I am enclosing a cheque of £49.
I am enclosing a cheque for £49.
.................................................. ......
He gave me a cheque £5.
He gave me a cheque for £5.
.................................................. ....................
a cheque for an amount of money: 'He wrote me a cheque for $50.'

I believe that in this circumstance students should be allowed to
have a part-time job.
I believe that in these circumstances students should be
allowed to have a part-time job.
.................................................. .................................
Circumstances is nearly always used as a plural noun (WITH s): 'The
police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.' 'Under
normal circumstances, I would never have left my passport with a
stranger

Most people work in city centre.
Most people work in the city centre.
.................................................. ...........................
the city centre (WITH the): 'It's only five minutes by bus to the city
centre.

Each country has its own civilization and ideology.
Each country has its own culture and 'ideology.
.................................................. .......................
American civilization is very different from that of Japan.
American culture is very different from that of Japan.
.................................................. ...............................
civilization = (a society or group of societies having) a way of life that is
considered to be advanced in terms of culture and social organization:
'The remote mountain villages are still untouched by modem civilization.'
The film examines the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome, and
their contributions to Western society.'

I prefer classic music to pop.
I prefer classical music to pop.
.................................................. ...................
classic = being among the best or most typical of its class; serving as
a standard or model: The painting is a classic example of sixteenthcentury
Venetian art.'
classical music = the music of Mozart, Beethoven, etc

I love the sound of a classic guitar.
I love the sound of a classical guitar.
.................................................. ...................
a classical guitar = a guitar that is used to play classical music

The local residents would like to clean the neighbourhood.
The local residents would like to clean up the
neighbourhood.
.................................................. .........
clean up = (1) clean a place, especially by taking away all the things
which make it look dirty, untidy or unattractive: 'You can play in your
bedroom as long as you promise to clean it up afterwards.' (2) make an
area or organization a better place for people to live or work in,especially by removing criminals, corrupt officials, etc: 'It's time someone'e ",
cleaned up this city; we have one of the highest crime rates in the
country.'

I bought some cheap cloth to make some curtains.
I bought some cheap material to make some curtains.
.................................................. ..............................
Cloth (uncountable) usually refers to material made of cotton, wool etc
that is used for making clothes: 'The tailor took my measurements and
then showed me several rolls of cloth.'
Material (and fabric) have a more general meaning and may be used in
connection with clothes, curtains, sheets, etc: 'The cushion covers and
the curtains were made from the same material.' 'They specialize in the
manufacture of elasticated fabric.'

The dancers were dressed in their national clothes. ,.,f
The dancers were dressed in their national costume.
.................................................. ....................
costume = (1) (countable) a set of clothes worn during a performance
by an actor, clown, etc: 'She used to work for a theatre company,
designing and making costumes.' (2) (uncountable) a set of clothes that
are typical of a particular country or historical period: 'The castle guides
were dressed up in Elizabethan costume.' 'A group of Hungarian folk
dancers came on stage, all wearing national costume

For those who live by themselves, television provides a good
company.
For those who live by themselves, television provides good
company.
.........................................
When company means 'someone or something that stops you from
feeling lonely or bored; companionship', it is uncountable: 'Whenever he
goes off on a long trip, he takes his radio with him for company.'

It is childish to complain against rules.
It is childish to complain about rules.
.................................................. ................
They are always complaining for something.
They are always complaining about something.
.................................................. .............
complain about sth: 'Residents living near the airport have a lot to
complain about.'

I feel quite confident with my English.
I feel quite confident about my English
.................................................. ..................
confident about sth: 'The more familiar you are with the machine, the
more confident you will be about using it.'

I began to feel more confident of myself.
l began to feel more self-confident.
.................................................. ..................
If you have confidence in your own abilities, you feel self-confident:
'Even as a child he was surprisingly self-confident and didn't mind being
left with strangers.'

First of all I'd like to congratulate you both for your wedding.
First of all I'd like to congratulate you both on your wedding.
.................................................. .................................................. .........
congratulate sb on (doing) 9th: 'The President was among the first to
congratulate the crew on the success of their mission.' 'On behalf of the
school, I'd like to congratulate the first eleven on getting through to the
final

Congratulations for your splendid examination results!
Congratulations on your splendid examination results!
.................................................. ..............
congratulations on (doing) sth (NOT for): 'Congratulations on your
promotion. You certainly deserve it.'

We're considering to visit Switzerland next year.
We're considering visiting Switzerland next year
.................................................. .................................
consider doing sth (= think about something that you might do in the
future): 'To save money, we even considered repairing the roof
ourselves

The house was consisting of three bedrooms, a kitchen, and a
bathroom.
The house consisted of three bedrooms, a kitchen, and a
bathroom.

The group was consisted of ten people.
The group consisted of ten people
.................................................. ...........
.An extended family is consisted of at least two generations\
An extended family consists of at least two generations

The school consists on four large buildings.
The school consists of four large buildings.
consist of (NOT on): 'Spain consists of 51 different provinces.'

You can contact with me any evening after six.
You can contact me any evening after six.
.................................................. .....
contact sb (WITHOUT with): 'Unless we have an address or phone
number, we can't contact them.'
Compare: 'Mrs Lewis phoned and would like you to get in touch with her.'

The c****s join to form one continual waterway.
The c****s join to form one continuous waterway.
.................................................. ..................
A line of cars stretched continually down the motorway.
A line of cars stretched continuously down the motorway.
.................................................. ....................................
continual = happening repeatedly over a long period of time, especially
in a way that you find annoying: 'That telephone has been ringing
continually.'
continuous = without any break or interruption: 'Gas central heating
provides a continuous supply of hot water.'
I grew tired of his continuous moaning.
I grew tired of his continual moaning.
.................................................. ...........
The meeting was continuously interrupted. /-
The meeting was continually interrupted.

The driver was very lucky and was only slightly damaged.
The driver was very lucky and was only slightly hurt.
.................................................. .................................................
During the protests, some students were killed and others were
seriously damaged.
During the protests, some students were killed and others
were seriously injured l wounded.
.................................................. ...............................
Damaged is used in connection with things or parts of your body (NOT
people): 'The engine was too badly damaged to be repaired.' 'The cause
of the oil leak was a damaged pipeline.'
People are hurt or injured (badly hurt) in an accident, earthquake,
hurt .........: 'The scaffolding collapsed, killing one of the construction
workers and injuring two passers-by.'
Someone who is injured by a weapon, such as a gun or knife, is
wounded: 'He is accused of wounding a fellow prisoner.' 'The wounded
soldiers were sent home for medical treatment.'

The fire caused a lot of damages.
The fire caused a lot of damage.
.................................................. ....................................
( The car crashed into a tree and suffered a severe damage.
The car crashed into a tree and suffered severe damage.
.................................................. ................
In its usual meaning, damage is an uncountable noun: 'The insurance
company will pay for any damage.' 'The ceiling had suffered a great deal
of damage.'
damages (plural noun) =a sum of money that someone is awarded in a
court of law: 'She was awarded $3000 in damages.' 'She claimed
damages of £2000 for wrongful dismissal.

The floods made a lot of damage.
The floods did l caused a lot of damage.
.................................................. ........................
8 Most of the damage has been produced by acid rain. < (2
Most of the damage has been caused by acid rain. ,
.................................................. ..................................
do l cause damage (NOT make or produce): 'According to local farmers,
the rabbits do a lot of damage to the crops.' 'It's the Qas from fridges that
causes most of the damage.'

The bomb caused extensive damage of the surrounding
buildings. (
The bomb caused extensive damage to the surrounding
buildings.
.................................................. ....
( We all know about the damage-that smoking can do in our
health.
We all know about the damage that smoking can do to our
health

I dare to say that the book is worth reading.
I daresay that the book is worth reading.
.................................................. .......................
I daresay (also written I dare say) is a fixed phrase: 'I dare say that we'll
be hearing from them again.' 'The team will put up a good performance. I
daresay, but I don't think they'll win.'

He dares to die rather than break his promise.
He is prepared to die rather than break his promise.
.................................................. ..........
I didn't enjoy the drink but I dared to try it again.
I didn't enjoy the drink but I was ready to try it again.
.............................................
Dare (= have enough courage) is used mainly in negative sentences and
questions: 'I wouldn't dare to take the car without permission.' 'She stood
at the edge of the cliff, not daring to look down.'
In affirmative sentences, use be ready l prepared willing: 'Some people "\
are prepared to do anything for money.' 'Despite the threat c- hi- Ii*-
he's ready to testify.'

I daren't to ask her for any more money.
I daren't ask her for any more m,..,,.
.................................................. .................................
daren't do sth (WITHOUT to): 'I daren't tell George what happened or
he'll be furious.'
Compare: 'I don't dare to tell /tell George what happened ... .'

Some people watch television all the day. /
Some people watch television all day.

all day (WITHOUT the): 'What have you been doing all day?'

I'm afraid that I can't come at that day. *,'
I'm afraid that I can't come on that day ;.
.................................................. ...........
In the first day, my sunglasses disappeared.
On the first day, my sunglasses disappeared

In these days many children have their own computer.
These days many children have their own computer.
.................................................. .....................
these days (WITHOUT in l during etc): 'He's very busy these days.'
Note however: 'In those days cigarettes were much cheaper.'

In our days we know more about the causes of pollution.
Nowadays we know more about the causes of pollution.
.................................................. .................
The phrase 'in our days' does not exist. For this meaning, use
nowadays, these days, or today: 'I get the feeling that some people
nowadays cannot live without television.'

My father is dead when I was still a baby.
My father died when I was still a baby.
.................................................. ........................
The doctor said that she dead because the wound became
infected.
The doctor said that she died because the wound became
infected.
.................................................. ..............
Dead is an adjective and describes a state: 'I can't tell whether that plant
is dead or alive.' 'Some of the fish were dead and were floating on the
surface.'
Died is the past tense and past participle of die: 'I think she died from a
heart attack.' 'He died on the way to hospital.'
See also note at DIED

The purpose of this ceremony is to honour the dead people. "2
The purpose of this ceremony is to honour the dead.
.................................................. ........................
When you mean 'dead people', use the dead: 'At this time of the tea
the villages make offerings to the spirits of the dead.'

I shall either go home to Brazil or my family will come to
England.
Either I shall go home to Brazil or my family will come to
England.
.................................................. ..
We either can go by bus or by car.
We can go either by bus or by car.
.................................................. ...............
The position of either should be the same as the position of or (i.e.
immediately before a subject, immediately before a main verb,
immediately after a verb, etc): 'Either stay or go.' 'You should either stay
or go.' 'You should stay either here or at home.' 'You should stay with
either me or your uncle.'
Note that this rule applies mainly in formal styles. In everyday
conversation, either often goes immediately before the main verb: 'We
can either go by bus or by car.
.................................................. .....'
In fact, a motorway wouldn't either disturb the animals because
they are used to cars.
In fact, a motorway wouldn't disturb the animals either
because they are used to cars.
.................................................. .........................
When either is used after not l never etc, it goes at the end of the clause:
'John isn't going to the party, and Ray doesn't want to go either.'

The restaurant seems to be more popular with elder people.
The restaurant seems to be more popular with older people
.................................................. ................................
The young man was unhurt but the elder one was taken to
hospital in an ambulance.
The young man was unhurt but the older one was taken to
hospital in an ambulance.
.................................................. .....................................
Do not use elder unless you are talking about the members of a family:
'her elder brother', 'my elder son'.
I( My sister is just two years elder than me. /i ,
J My sister is just two years older than me. 2
Someone l something is older (than someone/something else: 'Their
children are older than ours.' 'Her husband is five years older.'
Elder is mainly used in front of a noun ('my elder sister') and as a
pronoun ('Which of the two sisters is the elder?')

John, her elderly son, is still at university?
John, her elder son, is still at university
.................................................. ............................................
elderly = old: 'an elderly man with white hair and a stick'
elder = (of brothers, daughters etc) older: 'our elder daughter