Category Archives: STNT

Lie vs Lay

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Don’t Say: 
– Please lie the book on the table.
– I’m going to lay down in bed.

Say This:
– Please lay the book on the table.
– I’m going to lie down in bed.

Remember:

  • You lay something down.   I’m going to lay the baby down for a nap (laying him down – not lying down yourself).  My daughters lays her clothes on the bed each morning.
  • People lie down by themselves. Every night I fall asleep as soon as I lie down in bed.  He lies down on the sofa to watch TV at night.
  • Lie – not lay – is also used when you mean saying something that is not true.  Don’t lie to me.

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Fun or Funny?

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Don’t say: 
– My vacation was really funny.
– We did lots of funny things together, like partying and going to the beach.

Say this:
– My vacation was really fun.
– We did lots of fun things together, like partying and going to the beach.

Remember:

  • Fun is something (or someone) that you enjoy.  We all had fun at the picnic.  He’s fun to be with.
  • Funny is something (or someone) that makes you laugh.  He knows a lot of funny jokes.  Three funny movies (comedies) are Airplane, Blazing Saddles, and Monty Python and the  Holy Grail 

Scared or Scary?

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Don’t say: 
– I’m too scary to go bungee jumping.
– He was scary of the loud noise.

Say this:
– I’m too scared to go bungee jumping.
– He was scared of the loud noise.

Remember:

  • Scared (used as an adjective) is a feeling – similar to afraid.  I feel scared.  She is scared of bees.
  • Scary is the reason for this feeling.  Going bungee jumping is scary.  Sharks are scary.

Need and Want with a Second Verb

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Don’t say: 
– I need go home.
– I needed buy a new car. – or – I needed bought a new car.
– She wants speak better English.
– I want find a good job.

Say this:
– I need to go home.
– I needed to buy a new car.
– She wants to speak better English.
– I want to find a good job.

Need and want are not the only verbs like this,  Here’s a list of others.

— Thanks to Laurie for this article —

Story vs History

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Don’t say: 
– I told my daughter the history about Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
– She told her friend a history about something funny that happened on her wedding day.
– My sister loves to read romance histories.
– My nephew is studying World Story in school.

Say this:
– I told my daughter the story about Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
– She told her friend a story about something funny that happened on her wedding day.
– My sister loves to read romance stories.
– My nephew is studying World History in school.

Remember:
 Story is countable (one story, two stories), and can be about something imaginary (fiction) or that really happened (non-fiction).  Stories can be about Star Wars, Harry Potter, Moby Dick, something you did in your childhood, something in your dream last night.

 History is non-countable, and is non-fiction.  It can be about the history of Framingham (collection of events in Framingham’s past), United States history, or your medical history (illnesses, hospital visits, etc. in your life).

Thank You For…

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Don’t say: 
– Thank you for help me.
– Thank you for come to see me.
– Thanks for let me know.

Say this:
– Thank you for helping me.
– Thank you for coming to see me.
– Thanks for letting me know.

Remember:
When you use “thank you for”, with some kind of action (doing something), use -ing.
Thank you for inviting me … dancing with me … not smoking … listening to me …

Said me >>> Told me

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Never say “said me”. 
Use “told me” instead.

Don’t say: 
– My boss said me, “You need to work tomorrow.”
– My mother said me I should get a haircut.
– Isabella said me she will be home at 6:00.

Say this:
– My boss told me, “You need to work tomorrow.”
– My mother told me I should get a haircut.
– Isabella told me she will be home at 6:00.

Remember:
…told [who]…
He told [ me / her / Maria / his son / the man ] to go home.

…said [what]…
He said, “Go home.”
My mother said (not said me) I should get a haircut.

These are Plural: Police, People

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Don’t say:  … police is …    or … police has…
Don’t say:  … people is …  or … people has…

Say This: … police are… or … police have…
Say This: … people are… or … people have…

The police are trying to catch the robber.
Now the police have him.
Lots of people are coming tonight.
I hope people have a good time.