Similar but Different
E
Win means to be the best or the first in a competition.
The film won an Oscar.
Our team won the match.
Earn means to get something, usually money, for your work or effort.
I need to find a job where I can earn more money.
His outstanding performance in the play-offs has earned him a spot in the line-up for the final match.
Gain means to get something useful - attention, knowledge, favour - whether or not you deserve it.
He gained a lot of experience working with his father.
There's nothing to gain by postponing the meeting.
Beat means to reach a place or succeed in doing something before someone else.
If you want to beat the rush hour traffic I suggest you leave early.
We were set to close the deal but the guys from Xerox beat us.
Expect - Hope - Wait - Wish - Look forward to
Expect means that you think something will happen.
I'm expecting an important phone call.
Look forward to means that you think something will happen and you feel happy about it.
I'm looking forward to Jaime's party.
Hope means that you want something to happen and you think there is a possibility.
I hope it doesn't rain.
Wish means that you want something to happen which is impossible or very unlikely.
I wish I were 20 years younger.
Wait means to stay without doing anything until someone or something comes or happens.
We waited 20 minutes for the bus.
In the end means at last, finally. Compare the two sentences.
We talked for 3 hours and, in the end, reached an agreement.
We reached an agreement at the end of 3 hours of discussion.
Both task and job can refer to a piece of work.
My first task/job will be to get to know my way around the office.
But task is often a hard or unpleasant duty.
Errand is a short trip to do or get something.
Can you let me have the car tomorrow? I've got a lot of errands to do.
Enclose is to put inside an envelope in addition to something else.
I'm enclosing a copy of the report with this letter.
Attach is to fasten, fix or connect.
I've attached a cheque to the order form.
Earth - Land - Ground - Soil - Floor
The earth is the planet we live on. The surface of this planet is called land when compared with the sea and earth when compared with the sky or space. If you want to build a house you need to purchase a piece of land. The substance in which plants grow is called soil or earth. The surface we walk on is called the ground unless, of course, we are in a building and then it's called the floor.
Adjectives ending in "ED" or "ING"
The "ing" form is used for descriptions, usually expressed with the verb "ser".
The film is interesting, exciting, boring..
The "ed" form is used to express feelings, usually expressed with the verb "estar".
I am bored with, not interested in, excited about politics.
Insure - Ensure - Assure - Reassure
Ensure (British English) and insure (American English) mean to make (something) sure to happen.
If you want to ensure/insure arriving on time I suggest you take the metro.
If you assure someone of something you are promising them that something will happen.
The doctor assured us that our son would recuperate completely.
To reassure is to comfort and make free from fear or worry.
The chairman tried to reassure the shareholders that they would benefit from the merger.