Confusing Words

What’s the REAL difference between BETWEEN and AMONG?

in Confusing Words, Grammar

In your lesson called “Difference between Say, Tell, and Speak” – Why not AMONG instead of BETWEEN since we’re dealing with three names? It is often taught that “between” is used for 2 items and “among” for 3 or more. But this is not completely accurate. The more accurate difference is this: Between is used [...]

What’s the difference between CAN, COULD, and ABLE TO?

in Confusing Words, Grammar

In the present: “Can” and “able to” are the same in the present tense: Yes, I can take on this project. Yes, I‘m able to take on this project. The negative forms are can’t and am not / is not / are not able to. In the past: We use “could/couldn’t” or “was/wasn’t able to.” In general, both are used [...]

Who or Whom?

in Confusing Words

Who is the SUBJECT of the verb. The subject performs the action: Who ate the last piece of pizza? who = subject ate = verb The students who failed the test will need extra help. the students / who = subject failed = verb Whom is the OBJECT of the verb. The object receives the [...]

Lay or Lie?

in Confusing Words

Both of these words refer to the action of putting something down on a surface, or an object/person/animal resting on a surface. However, lay has a direct object and lie does not. A direct object is the thing that “receives” the action of the verb. So when you put your body horizontally on the bed [...]

Then or Than?

in Confusing Words

Than is used in comparatives: I’m older than my brother. A car is faster than a bicycle. I learned more from my parents than I learned from my teachers. Then is used in several ways: To describe the next event in a sequence To mean “at that time” To mean “in that case” First we [...]

Wander or Wonder?

in Confusing Words

These are two completely different words, but sometimes students confuse them because of their similar spelling and pronunciation. Wander is a physical activity. It means to move around (usually walking) without a specific destination or purpose: On the first day of my trip, I spent a couple hours wandering around the city. We wandered through [...]

Beside or Besides?

in Confusing Words

Beside is a preposition of location. It means “next to:” There’s a nightclub beside our house, so it’s often really noisy. I have a small table beside my bed. The calculator is beside the notebook. Besides means “in addition” or “apart from”: What did you do on your vacation besides sleep? Besides Sarah and Joanna, [...]

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