This document provides guidance on correctly using several pairs of similar English terms. It discusses the differences between tall/high, your/you're, who's/whose, while/during, what/which, in time/on time, say/tell/speak/talk, big/great/large, hear/listen, how much/how many, look/watch/see, do/make, disinterested/uninterested, and fiscal/financial. For each pair, it gives examples to illustrate when each term should be used based on its specific meaning in terms of people, objects, time frames, or level of formality.

1. Usage of Correct
terms in English
Dr Chithra G K

2. Usage of Tall / high
• “Tall” is used about people or
things that are high and thin in
their shape, and measure more
than usual
• “High” is used to describe Wider
things which are alive and
growing

3. Usage of “Tall”
• People
• Buildings (high –rise)
• Tree
• Tower

4. Usage of Tall
A Tall person

5. Usage of Tall
• A Tall Building

6. Usage of Tall
A Tall Tree

7. Usage of Tall
A Tall Tower

8. Usage of High
Wider things are described as high
• Wall
• Mountains
• School
• Forehead
• Heels

9. Usage of High
A high Wall

10. Usage of High
A high Mountain

11. Usage of High
• A high School

12. Used for Abstract nouns
Some abstract nouns are also described as high
• Degree
• Rank
• Spirited
• Ideals
• Percentage
• Grades
• Fever

13. Since / For
• Used to answer the question “ How long?”

14. Difference between
“Since”and”for”
• “Since” is used for a specific point in time
• “For” is used to describe the duration of time

15. Usage of “Since”
• Used in the “Present perfect” or the “past
perfect”
• Not to be used in the “future”

16. Usage of “Since”
• I have lived in this city since 2010 (Present
Perfect)
• The students have been writing the exam
since 9.30 ( Present perfect continuous)

17. Usage of “for”
“ for” can be used in the
• present
• past
• future

18. Usage of “ for”
“For “ is used to describe a time interval
1. Minutes
2. days
3. years

19. Usage of “ for”
• I studied in school for 12 years (Past)
• We have been on tour for 7 days (Present
Perfect)
• I will be in Delhi for 2 weeks ( Future)

20. Usage of “ for”
• “for” is used when the time interval cud not
be exactly specified
1. for a while (Please wait for a while)
2. for a short / long time ( I have been reading
for a long time)
3. for ages ( We have been friends for years)

21. Usage of “ago”
• “Ago” is a moment in time
• “Ago” can be used instead of “for”
(She has been packing her luggage for 5 days,
to go to London )
• But it must to be used with “since”
( She has been packing her luggage, since 5
days ago, to go to London)

22. Your/you're
• “Your” is the possessive form of you
• “you’re” is a contraction of two separate
words “you” and “are”

23. Your
• Second-person possessive adjective used as a
modifier before a noun
• Followed by a noun or pronoun

24. Usuage of “your”
• Is this your pen?
• What have you planned for your future?
• Your dress sense is good
• Your car is new

25. you're
• You're a teacher
• You're walking home
• You're an angel!
• You're kidding

26. Who's / Whose
• “Who’s” is a contraction of “who is” or “who
has”
• “Whose” can be placed in front of a noun, to
ask or show who the owner of something is

27. Who's / Whose
• “Who’s” used in questions and in statements
• “Whose” can be placed in front of a noun, to
ask or show who the owner of something is

28. Usage of “Who’s”
• Who’s he? [who is]
• Who's on board? [who is]
• He is a good driver who's always been driving
safe.[who has]
• Who’s got the prize? [who has]

29. Usage of “Whose”
• Whose book is this?
• Whose car is this?
• Whose mother is a Nepali?

30. While/during
• “While “is used to refer to a background
period of time in which another activity
happened
• “While “ is followed by a sentence
• “During” is used before an activity to indicate
that a parallel action is happening at the same
time as that activity.

31. While/during
• "While" is a conjunction with a clause
following" ... (while we were in the village….)
• “During" is a preposition followed by a
noun….. (during the summer)

32. While/during
• “While” is used to talk about two things that
are happening at the same time
• “During" does not tell us how long it
happened

33. Usage of “While”
“While” is used with a subject and a verb
(while + subject + verb)
Examples:
The phone rang while I was leaving for office.
They entered the room while I was doing my
homework.
She was talking through the cell
phone while her friend was driving.

34. Usage of “During”
“During" does not specify the time interval
Examples:
• She was constantly talking during the show
• It was raining during the whole night.
• She slept during the meeting
• Do not talk during the exam.

35. What/which
• “What” is used to ask questions about an
object or a thing, while the choice is vast
• “What” is used when there are lots of choice
• “Which” is used to ask questions about an
object, things or identity when there is a
limited choice
• “Which” is used when the choice is few

36. What/which
• “What” and “Which” are determiners used
before nouns
• “What” is used when you are asking a
question that can have an unlimited number
of possible answers
• “which” is used in questions to ask somebody
to be exact about one or more people or
things from a limited number

37. Usage of “What”
• What is your name?
• What is the cost?
• What is this?

38. Usage of Which
• Which shirt do you like?
The red or he green one?
• Which food do you like ?
The Chinese or the Indian?

39. In time/on time
• “On time” means at the exact time
“on time” is an obligation or duty, a fixed time
• “In time” means a little earlier or late
“in time” is the dead line, the last moment
before something is done

40. In time/on time
• “on time” is being punctual, according to the
schedule or expected time.
The flight arrived on time
• “in time” is being early enough and not late
since there is a deadline.
I arrived at the venue of exam in time.

41. Say/Tell/Speak/Talk
• we usually say something or say something
to somebody
• “Tell means” to give information to somebody
by speaking or writing”
• Speaking is talking in general with no specific
details) It is often used for one-way
communication, and also for more serious or
formal situations
• “Speak” is used to refer to a person's ability
to speak a language.

42. Say/Tell/Speak/Talk
• “Talk” is used about a general topic
• usually refers to two or more people
exchanging or sharing information.
“Say” and “Tell” can be used in direct or indirect
speech.
“Talk” cannot be used to report specific indirect
speech

43. Say/Tell/Speak/Talk
Examples
• Can you tell me the way to the Air-port?
Please!
• She didn't say a word
• He speaks seven languages
• Let's talk about the plan

44. Speak/Talk
• Both “Speak “ and “Talk” have similar
meanings
• “Speak” has a more serious or formal tone

45. Big/great/large
• “Big” and “large” are used mostly with
concrete nouns - the names of things you can
see, touch
• “Great" “wonderful / important”
• “Large” is a bit more formal and stronger
word than big

46. Big/great/large
• “Big” can be used with countable abstract
nouns in an informal style
• “Great” is used mostly with abstract nouns
• “Large” is not used with abstract nouns.

47. Usages of Big/great/large
• I have a big house in the city
• I have a great respect for my father's ideals
• This is a large garden.

48. Hear/ Listen
• “Hear” is to physically experience the sense of
sound.
Can you hear that sound?
• “Listen” is to deliberately apply the ability to
hear
Do you like to listen to music?

49. Hear/ Listen
• As long as one's ear and brain are capable of
processing sound waves, one can hear.
• One who listens is thinking about what is
heard, what it means, how to respond, and
whether to continue to listen/pay attention

50. How Much/ How Many
• “How much” is used to describe mass nouns or non-
count nouns like juice, rice, patience, and happiness.
• When using much, the noun will always be singular; it
cannot be plural
How much money do you want?
How much water is in the ocean?
• “How many” is used to describe count- nouns or nouns
that can be counted like books, ideas, leaves,
and shoes.
• When using many, the noun will always be plural.
How many stars are there in the sky?
How many people live on islands?

51. Look/watch/see
• “Look” means to direct your eyes in a
particular direction.
• “Watch” means to look at (someone or
something) for an amount of time and pay
attention to what is happening.
• “See” means to notice or become aware of
(someone or something) by using your eyes.

52. Look/watch/see
• “Look” is used to say something about where
you are directing your attention, for a reason,
with an intention
• “See” is usually used when you are talking
about using the senses of sight, something
that comes into our sight that we weren’t
looking for
• “Watch” is to look at something carefully,
usually at something which is moving.

53. Usages of Look/watch/see
• Look at the sailing ship
• Watch out for pickpockets
• The fog is thick. So, we can’t see through

54. Do/make
• “ Do” is used to refer actions, obligations, and
repetitive tasks
• “Make” refers creating or producing something,
and for actions you choose to do
• “Do” generally refers to the action itself
• “Make” usually refers to the result.

55. Do/make
Examples
• I do at least half an hour of exercise every day
• She likes to do shopping
• Don’t make fun of someone
• Would you like me to make you a cup of tea?
• She has made a mistake
• It’s hard to make friends when you move to a
big city.

56. Disinterested/ uninterested
.
• “Disinterested” means “impartial” or “unbiased”.
A disinterested mediator helped settle the
dispute - which means he did not take sides
• “Uninterested” means “not interested” or
“indifferent”.
This student is uninterested in chemistry.

57. Fiscal/Financial
• “Fiscal” is related to government expenditures,
revenues, and debt
The government’s new fiscal policy has helped
achieve price stability.
• “Financial” is related to finance, finances, or
financiers
The company’s financial condition has improved
since the new management took over.

58. More to follow………
Thank You…….