English Archives - Study with Alex

Say vs tell (vs talk vs speak): what’s the difference?

January 3, 2023English

The verbs about speaking and quoting are one of the hardest for speakers of some languages. These words are either obvious to you, or they make no sense. Whether you use say or tell is so obvious to learners, but…

Fix vs. correct: what is the difference?

December 6, 2022English

A lot of things in life need to improve. Often, things in our life can become broken or wrong. In this situation, how do you know which word to use: fix or correct? They sound very similar, but you can…

Fragile vs. brittle: what is the difference?

November 1, 2022English

My students have told me that knowing how to use fragile vs. brittle is difficult. They both can be translated the same in their native language, so it's really hard to notice how native English speakers use this word. The…

have somebody do something vs get somebody to do something: What is the difference?

September 6, 2022English

There is a group of grammars that can confuse a lot of learners. How do we know the difference between have somebody do something vs get somebody to do something? have someone do something This is the causative voice. This…

Know vs know of vs know about: what is the difference?

August 2, 2022English

English uses a lot of very close words. If you check Google Translate, they might even be identical in your native language. However, if you want better English, you need to use them correctly. Let's discuss the difference between know…

wait for, expect, look forward to: What is the difference?

July 5, 2022English

There are a handful of English words that probably translate to similar things in your native language. I have gotten questions about this, so I hope my students' confusion can become clarity for you. How can you know whether to…

Gather vs collect: What is the difference?

June 7, 2022English

If you want to use gather or collect, you may think they are interchangeable. In fact, if you as a native speaker, they won't be able to quickly tell you the difference, which tells us they are very similar. However,…

left vs leftover: what is the difference?

May 3, 2022English, Language Help

This pair of words can be a pain because it's hard to find good explanations online with the differences. Some people claim the difference is about formality or politeness. However, there is a deeper difference because "left" cannot be used…

Mist vs fog vs steam: What is the difference?

April 5, 2022English

Several of my students have asked me about these words, and if more than one person has questions about a set of words, I know it's a bigger problem than just them. What are the difference between these words about…

delay vs postpone (vs late): what is the difference?

March 1, 2022English

Choosing between "delay" or "postpone" can be tough because they are very close words. They both are about moving times. Natives use these words all the time, so you should do, too. What are the differences between delay or postpone?…