My confusions in English study. Practice oral English every day.
The difference between forever and for ever
- In American English, the one-word version is the only version for the adverb meaning continually, incessantly, or eternally.
- In other words, the British seem to be coming around to the American usage here.
- Conclusion: Use forever instead of for ever
Reference:
The difference between everyday and every day
- everyday is an `adjective` we use to describe something that's seen or used every day. It means `ordinary` or `typical`. `Everyday clothing`, then, refers to the ordinary clothes you wear on regular days, as opposed to outfits designated for special events or holidays. Occasionally, people use everyday as a noun—it’s a shorthand way of referring to their everyday routines.
- every day is a phrase that simply means `each day`. Because of the space separating the two words, 'every' is simply an adjective modifying the word 'day'.
Reference:
The difference between what's he/she like and what does he/she look like
- If you want to know about personality, if he’s easy-going or nervous, bossy or relaxed, you ask: what's he/she like.
- And if you want to know about his physical appearance, if he’s tall or short, fat or skinny, with a head full of dense, luxurious blond hair or bald as a billiard ball, you ask: what does he/she look like.
Reference:
physician and physicist
Physician
is a medical doctor, especially one who has general skill and is not a surgeon.Physicist
is a person who studies physics or whose job is connected with physics.
Reference:
lack and lack of?
- When lack is used as a
verb
, we do not useof
. We just say lack followed by the thing that is missing or that there isn’t enough of. Here are some more examples:- The project lacked funding, so it was canceled.
- He lacks motivation to study.
- I just started working, so I’m lacking experience.
- lack can ALSO be used as a `noun`! And when lack is used as a `noun`, then we do say lack of + the thing that is missing or insufficient. Look at these examples of lack being used as a `noun`:
- The project was canceled due to a lack of funding.
- His lack of motivation to study results in bad grades.
- I was disqualified from the job based on my lack of experience.
- Conclusion:
- When using lack as a
verb
, it’s followed directly by an object. - When using lack as a
noun
, we say lack of + the object.
- When using lack as a
Reference:
do the shopping and go shopping?
To do the shopping
describes the regular process of going to the supermarket to buy food and the other necessary items we need to live on a day to day basis. There is an aspect of doing this regularly and it is more of an obligation than an enjoyable activity, for most.To go shopping
means that your intentions are to buy things because you want to or because you need a new version of something. There isn’t necessarily any routine aspect to this action.
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