ESOL Gramatika Výslovnost Testy Kurz 60 Texty Idiomy Nápovědy Angličtina
 

Councillor or Counselor?

Explanation A councillor is a person who sits on a council (city council). A counselor is someone who gives advice.
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When two subjects are joined with "AND"

Explanation If a subject with two or more parts is joined by "and," is it a compound? Almost always, says Diana Hacker, in A Writer's Reference (G1-c). However, there are exceptions. When the parts of the subject form a single unit (His natural ability and his desire to serve his country have led to a career in the military.) or when they refer to the same person or thing, treat the subject as singular.
Examples, tips In precise usage, "acronym" refers only to terms based on the initial letters of their various elements, and read as single words (AIDS, NATO); "initialism" refers to terms read as a series of letters (BBC, ATM); and "abbreviation" is used for both acronyms and initialisms.
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"A" or "An" preceding abbreviation

Explanation When an abbreviation follows an indefinite article, the choice of "a" or "an" is determined by the way the abbreviation would be read aloud, says Chicago Manual of Style (15.9). Acronyms are read as words, it says, except when used as adjectives, and are rarely preceded by "a," "an," or "the." Initialisms are read as a series of letters and are often preceded by an article.
Examples, tips In precise usage, "acronym" refers only to terms based on the initial letters of their various elements, and read as single words (AIDS, NATO); "initialism" refers to terms read as a series of letters (BBC, ATM); and "abbreviation" is used for both acronyms and initialisms.
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Their or they're

Explanation
Their:
belonging to; possessive of "they"
There:
at, or in that place
They're:
combination of "they are"
Examples Their business is located there, but they're not in at the moment.
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Separate and Joint Possession

Explanation
SEPARATE
To indicate separate possession, add the apostrophe to each individual's name. Examples:
  • The winner's and the loser's comments.
  • The Vorfelds' and the Kimballs' houses.
If any names are replaced by a possessive pronoun, reword if necessary, e.g., "my and the buyer's signatures" is awkward. Try "the buyer's and my signatures" or "the seller's signature and mine."
JOINT
To indicate joint (or common) ownership, add the apostrophe to the final name only. Examples:
  • The Johnsons and the Lintners' property.
  • Jack and Judy's business.

Tip: Always follow a company's preference, even if it differs from the rules.
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Councillor or Counselor?

Explanation A councillor, says CMS15, is a person who sits on a council (city council). A counselor is someone who gives advice.
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using ellipsis Marks ...

Explanation Ellipsis marks (...) are three spaced periods, with one space before and after each period. As a general rule, says Gregg's Reference Manual, don't use ellipsis marks in place of a period at the end of a sentence, but they may be used to indicate that a sentence trails off before the end. Ellipsis marks are often used in advertising to display individual items (similar to bulleting) or to connect a series of loosely related phrases.
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using "a" or "an" before acronyms and initialisms and before certain sounds

Explanation When an abbreviation (this includes acronyms and initialisms) follows an indefinite article (like "a" or "an"), the choice is made by the way the abbreviation would sound if spoken aloud.
Acronyms (words like NATO, radar, or snafu that are formed from the initial letter or letters of each of the successive or major parts of a compound term) are spoken and read as words unless used adjectivally, like "a HUD program." They're rarely preced by "a," "an," or "the."
Initialisms are generally spoken and read as a series of letters and are often (but not always) preceded by an article, e.g., a NATO member, an HTML document, an MS symptom.
Use "a" before any word beginning with a consonant sound (a usual response). Use "an" before any word beginning with a vowel sound (an office) (an honorary degree). An initialism (whose letters are sounded out individually, like BBC and USA) may be paired with one article, while an acronym (which is pronounced as a word) beginning with the same letter is paired with the other (an HTML document describing a HUD program).
The indefinite article "a" (not "an") is used in American English before words beginning with a pronounced "h." Examples: a hotel, a history lesson, a hopeful sign.
Before an abbreviation, symbol, or numeral, one uses "a" or "an" depending on how the term is pronounced.
Examples an MS treatment (a treatment for multiple sclerosis) ...a MS in the library (MS also stands for manuscript) ...an NBC anchor ...a CBS anchor ...a URL ...an 800 number ...an @ sign
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when not to use the word "lady"

Explanation According to The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, it's best to use the word "lady" or its plural only in conjunction with the word "gentlemen." Why? It's considered by many to be patronizing to say "lady" as a synonym for "woman." CMS says that some will insist on using it to describe a refined woman, but if they've read the CMS caveat, they've been forewarned.
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On behalf/in behalf

Explanation "in behalf" means in the interest of or for the benefit of, while "on behalf" means you're acting as an agent or representative of something.
Examples In: The decision is in behalf of the patient.
On: On behalf of Mr. Scott, I would like to express heartfelt thanks.
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Punctuation: exclamation point

Explanation Where to place the quotation marks if there is an exclamation point in the quotation instead of a period?
Colons, semicolons, question marks and exclamation points all follow closing quotation marks UNLESS a question mark or exclamation point belongs within the quoted matter. CMS gives this example:
Examples "Where are you from?"
The race starts when someone yells, "Go!"
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"A" or "an" before "h"

Explanation Q. Why is "an historical" said, rather than "a historical"?

A. For quite a few years, many journalists said "an historical," and it caught on. But it is not accepted by the major style guides, including Associated Press Stylebook 2003.

As "A Writer's Reference" (Hacker) says, "If the h is silent, the word begins with a vowel sound, so use 'an': an hour, an heir, an honest senator, an honorable deed. If the h is pronounced, the word begins with a consonant sound, so use 'a': a hospital, a hymn, a historian, a hotel."
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years, year's or years'

Explanation For plural nouns ending in -s, add only an apostrophe.
Examples It gives "six days' vacation" as an example.
Go with ...nine years'...
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good×well

Explanation "good" is an adjective and "well" is an adverb
Examples Professor Brians says that you do something well, but you give someone something good. The exception he notes, is verbs of sensation in phrases such as "the pie smells good," or "I feel good."
Some people think you should never say "I feel good", but Brians says "Despite the arguments of nigglers, this is standard usage. Saying 'the pie smells well' would imply that the pastry in question had a nose. Similarly, 'I feel well' is also acceptable, especially when discussing health;but it is not the only correct usage."
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i.e. (id est.) & e.g. (exempli gratia)

Explanation You use i.e. when you mean "that is." You also use it when you're restating the idea (to be more explicit) or expanding upon it.
You use e.g. when you mean "for example."
In American English, one generally follows i.e. and e.g. with a comma.
Examples We provide all retailers with the standard discount, i.e., 10%.
Shertzer's book has a number of elements, e.g., punctuation, capitalization, parts of a sentence, and confusing words.
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shall

Explanation
  1. make suggestions
  2. make offers
  3. make requests for advice
  4. as a tag
Examples
  1. Shall we go to the pub?
  2. Shall I open the window?
  3. What shall we do?
  4. Let's leave that until the next meeting, shall we?
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should have

Explanation When we want to criticise something which was or was not done in the past.
Examples You should have told me you were coming.
You shouldn't have agreed to do that.
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timetabled events

Explanation When we want to talk about TIMETABLED events in the future, we use the Present Simple.
Examples The train leaves at 5.00.
The movie starts at 8.00.
I don't have school tomorrow because the teachers are on strike.
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personal arrangement

Explanation When we want to talk about a PERSONAL ARRANGEMENT we have already made for the future we use the Present Continuous.
Examples I'm meeting Simon for lunch. (I've already arranged this with him.)
I'm working late this evening. (My boss has asked me.)
I'm not working tomorrow. (I've aranged to have the day off.)
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could have

Explanation
  1. the possibility/ability/opportunity for something to happen in the past existed but was not taken
  2. it is possible that something has happened but we do not know if it has or hasn't. We are guessing
  3. to speculate about a future event
Examples
  1. You could have phoned to let me know. (You didn't.)
    I was so hungry I could have eaten a horse. (I didn't!)
    What you did was dangerous. You could have been killed. (You weren't.)
  2. They're late. I suppose they could have got lost.
    Whatever could have happened?
  3. Keep looking. By this time next week, you could have found the house of your dreams.
    They're late. By the time they arrive, everyone could have left.
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may not × can't

Examples He may not have known. (this means that perhaps he knew, perhaps he didn't.)
He can't have known. (this means that we are certain that he didn't know.)
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must × have to

Explanation We use "must" for an obligation imposed by ourselves and "have to" for an obligation imposed by somebody else.
Examples I must get my hair cut. (I think it is too long.)
- You're in the army now. You have to get your hair cut. (Or you'll be in trouble.)
Explanation In the past, we use 'must have done' to express our CERTAINTY about a past action.
We use "had to" to express a PAST OBLIGATION.
Examples He's not there. He must have gone out.
I cannot find my wallet. I must have left it at home.
I had to leave home early today because of the bus strike.
I had to agree to his demands.
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had better

Explanation This is not a past form nor a comparison. It usually refers to the immediate future.
It is used to give advice or a warning.
We can also use 'should' or 'ought to' to give advice but the meaning is slightly different. We use 'had better' where there is a strong suggestion that the action will be done.
Examples You ought to apologize. (you may or you may not)
You had better apologize. (I think you may)
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used to

Explanation We use 'used to' to talk about HABITS or STATES that existed in the past but not now.
Examples I always go swimming on Fridays. (HABIT NOW)
I used to go swimming but I stopped. (HABIT PAST)
I used to be thin but now I'm fat. (STATE PAST)
I used to go to school over there.
I didn't used to smoke but I do now.(USUAL)
I used not to smoke but I do now.(FORMAL)
Did you use to like to play sport at school? (USUAL)
Used you to like to play sport at school.(FORMAL)
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going to

Explanation We often use GOING TO to talk about PLANS and INTENTIONS for the future.
Examples I'm going to get a new car.
I'm going to leave here at the end of the month.
Explanation We also use GOING TO to make predictions when there is PRESENT EVIDENCE.
Examples Look at the black clouds, it's going to rain.
He's driving too close to the car in front. He's going to have an accident.
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