Confusing words in English

because, as, since or for

Word	Explanation	Example
because	The reason is very important in the sentence, so because comes in the sencond clause of the sentence.	I read this book because I like it.
as	The reason is already known.	As we read, we learn.
since	The reason is already known. (more formal than as)	Since we were in the computer lab, our English has improved.
for	The reason is given at the end of the sentence.	We went to a small restaurant - for we were hungry.

borrow or lend

Word	Explanation	Example
borrow	to take and use sth. that belongs to sb. else	I'd like to borrow your umbrella.
lend	to give sth. to sb. that belongs to you	I can lend you my umbrella.

borrow or lend - Exercise

Top of Form

borrow or lend? - Choose the correct word. 1) Could you borrow lend me some money, please? 2) Some pupils can borrow lend books from their school. 3) Will you borrow lend me your umbrella till tomorrow? 4) Should I borrow lend him my football? 5) You may borrow lend my bike, but be careful. 6) Could I borrow lend your cup? 7) You can borrow lend your book to Steve. 8) Why do students borrow lend so much money from their parents? 9) Peter won't borrow lend his car to anyone. 10) Will your mother borrow lend you some money?

Answer:

1) Could you lend me some money, please?

2) Some pupils can borrow books from their school.

3) Will you lend me your umbrella till tomorrow?

4) Should I lend him my football?

5) You may borrow my bike, but be careful.

6) Could I borrow your cup?

7) You can lend your book to Steve.

8) Why do students borrow so much money from their parents?

9) Peter won't lend his car to anyone.

10) Will your mother lend you some money?

Pronouns

ASKING QUESTIONS

Who - asking for a person and animal: subject: no do, does, did
Jane opened the door.	Who opened the door?
Tom helped in the garden.	Who helped in the garden?
Who - asking for a person and animal: object: do, does, did
They greet their teacher.	Who do they greet?
He asked Mary about the burglary.	Who did they ask about the burglary?
What - asking for a thing: subject: no do, does, did
His ankle hurt.	What hurts?
The flower pot fell on the floor.	What fell on the floor?
What - asking for a thing: object: do, does, did
She usually wears jeans.	What does she usually wear?
They built a castle in the sand.	What did they build in the sand?
Whose - asking for the 2nd case
This is Peter’s pencil.	Whose pencil is this?
Carol’s father was a drummer.	Whose father was a drummer?
When - asking for the time
I saw her yesterday.	When did you see her?
They came home at midnight.	When did they come home?
Where - asking for the place
He flew to Manchester.	Where did he fly?
He lives in a big house.	Where does he live?
Why - asking for a reason
He stayed at home because he was ill.	Why did he stay at home?
They like him because he is always friendly.	Why do they like him?
How - asking for the manner
He drove fast.	How did he drive?
My holidays were great.	How were your holidays?
How long - asking for a period of time
They stayed there for a week.	How long did they stay there?
He lived in London for a year.	How long did he live in London?
How many - asking for an exact amount
In this factory work 500 people.	How many people work in this factory?
50 kids were at his party.	How many kids were at his party?
How much - asking for not exact amount
He gets 10 pounds pocket money a month.	How much pocket money does he get a month?
She bought three bottles of wine.	How much wine did she buy?
How often - asking for frequency
They play tennis twice a week.	How often do they play tennis?
She meets him every Friday.	How often does she meet him?

Special uses of some adverbs

Short is used as an adverb in expressions like stop short (= stop suddenly)

 and cut short (= interrupt)

Shortly means ‘soon’.

• You will hear from us shortly.

Slow and slowly

Slow is an adjective; slowly is an adverb. However, slow can be used as an adverb after verbs like go and drive.

• Go slow.

Sound and soundly

Sound is used as an adverb in a few expressions. Example: sound asleep.

• The baby is sound asleep.

In other cases we usually use soundly.

• The baby is sleeping soundly.

Straight

Straight is used both as an adjective and as an adverb.

• A straight road goes straight from one place to another.

Tight and tightly

Tight is an adjective; tightly is an adverb. After certain verbs, tight can also be used as an adverb.

Common expressions are: hold tight and packed tight. Note that before a verb, we always use tightly.

Tightly held

Tightly packed

Wrong and wrongly

The normal adverb is wrongly. In an informal style, wrong can be used instead of wrongly after a verb.

• I wrongly believed that I was going in the right direction.
• You guessed wrong.