Farther and further

Farther and further

Distance

We use both farther and further to talk about distance. There is no difference of meaning.

• England is farther/further away than Finland.

Additional

We can use further (but not farther) to mean ‘additional’, ‘extra’, ‘more advanced’.

• For further information, see the notice board. ( NOT For farther information)

Lay and lie

Lay and lie

There are three similar verbs that can be confused: lay (regular except for spelling), lie (irregular), and lie (regular).

Lay

Lay is a regular verb except for its spelling. Its forms are:

Infinitive: (to) lay

-ing form: laying

Past: laid

Past participle: laid

Lay means:

i. Place something in a certain position or on a surface.

• Lay the book on the table.
• He laid his hand on my shoulder.

ii. Cause somebody or something to be in a certain state.

• Sprinkle water to lay the dust.
• Lay somebody under an obligation.

iii. Bet money on something.

• I’ll lay you Tk. 500 that she won’t come.

iv. (of birds, insects etc.) produce eggs.

• The cuckoo lays its eggs in other bird’s nests.

Lie (irregular)

The forms of the irregular verb lie are:

Infinitive: (to) lie

-ing form: lying

Past: lay

Past participle: lain

Lie means:

Be down, be/become horizontal. It has no object.

• Don’t lie in bed all day. (NOT don’t lay in …)
• I lay down and closed my eyes. (NOT I laid down…)

Lie (regular)

The regular verb (lie) means: say things that are not true.

• You lied to me when you said you loved me.

Adjective

Adjective

In English, there are lots of adjectives. These are so much important to decorate a sentence nicely and perfectly. That’s why we publishing some important adjectives below:

Usual Order of Attributive Adjectives

1) certain determiners such as all, both and half
2) determiners including the articles a, and and the;
possessive adjectives e.g. my, his, her, our and their;
demonstrative adjectives e.g. that, these, this, and those; and
certain other determiners such as another, any, each, either,
enough, every, neither, no, some, what and which
3) cardinal numbers e.g. one, two, three; and
certain other determiners such as few, many and several
4) determiners such as fewer, fewest, least, less, more and most
5) general descriptive adjectives, often in the following order:
a) adjectives indicating size e.g. large, long, narrow
b) adjectives indicating weight e.g. heavy, light
c) participles and other adjectives e.g. clever, excited, interesting
d) adjectives indicating temperature e.g. cold, hot, warm
e) adjectives indicating humidity e.g. dry, damp, wet
f) adjectives indicating age e.g. new, six-month-old, young
g) adjectives indicating shape e.g. barrel-shaped, round, square
6) adjectives indicating color e.g. blue, grey, white
7) adjectives indicating materials e.g. cloth, leather, metal
8) proper adjectives e.g. American, Victorian
9) defining adjectives, usually indicating purpose, method of operation, location,
time or categories of people

Below are pairs of adjectives with opposite meanings, indicating size:

deep	shallow
enormous	tiny
large	small
long	short
wide	narrow
thick	thin

The following are examples of adjectives indicating weight:

heavy
light
5-kilogram
2-ton

Below are examples of adjectives which indicate temperature, humidity, age and shape.

Temperature	Humidity	Age	Shape
hot	wet	new	square
cold	dry	old	round
warm	damp	young	triangular
cool	humid	six-week-old	octagonal
	moist	two-year-old	spherical

Participles and other general descriptive adjectives which do not fall into any of the other categories usually follow adjectives indicating size and weight, and precede other types of attributive adjective. In the following examples, the adjective alert, and the participles twittering and excited are underlined.
e.g. two large, alert black cats
eleven tiny, twittering birds
many excited children

Below are examples of adjectives which indicate color:

red	black	pink
orange	white	magenta
yellow	brown	scarlet
green	beige	crimson
blue	silver	fox-red
violet	golden	olive-green
purple	turquoise	sky-blue, etc.

Below are examples of adjectives which indicate materials:

wooden	cotton	metal
paper	wool	iron
cardboard	silk	steel
plastic	satin	brass
rock	corduroy	gold
stone	velvet	silver
brick	flannel	copper
concrete	denim	lead
glass	nylon	tin
leather	polyester	aluminum

Predicate Adjectives	Attributive Adjectives
The boat is afloat.	the floating boat
The child is afraid.	the frightened child
The sky is aglow.	the glowing sky
The animal is alive.	the live animal
The boy is asleep.	the sleeping boy

Linking Verb	Linking Verb used with Predicate Adjective
to become	The wind became stronger.
to feel	The blanket feels soft, warm and comfortable.
to grow	The weather is growing cold.
to look	The sky looked grey and overcast.
to seem	His reasoning seems logical.
to smell	The soup smelled good.
to sound	The story sounds interesting.
to taste	The carrots tasted sweet.
to turn	The leaves turned scarlet.

Appearance	Condition	Feelings negative	Feelings positive	Feelings natural	Shape	Size	Sound	Speed	Taste	Time	Touch
adorable alert average beautiful blonde bloody blushing bright clean clear cloudy colorful concerned crowded curious cute dark dirty drab distinct dull elegant fancy filthy glamorous gleaming graceful grotesque homely light misty motionless muddy plain poised quaint scary shiny smoggy sparkling spotless stormy strange ugly unsightly unusual	alive brainy broken busy careful cautious clever crazy damaged dead difficult easy fake false famous forward fragile guilty helpful helpless important impossible infamous innocent inquisitive mad modern open outgoing outstanding poor powerful puzzled real rich right robust sane scary shy sleepy stupid super tame thick tired wild wrong	afraid angry annoyed anxious arrogant ashamed awful bad bewildered bored concerned condemned confused creepy cruel dangerous defeated defiant depressed disgusted disturbed doubtful eerie embarrassed envious evil fierce foolish frantic frightened grieving guilty helpless hungry hurt ill jealous lonely mad naughty nervous obnoxious outrageous panicky repulsive safe scared shy sleepy sore strange tense terrible tired troubled unusual upset uptight weary wicked worried	agreeable alert amused brave bright charming cheerful comfortable cooperative courageous delightful determined eager elated enchanting encouraging energetic enthusiastic excited exuberant faithful fantastic friendly frowning funny gentle glorious good happy healthy helpful hilarious innocent jolly kind lively lovely lucky obedient perfect proud relaxed relieved silly smiling splendid successful thoughtful victorious vivacious well witty wonderful	alright calm different fair fine OK pleasant puzzled	broad crooked curved deep even flat hilly jagged round shallow square steep straight thick thin triangular uneven	average big fat gigantic huge large little long massive medium miniature narrow petite short skinny small tall tiny wide	cooing deafening faint harsh high-pitched hissing hushed husky loud melodic moaning mute noisy purring quiet raspy screeching shrill silent soft squeaky squealing thundering voiceless whispering	fast quick rapid slow swift	bitter bland delicious different fresh greasy hot juicy repulsive revolting ripe rotten salty sour spicy stale strong sweet tasteless tasty terrible wonderful	ancient brief. early late long modern new old old-fashioned quick short young	blunt boiling breakable breezy broken bumpy chilly clean cold cool crooked cuddly curly damaged damp different dirty dry dusty filthy flaky fluffy fuzzy greasy grubby hard icy loose plastic prickly ripe rough rubbery scratchy shaky shaggy sharp silky slimy slippery smooth soft solid steady sticky tight uneven unusual unripe warm weak wet wooden wooly

Shape	Size	Sound	Speed	Taste	Time
broad crooked curved deep even flat hilly jagged round shallow square steep straight thick thin triangular uneven	average big fat gigantic huge large little long massive medium miniature narrow petite short skinny small tall tiny wide	cooing deafening faint harsh high-pitched hissing hushed husky loud melodic moaning mute noisy purring quiet raspy screeching shrill silent soft squeaky squealing thundering voiceless whispering	fast quick rapid slow swift	bitter bland delicious different fresh greasy hot juicy repulsive revolting ripe rotten salty sour spicy stale strong sweet tasteless tasty terrible wonderful	ancient brief. early late long modern new old old-fashioned quick short young

Big, large and great

Concrete nouns: bit and large

Big and large are used mostly with concrete nouns(the names of things you can see, touch etc.). Big is most common in an informal style.

• Get your big feet off my flowers.
• It was a large house, situated near the river.

Abstract nouns: great

Great is used mostly with abstract nouns(things you can’t see, touch etc.).

• You’ve made a great mistake.
• I have great respect for her ideas.

Big with countable abstract nouns:

Big can be used with countable abstract nouns in an informal style. Large is not normally used with abstract nouns.

• You’ve made a big mistake. (NOT a large mistake…)

Big is not used with uncountable abstract nouns (except in a few fixed expressions like big business, big trouble).

• His work shows great intelligence. (NOT … big intelligence)

Uncountable concrete nouns

With uncountable concrete nouns, none of these three words is usual.

• You have got a lot of luggage! (NOT … big/large/great luggage.)

Less and fewer

Less and fewer

The difference

Less is the comparative of little (used especially before uncountable nouns). Fewer is the comparative of few (used before countable plural nouns).

Compare:

• I earn less money than a postman.
• I’ve got fewer problems than I used to have.

Less is quite common before plural nouns, as well as uncountables, especially in an informal style.

• I’ve got less problems than I used to have.

Less/fewer with of and without of

Less of and fewer of are used before determiners (like the, my or this) and pronouns.

• I’d like to spend less of my time answering letters.
• At the college reunions, there are fewer of us each year.

Before nouns without determiners, of is not used.

• If you want to lose weight, eat less food. (NOT …less of food)
• Fewer people make their own bread these days. (NOT Fewer of people …)

In the end and at the end

In the end

In the end suggests that something happens after a lot of changes, problems or uncertainty.

• We made eight different plans for our holiday, but in the end we went to Cox’s Bazar again.
• I left in the middle of the film. Did they get married in the end?

At the end

At the end simply refers to position at the end of something. There is no sense of waiting or delay.

A declarative sentence has a full stoop at the end

Afraid and fear

Afraid

Afraid and fear

In an informal style, be afraid is more common than fear.

• Don’t be afraid. (NOT Don’t fear)
• Are you afraid of the dark?

I’m afraid = I’m sorry

I’m afraid (that) often means ‘ I’m sorry to tell you (that)’. It is used to introduce apologetic refusals and bad news.

• I’m afraid (that) I can’t help you.
• I’m afraid that there’s been an accident.

Afraid is not used before a noun

• Hamid is afraid
• Hamid is a frightened man. ( NOT … an afraid man.)

Well and good

Well and good can have similar meanings, but in this case well is an adverb, while good is an adjective.

Compare:

• He teaches very well. (NOT very good)
• I like that teacher. He is good. (NOT He is well)
• She speaks English well. (NOT speaks English good)

Note that adverbs cannot usually go between the verb and the object.

Soon and early

Soon

Soon usually relates to the time when one is talking or writing – it means ‘short time after now’

• Get well soon. ( NOT Get well early)

Soon can also relate to the time one is talking or writing about – it can mean ‘a short time after then’.

• The work was hard, but she soon got used to it.

Early

The adverb early means ‘near the beginning of the time-period that we are talking or thinking about’.

It does not usually mean ‘ a short time after now’.

• We usually take our holidays early in the year. ( NOT … soon in the year.)
• I usually get up early. ( NOT I usually get up soon)

Sometimes early means ‘before the expected time.

• The plane arrives ten minutes early.

Early can also be used as an adjective (e.g. an early train). The adjective early can sometimes have the same meaning as soon.

• Best wishes for an early recovery.

Note the common use of be early/late to mean ‘arrive early/late’.

• That woman is never early/late.

A watch is fast or slow, not early or late.

• My watch is five minutes fast/slow.

Confusing Singular and Plural

Singular and plural

1. Distributive plural

In descriptions of repeated single events, singular and plural nouns are both possible. When no details are given plural nouns are more normal.

· I often get headaches. (NOT I often get a headache)

When details of the time or situation are given, nouns are often singular.

· I often get a headache when I have been working on the computer.

2. Miscellaneous points

Most of the uncountable nouns are singular with no plural forms. Singular verbs are used with these nouns.

· Your hair is very pretty. (NOT Your hairs are …)

· My baggage has been sent to Greece by mistake. (NOT My baggages have …)

3. Plurals with no singular forms

Some nouns are always considered plural. They cannot be singular.

· Many cattle are suffering from a disease called BSE. (NOT Much cattle is …)

· Your jeans are too tight. (NOT Your jeans is …)

· My glasses are on my nose.

In order to speak of them as singular, we use a pair of.

· The plants are in the drawer.

· A pair of pants is in drawer.

· These scissors are dull.

· This pair of scissors is dull.

Verbs followed by Objects followed by Adverbs followed by Prepositions

Verbs followed by Objects followed by Adverbs followed by Prepositions

	Phrases
get over with: complete	If I read this book quickly I will get it over with before dinner.
let in on: invite	I decided the story was oddly funny and should let him in on it after lunch.
play off against: compete	I wanted Bill and Ben to happily play off against each other.
put down to: deduce	While inspecting the property the policeman sadly put the death down to an accident.
put up to: influenced	I told the judge I was put up to it before we went inside the bank.
take out on: abuse	I hoped the boy would not take his anger out on the dog.
take up on: agree	He wished his dad would not take him up on the mountain.
talk out of: deter	You talked me out of the job very quickly.

Verbs followed by Adverbs followed by Prepositions

Verbs followed by Adverbs followed by Prepositions

	Phrases
add up to: total	I am going to find out what that will add up to.
back down from: step away	I never back down from anything.
back out of: renege	You can’t back out of a contract.
boil down to: reduce	Her argument boils down to you being right or wrong.
bow out of: leave	She is going to bow out of the competition.
brush up on: study	He brushed up on his Spanish.
carry on with: keep going	You can carry on with your project.
catch up to: close in	The police were able to catch up to the thief.
clean up after: pick up for	Mom was tired because she cleaned up after her son.
come down to: arrive at	His choice came down to bread or water.
come down with: get sick	You will come down with the flu.
come out in: emerge	Your skin came out in pimples.
come up against: block	You may come up against some problems.
come up with: create	I will come up with an answer.
creep up on: sneak upon	Cats like to creep up on mice to catch them.
cry out for: plead	Our health system cried out for help.
cut back on: lessen	The school had to cut back on new books.
do away with: cancel	My parents had to do away with a holiday.
face up to: take responsibility	You should face up to your mistakes.
fall back on: depend on	I needed to fall back on my savings.
fit in with: adapt	It is easy for some people to fit in with others.
fool around with: joke	We liked to fool around with our friends.
get away with: escape	The criminal used a gun to get away with a crime.
get down to: be serious	The meeting had serious discussions to get down to.
get in on: involve	He wanted to get in on the new ideas.
give up on: quit	I am not going to give up on you.
go along with: pacify	I did not want to go along with his plans.
go back on: renege	You should never go back on a promise.
go through with: complete	You should always go through with something you start.
grow out of: increase in size	My daughter did not grow out of her clothes for two years.
hold out for: wait for	The union held out for better wages.
keep up with: stay level	The slow runners could not keep up with the others.
lead up to: climax	The movie has a storyline that leads up to a great ending.
live up to: accommodate	I have a reputation to live up to.
log on to: connect	I use a password to log on to my computer.
look down on: sneer at	Rich people seem to look down on the poor.
look forward to: expect	I know you look forward to the holidays.
look out for: observe	You need to keep a look out for speeding cars.
look up to: respect	I look up to my mother.
make up for: settle	He wanted to make up for his mistake.
pull out of: withdraw	He had to pull out of the race.
push on with: keep going	I will push on with or without you.
put up with: accept	I cannot put up with loud noises.
read up on: learn	I like to read up on strange stories.
rub off on: influence	I hope my bad habits don’t rub off on you.
run up against: confront	You may run up against a difficulty.
send away for: request	I am going to send away for a gift.
stick up for: help	I will stick up for you tomorrow.
stock up on: collect	I know people who stock up on supplies.
talk down to: condescending	You shouldn’t talk down to other people.
walk away with: succeed	He was able to walk away with the prize.
watch out for: take care	You need to watch out for biting insects.
wriggle out of: extract	I hope you can wriggle out of your problem.
zero in on: concentrate	We have to zero in on any difficulties.