The car could not stop because its brakes were broken.
The car could not stop because its brakes were not working.
.................................................. ......................................
% I turned on the radio but it was broken.
I turned on the radio but it wasn't working.
.................................................. .......................
broken = physically damaged: 'a broken windscreen'
not working = not functioning properly: 'I can't ring him because his
phone's not working.'

The best way to see London is to get in a bus.
The best way to see London is to get on a bus.
.................................................. ......................................
I( She said I was in the wrong bus.
She said I was on the wrong bus.
..................................................
be l get on a bus (NOT in): 'During the rush hour, it's quicker to walk than
get on a bus.'

1 often have to go abroad for business.
I often have to go abroad on business.
.................................................. .....................
8 My father is now in Paris on his business.
My father is now in Paris on business.
.................................................. .....................................
(be l go somewhere) on business: 'I'm off to Amsterdam tomorrow, on
business as usual.

I was busy with cooking the dinner.
I was busy cooking the dinner.
.................................................. .........................
be busy doing sth: 'She's busy trying to finish her thesis.'
Compare: 'I was busy with the housework.' 'I was busy doing the
housework.'

He managed to open the lid by a screwdriver.
He managed to open the lid with a screwdriver.
.................................................. ............................................
You do something with a tool, instrument, etc (NOT by): 'He opened the
envelope with a chopstick.' 'You can't eat spaghetti with a spoon.'

1 am staying in a small town by Oxford.
I am staying in a small town near Oxford.
.................................................. .............................
by = next to or very close to something: 'I've been sitting by the phone%ll
morning waiting for her to ring.' 'I'll meet you on the corner, by the bank.'
When talking about the position of towns, cities, countries etc, use near:
'I spent the first month in a little village called Farchant, near Garmen-
Partenkirchen.'

We can gain a lot of knowledge by these books;
We can gain a lot of knowledge from these books.
.................................................. .................................................. ....
You get information from a source: 'You can learn a great deal from a
good dictionary.' 'I obtained their new number from directory inquiries.'

Being locked up is a punishment by itself.
Being locked up is a punishment in itself.
.................................................. ..............
8 Money by itself is of no interest to me.
Money in itself is of no interest to me.
.................................................. ................................
in itself = without anything added: 'His offer to pay for the repairs is in
itself an admission of gui

Can you possibly send me an application form?
Could you possibly send me an application form?
.................................................. ............................................
? I'd be grateful if you can confirm whether you are coming.
I'd be grateful if you could confirm whether you are coming.
.................................................. .................................................. .....
To make a polite request, use could: 'Could you pass the butter,
please?'

The meeting has been cancelled until next Thursday.
The meeting has been postponed until next Thursday.
.................................................. .................................................. ..
cancel = arrange for a planned event not to take place after all: 'Five of
their players were either ill or injured, and so the match had to be
cancelled postpone = arrange for a planned event to take place at a later time or
date: 'We've decided to postpone the wedding until Steve has found a
job.

Her husband died 10 years ago of a lung cancer.
Her husband died 10 years ago of lung cancer.
.................................................. ..........................................
cancer (uncountable) = a type of serious disease: 'It is generally
believed that diet plays an important role in the prevention of cancer.'
'Skin cancer is related to prolonged exposure to sunlight.'
a cancer (countable) = an abnormal growth in someone's body which is
caused by this disease; tumour: 'Some small cancers may be destroyed
by the body's defence mechanisms.'

She is no longer capable to do her job properly.
She is no longer capable of doing her job properly.
.................................................. ................................
able to do sth: 'I hope you'll be able to come.'
capable of doing sth: 'She is quite capable of passing the exam,
provided that she does some work.'

Her blue eyes and long blond hair captured him. .A,
Her blue eyes and long blond hair captivated him. A,'
.................................................. .................................................. ...
capture = make someone a prisoner: 'That day they captured d e b
enemy soldiers.' 'The leader of the resistance group was captured and
executed.'
captivate = strongly attract and impress someone the day she
met him, she was captivated by his charm.'

The only thing they cared for was how to make money.
The only thing they cared about was how to make money.
.................................................. .............................................
It encourages readers to care for what they buy.
It encourages readers to care about what they buy.
.................................................. ..............................
Some criminals simply don't care of being caught.
Some criminals simply don't care about being caught.
.................................................. ........................
They don't take care about religion.
They don't care about religion.
.................................................. ...........................
care for = (1) (formal) like: 'Would you care for another drink?'
(2) = (usually adjectival or passive) look after: 'Don't worry. The child is
being well cared for.'
care (about) = think that something is important: 'I don't care (about)
how much it costs.' 'I don't care about the cost.'

Take care of not catching a cold.
Take care not to catch a cold.
.................................................. .........
You'd better take care of not offending her.
You'd better take care not to offend her.
.................................................. .......................................
Take care of means 'look after': 'Who's going to take care of the dog
while you're away?'
When you mean 'be careful to avoid something', use take care not to or
take care that you don't: 'He took great care not to let anyone know his
intentions