I was reading a post from a Facebook page Learn English, and suddenly I got the idea to note down each new English words or grammatical rules in my blog that we all need to know for learning English. Hopefully this post will also help others to learn English.
# Learning -01: homophones
Homophones are words that sound the same but have a different meaning and spelling.
Example:
knew – new
throne – thrown
whole – hole
bored – board
hour – our
# Learning -02: while versus during
‘During’ is a preposition which is used before a noun (during + noun) and it says when something happens.
No one spoke a word during the meeting.
‘While’ is a conjunction that is used to talk about two things that are happening at the same time and is used with a subject and a verb (while + subject + verb).
A dolphin appeared, while we were watching the whales.
# Learning -03: when do we use its and it’s?
‘Its’: is a possessive determiner and is used similarly to how we use ‘my’ or ‘your’.
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
The bed is too wide for its frame.
‘it’s’: is a contraction or short form of ‘it is’ or ‘it has’.
I am not going swimming today, it’s too cold.
It’s a good day for swimming.
# Learning -04: loud / aloud / allowed
‘Loud’ is an adjective and means to make a lot of noise.
Turn the music down, it is so loud.
And it can also refer to bright clothes.
Wow, look at his shirt, it sure is loud.
‘Aloud’ is an adverb and means to speak out, so you can be heard.
The teacher told the students to read aloud.
And ‘allowed’ is a verb meaning to have permission.
We are not allowed to ride our bikes in there, look at the sign on the gate.
# Learning -05: in the way or on the way?
When you’re going somewhere, you’re ‘on the way’.
I’m on my way to the beach.
Something that is ‘in the way’ impedes your progress…
Don’t leave things in the passage where they’re in the way.
…or obscures your view.
I can’t see the stage because his hat is in the way.
# Learning- 06: all and every
You use ‘every’ with singular countable nouns.
Every child wins a prize.
But you use ‘all’ with plurals.
All children win a prize.
# Learning – 07: like and looks like
You use the verb ‘like’ to talk about what you prefer and enjoy.
They like to ride horses in the bush.
He likes seafood.
‘Look like’ is used to ask about someone’s appearance.
What does he look like?
He’s got a beard and wears glasses.
‘Looks like’ means resembles.
She looks like her mother.
And you can say ‘it looks like rain’ if it is about to rain.
‘Like’ is also used to ask about someone’s character.
What’s he like?
He’s friendly and enthusiastic.
# Learning – 08: Between and Among
You use ‘between’ for a specific location, usually separated by two things.
That’s an interesting way to use the space between those two buildings.
‘Among’ is used when the location is general and there are several things around.
I love to go to the park and walk among the trees.
You can use ‘between’ when you specify who or which, even when there is more than two
I can chose between Sydney University, UTS or Macquarie.
But when you generalize, you say ‘among’.
I can choose among several universities.
# Learning – 09: ‘Birds of a feather stick together’
It means that similar people with similar tastes keep to their own group.
All of his friends are into football. Birds of a feather stick together.
# Learning- 10: afraid or frightened?
You don’t use afraid before a noun. You can say a frightened animal, but not an afraid animal.
You can be ‘afraid of ‘something and you can be ‘frightened of’ something:
I’m afraid of heights.
She’s frightened of getting old.
You can also say that you are ‘frightened to’ or ‘afraid to’ do something:
I’m afraid to speak up.
People are frightened to leave their doors unlocked.
Afraid can be used to politely express regret, like this:
I’m afraid that we don’t stock that item.
But you don’t use ‘frightened’ to express regret.
# Learning – 11: Spring
jump suddenly and lightly and a number of other meanings
Dogs can spring.
The past tense is sprang.
The cat sprang and caught the bird.
The past participle is sprung.
It’s sprung the trap.
# Learning – 12: maybe, perhaps
Maybe and perhaps mean the same thing – that something is possible but not certain.
Maybe I will go fishing this weekend.
Perhaps is used in more formal English.
Perhaps you would like to sit down?
All topics and examples of this post are collected from Learn English website. For learning more, you can visit their site.