Common Confusions

Use much for uncountable things and many for countable things. This distinction helps you ask precise questions and make accurate sentences.

Few emphasizes a small number and often has a negative tone, while a few signals some more than enough. Choose based on whether you want to highlight scarcity or sufficiency.

Use some in positive sentences and offers, and any in questions and negatives. This rule guides listeners when you expect an amount to be available or when you are unsure.

Will is for quick decisions and promises, while going to signals planned actions and predictions based on evidence. Picking one helps you convey timing and intention clearly.

Use since to mark a specific starting point and for to indicate a duration. This pair appears in time expressions with perfect tenses, so aligning them keeps your meaning exact.

Bring means to carry something toward the speaker or listener, and take means to carry it away. The difference depends on the reference point, which affects direction in telling stories or giving instructions.

Say focuses on the exact words and does not require a listener, while tell requires someone to receive the information. Use tell for reports and commands, and say for quotations and more neutral mentions.

Make is for creating or producing something, and do is for actions, tasks, or general activities. Collocations matter here, so familiar expressions come naturally with practice.

If introduces a condition that can be met, and unless introduces an exception or negative condition. Replacing one with the other changes the sentence meaning, so choose carefully based on logic.

Learn is to receive knowledge, and teach is to give knowledge. The difference shows who is gaining versus who is providing information, important in classroom and training contexts.

Small function words cause big confusions, so focus on one pair at a time. Notice whether a word applies to countable versus uncountable, positive versus negative, or direction versus intention. Practice short examples aloud to make each distinction natural.