1. “Other”

Meaning: “Other” refers to something different or additional in a general sense and is usually used with plural or uncountable nouns.

• When to Use: Use “other” when you’re talking about more than one thing or something that is indefinite.
• Examples:
  • “I have other plans tonight.” (Different or additional plans)
  • “Do you have any other questions?” (More questions)
  • “There are many other things to do.” (Additional things)

2. “The Other”

Meaning: “The other” is used to refer to the remaining part of a specific set or to specify one thing or person in a pair or group.

• When to Use: Use “the other” when you are talking about something specific or the last part of a known group or set.
• Examples:
  • “I have two siblings. One is a doctor, and the other is a teacher.” (Specific reference to the second sibling)
  • “She took one apple; the other apples are still on the table.” (Referring to the rest of the apples in a defined group)
  • “I lost one glove, but I found the other.” (Referring to a specific pair)

3. “Another”

Meaning: “Another” means “one more” or “an additional one” and is used with singular countable nouns.

• When to Use: Use “another” when referring to an additional or different person or thing that is singular.
• Examples:
  • “I would like another cup of coffee.” (One more cup)
  • “Can we try another method?” (A different method)
  • “He bought another book yesterday.” (An additional book)

🔄 Comparison Summary Table

🎭 Helpful Analogy

Think of a box of chocolates 🍫:

• If you take one and see more chocolates, you might say, “I want other chocolates” (referring to any in general).
• If you pick one specific piece, you might say, “I want the other piece” (referring to one specific chocolate left or remaining).
• If you finish it and want one more, you’d say, “Can I have another chocolate?” (referring to one additional chocolate).

📝 Practice Time

Fill in the blanks with “other,” “the other,” or “another”:

1. “There are many _______ options available for dinner.”
2. “He ate one piece of cake, but left _______ piece for his friend.”
3. “I need _______ pen. This one is out of ink.”
4. “There were three books on the shelf. One was missing, and _______ two were still there.”

✅ Answers:

1. other
2. the other
3. another
4. the other

1. “On Top Of”

Meaning and Usage
“On top of” refers to a physical position where something is directly above and resting on the surface of something else. It emphasizes contact with the surface or the topmost position.

Examples:

• “The cat is sitting on top of the table.” (The cat is physically on the table’s surface.)
• “She placed the book on top of the stack.” (The book is on the highest point of the stack.)

Figurative Use
“On top of” can also be used in non-literal contexts to mean “in addition to” or “in control of.”

• “I have to finish this report on top of my other tasks.” (It means additional tasks to handle.)
• “He’s really on top of his work.” (It suggests he is managing his work well.)

2. “Over”

Meaning and Usage
“Over” generally means “above” but does not necessarily imply direct contact. It can describe something being at a higher position relative to something else, either in a physical or abstract sense. It can also indicate covering or motion across a surface.

Examples:

• “The bird flew over the lake.” (The bird was above the lake but not in contact with it.)
• “She placed a blanket over the child.” (The blanket is covering the child.)

Additional Uses

• Control or Supervision: “He has authority over his team.”
• Duration: “They talked over dinner.”
• Movement: “He jumped over the fence.”

Key Differences

1. Contact vs. No Contact:
   • “On top of” implies physical contact or being the uppermost part of something.
   • “Over” suggests being above or higher without implying contact.
2. Position vs. Motion/Control:
   • “On top of” is usually about position (literal or figurative stacking).
   • “Over” can refer to movement, coverage, duration, or control.

Practice Examples

1. “I placed the flower vase ___ the shelf.”
   (Hint: Contact involved)
2. “The helicopter hovered ___ the city.”
   (Hint: No contact but above)

Answers:

1. “on top of”
2. “over”

Key Difference

• “Most” is generally used when referring to a majority in a broad, general sense.
• “Most of” is used when referring to a specific subset or when there is a clearer reference to a defined group or quantity.

Detailed Breakdown

1. “Most” (General Use)
   • Meaning: Used to describe the majority without specifying a group or category in detail.
   • Examples:
     • “Most people enjoy ice cream.” (Referring to people in general.)
     • “Most birds can fly.” (Birds in a general, non-specific sense.)
   • Usage Tip: You can use “most” on its own when you don’t need to refer to a particular, identifiable group.
2. “Most of” (Specific Use)
   • Meaning: Refers to the majority of a specific group, and is often followed by articles (a, an, the), demonstratives (this, that), or possessive pronouns (my, his, etc.).
   • Examples:
     • “Most of the students passed the exam.” (Referring to a specific group: “the students.”)
     • “I ate most of the cake.” (Referring to a specific cake.)
     • “Most of my friends are traveling this summer.” (Referring to a defined subset: “my friends.”)
   • Usage Tip: Use “most of” when referring to a particular or defined group, or when using specific determiners.

Examples for Clarity

• General Statement (Using “Most”):
  • “Most cats like to chase mice.” (General statement about cats.)
• Specific Statement (Using “Most of”):
  • “Most of the cats in our neighborhood have collars.” (Referring specifically to the cats in the neighborhood.)

Common Mistakes and Tips

• Incorrect: “Most of people like music.”
  • Correct: “Most people like music.”
• Incorrect: “Most the time, I walk to work.”
  • Correct: “Most of the time, I walk to work.”

Tip: When you are referring to a general case, use “most.” When you are talking about a defined group or something identifiable, use “most of.”

Practice Time! 📝

Fill in the blanks with “most” or “most of”:

1. _______ children enjoy playing games.
2. _______ the cookies were eaten by the guests.
3. _______ my classmates are planning to attend the event.
4. _______ days, I prefer to work from home.

Answers:

1. Most children enjoy playing games.
2. Most of the cookies were eaten by the guests.
3. Most of my classmates are planning to attend the event.
4. Most days, I prefer to work from home.

Key Difference Between “Till” and “Until”

“Till” and “until” both mean the same thing: they express up to a certain point in time. You can use either word interchangeably in most situations without changing the meaning of the sentence. However, “until” is generally considered slightly more formal, while “till” is more common in informal writing and speech.

Structured Breakdown

1. “Until”
   • This word is used in both spoken and written English, especially in formal contexts.
   • Example sentences:
     • “I will wait here until you return.”
     • “The meeting lasted until noon.”
   • “Until” can be used to show a continuous action or state up to a specific time.
2. “Till”
   • “Till” is actually a more informal way of saying “until.” It’s not a shortened form of “until,” despite the common misconception—it predates “until” historically.
   • Example sentences:
     • “I won’t sleep till you come home.”
     • “She worked on the project till midnight.”
   • This version is perfectly acceptable in everyday conversation, casual writing, and even in poetic language.

Practical Note

• “Till” is sometimes incorrectly written as “’til” or “til,” but these forms are less common and not technically correct in standard usage.

When to Use Each One

• If you’re writing a formal letter, report, or academic text, “until” might feel more appropriate due to its formality.
• In conversations, informal writing, or dialogue in stories, “till” is a natural and common choice.

Examples to Clarify

1. Formal Context:
   • “The store is open until 10 PM.”
   • “You can remain seated until the presentation is over.”
2. Informal Context:
   • “I’ll be here till you come back.”
   • “She won’t stop working till she’s finished.”

Quick Tip

Think of “till” and “until” as interchangeable tools for talking about time. Just remember to pick “until” if you need a bit of a formal touch!

Practice Time!

Fill in the blanks with “till” or “until”:

1. We have to wait _______ the rain stops.
2. He worked _______ late in the evening.
3. The kids played outside _______ it got dark.
4. You won’t know the results _______ next week.

✅ Answers:

1. until
2. till
3. until
4. until

The term “freelance” has an interesting history rooted in medieval times! It originates from the words “free” and “lance.”

The word first appeared in English during the early 19th century, around 1820. It referred to a **mercenary soldier** who was not committed to any lord or master and could be hired out to anyone willing to pay for their services. “Lance” was a reference to the weapon commonly used by knights and soldiers, while “free” indicated the individual’s independence from feudal ties or long-term service obligations.

The term “freelance” then evolved to describe **any self-employed professional** who works on various assignments or contracts without being tied to a single employer. This shift reflects the transition from literal combat to a broader range of work and skill sets, maintaining the idea of independence at its core. Today, freelancers are often associated with creative, technical, and consulting fields, applying their skills across multiple projects and clients.