back and again Back and again can be used with similar meanings, but there are some differences. 1    back with a verb Back is an adverb particle (see 19). With a verb, we use back to suggest a return to an earlier situation, a movement in the opposite direction to an earlier movement, and similar ideas. Again is not normally used in this way with a verb. Give me my watch back, (not Give me my watch again.) I'm taking this meat back to the shop. (not I'm taking this meat to the shop again.) 2    again with a verb With a verb, again usually suggests repetition. Compare: That was lovely. Can you play it again? When I've recorded your voice I'll play it back. Eric was really bad-mannered. I'm never going to invite him again. She comes to our parties but she never invites us back. I don't think he got your letter. You'd better write again. If I write to you, will you write back? Note the difference between sell back (to the same person) and sell again. The bike you sold me is too small. Can I sell it back to you? If we buy this house and then have to move somewhere else, how easy will it be to sell it again? 3    cases when back is not used When the verb itself already expresses the idea of 'return to an earlier situation' or 'movement in the opposite direction', back is not used, but again can be used to emphasise the idea of 'return'. Stefan can never return to his country (again). (not Stefan can never return back...) Who opened the window? Could you close it (again), please? (not .. .close it back...) 4    adverb particles etc With adverb particles and prepositional phrases, we can use both back and again to suggest 'return to an earlier situation' etc. 1 stood up, and then I sat (back) down (again). He tasted the apple and spat it (back) out (again). Go (back) to sleep (again). I'll be (back) in the office (again) on Monday. 5    ring/call back Note that ring back (GB only) and call back can be used to mean both 'return a phone call' and 'repeat a phone call'. 'She's not here just now.' 'Ask her to ring me back.' (= return my call] 'I haven't got time to talk now.' 'OK, I'll ring back later.' (= ring again) 6    word order Back, as an adverb particle, can usually go between a verb and its object, unless this is a pronoun (see 582.3). Again cannot. Take backyour money-I don't want it. (or Take your money back...) Count the money again, please, (not -Count again the money...) bath and bathe 1    bath Pronunciation:    bath /ba:9/ bathing /'baiOirj/ bathed /ba:9t/ The verb bath is used (in British English) to mean 'wash oneself in a bath (tub)'. Children have to be made to bath regularly. The verb is rather formal, and is not used is American English; in an informal style, we usually say have a bath (British) or take a bath (British and American). I'm feeling hot and sticky; I think I'll take a bath. Bath can also be used with an object (in British English). It's your turn to bath the baby. (US ...to bathe the baby.) 2    bathe Pronunciation:    bathe /bei5/ bathing /'bei5irj/ bathed /beiod/ Bathe (in British English) can mean 'swim for pleasure'. It is rather formal in this sense (and is not used like this in American English); in an informal style, we usually say have a swim, go for a swim, go swimming or just swim. Let's go for a swim in the river. In American English, bathe is commonly used to mean 'take a bath'. I always bathe before I go to bed. Bathe can also be used (in both British and American English) with an object, to talk about putting water on a part of the body that hurts (for instance sore eyes). Your eyes are very red-you ought to bathe them. To lie in the sun is to sunbathe (not sunbath). beat and win You can win (in) a game, a race, a battle, an argument etc, and you can win a prize, money etc. You can beat a person that you are playing/arguing/fighting etc against. Compare: My girlfriend usually wins when we play poker. My girlfriend beat me at poker the first time we played. (not My girlfriend won me at poker-...) Both verbs are irregular: beat - beat - beaten win - won - won begin and start 1    formality There is usually little or no difference between begin and start. I began/started teaching when I was 24. If Sheila doesn't come soon, let's begin/start without her. We generally prefer begin when we are using a more formal style. Compare: We will begin the meeting with a message from the President. Oh no! It's starting to rain. 2    cases where begin is not possible Start (but not begin) is used to mean: a    'start a journey' I think we ought to start at six, while the roads are empty. b    'start working'(for machines) The car won't start. c    'make (machines) start' How do you start the washing machine?                         beside and besides Beside is a preposition meaning 'at the side of, 'by', 'next to'. Who's the big guy sitting beside Jane? Besides can be used as a preposition with a similar meaning to as well as (see 77), to add new information to what is already known. Besides literature, we have to study history and philosophy. Who was at the party besides Jack and the Bensons? Besides can also be used as a discourse marker (see 159.11) meaning 'also', 'as well', 'in any case'. It is often used to add a stronger, more conclusive argument to what has gone before. In this case, besides usually goes at the beginning of a clause. I don't like those shoes; besides, they're too expensive. It's too late to go out now. Besides, it's starting to rain. besides, except and apart from These expressions are sometimes confused. Besides usually adds: it is like saying with, or plus (+). Besides the violin, he plays the piano and the flute. (He plays three instruments.) Except subtracts: it is like saying without, or minus (-). / like all musical instruments except the violin. Apart from can be used in both senses. Apart from the violin, he plays the piano and the flute. (= Besides the violin...) / like all musical instruments apart from the violin. (= .. .except the violin.) After no, nobody, nothing and similar negative words, the three expressions can all have the same meaning. He has nothing besides I except I apart from his salary. (= He only has his salary.) bet 1    use I bet (you) can be used in an informal style to mean 'I think it's probable that'. That is usually dropped. / bet (you) she's not at home. (More natural than I bet (you) that she's not at home.) 2    tenses After I bet (you), we often use a present tense to refer to the future. / bet (you) they don't come this evening, (or/ bet (you) they won't come...) I bet (you) the Conservatives (will) lose. 3    two objects When bet is used to talk about real bets, it can be followed by two objects: the person with whom the bet is made, and the money or thing that is bet. / bet you £5 it doesn 't rain this week. My father bet my mother dinner at the Ritz that she would marry him. He won, but she never bought him the dinner. better 1   'recovered' When better means 'recovered from an illness', it can be used with completely ox quite (unlike other comparative adjectives). Don't start work again until you're quite better.   2    correcting mistakes We do not normally use