Grammar for advanced learners: Confusing verbs - Thấm Tâm Vy

Nội dung text: Grammar for advanced learners: Confusing verbs - Thấm Tâm Vy

1. CONFUSING VERBS arrangements a fortune a point Some pairs of verbs in English are subtly different from each other and so can be a a bed friends (with sb) a profit source of confusion for learners. This is because the pairs, e.g. make and do, lay and lie, a (phone) call a fuss progress have similar meanings but are used to describe different kinds of actions or situations. a charge (for sth) a gesture a promise These are ‘false synonyms’. In other cases, there are verb pairs which cause problems a choice a good / bad job of sth a remark because we use them to describe similar situations even though they have opposite a comment a habit of sth a sound meanings, e.g. borrow and lend. These are ‘opposite pairs’. In this section we look at a contribution a journey a speech the verb pairs which are most often confused. a decision a list a start (on sth) A. FALSE SYNONYMS. a difference a living a suggestion Several verbs appear to have similar meanings but are used differently. a discovery love time (for sth/sb) MAKE and DO an effort a mess trouble Make often means ‘create’ or ‘produce’: an enemy of sb a mistake war - Aunt Alice is going to make the bridesmaids’ dresses. an enquiry money a will - Gouda cheese is made in Holland. Make often expresses the idea of building and constructing: - The multinationals are making a lot of products in the developing world these days. We also use make to describe a process of change. The meaning is similar to ‘become’ or ’cause to be’: - The spare bedroom has made a wonderful office for Deirdre. (= has become) - Those new drugs seem to make him very lethargic. (= cause him to be) Make + object + infinitive (without to) means 'force' or ‘command’: - The police officer made me empty my pockets. Make has a number of idiomatic meanings such as ‘earn’ and ‘keep an appointment’: - He makes $1000 a week on the oil rigs. - I can't make it on Friday; I’m in a meeting all day. We often use do to describe an activity or to mean ‘carry out/complete a task': - What are we going to do for your birthday? (= take part in an activity) - You can go out after you've done your homework. (= you've completed) We can use do + determiner + -ing form to describe regular tasks at home or at work: DO - There isn’t much in the fridge as I haven’t done the shopping yet. your best (= try hard) an experiment the laundry - We do the stocktaking every Wednesday morning. business (with sb) sb a favour military service Expressions with make and do the cleaning/cooking / good (= help other people) research There are several multi-word verbs with make or do. ironing / washing (up) sb some good (= make sb the shopping - Don’t believe a word he said, he made it all up. (= invented) a course better/healthier) sport - The government did away with the death penalty in the sixties. (= abolished) some damage your hair/face/nails your teeth (= brush/clean) * There are a number of fixed expressions with either make or do; the dishes harm well/badly (= be WRONG It’s time to do a decisiom => It's time to make a decision. your duty an exam/a test successful/unsuccessful) WRONG Who made yout^hair? => Who did your hair? the homework/housework yourself an injury an/some exercise a job Here are some of the most common expressions with make and do. (Note that in the 2D table below, sb = somebody and sth = something.) HAVE / TAKE + NOUN MAKE We can describe some actions with either have or take; in other cases we only use one an attempt an exception a noise of these verbs: an appearance an excuse an offer have take have or take an appointment (= arrange) a fire a plan an appointment lunch/dinner / account of part (in) a bath/shower Thẩm Tâm Vy, March 15th, 2020 GRAMMAR FOR ADVANCED LEARNERS CONFUSING VERBS
2. (= an existing a meal action a photo(graph) a break Speak and talk have very similar meanings and are often equally appropriate: arrangement) a quarrel advantage (of) place an exam/test - I’m going to talk/speak to my teacher about it after the lesson. an argument a race a breath power a guess - We usually use speak, not talk, for formal speeches when a person in authority is a baby a row care (of) precedence a holiday/ addressing an audience: a care a/the right (to) a chance (over) a vacation WRONG: Prime Minister talked to Parliament this morning. a chance (to do a say a decision responsibility a look ✓ Before the election the President spoke to the nation on television. sth) something to eat a dislike to (for) a nap We use speak, not talk, to refer to languages: a chat sth/sb a risk a rest WRONG: Anatoly talks English with an accent. a dance a talk effect /root a seat ✓ Anatoly speaks English with an accent. a drink a think exception (to) sides (with sb) a sip We use talk for long conversations: an effect (on sth) (no / the) time the form of a step/steps a stroll WRONG: We were up half the night speaking! a wash medicine/drugs the trouble (to) a swim ✓We were up half the night talking! a fall a word (with) a message years / months / There are a number of expressions with speak or talk: a fit weeks / days / hours, etc. - Could you speak up. I can't hear you. (= talk louder) a go offence (at sth) - I'd like to talk about our new sales strategy. (= explain/discuss) an /no /any idea - You're talking nonsense. (I strongly disagree with what you are saying.) G. raise / rise / arise B. been/gone Raise refers to the action of someone or something lifting, increasing or moving The two past participle forms, gone and been, are used with similar but slightly something else in an upward direction. To rise only refers to the movement itself: different meanings. In British English we use been, not gone, when we express the idea - The government has been urged to raise corporation tax rates to match those in other of visiting or going somewhere and then leaving or returning: European Union states. Rates are predicted to rise by ten per cent. - Jane's just got back. WRONG: She’s gone to thedoctor’s. REMEMBER: Because raise refers to an action done to something or someone else it ✓ She’s been to the doctor's. (= She went and then came back.) always has a direct object: We use gone, not been, when someone has gone somewhere but not yet come back: WRONG: Fares will raise next year ✓ They will raise the fares next year. - Jane isn 't here right now. WRONG: She’s been to the deetor’s. Rise cannot have an object: ✓ She's gone to the doctor's. (= She went there and hasn’t returned.) WRONG: They will rise the fares next year ✓ Fares will rise next year. For both of these situations, gone is commonly used in US English. In formal English we sometimes use arise to refer to problems or difficulties occurring: E. lay/lie - Tissue rejection is a problem which can arise in this procedure. To lay expresses an action; it means to put something or someone down in a flat REMEMBER: Arise does not have an object: position. To lie describes a state of being in a horizontal position. Compare: WRONG: Let’s hope nobody arises that issue. ✓ Let’s hope that issue doesn't arise. - You will find the process easier if you lay all the parts on a worksurface. (action) Note that these verbs have different forms: - I think I'll lust lie on the sofa until my headache goes. (state/position) infinitive past tense past participle present participle There is also the verb lie meaning ‘to say something that isn’t true’: raise raised raised raising - That child lies all the time. (= says things which are not true) rise rose risen rising Notice that these three verbs have different forms: arise arose arisen arising infinitive past tense past participle present participle H. rob / steal. lay (= action) laid laid laying We use rob to refer to the person or place that suffered the robbery; we use steal to lie (= state) lay lain lying refer to what was taken: lie (= tell lies) lied lied lying ✓ - They 've laid new carpet throughout the house. WRONG: Thieves stole my uncle. Thieves robbed my uncle. - We've been laying artificial grass on the new football pitch. WRONG: A gang stole the head offiee. ✓A gang robbed the head office. - We found the old photographs lying in a drawer. WRONG: They robbed his gold watch: ✓They stole his gold watch. - Yesterday I was so tired that I lay on the bed all morning, (past simple of lie) We can use the preposition from to link steal to a person or place: F. speak/talk - Colonel Blood stole the crown jewels from the Tower of London in 1665. Thẩm Tâm Vy, March 15th, 2020 GRAMMAR FOR ADVANCED LEARNERS CONFUSING VERBS
3. We can use the preposition of to link rob with the thing which was taken: 4. I’m rather busy this evening, so I won’t be able to meet you at the cinema. No man has the right to rob another of his freedom. 5 The old pond has become a wonderful paddling pool for the kids. OPPOSITE PAIRS Some verbs act as ’mirror images’ of each other. They describe the same event from 6 How can you talk to me like that after all I’ve achieved for you! different sides. A. Borrow / Lend. 7 Are you going to take any more aerobics classes? If you want to use something that belongs to someone else you can borrow it from them. The owner of something can lend it to you for a certain period: 8 In many countries women still earn less money than men for the same work. - 'Dad, could we borrow your electric drill?’ ~ ’Sorry. I’ve already lent it to Michael.’ B. Bring / Take / Fetch. 9 They forced the hostages to walk for three days without food or water. Bring means to take someone or something with you to the place you are now, to your home, or to the place/event you have been talking about: 10 They’ve been producing Rolls Royce cars in the same factory for forty years. - I’ve brought the pliers you said you needed. - When are you going to bring your new boyfriend to meet us? (to our house) - Jane and I got lost on the top of the mountain and we had to stay there till morning. II. Complete the sentences with a suitable form of have or take. Fortunately Jane had brought some food and water. 1. You sometimes have to wait a year or two for the plants to really root in the Take means to move someone or something away from the place you are now, away soil. from your home or away from the place/event you have been talking about: 2. Unless a cheque is received by return of post we will have no option - I can’t find the cheque book - Dennis must have taken it when he left this morning. but steps to recover the disputed sums through the courts. - When are you taking me to meet your parents? (away from here to their home) 3 I can’t help you with that, I’m afraid; I absolutely no idea when it comes to REMEMBER: The choice of verb depends on the situation of the speaker: electrics. - Are you bringing your scuba gear? (on our holiday) 4. You want to become a doctor at your age? It years to get through a medical - Are you taking your scuba gear? (on your holiday) degree. - I brought the car to work today. (I am at work now.) 5. Do you mind if I a quick wash before we sit down to eat? - I took the car to work today. (I am not at work now.) 6. She’s very worried about the takeover. Perhaps you should a chat with her Fetch means to collect someone or something from another place and bring it to the about it, place you are now, to your home or to the place you are talking about. We don’t use 7 And what makes you think you the right to lecture me on morality? bring with this meaning of ‘collecting’: 8 I’m not feeling too good today; I the most almighty row with my girlfriend last WRONG: Could you bring the children from school on Monday. night, ✓ Could you fetch the children from school on Monday? (= go to the school and bring 9. In the latest developments in the civil war it appears that the rebel them home) army power in the southern provinces. 10. I can’t think why you’re so reluctant to go. Come on a risk for once! PRACTCE 11. We regret to announce that Alvin Claymore is unable part in tonight’s performance owing to ill health. I. Rewrite the sentences using suitable forms of make or do. 12. The residents insist on their say; they’re going to demand a public meeting 0 What activities are you planning for next week? with the housing committee. => What are you doing next week? 13. With any luck the new policing initiative a positive effect on the appalling 1. Heavy rains have led to parts of the road becoming impossible. crime rate around here. 14. I know I'm old-fashioned but I do exception to all the bad language on TV 2. We're going to have the roof repaired next spring. these days. 15. You really can’t put this off any longer; you must a decision on the Knowlson 3. It’s all part of the research I’m carrying out for my dissertation. case today. Thẩm Tâm Vy, March 15th, 2020 GRAMMAR FOR ADVANCED LEARNERS CONFUSING VERBS
4. III. Choose the best word in italics for each sentence. 1 We'd better order a taxi to bring/take us to the airport next week. 2 My uncle borrowed/lent me the money to buy my first car. ANSWER KEY 3. Shall I bring/take my holiday photos when 1 come over on Saturday? 4. Is there any chance of you bringing/fetching the kids from their swimming lesson tonight? 5. The car isn’t here, I’m borrowing/lending it to my sister for the week. 6. My boyfriend went to Japan on a business trip and brought/took me a fantastic MP3 player. 7. Can I borrow/lend your dictionary? I left mine at home. 8. When my girlfriend left me she brought/took my entire CD collection. 9. Would you like me to fetch/bring your car from the garage this afternoon? 10. Is there any chance I could borrow/lend your calculator over the weekend? IV. In the following texts some lines (1-17) have a mistake with the verb and some lines are correct Find and underline any incorrect verbs and write the correct verb form, then tick (✓) the correct lines. The exercise begins with two examples (0) and (00). Thẩm Tâm Vy, March 15th, 2020 GRAMMAR FOR ADVANCED LEARNERS CONFUSING VERBS