Here are expanded explanation with examples for each pair:
EARLIEST vs. SOONEST
- Earliest
Definition: Used as a superlative adjective to mean “the first or most distant in time.”
Usage: Refers to the time farthest back from the present or from a specified moment in the past.
Examples:- “These are the earliest records we have of the civilization.” (Most distant in time)
- “The earliest I can arrive is 7 a.m.” (The first possible time)
- Soonest
Definition: Used as a superlative adverb to mean “the quickest or most prompt time.”
Usage: Refers to the earliest time something could happen but focuses on how quickly it can occur. It’s not commonly used in conversation and is more often replaced by “as soon as possible.”
Examples:- “I’ll get this done the soonest I can.” (Most promptly)
- “Let me know the soonest you can meet.” (First available time)
PERCENT vs. PERCENTAGE
- Percent
Definition: Refers to a part of a whole and is used directly after a number (e.g., 20%, 50%).
Usage: Always used after a number to indicate a portion of 100.
Examples:- “Thirty percent of the class passed the exam.” (Used after a number)
- “Only 10 percent of the participants completed the survey.”
- Percentage
Definition: Refers to a portion or proportion of something, but is not directly followed by a number.
Usage: It is often used to describe the relative amount or proportion of something without specifying a number.
Examples:- “The percentage of students who passed the test is quite high.” (Describes a portion but without a number)
- “We are aiming to increase the percentage of renewable energy usage.”
AFTER vs. AFTERWARDS
- After
Definition: Used as a preposition to indicate that one event happens following another. It can also be used as a conjunction introducing a dependent clause.
Usage: Functions as a preposition before a noun or as a subordinating conjunction before a clause.
Examples:- “We’ll have dessert after dinner.” (Preposition before a noun)
- “After we finish the meeting, let’s go for lunch.” (Conjunction before a clause)
- Afterwards
Definition: An adverb meaning “at a later time,” or “after an event.”
Usage: Used to refer back to a specific time or event mentioned earlier.
Examples:- “We watched a movie and afterwards went for ice cream.” (Refers to what happened after the movie)
- “He made a speech, and afterwards, there was a Q&A session.”
AGO vs. BEFORE
- Ago
Definition: Used to refer to a period of time that has passed from the present moment.
Usage: It’s used to anchor an event to the present moment, typically used with time phrases (e.g., minutes, hours, days, years).
Examples:- “I saw her a week ago.” (Anchored to the present)
- “That happened ten years ago.”
- Before
Definition: Used to describe something happening earlier than a specific point in time, which may not be the present.
Usage: Refers to a time earlier than another event or moment, either in the past or the future.
Examples:- “We arrived before the event started.” (Earlier than the event)
- “They moved to the city two years before we did.” (Earlier than another point in time, not anchored to the present)
These explanations and examples highlight the subtle differences between these similar words and expressions in English.