Top 35 Grammar Tricks That Will Improve Your English Fast

Every language has nuances and certain rules. Knowing these tricks in English, you will sound smarter, and your speech will become beautiful and literate, reports Readers Digest.

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What is the difference: Hopefully and I Hope

Hopefully means “with hope”, “if you’re lucky”, “desirable”. I Hope - “I hope.”

What is the difference: Importantly and Important

More important as and more important are grammatically acceptable. Only if you are a pompous braggart, then speak importantly.

What is the difference: Their and His or her

Everyone and everybody are used in the singular, so words referring to them must also be singular.

What is the difference: I and Me

I and me mean the same thing - the person in question is telling EasySpeak. However, in the case of I, this person HIMSELF performs the action, and with me, the action is performed ON HIM. This is the main thing to remember when using these words. But there are exceptions: When comparing after than (than), in most cases you will find me instead of I. In the phrase “I too,” no one will say I. Say me too. Also, sometimes confusion arises when some other word or words go along with I/me. In this case, to say it correctly, remove the remaining words from the sentence. Then determining what to say - I or me - becomes much easier. Let's look at an example: Tom and ? I/me? played football yesterday. - “Tom and I played football yesterday.” “We remove” Tom, what remains is I/me played football yesterday. Here, I think, there are no more doubts. Who performs the action? I. The correct option is I played football yesterday. Therefore, Tom and I/me played football yesterday.

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And now here's an option. “The guys invited Tom and me to play football.” — The guys called Tom and ? I/me? to play football. Again, we “remove” Tom, what remains is “The guys called I/me to play football.” Who performs the action? The guys (guys). The action is aimed at whom? On me. The correct option is The guys called me to play football. Consequently, The guys called Tom and I/me to play football.

What is the difference: Assessable and Accessible

“The library is wheelchair-accessible.”

“Your house is assessable by the county that taxes it.”

What is the difference: Badly and Bad

Do you feel physically unwell (almost never) or do you feel some guilt after you screw up (almost always)? In the first case of physical sensation you feel bad, while in the second you feel bad.

What is the difference: Equally as and Equally

As not needed: I speak Latin and Greek equally well.

What is the difference: Because and That

You never mean "the reason is because". You mean "the reason is that". Why? The word reason already implies because. Likewise, why say “the reason why” when you can simply say “the reason”?

What is the difference: Lay and Lie

This is another case where people think (wrongly) that a particular word sounds more “educated.” Lay and lie are not interchangeable. Lie does not require an object: “I need to lie down.” But lie demands: “I need to lay my head down.” The confusion arises from the past tense of both verbs—lie becomes lay; lay becomes laided, but the usage remains the same.

What is the difference: ATM and ATM machine

Using the phrases ATM machine (automated teller machine machine) or “PIN-number” (personal identification number number) is linguistic redundancy, because machine and number are already contained in the main word.

What is the difference: Historical and Historic

In short, historic means more “significant.” But if you mean history, use historical (“historical data”) or “a historical link between the two world wars.” By the way, this is not a “historical event.”

What is the difference: That and Who

A person is who. Everything else (yes, including animals) is that.

What is the difference: Most everyone and Everyone

Decide: If you really mean “every person,” use everyone. If not, say most everyone.

What is the difference: Nauseous and Nauseated

Strictly speaking, nauseous - means “causing nausea” (for example, “a hateful, nauseous person”); nauseated means "suffering from nausea" physically (for example, "I'm nauseated").

What is the difference: Very unique and Unique

No need to say very unique. Unique things and people are one of a kind, absolute.

What is the difference: Literally laughed my head off and Laughed my head off

Literally means "actually" and is best suited for real events.

What is the difference: Merge together and Merge

Saying "merge together" is redundant, as is "free gift" and "pair of twins" - unless, of course, you mean two sets of twins.

What is the difference: Orientate and Orient

Orientate - means "to face the east."

Orient - “orient”. “The tour was designed to orient new students.”

What is the difference: Impact and Affect

Impact should not be used as a verb. Incorrect: The decision impacts everyone. Correct: The decision affects everyone - “The decision affects everyone.”

What is the difference: Off of and Off

Don't say Off of. Some words are great on their own.

What is the difference: Preventative and Preventive

Grammar supreme H. W. Fowler banned the long form (preventative) almost a hundred years ago. So someone who is health conscious might seek preventive care.

What is the difference: Infamous and Famous

Famous is “known”. “But the rich and famous have the worst reputation.”

“Aunt Donna's chocolate chip cookies are notoriously evil and disgraceful, they are famous, not infamous.”

What is the difference: Evoke and Invoke

“Photography evokes emotions” - and photograph evokes emotion; “a joke evokes laughter” - a joke evokes laughter. Evoke means "to call out." Use the word invoke if you mean “to appeal to a higher power, ask for support, or implement” (for example, “Allison invoked Robert Frost for her first assignment” or “The director asked for help from teachers" - The principal invoked the aid of the teachers).

What is the difference: Denounce and Renounce

These two words may sound similar, but their meanings are different: Denounce means “to publicly condemn or formally accuse” (“The judge denounced the CEO for insider trading”), and renounce means “to give up or refuse to follow.” "(The CEO renounced his not-guilty plea).

What is the difference: Uninterested and Disinterested

Cautious speakers who want to show a lack of bias use disinterested.

What is the difference: Myself and I

Myself is often incorrectly used for I and me, often because people are trying to seem smarter (wrong: My husband and myself have belonged to the country club for years). Myself is a pronoun that is best used for reflexive use (when the action is directed to the subject: "For Christmas, I gave myself a gift") or for emphasis ("I have done this myself many times" - I myself have done that many times).

What is the difference: Former and Latter

The difference is obvious, but writers and speakers sometimes confuse the two words: simply former is the first of the two; the latter is the second.
Costa Rica has both monkeys and sloths in its jungles. However, the former are much faster than the latter — “There are a lot of monkeys and sloths in the Costa Rican jungle. However, the former are much faster than the latter (the latter).

What is the difference: Fall between and Fall through

Logically speaking, you cannot fall between; you fall into or through it.

What is the difference: Mute and Moot

The most common meaning of moot is “devoid of practical value.” Mute means "silence".

What is the difference: Just desserts and Just deserts

When you want someone to get what they deserve, you hope that they reap his just deserts. But “On her birthday, a particularly well-behaved three-year-old might be allowed in just desserts.”

What is the difference: Modern-day and Modern

Simply put, Modern is the best option. Modern-day is a redundant term.

What is the difference: Exorbitant and Exuberant

Although they both mean "extreme", these terms are often confused with money. Exuberant refers to unbridled enthusiasm or brightness; exorbitant means "exceeding the corresponding amount." “Exuberant use of a credit card leads to an exorbitant bill down the road.” What's the difference.

What is the difference between despite and in spite of

As for the meaning, despite and in spite of are completely the same, there is no difference. Where the difference lies is in the use. The main mistakes are that after despite they add of, which is inappropriate here. And in spite, on the contrary, this of is forgotten.

In spite of a bad storm, the plane landed safely. “Despite a severe thunderstorm, the plane landed safely.”

Despite their constant quarrels they are still together. “Despite the constant quarrels, they are still together.”

What is the difference between compliment and compliment

Compliment and complement differ in one letter in spelling and different meanings. Complement - “addition”. The spelling is easy to complete if you know the word complete from which it is derived. Compliment - “compliment”.

What is the difference between fiancée and fiancé

Fiancée and fiancé have different meanings. Fiancée - “bride”, fiancé - “groom”. This is how one letter “e” at the end turns a boy into a girl))) That is, the spelling is also different.

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What is the difference between in essence and in a sense

Pay attention to the spelling of words. In essence is written in two words, before “s” is written “e”, and the penultimate letter is “c”. In a sense is written in three words with the article “a” in the middle and “s” at the end (before “e”). The meanings of the words are also different: in essence - “essentially”, in a sense - “in some sense”.

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