Less and Fewer
The difference between less and fewer is difficult to remember, even for native speakers. Less should be used with uncountable nouns and fewer with countable nouns. e.g There were fewer women at the party than last week. I think you should put less sugar in your coffee. My brother owns less books than I thought [...]
Posted by Aidan under English, Grammar & Common Mistakes | Permalink | No Comments »Atmosphere
Atmosphere is a word that Japanese speakers seem to want to use a lot when they’re speaking English. I often heard students say that they liked something because it had a “comfortable atmosphere.” This is not an expression native speakers would use very often. Certainly you don’t use “atmosphere” when you are talking about a [...]
Posted by Aidan under English, Grammar & Common Mistakes | Permalink | No Comments »The Difference Between That and Which
The difference between that and which is very confusing. Most native speakers don’t know the difference, so don’t get too worried if you get it wrong. The Difference Between That and Which http://www.kentlaw.edu/academics/lrw/grinker/LwtaThat_Versus_Which.htm Related Articles: Atmosphere The Difference Between That and Which Negative Questions Using By & Until Please support my blog by clicking this [...]
Posted by Aidan under English, Grammar & Common Mistakes | Permalink | No Comments »Negative Questions
Negative questions in English can be confusing, especially since in Japanese, the way of answering negative questions is different to English. The basic form of the question – Q) Have you been to Australia? Yes, I have. No, I haven’t. Q) You haven’t been to Australia, have you? Yes. (I have been to Australia) No. [...]
Posted by Aidan under English, Grammar & Common Mistakes | Permalink | No Comments »Using By & Until
It’s easy to confuse by and until. I have to finish this report until Wednesday. By is used when an action or event is going to happen before or at a certain time. I have to finish this report by Wednesday. Please make sure the children are in bed by 10. Until is used for [...]
Posted by Aidan under English, Grammar & Common Mistakes | Permalink | No Comments »