FCE - Confusing pairs and false friends One

Confusing pairs are two words which have a similar meaning to each other, but are used in a different way. Or:

Are related to the same topic, but have a different meaning.

Look similar, but have a different meaning

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

Complete the following sentences with the appropriate word.

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1. actually / now
   Please can we go home ________?
   It looks quite small, but ________ it is over 5 metres high.

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1. advice / advise
   My grandfather gave me a very useful piece of ________.
   I ________ you to put all your money into a deposit account.

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1. affect / effect
   The cuts in spending will have a serious ________ on the hospital.

2. The strike will seriously ________ the train service.

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1. already / yet
   I haven’t seen her ________ this morning.

2. I’ve ________ done my shopping.

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1. afraid of / worried about
   I am ________ snakes.
   She’s ________ the baby; he doesn’t look very well.

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1. avoid / prevent
   The police will ________ anyone from leaving the building.

2. You should travel early to ________ the traffic jams.

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1. beside / besides
   Come and sit down ________ me.
   ________ managing the shop, he also teaches in the evening.

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1. bring / fetch
   It’s your turn to ________ the children from school.

2. Don’t forget to ________ the books to school with you.

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1. chance / possibility
   Our team has a good ________ of winning tonight.

2. There is always the ________ that the plane will be early.

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1. channel / canal
   You can take a boat trip around the ________s of Amsterdam.

2. Can you switch the television to ________ for the news?

3. England and France are separated by the ________ .

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11. conduct / direct
    Von Karajan will ________ the Berlin Symphonic Orchestra at the concert.

12. It took two policemen to ________ the traffic.

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11. continuous / continual
    She has been in ________ pain for three days.
    I am getting fed up with her ________ complaints.

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11. driver / chauffeur
    The ________ brought the Rolls Royce to the hotel’s main entrance.

12. He’s got a job as a bus ________.

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11. formidable / wonderful
    They had a ________ holiday by a lake in Sweden.

12. The castle is surrounded by ________ walls and gates.

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11. fun / funny
    I didn’t have much ________ on my birthday.
    He made ________ faces and made the children laugh.

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11. go / play
    Shall we ________ jogging or swimming?

12. Neither. Let’s ________ tennis.

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11. come along with / follow
    Would you like to ________ me to the cinema tonight?

12. Make sure the dog doesn’t ________ me to the shops.