If I Were You
We often use the structure If I were you… to give advice. If I were you, I would accept that job. If I was you … is also possible, but some people consider it...
Category: Grammar
However, Still, Yet, Though
We can express the same idea in several different ways. By learning some of these techniques, you can improve your writing skills significantly. Read the following sentence. Despite his illness, he agreed to be...
However vs. How Ever
However does not mean the same as how ever. The expression how ever is mainly used in questions. It shows ideas such as surprise or anger. The word ever is merely used for the...
How vs. What…like?
We use how to ask about things that change ’ for example, people’s health and moods. We use what — like? to ask about things that do not change – for example, people’s looks...
Home, At Home
At home means ‘in one’s own place’. No article is used before the expression. Is anybody at home? (NOT — at the home?) At is often dropped. Is anybody home? Home (without to) can...
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...
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...