English usage controversies
Hi there! Do you ever hear grown-ups arguing about whether to use certain words or phrases in English? That's because there are some things in English that people can't agree on! Today, I'll explain some of the most popular ones to you, just like you're five years old.
1. "I" or "me": Sometimes when you're talking about yourself and someone else, it's hard to know whether to say "I" or "me." For example, should you say "Mom took me to the store" or "Mom took I to the store"? The correct answer is "Mom took me to the store." Whenever you're talking about yourself and someone else, use "me" instead of "I."
2. "Affect" or "effect": A lot of people mix up "affect" and "effect." "Affect" is a verb that means to change or influence something. For example, "The rain affected the baseball game." "Effect" is a noun that means the result of something. For example, "The effect of the rain was that the baseball game was cancelled." Whenever you're talking about changing something, use "affect." Whenever you're talking about the result of something, use "effect."
3. "Who" or "whom": This one can be a little tricky, but it's important to get it right! "Who" is used when you're talking about the subject of a sentence, and "whom" is used when you're talking about the object. For example, "Who ate the last piece of cake?" - "He did." "To whom should I give the book?" - "Give the book to him." If you're not sure which one to use, try rephrasing the sentence with "he" or "him." If "he" makes sense, use "who." If "him" makes sense, use "whom."
4. Split infinitives: This one might sound fancy, but it's actually pretty simple. An infinitive is a verb form that usually starts with "to," like "to walk" or "to eat." Sometimes people put a word in between "to" and the verb, like in the sentence "To boldly go where no man has gone before." Some people think this is wrong, but it's actually just a matter of style. So whether you say "to quickly eat" or "to eat quickly" is up to you!
I hope that helped clear up some of the English usage controversies for you! Remember, everyone makes mistakes sometimes, so don't worry too much about getting everything perfect. The most important thing is that you keep practicing and learning. Good luck!
1. "I" or "me": Sometimes when you're talking about yourself and someone else, it's hard to know whether to say "I" or "me." For example, should you say "Mom took me to the store" or "Mom took I to the store"? The correct answer is "Mom took me to the store." Whenever you're talking about yourself and someone else, use "me" instead of "I."
2. "Affect" or "effect": A lot of people mix up "affect" and "effect." "Affect" is a verb that means to change or influence something. For example, "The rain affected the baseball game." "Effect" is a noun that means the result of something. For example, "The effect of the rain was that the baseball game was cancelled." Whenever you're talking about changing something, use "affect." Whenever you're talking about the result of something, use "effect."
3. "Who" or "whom": This one can be a little tricky, but it's important to get it right! "Who" is used when you're talking about the subject of a sentence, and "whom" is used when you're talking about the object. For example, "Who ate the last piece of cake?" - "He did." "To whom should I give the book?" - "Give the book to him." If you're not sure which one to use, try rephrasing the sentence with "he" or "him." If "he" makes sense, use "who." If "him" makes sense, use "whom."
4. Split infinitives: This one might sound fancy, but it's actually pretty simple. An infinitive is a verb form that usually starts with "to," like "to walk" or "to eat." Sometimes people put a word in between "to" and the verb, like in the sentence "To boldly go where no man has gone before." Some people think this is wrong, but it's actually just a matter of style. So whether you say "to quickly eat" or "to eat quickly" is up to you!
I hope that helped clear up some of the English usage controversies for you! Remember, everyone makes mistakes sometimes, so don't worry too much about getting everything perfect. The most important thing is that you keep practicing and learning. Good luck!
Related topics others have asked about: