English 06/08

We can use pick up informally to describe buying something.

• I often pick up some milk on my way home.

• She picks up lots of items in the Christmas sales.

Buying something

We can use pick up to describe learning something

• Children pick up languages very quickly. 

• I picked up the guitar from spending time with musicians.

Learning something

Three ways to use 'pick up'

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Getting an illness

We can use pick up to describe getting an illness.

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• I think I picked up a cold.

• He picked up the flu from his classmates.

Even if introduces something hypothetical, which means it may not be real.

• Even if it's sunny when we're in Scotland, I'm not going swimming

• Even if you paid me, I wouldn't watch that film.

Even if

Even though introduces something that's true, but may be unexpected. It's similar to despite.

• Even though I hate driving, I'm still going to Scotland.

• Even though I hate tennis, I'm still going to watch the final.

Even though

Even though vs even if

Avoid means miss. If you avoid something you miss it, or try to make it miss you. You can avoid something or avoid something happening.

• I avoided the slap easily. 

• I avoided being discovered by hiding.

Prevent means stop. Preventing something means stopping it, often before it has happened. You can prevent something, prevent something happening, or prevent someone from doing something.

• The arrival of the police prevented crime.

• His hand prevented the cup falling. 

• Losing my passport prevented me from flying.

Prevent vs Avoid

We use already to talk about something that has finished, but that this was earlier than expected. Already usually, but not always, goes in front of the main verb phrase. It can also go at the end of the clause for emphasis.

• She's already finished work.

• I'm only 18 but I've already been to 25 countries.

• You can't have arrived already! I'm not even home!

Still

We use still to talk about something that hasn't finished, which may be surprising. Still usually, but not always, goes in front of the main verb phrase.

• Are you still studying?

• He still hasn't been to France.

• I still can't decide what to do.

Still vs already vs yet

​Still, already and yet are all adverbs and can all be used to talk about things going on around the present.

​Already

​Yet

​We use yet in questions and negatives to talk about things that haven't happened, but we think they will. Yet usually appears at the end of the clause. ​

• Haven't you left yet?

• I haven't met my teacher yet.

• Are we nearly there yet?