More, less and fewer

The word ‘more’ is used to form the comparative of many adjectives and adverbs that have two or more syllables.

• A more expensive travel.
  
• A more beautiful place.
  

More is used as a quantifier.

• Geetha spends more money.
  
• Is there any more coffee?
  
• She needs a bit more advice.
  

The opposite of ‘more’ is ‘fewer’ for countable nouns and ‘less’ for uncountable nouns.

• Victor takes less exercise.
  
• Anil eats fewer biscuits.

Salary, income, wage and pay

Salary is a fixed, regular payment for work.
It is the money received each month. It is often expressed as the total amount in a year.

Sara’s salary is Rs.1 Lakh per annum (Rupees one Lac per year).


Income is the total amount of money earned by working, from investments etc.

Reenu’s monthly income is Rs.20 000/-


Wage is the amount of money received everyday or week.

Ravi’s weekly wage is Rs.5000/-


Pay is a word generally used for the money received for working.

Seniors usually get more pay than juniors.

Rise, raise, say, tell, ill and sick

Rise and raise, say and tell, ill and sick

Rise and raise

The price of oil is rising.
(The verb ‘rise’ is not followed by an object.)

The merchants are raising the price of oil.
(The verb ‘rise’ is followed by an object.)

Say and tell

‘Say’ refers to any type of speech.
He said, “Good morning”.

‘Tell’ is followed by the person receiving the information.
He told her to smile.

Ill and sick

I feel ill (British English)

I feel sick (American English)

Business communication in English

Difference between normal communication and business communication

• Normal Communication: Can you tell me your address?
• Business Communication: Can you help me with your address?
  
• Normal Communication: He spoke to me in detail.
• Business Communication: We had a meeting.
  
• Normal Communication: Can you speak loudly?
• Business Communication: I am not able to hear you.
  
• Normal Communication: Sita has told that she will come at 10 pm.
• Business Communication: Sita is scheduled to come at 10 pm.
  
• Normal Communication: Five men had come to inquire about our product.
• Business Communication: There are five potential customers.
  
• Normal Communication: I like his advice.
• Business Communication: I like his analysis.
  
• Normal Communication: Speak to him and get our phone repaired.
• Business Communication: Co-ordinate with him and get our phone working.
  
• Normal Communication: In my letter to Mr. John.
• Business Communication: In my written communication to Mr. John.
  

Asking or requesting to say again

Method of expressing the lack of understanding : English conversation

You can ask or request to repeat the last said words in a conversation, when you don’t understand or you couldn’t hear properly.

Here are some easy ways.

• Pardon?
• Pardon me?
• Beg your pardon!
• I beg your pardon!
• Sorry?
• I’m sorry. I don’t understand what you just said.
• Excuse me?
• What did you say?
• What was that?
• Say what?
• Come again?
• Say again?
• Pass that by me again?
• I simply don’t catch what you’re saying.
• I’m afraid I don’t follow.
• I’m not clear about what you mean.
• I’m unclear about what you mean.

Levels of spoken English / English fluency

• English fluency can not be reached within a few days.
• It may take months or some times years.
• No one can clearly define what the upper limit is.
• Some people are satisfied with their speaking ability, if they can speak a few words like ‘Thank you’.
• Some people are happy, if they can just understand what others speak.
• Some people will agree only if they could speak for certain time continuously.
• Some people will not agree till they are confident enough to speak in English in various topics.
• The level or standard is determined by the individuals involved and not by someone else.

Some foreign words and phrases

• Ab initio: from the beginning.
• Ad hoc: for the particular end or purpose at hand.
• Au revoir: till we meet again.
• Bon appetit: good appetite.
• Bona fide: with good faith.
• Corrigenda: things to be corrected.
• Crème de la crème: the best of the best.
• Curriculum vitae: course of life, resume.
• De facto: in fact.
• Dixi: I have said it.
• Emeritus: honorably retired.
• En masse: in a large body.
• E pluribus unum: out of many, one.
• Esprit de corps: team spirit.
• Eureka: I have found it.
• Faux pas: social blunder.
• Glasnost: openness.
• Guru: spiritual leader or teacher.
• Habeas corpus: a writ to produce a prisoner before a court of law.
• Haute cuisine: high-class cooking.
• In camera: in secret.
• In situ: in the original arrangement.
• In toto: totally, as a whole.
• Joie de vivre: joy of living.
• Jus civile: the civil law.
• Kitsch: sentimental bad taste.
• Laus deo: praise to God.
• Magnum opus: a great work of art or literature.
• Modus operandi: method of working.
• Non liquet: it is not clear.
• Nota bene: note well.
• Ora pro nobis: pray for us.
• Pax in bello: peace in war.
• Per centum: by the hundred.
• Post meridiem: after midday.
• Post mortem: after death.
• Prima-facie: at first sight.
• Quondam: former.
• Resurgam: I shall rise again.
• Sayonara: goodbye.
• Status quo: existing order of things.
• Terra firma: solid ground.
• Ultra vires: beyond the powers.
• Vis-à-vis: compared with.
• Viva voce: orally.