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opportunity and possibility
We often say that somebody has the opportunity to do I of doing something.
/ have the opportunity to go to Denmark next year. (= I can go...) Possibility is not often used in this structure. We more often say that there is a possibility of something happening.
There's a possibility of my going to Denmark next year. (= / may go...) (not I have the possibility to go to Denmark...)
own
1 after possessives
We only use own after a possessive word. It cannot directly follow an article. It's nice if a child can have his or her own room, (not ... an own room.) Car hire is expensive. It's cheaper to take one's own car.
(not ... the own car.) I'm my own boss.
She likes to have things her own way. It was my mother's very own engagement ring.
2 a/some... of one's own
This structure makes it possible to include alan, some or another determiner in the phrase.
I'd like to have a car of my own.
It's time you found some friends of your own.
He's got no ideas of his own.
3 own with no following noun
We cannot use mine, yours etc with own, but we can drop a noun after my own, your own etc if the meaning is clear.
'Wouldyou like to use my pen?' 'No, thanks. lean only write with
my own.' (not ... mine own.)
4 own and -self
The emphatic and reflexive pronouns myself, yourself etc (see 471) do not have possessive forms. My own etc is used instead.
I'll do it myself, and I'll do it in my own way. (not ... in myself s way.)
She can wash herself and brush her own hair now. (not ... brush herself's hair.)
5 on one's own
Note the two meanings of on one's own.
My mother lives on her own. (without company) Don't help him. Let him do it on his own. (without help)
play and game
1 nouns
A play is a piece of dramatic literature, written for the theatre, radio or television.
'Julius Caesar' is one of Shakespeare's early plays. Agame is an activity like, for example, chess, football or bridge.
Chess is a very slow game, (not ... a very-siew^plafi) The uncountable noun play can be used to mean 'playing' in general.
Children learn a great deal through play.
2 verbs
People act in plays or films, and play games or musical instruments.
My daughter is acting in her school play this year.
Have you ever played rugby football?
Play can be used with the same meaning as act before the name of a character in a play or film.
I'll never forget seeing Olivier play Othello.
please and thank you
1 requests
We use please to make a request more polite.
Could I have some more rice, please?
'Wouldyou like some help?' 'Yes, please.' Note that please does not change an order into a request. Compare:
Stand over there, (order)
Please stand over there, (more polite order)
Could you stand over there, please? (polite request)
Please do is a rather formal answer to a request for permission. 'Do you mind if I open the window?' 'Please do.'
2 when please is not used
We do not use please to ask people what they have said. 'I've got a bit of a headache.' 'I beg your pardon?'
We do not use please when we give things to people.
'Have you got a pen I could use?' 'Yes, here you are.'
(not ... 'Please.'} Please is not used as an answer to Thank you (see below).
'Thanks a lot' "That's OK.' (not ... 'Please.')
3 thank you and thanks
Thanks is more informal than thank you.
Thank you. (not Thanks you) Thank you very much.
Thanks very much. Thanks a lot. (but not Thank you a lot.)
Thank goodness it's Friday, (not Thanks goodness...) Indeed can be used to strengthen very much.
Thankyou very much indeed, (but not normally Thank you indeed.) Thank you for / Thanks for can be followed by an -ing form. Possessives are unnecessary and are not used.
'Thank you for coming.' 'Notatall. Thank you for having me.' (not 'Thank you for your coming.'...)
4 accepting and refusing
We often use Thankyou I Thanks like Yes, please, to accept offers.
'Wouldyou like some potatoes?' 'Thankyou.' 'How many?' To make it clear that one wishes to refuse something, it is normal to say Afo, thankyou I No, thanks.
'Another cake?' 'No, thanks. I've eaten too many already.' Note that Yes, thanks is not used to accept offers, but to confirm that things are all right.
'Have you got enough potatoes?' 'Yes, thanks.'
5 replies to thanks
In English, there is not an automatic answer to Thankyou; British people, especially, do not usually answer when they are thanked for small things. If a reply is necessary, we can say Notatall (rather formal), You're welcome, Don't mention it, That's (quite) all right or That's OK (informal British). Compare:
'Couldyou pass the salt?' 'Hereyou are.' 'Thanks.' (no answer)
'Here'syour coat' 'Thanks.' (no answer)
"Thanks so much for looking after the children.' "That's all right. Any time.' (answer necessary)
point of view
From somebody's point of view is not quite the same as in somebody's view/opinion. It usually means something more like 'from somebody's position in life' (for example as a student, as a woman, as a Greek or as a Catholic), and is used to talk about how somebody is affected by what happens. Compare:
- In my opinion, war is always wrong.
(not From my point of view, war is always wrong.) He wrote about the war from the point of view of the ordinary soldier.
- In my view, it's a pretty good school.
You have to judge a school from the child's point of view.
- In Professor Lucas's opinion, everybody should work a 20-hour week.
From the employers' point of view, a 20-hour week would cause a lot of problems.
politics and policy
Politics (usually singular but always with -s - see 501.3) is used to talk about the theory and practice of government, the profession of government, conflicts between governing groups, and related ideas.
I don't know much about politics, but I always support the Radical Conservative Centre Coalition Party.
You talk beautifully -you should be in politics. Policy means a 'political line' or a rule of behaviour (not necessarily connected with politics).
After the war, British foreign policy was rather confused. (not ... British foreign politics...)
It's not my policy to believe everything I hear.
It's the firm's policy to employ a certain number of handicapped people.
prefer
When we say that we prefer one activity to another, two -ing forms can be
used. The second can be introduced by to or rather than (more formal). /prefer riding to walking, (not I prefer riding to walk.) She prefers making toys for her children rather than buying them in the shops.
Prefer can also be followed by an infinitive (this is normal after would prefer).
The structure can be continued by rather than with an infinitive or an -ing form.
I would prefer to spend the weekend at home rather than drive/driving all the way to your mother's.
presently
Presently is often used in British English to mean 'not now, later', 'in a minute'.
'Mummy, can I have an ice-cream?' 'Presently, dear.'
He's having a rest now. He'll be down presently.
In American English, the usual meaning of presently is 'now', 'at present'. This is becoming very common in British English too.
Professor Holloway is presently working on plant diseases.
price and prize
The price is what you pay if you buy something. A prize is what you are given if you have done something exceptional, or if you win a competition.
What's the price of the green dress? (not ... the prize |
