This week we’re going to look at two words which have some dissimilarities on both sides of the pond (The Atlantic Ocean). Lend and loan are semantically similar as they refer to borrowing something (often loan is used with money), but in America loan can be used as a verb whereas this is not so common in Britain, where loan is usually only used as a noun. However, there are numerous instances where both are now accepted in standard English.
For example,

Could you possibly lend me your umbrella?
Could you possibly loan me your umbrella?

One other difference between these two words is that only lend can be used in a metaphorical way. For example:

Can you lend me a hand?

We can NOT say “Can you loan me a hand?” But if you want to lend or loan me any money, then please feel free to do so

~Rob

Today we look at two identical words except for an apostrophe. It’s and its sound exactly the same but mean very different things. The first one, it’s is the contracted form of “it is”, so the apostrophe is a substitute for the letter “i” in the verb “is”. However, the second word (its) is the possessive form of ‘it’. Take these following sentences as an example:

1) It’s great to be on holiday (it is great to be on holiday)
2) The company was hit hard by the scandal and its reputation was forever damaged (its = the reputation of the company)

So, it’s time for me to sign off now, as my brain needs its rest

~Rob

Let’s take a look at two words this week that can be very easily confused: many people have problems with flounder and founder.

Flounder is easy to remember by thinking of a similar word, blunder, which suggests one is moving about in a confused state or in a clumsy way. For example, Rob floundered through his first years in Japan without studying the language, but after entering school and making a concerted effort*, he finally became fluent (in Japanese).

The other word, founder, in its foremost meaning refers to the idea of sinking below the surface of water. By a logical enhancement of this meaning, it can also be used to indicate that something has completely failed. So, compare these two examples:

1. The boy was an inexperienced swimmer and he foundered after being taken too far out into the sea on a current.
2. As the business opportunities began to dry up and the clients disappeared, the company gradually foundered.

So, work and study hard, and I’m sure you won’t flounder

~Rob

concerted effort* = This means to focus and concentrate and try very hard.

Forward and foreword; two words that sound similar but have totally different meanings.

Forward can be either an adjective or adverb and it means going toward the front direction. For example, you can only step forward when it’s your turn. This word can also be used as a verb that means to send something on. Moreover, you can see this function on your email software. So, I must forward this email to all of my contacts because I found it so funny. The other word, foreword, has a slightly longer pronunciation in the second part of it. It is a noun and it refers to a preface which is the same as an introductory note that is usually found at the beginning of books. For example, the foreword to Freire’s classic book “Pedagogy of the Oppressed” is written by Richard Shaull

So, if someone forwards you a foreword, be sure to read it

~Rob

This week we look at the following words: flaunt and flout. They can be particularly tricky because even educated native speakers of English get them mixed up easily! Both words are verbs and the first one, to flaunt means blow one’s own trumpet, which is an idiom meaning to show off without caring what anybody thinks of you. For example, Bob and Rob think they know a lot about English and as such are keen to flaunt their knowledge of grammatical structures. The other word, to flout, means to show contempt or dislike for something or someone. This word often collocates with ‘rules’. For example, my friend was a bit rebellious in high school and used to flout all of the school rules.

So either way, the best advice is to avoid flaunting your body and don’t flout the rules

~Rob

This week, we look at two words that are in fact the same in meaning, or, to put it another way, synonymous.

We can use flammable and inflammable interchangeably, because they are actually the same. Both words mean that something is easy to set on fire. For example, the toxic gas was highly flammable. OR the toxic gas was highly inflammable. If you want to say something does not burn easily, or if something is flame resistant, then you should use the word nonflammable. For example, material and fabrics on clothes that are sold in the USA must pass certain nonflammable tests.

Many native English speakers confuse these words, so, just remember that flammable and inflammable are the same, and the opposite of these two fiery words is nonflammable.

~Rob

This week I try to answer a question raised by one of The Bob and Rob Show’s newest members. Denisson, who is from Brazil, asks about the usage of the words scare, frighten and other synonyms connected with afraid. Which one is used in a formal situation? Which one has the most powerful meaning in phrases? Are there any subtle differences between these words at all? Well, here goes:

Frighten and scare are both verbs that mean to cause someone to experience fear. They are the most common ways to express this. However, the former, frighten, is a little more formal than the latter, scare. Furthermore, scare may mean to frighten without any real danger or threat. For example, I was really scared when I saw the horror movie. Also, the informal nature of this word can be seen in rude slang and taboo words: to be scared shitless, to scare the shit out of something / someone, to be scared out of your mind / pants, to be shit scared, to be scared stiff. For example: I was absolutely scared shitless when I did my first parachute jump.

The word terrify suggests an overwhelming sense of fear that is almost paralyzing and takes control over you. For example, I was terrified when I saw the bus coming straight for us. The word terrorize suggests a continued and deliberate form of intimidation so as to instill fear and gain control. For example: “the local gangs terrorized the poor neighborhood.”

The word alarm suggests the usually sudden feeling of apprehension and anxiety of an unexpected danger. For example: “the screams from the tunnel alarmed the people walking by.”

Of course there are other similar words too, such as startle, shock, panic, dread and appall. But my advice is to remember two points: 1) frighten and scare are the most common, and 2) don’t be afraid to make mistakes when speaking English.

Don’t forget that if you have any questions about grammar, word usage or any other language point, please send them in and we’ll try to get to them either on one of the shows or on the blog.

~Rob

The two words that we look at this week are fairly easy to distinguish and are helpful words to know. When you use them, you will certainly sound more intellectual, so try to add them to your vocabulary bank.

The first word, literally, is an adverb that is used to emphasize that something is actually true. For example, “the 2006 World Cup, which Italy won by the way, was literally watched by billions of people”. Furthermore, it means according to the exact meaning or most basic meaning of a word or expression. For example, “I was so angry that I told him to jump off a cliff, but I didn’t literally mean it”.

Figuratively, on the other hand, is an adverb that is used to draw a picture in your mind by using a word in a different way to that which it usually refers to. In other words, it is used metaphorically or symbolically. For example, “What with the podcast, academic papers to write, research and teaching, Bob and Rob are definitely up to their eyes in* work, figuratively speaking of course”.

So, if you literally take this little lesson to heart, you’ll hopefully have learned something.

~Rob

* if you are up to your eyes in something, then you are extremely busy with that particular activity.

This week we look at two words that are often difficult to distinguish for both native and non-native English speakers. Further and farther are often interchanged, but it is a mistake to do so. Further is both an adjective and adverb . It means ‘additionally’, ‘moreover’ or ‘furthermore’. These words are often used in academic papers when presenting evidence for a hypothesis. For example, “bilingual development depends enormously on linguistic input. Further, the social environment in which it takes place is an essential factor.”

Furthermore, it also means to or at a greater extent or degree. For example, “Peace will be impossible to attain without further compromise from both sides.”
Farther, on the other hand, is also an adjective and adverb but it means to or at a more distant point or place. For example, “the mountaineers scaled 600 meters today on Everest. If they are to reach camp 2 tomorrow, they have to climb 900 meters farther.”

~Rob

This week we analyze emigrant and immigrant, two very similar sounding words with different meanings.

The first word, emigrant, is a noun that describes someone who has left their native homeland in order to settle in another country: For example, “many emigrants left their European home nations in the nineteenth century and headed to the land of opportunity in the US of A”.

The second word, immigrant, is also a noun but this word describes someone who has already entered and settled in another country and has already embarked on a new life there. For example, “it is often the case that many new immigrants can only find low paying manual jobs.”

Furthermore, when these words are changed to verbs, we can see a similar difference in meaning. Try to remember the difference by comparing these ideas: Someone emigrates from a place, but someone immigrates to another.

~Rob