of the dav

• The weather was bad yesterday. It rained all day.


• I was tired after work yesterday, so I watched TV all evening. (= the complete evening)

Use a singular verb after everybody/everyone/everything:

• Everybody has problems, (not 'Everybody have')

All, Everybody and Everything

- All not alone = Everybody

• all the people stood up


• Everybody stood up (not all stood up)

- all + relative clause (=all (that)…) = everything

• all (that) I have is yours (or Everything…)


• Everything is yours (not all is yours)


• She lost all she owned ( or …Everything she owned)


• She lost Everything (not She lost all)

- all often = negative meaning = nothing more= the only thing

• This is all I’ve got


• all I want is a place to sleep

- That’s all = It’s finished

Ago and For

- time + ago = time before now

• I went to Spain six weeks ago (=six weeks before now)

- for time = spent time

• I went to Germany for six weeks this summer (=I spent six weeks in Germany)

Ago and Before

- time + ago = time before now

• two years ago = two years before now

- time + before = time before then (before a past time)

• two years before = two years before then

Two years ago, I visited my home town, which I had left two years before.