Homophones - Lair V Layer

Lair

• The bear returned to his lair (=den/home) to feast on the huge fish it had caught by the river.

Layer

• We stripped several of layers of paint of the wall before repainting it.
• The road was covered with a thick layer of snow, which made driving impossible.
• The ozone layer is depleting rapidly due to the pollution caused by mankind.

Proverbs and Sayings - A Bird in The Hand is Worth Two in The Bush

Meaning:

What you have is worth more than something better than you do not have and might not get.

A: Why did you turn down that job interview?

B: This interview may lead to a higher salary and better company benefits, but I’m not willing to risk losing my current job which pays me fairly well for doing something I love. It’s like they say, ‘A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.’

Confused and Misused Words - Advise V Advice

Advise

·        It’s very difficult to advise (verb) stubborn people.

Advice

• I’ve come to the conclusion that free advice (noun) is rarely appreciated. 

Proverbs and Sayings - Better (to be) Safe Than Sorry

Meaning: It’s better to be cautious than to take risks that you would regret later or cause harm or put you in danger

1.      A: Why do you need an umbrella? It’s such a sunny day.

        B: Well, better safe than sorry. It might rain later.

2.    A: Are you sure you need travel insurance for such a short trip?

  B: Better safe than sorry. My luggage could get lost at the airport.

Proverbs and Sayings - Better Late Than Never

1.    I realize I’m really late in starting my own online business, but I reckon it’s better late than never.

2.    A: My apologies for the delay. Traffic was terrible.

    B: It’s ok. Better late than never.

Proverbs and Sayings - Better The Devil You Know Than The Devil You Don't (Know)

Meaning: Better to be stuck with an unpleasant person or situation that you know and understand than to change the situation with the risk of ending up with someone or something that may be worse.

·         I may be stuck in an unhappy marriage, but then I thought, ‘Well, better the devil you know’. So, unless and until someone better comes along, I'm going to stay on. 

Homophones - Knight V Night

Knight

• Every woman dreams of meeting her knight in shining armour.
• Sam was knighted (=given the rank of knight) by the Queen for successfully defeating the enemy and saving the nation.

Night

·        He worked day and night for almost 3 years before his efforts paid off.

Confused and Misused Words - Allay V Alley V Ally

Allay

·        The latest piece of news allayed (= lessened) her fears.

Alley

• It’s not advisable to walk down dark alleys (=narrow streets) by yourself.
• I love bowling centres that have wide bowling alleys.

Ally

·        It’s crucial for every country to have allies (= political friends). 

Proverbs and Sayings - There Is No Accounting for Taste

Meaning: One can’t explain why different people like different things. Usually used to refer to something we don’t like.

A: I can’t believe how much James paid for that antique watch!

B: Well, there’s no accounting for taste.

Exercise 27 - Active and Passive Voice: Perfect Tense and Modals

ANSWERS

Practice A

2, 3, 5, 7, 8

Practice B

1.         have already been sewn
2.         must obey
3.         had been nursed
4.         may be cancelled
5.         has just been brushed
6.         will have been operated on
7.         had already demolished
8.         must be repaired
9.         may choose
10.         will have been submitted

Homonyms - Alight

Alight

• The rioters overturned many cars and set them alight (= set them on fire) during last night’s protest.
• A lot of passengers alight (= get out of train/bus) at Oxford station every morning.

Homophones - Idle V Idol

Idle

• Even as an adult, Zack is bone idle (=very lazy). It’s no wonder he has trouble keeping a job.
• I painted that picture during an idle moment (= a moment when I had nothing to do).
• It’s a shame to see the bicycle lying idle (=not in use) in the garage.

Idol

• Michael Jordan is Sam’s idol. It’s no surprise that his entire room is filled with Michael’s posters and photos.

Homophones - Groan V Grown

Groan

• Peter gave a loud groan (noun) as he struggled to get up.
• Peter groaned (verb) in dismay when he saw the pile of dirty dishes in the sink.

Grown

• It’s amazing how much Sally has grown (= past simple of grow) in the past year.

Similes With Like - Like The Back of Your Hand

John knows this building like the back of his hand (ie. He knows this building very well). He’s been working here for the past 15 years.

Similes With As - As Agile As A Cat/Monkey

All the dancers performing last night were not only graceful, but they were also as agile as a monkey/cat!

Confused and Misused Words - Affect V Effect

Affect

• Many city dwellers were affected by the sudden shortage of water.
• Working long hours is starting to affect my health.

Effect

·         What effect (=result or consequence) will the sudden water shortage have on city dwellers?

·         The pain killers had no effect on her at all.

Prefix: Anti-

1.   against

Anti-ageing – used to describe substances that are intended to prevent or slow down the aging process

·        Anti-ageing products are generally very well-received the world over.

   2. the opposite of

Anticlimax – a disappointing ending when expecting something exciting

• Returning home from an amazing trip is always a bit of an anticlimax.  

Anticlockwise - opposite of clockwise

• To open the bottle, just twist the cap anticlockwise.

Prefixes - What are They?

Meaning: a word- forming element that is attached to the beginning of a stem to create a new word.

Eg. Disloyal, misunderstood, reload.

Homophones - Heroine V Heroin

Heroine

·        Melissa was hailed as a heroine (=female hero) in the media for saving a young boy from a burning house.

Heroin

·        Sam was expelled from school after he was caught taking heroin (=a drug) in school.

Phrasal Verbs - Blow (Blow Out v Blow Over V Blow Up)

Blow out

·        There was a round of applause when the birthday boy blew out the candles.

Blow over

• By the time the storm blew over (=passed over and went away), almost everything in the small town was destroyed.
• Once the media loses interest in it, this scandal will soon blow over (=go away).

Blow up

• A small bomb blew up (=exploded) not far from the bank this morning.
• Everyone is so busy blowing up balloons for tomorrow’s party.
• I’m going to blow up (=enlarge) this photo and frame it up.

Confused and Misused Words - Adverse V Averse

Adverse – having a negative or harmful effect on something

·        The concert was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.

·        I’m immune to adverse criticism. I just do my best.

·        The CEO of that company received a lot of adverse criticism/publicity for his decision to close more outlets.

Averse – to object to something

• I’m not averse to indulging in alcohol or junk food every once in a while. 

Exercise 26 - Every and All

ANSWERS

Practice 1

2.                every

3.                all

4.                all

5.                Every

6.                all

7.                every

8.                all

9.                every

Practice 2

2.     everything

3.     Everybody/Everyone

4.     everything

5.     everywhere

6.     Everybody/Everyone

7.     everywhere

8.     Everything

Practice 3

2.                is

3.                has

4.                likes

5.                has

6.                was

7.                makes

Grammar - Every and All

A. Every

The rules:

1.    It is used with a singular noun.

·         Alan has been to every country in Asia.

·         Every year we go to China for a holiday.

·         She looks happy every time I see her.

2.    A singular verb is used after every…:

·         Every house on this street is huge. (not ‘are the same’)

·         Every country has a national anthem. (not ‘have’)

        Every                    v            All

Every student in the class passed the History exam.	All the students in the class passed the History exam.
Every country has a national anthem.	All countries have a national anthem.

   

    B. Every day and all day

    Every day = on all days          V             All day = the complete                                                                            day

How often do you drink coffee? Every day.	The weather was terrible yesterday. It snowed all day.
Ben surfs the internet for about 2 hours every evening. * also every morning/night/summer etc.	I was ill yesterday, so I slept all day. (=the whole day) * also all morning/night/summer etc.

C.  Everybody (or everyone) / everything / everywhere

Everybody/everyone (people)

·         Everybody/everyone needs family and friends.

Everything (things)

·         I’m so glad I already have everything I need.

Everywhere (places)

·         I’ve looked everywhere but I still can’t find my car keys.

Note:

Use a singular verb after everybody/everyone/everything:

·         Everyone has personal problems. (not ‘Everyone have’)

Homophones - Hall V Haul

Hall

• We have never seen so many people in the town hall before.
• You can hang your coat in the hall before you join us for dinner in the kitchen.

Haul – pull something heavy slowly and with difficulty

·        The fishermen were thrilled to be hauling in huge fish in their nets this morning.

Common Idioms - A bed of roses

A bed of roses – any easy or comfortable place, position, occupation etc.

·         Many young, unmarried couples tend to have this misconception that marriage is a bed of roses.

·         Being the CEO of a multinational company is no bed of roses.

·         Being a celebrity’s pet certainly looks like a bed of roses. 

Confused or Misused Words - Access V Excess

Access – see or use

• We’ll need to have access to all your financial records before we can help you.
• I was unable to access my Facebook account ever since I arrived in China.

Excess – too much (of something)

• People who struggle to lose weight tend to have an excess of fat in their diet.

Common Idioms - Beat About the Bush

Beat about the bush – to talk about something in an indirect way

• I can’t understand why some people like to beat about the bush. Life will be so much easier if they just say exactly what they think.
• No one understands the manager most of the time as he likes to beat about the bush.

Phrasal Verbs - Back (Back away/off, Back down, Back out of (sth) & Back (someone) up)

Back away or back off – move back slowly

·        The bully backed away/off when he realized he was outnumbered.

Back down – to admit you were wrong or that you have been defeated

·        Although John knew he was in the wrong, he stubbornly refused to back down.

Back out of (something)– try to avoid doing something you said you would do

·        My uncle said he would take us to Disneyland, but now he’s trying to back out of it.

Back (someone) up

• Andrew’s mother always backs him up (=support someone), even when he’s clearly in the wrong.
• Always remember to back up (=save) all your data on your computer and pen drive.

Homophones - Hail V Hale

Hail

• It was hailing heavily last night. (hail is small balls of ice that fall like rain)
• It’s late. Let’s hail a taxi.
• Lucas hails from (=comes from) the beautiful city of Rome.

Hale

• Zack’s grandfather was hale and hearty (=healthy and strong) till the ripe old age of 80.

Homophones - Flea V Flee

Flea

·        The vet did a great job by removing every single flea from my poor dog.

·        I have a stall selling antiques at the Amcorp Mall weekend flea market.

Flee - to escape by running away

·         All the people in the nearby towns had to flee for their lives when the hurricane struck. 

·         It’s been almost 24 hours since the bank robbery. It is likely that the robbers have fled the city.

Exercise 25 - Be/Have/Do in Present and Past Tenses

ANSWERS

Practice 1

2.     Did

3.     were

4.     was

5.     Has

6.     did

7.     were

8.     Has

9.     did

10.    have

Practice 2

2.     was

3.     Have

4.     are

5.     were

6.     have

7.     is

8.     was

9.     has

Practice 3

3.     eaten

4.     enjoying

5.     damaged

6.     use

7.     gone away

8.     understand

9.     listening

10.    pronounced

11.    open

Grammar - Be/Have/Do in Present and Past Tenses

A     be (= am/is/are/was/were) + -ing

          am/is/are + -ing (present continuous)

·         Please turn down the radio. I’m studying.

·         What are you doing this weekend?

·         It isn’t raining now.

        was/were + -ing (past continuous)

·         I was studying when Sarah called.

·         What were you doing at ten o’clock?

·         It wasn’t raining, so we went for a walk.

       

B    be + past participle (eaten, slept, played)

          am/is/are + past participle (passive present simple)

·        Our rooms are cleaned every day.

·        I’m always invited to networking events.

·        Strawberries are imported into Malaysia.

        was/were + past participle (passive past simple)

·        Our rooms were cleaned this morning.

·        These houses were built over 30 years ago.

·        Where were you born?

C    have/has + past participle (present perfect)

·         We’ve cleaned our rooms.

·         Tim has lost his house keys.

·         Brenda hasn’t been to Asia.

·         Where have the children gone?

D    do/does/did + infinitive (eat/sleep/play)

       do/does + infinitive (present simple negative and questions)

·         I love coffee but I don’t like tea.

·         Cameron doesn’t go out very often.

·         What does John usually do in his free time?

·         Does your brother live alone?

        did + infinitive (past simple negative and questions)

·         I didn’t exercise yesterday.

·         It didn’t rain last month.

·         When did Peter and Sarah go on holiday?