Used to:
There's a big difference between used to live – to talk about past habits or states and is used to doing – to talk about something that you are now familiar with.
For example, a common mistake is "I am used to study."
Do you mean that you used to study, but you don't study any more, or do you mean that you know about studying?
Avoid making mistakes by remembering the verb pattern.
He used to smoke, but he doesn't now."
For example, a common mistake is "I am used to study."
Do you mean that you used to study, but you don't study any more, or do you mean that you know about studying?
Avoid making mistakes by remembering the verb pattern.
- Used to + verb describes a past habit or state.
He used to smoke, but he doesn't now."
- To be used to + verb with ing describes something that you are now familiar with.
Unless, in case, as long as/provided that:
- Unless = except if/if...not
- In case = because it/he/etc might
- As long as/provided that = only if
We can also use so long as with the same meaning. You'll pass the exam so long as you're careful.
So, such, too, enough:
- We use so, such and enough to show results of a situation:
- ...so + adjective + that... (She's so clever that she learned Russian in three months!)
- ...so + adverb + that... (Mark kicked the ball so hard that he broke his toe.)
- ...so + many/much + noun + that... (I've got so many hobbies that I don't have time for all of them.)
- ...such + a/an + adjective + singular noun + that... (I got such a law mark that I failed the exam.)
- ...such + adjective + plural noun+ that... (Jill and Denise are such good friends that they're always together.)
- ...such + a lot of + noun + that... (I've got such a lot of homework that I can't come out tonight.)
- ...(not) enough+ noun (+ for and/or + full infinitive) (There isn't enough time for us to contact Ben before the meeting.)
- ...(not)...adjective/adverb enough + for and/or full infinitive (I think Zoe is old enough to be left at home on her own now.)
- ...too ... adjective + for and/or full infinitive (I'm afraid you're too young to see this film without an adult.)
- ...too ... adverb + for and/or full infinitive (We got there too late for the start of the concert.)
- ...too ... many/much + noun + for and/or full infinitive (If you eat too many sweets, you'll damage your teeth.)
Prefer, would rather, had better:
- Prefer and would rather are both used to express preferences.
- Had better is used for saying what someone should do.
We can use prefer in the following ways:
- prefer + noun/-ing form + to + noun/-ing form
I prefer watching adventure films to/rather than (watching) romantic comedies.(general preference)
- would prefer + full infinitive + rather than
Note: We do not usually say 'I don't prefer...'. We normally use 'I prefer not to...'. I prefer not to stay up late during the week.
We can use would rather in the following ways:
- would rather + bare infinitive + than + bare infinitive
- would rather + person + verb (in the past tense)
We can use had better in the following ways:
- had better + bare infinitive
Although, even though, in spite of, despite, however:
Although, even though, in spite of, despite and however are all used to express contrast, and so are similar in meaning to but.
I did a lot of revision. I didn't pass the exam however.
I did a lot of revision for the exam. I didn't pass, however, so I'm going to have to take it again in December.
- Although and even though (Embora) have a similar meaning but even though is more emphatic than although. They both take the same grammatical structure: even though/although + subject + verb. Even though/although I did a lot of revision, I didn't pass the exam.
- In spite of and despite (Apesar de) mean exactly the same thing and take the same grammatical structures:
- in spite of/despite + -ing form, subject + verb. In spite of/Despite doing a lot of revision, I didn't pass the exam.
- in spite of/despite + the fact (that) + subject + verb, subject + verb. In spite of/Despite the fact (that) I did a lot of revision, I didn't pass the exam.
- in spite of/despite + noun, subject + verb. In spite of/Despite all my revision, I didn't pass the exam.
- However (Entretanto/contudo) can be used at the beginning or end of a sentence, or in the middle under certain circumstances.
I did a lot of revision. I didn't pass the exam however.
I did a lot of revision for the exam. I didn't pass, however, so I'm going to have to take it again in December.