Insist

Insist on (doing) sth: ‘He insisted on paying for the meal himself.’

Insist that sb (should) do sth: ‘He insisted that he (should) pay for the meal himself.’

Information

Information about/on something (NOT of/for): ‘These files contain detailed information about our overseas customers.’ ‘Would you please send me more information about the course?’ ‘The pamphlet provides a lot of information on recent changes to the tax laws.’

Infant

Infant (= a baby or very young child) is used mainly in literary and technical styles: ‘The infant began to cry again.’ ‘There are clear differences in temperament and speed of learning among infants at this early stage.’

Indoor

Indoor (WITHOUT s) is an adjective: ‘An indoor tennis court’, ‘Their new house has an indoor swimming pool.’

Indoor (WITH s) is an adverb: ‘I don’t like spending the whole day indoors.’ ‘In rainy days we play indoors.’

Incapable

Lacking capacity or ability to do something: ‘James is incapable of staying awake after ten o’clock.’ ‘He is incapable of understanding the matter.’

Important

Important= of great significance or value: ‘Important people’

If you care or think about something a lot, use ‘to’ after important (NOT for): ‘The watch is very important to me because it belonged to my grandmother.’ ‘English is very important for my career.’

Ill

Ill (= sick) is usually used after a verb: ‘I told the doctor that I felt ill.’ ‘His father is seriously ill.’

Before a noun, use sick: ‘Your father is a very sick man.’

Seriously ill (NOT badly): ‘So far three people have died and five more are seriously ill.’

How do you do

‘How do you do’ = an expression of greeting. It is used in spoken English as a polite way of greeting a stranger or someone you do not know very well. It is not used in written English.

‘How are you’ = an informal greeting. It is used in both spoken and written English.

Household

Household = all the people living together in a house or flat: ‘Be quiet or you’ll wake the whole household’.

Housework = all the jobs that have to be done regularly to keep a house or flat clean and tidy: ‘My husband and I share all the housework between us.’

Horizon

Your horizons (WITH - s) = the range of things that you are involved or interested in; the range of interest or activity that can be anticipated: ‘As a politician, his horizons extend no further than the next election.’

On the horizon (the line at which the sky and earth appear to meet) (NOT in): ‘The sun was setting on the horizon.’ ‘The tiny light looked like a star on the horizon.’

Holiday

Holiday= Leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure: ‘We took a short holiday in Goa.’

Speakers of British English use (be/go) on holiday, (return/get back) from holiday (WITHOUT -s): ‘I met her while I was on holiday in Switzerland.’ ‘We’re supposed to be going on holiday with them.’

The plural form holidays is usually used with the/my/your etc.: ‘Where are you going for your holiday/s this year?’ ‘During the long summer holiday/s some students get a part-time job.’

Hit

Hit= (1) cause to move by striking: ‘Hit a ball’ (2) come into sudden contact with: ‘The car hit a tree.’(3) deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument: ‘He hit her hard in the face.’

Knock over = hit something by accident so that it falls from a standing position: ‘The cat jumped up onto the table and knocked over a full glass of red wine.’

Hinder

Hinder= cause to prevent or slow down or stop the progress, development, growth, or accomplishment of something: ‘Higher interest rates could hinder economic growth.’ ‘Heavy rains hindered the expedition’s progress.’

Prevent (or stop) sb from doing sth = make it impossible for someone to do something: ‘He removed the ignition key to prevent them from leaving.’

Help

Can’t/ couldn't help doing sth: ‘I couldn’t help laughing when I saw what he was doing.’

Help is usually an uncountable noun: ‘Do you want some help?’ ‘She doesn’t like asking for help.’

Health

Health is an uncountable noun: ‘Worry can affect your health.’ ‘Nothing in life is more important than good health.’

Handle

Handle sb/sth (WITHOUT with): ‘We’ve decided to let our lawyer handle the case.’ ‘That is surely not the way to handle something so fragile.’

Halt

Come to a halt; stop moving (NOT get): ‘The car came to a halt at the bottom of the hill.’ ‘Don’t stand up until the bus comes to a halt.’

Habit

Acquire/ adopt/develop/get into a habit (NOT take): ‘She had a habit of twirling the ends of her hair.’ ‘It is very difficult to give up a habit.’

Guidance

Guidance is an uncountable noun. Guidance = direction or helpful suggestions regarding a decision or future course of action: ‘The council provides guidance and support for students wishing to study abroad.’ ‘I greatly appreciate all your help and guidance.’

Golden

Golden is used in idiomatic expressions such as ‘a golden opportunity’. ‘a golden handshake’, ‘golden moments’, and in the phrase ‘golden hair’ (used mainly in literary styles)

To describe something that is made of gold or is the color of gold, use gold: ‘a gold bracelet’

Glad

Glad = (1) showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy: ‘I am glad that they succeeded in their endeavor.’ (2) Eagerly disposed to act or to be of service: ‘glad to help’

To make a formal request, use would be grateful if (NOT glad): ‘We would be grateful if you could consider this matter at your earliest convenience.’

Glad (not used in front of a noun) = pleased and happy about something in particular: ‘I’m so glad your mother is feeling better.’

Gain

Earn or (especially in informal styles) get/make (a sum of) money by going to work, from investments, etc. (NOT gain): ‘She earns $ 4,000 a month.’ ‘Without a job, it’s impossible to earn any money.’

Gain= (1) derive a benefit from: ‘She gained from his vast experience.’(2) increase (one’s body weight): ‘She gained 20 pounds when she stopped exercising.’ (3) increase or develop: ‘The religious movement gained momentum.’ (4) rise in rate or price: ‘The stock market gained 24 points today.’

Furniture

Furniture is an uncountable noun. Furniture= the movable, generally functional, articles that equip a room, house, etc.: ‘We need some new furniture for the lounge.’ ‘There was only one piece of furniture in the room.’

Frightened

Frighten (transitive) = make someone afraid; cause fear in: ‘Take that silly mask off, you are frightening the baby.’ ‘The stranger who hangs around the building frightens me.’

Be frightened = be afraid: ‘Don’t be frightened. It’s only thunder.’

Forever

Forever = continually; all the time: ‘Nobody lives forever.’

For ever = for always: ‘He promised that he would love me forever and a day.’

Forbid

Forbid= command a person not to do something or have something (Forbid +sb+to do/from doing sth): ‘My parents forbid me to stay out after ten o’clock.’

Ban (or prohibit) = forbid someone from doing something by making it illegal: ‘The proposed treaty banning all nuclear testing has received widespread approval.’ ‘International Law prohibits the use of chemical weapons.’