Material vs. materials
I) Both the words material and materials can be used when we want to refer to physical objects. not enough material for two overcoats. a few meters of dress material. Stone is a durable material. Writing materials such as paper and pens. Dress materials. II) material (legal) = important, essential. material evidence The judge warned the witness not to hold back material facts. BUT, when you want to mean information or ideas (non-physical) you must use MATERIAL not MATERIALS. I hoped to find material for…
Pupil or student?
Pupil = A person who is taught by another, esp. a school child or student in relation to a teacher. All pupils are expected to attend school assembly. A primary school pupil Student = 1) A school pupil A highschool student 2) A person who is studying at a University or other places of higher education. A student of MBA course. A group of college students. The difference: All the PUPILS are STUDENTS but all the STUDENTS are not PUPILS. Pupils are more dependent on…
Lunch, supper & dinner?
Lunch = meal taken in the middle of the day. Supper = meal taken in the evening/night. Dinner = the main meal of the day eaten either at mid-day or in the evening. DINNER doesn’t necessarily mean a meal eaten at the evening or night. According to English customs, there is only one main meal a day (either at midday or in the evening) and they call it DINNER. When you have your main meal in the midday, you call it dinner instead of lunch, and…
English – usages?
I) English (noun) = The English language. (adjective) Relating to England, or its people or language. English customs demand such polished manners. II) The English = English people, the people of England. The English are among the world’s most cosmopolitan and well-travelled people. III) Speak English – i.e., you know and can speak English. Do you speak English? My parents do not speak English. IV) Speak in English = use English on a particular occasion. When I went to Chennai I had to speak in English…
Upstairs and Downstairs
Upstairs and downstairs are not used with to/in/at etc. They are mainly adverbs, but they are also used as adjectives and nouns. As adverb: He went upstairs to answer the phone. (NOT to upstairs) The people who live upstairs are very noisy. As adjective: My room is upstairs (NOT in upstairs) The dining room and kitchen are upstairs. (NOT in upstairs) The upstair(s) rooms. (often without the final ‘s’) As noun: She’s cleaning the upstairs. The upstairs of this house is for sale. The above rules…
Marry – usages
marry = take as husband or wife Tony is going to marry Elsa. She married a lawyer. marry = to perform the ceremony of marriage as a priest or official Which priest is going to marry them? The Registrar married them in the Registrar’s office. marry = give in marriage He married his only daughter to a business magnate. My father is going to marry me to his accountant’s son. She has married all her daughters to Doctors.
Social vs. Sociable
social = connected with life in a society Crime and unemployment are the most serious social problems. Social customs/reforms/functions. Kuriachan leads an active social life despite his busy office responsibilities. People are encouraged to take part in social activities with a view to ensuring social strength and security. sociable = fond of the company of others, friendly, showing friendliness Our new neighbours are not very sociable (social✗) They are sociable people who enjoy having parties. Ours is a very sociable little village where people enjoy…
Slap in the face vs. slap on the back
Slap in the face – insult, affront, humiliation It was a real slap in the face when he didn’t invite me to the wedding. The union leaders consider the 5% increase in the wages offered as a slap in the face. His remarks were a slap in the face for the local community. Slap on the back – compliments, congratulations. The coach gave him a slap on the back for coming in first. Her boss gave her a slap on the back for completing the…
Equipments or equipment?
Is there a word like Equipments? The answer is an emphatic NO. For the word equipment, there is no plural. It is an uncountable noun. More uncountable nouns: Information, etiquette, jewellery, food, news, toast, scenery, nonsense, jargon, porcelain, cutlery, crockery, earthenware, luggage, baggage, etc. i.e., jargon ✓ (jargons ✗) information ✓ (informations ✗) etiquette ✓ (etiquettes ✗) jewellery ✓ (jewelleries ✗)
Migrate, emigrate or immigrate?
migrate (of birds, animals, and people) = move from one place to another (to live there). How do birds know when to migrate and how do their way back home? A lot of new software engineers migrated to America where they could earn more. emigrate (ONLY for people) = leave your own country and make your home in another one. Tomy Methipara decided to emigrate to the US. Many people emigrate to European countries in search of better prospects. immigrate (seldom used) = enter a…