Similar but Different
F
For is used to refer to a period of time.(measured in minutes, days, years etc.)
I've been working on this project for 6 months.
Since is used to refer to a point in time when the period started.
I've been working on this project since October. (6 months ago)
It's ages since...
This is a common way to express the idea that we haven't done something,
or something hasn't happened in a long time.
It's ages since I went to the cinema. (I haven't been to the cinema in ages.)
The past simple affirmative is used even though the idea is negative.
For is used to express how long.
The people in front of us at the cinema were talking for twenty minutes.
During is used to express when.
The people in front of us were talking during the film.
During is followed by a noun.
I managed to sleep during the flight.
While is followed by a subject and a verb.
I managed to sleep while we were flying from Paris to Mexico.
Opposite means facing, on the other side of something.
In front of means before, the opposite of behind.
In front of also means the most forward part, the opposite of the back.
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.
Bring means moving something towards the speaker.
Can you come here and bring your notepad with you?
Take means moving something to another place.
Could you take these reports over to John's office?
Fetch means to go, get something, and bring it back.
Could you fetch the flash report from Antonio's desk?
Carry does not specify direction but suggests support with arms or body.
I had to carry my suitcases from reception up to my room.
Food is what you eat and a meal is when you eat it. Food is not countable.
I like all kinds of food and I usually have 3 meals a day.
Fit means the right size and shape.
I prefer to wear jeans because they always fit me well.
Suit means to satisfy or please.
This dress doesn't suit me. It makes me look old-fashioned.
Wages is payment made for work done; calculated by the hour, day or week.
At these wages we can only afford to have them clean the office once a week.
Salaries are usually paid once a month.
A fee is what you pay a professional for his or her services.
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.
Fun is anything that causes amusement, enjoyment or pleasure.
We had a lot of fun at the party last night.
Funny is anything that causes laughter; amusing.
That was the funniest joke I've heard in a long time.