Archives: November 2019

Prof. Kev Nair's Tips on English Usage

COMPREHENSIVE FLUENT-ENGLISH USAGE™


November 6, 2019

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“look forward to” OR “look forwards to”?: What’s the correct usage?

Copyright © Kev Nair 2019. All rights reserved.

We saw one thing in the last week’s tip on English usage: We saw that you can say “you look forward to something” or “you look forward to doing something” when you hope for something to happen and expect to enjoy it.

Here are two of the examples we saw:

They looked forward to the photo exhibition/ holiday/ comedy show.

They looked forward to going to the photo exhibition/ holiday/ comedy show.

Now, here’s something you should be very careful about: The word you should use is “forward” (without an ‘s’ at the end), and not “forwards” (with an ‘s’).

That is, say “look forward to” (without an ‘s’), but never “look forwards to” (with an ‘s’). Never. Here are some examples:

We’ve been looking forward / forwards to their visit/ the meeting/ the New Year.

She looked forward / forwards to the birth of her new baby/ her weekend trip.

Are you looking forward / forwards to the evening/ your new job/ your retirement?

They looked forward / forwards to going to the photo exhibition/ holiday/ comedy show.

It’s our annual dinner next Sunday, and we’re looking forward / forwards to having you as our chief guest.

They were all looking forward / forwards to seeing you last evening.

Copyright © Kev Nair 2019. All rights reserved.


November 20, 2019

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“key to do” something OR “key to doing” something?: What’s the correct usage?

Copyright © Kev Nair 2019. All rights reserved.

We often want to say that something we point out is the most important factor that helps us succeed in something, or in understanding a situation or in achieving a result, or in explaining a mystery.

When you want to express this meaning, you can say: “It’s the key to doing something”. Yes, “doing”, with an “-ing”.

Take note: Grammatically speaking, what follows “key tohere is a verb phrase.

But mind you, you should not say: “It’s the key to do something”. You must only say: “It’s the key to doing something” (with an “-ing”) – and NOT “key to do something”. Always avoid “key to do something”.

Grammatically speaking, when you use a verb after “key to”, you should use the “-ing” form of the verb, and not its basic form – that is, the form without the “-ing”.

Let’s look at a few examples:

That knife turned out to be the key to solving/ solve the murder/ mystery.

His attitude might become the key to resolving/ resolve these issues.

Be always devoted to your duty. That devotion is the key to achieving / achieve success in this field.

The price you quote may not always be the key to getting/ get a contract.

That telephone call was the key to making/ make the meeting possible.

Stop being reckless. That’s the key to avoiding/ avoid losses in this business.

You can also express the same meaning by saying that “… is the key to something”. The difference here is this: Grammatically speaking, what follows “the key to” is a noun phrase.

Let’s look at a few examples:

Mutual trust seems to be the key to their stable relationship.

What was the key to his confidence during the presentation he made? Careful preparation?

Attention is the key to conscious awareness.

I think the key to his success is hard work.

Courage in adversity – what could be the key to that courage?

Copyright © Kev Nair 2019. All rights reserved.


November 27, 2019

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“tell” OR “say”?: What’s the correct usage?

Copyright © Kev Nair 2019. All rights reserved.

Here’s an interesting difference in the usages of “tell” and “say”:

Suppose you want to speak some words and to state who the addressee/ hearer/ receiver of the information is. Then the verb you should normally use is “tell”, and not “say”.

He told us that he was coming back.

He told the boss he didn’t want it.

“I love you”. That’s what she told him.

“This is as easy as ABC”, he told me.

What did he actually tell you?

But suppose you want to speak some words without stating who the addressee/ hearer/ receiver of the information is. Then the verb you should use is “say”, and not “tell”.

He said (said us/ said to us) that he was coming back.

He said (said the boss/ said to the boss) he didn’t want it.

“I love you”. That’s what she said (said him/ said to him).

“This is as easy as ABC”, he said (said me/ said to me).

What did he actually say (said you/ to you)?

Copyright © Kev Nair 2019. All rights reserved.