Think of vs about etc... Flashcards
(37 cards)
think of vs about
think of = To recall, imagine, or briefly consider something
Used for:
a) Quick thoughts or ideas: Can you think of a better way to do this?
b) Coming up with suggestions: I just thought of a funny story.
c) Remembering something: When I hear that song, I think of my childhood.
think about = To reflect on, consider carefully, or contemplate something
Used for:
a) Deeper or longer thought: She’s thinking about quitting her job.
b) Decisions, plans, or emotions: I need to think about what you said.
about vs on
about = Concerning the subject of; relating to
Usage: General and more common when talking about the overall topic or theme
Examples:
This book is about space exploration.
We had a discussion about climate change.
Tell me about your day.
on = Meaning: Focused specifically on a subject, often more formal or academic
Usage: Used in titles, lectures, reports, or academic discussions
Examples:
She gave a lecture on quantum mechanics.
I wrote a paper on Shakespeare’s tragedies.
There’s a documentary on artificial intelligence.
General Rule of Thumb:
Use “about” for informal or broad discussions.
Use “on” for formal, academic, or focused presentations.
on the left/right vs to the left/right
a) On the left/right = Refers to position or location within a visual frame or scene.
Common in descriptions of images, screens, rooms, or maps.
he painting is on the left side of the wall.
The menu is on the right of the screen.
b) To the left/right (of something) = Indicates direction or spatial relationship to something else.
Often more precise in describing where something is relative to a reference point.
The sofa is to the left of the table.
The microwave is to the right of the fridge.
opposite st vs in front of st
a) Opposite st = Directly facing something, usually across a space (like a road, table, or room).
“The pharmacy is opposite the bank.”
→ The bank and pharmacy are on different sides of the street, facing each other.
b) “In front of”
Meaning: Located directly before or ahead of something, usually on the same side.
Implied distance: Very close, usually no obstacle in between.
“The car is parked in front of the house.”
→ The car is right before the house, on the same side of the road.
complete vs completed
a) complete = often used to describe something that is whole, full, or entire
b) completed = usually refers to an action that has been finished or accomplished.
back then vs back there
back there is more appropriate if you wish to highlight a geographical distance, and back then is more appropriate if you wish to highlight temporal distance.
back then = a quei tempi/ allora
grattugiare vs tagliare a strisce vs tagliare a fette vs tagliare a pezzi tagliare a dadini vs macinare
grattugiare = to grate
tagliare a strisce = to shred
tagliare a fette = to slice
tagliare a dadi = to dice
tagliare a pezzi = to chop
macinare = to grind
poor vs pour (pr)
word vs world (pr)
each other (almost synonym?)
poo
w@@d
w@@ld
one another (more used for more than 2 people vs each other = usually 2 people)
keypad vs keyboard
kiibood
Keypads are small and focus on numbers, like on a phone or calculator.
head to vs head towards
head to = when the action is going to a specific place.
head towards = when the action is going in that general direction
jew vs jewish vs hebrew
juu
jew (noun) = A Jewish person is anyone who believes in the religion of Judaism
jewish (adj) = ebreo (adj)
hebrew (hiibruu) = ebrei in genere (non necessariamente credenti)
minute (n) vs minute (adj)
n = minit
a) minuto
b) verbale (written record: of a meeting) = the minutes (always plural) (min@ts)
adj = mainjuut:
a) very small = minuto/ minuscolo
b) figurative (unimportant) = irrilevante/insignificante
own vs owe
@un
a) to own st = avere/possedere qualcosa
b) (belonging to self) = personale/proprio
My own car is not nearly as nice as yours.
c) (intensifier) = proprio/stesso
I saw it with my own eyes!
@u
a) owe s st/ owe st to s = be in debt to s -> dovere qualcosa qualcuno
Having arranged a loan to buy my house, I owe my bank a lot of money. I owe a fortune to my creditors.
b) owe st = (be in debt: by amount)
I've paid back most of the money but I still owe fifty euros.
c) figurative (need to give)
I owe you an apology.
d) figurative (have: thanks to [sb])
He owed his life to the medical skills of his surgeon.
I’ve been to London vs in London
“I’ve been to London” = It means you have visited London at some point in your life but are no longer there. It’s a statement of whether you have ever set foot in London.
“I’ve been in London” = It usually implies you stayed or lived there for a period. It is typically accompanied by a duration of time, such as “I’ve been in London for three weeks”. Without a time frame, it can sound awkward.
endurance vs resistance
indu@r@ns / rizist@ns
a) (ability to last) = endurance is about sustaining activity
An institution’s endurance is not necessarily proof that it is good.
in sport = stamina
b) resistance is about opposing force
in sport = A form of physical activity that improves muscular fitness by exercising a muscle against external resistance
wood vs wooden
Wooden (wud@n) = It is primarily an adjective meaning “made of wood.” It can also convey figurative meanings like stiffness or lack of emotion (e.g., a wooden performance)
Wood (wud) = while primarily a noun (uncountable), can be used as an adjective (attributive noun) to describe something made from wood. However, it does not carry the same figurative meanings as “wooden”
less vs fewer
fewer = countable nouns (ex. fewer options)
less = uncountable nouns (less time)
set up or set-up (and counterparts)?
Verb = set up (no hyphen/dash)
Noun/Adjective = set-up
counterpart = simile (noun)
compound words (when attached and when divided)
sometime, anytime, anymore, everyday
vs some time, any time, any more, every day
exceptions
1)
a) sometime (adv) = it refers to an unspecified point in time
Give me a call sometime , and we’ll have coffee.
b) sometime(adj) = former
Albert, a sometime cab driver, now flies airplanes for a living.
c ) some time = When some time is two words, it refers to a span of time
It will take some time to finish the project today.
2)
a) anytime (adv) = It means “whenever” or “at any time”. you can’t use it with a preposition.
ex: Call me anytime!
You can also use any time.
b) As a conjunction: either any time or anytime:
Anytime the sun went down, we’d go for a night-swim.
c ) With a preposition: use any time
at any time
You can call me at any time of the day, even at night.
d) When discussing an amount of time: use any time
Do you have any time to speak to us today?
3)
a) Any more =Anymore = When spelled as one word, anymore is an adverb that refers to time. It means “at present,” “still,” or “any longer.”
Why doesn’t Mom bake cookies anymore ?
b) Any more = refers to quantities
Would you like any more tea?
4)
a) Everyday = it’s an adjective we use to describe something that’s seen or used every day. It means “ordinary” or “typical.”
For most Brazilians, everyday crime is a much more imminent threat than terrorism.
b) every day means “each day,” just like “every word” means “each word.”
exceptions:
You need to think and act like you are selling your business, every day.
1) anywhere –> for both noun and adv =
in/to any place. The place is not specific
You can sit anywhere you choose.
2) everybody/anybody –> are pronouns
3) evergreen and thoroughbred = for both noun and adj
aim at vs aim to vs aim for
aim at: –> puntare/mirare o have as a goal
a) aim at st/s –> “I saw a man holding a gun, the gun was aimed at me
b) aim at doing st –> Our policies are aimed at encouraging economic growth.
aim to:
a) aim to do st –> I aim to study medicine
aim for:
a) (try to hit: a target)/more specific than the others –> Aim for the center of the target;
After graduating from university I aimed for a position as an actuary
bad vs poor
bad –> not good in general, strong negative connotation or st that is morally wrong or harmful. Informal
poor –> st that is inferior in quality or value (doesn’t always imply a moral judgment). Formal
really vs very
really –> used with verb, adjectives, adverbs
Ex. with verb: I really love him (not I very love him) –> informal
very –> used with adjectives, adverbs –> formal
Negative sentences –> very (I don’t, I wasn’t etc.) more common, but you can also use really
Positive sentences –> both
hour vs hours
dollar vs dollars
etc.
When using a number to describe the duration of something (like a flight), you typically use the singular form of “hour” in the compound adjective.
for ex. a 2-hour flight
When using a number to describe the price of something, you typically use the singular form of “dollar” in this context.
ex. “I bought a 10-dollar bag of groceries.”
work on/at/in
work on:
a) Work on” is appropriate for something you’re physically on top of.
“I work on a boat. I work on an oil rig. I work on a roof.”
It’s also appropriate for job “locations” that are plots of land rather than buildings.
“I work on a farm. I work on a construction site.”
b) “Work on” is also a phrasal verb used when talking another an ongoing project.
work at:
“At” and “in” can sometimes be used interchangeably. “I work at/in a hospital.”
But generally, “at” is used for abstract job locations. When the physical location is not specified.
“I work at a game development company. I work at a publisher. I work at a law firm.”
work in:
a) “Work in” is used for places you can go inside of.
“I work in an office. I work in a submarine. I work in a kitchen. I work in someone’s house.”
b) You can also say you work IN an abstract/general field or profession.
“I work in sales.” “I work in construction.” “I work in education.”
