Grammar - Before v After v During v While

 Before     After     During     While

 A.    Before     During     After

• Many people get nervous before the final exams.
• I fell asleep during the film.
• We were tired after our visit to the zoo.

 B.    Before     While       After

• Don’t forget to lock all the doors before you go out later.
• My grandmother often falls asleep while she’s watching television.
• They went home after they finished shopping.

 C.    During     While       For

 We use during + noun (during the exams). We use while + verb (while I’m    studying):

• We hardly spoke during the meal.
• We hardly spoke while we were eating. (not ‘during we were eating’)

 We use for  +  a period of time (five days/ three hours/ six years etc)

• I lived in Beijing for a year. (not ‘during a year’)
• We played tennis for three hours. (not ‘during three hours’)

 D.    Before/after  +  -ing (before sleeping / after playing etc)

• I always have breakfast before going to the gym. (not ‘before to go’)
• After doing the shopping, they went for dinner. (not ‘after to do’)
• I started exercising after having my breakfast. (not ‘after to have’)

Confused and Misused Words - Observance v Observation

Observance (noun) – the act of obeying the law or following a religious custom or tradition

• It’s most unfortunate that the mall does not insist on strict observance of the ‘No Smoking’ policy.
• In certain countries, fasting is a religious observance carried out once a year for an entire month.

Observation (noun) – the act of observing/watching something or someone

• Daniel was kept under observation overnight at the hospital after the accident before being sent home the next day.
• Sally made a few observations of the people working at the company while waiting to be interviewed.

Homonyms - Cricket

1.               a game (noun)

·  Cricket is a very popular sport in the US.

2.                a brown insect that makes short, loud noises by rubbing its wings together (noun)

·      We could hear the sounds of crickets very clearly in the stillness of the night.

Synonyms - Able

Able = Capable of doing sth (adj)

·        Anna is a very able/capable young lady. I’m confident she’ll have no trouble finding a job.

Proverbs and Sayings - Many Hands Make Light Work

Meaning – The more people you have helping on a job, the less work each person has. Hence, making it easier for everyone.

• The mess from last night’s party was cleared up fairly quickly due to the great teamwork between the eight of us. Indeed, many hands make light work.

Homophones - Pole v Poll

Pole (noun)

1.  a long, thin metal standing straight up in the ground to support things.

·        Sam lost control of his car and crashed into a pole. Fortunately, he wasn’t hurt.

2.  either of the two points at the most Northern or Southern ends of the Earth.

·         It’s so cold at the North Pole that only certain animals like the polar bear and penguin can live there.

Poll (noun) - a study in which people are asked for their opinion about a particular person or subject

• We’re conducting a poll to find out what people think about same sex marriages.
• The latest opinion poll shows the Republicans are leading.

Common Idioms - In Your Element

Meaning – in a job, situation, activity etc that one enjoys and is well suited to

·        It’s amazing how happy and productive people can be when they are in their own element.

·        Look how happy John is working in the kitchen! He’s clearly in his own element.

Similes with As - As Crafty/Cunning as A Fox

Meaning – clever, especially at tricking people

·         I’m sure John will do well regardless of where he works. After all, he’s as crafty/cunning as a fox.

·         We’re not surprised Danny almost always gets what he wants. He is, after all, as crafty/cunning as a fox.

Confused and Misused Words - Precede v Proceed

Precede (verb) – to go before sth or someone.

• Sam preceded me onto the stage last night.
• John preceded Mark as the president of the company.
• It would be advisable to precede the presentation with a short introduction of the company.

Proceed

1.   (verb) – to start an activity or to continue with it.

• The doctor proceeded (= started) to examine Cathy after asking her a few questions.
• I’m sorry for interrupting you. Please proceed (= continue) with your work.

2.    (noun) – profits generated from an event or activity.

• All proceeds from this event will go to charity.

Grammar - At v On v In

1.                      At

·                     I start work at 9 o’clock.

·                     The bank closes at 4.30.

·                     I felt really guilty for having a snack at midnight.

              On

·                     John is delighted that most of his friends can make it to his party on Friday.

·                     The banks aren’t open on Saturdays.

·                     The networking event is on 2 December.

              In

·                     I’m going on holiday in April.

·                     Esther left school in 2001.

·                     The weather is lovely in spring.

       2.     We say:

                At the weekend

·                     Is James going away at the weekend?

                             At night

·                     I sometimes have trouble sleeping at night.

                             At Christmas/Easter

·                     Will you be at your parents’ place at Christmas? (but on Christmas Day)

                             At the end of…

·                     We’re going on holiday at the end off April.

                             At the moment

·                     What are you doing at the moment?

       3.      In the morning/in the afternoon/ in                     the evening

·                     I usually hit the gym in the morning.

·                     It’s always great to have a nap in the afternoon.

   BUT

  On Tuesday morning/ on Friday afternoon/ on Sunday night etc.

·               I’m meeting a potential customer on Tuesday morning.

·               Are you doing anything on Friday evening?

       4.     Do not use at/on/in before:

This…(this evening/ this week etc.)

·                     Are you doing anything this evening?

Last…(last September/last week etc.)

·                     The weather was lovely last spring.

Next…(next Thursday/next week etc.)

·                     I’m going on holiday next Tuesday. (not ‘on next                                            Tuesday)

                   Every…(every day/ every week etc.)

·                     Zack wakes up at 6am every day.

       5.      in ten minutes/ in five days/ in three weeks/ in two years etc.

·                     Hurry up! The train leaves in ten minutes. (= ten minutes from now)

·                     Bye! I’ll see you in five days. (= five days from now)

Phrasal Verbs ( Aim at V Aim for V Aim to)

Aim at (someone)

1.              intended for someone

·              John’s cruel remarks were clearly aimed at Sarah, his former partner.

2.              to point at someone

·              Diana aimed a blow at her attacker’s face and struck him squarely in his nose.

Aim for (sth)

·              I was aiming for the bull’s eye but completely missed it.

·              I am aiming for an A for my English, Mathematics and Science paper. That’s why I’m studying so hard now.

Aim to (do sth) – intend to do it

• We are aiming to buy a shop in this mall within the next two years.

Similes with As - As Clean as a Whistle

Meaning – very clean

·        Sally spent hours cleaning the house yesterday. It’s no wonder it’s as clean as a whistle.

·        The chef scraped the meat off the bones until it was as clean as a whistle.

Proverbs and Sayings - One Good Turn Deserves Another

Meaning – If someone does you a favour, it is only right that you help them in return.

·         The reason I helped James was because he did me a favour in the past. I’m a true believer that one good turn deserves another.