English Vocabulary Common Differences

English Vocabulary

Welcome to our section on English Vocabulary. Regardless of your educational qualifications age, we will be able to help you to master the words that are essential to academic and business success.
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Common Differences

Difference between from somebody's point of view and in somebody's opinion

The expression point of view is used to talk about how somebody is affected by what happens. When you say ‘from his point of view’ what you mean is more like ‘from his position in life’. Note that ‘from somebody’s point of view’ does not mean the same as ‘in somebody’s view / opinion’.
Compare:

• In my opinion, socialism is basically good. (NOT ‘From my point of view, socialism is basically good.’)
• He wrote about capitalism from the point of view of a communist.
• In my opinion / view, she is a pretty good teacher.
• You have to judge the capabilities of a teacher from the point of view of a student.

In my opinion / according to me

We do not give our own opinions with according to. Instead, we use in my opinion.

• In my opinion, war is always wrong. (NOT According to me, war is always wrong.)
• According to Jane, war is always wrong.

Difference between play and game

Play and game as nouns A play is a piece of dramatic literature, written for the theatre, radio or television.

• ‘King Lear’ is my favorite among the plays written by Shakespeare.
• She writes plays for television.

A game is an activity of some sort. Examples are: chess, tennis or football.

Play as a verb

We play games or musical instruments.

• Who is playing the piano?
• Would you like to play tennis with me?

People act in plays or films.
Play can mean act before the name of a character in a play or film.

• Who plays Rose in the film ‘Titanic’?

Difference between for and to

Both for and to can be used to talk about somebody’s purpose in doing something. The structures are different. For is used to talk about purpose only when it is followed by a noun.

• We stopped at the pub for a drink.
• I went to London for a conference.

For cannot be used before a verb to express a person’s purpose. Instead, we use to.

• We stopped at the pub to have a drink. (NOT We stopped at the pub for having a drink.)
• I went to London to attend a conference. (NOT I went to London for attending a conference.)

For can be used before an –ing form to express the purpose of a thing.

• An altimeter is used for measuring height above sea level. OR An altimeter is used to measure height above sea level.

When the clause has a person as subject, we usually use an infinitive to express the purpose of a thing.

• We use an altimeter to measure height above sea level. (More natural than ‘We use an altimeter for measuring height above sea level.’)
• The garden shears were used to clip the hedge. OR The garden shears were used for clipping the hedge.
• We used garden shears to clip the hedge. (More natural than ‘We used garden shears for clipping the hedge.’)

Difference between look forward to and looking forward to

There is little difference between I look forward to and I am looking forward to.

• I look forward to the day when he comes back. OR I am looking forward to the day when he comes back.

Look forward means ‘think about a future event with pleasure’. We look forward to something that is certain to happen, and that we are glad about.

• I look forward to the holidays. OR I am looking forward to the holidays.

Look forward to can be followed by an –ing form, but not by an infinitive.

• I look forward to hearing from you. OR I am looking forward to hearing from you. (NOT I look forward to hear from you.)

 

Take, bring, give and put

Take as the opposite of give

Take is often used as the opposite of give. In this case, take means ‘gain possession of’, ‘receive’, ‘obtain’ or ‘remove’.

• One must not take more than one gives.
• She likes to give advice, but she won’t take it.
• I’m afraid James is not in at the moment. Can I take a message?

We take something from a person.

• I won’t take any advice from him. (NOT I won’t take any advice of him.)
• She took the letter from the postman.

Take as the opposite of put

Take can be used as the opposite of put. In this case take is used to talk about moving things away from their places.

• He took off his coat and put on a gown.

Note that we take something out of / from / off a place.

• She took some books from the bag.
• He took some coins out of his pocket.
• Take that stupid smile off your face.

Take as the opposite of bring

Take can be the opposite of bring. In this case, it is used for movements which are not towards the speaker or hearer.

• I don’t know what to take when I leave for France.
• Take that paper with you when you go to school.

In this case take can be used with two objects.

• Shall I take her a cup of tea in bed?

Common expressions with take

Take is used in a number of common expressions referring to activities.
Examples are:
Take a bath; take a break; take a wash; take a swim; take a guess; take a shower; take a walk; take a vacation; take a look; take a rest; take a deep breath
With the names of meals we use have, not take.

• I have breakfast at 8 am. (More natural than ‘I take breakfast at 8 pm.’) 

Who and Whom

Whom is the object form of who. Whom is not common in informal English. We prefer to use who as an object.

• Do you know whom you are speaking to? (Formal)
• Do you know who you are speaking to? (Informal)
• To whom did you give it? (Formal)
• Who did you give it to? (Informal)

After a preposition, we must use whom. Who is not possible in this case.

• With whom did you go? (NOT With who did you go?)

In identifying or restrictive relative clauses we do not usually use whom. Either we leave out the object pronoun, or we use that or who.

• Isn’t this the woman we met in the pub last night? OR Isn’t this the woman who / that we met in the pub last night? (More natural than ‘Isn’t this the woman whom we met in the pub last night?’)

In non-identifying relative clauses whom can be used.

• My son, whom you met last week, wants to see you again.

Both who and whom can be used in sentences like ‘He was trying to find an old friend who/whom he had known since childhood’.

• He has a daughter who / whom I believe is destined to be famous. 

Verbs commonly confused

Fall and fell

Fall is an irregular intransitive verb. Its past tense and past participle forms are: fell and fallen.
Fall / fell / fallen
Be careful; otherwise you will fall off the ladder.
He fell off the ladder.
Fell is a regular transitive verb. It means ‘chop down a tree’. The past and past participle forms of fell are: felled and felled.
Fell / felled / felled
The woodcutter felled the tree.
He was felled by an assassin’s bullet. (= He was killed by an assassin’s bullet.)

Find and found

Find means ‘get back something lost’.
Find is an irregular verb. Its past and past participle forms are: found and found.
Find / found / found
I searched everywhere but couldn’t find my keys.
His body was found several miles from his home.
Found means ‘start up an organization or institution’. It is a regular verb and forms its past and past participle forms by adding –ed to the base form.
Found / founded / founded
The college was founded in 1916.

Flow and fly

Flow (of a liquid) = move
Flow is a regular verb and forms its past and past participle forms by adding –ed to the base form.
Flow / flowed / flowed
Blood flowed from the wound.
Sap flowed from the gash in the tree.
Fly means ‘move in the air’. Its past and past participle forms are flew and flown.
Fly / flew / flown
Birds fly in the sky.

Raise and rise

Raise means ‘put up’, ‘make something larger or greater’ and similar ideas.
Raise is regular. Its past and past participle forms are: raised and raised.
Raise / raised / raised
She raised her hand.
They have raised the fuel prices again.
Raise can also mean ‘bring up’. With this meaning it is usually used in the passive.
He was raised by his grandmother. (= He was brought up by his grandmother.)
Rise means ‘get up’ or ‘stand up’.
Past and past participle forms of rise are: rose and risen.
Rise / rose / risen
He rose from his seat.
The sun rises in the east.

Strike and stroke

Strike means ‘hit’.
Past and past participle forms of strike are: struck and struck.
Strike / struck / struck
The car struck a tree.
The illness can strike at any age.
Stroke means ‘pass the hand gently over’.
Stroke is a regular verb and form the past and past participle forms by adding –ed to the base form.
Stroke / stroked / stroked

Wind and wound

Wind means ‘turn, tighten a spring etc'.
Past and participle forms are: wound and wound
The river winds through the valley.
Wound means ‘injure in a battle’. Wound is a regular verb and forms its past and past participle forms by adding –ed to the base form.
Wound / wounded / wounded
He was wounded in the battle.

Still, yet and already

Still is used to talk about an action or situation that has not finished.

• She is still working.
• The baby is still asleep.
• We are still waiting for his reply.
• It is still raining.

Yet

Yet is used to talk about something which has not happened – it is expected to happen in the future.

• ‘Is Jane here?’ ‘Not yet’.
• He hasn’t come yet.

In questions yet can be used to ask whether something expected has happened.

• Have they arrived yet?
• Is supper ready yet?

Yet is occasionally used in affirmative sentences. In that case it has a similar meaning to still.

• We have yet to receive that parcel. (= We are still waiting to receive that parcel.)

Already

Already is used to say that something has happened sooner than expected.

• We have already finished.
• They have already arrived.
• ‘When is she going to come?’ ‘She is already here.’

Notes

In British English, already and yet are commonly used with perfect tenses. In American English, past tenses are often preferred.

• She has already arrived. (GB)
• She already arrived. (US)

Make of and make from

We use make of when we are identifying the material used to make something. This necklace is made of gold.
It is made of plastic.
What is your bag made of?
These shoes are made of leather.
We usually use make out of when we are thinking about the process of manufacture.
They made all the furniture out of oak.
We usually use make from when the process of making changes a material into something completely different.
Paper is made from wood. (NOT Paper is made of wood.)
She makes wine from grapes.
To mention just one of the materials used for making something, we use make with.
‘The pudding is very sweet.’ ‘Yes, I made it with lots of sugar.

Avenge and revenge

Revenge and avenge are often confused. Avenge means ‘get or take vengeance for’. To avenge my father is to punish someone who has hurt my father. I must avenge my father.
We must avenge the insult.
Incorrect: I must revenge my mother.
Correct: I must avenge my mother. (= I must punish someone who has hurt my mother.)
Incorrect: I must revenge my enemy.
Correct: I must take revenge on my enemy. (= I must punish my enemy.)
Note that you avenge with the idea of seeing justice done. Revenge is less concerned with justice. To revenge is to do something (wrong) just because it gives you satisfaction.
Jane’s father avenged her death by getting her killer arrested and convicted.

(Jane’s father wants to see justice done.)
Jane’s boyfriend took revenge on her killer by killing his wife.
Of course, Jane’s boyfriend was upset with the man who killed her. But justice can’t be his primary concern when he decided to kill that man’s wife.

Invent and discover

These two words are often confused. Use invent of something which did not exist until man created it. Examples are: telephone, computer, steam engine, train, rockets etc.
James Watt invented the steam engine. (It was James Watt who created the steam engine. It didn’t exist before he invented it.)
Who invented the light bulb?
Use discover of something which existed without man’s knowledge. Examples are: stars, galaxies, countries, continents, deserts, mineral deposits etc. Remember that you can’t discover something you created. You can only invent it.
Columbus discovered America. (It wasn’t Columbus who created America. It was already there.)
Who discovered the North Pole?

Respect as a verb and a noun

The verb respect is often confused. 'To respect' someone is to have a very high opinion of someone’s character. I respect my parents.
I respect my teachers.
I respect my elders.
As a noun respect means high opinion or regard.
We must show respect to our teachers.
Study the following sentences:
Incorrect: People respected him at the station.
Correct: People treated him with respect at the station.
Correct: People showed respect for him at the station.

Difference between wear and put on

These two words are often confused. ‘To put on clothes’ refers to the act of dressing. He is in his room putting on his clothes.
Once the act of dressing is over, the verb ‘to wear’ is used to express the act of carrying clothes on the body.
He came wearing a blue shirt. (NOT He came putting on a blue shirt.)
Here we are not referring to the act of dressing.
I felt very hot as I had been wearing a sweater for hours.
Who is that boy wearing a black jacket?

Different from, different to or different than

Different is usually followed by from.

• This is quite different from that.
• She is very different from her sister.

Many British speakers also use to after different.

• His ideas are different from those of his friends.
• OR His ideas are different to those of his friends.
• She is very different from her sister.
• OR She is very different to her sister.

In American English, than is common after different. From is also used.

• American football is very different from soccer. OR American football is very different than soccer.

In British English, different than is possible before a clause.

• The situation is different from what I expected.
• OR The situation is different to what I expected.
• OR The situation is different than I expected.

With and without

With can mean ‘carrying’ or ‘having’.

• He wore a coat with four pockets. (= The coat has four pockets.)
• There I met a man with no legs.
• They have bought a house with a big garden.

With can also indicate what is used.

• Write with a pen.
• They filled the barrow with sand.

With may show association.

• I live with my husband and kids.
• Oil does not mix with water.

With is used after a number of adjectives which show how people are feeling towards others.
Angry with
Upset with
Furious with
Cross with
Pleased with
Patient with
With can indicate the manner in which something is done.

• I will do it with pleasure.

With can mean ‘at the same time as’ or ‘in the same way as’.

• A tree’s shadow moves with the sun.
• Swim with the tide.

With may indicate support or agreement.

• Are you with me or against me in this matter?

With and against After certain verbs (e.g. fight, struggle, quarrel, argue, play etc.) with can be used with the same meaning as against.

• I don’t want to argue with you.
• Do you dare to fight with him?

with and without Without is the opposite of with.

• We will be able to do it with your help.
• We won’t be able to do it without your help.

Difference Between efficient and effective

If somebody or something is efficient, he/she/it is able to perform duties well.

• He is very efficient: he knows how to get things done.
• The telephone system is far more efficient than the postal service.

If something is effective, it has the desired effect.

• I still have that headache. I think those tablets weren’t very effective. (NOT Those tablets weren’t very efficient.)

 

By the way, incidentally

By the way and incidentally are used to introduce something that is not directly connected with the conversation.

• I met John yesterday and we talked about his new projects. Oh, by the way, he sends you his regards.
• Jane is very upset with Peter. She thinks that he shouldn’t have hid anything from her. Incidentally, she has lost her job.

These two expressions can also be used to change the subject completely.

• ‘James has had another stroke’. ‘Oh, yes? Poor guy. By the way have you seen John recently?’
• ‘Nice evening.’ ‘Yes, isn’t it? Oh, incidentally, what happened to that $50 I lent you?’

Anyway, anyhow, at any rate, at least

These expressions have similar meanings. They can mean ‘what was said before doesn’t matter – the main point is as follows’.

• I am not sure what time I will arrive. Anyway / anyhow / at any rate I will be there before 10 o’clock.

Anyhow can mean ‘by one means or another’.

• The door was shut and I could not open it anyhow.

Anyhow can also mean ‘carelessly’; ‘without order’.

• The work was done all anyhow.

At least is used to suggest that one thing is all right even if everything else is unsatisfactory.

• The building was totally destroyed in the fire. At least nobody was hurt.

Notes Anyway does not mean the same as any way, which means ‘by any method’.

• Can you help me in any way?

Difference Between Instead and Instead of

As a preposition instead is never used alone. It is always used with of.

• I will have coffee instead of tea. (NOT I will have coffee instead tea.)
• You will have to go with John instead of me.

When a verb comes after instead of, it has to be a gerund (-ing form), and not an infinitive.

• I stayed in bed all day instead of going to work. (NOT I stayed in bed all day instead of to go to work.)

Instead of and without Instead of does not mean the same as without. We use instead of when one person or thing replaces another. We use without when one person or thing is not together with another.

• John was supposed to attend the meeting, but he was ill, so Peter went instead of him. (Peter replaced John.)
• John and Peter were supposed to attend the meeting, but John was ill, So Peter went without him. (Only Peter attended the meeting.)

Instead without of is an adverb. It usually comes at the beginning or end of a clause.

• She didn’t marry Peter. She married John instead.

Difference Between Allow, Permit and Let

These words have similar meanings. Permit is more formal than allow.

• Smoking is not allowed / permitted.

Both allow and permit can be followed by object + infinitive.

• We do not allow / permit our kids to stay up late.
• We do not allow / permit people to smoke in the house.
• Please allow / permit me to go.

An -ing form is used after allow / permit if there is no personal object.

• We do not allow / permit smoking in the house.

Permit can be used in the passive form with it. Passive forms of allow cannot be used with it.

• It is not permitted to smoke in the house. (NOT It is not allowed to smoke in the house.)

With adverb particles only allow is used.

• She wouldn't allow me in. (NOT She wouldn't permit me in.)

Let is less formal than allow and permit. It is followed by an object + infinitive without to.

• Please allow me to get you a drink. (Quite formal)
• Please let me get you a drink. (Rather informal)

Passive structures with let are not usually possible.

• I wasn't allowed to go. (NOT I wasn't let go.)

Let can be used with adverb particles like in and out.

• She wouldn't let me in.
  

  Difference Between Do and Make

  Do is sometimes confused with make.
  Indefinite activities We use do (and not make) when we do not say exactly what we are doing. For example, we use do with words like something, anything, nothing, what, thing and everything.
  
• I like doing nothing. (NOT I like making nothing.)
• I am going to do something. (NOT I am going to make something.)
• What shall we do now? (NOT What shall we make now?)

Work and Jobs We use do to talk about work and jobs.

• Have you got any work to do? (NOT Have you got any work to make?)
• Do your homework. (NOT Make your homework.)
• I will do the ironing. (NOT I will make the ironing.)

Make Make is often used to talk about constructing, creating, building etc.

• Who made this cake?
• I am going to make a boat.

Common fixed expressions with do Do good
Do harm
Do business
Do one's best
Do a favour
Do sport
Do exercise
Do one's hair
Do one's teeth
Do one's duty
Do 70mph

Common fixed expressions with make Make a journey
Make an offer
Make arrangements
Make a suggestion
Make a plan
Make a decision
Make an attempt
Make an effort
Make an excuse
Make an exception
Make a mistake
Make a noise
Make a phone call
Make money
Make a profit
Make a fortune
Make love
Make progress
Make war
Make peace
Make a bed
Make a fire
Make a fuss
Make an enquiry
Make a comment
Make a fool of oneself

Difference Between Travel, Journey, Trip and Voyage

The word travel means 'travelling in general'. It is usually uncountable.

• My chief interest is travel.

The plural form travels is sometimes used to talk about a long tour in which several places are visited.

• I have met several interesting people on my travels.
• Have you read R L Stevenson's 'Travels with a Donkey'?

Journey is countable. In British English it means one piece of travelling.

• We wish you a happy journey. (NOT We wish you a happy travel.)

We use the word trip to talk about a return journey. It also refers to the activity which is the reason for the journey.

• He has gone on a business trip. (= He has gone on a journey and he is going to do some business.)

Compare:

• 'How was your journey?' 'Awful. The train broke down.' (Here we are referring to the process or travelling.)
• ''How was your business trip?' 'Successful.' (Here we are referring to the purpose of travelling.)

Note that we do not normally use the word trip for expeditions which are very hard.
The word voyage refers to a long sea journey.

Difference Between Speak and Talk

There is little difference between speak and talk. In fact, in most situations they are both possible. Formality To refer to conversational exchanges we usually use talk.

• When the teacher walked into the classroom, the students stopped talking.
• Can I talk to the manager?

Note that speak is the usual word to refer to one-way communication. It is more formal than talk.

• They are no longer on good terms. In fact, they have stopped speaking to one another. (More formal than 'They have stopped talking to one another.)

We often use talk to refer to the act of giving an informal lecture. Speak is used for more formal lectures or sermons.
Compare:

• This is Ms Annie Sullivan, who is going to talk to us about the need to develop good table manners. (Informal or less serious lecture)
• This is Doctor Annie Sullivan, who is going to speak to us on recent developments in molecular biology. (Formal lecture)

Note that speak is the usual word to refer to a person's physical ability to speak a language.

• She speaks five languages fluently. (NOT She talks five languages fluently.)

Note that we usually use talk before sense, nonsense and other words with similar meanings.

• Don't talk nonsense. (NOT Don't speak nonsense.)

Differences Between Backward and Backwards, Forward and Forwards

Backward, forward, outward and similar words can be used as adjectives or adverbs. When these words are used as adjectives, they do not take –s.

• He was seen driving in a northward direction. (Here ‘northward’ is an adjective modifying the noun ‘direction’.)
• Africa is backward in many aspects.

When words like backward and forward are used as adverbs, they can be used with or without –s. Note that the forms backwards, forwards and northwards are more common in British English. Americans prefer the forms without –s.

• She was running backwards and forwards. (More common in British English)
• She was running backward and forward. (More common in American English)
• Let us go upwards. (British English)
• Let us go upward. (American English)
• We walked homewards. (British English)
• We walked homeward. (American English)
• We walked towards the railway station. (British English)
• We walked toward the railway station. (American English)

Note that we do not use –s in expressions such as look forward to, put forward and bring forward.

• I look forward to meeting you soon. (NOT I look forwards to meeting you soon.)

Common Differences Between This/That and So

This and that can be used with adjectives and adverbs in the same way as so. This usage is very common in informal English.

• I didn’t realize that it was going to be this bad. (=I didn’t realize that it was going to be so bad.)
• I don’t think that he is that clever. (=I don’t think that he is so clever.)
• Was she that stupid to trust his again? (=Was she so stupid to trust him again?)
• I don’t understand why she should get this upset. (= I don’t understand why she should get so upset.)

Common Differences Between Through and To

Through is commonly used in American English to mean ‘up to and including’ a particular point of time.

• The park is open from May through October. (= The park will be open in May, June, July, August, September and October.)
• Our offices are open from Monday through Friday.

In British English, through is not used in this way. Instead, British people use to…inclusive or until the end of…

• The park is open from May to October inclusive.
• The park is open from May until the end of October.

Common Differences Between Yes and No

Use yes with affirmative sentences; use no with negative sentences.

• Are you going out? Yes, I’m. (NOT No, I’m)
• Are you coming with us? No, I’m not.
• I have no idea what is happening. No, I haven’t either.
• Haven’t you got a sister? Yes, I have.
• Haven’t you got a car? No, I haven’t.

Common Differences Between Whose and Who's

 Whose Whose means of whom/which. It is used in questions and relative clauses.

• Whose is this bag?
• Whose boy is this?
• It was a decision whose importance I couldn’t realize at the time. (=It was a decision the importance of which I couldn’t realize at the time.)

Who’s Who’s is the contracted form of who is or who has.

• I have a got a sister who’s never been to college. (= I have got a sister who has never been to college.)
• Do you know anyone who’s going to France next week? (= Do you know anyone who is going to France next week?)

Common Differences Between Why and Why not

We use why not in short replies to negative statements. We use why in short replies to affirmative statements.

• ‘He has decided to quit his job.’ ‘Why?’
• ‘I can’t finish this work.’ ‘Why not?’

Why not is also used to state that you agree to a suggestion.

• ‘Let’s go for a walk.’ ‘Yes, why not.’

Common Differences Between Would and Used to

Would Use would to talk about repeated actions and events in the past.

• The old man would sit in a corner talking to himself for hours.
• After dinner we all would sit in the drawing room and chat.

Use used to to talk about repeated actions and events in the past.

• The old man used to sit in a corner talking to himself for hours.
• After dinner we all used to sit in the drawing room and chat.

Difference We can use used to to talk about past states. Would cannot be used with this meaning.

• I used to have an old Rolls-Royce. (NOT I would have an old Rolls-Royce.)

Common Differences Between When and If

Use ‘when’ when you are certain that something will happen.

• I will see you at Easter when I am at my cousin’s place. (I am certain that I will be at my cousin’s place.)

Use ‘if’ when you are unsure whether something will happen or not.

• I will see you in December if I come to Mumbai. (Perhaps I will come to Mumbai, perhaps not)

To talk about predictable situations, both when and if can be used with little difference of meaning.

• When you heat ice it melts.
• If you heat ice it melts.

Common Differences Between In the Way and On the Way

In the way is used for obstacles.

• I couldn’t get the car out because those boxes were in the way.
• Please move a bit – you are in my way. (= You are stopping me from getting where I want to.)

On the way means ‘during the journey or movement’. It can also mean ‘coming’.

• Summer is on the way. (Summer is coming.)
• Her fifth baby is on the way. (Her fifth baby is coming.)
• We had our lunch on the way. (We had our lunch during the journey.)

Awake and wake

In British English, the verbs awake and wake are irregular. Awake – awoke – awoken (GB and US)
Wake – woke – woken (GB and US)
In American English, these verbs can be regular.
Awake – awakened – awakened (US only)
Wake – wakened – wakened (US only)
Use Wake is the most common of these verbs. It can mean ‘stop sleeping’ or ‘make somebody else stop sleeping’. Wake is often followed by up.

• Don’t wake him up.
• I woke up several times in the night.

Waken can be used instead of wake up in a literary style.

• The prince wakened the princess with a kiss. (= The price woke the princess up with a kiss.)