Using They Instead Of He Or She
In English, he is traditionally used in cases where the sex of the person is not known, or in references that can apply to either men or women. If I ever find the person...
Author: Manjusha Nambiar
Help, Can’t Help
After help, we can use object + infinitive. He helped her to lift the box. We often use the infinitive without to. This is rather informal. He helped her lift the box. can’t help...
Hear vs. Listen
Hear means become aware of sound through the ears. It is the ordinary word to say that something comes to our ears. ’Can you speak a bit louder? I can’t hear you.’ Suddenly she...
Have vs. Having
Having is the present participle form of have. We do not normally use having to express ideas such as possession. When have means own, it is always used in the base form. Having is...
Have vs. Have Got
Have got means exactly the same as have in affirmative clauses. Got-forms of have are informal, and are most common in the present. She has got a new boyfriend. (= She has a new...
Hardly … When
The expression — hardly — when/before — is used (often with a past perfect tense) to suggest that one thing happened very soon after another. I had hardly closed my eyes when the phone...
Half, Half A, A Half
We can use half or half of before a noun with a determiner (e.g. the, my, this, your etc.). When half (of) is followed by a plural noun, the verb is plural. She spends...
Had Better
We use had better to give strong advice, or to tell people what to do. After had better, we use the infinitive without to. You had better consult a doctor. It is late. I...
Using Go
The structure go/come for a — is often used in some common fixed expressions referring to leisure activities. Let us go for a walk/run/swim/ride/drive/sail/drink. Go/come + -ing We can use go with an -ing...
Using Get
Get is a common word in English. Its meaning depends on the kind of word that comes after it. Get + noun/pronoun When get is followed by a direct object, it usually means receive,...