One of the challenges facing speakers for whom English is an additional language (EAL) is to know how to use certain words in their verb form.

Over the next few English Is Power columns, these common usage problems will be addressed.

• borrow - lend

A person borrows from someone else, while one lends to someone else, e.g. My neighbor borrowed a wheelbarrow from my father. I will not lend my new motorbike to you.

While the prepositions, from and to may not always be stated, the direction or the action is still obvious, e.g. My brother is always borrowing money. That bank will not lend you money unless you have a high income.

• bring - take

Bring refers to a motion or act “to” or “toward” someone or something, e.g. Will you please bring your laptop computer when you come?

In contrast, take refers to a motion or act “away” or “from” someone or something, e.g. I will take you to the airport. Make sure you take your umbrella with you. It is incorrect to say: I will bring you to the train station. (take)

• can - may

The verb can implies “ability” or “to be able”, e.g. We can come to the movies after all. Can you see the parade from there?

In contrast, may implies “permission”, e.g. May I sit here? - You may start this test now.

It is a common mistake to use can when asking “permission”. Can I come with you to the movies? (may)

• ensure - insure

Ensure means “to make certain”, e.g. To ensure that we are at the airport on time, we shall leave now.

Insure means “to guarantee against the risk of loss or harm to a person, property or thing”, e.g. I have insured my new car with that insurance company against theft and damage.

• flaunt - flout

Flaunt means “to show off conspicuously or boldly”, e.g. The winning contestant flaunted his success by parading across the stage holding his trophy above his head.

Flout means “to mock or to act with disrespect”, e.g. Those teenagers repeatedly flout the law by driving without a licence.

• flounder - founder

Flounder means “to struggle helplessly, in confusion”, e.g. That student is floundering studying science.

Founder means “to sink”, e.g. The sailing sip began to founder in the fierce storm.

• hanged – hung

Hanged means “to be put to death by hanging”, i.e. by being suspended in the air, e.g. The terrorist was hanged by his neck from the bell tower.

Hung means to suspend from above, e.g. The decorations were hung from the ceiling.

• learn – teach

Learn refers to “the acquisition or gaining of knowledge or skills by someone”, e.g. This year I am going to learn how to ride a horse.

Teach means: “to impart knowledge or skills to someone else”, i.e. “to give instruction”, e.g. My brother said he would teach me to skate. It is incorrect to say: I will learn you how to do this. (teach)

• leave - let

When “allow” or “permit” is the required meaning, the word let is usually used rather than leave, e.g. Let me help you with that. It is unwise to let those kids play near that highway.

The word, leave, generally should not be used to mean “allow” or “permit”.

The exception is when leave is followed by “alone”, e.g. Boys, leave those cakes alone -meaning “allow those cakes to be untouched”.

• lend – loan

Lend describes the action of a person allowing someone else to have something he owns for a period, e.g. How much will the bank lend you to buy that apartment?

The word loan is always a noun and is the name of something, often an amount of money that has been borrowed. It is incorrect to say: I will loan you my bike. or Will you loan me your car? (lend)

• licence – license

Licence is a noun, e.g. Do you have a licence to pump water from that river?

License is a verb, e.g. I am licensed to sell firearms to the gun clubs

The consonant C in words such as advice and prophecy signal that the word is a noun, while the consonant S in words indicates that the word is a verb, e.g. advise, prophesy.

The best way to quickly gain proficiency in English is to use it. Discipline yourself to purposely use the above words and terms in your conversations over the next few weeks. You will be surprised how quickly their correct usage will become an everyday, almost natural part of your speech.

(The author Keith W. Wright is a former politician, an educator and the director of the Australian International Language Academy. E-mail questions to youth@mb.com.ph).