If you have any question about English grammar, vocabulary, writing, idioms,etc;just post it as a comment here (you can be anonymous), and wait for the answer.
Posted in: QuestionsThursday, July 28, 2011
Questions
If you have any question about English grammar, vocabulary, writing, idioms,etc;just post it as a comment here (you can be anonymous), and wait for the answer.
Posted in: Questions[Tip] Manage vs. Control
* Manage is a verb. It means to be in charge of, act on, or dispose of; to come to terms with; handle effectively; be successful; or achieve a goal.
*Control can be used as a verb or a noun. As a verb, it means to exercise authoritative control or power over; to lessen the intensity of, temper, hold in restraint, hold or keep within limits; handle and cause to function; or to control (others or oneself) or influence skilfully, usually to one's advantage.
Examples:
I managed to carry the box upstairs.
She managed her parents' affairs after they got too old.
The young violinist didn't manage her bow very well.
They control the budget.
Control your anger.
Control the quality of the product.
Posted in: Tip of the day[Proverb] Who keeps company with wolves, will learn to howl
It means that If you associate with bad people you are very likely to become bad too.
Posted in: Proverbs
Friday, June 17, 2011
[Tip] Decent vs. Descent
* Decent is an adjective. It means socially correct. I also means sufficient for the purpose.
* Descent is a noun. It means a movement downward, or properties attributable to your ancestry.
Examples:
He is from a decent family.
It's a decent wage.
His entire line of descent has been warriors.
They found out that they were of Welsh descent.
Posted in: Tip of the day[Beautiful quotes] Leadership
"Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you'll be able to see farther." --J. P. Morgan--
Posted in: Beautiful Quotes
Sunday, May 29, 2011
[Tip] Desperate vs. Disparate
*Desperate is an adjective. It means showing extreme urgency or intensity especially because of great need or desire; marked by despair or loss of hope.
*Disparate is an adjective. It means fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind; different in every way.
Examples:
A desperate cry for help.
She felt a desperate urge to confess.
They came from two disparate cultures.
They have disparate ideas.
Posted in: Tip of the day[Idiom] Live on a shoestring
It means to manage one’s financial affairs on a very tight budget.
e.g. "When we were students, we lived on a shoestring"
Posted in: Idioms
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
[Tip] Fewer vs. Less
* Fewer is a quantifier meaning a smaller number of. It is used with countable nouns.
*Less is a quantifier meaning not as great in amount or degree. It is used with uncountable nouns.
Examples:
Fewer trains were late this year.
There should be fewer books on the table.
He works less these days.
We need more money and less debt.
Quiz: Fewer & Less
Posted in: Tip of the day
Sunday, March 27, 2011
[Tip] Replay vs Reply
Replay means to play again; reproduce (a recording) on a recorder; play (a melody) again; or repeat a game against the same opponent.
Reply is a verb that means to react verbally or show a response or a reaction to something. As a noun, it means A statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation; the speech act of continuing a conversational exchange.
Examples:
The lawyers replayed the conversation to show that their client was innocent.
The result was a draw, so both teams will have to replay the game.
She didn't want to reply.
He wrote replies to several of his critics.
Posted in: Tip of the day[Idiom] Chasing rainbows
It means trying to get something that you will never obtain; trying to achieve something that is not possible or practical.
e.g. "He's trying to get into Harvard but I think he's chasing rainbows."
Posted in: Idioms
Friday, March 11, 2011
[Tip] Moral vs. Morale
* Moral can be used as an adjective or as a noun. It describes standards of good or bad character and behaviour because it's concerned with principles of right and wrong. It can also mean the significance of a story or event; can be used describe a kind of story that tells you how you should or should not behave.
* Morale is a noun. It means a state of individual psychological well-being based upon a sense of confidence and usefulness and purpose; the spirit of a group that makes the members want the group to succeed.
Examples:
He had no moral sense on the one hand, on the other, no fear.
He claimed his book was a very moral work.
The moral of the story is to love thy neighbour.
It is a difficult task but not impossible now our morale's improved so much.
You know the California crew - the morale's up there.
Posted in: Tip of the day
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
[Tip] Wonder vs. Wander
* Wander is a verb. It means to travel aimlessly or without any destination. It also means to lose clarity or turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course of argument in writing, thinking, or speaking.
* Wonder ,as a verb, means means to consider or question some issue; to have a wish or desire to know something; be amazed at something. As a noun, it means something that causes feelings of wonder; the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising; a state in which you want to learn more about something.
Examples:
After dinner, we wandered into town.
I often wander through the woods, it helps me think.
I wonder whether this was the right thing to do.
The pyramids are a wonder to behold.
Quiz: Wander vs. Wonder.
Posted in: Tip of the day[Quote] Sense of humor
"A sense of humor... is needed armor. Joy in one's heart and some laughter on one's lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life."
-- Hugh Sidey--
Posted in: Beautiful Quotes
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
[Tip] look over vs. overlook
*Look over is a verb. It means to examine or inspect it, often in hasty fashion.
*Overlook is also a verb. It means to Look past, fail to notice; leave undone or leave out.
Examples:
I asked him to look over what I had written.
Remember to looked over the proposal before the meeting.
How could I overlook that typo?
The teacher probably overlooked some of my mistakes.
Posted in: Tip of the day[Idiom] Pick someone's brains
To pick someone's brain means to ask specific questions about a particular subject to get all the useful information you need from them.
e.g. " Here you are! Could we have lunch together? I'd like to pick your brains about
something."
Posted in: Idioms
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
[Proverb] Don't put all your eggs in one basket
Friday, January 21, 2011
[Tip] Accept vs. Except
* Accept is a verb. It means to give an affirmative reply to; to agree; receive willingly something given or offered.
* Except is a preposition or conjunction. It means with the exception of; other than; used to introduce an exception to a proceeding statement.
Examples:
Please accept my present.
I cannot accept your invitation.
We accept the idea of universal health care.
There was nothing left except bread.
I work every day except Tuesdays.
I can forgive everything except that.
Quiz: Except vs. Accept
Posted in: Tip of the dayLearning
"Every student can learn, just not on the same day, or the same way."
--George Evans
Posted in: Beautiful Quotes
Saturday, January 8, 2011
[Tip] Any one vs Anyone
* Any one means any single person or thing out of a group of people or things.
* Anyone is a pronoun. It's always written as one word. It means any person.
Examples:
You can take any one of the books on this shelf.
Any one of those cakes will surely be delicious.
Has anyone seen my wallet?
You can pick anyone to be in your team.
For further explanation and practice, click here.
Posted in: Tip of the day[Idiom] To have two left feet
If someone has two left feet, it meas they are clumsy or awkward in their movements.
e.g. "When we danced together I discovered she had two left feet."
Posted in: Idioms
Monday, January 3, 2011
[Tip] Apart vs. A part
*Apart is an adverb that means Separated or at a distance in place or position or time; not taken into account or excluded from consideration; away from another or others; into parts or pieces.
* "A part" means something that forms the whole of something; something determined in relation to something that includes it.
Examples:
These towns are many miles apart.
These problems apart, the country is doing well.
They grew apart over the years.
people can't tell the twins apart.
I want to be a part of your team.
She wanted to feel a part of something bigger than himself.
They made me feel like I was a part of the family.
Posted in: Tip of the day[Proverb] Ways to happiness
If you want to be happy for a year, plant a garden; If you want to be happy for life, plant a tree.
Posted in: Proverbs
