4.1 Explain the differences. (Using as much interesting English as possible).

In Dunkirk the troops went to the beach. / In Dunkirk the troops went to the seaside. Two words, that refer to the same thing, but with an enormous difference. The ‘beach’ is the place with sand near the coast. The ‘seaside’ refers to the same place, but refers to leisure or holidays. The ‘seaside’ makes you think of ice creams, donkey rides, sand castles, sunbathing, and swimming. Not exactly where soldiers would go.

He’s looking at her. / He’s seeing her. In the first he is using his eyes to watch her. In the second he is going out with her. That is, he’s having a relationship with her. ‘Seeing’ (the continuous form) is only used with this meaning. This is because it is a state verb. Other state verbs that cannot be used to in the continuous are: to understand; to believe;  to know; to like; to think (for opinions); to hate, etc.

Danish pastries. / Cornish pasties. / Italian pasta. The first are sticky sweet cakes found in a bakery. The second is an underrated traditional meat and / or vegetable snack from the west of England. Pasta is, of course, what spaghetti and macaroni are made out of.

She told me how to get there. / She told me where to go. / She told me where to get off. To tell someone how to get there, is to give directions so that they find an address. The second is and third are very colloquial (slang) ways of saying that you have been insulted or have insulted someone.   ‘Why don’t you tell that boyfriend of yours where to go?’

An odd number. / A particular number. / A strange number. / An even number. An odd number would be 1,3,5,7 etc. The others are the even numbers: 2,4,6,8 etc. ‘A particular number’ means ‘a specific number.’ ‘A strange number’ means an unusual number.

I bought a paper at the station. / I bought some paper at the stationer’s. The first person bought a newspaper in a railway stations. But you guessed that, didn’t you? The second bought sheets of blank paper for writing from a shop that specialises in office supplies, pens, papers, and desktop equipment.