Similar but Different
L
The last - The latest - At last - Lastly
Last means final, after the others, the least suitable or likely.
Latest means new and most recent.
Have you heard the latest news? Jamie has just smoked her last cigarette.
Have you seen the latest Almodovar film? It came out last week.
At last means finally; in the end; after a long time.
At last we got tickets to the concert!
Lastly means after something else.
Firstly it's too expensive, secondly we have to learn how to use it, and lastly we don't need one.
Dave works as a clown. This means he is a professional clown.
Dave works like a clown. This means he doesn't take his work very seriously.
Collecting things, like stamps or coins, can be a good investment.
Collecting things, such as stamps or coins, can be a good investment.
Pay attention and do as I tell you. As is followed by a subject and a verb.
Pay attention and do it like this. Like is followed by a pronoun.
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.
Alone means without or separated from others.
He lived alone for two years before he met his wife.
Lonely means unhappy because of being alone.
He's been very lonely since his children moved away from home.
Only means with no others in the same group or of the same type.
They say that I was the only one who could understand what my brother said when he was a baby.
To look like refers to physical appearance while to be like is more general.
"What's your boss like?" "He's very demanding."
"What does your boss look like?" "He's tall and quite good-looking."
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.