GOLDENGRAMMARRULES

tuseanwi
1.Don’ thown.
Sueneedsherownroom.(
NOTSueneedsanownr
oom.
)
I
’dl
ikeaphoneli
neofmyown.(
NOT…anownphoneli
ne.
)

2.Useorr
athert
ocor
recty
our
sel
f.
She’
sGerman–orrat
her
,Aust
ri
an.(NOTShe’
sGer
man–orbet
ter
,Aust
ri
an.
)
I
’l
lseey
ouonFri
day–orrat
her,Sat
urday
.

3.Usethesi
mpl esent–pl
epr ay(
s),
rai
n(s)et
c–t
otal
kabouthabi
tsandr
epeat
ed
acti
ons.
Iplaytenni
sever
ySatur
day.(
NOTIam pl
ayi
ngt
enni
sev
erySat
urday
.)
Itusuall
yrai
nsaloti
nNovember
.

4.Usewi
l
l…,
nott
hepr
esent
,forof
fer
sandpr
omi
ses.
I’
l
lcookyousuppert
hisev
eni
ng.(
NOTIcookyousupperthi
sev
eni
ng.
)
Ipromi
seI’
llphoney
outomor
row.(NOTIpr
omiseIphoneyout
omorr
ow.
)

5.Don’
tdr
oppr
eposi
ti
onswi
thpassi
vev
erbs.
Idon’
tli
ketobeshout
edat.(NOTIdon’
tli
ket
obeshouted.
)
Thisneedst
obethoughtaboutsomemore.(
NOTThisneedst
obet
houghtsomemor
e.)

6.Don’
tuseapr
esentt
enseaf
terI
t’
sti
me.
I
t’
sti
meyouwenthome.(
NOTIt’
stimey
ougohome.)
I
t’
sti
meweinv
itedBi
ll
andSoni
a.(NOTI
t’
sti
meweinvi
teBi
l
landSoni
a.)

7.Usewas/
wer
ebor
ntogi
vedat
esofbi
rt
h.
Iwasbor ni
n1975.(
NOTIam bor
nin1975.
)
Shakespear
ewasborni
n1564.

8.Pol
icei
sapl
uralnoun.
Thepol
i
cearelookingforhi
m.(
NOTThepol i
cei
slooki
ngf
orhi
m.)
Ical
l
edthepol
i
ce, butt
heyweretoobusyt
ocome.

tuset
9.Don' het
otal
kaboutt
hingsi
ngener
al.
Booksar
eex pensi
ve.(
NOTThebooksar
eexpensi
ve.
)
Il
ovemusic.(NOTIlovet
hemusi
c.)

10.Usehadbet
ter
,nothav
ebet
ter
.
It
hinkyou’
dbett
erseethedoct
or.(
NOTIt
hinky
ouhav
ebet
terseet
hedoct
or.
)
We’dbett
eraskJohntohel
pus.

11.Uset
hepr
esentpr
ogr
essi
ve-am pl
ayi
ng,
isr
aini
nget
c-t
otal
kaboutt
hings
t
hatar
econt
inui
ngatt
het
imeofspeaki
ng.
I’
m pl
ayingv
erybadlyt
oday
.(NOTIplayv
erybadl
ytoday
.)
Look!I
t'
srai
ning!(
NOTLook!I
trai
ns!
)

12.Usef
orwi
thaper
iodoft
ime.Usesi
ncewi
tht
hebegi
nni
ngoft
heper
iod.
f
orthelasttwohour s=since9o' cl
ock
f
orthreedays=si nceMonday
f
orfiv
ey ears=sinceIleftschool
I
’v
ebeenl earni
ngEnglishforfiveyears.(
NOTI ’
vebeenl
ear
ningEngl
i
shsi
ncet
hreey
ear
s.)
We’v
ebeenwai tingforages,sinceeighto’cl
ock.

13.Don'
tsepar
atet
hev
erbf
rom t
heobj
ect
.
  VERB OBJECT
She speaksEngli
shv
erywel
l.(NOTShespeaksver
ywel
lEngl
i
sh.
)
Andyl
ikes skiing v
erymuch.(NOTAndyl
ikesv
erymuchski
i
ng.
)

14.Don'tuset
hepr esentper
fect-hav
e/hasseen,
have/
hasgoneet
c-wi
thwor
ds
thatnameaf i
nishedtime.
Isawhi
my est
erday
.(NOTIhaveseenhi
my est
erday
.)
Theywentt
oGreecelastsummer
.(NOTTheyhavegone…l
astsummer
.)
.

15.Engl
ish(
thel
anguage)nor
mal
lyhasnoar
ti
cle.
Youspeakv
erygoodEngl
ish.(
NOTYouspeakav
erygoodEngl
i
sh.
)

16.Af
terl
ookf
orwar
dto,
weuse-
ing,
notani
nfi
nit
ive.
Il
ookforwar
dtoseei
ngyou.(
NOTIlookfor
war
dtoseeyou.
)
We’r
elooki
ngfor
wardtogoi
ngonholi
day
.(NOT…togoonholi
day
.)

17.I
nfor
mat
ioni
sanuncount
abl
enoun.
Canyougi
vemesomeinf
ormati
on?(NOTCany ougi
vemeaninfor
mation?
)
Igotal
otofi
nfor
mat
ionf
rom t
heInt
ernet
.(NOTIgotal
otofi
nformat
ionsfrom t
heI
nter
net
.)

18.Use-
ingf
ormsaf
terpr
eposi
ti
ons.
Idr
ovether
ewithoutst
oppi
ng.(NOTIdr
ovet
her
ewithoutt
ostop.
)
Washyourhandsbefor
eeati
ng.(NOTWashy
ourhandsbefor
etoeat
.)

19.Uset
his,
nott
hat
,fort
hingst
hatar
ecl
ose.
Comehereandl
ookatt
hispaper
.(NOTComeher
eandlookatthatpaper.
)
Howlonghavey
oubeenint
hiscount
ry?(
NOTHowlonghaveyoubeeni nthatcount
ry?
)

20.Useapl
uralnounaf
teroneandahal
f.
Wewai
tedoneandahal
fhour
s.(NOTWewait
edoneandahalfhour
.)
Ami
lei
saboutoneandahal
fkil
ometr
es.(
NOTAmilei
saboutoneandahal
fki
l
omet
re.
21.Uset
hepr
esentper
fect
,nott
hepr
esent
,tosayhowl
ongt
hingshav
ebeengoi
ng
on.
I
'v
ebeenwaiti
ngsince10o'clock.(
NOTI
'
m wait
ingsi
nce10o'
clock.
)
We'v
eli
vedheref
ornineyears.(NOTWeli
veher
eforniney
ear
s.)
22.Themaj
ori
tyi
snor
mal
lypl
ural
.
Somepeopl
eareint
erest
ed,butt
hemajor
itydon'
tcar
e.(
NOT. .
.butthemajori
tydoesn'
tcare.
)
Themaj
ori
tyoft
hesepeoplearever
ypoor.(NOTThemajor
it
yofthesepeopleisverypoor
.)

23.Uset
oomuch/
manybef
ore(
adj
ect
iv uset
e+)noun; oobef
oreanadj
ect
ivewi
th
nonoun.
There'
stoomuchnoise.
Iboughttoomuchredpaint
.
Thoseshoesaret
ooexpensive.(
NOTThoseshoesar
etoomuchexpensi
ve.
)

24.Uset
hat
,notwhat
,af
teral
l.
I
'v
etol
dyoual
lthatIknow.(
NOTI
'
vet
oldy
oual
lwhatIknow.
)
Hegav
eheral
lthathehad.

tsayaccor
25.Don' dingt
omet
ogi
vey
ouropi
nion.
Ithi
nkit'
sagoodfi
lm.(
NOTAccor
dingtome,it
'sagoodfi
lm.)
Inmyopi ni
on,
you'
remaki
ngaser
iousmist
ake.(NOTAccordi
ngt
ome,
you'
remaki
ngaser
ious
mistake.
)

26.Don'
taskaboutpossi
bil
it
ieswi
thMayy
ou.
..
?et
c.
Doyout
hinkyou'
l
lgocampi
ngthi
ssummer
?(NOTMayy ougocampingthi
ssummer
?)
I
sJoanl
ikel
ytobeher
etomorr
ow?(NOTMayJoanbeheret
omorrow?)

27.Usewho,
notwhi
ch,
forpeopl
einr
elat
ivest
ruct
ures.
Thewomanwhol iv
esupst
air
sisfrom Thail
and.(
NOTThewomanwhichli
vesupstai
rsi
sfrom
Thail
and.
)
Idon'
tli
kepeopl
ewhoshoutall
theti
me.( NOTIdon'
tl
ikepeopl
ewhi
chshoutal
ltheti
me.)

28.Usef
ornotdur
, ing,
tosay`
howl
ong'
.
Wewait
edf orsi
xhour
s.(NOTWewai
teddur
ingsi
xhour
s.)
Hewasil
lforthr
eeweeks.(
NOTHewasil
lduri
ngt
hreeweeks.
)

29.Uset
o..
.,notf
or.
..
,tosaywhyy
oudosomet
hing.
Icameheretost
udyEngl
ish.(NOTIcameheref
orst
udyEngl
ish.
)
Shetel
ephonedmetoexplai
ntheprobl
em.(
NOTShetel
ephonedmef
orexpl
aint
hepr
obl
em.
)

30.User
efl
exi
v my
es( sel
fet
c)whent
heobj
ecti
sthesameast
hesubj
ect
.
Il
ookedatmysel
fint
hemirror
.(NOTIl
ookedatmeinthemir
ror
.)
Whyareyout
alki
ngtoyour
self
?(NOTWhyar eyout
alki
ngt
oyou?)

31.Useapresentt
enset
otal
kaboutt
hef
utur
eaf
terwhen,
unt
il
,assoonas,
aft
er,
befor
eetc.
I’
l
lphoneyouwhenIarr
ive.(NOTI ’
ll
phoneyouwhenIwillar
ri
ve.
)
Let’
swaitunt
ili
tget
sdark.(NOTLet ’
swai
tunti
li
twill
getdark.
)
We’l
lstar
tassoonasMar yarr
ives.(NOTWe’l
lst
artassoonasMarywi
l
lar
ri
ve.
)

32.Bef
oremostabst
r weusegr
actnouns, eat
,notbi
g.
Ihav
egr
eatr
espectf
orheri
deas.(
NOTIhav
ebi
grespectf
orheri
deas.
)
Wehadgr
eatdi
ff
icul
tyi
nunder
standi
nghi
m.(
NOTWehadbi
gdi
ff
icul
tyi
nunder
standi
nghi
m.)

tuset
33.Don’ hewi t
hasuper
lat
ivewheny
ouar
enotcompar
ingoneper
sonor
thi
ngwit
hanother
.
Compar
e:

 She’
sthenicestoft
hethr
eet eacher
s.
 She’
snicestwhenshe’
swor ki
ngwi t
hsmall
chil
dren.
 Thi
sisthebestwineI’
vegot.
 Thi
swineisbestwhenit’
sthreeorfoury
earsol
d.

34.Putenoughaf
ter
,notbef
ore,
adj
ect
ives.
Thi
ssoupi
sn’
thotenough.(
NOTThi ssoupi
sn’
tenoughhot
.)
She’
sol
denoughtowalktoschool
byhersel
f.

35.Don’
tuseast
ruct
urewi
tht
hat…af
terwantorwoul
dli
ke.
Mypar
entswantmetogotouni
ver
sit
y.(
NOTMypar ent
swantthatIgot
ouni
ver
sit
y.)
I
’dl
i
keevery
bodytol
eave.(
NOTI’
dli
kethatev
ery
bodyleav
es.
)

36.Aft
erli
nkver
bsl
ikebe,
seem,
feel
,l
ook,
smel
l,
sound,
tast
e,weuseadj
ect
ives,
notadver
bs.
If
eelhappyt
oday
.(NOTIfeel
happi
lyt
oday
.)
Thi
ssouptast
esstr
ange.(
NOTThissoupt
ast
esst
rangel
y.
)

37.Uset
hanaf
tercompar
ati
ves.
Mymotheri
sthr
eey earsol
dert
hanmyf
ather
.(NOTMymot
heri
sthr
eey
ear
sol
dert
hat
/asmyf
ather
.)
Pet
rol
ismoreexpensiv
ethandi
esel
.

38.I
nquest
ions,
putt
hesubj
ecti
mmedi
atel
yaf
tert
heauxi
li
aryv
erb.
Wherear
ethePresidentandhisf
ami
lyst
aying?(
NOTWher earest
ayi
ngt
hePr
esi
dentandhi
sfami
l
y?)
Haveal
ltheguest
sar r
ived?(
NOTHavear
riv
edalltheguest
s?)

39.Usedt
ohasnopr
esent
.
Ipl
aytenni
satweekends.(
NOTIusetopl
ayt
enni
satweekends.
)
Wheredoyouusual
lyhavelunch?(
NOTWher
edoyouusetohavelunch?
)

40.Uset
hrough,
notal
ong,
forper
iodsoft
ime.
Al
lthr
ought
hecent
uri
es,
ther
ehav
ebeenwar
s.(
NOTAl
lal
ongt
hecent
uri
es,
ther
ehav
ebeenwar
s.)

Formor
edet
ail
s,seePr
act
icalEngl
i
shUsage3r
dEdi
ti
onsect
ion45.

41.Usecan’
t,notmust
n’t
,tosayt
hatsomet
hingi
slogi
cal
lyi
mpossi
ble.
I
tcan’
tbet hepost
manatthedoor.I
t’
sonl
y7o’cl
ock.(
NOTItmust
n’tbet
hepost
manatthedoor
.It
’s
onl
y7o’clock.
)
I
fAisbiggerthanB,andBi
sbiggert
hanC,thenCcan’
tbebi
ggert
hanA.(NOT…thenCmustn’
tbe
bi
ggert
hanA. )

42.Uset
hepr
esentper
fectwi
thThi
sist
hef
ir
stt
ime…et
c.
Thi
sist
hef
ir
stt
imeI
’
vebeenher
e.(
NOTThi
sist
hef
ir
stt
imeI
’
m her
e.)
Thi
sist
hef
if
thcupofcof
feeI
’
vedr
unkt
oday
.(NOTThi
sist
hef
if
thcupofcof
feeIdr
inkt
oday
.)

43.Usebe,
nothav
e,t
ogi
vepeopl
e’sages.
Mysi
steri
s15(
year
sol
d).(
NOTMysi
sterhas15y
ear
s.)

44.Usebetween,notamong,
tot
alkaboutposi
ti
oni
nrel
ati
ont
osev
eralcl
ear
ly
separ
atepeopleorthi
ngs.
Swit
zerl
andisbetweenFrance,
Aust
ria,
GermanyandI
tal
y.(
NOTSwi
tzer
landi
samongFr
ance,
Aust
ri
a,
GermanyandI t
aly
.)
Thebott
lerol
ledbetweenthewheel
softhecar
.

45.Wedon’
tnor
mal
lyuset
hebef
oreabbr
evi
ati
onst
hatar
epr
onouncedl
ikewor
ds
(‘
acr
ony
ms’).
Mycousi
nworksf
orNATO.(
NOTMycousi
nworksf
ort
heNATO.
)
Themoneywasgi
venbyUNESCO.(
NOT…byt
heUNESCO.
)

46.Ev
ery
bodyi
sasi
ngul
arwor
d.
Ever
ybodywaslat
e.(
NOTEv
ery
bodywerelate.
)
I
severybodyr
eady?(
NOTAr
eever
ybodyready?)

47.Useany
,notsome,
innegat
ivesent
ences.
Shehasn’
tgotanymoney
.(NOTShehasn’
tgotsomemoney
.)
Idi
dn’
tseeanybody
.(NOTIdi
dn’
tseesomebody.
)

48.Usei
nter
est
edforf
eel
ings;useint
erestingforthethi
ngst
hati
nter
estpeopl
e.
Thesamegoesforbor
ed/
boring,exci
ted/excit
ingetc.
I’
minterestedinhi
story
.(NOTI’mint
erest
inginhi
stor
y.)
Hist
oryisinter
esti
ng.
I’
m boredinthemat hsl
essons.(
NOTI ’
m bori
nginthemathsl
essons.
)
Ithi
nkmat hsisbori
ng.

49.Useby
,notunt
il
/ti
ll
,tomean‘
notl
atert
han’
.
CanyoumendthisbyTuesday?(
NOTCany oumendthisunt
ilTuesday
?)
I
’l
lfi
nisht
hebookbytoni
ght.(
NOTI’
l
lfi
nishthebookt
il
ltoni
ght.
)

50.Usel
ike,
notas,
togi
veexampl
es.
Ipref
erwarm count
r i
es,
li
keSpain.(
NOTIpr
eferwar
m count
ri
es,
asSpai
n.)
Ieatalotofmeat,l
ikebeeforl
amb.

51.Usewhet
her
,noti
f,af
terpr
eposi
ti
ons.
Wetal
kedaboutwhet
heritwasr
eady
.(NOTWetalkedabouti
fitwasr
eady.
)
I
t’
saquest
ionofwhetherwehav
eenought
ime.(
NOTI t’
saquesti
onofifwehav
eenought
ime.
)

52.Usethepr
esentprogressi
vepassive,
nott
hesi
mpl
epr
esentpassi
ve,
tot
alk
aboutt
hingst
hataregoingonj ustar
oundnow.
Ourf
lati
sbei
ngdecor
atedt
hisweek.(
NOTOurf
lati
sdecor
atedt
hisweek.
)
Yourbi
l
lisj
ustbei
ngpr
epar
ed,
sir
.(NOTYourbi
l
lisj
ustpr
epar
ed,
sir
.)

53.Wedon’
tnor
mal
lyusemustt
otal
kaboutt
hepast
.
Ihadtoseethedent i
sty
est
erday
.(NOTImustseet
hedent i
sty
est
erday.
)
WhenIl ef
tschool,
youngmenhadtodomil
it
aryser
vice.(
NOTWhenIl ef
tschool
,youngmenmustdo
mili
tar
yservi
ce.)

54.Wheny
ouputt
wonounst
oget
her
,becar
efult
ogett
her
ightor
der
.
Il
i
keeat
ingmil
kchocol
ate.(
NOTIli
keeati
ngchocol
atemil
k.)
What
’sy
ourphonenumber?(NOTWhat’
syournumberphone?)

hewhol
55.Uset eof
,notwhol
e,bef
oret
henameofapl
ace.
Thewhol
eofPari
swascelebr
ati
ng.(NOTWhol
ePari
swascel
ebr
ati
ng.)
Heknowsthewhol
eofSouthAmericaver
ywel
l
.(NOTHeknowswholeSout
hAmer
icav
erywel
l
.)

56.Wedon’
tnor
mal
lyusepr
ogr
essi
vef
ormsofbel
ieve.
Idon’tbel
i
evehim.(NOTI’
m notbel
i
evi
nghi
m.)
Doy oubeli
evewhatshesays?(
NOTAreyoubel
i
evi
ngwhatshesay
s?)

Formor
edet
ail
s,seePr
act
icalEngl
i
shUsage3r
dEdi
ti
onsect
ion471.

tusei
57.Don’ nfr
ontoft
omean‘
faci
ng’
or‘
opposi
te’
.
Shesatdownfaci
ngmeandl ookedi
ntomyey
es.(NOTShesatdowninfrontofmeandl
ookedi
nto
myeyes.)
Ther
e’sahot
elopposi
teourhouse.(
NOTTher
e’sahot
eli
nfrontofourhouse.
)

58.Usei
t,notI
,he,
sheet
ctoi
dent
if
ypeopl
e.
(
onthephone):
Hel
lo.I
t’
sAlanWi
ll
i
amsspeaki
ng.(
(NOTHel
l
o.I
’
m Al
anWi
l
li
ams.
)
‘
Who’st
hat?’
‘I
t’
sJohn.
’(NOTWho’
sthat
?’‘
He’
sJohn.
’)

59.Peopl
e(meani
ng‘
per
sons’
)isapl
uralwor
dThepeopl
eint
hist
ownar
ever
yfr
iendl
y.
(
NOTThepeoplei
nthist
owni
sver
yfri
endly
.)
Whoar
ethosepeopl
e?(NOTWhoi
sthatpeopl
e?)

60.Useal
thoughorbut
,butnotbot
htoget
her
.
Alt
houghitwasl at
e,shewentout.
I
twaslate,butshewentout.
(BUTNOTAl thoughitwasl
ate,butshewentout
.)

61.Wi
thi
f,wenor
mal
lyuset
hepr
esentt
otal
kaboutt
hef
utur
e.
I
fIhaveti
me,I
’l
lphoneyou.(
NOTI
fI’
l
lhavet
ime,I
’l
lphoney ou.
)
I
’
llbesur
pri
sedifsheanswer
smyl
ett
er.(
NOTI’
ll
besur pr
isedifshe’
l
lanswermyl
ett
er.
)

62.Useal
most
,notnear
ly,
tosayt
hatonet
hingi
sver
yli
keanot
her
.
Sheisal
mostasist
ertome.(NOTShei
snear
lyasi
stert
ome.
)
Ial
mostwishIhadstay
edathome.(
NOTInearl
ywi
shIhadst
ayedathome.
)
63.I
fyoudon’
tdosomet
hinganymor
e,oust
y opdoi
ngi
t.
Thedoctort
oldmetostopsmoki
ng.(NOTThedoct
ort
oldmetostoptosmoke.
)
I
’m goi
ngtostopworki
ngsohar
d.(NOTI’
m goi
ngtost
optoworksohard.
)

64.Asingularcount
abl
enounmustnor
mal
lyhav
eadet
ermi
ner
( g.a/
e. an, t
he,my ,t
hat
).
Shebrokea/t
he/t
hat/
mywindow.(
NOTShebrokewi
ndow.
)
Whereisthest
ati
on?(NOTWherei
sst
ati
on?
)

65.Wedon’
tof
tenusewoul
dinsubor
dinat
ecl
auses;
inst
ead,
weusepastt
enses.
Wouldyoufol
l
owmewher ev
erIwent
?(NOTWouldyoufol
l
owmewher
everIwoul
dgo?
)
Iwoul
dtell
youifIknew.(
NOTIwouldtel
lyoui
fIwoul
dknow.
)

66.Wihwhen,
t uset
hepastper
fectt
omakei
tcl
eart
hatonet
hingf
ini
shedbef
ore
anot
herst
art
ed.
WhenIhadwr it
tenmylett
ers,Idi
dsomegardeni
ng.(NOTWhenIwr
otemyl
ett
ers,Idi
dsome
gar
dening.
)
Whenhehadcl eanedt
hewi ndows,hest
oppedforacupoft
ea.(
NOTWhenhecleanedthewi
ndows,
hestoppedforacupoftea.
)

tusecant
67.Don’ otal
kaboutt
hechancet
hatsomet
hingwi
llhappen.
Itmay/
mi ght
/coul
drai
nthi
seveni
ng.(NOTItcanr
aint
hisev
ening.
)
Ithi
nkJanemay /mi
ght
/coul
dcomet omorr
ow.(NOTIthi
nkJanecancomet
omor
row.
)

68.Don’
tuseani
nfi
nit
iveaf
tert
hink.
I
’mthinki
ngofchangi
ngmyjob.(NOTI’
mt hinki
ngt
ochangemyj ob.)
Ar
ey outhi
nki
ngofgoinghomethisweekend?(NOTAr
ey out
hinkingtogohomet
hisweekend?
)

69.Useasi
ngul
arnounaf
terev
ery
.
Ipl
aytenni
sever
yWednesday
.(NOTIplayt
enni
sever
yWednesdays.
)
Hewrotetoev
erychi
ldi
nthevi
ll
age.(
NOTHewr ot
etoev
erychi
ldr
en…)

70.Wheny
ousaywhatsomebody
’sj
obi
s,usea/
an.
Mysisterisaphot
ogr
apher.(
NOTMysist
erisphot
ogr
apher
.)
I
’m st
udy i
ngtobeanengi
neer.(
NOTI
’
m studyi
ngtobeengi
neer
.)

71.Useatl
ast
,notf
inal
ly
,asanexcl
amat
ion.
Atlast
!Wherehav
eyoubeen?(
NOTFi
nal
l
y!Wher
ehav
eyoubeen?
)
She’swri
tt
entome.Atl
ast
!
72.Getcanmean‘
become’
,butnotbef
orenouns.
I
t’
sget
tngcol
i d.
I
t’
sget
tngt
i obewint
er.
(
BUTNOTIt’
sget
ti
ngwinter
.)

73.Don’
tusenegat
ivequest
ionsi
npol
it
erequest
sorenqui
ri
es.
Coul
dyouhel
pme, pl
ease?(NOTCoul
dn’
tyouhel
pme, pl
ease?
)
Youhav
en’
tseenJohn,haveyou?(
NOTHaven’
tyouseenJohn?)

74.Onenegat
ivewor
disusual
lyenough.
Shelooked, dn’
butshedi tseeany
thi
ng.(NOTShelooked,
butshedi
dn’
tseenot
hing.
)
Ihav
enev erheardofhi
m.(NOTIhaven’
tnev
erheardofhi
m.)

75.Muchandmanyar
eunusuali
naf
fi
rmat
ivesent
ences(
excepti
nav
eryf
ormal
sty
le)
.
Hehasal ot/pl
entyofmoney.(
NOTHehasmuchmoney.)
Myf at
herhastr
avell
edt
olotsofcount
ri
es.(
Mor
enat
ural
thanMyf
atherhast
rav
ell
edt
omany
countr
ies.
)

tusesi
76.Don’ ncet
otal
kaboutt
hef
utur
e.
I’
l
lbehomefr
om t
hreeo’
cl
ock.(
NOTI
’l
lbehomesincethr
eeo’
cl
ock.
)
Theshopwi
ll
becl
osedf woweeksf
ort r
om Monday.(
NOTTheshopwil
lbecl
osedf
ort
woweeks
si
nceMonday.
)

77.Si
ngul
arf
ract
ion+pl
uralnoun:useapl
uralv
erb.
Athi
rdofthestudentsar
efrom abr
oad.(
NOTAt
hir
doft
hest
udent
sisf
rom abr
oad.
)
Aquart
erofthetreeshavebeencutdown.

78.Youl
ist
ent
osomet
hing.
Sheneverli
stenst
ome.(NOTShenev
erl
i
stensme.
)
Li
stent
ot hi
s!(NOTLi
stent
his!
)

79.Don’
tuset
hepastpr
ogr
essi
vef
orpasthabi
ts.
WhenIwas20Ismoked/Iusedtosmoke.(NOTWhenIwas20Iwassmoking.)
Ipl
ayed/Iusedt
opl
ayalotoff
ootbal
latschool
.(NOTIwaspl
ayi
ngal
otoffootbal
latschool
.)

tusemostofdi
80.Don’ rect
lybef
oreanoun.
Mostofthesepeopl
eagreewit
hme.
Mostpeopleagr
eewithme.
(
BUTNOTMostofpeopl eagreewi
thme.
)

81.I
n‘unr
eal
’condi
ti
onswi
thi
f,usewoul
d,notwi
ll
.
I
fIknewthepr
i Iwoul
ce, dtell
you.(NOTI
fIknewthepri
ce,Iwi
l
ltel
lyou.
)
twoul
I dbebet
teri
fhetol
dt hetr
uth.(
NOTItwil
lbebet
teri
fhetol
dthetr
uth.
)
 tusel
82.Don’ aterwi
thanexpr
essi
onoft
imet
otal
kaboutt
hef
utur
e.
I
’
ll oul
seey ater.
I
’
ll oui
seey naf ewdays.
(
BUTNOTI’
llseeyouafewday
slat
er.
)

tusei
83.Don’ ncaset
omean‘
i
f’.
Compare:
I
’l
ltakeanumbrel
laincasei
trai
ns.(
=‘…becausei
tmi
ghtrai
n.’
)
I
’l
lopentheumbrel
laifi
trai
ns.(
NOTI’l
lopent
heumbr
ell
aincasei
trai
ns.
)

84.Usesobef
oreanadj
ect
ive,
butnotbef
oreadj
ect
ive+noun.
Il
ovethi
scountr
y–itssobeaut
’ i
ful
.(NOTIlov
ethi
ssobeaut
iful
count
ry.
)
Thanksf
ory p.Thatwassoki
ourhel ndofy
ou.(NOTThanksf
oryoursoki
ndhel
p.)

yuseunl
85.Onl esst
omean‘
excepti
f’
.
Compare:
I
’l
lseeyoutomor
rowunlessIhavet
owork.
I
’l
lber yupseti
eal
l fIdon’tpasst
heexam.(
NOTI
’
llber
eal
l
yupsetunl
essIpasst
heexam.
)

86.Usebewithadject
iv nothav
es, ewi
thnouns,
tot
alkaboutphy
sicalsensat
ions
l
ikecol
d,hunger
,thir
stetc.
Iam t
hir
sty
.(NOTIhavethi
rst
.)
Wearecoldint
hishouse.(
NOTWehav
ecol
dint
hishouse.
)

tuset
87.Don’ o-i
nfi
nit
ivesaf
tercan,
coul
d,wi
ll
,woul
d,may
,mi
ght
,shal
l,
shoul
dor
must.
Icanswi
m.(NOTIcant
oswim.)
Mustyoumakesomuchnoi
se?(NOTMusty
out
omakesomuchnoi
se?
)

88.Usenot
,notno,
tomakesent
encesnegat
ive.

I
’m notasl
eep.(
NOTI’m noasleep.
)
Wear eopenonSat
urdays,butnotonSunday
s.(
NOT…butnoonSunday
s.)

89.Wedon’
tusual
lyusepr
esentt
ensesaf
terpastr
epor
ti
ngv
erbs.
Shetoldmeshehadaheadache.(
NOTShet oldmeshehasaheadache.
)
m whathewant
Iaskedhi ed.(NOT| askedhi
m whathewant
s.)

90.Uset
oaf
termar
ri
ed,
engaged.
He’
smar r
iedtoadoct
or.(
NOTHe’
smarri
edwithadoct
or.
)
Mysist
erisengagedt
oacomput
erengi
neer
.(NOTMysisteri
sengagedwi
thacomput
erengi
neer
.)

91.Usewhi
ch,
notwhat
,tor
eferbackt
oawhol
esent
ence.
Shepassedherexam,whi
chsur
pri
sedever
ybody.(NOTShepassedherexam,whatsur
pri
sed
ever
ybody.)
Myfatherhasj
ustcl
imbedMontBl whi
anc, chisprett
ygoodf
oramanof75.( NOT…whati spret
ty
goodf
oramanof75.
)

tuset
92.Don’ hewi
thsoci
etywheni
thasagener
almeani
ng.
Weallhavetol
iv nsoci
ei ety
.(NOTWeallhav
etoli
vei
nthesociet
y.)
Rousseausai
dthatsoci
etymakespeopl
eevi
l.(
NOTRousseausai
dt hatt
hesoci
etymakespeopl
eev
il
.)

93.Useat
o-i
nfi
nit
iveaf
terwant
.
Iwantt
ogohome.(NOTIwantgohome.
)
Thechi
l enwantt
dr ostayupl
ate.(
NOTThechi
l
drenwantst
ayupl
ate.
)

94.Usemake,
notdo,
wihmi
t stake.
emadeami
Ihav st
ake.(NOTIhavedoneamistake.)
Youcan’
tspeakal
anguagewihoutmaki
t ngmistakes.(
NOT…wi
thoutdoi
ngmi
stakes.
)

95.Don’
trepeatar
elat
ivepr
onounwi
thanot
herpr
onoun.
Ther
e’ hemant
st hatIwor
kfor.(
NOTThere’sthemanthatIwor
kforhi
m.)
orwhosenthert
Shesawadoct ohospi
tal
.(NOTShesawadoctorwhohesenthert
ohospi
tal
.)

96.Af
terasuper
lat
iv usei
e, nwi
thapl
aceexpr
essi
on.
Whichi
sthebi
ggestci
tyi
nthewor
ld?(NOTWhi
chi
sthebiggestci
tyoftheworl
d?)
Thi
sist
hebestrest anti
aur nt
heci
ty.(
NOTThi
sist
hebestrestaur
antoftheci
ty.
)

97.Youexpl
ainandsuggestsomet
hingt
osomebody
.
Pl
easeexpl
aintomewhatyouwant.(
NOTPleaseexplai
nmewhaty ouwant
.)
Canyousuggestagoodr
est antt
aur ous?(
NOTCany ousuggestusagoodrest
aur
ant
?)

98.Wor
kisanuncount
abl
enoun.
I
’ml
ookingforwork.(
NOTI’
ml ooki
ngf
orawork.
)
Mybr
otherhasfoundanewjob.(NOTMybr
otherhasf
oundanewwor
k.)

Formor
edet
ail
s,seePr
act
icalEngl
i
shUsage3r
dEdi
ti
onsect
ion148.

99.Becar
efuloft
hewor
dor
deri
nnegat
ivei
nfi
nit
ives.
It
’si
mportantnott
oworktoohar
d.(
NOTIt
’si
mpor
tantt
onotwor
ktoohar
d.)
Iaskedhernottomakesomuchnoi
se.

Formor
edet
ail
s,seePr
act
icalEngl
i
shUsage3r
dEdi
ti
onsect
ion280.

100.Possessi
vesr
epl
acear
ti
cles.
West ay
edi nJohn’
shouseatt
heweekend.(
NOTWest ayedi
ntheJohn’
shouseattheweekend.
)
She’
sbeenst udyngBr
i i
tai
n’
sfor
eignpol
i
cysince1980.(NOTShe’
sbeenstudyi
ngtheBri
tai
n’
sforei
gn
pol
icysince1980.)