Understanding Usage

How is language used differently in different situa

tions?
Standard and nonstandard English
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
Words with related meanings
Formal and informal English
Review A
Review B

How is language used differently in

different situations?
People dont speak and write the exact same way
all the time.
You probably speak to your
friends in a different way than
you speak to your teachers.

Your e-mails probably dont

look anything like your
school essays.

How is language used differently in

different situations?
The way you use English will usually depend upon
your audience and your purpose.
Audience

Purpose

To whom are you

speaking or writing?

Why are you speaking

or writing?

Standard and nonstandard English

The kind of English you are expected to use in
school is called standard English.

Standard English is
grammatically correct
used in both formal and casual situations

Standard and nonstandard English

Nonstandard English is suitable in casual
speaking situations.

Nonstandard does not mean wrong. It means

not appropriate in situations where standard
English is expected, such as at school.
[End of Section]

Words confused or misused

Words with similar sounds

Learning standard English means learning to use

words that are often confused or misused. This can
be hard because there are many words that sound
alike but mean different things.
Its or

Its

Their or There or Theyre

Whose or Whos ?

Words confused or misused

Words with similar sounds

Its/its
Its is the possessive form of the pronoun it.
The raccoon washed its face.

Its is the contraction of it is or it has.

Its a cloudy day.
Its been a good trip.

its = it is
its = it has

Words confused or misused

Words with similar sounds

Its/its
it is

My cousin has a pet bird. Its a parrot,

and its name is Bella.
belonging
to Bella

Words confused or misused

Words with similar sounds

Their/there/theyre
Their is the possessive form of they.
The children happily flew
their kite.

There is used to mean at that

place or to begin a sentence.
We are going there soon.
There are five theaters in town.

at that place
begins sentence

Words confused or misused

Words with similar sounds

Their/there/theyre
Theyre is a contraction of they are.

Theyre the two best players

on our team.

Words confused or misused

Words with similar sounds

Their/there/theyre
They are

belonging
to them

Theyre going to start their garden over there.

at that
place

Words confused or misused

Words with similar sounds

Your/youre
Your is the possessive form of you.
Your Fourth of July picnic
was great!

Youre is a contraction of you are.

Youre a good friend.

Words confused or misused

Words with similar sounds

Youre/your
you are

If youre planning to walk home,

bring your boots.
belongin
g to you

Words confused or misused

Words with similar sounds

Whose/whos
Whose is the possessive form of who.
Whose backpack is that?

Whos is a contraction of who is or who has.

Whos the new student?
Whos been using the phone?

whos = who is
whos = who has

Words confused or misused

Words with similar sounds

Whose/whos
who is

belonging
to whom

Whos the woman whose home flooded?

Words confused or misused

Words with similar sounds

Could of/should of
Do not write of after could, should, would, might,
or must.
Write could have, not could of.
Judy could have
helped
us rake.
of helped
us rake.

Write should have, not should of.

We should have
started
earlier.
of started
earlier.

Words confused or misused

Words with similar sounds

On Your Own
Some of the following sentences contain errors in the use
of standard English. Find and correct each error. If a
sentence is already correct, label it C.
1. Do you think its a good day for your hike?
2. Let me know when your ready to go.
3. Jamal should of shown up on time.
4. Theyre leaving for their vacation tomorrow.
5. Whos raincoat is lying there on the floor?

[End of Section]

Words confused or misused

Words with related meanings

Some pairs of words are confusing because their

meanings are so close to each other.
Bring/take
Bring means to come
carrying something.
Please bring the lemonade to me.

Take means to go
carrying something.
Take those boxes when you go.

Words confused or misused

Words with related meanings

Fewer/less
Fewer is used with plural nouns.
Did you say that fewer plants
grow here than there?

plur
al

noun

Less is used with singular nouns.

Desert plants require less water
than most other plants.

sing
ular
noun

Fewer tells how many. Less tells

how much.

Words confused or misused

Words with related meanings

Good/well
Good is an adjective and modifies a noun. Do
not use good to modify a verb. Use the adverb
adj.
well.
Mimi is a good athlete.
noun
adverb

She plays soccer well.

verb

Words confused or misused

Words with related meanings

Good/well
Well is usually an adverb that means ably,
but it is also used as an adjective to mean
healthy.
adj.

adverb

Kim danced well today.

Verb
adverb meaning
ably

Kim feels well now.

Noun
adjective meaning
healthy

Words confused or misused

Words with related meanings

On Your Own

Some of the following sentences contain errors in the

use of standard English. Find and correct each error.
If a sentence is already correct, label it C.
1. Please eat less cookies and more vegetables.
2. The goalie played good at yesterdays game.
3. Bring the paper with you when you go to
Grandmas house.
4. Go rest if you dont feel well.
[End of Section]

Formal and informal English

Formal English is language that is appropriate in
serious speaking and writing situations.
Hello. How are
you today?

Informal English is
correct language that is
common in everyday
communication, such as
speaking or writing to a
friend.

Hey. Hows
it goin?

Formal and informal English

Speeches at ceremonies
When is formal
English
expected?

Serious papers, reports

Tests and exams

Everyday conversations
Personal letters, e-mails
Journal entries
Some newspaper or
magazine writing

When is
informal
English okay?

Formal and informal English

How are formal and informal English different?
Formal English

Informal English

Sentences:

Sentences:

Longer and more

complex

Shorter and simpler

Word choice:

Includes slang and

contractions

Precise, sometimes
technical or scientific
Tone:
More serious, dignified

Word choice:

Tone:
Conversational, casual

Formal and informal English

Many words and phrases that
are fine in informal situations
should be avoided in formal
situations.
How come
In formal situations, use why.
Informal
Formal

How come geese migrate?

Why do geese migrate?

Formal and informal English

Kind of/sort of
In formal situations, use rather or somewhat.
Informal

The bread is kind of stale.

Formal

The bread is rather stale.

Formal and informal English

Try and
In formal situations, use try to.
Informal
Ill try and answer all your
questions.
Formal
Ill try to answer all your
questions.

Formal and informal English

On Your Own

Review each sentence. Change informal English to

formal English. If the sentence is written with formal
English, write F.
1. The story Jen wrote is kind of funny.
2. My dad wants me to try and clean my entire room
in one afternoon.
3. This soup is rather spicy.
4. How come you were late for the game?
[End of Section]

Review A
For each sentence, choose the correct word in parentheses,
according to formal, standard usage.
1. Cory danced (good/well) in the school musical.
2. I borrowed (fewer/less) books from the library this week
than I did last week.
3. At the zoo we watched a snake shed (its/its) skin.
4. Jaime (should of/should have) talked to me about the
problem.
5. Turn (your/youre) test in when (your/youre) finished.

[End of Section]

Review B
For each sentence, circle any incorrect or informal usage.
Write C if a sentence is correct according to formal, standard
usage.
1. This orange tastes kind of sour to me.
2. Mr. Romero accepted the award and gave a speech.
3. Dont forget to take your helmet and knee pads with you
to the skate park.
4. Please try and get here earlier next time.
5. Do you know how come there always late for school?

[End of Section]

The End