In the way, On the way, By the way, In a way

In the way:

• Please move this chair. It is in the way.


• Do your work in the way I have shown you.

On the way:

• On the way to the station, I bought some cigarettes.

In this way:

• He saves old envelopes. In this way, he has collected a great many stamps.

By the way:

• By the way, have you seen Harry recently ?

In a way:

• In a way, it is an important book.

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 ...)

-ing form or infinitive?

Some verbs and adjectives can be followed by an infinitive or by an -ing form, often with a difference of meaning.

1   remember and forget

We remember or forget doing things in the past — things that we did. 
Forget . . . -ing is used especially in the structure I'll never forget . . . -ing.

• I still remember buying my first packet of cigarettes.
  


• I'll never forget meeting the Queen.

We remember or forget to do things which we have to do.

• Did you remember to buy my cigarettes?


• You mustn't forget to go and meet Mr Lewis at the station tomorrow.

2 stop

If you stop doing something, you don't do it any more.

• I really must stop smoking

If you stop to do something, you pause (in the middle of something else) in order to do it.

• Every hour I stop work to have a little rest.

3 go on

If you go on doing something, you continue — you do it more.

• She went on talking about her illnesses until everybody went to sleep.

If you go on to do something, you do it next — you stop one thing and start another.

• She stopped talking about her illnesses and went on to tell us about all her other problems.

4 regret

You regret doing something in the past — you are sorry that you did it.

• I don't regret telling her what I thought, even if it made her angry.

The expression I regret to say/tell you/announce etc means 'I'm sorry that I have to say...'

• British Rail regret to announce that the 13.15 train for Cardiff will leave approximately thirty-seven minutes late.
  This delay is due to the late running of the train.

5 allow

After allow, we use . . . -ing in active clauses if there is no object. If there is an object, we use an infinitive.

• We don't allow smoking in the lecture room.


• We don't allow people to smoke in the lecture room.

6 see, watch and hear

If you saw, watched or heard something happening, it was happening: you saw or heard it while it was going on.
If you saw, watched or heard something happen, it happened: you saw or heard a complete action.

• I looked out of the window and saw Mary crossing the road.
  ( = She was in the middle of crossing the road.)


• I saw Mary step off the pavement, cross the road and disappear into the post office.

7  try

Try . . . -ing = 'make an experiment; do something to see what will happen'.

• I tried sending her flowers, giving her presents, writing her letters; but she still wouldn't speak to me.

Try to ... = 'make an effort'. It is used for things that are difficult.

• I tried to write a letter, but my hands were too cold to hold a pen.

8  afraid

We use afraid of . . . -ing to talk about accidents.

• I don't like to drive fast because I'm afraid of crashing
  (NOT . . . I'm afraid to crash.)

In other cases, we can use afraid of . . . -ing or afraid to . .. with no difference of meaning.

• I'm not afraid of telling/to tell her the truth.

9 sorry

We use sorry for . . . -ing or sorry about . . . -ing to talk about past things that we regret.

• I'm sorry for/about waking you up. ( = I'm sorry that I woke you up.)
  

We can use a perfect infinitive with the same meaning.

• I'm sorry to have woken you up.

Sorry + infinitive is used to apologize for something that we are doing or going to do.

• Sorry to disturb you — could I speak to you for a moment?
  


• I'm sorry to tell you that you failed the exam.

10 certain and sure

If I say that somebody is certain/sure of doing something, I am talking about his or her feelings — he or she feels sure.

• Before the game she felt sure of winning, but after five minutes she realized that it wasn't going to be so easy.

If I say that somebody is certain/sure to do something, I am talking about my own feelings — I am sure that he or she will succeed.

• 'Kroftova's sure to win — the other girl hasn't got a chance.' 'Don't be so sure.'

11  like, love, hate, prefer, begin, start, attempt, intend, continue, can't bear

After these verbs, we can use either the -ing form or the infinitive without much difference of meaning.

• I hate working/to work at weekends.


• She began playing/to play the guitar when she was six.


• I intend telling her/to tell her what I think.

In British English, we usually use like . . . -ing to talk about enjoyment, and like to ... to talk about choices and habits.

• I like climbing mountains.
  


• I like to start work early in the morning.

After the conditionals would like, would prefer, would hate and would love, we use the infinitive.

• I'd like to tell you something.


• 'Can I give you a lift?' 'No, thanks. I'd prefer to walk.'


• I'd love to have a coat like that.

• Do you like dancing? ( = Do you enjoy dancing?)


• Would you like to dance? (An invitation. = Do you want to dance now?)

In time or on time?

Sometimes two prepositions can be used with the same noun, but the meaning is different.

• Lessons begin at 8.30 and I always arrive on time. (= at 8.30)


• Lessons begin at 8.30 and I always get there in time. (= before 8.30; I'm not late)


• In the end we went home. (= finally, after a long period)


• At the end of the book they get married.


• The two men are in business. (= they are businessmen)


• The two men are in Germany on business. (= they are there for work and not for a holiday)


• I'll see you in a moment. (= very soon)


• I can't speak to you at the moment. (= right now)

On time and in time

On time = punctual, not late.
If something happens on time, it happens at the time which was planned:

• The 11.45 train left on time. (= it left at 11.45)


• Til meet you at 7.30.'   'OK, but please be on time.' (= don't be late, be there at 7.30


• The conference was well-organised. Everything began and finished on time.

The opposite of on time is late:

• Be on time. Don't be late.

In time (for something / to do something) = soon enough:

• Will you be home in time for dinner?
  (= soon enough for dinner)


• I've sent Emma a birthday present. 1 hope it arrives in time (for her birthday).
  (= on or before her birthday)


• I'm in a hurry. I want to be home in time to see the game on television.
  (= soon enough to see the game)

The opposite of in time is too late:

• I got home too late to see the game on television.

You can say just in time (= almost too late):

• We got to the station just in time for our train.


• A child ran into the road in front of the car - I managed to stop just in time.

prepositions: in and into

1. To talk about the position of something (with no movement), we use in.

• Where's Susie? In the bedroom.


• My mother's the woman in the chair by the window.

2. When we talk about a movement, we usually use into.

• She came into my room holding a paper.


• I walked out into the garden to think.

After some words, both are possible. (For example throw, jump, cut, push).
We prefer into when we think of the movement, and in when we think of the end of the movement-
the place where something will be.

Compare

• She threw her ring into the air.


• She threw her ring in(to) the river.

We use in after sit down, and very after put.

• He sat down in his favourite armchair (NOT He sat down into...)


• I put my hand in my pocket.

if so and if not

We can use these expressions instead of repeating a verb that has already been mentioned.

• Are you free this evening? If so, let's go out for a meal.
  (=... If you are...)


• I might see you tomorrow. If not, then I'll be Saturday.
  (=... if I don't...)

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

List I

idea or ideal?	Bristolians have particular difficulty distinguishing between these two because of the intrusive Bristol ‘l’. These exemplar sentences should help: Your IDEA is brilliant. This is an IDEAL spot for a picnic. His IDEALS prevent him from eating meat.
indexes or indices?	Both are acceptable plural forms of ‘index’ but they are used differently. Use INDEXES to refer to alphabetical lists of references in books. Use INDICES in mathematical, economic and technical contexts.
inter-/intra-	The prefix INTER- means between or among (e.g. international). The prefix INTRA- means within, on the inside (e.g. intravenous).
-ise or -ize?	Most words ending with this suffix can be spelt -ise or -ize in British English. American English is more prescriptive and insists on -ize whenever there is a choice. House-styles in Britain vary from publisher to publisher and from newspaper to newspaper. (You may have noticed that in this book I favour -ise.) When making your choice, bear these two points in mind: " These nineteen words have to be -ise: advertise, advise, apprise, arise, chastise, circumcise, comprise, compromise, despise, devise, disguise, enfranchise, excise, exercise, improvise, revise, supervise, surprise, televise. " Only one verb of more than one syllable has to be -ize: capsize. (One syllabled verbs like ‘seize’ still need care, of course.) Whatever you decide, be consistent within one piece of writing and be consistent with derivatives. If you use ‘realize’ in one paragraph, you must use ‘realization’ and not ‘realisation’ at another point in the same piece. If you use ‘sympathize’, then you must refer to ‘sympathizers’ and not to ‘sympathisers’ elsewhere. Many authorities prefer to use -ize when there is a choice. In practice, many writers prefer to use -ise because this choice is relatively trouble-free. The decision is yours!