Common Usage Common Usage ProblemsProblems

Grammar with Mr. Steven Van Grammar with Mr. Steven Van ZoostZoost

Affect - EffectAffect - Effect

The word The word affectaffect is a is a verb, meaning “to verb, meaning “to influence.”influence.”

Example: Einstein’s work Example: Einstein’s work has affectedhas affected the the course of civilization.course of civilization.

The word The word effecteffect can function can function as a noun and a verb. The as a noun and a verb. The verb means “to make, to verb means “to make, to bring about.”bring about.”

Example: The commission was Example: The commission was set up by the government set up by the government to to effecteffect a reconciliation. a reconciliation.

ButBut effecteffect is more commonly is more commonly a noun, meaning a noun, meaning “consequence” or “result.”“consequence” or “result.”

Example: The Example: The effectseffects of of radiation are frightening.radiation are frightening.

Among - BetweenAmong - Between

AmongAmong is generally is generally used to refer to used to refer to more than two more than two items.items.

Example: The six Example: The six thieves divided the thieves divided the loot loot among among themselves.themselves.

Generally, Generally, between between refers to only two refers to only two items.items.

Examples: Examples: betweenbetween you and me; you and me; between Canada between Canada and Cubaand Cuba

Bad - BadlyBad - Badly

Standard usage is Standard usage is badbad after the copula after the copula (linking ) verb (to be, (linking ) verb (to be, to become, to to become, to remain, to feel, to remain, to feel, to seem, to appear, to seem, to appear, to look, to taste, and to look, to taste, and to smell)smell)

Examples: He felt Examples: He felt badbad when he hit the child; when he hit the child; The fruit smelled The fruit smelled badbad..

The adverb is The adverb is badlybadly..

Example: He played Example: He played badlybadly last night. last night.

Farther - FurtherFarther - Further

FartherFarther is reserved is reserved for distance.for distance.

Example: Let’s drive Example: Let’s drive fartherfarther today. today.

Further Further is used for is used for extension.extension.

Examples: We shall Examples: We shall speak speak furtherfurther on on this matter. Tempt this matter. Tempt me no me no furtherfurther..

Lie - LayLie - Lay

LieLie (lay, have lain) (lay, have lain) means to reclinemeans to recline

Examples: Examples: I must I must lielie down. down.Yesterday I Yesterday I laylay in bed in bed

until ten.until ten.I I have lainhave lain in bed all in bed all

day.day.

LayLay (laid, have laid) (laid, have laid) means to put means to put down, to set down.down, to set down.

Examples:Examples:I I will laywill lay it here. it here.The hens The hens laidlaid two two

eggs.eggs.I I have laidhave laid the table. the table.

Rise - RaiseRise - Raise

Something Something risesrises by by itself.itself.

Examples:Examples:

The moon The moon risesrises..

I I roserose at noon. at noon.

The sun The sun has risenhas risen..

Something Something raises raises something else.something else.

Examples:Examples:

II raise raise vegetables. vegetables.

They They raisedraised the the chicken.chicken.

The store The store has raisedhas raised my wages.my wages.