Small Changes, Big Differences in English: (Upper Int – Advanced)
Last weekend, one of my students, David, went to a restaurant and the waiter offered him a bottle of wine on the house.
When the bill arrived, David was surprised to see that they hadn’t charged him for the wine. He thought house wine and wine on the house meant the same thing!
Later, after speaking to me, his English teacher, he discovered that there’s actually a big difference…
1.Man eating shark vs Man-eating shark
man eating shark
A man is eating shark meat.
We saw a man eating shark in a restaurant near the beach.
man-eating shark
A shark that eats people.
The beach was closed because of a man-eating shark.
2. Working lunch vs Lunch at work
working lunch
A lunch where people continue talking about work or business.
We had a working lunch to discuss the new project.
lunch at work
Your normal lunch while you are at your workplace.
I usually have lunch at work around 1pm.
3. Look up vs Look up to
look up
Search for information.
I looked up the word online.
look up to
Admire or respect someone.
He has always looked up to his older brother.
4. Working hard vs Hardly working
working hard
Putting in a lot of effort.
She’s working hard for her exams.
hardly working
Doing very little work.
Everyone else was busy, but he was hardly working.
Quick Test — Do You Understand the Difference?
Choose the best answer.
1. The waiter said the dessert was “on the house”.
a) It was the restaurant’s standard dessert
b) It was free
c) It was very expensive
2. Which sentence means the shark eats people?
a) We saw a man eating shark.
b) We saw a man-eating shark.
3. Which sentence describes a business lunch?
a) We had a working lunch with the marketing team.
b) We had lunch at work.
4. Which sentence means someone is lazy?
a) He’s working hard today.
b) He’s hardly working today.
5. Which sentence means “admire”?
a) I really look up to my manager.
b) I need to look up the word.
ANSWERS
Answers
1.
b) It was free
2.
b) We saw a man-eating shark.
3.
a) We had a working lunch with the marketing team.
4.
b) He’s hardly working today.
5.
a) I really look up to my manager.
Gap Fill Activity
Choose the correct option.
1.
The waiter told us the drinks were __________.
a) house wine
b) on the house
2.
We ordered the __________ because it was the cheapest option on the menu.
a) house wine
b) wine on the house
3.
The documentary was about a __________.
a) man eating shark
b) man-eating shark
4.
At the restaurant, we saw a __________.
a) man eating shark
b) man-eating shark
5.
We had a __________ to discuss the new marketing strategy.
a) working lunch
b) lunch at work
6.
I usually have __________ at my desk.
a) working lunch
b) lunch at work
7.
Everyone else was busy, but Tom was __________.
a) working hard
b) hardly working
8.
She’s __________ because her exams are next week.
a) working hard
b) hardly working
9.
If you don’t understand the word, __________ online.
a) look it up
b) look up to
10.
A lot of young players __________ their coach.
a) look up
b) look up to
ANSWERS
Answers
1.
b) on the house
2.
a) house wine
3.
b) man-eating shark
4.
a) man eating shark
5.
a) working lunch
6.
b) lunch at work
7.
b) hardly working
8.
a) working hard
9.
a) look up
10.
b) look up to
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