shoot by itself can mean ‘shoot and kill’: ‘After shooting his victims, he buried the bodies in a nearby field.’ 2
Someone in the crowd ran up and shot a gun to the president.
Someone in the crowd ran up and fired a gun at the president. fire a gun (at sb) , NOT shoot a gun : ‘As part of the celebration they drove through the streets firing guns in the air.’ Note the alternative: ‘Someone in the crowd ran up and fired at the president .’ shopping In the afternoon we went for shopping.
In the afternoon we went shopping. I go to shopping twice a week.
I go shopping twice a week. go shopping (WITHOUT to/for ): ‘Some people fly to London just to go shopping.’ Compare: ‘We’d thought we’d go to the shops this afternoon .’ shortly She spoke very shortly about how they had lived during the war.
She spoke very briefly about how they had lived during the war. shortly = (1) impatiently; not politely: ‘He answered rather shortly that he was NOT the slightest bit interested .’ (2) very soon: ‘The accident happened shortly after they moved into their new house.’ briefly = for a short time: ‘We talked briefly about the financial side of the agreement and then moved on to other matters.’ should 1
I have friends who should love to stay at home, but they have to go to work.
I have friends who would love to stay at home, but they have to go to work. When talking about an imaginary situation, use should/would in the main clause after a first person subject: ‘I should/would accept the job if I were you.’ After a second or third person subject, use
