Such As vs Like While such as can be used as an adverb, like can be used as an adverb, an adjective, or a preposition in a sentence.

Such as and like are both used to describe things, persons, and ideas. The differences between such as and like are very faint that people oftentimes overlook them. Choosing which one to use can be confusing even though their differences are not that notable. Here are what makes them different: Like is used when talking about similarities that are indefinite or very significant. It is used to describe something that has the same characteristics as another and which are used in combinations. Example: Anne loves furry animals like rabbits and hamsters. In this sentence, it is stated that Anne loves furry animals, but it does not necessarily imply that she likes rabbits and hamsters. Like is used when comparing things or persons that have similar qualities, quantities, or degree. Example: John is smart like Peter. In this sentence, it is stated that both Peter and John are smart. Like doesnt need any punctuation such as commas or colons. Example: Hamsters are furry creatures just like guinea pigs and rabbits. It is not necessary to use commas or colons in this sentence. Such as is used when talking about specific persons or things. Example: Smart people such as John and Peter are most likely to succeed in their chosen careers. It is stated that John and Peter are both smart and are likely to succeed. It is used to specify certain things or persons as examples when the objects of comparison are certain.

Example: My dog Sushine loves to eat sweet food such as chocolates and candies. Chocolates and candies are examples of sweet food. It is also used when listing specific items. Example: Fruits such as oranges, apples, grapes, and papayas are rich in vitamin C. It is used to specify fruits that are rich in vitamin C. Although it is not necessary, a lot of people use commas or colons before or after such as. Example: Small, furry animals, such as dogs and cats, are the usual favorite pets of little children. It is necessary to use commas in this sentence to specify the examples given. Like is used to exclude certain things when comparing items while such as is used to include certain things. Both such as and like can be used in lieu of the other. They can be interchanged. Whichever one chooses to use, the meaning of the sentence will still be the same. Summary: 1.Like is used when talking about indefinite similarities between people or things while such as is used when talking about specific persons or things. 2.Like is used when comparing persons or things and describing the similarities between things or persons while such as is used to give specific examples especially when the objects of comparison are definite. 3.When using like, commas or colons are not needed. But when using such as, commas or colons are usually used before or after it.

Idiom vs Expression There are many types of people in the world, and the majority of them are social people. They tend to enjoy talking to others and, as such, they are bound to use an idiom or an expression to share their views or ideas. While most people think that an idiom and an

expression is one and the same, there is more than meets the eye in the usage of these two words. Idioms are phrases that are sometimes defined differently from the words that are used to make them. In short, you cant take idioms literally. One good example is to kick the bucket. To others it would simply mean the act of kicking a bucket; to others it means to die or death. Idioms can also be called slang terms because of the way their wordings are defined. Every country, state, region, or location has their own versions or variations of slang words. If you hear idioms or idiomatic expressions that youre not familiar with, chances are you will not be able to understand the meaning behind these words or phrases. The problem with idioms is that you wont understand them unless the speaker tells you what they really mean. Idiomatic phrases that have been used over the years like: Back to Square One (Start all over again) is now understood by almost everyone. The meanings of these popular idioms had not changed through the passing of time, and it makes these phrases easier to understand. Although there are some idioms that have different meanings, most idioms that are used today still retain their original definitions. An expression, on the other hand, is sharing your views or ideas through speech, facial features, and even with the use of body language. An expression that is used as a phrase will help the listener see the words as the speaker sees them and understands them the way they do. In short, an expression is a method that the speaker uses to convey their message in a manner that will be understood by the receiver. In expressions, ones message will be easier to understand compared to an idiom which can have many meanings. Some people say that the usage of idioms and expressions can also be influenced by the location (country, state, city, etc.) of the native speaker. Speech patterns or speech behaviors of the people who use these idioms or expressions can affect the meaning behind these words. Proper communication is important because it helps the people around you understand the message that you are trying to tell them. This also means that the exchange of words during a conversation will depend on the way an individual perceives the words that the

speaker uses. If possible, use only idioms or expressions that are familiar to them so that misunderstandings will not occur. So the next time you use an idiom or an expression, make sure that the meaning behind these words is properly understood. If not, then it might cause confusion, and you might even regret using these words in a conversation. Summary: 1. Idioms are words that cannot be defined literally. Expressions are used to convey a message the way the speaker wants it to be understood. 2. An expression is easier to understand when compared to an idiom that youre not familiar with. 3. Speech patterns and behaviors can affect the meaning behind idioms and expressions.

Latter vs Former Linguistics has three categories, namely; the study of language form and structure, language meaning, and language in context. The study of language form or structure is also called grammar which focuses on the rules that are followed by the speakers or listeners of a language. These rules include the fields of morphology which is the formation and composition of words, syntax which is the formation and composition of phrases and sentences from words, and phonology which is the sound of words. Grammar also includes phonetics which is the study of the physical properties of speech, semantics which studies the meaning of words, and pragmatics which is the study of how spoken words are used in communication. Adjectives are used in the composition of phrases and sentences. They are used to qualify a noun or a pronoun and give more information about a subject. Most languages have adjectives including the English language. There are several classifications of adjectives:

* Attributive adjectives, which precede the noun that they modify but depending on the adjective and its relationship to the noun, it can also follow the noun. * Predicative adjectives, which are linked to the noun they modify by a linking mechanism. * Absolute adjectives, which modify the noun or pronoun that they are nearest to. * Nominal adjectives, which act as nouns. * Descriptive adjectives, which describe the noun. * Adjectives of quantity, which tell the quantity and value of the subject. * Demonstrative adjectives, which point out particular things. The words latter and former are adjectives, particularly demonstrative adjectives. They are determiners used to express or identify the relative position of a noun in time and space. They refer to things that have already been named in a sentence, and they are usually used in formal language. They refer to things or people that have been previously mentioned and are now being cited in another sentence. Former refers to the first of the two things or people that are mentioned previously while latter refers to the second of the two things or people mentioned. Former means older, and latter means the most recent or the latest. Examples: 1. May Belle and June Leah are both good singers, but the former is far better than the latter. 2. Zenia and Imelda are both her friends, but the latter is closer to her than the former. 3. The latter part of the 19th century brought many technological advances to mankind. 4. This mango is succulent and fresh. The former means the mango is juicy and delectable; the latter means that it is recently harvested. 5. We have harvested two batches of prawns. Although all of the prawns that we harvested met the quality standards of the importer, the former were larger than the latter. Summary: 1. Both latter and former are demonstrative adjectives. Latter refers to the second of two things or people that are mentioned in a sentence while former refers to the first of

two things or people mentioned. 2. Former means older while latter means the latest or most recent. .

In vs Within The words in and within are called prepositions which are used to link nouns, pronouns, and phrases to complete a sentence. They also indicate a spatial and logical relationship between the objects they connect which give sentences sensible meanings. For example: The car is in the garage. In is used to describe the location of the car. Within can also be used to substitute for the preposition in which makes it look like this: The car is within the garage. While both terms identify where the object is, they also portray different meanings. In is a definitive and specific description of an objects location while within describes an estimation. In almost always refers to being inside with finality while within requires parameters to be accurate. To make things easier to understand, look at this example: Elvis is in the building. Its very clear where the subject is located, which is, inside the building. Now changing in to within, the sentence becomes like this: Elvis is within the building. It becomes somewhat hazy where the subject really is without some sort of measurement to base it upon. But when a reference point is added, it becomes like this: Elvis is within five meters of the building. This shows where the subject is which is very near the building but not inside. One key point that makes it all the more confusing is the fact that within can be used to refer to something that is contained internally or inside which is very similar with what the word in means. Take the same example: Elvis is within the building. It can be transformed to mean that the subject is confined inside an area of the building which goes like this: Elvis is within the lobby of the building. While its still not precise, nevertheless, it implies that the subject is really inside. Summary: 1. In and within are both prepositions that refer to spatial or a logical relationship between two or more subjects in a sentence.

2. In is specifically defined as being inside while within implies being inside of a given set of parameters relative to the object its linking to and not actually inside of it.

Some vs. any Movies and music are two of the most powerful influences in the modern world. In fact, they have a major impact on peoples behavior; affecting how they act, what they believe, their aspirations, convictions, and even how they communicate with others. It is not the Medias fault, however, that the way we now communicate has become arguably less refined. This is largely because of slang or street language which has had an impact on correct grammar. The popularity of slang is contributing to the break down in proper English and this incorrect form of English is being passed on to the next generation. As a result of this, the value of proper sentence construction or even intelligible conversations may be lost. One example of this breakdown is the incorrect usage of the word any instead of some and vice versa. Are there any differences between any and some? Are there some similarities between the two? These are interesting questions and it is highly likely that you have used the two interchangeably at some point in the past. You probably didnt even think they were different, but they are and you dont have to be a linguist or a grammar expert to know the differences between the two and when to use any and when to use some. You just have to remember some key points. Any and some are both determiners. These two words are almost synonymous with each other and are often used interchangeably to state an indefinite quantity or numbers of objects, events, or people only when it is informal. It is commonly used when the specific or exact number is unimportant or irrelevant or if the exact number is not known. Any and some are both used for affirmative and negative questions. For example, Will you eat any? Will you eat some? Wont you eat any? Wont you eat some? If you really look at it youll have a difficulty finding differences between the the two. But there are. Any for instance, as a general rule, is used in negative answers and statements. For example, Arent there any of those things left? Or I dont need any of those. As long as

you keep the statement negative, then you should use any. It is also used when the statement is positive but has a negative meaning, an example of this is My best friend never does any good acts. Some, on the other hand, is used separately with any only when the statement is affirmative or positive in nature and also when the expected answer of a question is positive Examples for this determiner are: Tina had some free time on her planner today. Or Please buy me some chocolates and wine on your way home. For an affirmative question, an example would be, Can I have some of those artichokes, please? So as you can see, the difference and similarities of the determiners some and any are not that difficult to remember. Just use it in your writing as often as you can and youll be able to get it right. Remember that it may be fun to o occasionallyend grammars some time, but dont ma you break the rules all the time it might become a habit which you get to used to.

During vs. while These days there are so many grammatical errors that are often accepted. The worse thing is, you can even hear it or see it broadcasted to the public. In the contemporary grammar there are some errors that are somehow accepted. Still, there are some errors that must be properly dealt with. One important grammatical usage that should be focused upon are the words while and during. These words both tell that something else is happening the same time as another. However, there are proper times when the usage of these words should be followed. Here are some examples of using the word during in the wrong way: I was eating during watching television. Awkward, right? The right way in stating this sentence is: I was eating while watching television. Though they both mean two things are happening at the same time, they still have different usage. Here is an example of using the word while incorrectly: you can drink soda while the game. The correct way in stating this sentence is: you can drink soda during the game. It is clear that there is a big difference in using these words in a sentence even though they mean the same.

It is very important that you must be particular in the grammatical usage of these words, because this may just ruin the entire construction of your sentence. Let us differentiate the way these words are used. If you can notice, the word during must be followed by anoun and the word while is followed by a clause. Another difference between these two is the word during is a preposition and the word while is a conjunction. With these differences, you can see that they cannot be used interchangeably. You can notice that the word while is followed by a sentence. Not only that, the subject and the verb follow the word while. On the other hand, a noun follows the word during. That noun is the event that is happening at the same time the other event is taking place. This shows that there are two activities happening at the same time. Here are some sentences where the word while is used: I was playing basketball while I ate hotdog. Another is: I was driving while I was singing my favorite song. Here are some examples of using the word during: I was calling you during the presentation. Another example is: I was running fast during the marathon. As you can see, it is quite easy to determine where to put the words during and while. It is also very clear how it must be properly used. With these, your sentence will properly be constructed. Summary: 1. Though both means two things are happening at the same time, during is a preposition and while is a conjunction. 2. During is followed by a noun and while is followed by a sentence. 3. While is followed by the subject and the verb and during is followed by a noun phrase representing the other event which is also happening.

Always vs Forever Always and forever are often used as words meaning the same thing. It is extremely difficult to find any difference between the two words. Individuals will usually interpret always and forever to have the same meaning, and in some instances this will be the case. The word always is an adverb and is often used to mean that the action you are describing will last at all times. The context for which this adverb is used is paramount to its understanding. For example, if you were to say I will always love you, you would be declaring your love seemingly for an infinite period of time. Forever is also used as an adverb to describe the action taking place. Forever is a relatively new word to the English language and is taken to mean for eternity, or if you prefer, never ending. Its meaning is strongly governed by the context in which it is used. For example, if I were to say I will love you forever It would mean I was declaring my undying love for you; a love that will be never ending and that will always be there for you. There is no real difference between the two words. Both words are used as adverbs to describe actions taking place. Many people use both words to express the same feeling. It is not the words, but the context in which they are used which interprets their meaning. The English language denotes that the word forever is actually the synonym of the word always. This concludes that both words are used for the same meaning. Summary 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Always and forever are both adverbs. Both words are often used for the same meaning. Forever is the synonym of the word always. It is the contexts in which the words are placed that denote their true meaning. In conclusion there is no tangible difference between the two words.

Repeatedly vs Frequently Repeatedly, frequently. Yet another pair of English adverbs that make our world a little more complex than it already is. They both refer to executing an action more than once or several times, yet one cant just say I go to the mall repeatedly or this morning, I brushed the lint off my suit frequently until it was again bearable for wearing. It just

sounds off and quite awkward, doesnt it? And it only takes common sense really for one to detect that something is not right. Confusing may they be, they, for sure, have their individual definition and usage. If youd look it up in the dictionary, repeatedly means done in repetition or, more simply, done several times. An action or instance that happens repeatedly means that it occurs again and again. Although it connotes repetition, it does not give a hint as to with what intervals the recurrence takes place. Recurrence can actually be over a period of time with varying interval duration. For example, when one says he repeatedly violated the law, we can deduce that the subject committed offenses against the law twice or more but it leaves a hanging question on whether they all took place within a lifetime, within a year, within an hour or within a minute. Solely by itself, it can not imply the length of interval with which the instances happened. Another example: Jane repeatedly changed her hairdo would tell us that the subject shifted to one hairstyle from another several times but does not indicate how often it actually happened. There is simply no clue of regularity. The same goes with Dad repeatedly advised him to stay focused. We have no idea whether the repetition happened in one day or throughout the subjects lifetime. A less broad term would be frequently. By definition, it means done many times at short intervals or done habitually. When an instance takes place frequently, it implies that it is done regularly on relatively short intervals. Like repeatedly, the action occurs several times. However, more than once is not necessarily enough to qualify as frequent. For instance, saying I went out of the country thrice is not particularly the same as saying I went out of the country frequently. It is for the reason that the former did not indicate a period or interval to qualify it as something frequent. But if one considers a specified period of time or an interval length such as in the case of I went out of the country thrice a month, then that is tantamount to saying the subject did go abroad frequently. Further examples like Sam comes here frequently to watch your show, We go to IHOP frequently, and Dennis and Angela have been seeing each other frequently all connote that the action occur regularly at short intervals- may be once a week in this specific set of examples. Here are two guide questions to help you determine the right adverb to use. First, does the repetition happen regularly over a period of time? If the answer is yes, use frequently. Otherwise, go for the broader term- repeatedly. Second, did the action occur not more than thrice? If yes, then the appropriate word is repeatedly. Summary 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Frequently and repeatedly are English adverbs that both connote repetitive occurrence. Repeatedly is a broader term. Repeatedly means done in repetition or done several times. It does not imply regularity or length of interval. Frequently means done many times at short intervals or done habitually. There is regularity in the repetitions over a period of time. Two guide questions to determine which one to use: First, does the repetition happen regularly over a period of time? Second, did the action occur not more than thrice?

Already vs All Ready Many learners, most especially the non native English speakers, easily get confused with the use of the words already and all ready. Foremost, they are different in the sense that already is an adverb, while all ready is a phrase that usually functions as an adjective.

Using already is seen in this example The delivery has already arrived. In this sentence, already denotes something that happened previously (past). As an adverb, already means by this time, by now, even now, by then, so soon or previously. Conversely, all ready does not seem to require any additional explanation. It simply means ready but with the word all. Thus all ready means that some event, happening, person or thing is completely prepared. All ready is used in this sample sentence the delivery is all ready for shipping. In this sense, all ready means that the delivery is all prepared. It therefore pertains to something that is still going to take place (future). In another example, you should use already in this sentence The players have already taken the kicking practice. You can use all ready if the sentence was written this way The players are all ready to take the kicking practice. In some other sense, the adverb already can be used in statements with some element of surprise. For example, when your friend will ask you through phone if you are on your way to his or her place and then you suddenly give a remark Actually, Im already here! With regard to the history of the word already, some experts of the English language say that this adverb actually came from the two-word phrase all ready. Its meaning was supposedly the same. But over time, already came to have its own meaning different from all ready. In terms of formality, many writers denote that all ready is used in the informal type of writing. In its more formal notation, it is simply written as ready (dropping the word all). Summary: 1. Already is an adverb, while all ready is a phrase that is usually used as an adjective. 2. Already is more inclined to events that just happened or has happened previously (past), while all ready leans more on events that are still to happen in the not so far future. 3. Already can also be used in statements that have a minor element of surprise. 4. All ready is used more for informal writing.

All Right vs Alright

Many people, not only grammarians stumble upon a confusing and ongoing debate about the usage of the words all right and alright. At first, the two may seem very similar because of their close spelling notations. However, carefully examining each word really tells you something more. And so, is it really all right to use alright? Basically, many grammarian such as Bill Walsh, emphasized in his publications that the use of alright is not really all right. In support to Walsh, many other writing style guides assert that alright as a single word is not appropriate for use. In fact, it has been viewed as a misspelling of some sort to all right which is the one that means permissible, satisfactory or adequate. For example, in the sentence Her dancing was plainly all right the term is used to describe someones dancing as being satisfactory or okay. Using alright in exchange of all right for that particular sentence will really be wrong to many grammarians. On the contrary, other experts of the English grammar like Brian Garner said that alright may have started to gain acceptance in British English. However, the two word notation all right has long been accepted as the standard unlike alright which just sprouted more recently in spoken and written language. Alright really never found firm ground to be hailed as a word standard. An English rock band named The Who used alright in their song The Kids are Alright. This later spawned to many generations of the usage of the term most especially across the music scene like Jennifer Lopezs 2002 song Gonna Be Alright and Janet Jacksons 1989 hit Alright With Me. Thus, alright has become an acceptable word in exchange for all right, at least for some. But this just shows that alright is and has been used for the more informal type of writing. Well, some of you may still get confused with regard to the usage of the two terms. Nonetheless, using either all right or alright may be okay today as evidenced by the widespread usage of alright in many publications. Try searching alright in the Internet and youll be surprised that it would return millions of results just like all right. For safety reasons however, if you are writing formally then you might as well prefer the two word notation all right as some may interpret the use of alright as a misspelled word. 1. All right is the more standard notation that means acceptable, satisfactory or permissible to name a few while alright is a newer term used in exchange of the former but has not been accepted as a standard.

2. All right is used in more formal writing while alright is more widespread in informal writing.

All together vs altogether Like most compound adverbs with identical two-word phrases, all together and altogether often cause confusion to many. Probably, some even interchange them nonchalantly without any clue that they are actually two entirely different things. Its funny how a space and another l can make all the difference. Nevertheless, its rather easy to tell them apart with the basic understanding of their meanings. Both all together and altogether are adverbs. All together simply pertains to a group. It means at the same time. It can also be used as an adjective meaning in a group. All together fundamentally means everyone or everything-together. Altogether, on the other hand, is an adverb that means in total, overall, wholly, entirely, completely, all in all. It can as well be used as an adverbial conjunction or an adverb that connects different ideas like in general, on the whole, and for the most part. Another use of it would be in the phrase in the altogether. It is a humorous slang or expression that means naked. For example, The unsuspecting butler walked in the drawing room while they were in the altogether. However, this expression is no longer commonly used these days. One clever way of determining which between the two is appropriate is by testing if it can still work without the word all. If the sentence remains intact and comprehensible without all, it means the appropriate adverb is all together. Now, if it no longer makes sense after all has been taken out, it only means that altogether is what it needs. For instance, one can say We went to the party together. The sentence is clear even without having to add all. That means, the appropriate word would be all together. Another example would be She was delighted to see us all together. All together, the spectators cheered for another song. The pedestrians ran all together towards the shed when the rain began to fall. The refugees stayed all together in the military camp.I was teary-eyed at the sight of my family and friends singing me a birthday song all together. Lets dance all together now. Conversely, one cannot say The party was together exhilarating. It doesnt make much sense, does it? Then we know that what we should be using is altogether. The party was altogether exhilarating. It was fun overall. Further example would be I am

altogether convinced that hes a good man. Since one of the band members wasnt playing tonight, they cancelled the gig altogether. It was quite pricey, but a great dining experience altogether. The circus was altogether out of this world! I got some minor bruises and scratches from the accident, but Im fine altogether. Another way of clearing out confusion regarding these terms is by using them regularly both in speaking and in writing, until correct usage rubs in and it comes out just naturally. 1. 2. 3. 4. Summary All together and altogether are both adverbs. In some cases, all together is also used as an adjective, while altogether, an adverbial conjunction. All together pertains to a group. It means at the same time, as one, or unanimously. Altogether means in total, overall, wholly, entirely, completely, all in all, in general, or on the whole. One way to find out which one to use between all together and altogether is by taking out the word all from the word or phrase. If the sentence still makes sense without it, it means that all together is the answer. Otherwise, altogether should be used. Using these terms regularly in speech and in writing helps in clearing out confusion on proper usage.

Everyone vs Everybody English is a very tricky language even for native English speakers. There are some problems of speech that are too complex to address such as the context of certain words, voicing (like passive or active voice) as well as, the interchangeability of other terms. If these concepts are familiar to some, they are absolutely alien to more people who dont use English as a first language. These issues are seen when comparing the words somebody to someone, nobody to no one, and everybody to everyone. But in the case of the latter, the difference is very subtle. Even American college graduates will have a hard time determining the proper usage of the two words, unless you are the English professor of one of the schools they attend of course. By definition, most sources will tell you that both everyone and everybody share the same definition and that many thesauruses usually relate the two pronouns as synonyms under any context. Everyone would basically mean every person. Utmost care must only be observed when splitting the word into two like every one. The same

goes with every body. These would imply something else the words would refer to each single person in a certain group or congregation. The main difference with these pronouns is how they are used. Collective is a term that describes a collection or the entirety of something. It is opposite to acknowledging something as single or separate individuals. For example, when a teacher addresses to all the students in the congregation he will say Everyone is required to attend the symposium. In this sense, the pronoun everyone is used to invite every single individual in the congregation. It is synonymous to saying that each one is invited. On the contrary, everybody is often used differently. Lets say, Everybody joined the symposium. This is describing that the entirety or the collective number of students as a whole served as one single entity. This difference is confusing at start but once you get the hang of it then it will be a piece of cake. Overall, discerning everybody from everyone is very delicate. The disparity is so slight that it is the one causing the confusion. Because of such, the two words are now accepted by many grammarians as one as the same word. Many sources either online or offline also consider using the two words interchangeably. 1. With the word everybody the subject is being considered as a collection or as one single unit. 2. With the word everyone, the subject is being considered as separate individuals, as in each individual.

Nonetheless vs. Nevertheless The terms Nonetheless and Nevertheless implicate the same meaning. However, the usage of both words is drastically different owing to the sentiments of the people. According to the general consensus, people like using the word nevertheless instead of nonetheless simply because one sounds better than the other. The significance and impact of both words really depend upon human psychology. According to Google statistics, approximately 130 million people use the word nevertheless and 70 million people use the word nonetheless.

When you break the word nonetheless into individual terms, it says none-the-less. It involves the use of the word none that is considered as both a noun and an adverb. The word none is used more as a noun than as an adverb. However, while trying to compare two different things and estimating the result, a lot of people feel uncomfortable using a noun-based word to signify an adverb. This can be proven by the fact that 28,100,000 pages can be found where nonetheless is given as the input query, whereas as many as 89,300,000 pages are found where the term nevertheless is given as the input query. Delving deep into the history or the origins of both the terms, the usage of the term nevertheless was noticed from as early as the 14th century, whereas the term nonetheless came into existence later in the 16th century. Moreover, when looking into the quality of the two terms, nonetheless sounds tangible, whereas nevertheless sounds temporal. Etymologically, the word nonetheless sounds pretty close to anyways. This can be seen in the following sentence: I cannot accept the ride, but thank you nonetheless. It simply means that I do not need any ride; anyways I am thankful that you asked me, although I do not need to thank you! However, when talking about the present day scenario regarding the usage of the two terms, they are purely used in a formal written set up. The words nonetheless and nevertheless are hardly used in day to day communication. Both of these words have been largely replaced by the term however. Yet another difference between the terms is that nevertheless is often used in an active voice, and nonetheless is used in the passive voice. In summary, the following are the differences between nonetheless and nevertheless. 1. Nonetheless is less frequently used when compared to nevertheless. 2. Nonetheless provides a tangible sense to the sentence structure, whereas nevertheless provides a temporal sense to the sentence structure. 3. The word nevertheless appeared earlier in history than the word nonetheless.

May vs Might May and might is another pair of very confusing English words whose usages often overlap. Both can be used in place of each other in most circumstances, except at times when the sentence sounds wrong, for example: He may do it, they may do it, he might do it, and they might do it. These sentences are all technically correct, except the second option sounds funny because they rhymes with may. So it would be prudent to use might here, although using may wouldnt really be wrong. This similarity exists because both words are actually the same thing, but from different eras. In the Victorian and Shakespearean times, English was very pompous, with huge words written more for form than function. Now the English language has become streamlined, with many short forms and shorter, easier replacements. May can be considered as this kind of new-age replacement for the old-age might. Let us look at a few more examples of usage in common sentences: May I go to the toilet? It might be worthwhile to note that many children learning English wrongly say: Can I go to the toilet, to which a good teacher will always reply: Of course you can dear, but the question is may you?. No child will say: Might I go to the toilet?, unless he hails from a pompous English family, as to children simple things attract first, and thus a child will always choose to use may instead of might; even though might I go to the toilet is also grammatically correct, but practically incorrect, so to say. Might also has a different meaning (English, the punny-funny language) meaning strength. Example: Might is right. Here, the meaning is completely different, and may simply may not be used here. So then, what are the places where might should be used in place of may? None really, except, for example, if you are seated in a meeting with the top bosses and you say: Might I add something?, instead of May I add something, you might get looked upon with a frown. But if your boss uses the pompous substitute, you may not raise your eyebrow of course you can, but you shouldnt! There are however many examples (more than can be illustrated in this short article) where might is a better choice than may. For example, if you are asked: Will your boss give you a raise?, you can say: He may, but again, it sounds funny phonetically due to the unnecessary rhyming, thus the better choice would be: He might. Summary:

1. May and might are very similar, and can almost always be used alternatively. 2. Might is considered unpractical, old-age and pompous. May is short, sweet and practical. 3. May is also the name of a month, while might also means strength. So, in sentences where any of these two are used, it would be prudent to use the other substitute for sake of clarity, and better verbal sound. 4. Might is more suitable for prose and poetry than may.

Rules vs Laws The main difference between rules and laws is the consequences associated with breaking them. While each is developed to invoke a sense of order, fair play, and safety, the weight of a law is much heavier than the weight of a rule. Laws are like the legal version of rules. When you are a child, a parent sets rules to be followed. When you are in a society, the government sets laws to be followed. When a rule is broken, the consequences tend to be uncomfortable but mild in comparison to the breaking of a law. Laws are enforced by a higher governmental office, usually the police and the prosecutors office. Laws are written in specific code so that they can be interpreted as needed. When you break a law there is legal action that follows, provided that you are caught. Rules are more flexible and carry low end consequences. You can set up rules for games, rules for the home, even rules for fighting or being intimate with a partner. Rules are personal in nature, and they are often adjusted as the conditions and circumstances of the home change. Laws must be passed through due process in order to take effect. A law starts off as a bill, and must go through a series of checks, balances, and votes in order to become a law. Rules are merely set and adjusted as the need arises, and should be followed out of respect for those setting the rules. Rules help us learn to prepare for living in society. As youngsters, we tend to learn that there are rules about hitting, stealing, lying, and being wasteful. As young adults, we are

held accountable for these rules by becoming law abiding citizens. Laws are not meant to set teaching boundaries, but are there to be enforced, and are punishable by imprisonment and even death if they are broken. By the time you are old enough to contend with the law (outside of children killing children) you have already learned the process by dealing with various sets of rules. Summary: 1. Laws are the legal variation of rules. 2. Laws are enforced by governmental factors such as the police and prosecutors. 3. Rules are set by individuals. 4. Laws are set by the government. 5. Laws must go through certain processes to become laws, including a voting process. 6. Rules are set by organizations and individuals. 7. Rules are more flexible, and have lighter consequences when broken. 8. Laws are inflexible, and carry stiff penalties including imprisonment, and in some cases, death. 9. Rules are set during childhood to prepare for living in accordance with laws. 10. Laws are not a teaching tool, but a tool for keeping order in society.

Of vs For Prepositions are parts of the English speech that introduces prepositional phrases. They are more often used than you may think, and in almost every English sentence, a preposition is present. Two of the most commonly used prepositions are of and for. These two, like all prepositions, indicates a relationship between objects in a particular sentence.

Of is already considered as an old English preposition. It is an unstressed from of f. It means away or away from. The preposition for, on the other hand, initially came from before, which also means on the account of. Examples of the preposition of: - Of all the women in this room, you are the best looking. - There is an abundance of oil and natural gas in the Spratly group of islands. - The Sahara desert is one of the most remote parts of the world. - His mother was charged with obstruction of justice. - Of course not! Examples of the preposition for: - All for one and one for all! - I see everything fair and square. Nothing is taken for granted. - This is for Sparta! - I am writing articles for my friend Che. - Are you against it, or for it? These are various meanings of the term for: - in place of - instead of - in defense of - in favor of - with the aim, or for the purpose of - in order to be, become, get, have, keep, etc. - meant to be received by - to be used in - with regard to - considering the general nature of - corresponding to - at the price of These are various meanings of the term of:

- derived or coming from - resulting from or caused by - at a distance from or apart from (a specified reference point) - relieved or separated from - belonging to - with reference to Of vs. Off In modern English, both these words, namely of and off, are used quite frequently. Furthermore, they are used so frequently that people often confuse them in many occasions. For example in this sentence: He took off with the money. In some instances one will see people writing it as: He took of with the money. There are other confusions like these, and in this article we will try to lay out the differences between the two words. The word of has several functions in a sentence. One of which is its function as a preposition. The prepositional function is more often in use. The preposition, as a type of word, has several functions in a sentence. However, the main function of the preposition is usually to denote various relations that are described in the sentence. As a function of a preposition, the word of does just that. For instance, of is used to indicate a point of reckoning: North of the lake. It is also commonly used to point out the material, parts, or elements of something: Throne of gold, or cup of water. One of the frequent uses of this verb as a preposition, is its use in indicating a possessive relation: King of England. There are other meanings and uses of this word when it is used as a preposition, but we will not dig deeper, as there are far too many. On the contrary, off is also a very common word. It has quite a few functions in the English language, but the most common of which are the functions of an adverb and a preposition. The more familiar of the two, is the adverbial function. It is also used to describe astate of discontinuance, or suspension: Turn off the lights. The prepositional function of off is also a commonality. Here, it can be used as a word to indicate the physical separation or distance from a position of rest, attachment, or union: Take it off the table, or a shop just off the main street.

It should also be noticed that both these words have a common etymology, that is, both terms are derived from the same word. Alongside the similarities in pronunciation, this is probably one of the main reasons why people confuse the two. So to summarize, the two words differ in the following areas: 1. Of is mostly used as a preposition, and therefore, should be used when a preposition is needed. Off is usually used as an adverb, and should be used in cases where an adverb is needed. 2. Of is more often used in sentences, while off is used less frequently. 3. Off is used in conjunction with verbs, which is not the case with of.

By vs Until The primary difference that comes to mind, is that by denotes the last moment in which something needs to be done, whereas until denotes the total amount of time one has to accomplish something. By therefore is more like an ultimatum, while until is like having grace time to get something done. Thus it follows, that by is a little bit harsh by its implication, whereas until is kinder in what it implies. In common parlance, however, it can often mean the same thing. For instance, for us to say that one has to get to school at the latest by 8.00 am, or one that can have entry into the school by 8.00 am, practically means the same thing. However, if you technically analyze the first case, the interpretation is that you cannot enter the school later than 8.00 am, so you better make it on time. In the latter case, it implies you have time until 8.00 am, so there is no reason to be late. Is there any practical difference? No! However, there is more than a subtle difference in other situations. For instance, if I am to finish a task by sundown, I am faced with an ultimatum. On the other hand, if I can finish a task until sundown; it may imply my capability of accomplishing the task within a certain time frame. Until is deployed to imply a usage that defines an action, or activity, in a period prior to the time period that will follow the word, but not after that time. By, on the other hand, is used to denote an occurrence at, or prior, to a given time. The two terms are quite different from each other, in the sense that the term by is the goalpost that has to be reached, and therefore, one needs to make hast; until, on the other hand, gives you a sense of all the time and opportunity you have to accomplish a task or need, and therefore, one may take heart. You can try and climb a mountain by the end of the week, or you can try and climb it until you lose the strength in your limbs. The former gives you a definite time frame; the latter gives you the leeway to accomplish according to your capacity. The next time you use either term, be sure to use the one that best suits the situation. Summary:

1. By denotes the last moment in which something needs to be done. Until denotes the total amount of time one has to accomplish something. 2. By is more like an ultimatum, while until is akin to having grace time to get something done. 3. Until is deployed to imply a usage that defines an action, or activity, in a period prior to the time period that will follow the word. By is used to denote an occurrence at, or prior, to a given time. 4. By is the goalpost that has to be reached. Until gives you a sense of the time and opportunity you have to accomplish something.

Who vs Whom Native English speakers and English learners alike can become quite confused with the differences between who and whom. In fact, among native English speakers making errors with the use of who and whom is so common, that in spoken English it has become reasonably acceptable. With a basic understanding of some English grammar particles there is no reason to make errors with use of who and whom in the future. Who and whom are parts of language that are known as interrogative pronouns. They are used to form questions as well as making statements. To understand when to use who and whom appropriately you must first understand the difference between a subject and an object in a sentence. Who is a subject pronoun and whom is an object pronoun. In the nominative case who takes the place of the subject and in the accusative case whom takes the place of the object. This sounds rather complicated, but isnt really. A subject is a person and an object in a sentence is a thing or item. For example: Kate patted the puppy dog. In this sentence Kate is the subject of the sentence and the puppy dog is the object of the sentence. If we wanted to ask a question related to this sentence involving who or whom we could say: Who patted the puppy dog? (In this instance we are replacing the subject with who and are more interested in the person doing the action than the action being done) or By whom was the dog patted? (We are interested more in the object of the sentence and are more interested in the action being done to the object of the sentence). English follows a subject verb object pattern and it is more usual in English for the subject to be the most important part of the sentence. The object as the main thrust of the sentence is less common, but still required in some instances.

Lets take another example: Mrs. Smith sent Bill to the shop to buy some apples. If you wanted to know who had sent Bill to the shops, then since Mrs. Smith is the subject of the sentence you would say: Who sent Bill to the shops? If you wanted to know who Mrs. Smith sent to the shops, then since Bill is the object of the sentence you would need to use whom. For example: Whom did Mrs. Smith send to the shops? If you learn how to determine the subjects and the objects of a sentence, then you will not continue to experience problems with understanding the difference between who and whom.

Would vs Will In English there is a significant difference between the uses of would and will. Knowing when to use the terms correctly is an important part of mastering the English language. Will and would are both types of auxiliary verbs that are known as modal verbs. Other modal verbs include: could, shall, might, may, can, ought to and must. Modal verbs dont really have any meaning on their own, but act as helpers to give further meaning to other verbs. Will is a definite statement, which means that you use it when you are certain that the future action is going to take place. For example: I will go and collect the mail in the morning. When you use will you or the subject executing the future action is committed to it being carried out. The modal verb will can be used to talk about quick decisions, promises, offers and a likely prediction. For example: I think I will take the bus instead of walking. instant decision; Ill get the dog washed tomorrow. promise; I will help you with your homework after dinner. offers and Ill bet she spent a lot of money on that dress. likely predictions. Will is also used as a first conditional, which is used for cause and effect in situations that are not changeable. For example: If it rains, you will get wet, or If you are late to work, you will get in trouble.

Would is an English modal verb and has many different uses, which include: invitations, requests, asking permission, talking about preferences and making arrangements. For example: Would you like to come to the party on Saturday? is an invitation; Would you be able to post this parcel for me? is a request; Would I be able to leave early today? is asking permission; Would you like steak or chicken for dinner? or I would prefer to eat ice cream are both examples of talking about preferences and Would Friday at 8pm suit you? or Saturday at 6pm would suit me. are ways to make arrangements using would. Would is also used in second and third conditional statements, which are used to talk about imaginary or unlikely situations. For example: If I knew where he lived, I would visit him, Is a second conditional statement. An example of a third conditional statement is thus: If I had known about the party earlier, I would have gone. This is used to express an imaginary situation that took place in the past. Summary: 1.Would and will are both auxiliary modal verbs. 2.Will is used to talk about definite future actions. 3.Will is used to talk about: quick decisions, promises, offers and a likely prediction 4.Would is used to talk about: invitations, requests, asking permission, talking about preferences and making arrangements. Both will and would can be used in conditional statements.

That and which are both used to refer to things and persons but in different ways and contexts. That refers to a thing or person who is not near to the speaker or not near to the speaker as much as some other thing or person. For example, Look at that man over there. That can also be used to refer to someone or something that has already been referred to earlier in the conversation. Which is used in questions to ask somebody to be exact about one or more people or things from a limited number. For example, which is the better exercise swimming or walking? Which can also be used to be exact about the thing or things that you mean or are referring to. For example, houses which overlook the lake are more expensive.

Meanwhile, that can also be used to refer to people or things of a particular type. For example, those people were the ones ready to do travel. That can also be used as a relative pronoun to introduce a part of a sentence which refers to a person, thing or time that you have been talking about in a conversation. For example, where is the letter that came yesterday? On the other hand, which can be used to give more information about something. For example, you can say, His best movie, which won several awards, was about time travel. A common phrase linked to which is which is which. This is used to talk about distinguishing one person or thing from another. For example, the twins are so alike that I cannot tell which is which. In contrast, that can be used after some verbs, nouns and adjectives to introduce the next part of the sentence. For example, Where is the coat that she was talking about? That can also be used to show the extent of something like, for example, I cannot walk that far. It can also be used to emphasize something. For example, I was that scared that I didnt know what to do.

Usually vs Normally Usually and normally are both adverbs; more specifically, they are two of many examples of adverbs of frequency. Adverbs of frequency are adverbs that show how something happens in terms of a timely basishow the action is repeated by the doer of the action or how many times the said action is observed by people. Adverbs of frequency show information by telling time and creating a time basis for the occurring action. Adverbs of frequency themselves have two categoriesdefinite frequency and indefinite frequency. Both usually and normally belong to the group of indefinite adverbs of frequency since both terms do not indicate a specific time frame in their descriptions. In the hierarchy of occurrence, normally and usually are placed third. The most frequent indicator is always (indicating an action that occurs with a 100 per cent occurrence). Always is followed frequently by the action in question and occurs most of the time while usually or normally places third with the indication of an 80 per

cent occurrence of a particular action. This hierarchy of frequency is often used and apparent in many survey questionnaires that use adverbs of frequency as measuring tools for the degree of occurrence or self-assessing behaviors. Both normally and usually are often placed in the middle of the sentence between the subject and the verb, most of the time after the main verb. Another style of placement is when normally or usually is placed at the beginning or at the end of the sentence. When used at the beginning, the adverb (whether normally, usually or other related adverb) is followed by a comma and a complete sentence initiated by the subject. The latter technique is used in many cases that require emphasis or an alternative style of sentence syntax. Usually and normally can be interchanged when used. They can also be used as alternatives for each other. There is only a slight difference between the two terms. One of the main differences is their base word. Usually has usual for its base while normal forms normally. They are both adverb forms of their base words. There is also a similarity when it comes to the meaning of the two words. Usually and normally are categorically divided into two meanings; one refers to what is done most of the time, and the other refers to conditions done under normal or average circumstances. Both words connote the meaning of a habit, regularity, and a standard for what is expected. Summary: 1.The main difference between the two terms is their base word and their respective word origins. The base word for normally is normal while the same can be said for usual in relation to usually. 2.Both usually and normally are adverbs of frequency, and both terms describe the same degree of frequency (80 per cent) of occurrence or degree of repetition of a particular action. The terms can be used interchangeably and as alternatives or synonyms for each other as well as for other adverbs that convey the same concept. 3.Both terms have the same meaning, condition, function, and classification. They belong to the indefinite class group for adverbs of frequency. 4.They are considered as vague or having a general and no definite time basis. They are

also considered as neither positive or negative adverbs. 5.Usually and normally (as well as other related adverbs) are placed in third place in indicating the specific degree of frequency or occurrence. They were preceded by the adverbs always (indicating 100 per cent) and frequently (indicating 90 per cent). Other adverbs of frequency are: often, sometimes, occasionally, seldom, rarely and never succeed in fourth to ninth places respectively.

Talent vs Skill Talent and skill are often used interchangeably in conversations and perceptions. Both words pertain to the ability or potential of an individual to deal, work, and perform a particular task. However, their main difference is their point of origin. A talent is defined by resources as the ability by a person that is inherent, inborn, or naturally occurring. A talent is said to be a special ability to do something without prior experience, study, or tutelage. It is often classified or compared to an instinct or a certain flair for doing something without extra effort and almost perfect in execution. Since a talent is innate, only some people have actually acquired it. A talent makes it somewhat restrictingsome people have it and others do not. Because it occurs naturally, a talent is also seen as raw ability which can be developed and improved over time with direction like instruction and training. Consistent improvement of any ability or craft gives an advantage for any individual. This is also true for a skill. Unlike a talent, a skill is an ability that is learned and practiced for a period of time. A skill is an acquired or obtained ability which is often the result of constant performance and improvement on a particular task or behavior. Skills are often taught and considered as a demonstrated talent. It is the nurture aspect which is the opposite of a talent being the nature or natural acquisition of ability. In this viewpoint, it can be said that a skill can be a result or an extension of a persons particular talent and considerable effort. This means that a talent can be a stepping stone to improve a skill. A skill can be a refined ability when combined with talent.

Using both a skill and a talent can drive an individual to success and fulfill a goal in life. It is not a substitute for talent, nor is a talent a substitute for skill. A skill, as something acquired, needs instruction, time, training, and practice to actually learn. The training involved in doing a skill can also result in good values like hard work, perseverance, dedication, excellence, and other positive attributes to a person. Another difference between a skill from a talent is that everybody has a chance, potential, and capacity to learn and earn a particular skill. Summary: 1.A talent is an innate ability to do something. It also involves potential for further development and improvement. A skill, on the other hand, is a learned ability and a result of study, effort, training even before development or improvement. 2.Talents and skills are not substitutes for each other though they are used interchangeably. In many cases, a talent can be developed into a skill, as a refined form or as a demonstrated talent. This instance makes a talent as a platform to acquire or develop a skill easier. 3.In terms of acquisition, a talent is the natural aspect that needs little or no knowledge or effort while a skill is the nurturing aspect where there is a lot of time and effort spent to learn and execute a certain ability. 4.A talent occurs only in a limited number of people, and not everybody has access to it. Meanwhile, skills can be learned by anyone who has the capacity, potential, and willingness to learn. 5.A great advantage for learning a skill is that there are some additional values that can be learned in the midst of the learning process. Positive attributes regarding work and training can also help develop a person. Though talents can also offer the similar values in the duration of improvement, skills often require a more profound and much deeper embodiment and application of these values and attributes. 6.Both abilities are instrumental in the performance and accomplishment of a task or a dream.

Wealthy vs Rich

Who does not want to become rich or wealthy? Every single person would want to be able to live in affluence and to never have to worry about where to get the things necessary for day-to-day living and become wealthy and rich. Being wealthy is the state of having an abundance of valuable goods, resources, and other material possessions. It is when an individual is able to provide his family and himself with everything that they need and is left with a lot more for luxuries. It is synonymous with affluence, abundance, and opulence. A person becomes wealthy by earning it through working, or it can be inherited from his parents. Whichever way he may acquire it, being wealthy means a life of ease and luxury. A wealthy individual has in his possession properties such as real estate, buildings, business holdings, and a more-than-adequate supply of money which he can spend any way he sees fit. The word wealthy comes from the base word wealth which was derived from the Middle English word wele which means well-being. Its first known use in the English language was in the 14th century to refer to wealthy persons. Another term which is used to describe people who possess an abundance of material wealth is rich. When one talks about a rich individual, what comes to mind is the picture of huge amounts of money. It is usually used to refer to a group of individuals who possess wealth and riches. It is used to refer to people who are worth a lot of money, but it may also be used to describe an individuals qualities. When one says a rich soil, it means that it is very productive and gives farmers huge harvests. It may also mean that it has a high concentration of minerals and other precious metals or stones. In terms of material possessions, some say that a rich mans riches are only good while the money lasts whereas a wealthy individuals wealth will usually last longer because he possesses knowledge on how to generate wealth and how to make it last. One can become rich instantly through winning in gambling or the lottery, but he can easily lose it if he does not use it wisely. Otherwise he can learn how to make it generate more income, and in time he will become a wealthy person. The word rich comes from the Old English word rice which means powerful or wealthy which was influenced by the Old French word riche and the Germanic word riki meaning powerful.

Summary: 1.Wealthy is the state of having an abundance of material possessions and money while rich is the state of having a huge amount of money in ones possession and of living a privileged life. 2.A rich man can easily become poor if he doe not know how to manage his riches while the wealth of a wealthy person usually lasts because he knows how to manage his wealth.

Thru vs Through Although the words thru and through have the same meaning and are usually used in lieu of each other in sentences, the word thru is used informally while the word through is used in formal writing. The word through is used as a preposition, adjective, or an adverb. It means to go into or to pass into. When used as a preposition, it is used to refer to pass from one side to another, in the middle or in between, by way or means of, from beginning to end, and because of. When used as an adverb, it is used to refer to the completion or accomplishment of something, over and into certain things or distances, and going over from one end, and to its opposite. When used as an adjective, it is used to refer to a continuous and unobstructed way or going on, passing, extending, or finishing without hindrances. It may also be used to refer to finally cutting off any connections with someone or something. Examples are: She knew of his infidelity through friends who saw him with the other girl. (Preposition) The train goes through a very long and winding tunnel. (Adverb) I am almost through with my studies except for the thesis which I have to defend. (Adjective) The word through comes from the Old English word thurh from the Old Saxon word thuru derived from the Old High German duruh which comes from the Proto-IndoEuropean base tere meaning through or beyond. Its first known use was in the 12th

century. During the 15th to 18th centuries the more common spelling was thro. In the early 1900s, the word thru was used chiefly in American English. The word thru is considered as a colloquial form of the word through. It is used in instances when through is considered too long. Even if through is the official spelling, thru is also widely accepted. Examples: I came to respect him after knowing him and spending time with him through the years. I came to respect him after knowing him and spending time with him thru the years. They met through mutual friends. They met thru mutual friends. The word through may also be combined with several other words to form common idiomatic expressions such as through and through, look through and drive through. The word thru may also be used instead of the usual word through; thru and thru, look thru, drive thru. Summary: 1.The word through can be used as a preposition, adjective, or an adverb in a sentence to mean completion, passing, going, or extending to while the word thru is the colloquial version of the word. 2.The word through is used in formal writing and sentences while the word thru is used informally. 3.The word through is used by most English-speaking places while the word thru is most commonly used in American English where it originated. 4.Although the word through remains the official spelling, thru is also widely accepted and used today.

Big vs Large Big and large are both adjectives, and sometimes they can be used interchangeably while sometimes they cannot be as the meaning of the statement changes by their

interchanging, or it becomes incorrect. They can both be used with countable nouns, meaning anything which can be counted or measured, for example, a large house, a big garden. However, they cannot be used with uncountable nouns, for example, traffic. Large and big both refer to more than average size, height, weight, length, etc. Big Big is a very common adjective. It is one of the most used words in the English language whereas it has been observed that large is not used as much as the word big. Big has many meanings one of which is important, for example: The decision of starting a new business is a big decision. Here big refers to something very important. In informal situations, big refers to older or elder, for example: He is like a big brother to him; he looks after him as his own kid brother. Big also refers to powerful or successful. It might refer to a successful or powerful person or successful and powerful thing, city, center, etc. For example: Las Vegas is a big tourist attraction. Big is used in the case of an action which is considered, informally, of a large degree, for example: People of our generation are big spenders. Here big refers to a lot of spending. Big refers to great strength and force, for example: A big storm was gaining ground. It can be used for popularity also, for example, The show Voice is big in the U.S. Big is used as fixed phrases and cannot be interchanged with large, for example, He has a big mouth; It is no big deal. Large Large is used less commonly than big. It is used with quantity words, for example, large scale, a large number, a large amount of something, a large proportion, to a very large extent, large volume, large part of something, large area, etc. It refers to a greater than average size, for example: A large house or large garden. It also refers to more than average breadth, capacity, or scope, for example: Things of large proportion. Significance is also indicated by the word large, for example: India is a large producer of rice and wheat.

Large also refers to liberal or tolerant, for example: She had a generous spirit which was large and kind. Large can be used informally for pretentious and boastful actions or nature, for example: He had a large ego which got hurt easily. Large is also used in some fixed phrases where it cannot be changed with big, for example: Somebody being larger than life. Convicts being at large. Summary: 1.Big is one of the most common adjectives used and is one of the most used words in the English language; large is not as commonly used as big. 2.Big is used for many different meanings like, elder, important, successful, powerful, etc; large has many different usages where it is used for more than average breadth, capacity, or scope. It also means significant, liberal, pretentious, etc.

Gerund vs Participle Some English speakers, even the native English language users, get confused with the usage of gerunds and participles. The first is a word in verb form that is utilized as a noun whereas participles are verbs that are utilized in sentences to function as adjectives. Gerunds are known as verbal nouns. This means that it has the -ing ending. It is used to express a more general action that is usually incomplete. For example, He thinks of resigning soon from his current job. In this sentence, the gerund is the word resigning. This word is clearly a verb as its basic verb notation is retire. However, if you closely examine the sentence, the gerund immediately follows the preposition of, which makes it an object. In this context, resigning is also accepted as a noun. This is also the reason why some grammarians consider gerunds as simply the combination of a verb and a noun. Participles are a different story because it possesses qualities of both adjectives and verbs. Like normal verbs, it can have a voice and a tense. So participles are the combination of verbs and adjectives. For example, A retired teacher does free

community service during weekends. In this particular sentence, the participle is the word retired. It is by nature a verb because it appears to be the past tense for the base verb retire. However, retired also functions as an adjective for it qualifies or describes the noun teacher. Another example is, Stay away from falling objects. The participle is falling. It is a verb but acts as an adjective because it describes the word objects. With this, a participle is also termed as a verbal adjective. A more confusing example that makes use of both the gerund and participle is, I was pissed by Mikes persistent interrupting. The verb interrupting is a gerund because it acts like a noun (persistent interrupting as a kind of specific behavior). If you write the above sentence in this manner, I was pissed by Mike persistently interrupting, then interrupting already becomes a participle because it qualifies the person (noun) Mike. One distinguishing factor, though, is the use of punctuation marks like commas. Gerunds often do not need additional punctuation because verbs must not be separated from their objects or subjects. Most participles make use of commas to help in the modification of the noun. This is seen in the last example. Clearly, it is much easier to spot participles from the more elusive gerunds because looking for words that become the object to other words is usually a more complicated concept to understand. Summary: 1.A gerund is the combination of a verb and a noun. 2.A participle is the combination of a verb and an adjective. 3.For many, the use of gerunds is often seen as the harder one as opposed to the use of participles.