We can use these expressions instead of repeating a verb that has already been mentioned. Are you free this evening? If so, let’s go out for a meal. (=… If you are…) I might see you tomorrow. If not, then I’ll be Saturday. (=… if I don’t…)
at – in – on (time)
at + exact time in + part of day on + particular day at + weekend, public holiday in + longer period 1. Exact times I usually get up at six o’clock I’ll meet you at 4.15 Phone me at lunch time In informal English, we say What time…? (At what time…? is correct, but [...]
In time or on time?
Sometimes two prepositions can be used with the same noun, but the meaning is different. Lessons begin at 8.30 and I always arrive on time. (= at 8.30) Lessons begin at 8.30 and I always get there in time. (= before 8.30; I’m not late) In the end we went home. (= finally, after a [...]
List I
idea or ideal? Bristolians have particular difficulty distinguishing between these two because of the intrusive Bristol ‘l’. These exemplar sentences should help: Your IDEA is brilliant. This is an IDEAL spot for a picnic. His IDEALS prevent him from eating meat. indexes or indices? Both are acceptable plural forms of ‘index’ but they are used [...]
prepositions: in and into
1. To talk about the position of something (with no movement), we use in. Where’s Susie? In the bedroom. My mother’s the woman in the chair by the window. 2. When we talk about a movement, we usually use into. She came into my room holding a paper. I walked out into the garden to [...]
In the way, On the way, By the way, In a way
In the way: Please move this chair. It is in the way. Do your work in the way I have shown you. On the way: On the way to the station, I bought some cigarettes. In this way: He saves old envelopes. In this way, he has collected a great many stamps. By the way: [...]
Although / though / even though, In spite of / despite
After although we use a subject + verb:’ Although it rained a lot, we enjoyed our holiday. I didn’t get the job although I had the necessary qualifications. Compare the meaning of although and because: We went out although it was raining. We didn’t go out because it was raining. After in spite of or [...]
as if – as though
as if / though + subject + present /past verb as if / though + subject +past verb with present meaning 1. As if and as though mean the same . We use them to say what a situation seems like. It looks as if/ though it’s going to rain I felt as if/ though [...]
At the end, in the end
At the end (of something) = at the time when something ends. at the end of the month at the end of January at the end of the game at the end of the film at the end of the course at the end of the concert I’m going away at the end of January [...]
