![]() | > Other English exercises on the same topics: Frequent mistakes | Find the word [Change theme] |
> Similar tests: - Placement test beginners: Check your spelling - Past simple or present perfect - Although / in spite of / despite - Differences between Like and As - Again/ back - FOR and its use - Do or Make? - Do-don't-does-doesn't | |
> Double-click on words you don't understand |
Fly or Flow/ Live or Leave - English lesson
Among the unforgivable confusions of verbs and expressions students tend to mix up and misuse, are the verbs To FLY and To FLOW and the even more elementary To LIVE and To LEAVE. Such mistakes are extremely serious and must be avoided at all cost. They can be quite easily.
1) TO FLY, FLEW, FLOWN = to move through the air, using wings; to take the plane:
to fly | Infinitive |
flew | Preterite |
flown | Past Participle |
flying | Present Participle (and gerund) |
flies | 3 rd p. sing. S imple Present |
voler | French translation |
NOMS :
A fly | = an insect | = the flap of a tent | = a garment opening | Plural= flies |
To fly the nest= To leave the house A fly => several flies To fly a kite
Other expressions:
A dragon fly | = a non stinging insect | A fly spray | = aerosol to kill flies |
A fly swat | = an object to kill flies | A fly sheet/ screen | = protection against insects |
To fly away/out | = to run away | To fly | = take a plane |
To fly a kite | = to float a kit in the air | To fly a flag | = to float a flag |
To fly the nest | = to leave the home | Fly tipping | = illegal dumping of trash |
To fly off the handle | = to fly into a passion | To eat on the fly | = to eat very quickly |
2) TO FLOW, regular verb, FLOWED, FLOWED .
The flow | = a stream of water | The flow | = the movement of water |
Against the flow | = in the opposite direction | Blood flow | = a discharge of blood |
The ebb and flow | = the rise of the tide | Cash flow | = The sum of the after tax profit |
II) To LIVE? or to LEAVE?
1) To LIVE, regular verb, LIVED, LIVED.
To live off someone | = to use somebody else's money | Live on welfare | = to live with social help |
To live rough | = difficult living conditions | To live with | = to endure |
To live and learn | = learn with experience | To live and let live | = to be tolerant |
To live it up | = take advantage | Long live the King! | = a cheer of encouragement! |
Live [laiv] | = not broadcast | Live from hand to mouth | = problems to make ends meet. |
2) To LEAVE, LEFT, LEFT= to leave behind, to forget.
To leave something | = to leave an object behind | Absent Without Leave | = AWL = a deserter |
To take a French leave | = to go away discretely | To leave someone alone | = stop bothering! |
To leave high and dry | = to let down | To eat leftovers | = eating what is left |
To leave it to someone | = to entrust stg to sby | To be left behind | = abandoned |
Take it or leave it! | = make a choice | To be on leave | = to have days off ** |
To have something left | = to remain | Leave well enough alone! | = don't try to do too well! |
** "On leave = on holiday" has formed many expressions using adjectives or nouns:
Maternity leave - sick leave - annual leave - parental leave - sabbatical leave ...
Leave me alone! To take a French leave To be on leave
That's it!
Now, you should know the main expressions enabling you to avoid misunderstandings! Good luck!

English exercise "Fly or Flow/ Live or Leave" created by here4u with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from here4u]
Click here to see the current stats of this English test

End of the free exercise to learn English: Fly or Flow/ Live or Leave
A free English exercise to learn English.
Other English exercises on the same topics : Frequent mistakes | Find the word | All our lessons and exercises