Parecidas pero distintas

O

A/An - One

A) There's only a phone in our office.

B) There's only one phone in our office.

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre estas dos frases? En español no hay ninguna. Solo hay un teléfono en nuestra oficina. Pero en inglés hay una diferencia importante.

La oficina de la frase "A" está completamente vacia excepto por el teléfono

La oficina de la frase "B" tiene muchas cosas pero sólo un teléfono.

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Another - Other - The Other

Another "otro" se usa, siempre en singular, para hablar de uno más.

"Can you give me another pencil?"

Another puede ser un pronombre.

"Can you give me another?"

The other "el otro / los otros" se usa para hablar del último o los últimos.

"Can you give me the other pencil(s)?"

The others puede ser un pronombre.

"Can you give me the others?"

Other "otros" se usa, siempre en plural, para hablar de unos más.

"Some of the fans were waiting at the airport and other fans were waiting at the concert hall."

Others "otros" siempre es un pronombre.

"Some of the fans were waiting at the airport and others were waiting at the concert hall."

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Through - Across - Over

Across significa cruzar de un lado a otro en superficie. (a street)

Si se cruza algo alto es mejor utilizar over. (a bridge)

Through significa atravesar algo con volumen. (a tunnel)

So, I go across the street over the bridge and through the tunnel.

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Alone - Lonely - Only

Alone significa estar sin o separado de los demás.

He lived alone for two years before he met his wife.

Lonely significa no ser feliz por estar alone.

He's been very lonely since his children moved away from home.

Only significa ser el único.

They say that I was the only one who could understand what my brother said when he was a baby.

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Out - Away

To be out es estar fuera, ausente.

I'm afraid he's out at the moment. Can I take a message?

To be away significa estar en otro sitio.

I'm afraid he can't be reached. He's away on a business trip.

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Opposite - In front of

Opposite significa en frente, al otro lado de algo.

In front of significa delante, lo contradio de detrás.

In front of también significa la parte delantera.

In my classroom the chairs are arranged in a circle. The teacher stands in the middle, so he is always in front of everybody.

John is on the other side of the room from me so we are exactly opposite each other.

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