English at Once

To help + infinitive or ING?

2009-09-15T15:16:00.002-03:00

Both cases are correct. But they have different meaning.

To help + infinitive:
- I help Mary to do her homework (to assist)

To help (negative/interrogative) + ING:
- I can't help falling in love with you (to avoid)

Let's listen to an Elvis Presley song, performed by UB 40: "I can't help falling in love with you"

Lyrics
"Wise men say - Only fools rush in,
But I can't help falling in love with you
Shall I stay - Would it be a sin,
If I can't help falling in love with you.
As a river flows
Gently to the sea
Darling so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Take my hand - Take my whole life too,
For I can't help falling in love with you.
As a river flows
Gently to the sea
Darling so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Take my hand - Take my whole life too,
For I can't help falling in love with you.
For I can't help falling in love with you"

Beside/Besides

2009-09-12T00:25:00.001-03:00

Sometimes a single letter may make a big difference in meaning. Look at these two words: "beside" and "besides". Do they have the same meaning?

Beside means "next to", "close":
- Stay beside me, close to me. Please don't go!

Besides, on the other hand, stands for "also", "in addition":
- I don't like going to that restaurant; it's very expensive and besides, service is not good at all.

The form of the possessive/genitive case

2009-05-12T07:03:00.010-03:00

What should I use? "'s form" or "of sthg form" to express possession?
Here is the answer:
's
- A 's is used with singular nouns and plural nouns not ending in s:
► a man 's job
► the people 's choice
► men' s work
► the crew' s quarters
► a woman' s intuition
► the horse' s mouth
► Russia 's exports

- A simple apostrophe (') is used with plural nouns ending in s:
► a girls' school
► the students' hostel
► the eagles' nest
► the Smiths' car

- Classical names ending in s usually add only the apostrophe:
► Pythagoras' Theorem
► Archimedes' Law
► Sophocles' plays

- Other names ending in s can take 's or the apostrophe alone:
► Mr Jones 's (or Mr Jones' house)
► Yeats 's (or Yeats ') poems

of + noun:

- When the possessor noun is followed by a phrase or clause:
► The boys ran about, obeying the directions of a man with a whistle.
► I took the advice of a couple I met on the train and hired a car.

- With inanimate 'possessors', except those listed in above:
► the walls of the town
► the roof of the church
► the keys of the car

- It is often possible to replace noun X + of + noun Y by noun y + noun X:
► the car keys

- The first noun becomes a sort of adjective and is not made plural:
► the roofs of the churches = the church roofs

Unfortunately noun + of + noun combinations cannot always be replaced in this way and the student is advised to use of when in doubt.

Sources: A Practical English Grammar. Thomson & Martinet. Oxford University Press, 1986.

Classic/classical - Economic/economical

2009-05-09T18:11:00.002-03:00

Classic or classical? Economic or economical? Which one is correct?

CLASSIC: something that it is among the best or most typical of its class; serving as a standard or model.

CLASSICAL: something that belongs to a traditional style or set of ideas. Classical music. Beethoven, Mozart's music.

ECONOMIC: something related to trade, industry, economics.

ECONOMICAL: something not wasteful, money-saving

Try these:

ON + days or dates / IN months

2009-05-06T14:35:00.007-03:00

First of all, don't forget that days and months are always written with capital letters.

And when you are using days or dates, the right preposition used is ON:

ON with Days and Dates

ON Monday, ON Wednesday.
ON January the 1st, ON the 10th of March.

BUT:
IN with Months
IN February, IN July...

I was born ON April 21st but my wifes' birthday is IN August.

What about you? When were you born? When is your best friend's birthday?

Avoiding the word "important"

2009-05-02T13:41:00.000-03:00

Students usually use the word "important" so many times that they flood oral and written productions with this term.

This may occur because they don't realize they can paraphrase this expression by using words they already know.

Therefore, if you are a student, when you are about to use the expression "it's important", think of all these other expressions in order to paraphrase it:

It's essential, crucial, considerable, critical, decisive, determining, imperative, meaningful, necessary, substantial, and so on and on. More synonyms here!

Skill/Ability

2009-04-28T00:57:00.012-03:00

Many times, students ask about the difference between skill and ability. How must we use them?

SKILL: an ability acquired through practice. It makes you think of something learned, something you worked hard to be good at. It's more "physical".
-What you've learnt
- Permanent changes in behaviour
- Aimed at achieving a goal
- Learning of the skill is demonstrated by changes in the consistency of performance, making it more efficient and successful

ABILITY: the state of being able to do something; something you are born with. It makes you think more of a natural talent and about mental tasks.

- Co-ordination
- Flexibility
- Balance
- Muscular power
- Muscular endurance

Is it clear? Try these examples. Choose the correct answer:

To attend/to assist

2009-04-24T02:28:00.000-03:00

► Another common mistake is to think that 'to attend' stands for 'atender' in spanish.
'To attend' means 'to go to' a class or a meeting:
- I didn't attend the meeting last Friday because of a huge traffic jam.

So you don't 'assist' to the English courses but you 'attend'.

► If someone is in trouble or needs a hand, you may 'assist' him/her.
- My mother needed some help yesterday. So I assited her.

Here we have a case of FALSE FRIENDS, words that appear to mean the same in English and Spanish but don't.
More false friends English-Spanish here

Special Simple Present cases

2009-04-21T20:13:00.002-03:00

The Simple Present Tense is used for everyday actions,likes and dislikes. You often use adverbs of frequence with it.
As you may know, you use the infinive with the subjects I, you, we, they. However, when the subjects of the sentence are 'he, she, it', the infinitive form takes an 's':

I always have breakfast at home.
They usually go to the cinema.
She rarely reads French literature.
Paul loves watching TV

BUT:

When the verb ends in 'o', 's', 'sh', 'ch', 'x' or 'z', 'ES' (instead of 's') are added:
Dad washes his car (to wash)
The students matches the sentences (to match)
The alarm clock buzzes at 9 o'clock every morning (to buzz)

ALSO, if the verb ends in 'y', you change the 'y' into 'i' and then 'ES' is added:

The girl cries when her mother leaves (to cry)
The boy studies german (to study)

Anyway, there are some exceptions:
To play - He/she/it plays
To pay - He/she/it pays

P: download a Powerpoint about Simple Present tense here.
Or you can visit thise website: FORTUNECITY

So, what do your friend/wife/husband does in everyday life?

I'm waiting for your answers!

Adjectives + AT something

2009-04-17T00:15:00.018-03:00

Yes, prepositions in English are difficult, complicated. Many times, students wonder if they are using the right preposition.

Here we have a special case: Adjectives +AT something
Maybe you are good at something, even if you are not trained to do it, because you have a natural ability:
- I'm good AT maths.
- Mary is very good AT English

Maybe you are not good at something such as a job or a game because of a lack of skill:
- Paul ans I are bad AT football. But Messi is excellent at it!

Perhaps someone is lucky...
- They are lucky AT gambling.
To be + ADJECTIVE + AT + something
What about you? What are you good/bad at?

In time / On time

2009-04-13T20:12:00.000-03:00

If you have a meeting or an appointment at 6 o'clock, do you usually arrive ON time or IN time? Do you know the difference between them?

- If you arrive ON time, it means that you arrive ponctually, at 6 o'clock.
- If you arrive IN time, it means that you arrive some minutes before, at 5:45.

Actually

2009-04-11T19:04:00.001-03:00

The common mistake is to think that 'actually' stands for 'actualmente' in spanish.
'Actually' means 'in fact' or 'en realidad' in spanish.

Example:
- You're English, aren't you?
- No, actually, I'm Irish

Here we have a case of FALSE FRIENDS, words that appear to mean the same in English and Spanish but don't.

Would you mind?

2009-04-10T03:27:00.000-03:00

A common mistake:

- Would you mind opening the door?

- Yes, sure!

The formal expression "would you mind" means "to be offended or bothered by doing something". If you answer "yes", you are showing embarrassment or that you are not willing to do what it's requested. That's why the correct or the polite answer is "No, I don't" or " Not at all":

- Would you mind if I smoke?

- Of course not!

Welcome!

2009-04-09T03:22:00.001-03:00

"English at Once" is a blog that intends to become a guide for students, offering help and showing tips to avoid the most common grammar mistakes.

You will find, twice a week, an entry with an error and how it must be corrected. You will also find tips for the writing or the oral, the typical "False Friends" and everything you need to speak a better English.

Welcome on board! Welcome to English at Once!