Idioms with Prepositions - At a Stretch

Meaning – without a break

Ø      I don’t know how some people can use the computer for more than 2 hours at a stretch. I get sore eyes.

Ø      Sam has a very demanding job. It’s no surprise that spends more than 9 hours at a stretch in the office on most days.

Homophones - Dew v Due

Dew (noun) – drops of water that form on the ground and other surfaces during the night

Ø      I’ve gotten used to the sight of morning dew on my windscreen when I leave for work in the early hours of the morning.

Due

1.  (adj) – expected

Ø     What time is the next train due?

Ø     Their second child is due in June.

2.  (adj) – because of

Ø     A lot of her unhappiness is due to the long hours and low salary.

Ø     The bus was delayed due to heavy traffic.  

3.  (adj) - owed

Ø     The next payment is due (= to be paid) in a month’s time.

Verbal Idioms - Be Set in One's Ways

Meaning – be unwilling to change one’s habits/behaviour

Ø    Marriage and children isn’t going to change Vincent. He’s too set in his ways.

Ø    Uncle Sam has been running a business without a computer for the past twenty years. So, I highly doubt he would get one anytime soon. After all, he seems too set in his ways.

Similes with Like - Know Something Like the Back of One's Hand

Meaning – to be thoroughly familiar with something

Ø      Mr Jackson knows this building like the back of his hand. After all, he’s  the longest serving employee in this company.

Ø      Mike has been a tour guide in Rome for the past ten years. It’s no  surprise he knows the city like the back of his hand.

Homonyms - Stake (As a Noun)

Stake (noun)

1.   share

Ø     Mr Jones holds a 20% stake in this company and as such, wields a lot of influence over management.

2.  risk

Ø     Our team is playing for huge stakes – the chance to play in the final.

Ø     Danny spent two days in Las Vegas playing high stakes blackjack at the casinos.

Ø     George has invested his entire life savings into this business. So, he can’t afford to fail as the stakes are high.

3.  stick

Ø     The stakes have been hammered firmly into the ground and will be used to form parts of the fence.

Grammar -Which v Whose

Compiled from Grammar Builder Book 3

The rules are:

1. Which or whose can be used as the subject of the verb in a question in such ways:

a)    Which / Whose + noun + main verb

Ø      Which restaurant serves the best steak in town? 

     Eden serves the best steak in town.

Ø    Whose parrot speaks Spanish?

 Sam’s parrot speaks Spanish.

b)   Which / Whose + noun + the verb ‘to be’ + base form of main verb + ing’

Ø    Which phone is ringing non-stop – yours or Ben’s?     

    Ben’s phone is ringing non-stop.

Ø   Whose dog was barking all night?                                     

     Mr Johnson’s dog was barking all night.

c)    Which / Whose + noun + the verb ‘to have’ + past participle form of main verb

Ø     Which basketball team has taken the lead in the tournament?   The Chicago Bulls has taken the lead in the tournament.

Ø     Whose daughter has won the singing contest this year?

    Matthew’s daughter has won the singing contest this year.

Compiled from Grammar Builder Book 3

2.   Which or whose can be used as the object of the verb in a question in such ways:

a)  Which / Whose + noun + the verb ‘to do’ / modal + noun /  pronoun + base form of main verb

Ø   Which room do they want to use for the meeting? 

     They want to use Room 1.

Ø    Whose car can the whole group fit into?          

     The whole group can fit into Lance’s van.

b)   Which / Whose + noun + the verb ‘to be’ + noun / pronoun + base form of main verb + ‘ing’
Ø       Which bank are you contacting tomorrow?           
      I’m contacting HSBC.

    

Ø    Whose car is Tim admiring?                             

     He is admiring my uncle’s car.

c)    Which / Whose + noun + the verb ‘to have’ + noun / pronoun + past participle of main verb

Ø  Whose curry recipe has Sally followed?
    She has followed Aunt Mary’s curry recipe.

3.   The past participle can be used to form the passive voice with which or whose questions in this way:

Which / Whose + noun + the verb ‘to be’ / the verb ‘to have’ / modal + past participle

Ø   Whose song was recommended by all the judges?                                                    

    Hannah’s song was recommended by the judges.

Ø   Whose work has been featured in several magazines?                 Norman Green’s work has been featured in several magazines.

Ø  Which animal can be taught to speak?

    The parrot can be taught to speak.

Phrasal Verbs - Black Out

Meaning – faint or become unconscious

Ø      Sally blacked out for over an hour when she slipped and fell in the bathroom.

Ø      Ken blacked out after receiving a blow to his head in a brawl (= fight) at a bar last night.

Similes with As - As meek as A Lamb

Meaning – submissive, humble

Ø      We expected our new principal to be stern and strict, but he turned out to be as meek as a lamb.

Ø      Despite being a celebrity, John is as meek as a lamb. In fact, everyone was surprised that he was so shy and down-to earth in person.