Like

Like

 

You probably know that the verb like can be followed by either the -ing form or by an infinitive.

• I like going to the cinema
• I like to see all the latest movies.

Often these two forms mean exactly the same thing but there can be a difference between them. When we use like to there is an ide that we think is is a good idea, even if not pleasant, and it is probably a regular action.

• I like to visit the dentist twice a year.
• I like my children to be in bed by nine.
• I like to keep fit.

We use would like to to make polite offers and requests.

• Would you like to have lunch one day next week?
• I'd like to have your opinion.

Used as a preposition, like often means 'similar' or 'typical'..

• Like me, you probably are a bit shocked by his behaviour.
• What is Harry like? Is he conceited?
• You look like you need to sit down.
• I want to do something exciting - like bungee jumping.
• It is just like him to be late.

In informal American English, like is used to mean 'as if'. (Some people think it is 'incorrect'  but you will certainly hear it a lot.)

• I feel like I am a princess.
• It was like I was back in the sixties.

Don't confuse that with feel like meaning 'a desire to do someting'.

• I feel like going out for a meal.
• I don't feel like driving any more today.

Unusually for a preposition, like can have the adverbs quite or rather in front of it.

• It is quite like old times.
• It is rather like it was before we had computers.

Here are some useful phrases using like.
Come when you like.

• You are always welcome. Come when you like.

Do as you like.

• It is entirely your choice. Do as you like.

If you like is used to make suggestions.

• We could go later, if you like.

Like this is used when you are demonstrating something.

• You put the paper in here like this.

Eat like a horse means to eat in large quantities.

• Kate eats like a horse but she never seems to put on any weight.

Feel like a million means that you feel really good.

• I have met a new girl. I feel like a million.

Go like clockwork means that it happens without problems.

• The launch of the new product went like clockwork.

Like a bat out of hell means very fast.

• He drove like a bat out of hell. I was scared.

Like a fish out of water means that the person does not fit in at all.

• He knows a lot about accounting but he is like a fish out of water in marketing.

If something sells like hot cakes, it sells really well.

• The new iphone is selling like hot cakes.

If you go out like a light, you fall asleep immediately.

• He was so tired that he went out like a light when he lay on the sofa.

If you sleep well, you sleep like a log.

• I slept really well.  I slept like a log.

If you watch like a hawk, you watch really closely.

• I didn't trust him so I watched him like a hawk for the whole time he was here. He didn't do anything wrong.

If news spreads like wildfire,  everybody hears it very quickly.

• Reports of their argument spread like wildfire through the company.

 

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Let

Let

 

We can use let to mean to rent out a house.

• We moved to Australia and let our house in London.

A major use of let is for talking about ‘allowing’ and ‘permission’.

• My mother let me come.
• I let her leave early.

One pattern is let followed by an OBJECT followed by a BARE INFINITIVE

• She let me have the last one.
• You must let us know when you are coming to New York.
• I didn’t let my friend drive my car.
• Why did you let Jane do that?

Another pattern is let followed by an OBJECT followed by a COMPLEMENT

• Let me past.
• The police aren’t letting anybody out of the building.
• Don’t let him get away.
• Why did you let him in?

Notice that we can use reflexive pronouns to talk about what we allow ourselves to do.

• I let myself be influenced by her.
• She let herself out.
• I didn’t let myself be talked into it.
• Did you let yourself in?

Notice that we do not make a contraction out of let us when asking for permission.

• Let us help you.
• Let us pay for this.
• Let us buy that.
• Let us take the risk.

We use let’s when we are making a suggestion.

• Let’s go to the cinema.
• Let’s stay at home.
• Let’s not argue. (formal)
• Don’t let’s argue. (informal)

Compare these

• Let us watch TV, please. (asking for permission)
• Let’s watch TV. (a suggestion)

There are many fixed expressions, idioms and phrasal verbs using let.
Let alone means ‘much less’

• I’ve never been to Africa, let alone Ghana.
• I’ve never met any actor, let alone Brad Pitt.

Let go can mean to dismiss

• My company let 20 people go.
• I was let go three weeks ago.

Let your hair down means to lose your inhibitions.

• At the office party, everybody let their hair down and we had fun.

Don’t let it get you down means to stay cheerful although something bad has happened.

• Everybody makes mistakes. Don’t let it get you down.

let you off’/let you off the hook means that you are excused, even though you did something wrong or had something bad to do.

• I made a mess but the boss let me off.
• I was supposed to tidy up after the party but I was let off the hook as Sandra did it.

Letting off steam means to get rid of excess energy or frustration.

• After work I go to the gym and let off steam on the treadmill.
• We need to go out after the exams and let off steam.

Let me see and let me think are expressions used to give you time to think.

• You want a raise? Let me think. Can we discuss this later?
• A good place for lunch? Let me see. How about the Italian restaurant?

Let’s say and let’s suppose are used to talk about hypothetical situations.

• Let’s say that you were boss. What would you do?
• Let’s suppose that we don’t get the contract. What do we do?

Let’s hope is used to express a hope.

• Let’s hope he gets the job.
• Yes, let’s hope so.

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For 2

For 2

 

We can use for to mean ‘because’. We only use this in very formal English.

• The divers have to be careful for a sudden change in conditions could be dangerous.
• Read the instructions carefully for you will only get one chance to enter the information.

We can use for to talk about a purpose or a reason.

• What did you that for?
• What is that for?
• Thank you for your letter.
• I don’t have enough money for the ticket. 
• I need treatment for my bad back.

For can mean that you are in favour/favor of something.

• He is for the idea of cutting taxes.
• I am for this change in the way we do things.
• You need to stand up for what is right.

We can use for with expressions of time and distance.

• I walked for miles.
• I waited for a long time.
• We will be away for the next week.

Sometimes we can omit the for completely in these expressions without changing the meaning.

•  I walked miles.
• I waited a long time.

With the present perfect, for refers to a length of time. Since refers to the starting point.

• I have studied English for seven years.
• I have studied English since I was 12.

Here are some useful expressions using for

• I enclose a cheque/check for 100 euros
• What’s another word for stupid?
• I’ve known him for ages.
• I am all for making this change.
• Get ready.  -What for?   -Anne is coming.

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For 1

For 1

 



We can sometimes use for + ing to talk about the purpose of a thing. When we do, it means the same as to + infinitive.

• What is that for? It is for opening envelopes
• This bell is for calling the waiter.
• This bell is to call the waiter.

 

When we talk about the purpose of somebody's actions, we cannot use for + ing.

• I went there to ask for help.
• You will have to queue a long time. to get tickets.

 

However, it is sometimes possible to use for + noun for this.

• I went there for help.
• You will have to queue a long timefor tickets.

 

We can also use for + object + infinitive to talk about a purpose.

• I gave her a notebook for her to write down new English words she found.
• They sent a form for me to sign.

 

We also use the pattern for + object + infinitive in sentences after is or was.

• The plan is for us to get to Barcelona by lunchtime.
• The objective was for them to get the work finished by the end of last month.

 

We can add details to a noun by using the pattern for + object + infinitive

• That is an expensive place for them to stay.
• There is a lot of work for us to do.
• There is no need for you to be so aggressive.

 

We also use the pattern for + object + infinitive after certain verbs and adjectives.

• I am waiting for him to make the first move.
• I have arranged for you to see the bank manager tomorrow morning.
• We are keen for you to take the job.
• I think it would be good for you to take a break now. 

 

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About

About

 

We can use about to mean ‘concerning’

• I have heard all about it.
• There is nothing we can do about it.
• The great thing about her is that she never gives up.

We can use about to mean ‘approximately’. We can also use around for this but about is less formal.

• About six hundred people were present.
• About half the people agreed.
• Come round at about six.

We can use How about and What about to make suggestions.

• What about asking Tom?
• How about leaving that for the time being?
• What about a break?

We can also use What about ( but not How about) for more genuine questions.

• What about the workers? Have you thought about them?
• What about the dog? What do we do with her?

We use about and on to talk about the subject of a discussion. We use on for more formal situations..

• They talked about the bad economic situation.
• He gave a lecture on the economy.

About can mean ‘here and there’.

• She is always out and about.
• He sits about doing nothing.
• They go about interviewing the public.

Just about means ‘almost’.

• I have just about finished.
• I have had just about enough of him and his patronizing tone.
• The money we get will just about pay for the new equipment.

Be about to means that something is on the point of happening.

• I am about to change jobs.
• He is about to give in his resignation.
• Please listen carefully. i am about to say something important

Here are some useful expressions using about
no doubt about

• There is no doubt about his ability but he doesn’t work well with other people

bring about change

• We need to bring about change quickly or the company will go bankrupt.

everybody is talking about it

• Everybody is talking about the argument they had.

be asked about

• I am often asked about how I became so successful.

speak to them about

• You need to speak to them about this and make sure they never do it again.

anything I can do about it?

• Is there anything I can do about my financial situation?

concerned about

• i’m concerned about Simon. He is acting very strangely.

speculate about

• We can only speculate about what happened. We will never know for sure.

about to change

• I am not happy with what has been happening. I must warn you that things are about to change around here.

know a lot about

• Ask Sally. She knows a lot about that.

 

talking about

• What are you two whispering about?

known about

• Little is known about what happened.

hear about

• I know you have just been to Hawaii. I want to hear all about it.

keep your wits about you

• Be very careful. There are lots of thieves around. Keep your wits about you.

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Will Have Done

Will Have Done

 

We can use 'will have done' to talk about what will have been achieved by a certain moment in time.

• We'll have been in these offices for eight years next month.
• She'll have visited ten countries in twelve days by the time she gets back.
• I'll have finished this project by Friday.

If we want to emphasise the continuity of the activity, we can use the continuous form.

• I'll have been working here for 35 years by the time I retire.
• She'll have been driving for more than fifteen hours straight by the time she gets here.
• They'll have been working with us for 15 years by the end of this year.

We can also use 'will have done' to predict what we think has already happened at present.

• He'll have already read the report by now. Too late to change it.
• She'll have boarded her plane. It's too late to contact her.
• They'll have decided by now. We should hear the result today or tomorrow.

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Will be doing

Will be doing

 





We can use 'will be doing' to talk about something that will be in progress at a particular moment in the future.

• This time next week, I'll be sitting on the beach in Barbados.
• I'll be thinking about you all back in the office – and I'll be laughing.
• We'll be enjoying ourselves too, boss. We won't be doing any work while you are not here.

We can use 'will be doing' to talk about future events that are fixed or decided.

• I'll be visiting your country on a regular basis. In fact, I'm going to be coming next month.
• He'll be looking after the factory until we can appoint a new manager.
• They'll be thinking about this very carefully over the next few months.

We can use 'will be doing' to predict what is happening now.

• Try phoning his hotel. He'll probably still be having breakfast.
• They'll be deciding who gets the contract at this very moment. I'm very nervous.
• She's not in her office. She'll be having lunch in the canteen.

We can use 'will be doing' to ask extremely politely, and with no pressure, about future plans.

• Will you be eating with us this evening?
• Will you be needing anything else?
• Will they be joining us for dinner?

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