There are a lot of common errors in English that can be encountered among my students, friends, colleagues and other Malaysians. I usually don't have the heart to tell them upfront as it might hurt their feelings. Besides, I don't want them to think that I think I'm too good, because I am not that good. In fact, I still have a lot to learn. Hopefully, this blog will help us to correct our errors so that we could practise good and standard English together.
Saturday, 30 March 2013
BRING versus TAKE
Parent: Please bring the books to school tomorrow. (WRONG)
Parent: Please take the books to school tomorrow. (CORRECT)
(*SITUATION: You're not at school and the parent is not going to school with you tomorrow.)
Teacher: Please take the books to school tomorrow. (WRONG)
Teacher: Please bring the books to school tomorrow. (CORRECT)
(*SITUATION: Both the teacher and the student are at school. The books are with the student but are not with the teacher.)
TIPS!
-BRING means 'come with somebody/something' (NOT 'go')
-TAKE means 'go with somebody/something' (NOT 'come')
Other examples:
- When you come to my house this Sunday, bring (NOT take) your sister with you so I can meet her.
(*come to my house)
- Whenever I go sightseeing, I take (NOT bring) my camera with me.
(*go to any places for sightseeing)
- Would you like to take (NOT bring) me home?
(*go back home)
- Can I come to your party and bring (NOT 'take') a friend with me?
(*come to my party here)
Wednesday, 27 March 2013
'ANY' for singular or plural?
Do you have any questions?
OR
Do you have any question?
The correct one is;
Do you have any questions?
Any is usually used with uncountable nouns and plural countable nouns (NOT with singular countable nouns).
Here are some other sentence examples:
> Do you have a pen? (singular countable)
> Do you have any pens? (plural countable)
> Do you have any money? (uncountable)
OMG! What????? You don't know what countable, uncountable, singular and plural are??
You'd better check it out yourselves! hahahaha
OR
Do you have any question?
The correct one is;
Do you have any questions?
Any is usually used with uncountable nouns and plural countable nouns (NOT with singular countable nouns).
Here are some other sentence examples:
> Do you have a pen? (singular countable)
> Do you have any pens? (plural countable)
> Do you have any money? (uncountable)
OMG! What????? You don't know what countable, uncountable, singular and plural are??
You'd better check it out yourselves! hahahaha
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