Come, go, bring and take

Random Idea English is an excellent blog for advanced English students or English speakers with an interest in the English language.

A grammar or vocabulary point is first explained and then there are a number of online activies where the blog users can do excercises to test their grasp and understanding of the point in question.

A few weeks ago Warsaw Will, the person behind Random Idea English, published a more than interesting entry about the differences in usage between come, go, bring and take, which is usually a bone of contention for students of all levels.

Drop by Random Idea English and have a go with come, go, bring and take.

Actual, a false friend for Spanish students

The word actual is really complicated for Spanish learners of English, as they sometimes mistake it for the Spanish word 'actual' when, as a matter of fact, it is used in English to emphasize something that is true or exact. We can translate it as 'real, verdadero, propiamente dicho'. Here are some examples:

He cited actual cases (citó casos reales)
The actual owner (el verdadero dueño)
There was no actual agreement (no hubo un acuerdo propiamente dicho)

The Macmillan Dictionary blog published an entry on actual in the section Language tip in November. You can read it by clicking on the picture below.

Language tip of the week: Help

The MacMillan Dictionary blog has a feature called Language tip of the week, where they offer tips based on areas of English (spelling, grammar, vocabulary) which learners often find difficult.

This week's language tip is about the verb help. Click on the picture below to find out more.

Language tip: 'control of' or 'control over'

A few weeks ago The MacMillan English Dictionary published an entry about which preposition to use after the noun control, either of or over.

Click on the picture below to read the explanation they give.

Vocabulary clinic: In the beginning vs at the beginning

The Language Tips section of the MacMillan Dictionary Blog explained the difference between at the beginning and in the beginning a few weeks ago.

At the beginning is used to refer to the start or first part of something. It is usually followed by of, and it used in situations with a clear beginning and end (a year, a class, a chapter, a book).

In the beginning means ‘at first’, and it usually suggests a contrast with a later situation. It is not usually followed by of.

Breath vs breathe

The Macmillan Dictionary has lots of interesting features that need exploring in detail.

One of those features is the Language Tip of the Week, where we are given advice on how to use specific vocabulary items.

A few weeks ago, they presented the difference between breath (noun) and breathe (verb). Click on the picture below to fully read the explanation, which comes together with examples and links to the Macmillan Dictionary, where we can listen to the differences in pronunciation between the two words.

Been vs gone (present perfect)

The verb go has two participles, gone and been. The use of gone or been depends on the meaning of the sentence.

My brother has gone to London – My brother is in London now.
My brother has been to London – My brother has visited London, but he’s not in London now.

Pay attention to the fact that been is followed by the preposition to in this use. It is the use of present perfect to talk about experiences, which is similar to Spanish (He estado en Londres=Conozco Londres).

The English You Need blog has published the activity below to help you discriminate between been and gone.

On a future entry we will be dealing with the difference in meaning between been to and been in in the present perfect.

Expect, hope, wait, look forward to

The Spanish verb esperar is a difficult one to translate into English. There are several options.

Expect - to think that something will happen because it has been planned or it seems probable. One can expect good or bad things. Example:
I expect it will rain at the weekend.
I'm expecting John to phone at three.
She's expecting a baby.

Hope - to want something to happen or to be true. One only hopes for good things. Example:
I hope it won't rain during the holidays.
I hope the exam goes well.
She's pregnant. She's hoping it will be a girl.

Wait - We wait when somebody or something is late, or when we are early for something, or when we want time to pass so that something will happen. Example:
We've been waiting for rain for ages.
I waited for her until three, but she didn't arrive.

Look forward to - to think about something that is going to happen with pleasure. Example:
He's looking forward to his birthday.

Look forward to is the verb we use in letters as a farewell formula, always with -ing if another verb follows:
I look forward to hearing from you soon (present simple in formal letters).
I'm looking forward to meeting you (present continuous in informal letters).

Self-study activity: Complete the gaps in the sentences with expect, hope, wait or look forward to.

1. I ... my retirement day to devote all my time to my hobbies.
2. I'm still ... for Harry to pay me back all the money he owes me.
3. She ... him to be angry with her.
4. I ... the employment situation will change one day.

Key:
1. look forward to   2. waiting   3. expects/expected   4. hope

Alone, lonely, solitary, on my own, by myself

The word solo is a difficult one to translate into English for many Spanish speakers. We have several options at hand.

Alone  (never used before a noun) = without other people around you. It is the general word. It is neither good nor bad.
"When I came into the class, the teacher was alone."

Lonely = sad because you are alone and feel that nobody loves you.
"Ann hated her lonely weekends in that city."

On my own, on your own, etc.; by myself, by yourself, etc. = without anyone's help or supervision, independently.
"He built the house on his own / by himself."

Solitary (only used before a noun) = doing something without anyone else with you, often by choice.
"She enjoys her daily solitary walks."

Self-study activity:
Complete the gaps in the sentences with the corresponding word.

1. Do you like spending time ... ?
2. Fishing and walking are the two pleasures of the ... life that he enjoys.
3. Don't you feel ... being on your own all day?
4. I can manage ... now, thanks for your help.
5. She doesn't like travelling ...

Key:
1. alone   2. solitary   3. lonely   4. on my own   5. alone

Journey, trip, voyage, travel

These words may be confusing for some Spanish students. Travel is a verb (‘viajar’), but we can also use it as a noun in some fixed expressions: travel agency, foreign travel, air travel, on my travels or when we mean ‘travelling in general’: My interests are music and travel.

Generally speaking the Spanish noun ‘viaje’ is translated as journey or trip into English. Journey emphasizes the distance or time travelling takes (a twenty-minute bus journey, a train journey) whereas trip dwells on everything -distance, purpose, return (a two-day business trip). Trip can also mean ‘excursión’ (a school trip).

Voyage is a long journey on a ship or spaceship.

We always use the verb make with journey, trip and voyage and the preposition on: She’s away on a business trip; I never make a journey without my ID.

Self-study activity:
Complete the gaps with travel, journey, trip, or voyage.

1. Our parents wished us a safe … as we drove away.
2. My parents are planning their first … abroad.
3. The whole family went on a (…) to Florida.
4. The ship sank on its first (…).
5. Before a holiday it’s convenient to make all (…) arrangements.

Key:
1. journey   2. trip   3. trip   4. voyage   5. travel

Wonder vs wander

We very often confuse the pronunciation of the verbs wonder and wander, despite the fact we might well know their meaning.

I wonder if you really know what you want [ask yourself, 'preguntarse'].
I often wander around the city [go from one place to another without a purpose, 'vagar'].

Wonder is pronounced / ʌ /, and has the same vowel sound as fun, sun, run, son.
A lot of English words with the letter o are also pronounced / ʌ /: one, done, money, won, love.

Wander, on the other hand, is pronounced / ɒ / and has the same vowel sound as want, what, dog, job.