Archive for the ‘Words’ Category

Overworked words – went

June 4th, 2011 in Words

Go and went are not the only words used to refer to movements. There are plenty of others too with slightly different shades of meaning.

Travel, Journey, Trip and Voyage

June 3rd, 2011 in Words

Travel

Travel means ‘traveling in general’.

I am interested in travel. (= I am interested in traveling in general.)

Common expressions with wear and water

May 29th, 2011 in Words

Wear means ‘have on the body’.

He was wearing a hat.

Wear can also refer to a person’s facial expression.

She was wearing a troubled look.

Remind and remember

May 25th, 2011 in Words

Remind can be followed by an object + infinitive.

Please remind me to take my coat. (NOT Please remind me of taking my coat.)
She reminded me to go to the bank.

Words that are easily confused

May 22nd, 2011 in Words

Doubt and suspect

To doubt is to think that something is unlikely.

I doubt if he will come.
I doubt whether you can finish the work in time.

Commonly confused words

May 21st, 2011 in Words

Imperial and impervious

Imperial = pertaining to an emperor or empire
Impervious = haughty, overbearing

Nobody likes him because of his impervious nature.
The imperial glory of England has gone for ever.

Regular and irregular verbs: British and American differences

April 9th, 2011 in Words

In American English the verbs burn, dream, lean, learn, smell, spell, spill and spoil are all regular.