Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
You use ~ when you are referring to the place w~ you are.
I’m ~ all by myself and I know I’m going to get lost...
Well, I can’t stand ~ chatting all day.
...the growing number of skiers that come ~...
? t~
ADV: be ADV, ADV after v, prep ADV
2.
You use ~ when you are pointing towards a place that is near you, in order to draw someone else’s attention to it.
...if you will just sign ~...
Come and sit ~, Lauren...
ADV: ADV after v, prep ADV, be ADV
3.
You use ~ in order to indicate that the person or thing that you are talking about is near you or is being held by you.
My friend ~ writes for radio...
ADV: n ADV, ADV after v
4.
If you say that you are ~ to do something, that is your role or function.
I’m not ~ to listen to your complaints.
ADV: be ADV to-inf
5.
You use ~ in order to draw attention to something or someone who has just arrived in the place w~ you are, or to draw attention to the place you have just arrived at.
‘Mr Cummings is ~,’ she said, holding the door open...
ADV: ADV with be , ADV before v
6.
You use ~ to refer to a particular point or stage of a situation or subject that you have come to or that you are dealing with.
The book goes into recent work in greater detail than I have attempted ~...
ADV: it v-link ADV that, ADV with v, ADV with cl
7.
You use ~ to refer to a period of time, a situation, or an event that is present or happening now.
Here is your opportunity to acquire a luxurious one bedroom home.
ADV: ADV before v, ADV with be
8.
You use ~ at the beginning of a sentence in order to draw attention to something or to introduce something.
Now ~’s what I want you to do...
ADV: ADV be n/wh
9.
You use ~ when you are offering or giving something to someone.
Here’s some letters I want you to sign...
Here’s your cash.
ADV: ADV be n
10.
You say ‘~ we are’ or ‘~ you are’ when the statement that you are making about someone’s character or situation is unexpected.
Here you are, saying these terrible things...
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR with cl
11.
You say ‘~ we are’ when you have just found something that you have been looking for.
I rummaged through the drawers and came up with Amanda’s folder. ‘Here we are.’
CONVENTION
12.
You say ‘~ goes’ when you are about to do or say something difficult or unpleasant.
Dr Culver nervously muttered ‘Here goes,’ and gave the little girl an injection.
CONVENTION
13.
You use expressions such as ‘~ we go’ and ‘~ we go again’ in order to indicate that something is happening again in the way that you expected, especially something unpleasant. (INFORMAL)
At first, he was told he was too young and I thought, ‘Oh, boy, ~ we go again.’...
PHRASE
14.
You use ~ and now to emphasize that something is happening at the present time, rather than in the future or past, or that you would like it to happen at the present time.
I’m a practicing physician trying to help people ~ and now...
PHRASE emphasis
15.
If something happens ~ and t~, it happens in several different places.
I do a bit of teaching ~ and t~...
PHRASE: PHR with cl, PHR after v
16.
You use expressions such as ‘~’s to us’ and ‘~’s to your new job’ before drinking a toast in order to wish someone success or happiness.
Tony smiled and lifted his glass. ‘Here’s to you, Amy.’
CONVENTION formulae