1. She took an hour getting ready . (quoted from A Dictionary of Answers to Common Questions in English , by Zhao Zhencai, a Chinese professor of English.) 2. She took an hour to get ready . What's the difference in meaning between the

1. The government spent a lot of time to help make this land better. 2. He spent great efforts to help me. 3. You don't have to spend a lot to be fashionable. 4. The company spends a large sum of money to make advertisements every

1. You have told him about the car accident. 2. You have been telling him about the car accident. What's the difference in meaning between the above two sentences?

If you go now, ___ you arrive there, he will still be taking an afternoon nap. You had better wait a little while. (A) by the time (B) when Which choice is correct?

John: Where have you been? Mary: I ___ in the library. (A) was (B) have been Which choice is correct?

1. Jenny has more shoes than Peter. 2. Jenny's shoes are more than Peter's. Is #2 also acceptable?

1. He need do it only under these circumstances. 2. That is all he need know. 3. He wonders if he need go. According to a grammar book written by a Chinese, the above three stentences are all correct. Do you agree?

1. I like you a lot. 2. I like you very much. 3. It rained a lot last night. 4. It rained very much last night. 5. I slept a lot. 6. I slept very much. 7. I come here a lot. 8. I come here very much. Which of the above sentences is NOT

Usage Note : A traditional usage rule draws a distinction between comparisons using as . . . as and comparisons using so . . . as. The rule states the so . . . as construction is required in negative sentences (as in Shakespeare's

1. Is he as old as I? 2. Is he so old as I? #1 is correct. Is #2 also acceptable?