Hear or listen (to)?
hearing is an event Suddenly I heard a noise. Someone was in the garden. Did you hear the thunder last night? [on the phone] The line is very bad. I can’t hear you. listening is an action I listened very carefully to what she said and wrote it all down. Do you listen to the radio in bed? George! Listen to me! I have something important to tell you. […]
“at night” and “in the night”
“In the night” usually refers to one particular point during the night—a short time, not throughout the night. For instance: I tried to call him several times in the night. I was awake in the night, preparing for the test “At night” refers to any night in general. We use it when we talk about something that […]
Differences between “happen” and “occur”.
It is an interesting question. There are some differences between “happen” and “occur”. Happen can be used in the following contexts; rough time or place Informal context accidental or unplanned events Happen is closely associated with blind chance, which can’t be anticipated. For instance: The accident happened at 9:30 p.m. I happen to know him. Something, nothing, anything, much, […]
“Enquiry” and “inquiry”
“Enquiry” and “inquiry” are often applied interchangeably. There is a distinction, though, so if you desire to avoid errors in your work, make sure you know how to apply them! Talking about inquiry with an “I”. It is used as a formal or an official investigation work. Let’s take an example: He came here to […]
Affect vs Effect
Affect is usually a verb , and it means to impact or change. Effect is usually a noun , an effect is the result of a change. Difference between the two is so slippery that sometimes people tend to use “ impact” instead. When X “affects” Y , it is said that X produced an “effect” on Y . In passive form […]
Wedding vs. Marriage
Most people in India use the word wedding and marriage interchangeably. Wedding is the event or ceremony itself – the rituals and all. Marriage is the state of being married, the relationship itself. Example: “We have been married for the last 20 years.” “Happy Marriage Anniversary” — Incorrect “Happy Wedding Anniversary” — Correct Marriage refers to the relationship, […]
Capability vs. Ability – What’s the Difference?
When to Use Ability What does ability mean? Ability is a noun. It refers to possession of the means or skill to do something. Someone with superior athletic abilities is very good at sports or other physical games. A writer of great ability is considered to be an excellent writer. In both cases, ability is used to refer to the qualitative nature of […]
