(1) I start work at nine.
(2) He's just started a new job.
(3) I only started (= began to read) this book yesterday.

(1) In some countries children don't start learning to read and write until they are six.
(2) Please write in pen on both sides of the paper.
(3) I haven't got anything to write with.

(1) How many goals has he missed this season?
(2) The bullet missed her by about six inches.
(3) She threw a plate at him and only narrowly missed .

(1) tuesday's notable gainer was Sony, which reached a high of 9,070 yen.
(2) The Governor will appear before the committee next tuesday.
(3) The five were expected to be hanged at 7 am on tuesday.

(1) I have arranged with Miss selina.
(2) He flung himself on selina and begged for forgiveness.
(3) E consists of three members: selina Ren, Hebe Tien, and Ella Chen.

(1) He asked where I lived.
(2) I had to ask the teacher what to do next.
(3) I was asked if/whether I could drive.

(1) These animals only come out at night .
(2) They sleep by day and hunt by night .
(3) The accident happened on Friday night.

(1) She met Mr and Mrs Ricciardi, who were very nice to her.
(2) Mr Harris and Mrs Bate and three other teachers were there.
(3) I paid Mr. and mrs. Smith a return visit yesterday afternoon.

(1) a business/thank-you, etc. letter
(2) a letter of complaint
(3) (British English)to post a letter

(1) Don't hit me.
(2) Excuse me!
(3) Give it to me.

(1) I shall be 26 years old on friday next.
(2) He fled on friday, saying he feared for his life.
(3) The South African mailboat arrived on friday mornings unless bad weather intervened.

(1) He won, but only by the skin of his teeth.
(2) I felt like I was being kicked in the teeth every day.
(3) She was only six and still missing her front teeth.

(1) Senator Bentsen has declined to get involved this time around...
(2) When July Fourth comes around, the residents of Columbia City throw a noisy party.
(3) She was 40 inches around the hips.

(1) "Ah, Captain Fox," martin McGuinness said affably. "Nice to see you again."
(2) Mr martin was taken out of his car at gunpoint.
(3) The sand martin is a brown bird with white underneath.

(1) We'll be home soon./We'll soon be home.
(2) She sold the house soon after her husband died.
(3) I soon realized the mistake.

(1) A recent survey showed 75% of those questioned were in favour of the plan.
(2) The survey revealed that…
(3) to conduct/carry out a survey

(1) He's touring South america at this moment in time.
(2) I scrolled down to find "United States of america".
(3) They fled to South america around the turn of the century.

(1) He told the news to everybody he saw.
(2) He told everybody he saw the news.
(3) Why wasn't I told about the accident?

(1) She busied herself with the preparations for the party.
(2) While we talked, Bill busied himself fixing lunch.
(3) Since she retired she's kept herself very busy.

(1) I phoned my mother to ask what time she was coming home.
(2) "what time were you planning lunch?"—"Half past twelve, if that's convenient."
(3) "What about Sunday evening at Frank's?" — "Sure. what time?"

(1) to listen to music
(2) listen! What's that noise? Can you hear it?
(3) Sorry, I wasn't really listening.

(1) ...a two-week period of time...
(2) time passed, and still Ma did not appear...
(3) 'What time is it?' — 'Eight o'clock.'...

(1) before lunch
(2) the day before yesterday
(3) The year before last he won a gold medal, and the year before that he won a silver.

(1) Roland Nilsson last night backed Sheffield wednesday to win the UEFA Cup.
(2) Meanwhile the race is on to resurface the road before next wednesday.
(3) Steve had told her that he'dbeen in an accident on wednesday night.

(1) She was too tired to take a shower.
(2) He went into the bath to take a shower.
(3) They eat dinner late here. take a shower.

(1) a hotel room with bath and shower
(2) He's in the shower .
(3) a shower cubicle

(1) I wish I were taller.
(2) (British English also)I wish I was taller.
(3) I wish I hadn't eaten so much.

(1) I did it because he told me to.
(2) Just because I don't complain, people think I'm satisfied.
(3) They are here because of us.

(1) Wendy popped in for a quick bite to eat on monday night.
(2) The orchestra gave its first performance on Whit monday.
(3) Broughton took a sickie on monday to paint his fence.

(1) They left for Spain early this morning.
(2) See you tomorrow morning .
(3) I prefer coffee in the morning .

(1) He begins his new series on BBC 2 at 9pm on thursday.
(2) Antarctic air brought biting cold to southern Chile on thursday.
(3) He appeared at Manchester Crown Court on thursday on a drink-driving charge.

(1) He was not himself yesterday and so he skipped P . E.
(2) Our P . E teacher, Mr. Li, is strong and handsome.
(3) Chinese, maths, art and P . E . in the morning. Music in the afternoon.

(1) I'm usually home by 6 o'clock.
(2) We usually go by car.
(3) How long does the journey usually take?

(1) She writes under the nom de plume of Alison cooper.
(2) cooper was a good mixer, he was popular.
(3) Mr cooper looked fit and sunburnt.

(1) a china vase
(2) She got out the best china.
(3) ...a small boat made of china.

(1) "Go and have a word with her, ken," Webb instructed.
(2) ken's jaw jutted with determination.
(3) ken passed the books to Sergeant Parrott.

(1) Weiner works for the US Department of Transport...
(2) I started working in a recording studio...
(3) Fewer and fewer people are in work...

(1) Oh, Amy, I love you...
(2) We love each other. We want to spend our lives together.
(3) Our love for each other has been increased by what we've been through together.

(1) a degree in biology
(2) How far is human nature determined by biology?
(3) the biology of marine animals

(1) I'll take any you don't want.
(2) ‘Which colour do you want? ’ ‘any of them will do. ’
(3) I suggested sharing the cost, but he wasn't having any of it.