Relax, Refresh your English knowledge 125
538. What is the difference between `among' and `amongst'?
As far as the meaning is concerned, there is no difference between the two words, and very often the two are used interchangeably. When you are among/amongst a group of people, you are surrounded by them. Some people argue that `amongst' is rather old fashioned and should not be used. Careful users of the language maintain that `amongst', when used, should come at the beginning of sentences. When it occurs in the middle, it should be used before words beginning with vowels.
539. What is the difference between `too' and `very'?
If someone were to say to you, `You are very short', he is merely stating a fact. He is telling you that you are rather short. Perhaps you are only five feet tall. He is not comparing you with anyone or anything. If he says, `You are too short', it suggests that you are shorter than necessary for something. Perhaps what the person is trying to tell you is that you are too short to play basketball. You may be five feet ten inches, but you are not tall enough to play basketball. You do not have the adequate height to play the game. The word `too' carries with it the meaning `more than enough', `more than wanted' and `more than necessary'. After an interview, if you were to say, `The questions were very difficult', what you mean is that the questions were extremely hard, but perhaps you did manage to answer them. On the other hand, if you were to say, `The questions were too difficult', what you mean is that the questions were so difficult that you couldn't answer them. *Though it was very hot, the kids played cricket all day long. *It was too hot to play cricket. The kids stayed home and watched TV. *Your daughter is very intelligent. She will do well in the exam. *Your son is too intelligent for this class. I think he needs to be moved up.
540. What are the Siamese twins of the English language?
Expressions like `to and fro', `safe and sound', `take it or leave it', and `rhyme or reason' are some of the Siamese twins of the English language. They are usually expressions joined together by `and' or `or'. Like the twins, the two words in these expressions are inseparable; their order is fixed and they have only one meaning. You cannot say, `sound and safe' or `leave it or take it'.
A collection from the Open Page Supplement of The Hindu Newspaper
Courtesy: Sri Upendra, the writer of the above
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