adopt – to start using something new, e.g. idea or method *She adopted slightly different approach to their problem. adopt – to take legally someone else’s child into your family *They adopted a beautiful baby girl. adapt – to change something, to make it suitable for a new situation. *She adapted quickly to the newContinue reading “Adopt vs Adapt”
Category Archives: Confusing Words
Sow vs Sew 🌱🧵
sow (sowed/sown or sowed) – to put seeds in the ground to make them grow 🌱 *Let’s sow some tomato seeds. sew (sewed/sewn or sewed) – to fasten, make or repair clothes with a needle and thread 🧵 *She sewed a dress all night but she managed to finish it before the morning.
Wound
Wound/wuːnd/ (noun) a damaged area of the body, such as a cut or hole in the skin, a serious one, usually made by some weapon: He suffered a serious gunshot wound to his back. (verb) to damage an area of the body, especially severely and by making a cut or hole in the skin: HeContinue reading “Wound”
Motif vs Motive
Motif (noun) a shape or pattern, especially one that is repeated in a design or decoration *traditional motifs *a flower motif Motive (noun) a reason for doing something *The motive for the murder is still unknown.
Vain vs Vein
Homophones Vain/veɪn/(adjective) too proud of yourself *He is vain about his good looks. unsuccessful or useless *It was a vain attempt to forget her. Vein/veɪn/(noun) A tube in a body that carries blood to the heart. *She is in my veins.
Desert vs Dessert
Homonym and Homophones Desert /ˈdezə(r)t/ (noun) a large area of land covered with sand or rocks, with little water and few plants *The Sahara Desert Desert /dɪˈzɜː(r)t/ (verb) to leave the army without permission with no intention of returning *He deserted the army without thinking of the consequences. to leave someone without help or inContinue reading “Desert vs Dessert”
Naval vs Navel
Homophones naval /ˈneɪv(ə)l/ – belonging/relating to a country’s navy *a naval battle/officer or naval forces navel /ˈneɪv(ə)l/ – a small round part in the middle of the stomach where we were separated from our mothers at birth
Own vs Owe
own – to possess something that legally belongs to you *She owns three houses. owe – to have to pay or give something to someone because you borrowed money from them or they have done something for you *She still owes some money on her house.
Lie
Homonym lie (lay/lain) – to be/put yourself into horizontal position *He was too tired so he lay on the bed and fell asleep. lie (lied/lied) – to say something that is not true to deliberately deceive someone *She lied about her age and job.
Lie vs Lay
lie (lying/lay/lain) – to be or put yourself into a horizontal position on a surface. *She was lying on the beach. lay (laying/laid/laid) – to put someone or something in a flat or horizontal position, usually in a careful way. *She laid her babies on the bed.
Easy English by Vesna 