Confusing words part 1

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  Confusing words - part 1
  

Contents

1. ACCEPT / EXCEPT ___________________________________________________ 2

2. ADVICE / ADVISE ___________________________________________________ 2

3. AFFECT / EFFECT ___________________________________________________ 2

4. ANYONE / ANY ONE / ANYWAY / ANY WAY _______________________________ 2

5. ANYTHING / EVERYTHING / ANYWHERE / EVERYWHERE_____________________ 2

6. BESIDE / BESIDES __________________________________________________ 2

7. BRING / TAKE / FETCH _______________________________________________ 2

8. DESERT / DESSERT _________________________________________________ 3

9. DRIVE / RIDE ______________________________________________________ 3

10. ECONOMIC / ECONOMICAL____________________________________________ 3

11. IN / INTO _________________________________________________________ 3

12. IT’S / ITS _________________________________________________________ 3

13. LEARN / TEACH / STUDY _____________________________________________ 3

14. LEND / BORROW____________________________________________________ 3

15. LEND / LOAN_______________________________________________________ 4

16. LAY / LIE / LIE _____________________________________________________ 4

17. LIVE / LIFE ________________________________________________________ 4

18. LOOK / WATCH / SEE ________________________________________________ 4

19. LOSE / LOOSE______________________________________________________ 4

20. OF / OFF __________________________________________________________ 4

21. ONCE / ONE’S / ONES _______________________________________________ 4

22. OVER / ABOVE _____________________________________________________ 5

23. PAST / PASSED _____________________________________________________ 5

24. PERSONAL / PERSONNEL _____________________________________________ 5

25. PIECE / PEACE _____________________________________________________ 5

26. PRIZE / PRICE / PRISE _______________________________________________ 5

27. QUIT / QUITE / QUIET _______________________________________________ 5

28. RAISE / RISE_______________________________________________________ 5

29. SAFE / SAVE _______________________________________________________ 6

30. SAY / TELL ________________________________________________________ 6

31. STATIONARY / STATIONERY___________________________________________ 6

32. STEAL / STEEL _____________________________________________________ 6

33. THEN / THAN_______________________________________________________ 6

34. THERE / THEIR / THEY’RE_____________________________________________ 6

35. THIS / THESE ______________________________________________________ 6

36. TO / TOO / TWO ____________________________________________________ 7

37. UNDER / BELOW ____________________________________________________ 7

38. WEATHER / WHETHER _______________________________________________ 7

39. WHEREVER / WHERE EVER____________________________________________ 7

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  40. WHO’S / WHOSE____________________________________________________ 7
  
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  Choose the correct word from the following pairs:
  

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  1. ACCEPT / EXCEPT
  

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  1. I offered her an apology, but she wouldn’t accept it.
  

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  2. The museum is open daily except Mondays.
  

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  3. Everyone was there except for Sally.
  

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  4. The new telephones will accept coins of any denomination.
  

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  2. ADVICE / ADVISE
  

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  1. I advise you to see a doctor.
  

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  2. She didn’t listen to her father’s advice.
  

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  3. I’m very grateful to you for your advice.
  

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  4. I really don’t know what to advise
  
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  3. AFFECT / EFFECT
  

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  1. The punishment had no effect on him. As soon as he left the prison he
  

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  began to steal again.
  

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  2. The new taxes will affect the rich. They’ll have to pay more.
  

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  3. The higher bus fares won’t affect me. I have a car.
  

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  4. The medicine had an immediate effect I felt better at once.
  

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  4. ANYONE / ANY ONE / ANYWAY / ANY WAY
  

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  1. I love him anyway.
  

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  2. Is there anyone of these books you didn’t like?
  

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  3. Is there anyway I can help you?
  

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  4.anyone can see that this is not right.
  

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  5. ANYTHING / EVERYTHING / ANYWHERE / EVERYWHERE
  

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  1. He has done everything in his life.
  

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  2. You can use this card everywhere .
  

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  3. Have you seen my glasses anywhere ?
  

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  4. He never does anything for me.
  

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  6. BESIDE / BESIDES
  

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  1. There is not much to do besides setting the table.
  

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  2. There was a small table beside the bed.
  

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  3. besidesPeter and me, who else is coming to your party tonight ?
  

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  4. Sarah was beside herself with joy, when Tom proposed to her.
  

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  5. It was too late to go to the cinema.besides, I was too busy.
  

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  7. BRING / TAKE / FETCH
  

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  1. Can you take me to the station, please ?
  

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  2. You can bring your wife to our party.
  

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  3. This glass has been used - please fetch me a clean one.
  

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  4. Can you bring some milk when you come home ?
  
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  5. She takes the dogs for a walk every morning.
  

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  6. He fetched another chair from the dining room. (s.p.)
  

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  8. DESERT / DESSERT
  

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  1. He desert ed his wife and family for another woman.
  

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  2. If you make the main course, I’ll make a dessert.
  

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  3. Banyuls is an excellent dessert wine.
  

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  4. They were lost in the Sahara desert for several days.
  

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  9. DRIVE / RIDE
  

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  1. Can I ride with you ? I don’t have a car.
  

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  2. The drive to my parents’ house takes 20 minutes.
  

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  3. Most children like to ride on trains.
  

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  4. Can you drive ? I’m too tired.
  

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  10. ECONOMIC / ECONOMICAL
  

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  1. It’s not very economical to leave the lights on when you’re not in the room.
  

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  2. Because of the recent strikes, the economic situation of the country
  

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  is very bad.
  

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  3. She’s an economist. She’s an expert in economic matters.
  

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  4. It’s a very economical car. It uses very little petrol.
  

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  11. IN / INTO
  

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  1. The dog is in the house somewhere.
  

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  2. The frog changed into a handsome prince.
  

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  3. She put the basket in the boot and set off for Central Park.
  

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  4. Her books have been translated into more than twenty languages.
  

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  12. IT’S / ITS
  

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  1. Look at this tree. Its leaves are so pretty !
  

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  2. “it`s a very friendly dog” said owner.
  

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  3. My pain was gone, but now it`s back.
  

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  4. its been raining, the pavement is wet.
  

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  13. LEARN / TEACH / STUDY
  

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  1. His mother teaches at the university in Oxford.
  

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  2. You have to learn to listen to your inner voice.
  

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  3. Your English will improve a lot, if you study every day.
  

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  4. Can you please teach me how to make a cake ?
  

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  5. She wants to learn how to swim.
  

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  14. LEND / BORROW
  

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  1. I can lend you my car for the weekend.
  

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  2. She used to borrow money and not bother to pay it back.
  

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  3. He borrows a novel from the library.
  

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  4. He doesn’t like lend ing his books.
  
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  15. LEND / LOAN
  

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  1. If you need a coat, I can lend you one.
  

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  2. Thank you very much for the loan of your umbrella.
  

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  3. The bank refuses to lend to students.
  

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  4. She’s trying to get a loan to start her own business.
  

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  16. LAY / LIE / LIE
  

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  (fill in simple past forms only)
  

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  1. The snow lay thick on the hills.
  

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  2. Trudy laid five eggs last week.
  

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  3. The theft lay heavy on his conscience.
  

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  4. I suspect he lied about his age.
  

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  5. He laid his hand on my shoulder.
  

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  17. LIVE / LIFE
  

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  1. The concert was broadcast live on the Internet.
  

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  2. Ocean life is being threatened by global warming.
  

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  3. I live with my parents in London.
  

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  4. He touched a live wire and got an electric shock.
  

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  18. LOOK / WATCH / SEE
  

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  1. There is a scary man outside watching my house.
  

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  2. I can’t see any fruit juice in the fridge.
  

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  3. He looked at his daughter with pride in his eyes.
  

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  4. She was looking out of the window.
  

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  5. Football is very popular and many people go and watch matches on
  

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  Sunday.
  

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  6. Did you see the advert in the newspaper ?
  

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  19. LOSE / LOOSE
  

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  1. Look after that money, or you’ll lose it.
  

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  2. That screw is a bit loose. You’d better tighten it.
  

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  3. The opposite of ‘to find’ is to lose.
  

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  4. I tied the dog to a tree but it got loose and ran away.
  

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  20. OF / OFF
  

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  1. The boys jump off the bridge into the river.
  

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  2. I’m very proud of my son, he worked very hard.
  

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  3. Keep off the grass ! You mustn’t walk there !
  

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  4. You’ll find more exercises on the back of the page.
  

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  21. ONCE / ONE’S / ONES
  

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  1. once again I was left with all the washing up.
  

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  2. Why don’t you throw those gloves away and get some new ones .
  

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  3. One ought to respect one`s parents.
  

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  4. He keeps his stamps - he’s got some very rare ones - in a fireproof safe.
  

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  5. This house once belonged to my grandfather.
  
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  6. I go swimming once a week.
  

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  22. OVER / ABOVE
  

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  1. The car was going over a hundred miles an hour.
  

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  2. He broke his arm above the elbow.
  

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  3. The thaw is setting in above zero degrees Celsius.
  

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  4. He must be over seventy by now.
  

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  23. PAST / PASSED
  

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  1. I’ve passed the exam!
  

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  2. She passed the post office on her way home, but forgot to go in.
  

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  3. The thief hid in a doorway and the policeman ran past him.
  

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  4. It was past midnight when I finally got to bed.
  

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  24. PERSONAL / PERSONNEL
  

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  1. The new director is likely to make major changes in personnel.
  

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  2. Her uncle takes a personal interest in her progress.
  

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  3. I will give the matter my personal attention.
  

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  4. The personnel department will help you find a flat to rent.
  

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  25. PIECE / PEACE
  

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  1. After a busy day, all I want is peace and quiet.
  

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  2. This jigsaw puzzle has two pieces missing.
  

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  3. The peace conference was organized by the UN.
  

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  4. The vase lay on the floor in pieces .
  
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  26. PRIZE / PRICE / PRISE
  

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  1. He robbed a bank. Now he has to pay the price.
  

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  2. Sally almost won the first prize in the beauty contest.
  

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  3. The burglar prised the window and climbed through.
  

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  4. Can you guess the asking price of this house ?
  

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  27. QUIT / QUITE / QUIET
  

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  1. Would you quit your job if you inherited lots of money?
  

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  2. She’s got quite a bit of money.
  

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  3. Press Q to quit the program.
  

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  4. He’s quite attractive but not what I’d call gorgeous.
  

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  5. Could you keep quiet while I’m on the phone, please ?
  

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  6. It was a quiet wedding, with just a few friends and relations.
  

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  28. RAISE / RISE
  

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  1. He raised his voice in anger.
  

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  2. The sun rises in the East.
  

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  3. The host was very friendly. He rose to welcome us.
  
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  4. We were born and raised in New York.
  

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  29. SAFE / SAVE
  

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  1. Swim lessons can save your children’s lives.
  

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  2. Better to be safe than sorry.
  

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  3. It is necessary to save for your future.
  

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  4. I hope you have a safe and pleasant journey.
  

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  30. SAY / TELL
  

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  1. My boss told me to work harder. (past s.)
  

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  2. Lisa says that she works in an office.
  

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  3. tell your brother why you lied to him.
  

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  4. She said she probably lost her purse in the department store. (past s.)
  

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  5. How do I know ? I can’t tell the future.
  

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  31. STATIONARY / STATIONERY
  

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  1. A stationary can print more than just wedding invitations.
  

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  2. The traffic got slower and slower until it was stationery.
  

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  3. The stationary supplies are kept in that cupboard over there.
  

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  4. The motorcyclist collided with a stationery van
  

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  32. STEAL / STEEL
  

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  1. He always steals the show.
  

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  2. They were so poor they had to steal in order to eat.
  

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  3. The steel workers are on strike.
  

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  4. These steel plates are mainly used in the automotive industry.
  

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  5. The thieves tried to steal some steel cables to sell as scrap metal.
  

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  33. THEN / THAN
  

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  1. We sold more products than we did last year.
  

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  2. This project is more challenging than I thought.
  

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  3. If he is sick, then you will have to go to the meeting.
  

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  4. Do your homework, then you can play.
  

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  34. THERE / THEIR / THEY’RE
  

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  1. The students are happy. They've finished their homework.
  

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  2. I’ve got an LCD TV. They`re much better than regular TVs.
  

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  3. there are many foreign students in my classroom.
  

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  4. Tom and Peter left their books over there.
  

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  5. “Where are the cyclists?” asked Tom. “They’re over there on their bikes”
  

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  replied Joe.
  

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  35. THIS / THESE
  

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  1. Where were you this day last year ?
  

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  2. Life is expensive these days.
  

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  3. Are these your keys ?
  
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  4. this is the best news I’ve heard all week !
  

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  36. TO / TOO / TWO
  

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  1. We chose for the lesser of two evils.
  

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  2. The parents had only just had a baby, so they decided that it was too
  

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  early too try for another.
  

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  3. You can walk from here to the station in under 10 minutes.
  

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  4. I’ll probably rent that motorhome next year too.
  

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  5. That son of hers should learn to stand on his own two feet.
  

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  6. I had my back to them, so I couldn’t see what they were doing.
  

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  37. UNDER / BELOW
  

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  1. He collapsed 200 metres below the summit.
  

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  2. The photo was hidden under the mattress.
  

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  3. The moon disappeared below the horizon.
  

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  4. This car can go from nought to sixty in under five seconds.
  

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  38. WEATHER / WHETHER
  

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  1. I don’t know whether the is meant to be good or bad
  

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  today.
  

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  2. Their holiday was spoilt by bad weather.
  

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  3. She can’t decide whether she ought to marry him.
  

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  4. What’s the weather like? Is it sunny?.
  

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  39. WHEREVER / WHERE EVER
  

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  1. Where ever have you been. I’ve been looking for you everywhere !
  

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  2. You always lose your keys ! wherever did you put them now ?
  

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  3. I’ll find him, wherever he has gone.
  

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  4.Where ever have you put my briefcase ? I can’t find it anywhere.
  

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  40. WHO’S / WHOSE
  

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  1. There was a picture in the paper of a man whose house had been flooded.
  

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  2. who`s been using my computer ?
  

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  3. who`s your new business partner ?
  

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  4. whose wallet is lying there on the floor ?