Special Usage Notes code A Borrow/Lend : one borrows something from someone or someting
one lends something to someone or something. Loan is a synonym for lend
- Lend me your pen
- I only want to borrow it for a minute
Despite/ In spite of : Despite and in spite of have the same meaning and can be used interchangeably. Note, however, that when a clause rather than a noun follows these prepositions, the construction despite the fact or in spite of the fact must be used.
- He came despite the rain
- He came in spite of the rain
- He came despite the fact that it was raining
- He came in spite of the fact it was raining
Speak/Talk : Speak is used with languages, greeting, and in formal settings. Talk refers to a conversation and is often followed by an indirect object with to.
- Jane apeaks English, she'll speak to our group tonight
- Don't talk during the film. If you want to talk to me, wait until it's over
Teach/Learn: Learn means to gain knowledge, teach means to instruct someone else.
- I learned French last year, now I'll teach it to you
Infinitives without to: are used after the verbs let, make, hear, see and feel
- He let me borrow hos bicycle
- She made us wait an hour
Negative Opening : If an english sentence begins with a negative word, an auxiliary verb must precede the subject, as in interrogative sentences.
- Never have I heard such music
- Not once did he mention your name
Singular and Plural Forms in Measurements : We use the singular form of such words as foot, dollar, year, etc. When such words are used as adjectives, we use the plural form when such words are used alone as nouns.
- He signed a five-year contract
- This contract runs for five years.
The special exercises :
1. The oainters are using a twenty ( feet, foot) ladder to climb up that building.
2. I want to (borrow,lend) your car for an hour. Will you please (borrow, lend) it to me?
3. What languages do you (speak,talk)?
4. Let's (speak,talk) about this homework assignment, it's difficult.
5. Who (taught, learned) you how to ice-skate?
6. We went for a walk (despite, despite the fact) that the waether was baf.
7. Never (I have seen, have I seen) Justin so angry/
8.Amanda is going to (teach,learn) me how to play tennis.
9.What have you (learned, taught) from your teacher this year?
10. I saw the thief (to take,take) the money.
11. Not once (the speaker mentioned, did the speaker mention) the subject of foreign aid.
12. The doctor made us (wait,towait) two hours in her office.
13. Nowhere(you coul fine,could you find) a more generous person.
14. Kareem is a seven (feet,foot) tall basketball player. When he was fifteen years old he was already six (feet,foot) tall
15. (in spite of, in spite of the fact) that he was ill, Gerald attended each session of the conference.
16. I haven't heard them (make, to make) a sound for hours.
17. How long did Professor Morgan (talk,speak) at the dinner last night?
18. My sister never has enough money, she is always (lending,borrowing) some from me until her next paycheck.
19. We sang (despite,despite the fact) the cold.