These two words look very similar but are quite different.
BESIDE – is a preposition and means ‘next to.’ BESIDES – as a preposition means ‘except.’ BESIDES – as an adverb means ‘also.’
Dec 12
VOCABULARY – Beside/Besides
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Dec 12
GRAMMAR – Prepositions of Time
BETWEEN…AND – AFTER – TO/PAST – WITHIN
We use BETWEEN … AND to show when something begins and ends, or the range during which something is expected to happen.
– The concert will start between 9 pm and 10 pm.
– I lived in NY between 1985 and 1997.
– The doctor sees patients between 2 and 6 pm.
We use AFTER to refer to the time following an event or period of time.
– I usually watch TV after dinner.
– I moved to Brazil after living in NY.
– I was able to sleep after taking the sleeping pill.
We use TO/PAST when telling the time to refer to the number of minutes before (to) or after (past) and hour.
– Class starts at half past two..
– I’ve been waiting since ten to two.
– The train leaves at twenty-five past eleven.
We use WITHIN to refer to a span of time during which something will occur.
– The package should arrive within a week.
– We will have the results within minutes.
– You will receive an answer within 24 hours.
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Dec 12
GRAMMAR – Prepositions of Time
FROM … TO – AGO – BEFORE – BY
We use FROM … TO to show when something begins and ends.
– The class will be from 2 pm to 4 pm.
– She was sick from Tuesday to Friday.
– The course runs from January to May.
We use AGO to say how much time before now that something happened.
– I started studying English three months ago.
– I moved to Brazil 17 years ago.
– The last election was almost three years ago.
We use BEFORE to refer to a period of time preceding a particular event, date, or time.
– I usually wake up before 6:30 on weekedays.
– I had read the book before I saw the movie.
– The game is on before the News.
We use BY to say that something will happen no later than a time or date.
– Students must hand in their homework by Friday.
– I will be back by six o’clock..
– The rain should stop by the weekend.
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Dec 04
GRAMMAR – Confusing Words
WHILE and DURING
WHILE is a CONJUNCTION that is used to refer to a background period of time in which another activity happened. It is very similar to during, but it is followed by a sentence (while + subject + verb…), so they are not interchangeable.
DURING is a PREPOSITION that is used before an activity to indicate that a parallel action is happening at the same time as that activity. DURING is followed by a noun, which often represents an activity (during + noun)
Examples:
I will finish reading the book while I’m on my summer break. (while + subject + verb…)
I usually take notes while I’m in class.
Did you fall asleep while you were watching the movie?
To use during in the above sentences, we have to change the structure of the sentence.
Examples:
I will finish reading the book during my summer break.(during + noun)
I usually take notes during class.
Did you fall asleep during the movie?
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Dec 04
GRAMMAR – Expletives
Some clauses begin with the introductory words THERE or IT rather than with the subject of the sentence. These introductory words are sometimes called expletives. The expletive THERE shows that someone or something exists, usually at a particular time or place. These sentences generally follow the pattern there + verb to be + subject:
There are many skyscrapers in New York City.
There was a good movie on television last night.
The expletive IT is used in a number of different situations and patterns:
It is important to be punctual for appointments.
(with the verb to be + adjective + infinitive)
It was in 1959 that Alaska became a state.
(with the verb to be + adverbial + noun clause)
It takes a long time to learn a language.
(with the verb to take + time phrase + infinitive)
It was David who did most of the work.
(with the verb to be + noun + relative clause)
Permanent link to this article: https://englishyourway.com.br/grammar-expletives/
Nov 28
GRAMMAR – PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
Here are some common prepositional phrases, also known as Collocations with prepositions.
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Nov 28
VOCABULARY – Common Abbreviations
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase.
Here are some of the more common ones:
Mr. – Mister
Mrs. – Missus
Ms. – Miss [mizz]
jr. – Junior
Dr. – Doctor
Blvd. – Boulevard
Rd. – Road
Dr. – Drive
St. – Street
Ave. – Avenue
Ln. – Lane
mph – miles per hour
Corp. – Corporation
Inc. – Incorporated
Ltd. – Limited
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Nov 28
GRAMMAR – Past forms of Irregular Verbs
The difference between a regular and an irregular verb is the formation of the simple past and past participle. Regular verbs are consistent—the simple past ends in ed as does the past participle.
BUT, the simple past and past participle of irregular verbs can end in a variety of ways, with no consistent pattern.
Here are some of the more common IRREGULAR VERBS.
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Nov 14
GRAMMAR – Adverbs of frequency
Adverbs of frequency describe how often something occurs
100% – always – I always come to work on time.
~90% – usually – I usually wake up before 7 am.
~80% – normally – I normally have breakfast at home.
~80% – generally – I generally walk to work.
~70% – often – I often have lunch near my office.
~70% – frequently – I frequently meet friends for lunch.
~50% – sometimes – I sometimes take a break in the afternoon.
~30% – occasionally – I occasionally go for a beer after work.
~10% – seldom – I seldom stay out late.
~5% – rarely – I rarely drink whiskey.
~5% – hardly ever – I go out without my phone.
0% – never – I am never late to class.
Placement of adverbs of frequency
BEFORE the main verb (but NOT the verb BE).
I always study in the library when I have an exam.
I never arrive late for class.
AFTER the verb BE.
I am always tired after tennis.
She is never late for class.
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Nov 14
OTHER PREPOSITIONS
By is often used with forms of communication and transportation:
by car, by plane, by phone, by express mail (‘Note: If the noun is plural or is preceded by a determiner, the preposition in or on must be used: in cars, on a boat, on tbe telepbone, in a taxi.) By is also used with gerunds to show how an action happened:
How did you get an appointment with Dr. Blish? By calling his secretary.
With is used to indicate the idea of accompaniment or possession:
Melanie came to the party with her friend.
He wanted a house with a garage.
Without indicates the opposite relationship:
Melanie came to the party without her friend.
He bought a house without a garage.
With also indicates that an instrument was used to perform an action:
He opened the door with a key.
Without indicates the opposite relationship:
He opened the door without a key.
By and for are also used in the following expressions:
by chance; by far; by hand.
for example; for free; for now
for is sometimes used to show purpose; it means “to get.”
She went to the store for toothpaste and shampoo
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