Daily Grammar – Week 18

DAILY GRAMMAR (DG) 02-08-2018

1a. He drove so fast that he eventually collided with a pole. (No)

He drove so fast that he eventually hit a pole. (Yes)

1b. The two athletes had a serious collusion on the track. (No)

The two athletes had a serious collision on the track.

(For two things to collide, they both have to be in motion. Two vehicles on the road in opposite directions will have a collision but a single car can hit another car or object. To “collude” is to conspire and politicians have collusions or secret agreements when elections are approaching.)

2a. I need a hour to review the essay. (No)

I need an hour to review the essay. (Yes)

2b. Eclipse of the moon is not an usual occurence. (No)

Eclipse of the moon is not a usual occurence. (Yes)

(Though you were taught to use “a” before words that begin with consonants and “an” before words that begin with vowels, the real rule is that you use “a” before words that start with consonant sounds and “an” before words that start with vowel sounds. Note “sounds”.)

3a. The boy is anxious to finish his final exams. (No)

The boy is eager to finish his final exams. (Yes)

The boy is anxious about his final exams. (Yes)

3b. The woman is eager about life after retirement. (No)

The woman is anxious about life after retirement. (Yes)

(You can only be anxious about something, you cannot be anxious to do it. You are eager to do something you are not anxious about. When you are anxious, it suggests a sense of apprehension, fear and nervousness. You would agree that since human beings are anxious about death, many people are eager to live long.)

Did You Know?

The longest English word you can make with just four letters is “senseless”.

Can you think of a longer word or give other examples of words made of four letters?