Category: Grammar

Little vs. A Little

Little is used with singular uncountable nouns. She showed little interest in what I said. I have little interest in philosophy. There was little chance of winning. Before a pronoun or a determiner (the,...

Likely

If something is likely to happen, it is probably going to happen. She is likely to win. (= She is probably going to win.) I’m likely to be busy tomorrow. He’s likely to come...

Like vs. As

Like is one of those verbs which are not usually used in progressive forms. ‘What do you think of the film?’ ‘I like it.’ (NOT I am liking it.) Like cannot normally be used...

Less, Fewer, The Least, The Fewest

Less is the comparative of little. It is used before uncountable nouns. I have less money than you. He was less hurt than frightened. Tom is less clever than his brother. Fewer is the...

Lay vs. Lie

Lay means put down something carefully or put down something flat. It always takes an object. She laid the books on the table. Lay is a regular verb. Its forms are: Infinitive: to lay...

Last vs. The Last

Last contrasts with this and next. Last week is the week before this week. Note that these time expressions are used with past tenses without articles, and without prepositions. She was married last April....

Laid Off vs. Fired

There is a difference between getting fired and getting laid off. Of course, they are both two ways of leaving a job. However, those who have been laid off have better hiring prospects than...

Know | Know How To

Know cannot be followed directly by an infinitive. We use the structure know how to. I know how to make French fries. In a formal style, know is occasionally followed by object + infinitive....