Confusing Words and False Friends Set B

Confusing Words and False Friends Set B

Confusing words are two or more words which:

• A) have a similar meaning to each other but which are used in a different way (e.g. during, while for)

• B) are related to the same topic, but have a different meaning (e.g. control and inspect)

• C) look similar, but have a different meaning (e.g. loose and lose)

False friends are words in English which have a similar-looking word in another language, but which have a different meaning.

• Example 1 วิน (a motorcycle taxi) vs Win (overcome)

• Example 2 แฟน (a boyfriend/girlfriend) vs Fan ( a supporter or an electric device)

Make vs Cause vs Create

Multiple Choice

Create vs Cause

• create

• cause

Multiple Choice

Created vs Made

• created

• made

Multiple Choice

Made vs Caused

• caused

• made

Multiple Choice

Made vs Created

• Made

• Created

Multiple Choice

1. look at / watch

We need to ................. the situation carefully over the next few weeks and see how things develop.

We need to ................. the problem carefully and decide if there is anything we can do about it.

• look at / watch

• watch / look at

Multiple Choice

2. loose / lose

Some people are very competitive and hate to ................. a game or competition.

The surface is mainly composed of ................. soil and small stones.

• lose / loose

• loose / lose

Multiple Choice

3. make / cause

The noise from traffic outside the school can ................. it hard to hear what the teacher is saying.

Hurricanes ................. widespread damage in urban areas.

• make / cause

• cause / make

Multiple Choice

4. nature / countryside

Thousands of ................. lovers head for the national parks every weekend.

I’d rather live in the ................. than in a city.

• nature / countryside

• countryside / nature

Multiple Choice

5. percent / percentage

It is a myth that only ten ................. of Americans hold a passport.

Only a small ................. of land is privately owned.

• percentage / percent

• percent / percentage

Multiple Choice

6. permission / permit

I’m afraid we can’t ................. photography in the museum.

We received ................. to attend the meeting, as long as we didn’t interrupt.

• permission / permit

• permit / permission

Multiple Choice

7. personal / personnel

My own ................. view is that professional football players are paid far too much.

The company was in trouble until there was a change of ................. on the management team.

• personal / personnel

• personnel / personal

Multiple Choice

8. possibility / chance

We might go to Spain for our field trip. Another ................ is that we’ll go to Italy instead.

If we act now, we have a good ................. of finding a cure for the disease.

• possibility / chance

• chance / possibility

Multiple Select

9. practice / practise

It’s important to ................. your English whenever possible.

I think I need more ................. before I take the exam.

• practise / practice

• practice / practise

• practice / practice

Multiple Choice

10. priceless / worthless

................. paintings by artists like Van Gogh and Rembrandt should not be in the hands of private collectors.

As inflation spiralled out of control, paper money suddenly became almost ..................

• priceless / worthless

• worthless / priceless

Multiple Choice

11. principal / principle

Many people refuse to eat meat on ..................

She was appointed University ................. in 2009.

The country’s ................. food products are coffee and sugar.

I believe in the ................. that healthcare should be free for everyone.

• principal, principle, principal, principle

• principle, principal, principal, principle

Multiple Choice

12. problem / trouble

At night, the streets are full of people fighting and generally causing .................

I was wondering if you could help me with a little ................. I’m having.

• problem / trouble

• trouble / problem

Multiple Choice

13. process / procession

The highlight of the carnival is a huge ................. along the town’s main street.

In some cases, applying for a visa can be a long and frustrating ..................

• procession / process

• process / procession

Multiple Choice

14. raise / rise

As prices ................., demand usually drops.

In response to the oil crisis, most airlines had to ................. their fares.

• raise / rise

• rise / raise

Multiple Choice

15. remember / remind

I can ................. my first day at school really well.

Language teachers often ................. their students that the best way to remember new words is to use them as much as possible.

• remember / remind

• remind / remember

Multiple Choice

16. respectable / respectful

We all listened in ................. silence as she outlined her plans for the museum’s future.

Everybody wants to bring their children up in a ................. neighbourhood.

• respectful / respectable

• respectable / respectful

Multiple Choice

17. tolerable / tolerant

People need to be more ................. of their neighbours, and not complain every time they make too much noise.

The local authorities say that the noise from passing trains is ................., but many living near the railway lines disagree.

• tolerable / tolerant

• tolerant / tolerable

Multiple Choice

18. treat / cure

Many hospitals are so understaffed that they are refusing to ................. patients with minor injuries.

The new drug was unable to ................. the disease, and hundreds died as a result.

• cure / treat

• treat / cure

Multiple Choice

19. subjective / objective

Your report should be as .................... as possible: just present the facts and try to avoid saying what you think about them.

The newspaper article was extremely .................... : the journalist more or less forced his own views and ideas on his readership.

• subjective / objective

• objective / subjective

Multiple Choice

20. disinterested / uninterested

In order to end the dispute, we need some impartial advice from a / an ....................third party.

I thought they would enjoy my talk, but they were completely ....................

• uninterested / disinterested

• disinterested / uninterested