Caretaker or caregiver?
Caretaker = A person employed to look after a building or animals; janitor, warden, watchman. He works as a college caretaker. Two lions escaped from their cage and killed their caretaker. Caregiver = someone who takes care of a person who is young, old, sick or differently abled. Some caregivers are family members. Others are paid. When she got sick her husband became her caregiver. She has become a caregiver for her mother and father. Since I am away on my official duties very often…
Perceptual, perceptive & perceptible
Perceptual = relating to the ability to interpret or become aware of something through senses. A patient with perceptual problems. Perceptual skills are particularly important in sports. Perceptive = Having or showing an unusually good ability to notice and understand. A perceptive woman. perceptive comments. He is so perceptive when it comes to other people’s feelings. Perceptible = Noticeable, perceivable. Perceptible improvement in working standards. A perceptible decline in public confidence. A perceptible change in his behaviour.
Faculty vs. faculties
Faculty = Power of mind or physical or natural ability to hear, see, think, move, etc. (in this case plural ‘faculties’ is possible as the case may be) Prof. Thomas has a great faculty for learning languages. Even at the age of 90 he still had all his faculties. The mental faculties. BUT never use faculties in the following cases. A) Faculty = The whole teaching staff of a University or department such as the Faculty of Law/Science. The principal convened the meeting of the faculty (…
Go shopping or go for shopping?
We use GO -ing for a number of activities, esp., sports. ( NOT go for -ing) Go shopping (NOT go for shopping) We went shopping yesterday in Lulu mall (NOT went for shopping) When did you last go shopping? (NOT go for shopping) We are going shopping next week. ( NOT go for shopping ) Why don’t you go swimming with your friends? (NOT go for swimming) Let’s go fishing this evening. (NOT go for fishing ) She’s gone jogging. (NOT gone for jogging )…
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…
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…