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its, it's.
It's
is a contraction of it is.
Its is a possessive pronoun. |
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It's
essential that we leave on time. |
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Its
habits have been studied in detail. |
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2. |
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kind, sort
are singular words which may be modified by
that or
this. |
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Wrong |
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I like
these
kind
of students. |
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Right |
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I like
this kind
of student. |
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Right |
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These kinds
of machines are very useful. |
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Wrong |
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Those sort
of
people amuse me. |
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Right |
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That sort
of person amuses me. |
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3. |
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kind of a, sort
of a. Omit "a." |
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Wrong |
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What sort
of a wife
is she ? |
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Right |
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What
sort of
wife is she ? |
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4. |
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kind of, sort of
are sometimes confused with the word " somewhat." |
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Wrong |
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The record was
kind of
expensive. |
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Right |
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The
record was
somewhat
expensive. |
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5. |
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later, latter.
Latter
refers to the last name of two. Do not use
latter if
more than two are named.
Later is the compartive of
late. |
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Wrong |
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John, Mary, and Susan entered the room.
The latter
was carrying
a typewriter. |
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Right |
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John, Mary, and Susan entered the room.
The last named
was carrying a typewriter. |
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Right |
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There are a typewriter and a pencil sharpener on the desk.
The
latter
needs to be repaired. |
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6. |
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lay, lie.
The verb lay
has an object; the verb
lie does ot have an object.
The principal parts of the verb
lay are:
lay (
present), laid
( past ), laid
( past participle), and laying
( present participle ). The principal parts of the verb
lie
are: lie
( present ), lay
( past ), lain
( past participle ), and lying
( present participle ). |
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Wrong |
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I always
lay down after I eat dinner. |
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Right |
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I always
lie down after I eat dinner. (
present tense ) |
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Wrong |
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He
laid
down because he had a headache. |
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Right |
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He
lay
down because he had a headache. ( past tense ) |
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Wrong |
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The
books are
laying
on the table. |
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Right |
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The
books are
lying
on the table ( present paticiple ) |
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Right |
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The
teacher
laid
her books on her desk. ( past tense ) |
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Right |
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The
boys have
lain
under the tree for several hours. ( past participle ) |
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Right |
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She
has
laid
her head on the pillow. ( past participle ) |
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Right |
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Her
head
lies
on the pillow. ( present tense ) |
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7. |
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leave, let
are sometimes confused. |
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Wrong |
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She
will not
leave me
smoke inside the classroom. |
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Right |
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She will not
let
me smoke inside the classroom. |
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Right |
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Leave
( or
let
) me alone. |
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8. |
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lend, loan.
Lend
is a verb; loan
is a noun. |
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Wrong |
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Would you
loan me
your pencil. |
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Right |
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Would you
lend
me your pencil. |
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Right |
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He
went to the bank to take out a
loan. |
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9. |
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like,
as, as if.
Like
is a preposition; as,
as if
( or as though
) are conjunctions. As
is also a preposition when it means " in the capacity of." |
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Wrong |
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She
doesn't study
like
she should. |
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Right |
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She doesn't study
as
she should. |
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Wrong |
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She acts
like
she doesn't understand. |
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Right |
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She acts
as if
( or
as
though
) she doesn't understand. |
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Right |
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As
a member of the organization, I have a right to vote. |
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Right |
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He
eats
like
a bird. |
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| 10. |
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lose,
loose. Lose
is a verb. Loose
means " not tight." |
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She will
lose
weight if she goes on a diet. |
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One of the
buttons on my shirt is
loose. |
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