'Arise' means 'begin', 'appear', 'come to one's notice'. It is used mostly with abstract nouns as subjects.
A discussion across about the best way to pay.
I'm afraid a difficulty has arisen.
'Rise' usually means 'get higher', 'come/go up'.
My hopes are rising.
What time does the sun rise?
Prices keep rising.
Note that we usually say that people get up in the morning. 'Rise' is only used with this meaning in a very formal style.
'Arise' and 'Rise' are irregular verbs:
(a)rise (a)rose (a)risen
This is the normal first-person form of 'be' in negative questions, in British English.
Aren't I clever?
I'm late, aren't I?
Note that 'aren't' is only used in the first person in questions. It is not possible to say 'I aren't'.
1. Typical mistake: S/he appears very angrily today.
'Appear' has two meanings, and the grammar is not the same in the two cases.
a. It can mean 'seem'. In this case, it can be used with adjectives, but not adverbs.
S/he appears (to be) very angry today.
S/he appears quite normal.
'Appear' can be followed by a noun (subject complement), but we very often use 'appear to be' in this case.
S/he appears (to be) a very religious person.
b. The other meaning of 'appear' is 'come into sight' or 'arrive'. In this case, adverbs are used, not adjectives.
S/he suddenly appeared from under the bed.
S/he often appears unexpectedly and invites himself to lunch.
2. Note that 'appear' is one of the verbs (like 'be', 'seem') that can have 'there' as an introductory subject. The construction is usually 'There appears to be...'
There appears to be a misunderstanding.
There appears to be no point in our continuing.
'Appear' is not usually used in progressive tenses.
1. 'Anyway' most often means 'what was said before does not matter'.
I can't remember when Shakespeare died. Perhaps it was in 1614 or 1515 - anyway, I know it was around then.
'What about going out this evening?' - Oh, I don't know. I've got a bit of a headache. And anyway, Tomas's coming to see me, so I ought to stay in.'
2. Do not confuse 'anyway' and (in) any way (= any method'). Compare the following:
Can I help you in any way?
S/he wasn't very polite, but anyway, I helped her/him.
'Anyone' means 'anybody'.
Is there anyone at home?
'Any one' means 'whichever one (person or thing) you choose; it is used to make it clear that only one is meant.
Join the Golden Voice Club, and we will send you any one of these magnificent stereo recordings absolutely free.
1. 'Any' can mean 'it doesn't matter which'.
Come and see me any time.
Take any card.
Think of a number - any number you like.
2. 'Any...but' means 'any...except'.
I'll go to any restaurant but that one.
3. In relative sentences, 'any' is usually followed by 'that', not 'which' or 'who'.
Borrow any book that interests you.
4. In questions and negative sentences (and with 'if'), 'any' can be used as an adverb with comparatives, and with 'different'.
Is she any better?
I can't go any further.
If I were any younger, I'd fall in love with you.
I don't think you look any different from how you did last year.
'No' can also be used like this, but not 'some'.
Note also the expressions 'any/no good', and 'any/no use'.
'Was the film any good?' - 'No good at all.'
'Is it any use talking to him?' - 'It's no use at all.'
'Ante-' means 'before'. The opposite is 'post-'.
Antenatal (= before birth) =/= Postnatal (= after birth)
\Anti-' means 'against'. The opposite is 'pro'.
Anti-fascist =/= pro-fascist
Typical mistakes:
We need an other chair.
I've got other three days holiday.
1. 'Another' is written as one word.
We need another chair.
2. Normally, 'another' is followed by a singular noun: we can say 'another day', but not 'another days'. However, 'another' can be followed by 'few' or a number with a plural noun.
I've got another three days holiday.
There's room for another few people in the back of the bus.
Note that instead of 'another three days, we could say 'three more days', but not (in this sense)'three other days'.
1. In informal English, we often used 'try and' instead of 'try to'.
Try and get some unsalted butter (Try to... is also possible).
I really must try and see Paul this week (Or: ...try to...).
This structure is possible with the simple form 'try', but not with tries, tried or trying. You cannot say 'I tried and got...' or 'He always tries and get...'
'Wait' and 'See' is similar.
Let's wait and see (Not: 'We waited and saw' or 'Let's wait to see').
2. After 'come', 'go', 'run', 'hurry', 'stay', 'stop' and some other verbs, 'and' can be used instead of an infinitive of purpose.
Come and have a drink.
Hurry up and get dressed.
Say and have dinner.
We ought to stop and think.
Would you go and tell the children to shut up?
In these cases, however; third person forms and past tenses are possible.
He usually stays and has dinner with us after the game.
I went and had a drink with John yesterday.
The 'to' infinitive is unusual in expressions like these and cannot be used after 'hurry up'.
Informal American, 'and' is often left out after 'go'.
Go jump in the river.
'And' is used to connect expressions that are grammatically similar, for example:
Nouns: bread and butter
Verbs: They and danced all night.
Clauses: I went home, and Mary stayed at the station.
When there are more than two expressions, we usually put 'and' only before the last one.
Bread, butter and cheese
They drank, sang and danced all night.
I went home, Linsay went with me, and Mary stayed at the station.
When expressions are joined by 'and', we often put the shortest first.
big and ugly cup and saucer
Some common expressions with 'and' come in a fixed order which cannot be changed.
hands and knees (Not: knees and hands) Knife and fork
bread and butter men, women and children fish and chips
When adjectives are used before a noun, they are sometimes joined by 'and' and sometimes not, depending on the type of adjective. For instance, we say 'a big black insect', but 'a black and yellow insect'.
When two expressions are joined by 'and', words which come in both expressions (e.g. articles) can often be left out in the second expression. For instance, the bread and (the) butter, in UK and (in) USA.
1. Compare the following:
a. S/he was sitting between Bunna and Vitou.
I saw something lying between the wheels of the train.
Cambodia lies between Thailand, Vietnam and Lao.
b. We found a little house hidden among the trees.
S/he was standing laughing among a crowd of journalists.
We say that something is 'between' two or more objects, people, countries and so on when we see the surrounding objects and so on separately, there are not very many of them, and each one is clearly distinct from the others.
We say that something is 'among' a mass, a crowd, or a group: a collection of things when we do not see separately.
We prefer 'between' when we want to say that there are things, or groups of things, on two sides:
A little valley between high mountains.
2. Words like 'divide' and 'share' are followed by 'between' when we use several singular nouns.
He shared his property between his wife, his daughter and his sister.
I divide my time between teaching, writing and lecturing.
With plural nouns, 'between' and 'among' are both possible.
S/he divided his money between/among his five sons.
We always talk about the difference 'between' things.
What's the difference between a crow and a rook?
3. 'Among' can be used to mean 'one of', 'some of' or ' included in'.
Among the first to arrive was the Fantasian ambassador.
S/he has a number of criminals among his friends.
Typical mistakes:
Always I ask myself what I am doing here.
Never I find the answers.
'Always' does not normally at the beginning of a sentence.' It's usually put with the verb, in same position as other frequency adverb. 'Never' goes in the same place.
I always ask myself what I'm doing here. I never find the answer.
But note that 'always' can be put at the beginning of imperative sentences.
Always put on your safety belt when you drive.
When 'always' mean 'all through the past until now', it is usually used with a present perfect tense.
I've always believed he was innocent.
You've always been my closest friend.
Very often, both of these words can be used in the same way.
They're a nice family, (al)though I don't like young Sander much.
There one or two differences:
1. 'Though' is more common in informal speech or writing. 'Although' can be used in all styles. Compare the following:
Although the murder of the Archduke was the immediate cause of the First World War, the real reasons for the conflict were very much more complicated.
I'd quite like to go out, (al)though it is a bit late.
2. 'Though' is often used with 'even' to give emphasis. 'Even although' is not possible.
Even though I didn't understand a word, I kept smiling.
3. 'Though' (but not 'although') can be put at the end of a sentence, with the meaning of 'however'.
It was a quiet party. I had a good time, though.
In longer sentences, 'though' can also come in other position:
The strongest argument, though, is Britain's economic and political dependence on the United States.
In cases like these, 'though' is an adverb. 'Although' can only be used as a conjunction.
I'm alternately happy and depressed.
It may have been because of the weather, or alternately it may have been the result of indigestion.
These three expressions have similar meanings, but they are used in slightly different ways in sentences.
1. As well and too
These normally go at the end of a clause.
S/he not only singes; s/he plays the piano as well.
I was Thailand last summer too.
'As well' and 'too' can refer to the subject or to other parts of the sentence, according to the situation. Consider the following:
Mr. Bean teaches skiing as well.
This could mean three different things:
a. Other people teach skiing, and Mr. Bean does as well.
b. Mr. Bean teaches other things and skiing as well.
c. Mr. Bean does other things and teaches skiing as well.
The situation normally makes the meaning clear in cases like this. In spoken English, the meaning is also shown by the emphasis (on third).
'Too' (but not 'as well') can be placed directly after the subject. This is rather formal or literary.
I, too, know where he is to be found.
In an informal style, 'too' is often used after object pronouns in 'short answers'.
'I've got an idea!' - 'Me too' (In more formal English: 'So have I!' or 'I have too!')
2. Also
In an informal style, 'also' is less common than 'too' and 'as well'. It is very common in written English. It does not come at the end of the clause but is normally put with the verb.
Mr. Bean also plays the guitar.
I've also read her other novels.
'Also' can refer to any part of the sentence:
Harry was at the party, and Fred was also there.
I like classical music, but I also like jazz.
However, 'also' most often refers to the part of the sentence that comes after the subject. So Mr. Bean also plays the guitar probably means 'Mr. Bean plays the guitar as well as other things', not 'Mr. Bean plays the guitar as well as other people'. If you want to say that you have had too, but probably not I also have done that or I have also done that. For the same reason, we don't say 'I also' in 'short answers'. To express the idea that something is exceptional, we use 'even', not 'also'.
Even when he was every old he used to go for long walks (Not: Also when...).
You shouldn't be rude, even if you are very angry (Not: ...also if...).
Note the use of 'also' as a 'sentence-adverb', at the beginning of a sentence, with a common.
Old cars are cheaper to buy, but they tend to use more petrol.
Also, there is a greater risk of accidents.
3. Note that 'also', as well' and 'too' are not normally used in negative sentences. Instead, we used 'not...either' or 'Neither/Nor'... Compare the following:
He's there too. He isn't there either.
I do too. Neither/Nor do I.
I also want some coffee. I don't want any coffee either.
I like you as well. I don't like you either.
'Already' means 'by now', 'sooner' than expected'.
S/he's already here - I wasn't expecting her/him till ten.
'All ready' is just a combination of the two words 'all' (= everybody or everything) and 'ready'.
Are you all ready?
1. 'Nearly' and 'Almost' have similar meanings, and in many cases the can both be used without much difference. Usually, 'almost' is used to mean that something is a little 'nearer' than 'nearly'. E.g. So at 12:15 we might say 'It is nearly lunchtime', and at 12:27 'It's almost lunchtime'.
We are nearly there. We're almost there.
S/he is nearly six feet tall. She's almost six feet tall.
I nearly as clever as you. I am almost as clever as you.
I nearly fell off my bike. I almost fell off my bike.
2. Typical mistakes:
My aunt's got a strange way of talking. She nearly sounds foreign.
It is nearly incredible.
I nearly think you're right.
Our cat understands everything - he's nearly human.
In these sentences, we are not talking about progress towards an end (people do not get more foreign; cats do not get more human), or about thinks that are easy to measure. In cases like these 'almost', not 'nearly', is used.
Our cat understands everything - he's almost human.
I almost think you're right.
It's almost incredible.
My aunt almost sounds foreign.
In that long dress she looks almost graceful (Not: ...nearly graceful).
Note that 'nearly' is not often used with 'never', 'nobody', 'no-one', 'nothing', 'nowhere', 'no' and 'none'. Instead, we used 'almost', or we used 'hardly' with a non-negative form.
Almost no money hardly any money
Almost nobody hardly anybody
Almost never hardly never
Typical mistakes:
The sat reading the all time.
I've lived here my all life.
Whole London was burning.
She drank the whole wine.
These two words are easy confuse, perhaps because their pronunciations are similar.
1. 'Whole' and 'all' are often used with the same meaning. However, the word order is different. 'All' come before an article, possessive or other 'determiner'; 'whole' comes after articles, ete. Compare the following:
All the time the whole time
All my life my whole life
All this confusion this whole confusion
Note what 'whole' cannot be used with a singular noun if there is no article or other determiner. You can say 'The whole city was burning, but not 'Whole London was burning.'
2. With plural nouns, 'whole' and 'all' have different meanings. 'Whole' mean 'complete', 'entire'; 'all' has a similar meaning to 'every'. Compare the following:
All Indian tribe suffered from white settlement in America (= Every Indian tribe suffered...).
Whole Indian tribes were killed off (= Complete tribes were killed off; nobody was left alive in these tribes).
3. 'Whole' is not used so often with uncountable nouns and cannot be used with mass nouns. You can say 'all the money', or 'all the wine', but not 'the whole money' or the 'the whole wine'.
4. The expression 'the whole of' can be used with singular words instead of 'whole'. 'The whole of' comes before articles, possessives, etc.
The whole of the time The whole of this confusion The whole of my life
'All' and 'every' have quite similar meanings. They can both be used to talk about people or things in general: note that 'all' can be used with a plural noun and verb, but that 'ever' is only used with singular words.
All Mondays are horrible.
Every Monday is horrible.
Not all Welshmen speak Welsh.
'All' and 'every' can also be used to talk about the members of a particular group. 'All' is followed by 'the' or another 'determiner'; 'every' is not. 'Every' often emphasizes the idea that there is no exception.
She's eaten all the biscuits.' 'What, ever one?' 'Every single one!'
'All' can also be used with a singular word to mean 'every part of'. 'Every' cannot have this meaning. Compare the following:
She was here all day (= the whole of the day).
She was here every day (= she didn't miss a day).
The exact rules for the use of 'All' are quite complicated:
1. All (of) before nouns and pronouns
In general, 'all' and 'all of' are both possible before a noun, and before 'this' and 'that'. However, if the noun is used alone (without an article, possessive, or other 'determiner'), 'all of' is not usually possible. Compare the following:
All (of) my friends like riding.
I've read all (of) the books you lent me.
I stopped believing in all (of) that years ago.
All children can be naughty sometimes (Not: All of children...).
All whisky is expensive (Not: All of whisky...).
On the other hand, before a personal pronoun only 'all of' is possible; it is used with object pronouns (us, you, them).
All of them enjoyed the party (Not: All them... or All they...).
All of you are wrong (Not: All you...).
They invited all of us (Not: ...all us).
2. 'All' after nouns and pronouns
'All' can go after the subject of the sentence. Note that it does not always immediately follow the subject in this case. The exact position is the same as the position of mid-position adverbs: that is to say, (i) before a simple one-word verb; (ii) if there are auxiliary verbs, after the first auxiliary; (iii) after the verb 'be'.
My friends all like riding.
They would all have been invited if there had been room (Not: They all would have been invited...).
We are all tired (Not: We all are tired).
'All' can also go after a direct or indirect object, but only if this is a personal pronoun (us, you, etc).
I've eaten them all (Not: I've eaten the cakes all).
Love you all (Not: Love to the family all).
I sent them all presents.
Note that 'all' cannot be used after a subject complement: you can say I've finished it all but not 'This is it all'.
3. 'All' as subject, object or complement
'All' can be used as the subject, object or complement of a sentence. In modern English, this is only common when 'all' is followed by a relative clause. Note the two possible meanings of 'all' in this case: 'everything' and 'the only thing(s)'.
All that I own is yours. All I want is a room somewhere.
I'll give you all you want. This all I've got.
'All' is not often used to mean 'everybody', except in a very formal style. Instead of 'All who want tickets should go to the office', we would probably say 'All those who want tickets...' or 'All the people who want tickets...'
In older English, 'all' could be used alone, without a relative clause, to mean 'everything' or 'everybody' (e.g. Tell me all. All is lost. All are dead). This is unusual in modern English, except in dramatic contexts like newspaper headlines (e.g. SPY TELLS ALL), and in the expression 'all about' (e.g. I know all about you. Let's forget all about it).
4. It is not very common to use 'all' as the subject of a negative verb (e.g. All English people don't like fish and chips). Instead of this, we more often use 'not all' as the subject.
Not all birds can fly.
No birds can play chess.
5. It is sometimes possible to leave out an article after 'all' (e.g. all day, all three brothers).
