Grammar difference between

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List of "difference between" certain words and grammatical forms and rules


page to do:

  • lie v. lay
  • please v. may
  • can v. may

difference between but and however[edit | edit source]

  • both words create a contrast
    • but creates a contrast and combines two sentences
    • however creates a contrast between ideas (created by a verb), not sentence parts
  • but = coordinating conjunction
    • it combines independent clauses (with a comma)
    • (but can also be a preposition, but that's not for this entry)
  • however = conjunctive adverb
    • it is an adverb because it modifies a predicate (verb + additional info)
    • it compares clauses, sentences or ideas
      • in this sense, however is synonymous with "nevertheless"

difference between like and as[edit | edit source]

  • as = conjunction
    • to a degree: high as a kite
    • comparison: one as big as the other
    • having or being the person or type: working as a cashier, as your friend...
    • simultaneously: walking as he texted
    • since, the reason for: The test is over as we ran out of time
    • even, though: Nice as he seems, he's really a jerk
  • like = preposition or adverb
    • similar to, in the same way: working like a madman, a car like yours
    • taking on the characteristics of (adverb): acting like a child
    • for example: it's a place like home
  • not to be confused with "like" as a verb, as in "I like cookies"
    • << note the use of "as" here
  • examples of the difference between as and like:
    • He flew like a bird v. He flew as a bird
    • She lives like a millionaire v. She lives as millionaires do
    • That car is as fast as a Ferrari but rides like a bus
  • see:

difference between like and such as[edit | edit source]

  • like = preposition or adverb
    • "like" details listed above under "difference between like and as"
  • such as = preposition (adjective or adverb modifier)
    • as an example of: a good idea, such as yours
    • an instance of: Tropical mountain coffee such as Ugandan beans are hard to find
  • the difference between "like" and "such as"
    • like compares or gives examples of things with similar characteristics
    • such as compares specific things, usually as an example of
  • examples of the difference between like and such as:
    • I vacation at places like Verbier with lots of mountains and snow
    • I vacation at places with lots of mountains and snow, like Verbier
  • "like" and "such as" may seem interchangeable when providing an example
    • but the key difference is that
      • like is used for "non-inclusive" examples,
        • i.e., something of a similar characteristic or category
        • The student dreams of a professional career like medicine
          • << could be any career that is similar to medicine
      • such as is used for "inclusive" examples,
      • The student dreams of a professional career such as medicine
        • << the student's list of careers includes medicine
  • see:

difference between affect and effect[edit | edit source]

  • in general,
    • affect = a verb
    • effect = a noun
  • however, both words can be either a verb or a noun
    • affect
      • verb =
        • to impact or cause
        • to have emotionally impact
        • to pretend or fake
      • noun =
        • a psychological impact or result of a psychological condition
          • as in "patient affects of the condition are serious"
        • the word "affectation" comes from the "affect" as a noun
    • effect
      • noun =
        • a result of, an outcome from
        • an impression of
        • materials gathered or to be used
          • as in "the hunter's effects included his rifle, a sleeping bag, and a mess kit"
        • the essence of, virtually, caused to be
          • "Their coordinated play was in effect all it took to win"
      • verb = to make happen
        • as in "The change in policies effected a new attitude"

difference between although and though[edit | edit source]

>> to do

see: Although or though ? - Grammar - Cambridge Dictionary

difference between few & a few[edit | edit source]

  • few
    • a determiner (adjective) indicating a small amount or quantity
    • it modifies a noun, as in "few people know the truth"
  • a few
    • "a" = article, and "few" = adjective
    • a is an article that modifies "people"
    • few is a determiner that modifies people
    • however, by adding the article "a" we create a new meaning
  • "a few" indicates "some" or "more than one"
    • thus emphasizes that the quantity is larger than one
  • "few" indicates a small quantity or absence of much
    • thus emphasizes that the number or quantity small
  • examples
    • "I have few ideas about that" v. "I have a few ideas about that"
    • few = negative, I don't know much
    • a few = positive, I know some things

difference between assume and presume[edit | edit source]

  • assume and presume both mean "to count on" or "to suppose"
  • the difference between them is
    • assume = to count on something known will continue to be so in the future; also a logical deduction based on something known
    • presume = to count on something without any proof of it, or without investigating into it; also a logical or probably guess
  • see: askanydifference.com

difference between auxiliary verb and modal verb[edit | edit source]

  • auxiliary verbs = "helper verbs"
    • i.e., they assist or "help" another verb in order to indicate that verb's tense, voice or mood
      • I am going tomorrow
        • "am" = auxiliary verb to indicate present continuous tense of "to go" (going)
      • Joanna had thought about it
        • "had" = auxiliary verb to indicate past perfect tense of "to think" (thought)
  • modal verbs = indicate "modality", or possibility, ability, permission, duty, correctness or obligation
    • I can go tomorrow
      • "can" = modal verb to indicate possibility of the infinitive "to go" (go)
    • Joanna should think about it
      • "should" = modal verb to indicate correctness of the infinitive verb "to think" (think)
  • note that
    • auxiliary verbs change according to inflection (conjugation)
      • I am going
      • you are going
    • modal verbs do not change according to inflection (conjugation)
      • I should go
      • You should go
  • see: https://pediaa.com/difference-between-modal-and-auxiliary-verbs

difference between censure and censor/censorship[edit | edit source]

  • censure = severe disapproval or rejection
  • censor = an official who examines material to be published in order to "censor" or remove/suppress offensive content
  • censorship = the act of official censoring of a publication or other form of speech

difference between since & because and "because of" and "due to"[edit | edit source]

  • since & because = the same (synonymous)
    • both are subordinating conjunctions (i.e., they combine a dependent or subordinate with an independent clause)
  • because of is a preposition that modifies a verb (therefore creates an adverbial prepositional phrase)
  • due to is a preposition that modifies a noun (which creates a modifying (like an adjective) phrase
  • all of these words indicate causality (cause or effect)
    • since& because usually indicate cause
    • because of and due to indicate either cause or effect
    • = "for the reason"
    • since and because are synonyms
    • = subordinating conjunction
  • due to
    • = "caused by" or "ascribable to", or "owed to"
    • = adjective
    • due to describes something or someone that caused something
      • as in, "Due to Steve's forgetfulness, he missed the appointment"
        • "forgetfulness" is a noun, and it is modified by "due to"
  • due to is not synonymous with because of

, "because of", "in that", "owing to" >> to fix !!!

difference between commas splice and run-on sentence

  • comma splice =
    • independent clauses combined by a comma and without a coordinating conjunction (i.e., "I ate, I slept" v. "I ate, and I slept")
  • run-on sentence =
    • independent clauses combined without any punctuation (i.e., "I ate I slept" v. "I ate, and I slept")
    • note that "then" is an adverb, so "I ate, then I slept" is technically incorrect
      • correct: "I ate, and then I slept" or "I ate then slept"

difference between which & where[edit | edit source]

  • "which" is a "relative pronouns"
    • relative pronouns add information to a clause
    • "which" indicates a specific reference to a prior-stated noun
      • the town in which I grew up
        • note the use of the preposition "in"
  • "where" is an adverb or a conjunction
    • "where" indicates a general reference to the location of an action, event or thing
      • the town where I grew up
        • note absence of a preposition
  • we would not say:
    • the town which I grew up
      • instead would be either
        • the town which I grew up in
        • the town in which I grew up
    • the town in where I grew up
  • confusion arises in informal English in which "which" and "where" are used interchangeably
  • confusion arises in informal English where "which" and "where" are used interchangeably

difference between your and yours[edit | edit source]

  • your = 2nd person possessive adjective
    • it's your hat
  • yours = 2nd person possessive pronoun
    • the hat is yours
  • "yours" completes the predicate (verb phrase)
    • is yours
  • your describes ownership as an adjective