Confusing Words Review

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Are the following sentences right or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong.
  1. Can you speak up please? I can hardly listen you.
  2. She likes her new job. She says that her colleagues are sympathetic.
  3. He offered to help the old lady carry her shopping.
  4. Where did you know your girlfriend?
  5. I lent her some money but she hasn't paid me back yet.
  6. What time did you arrive at the hotel? How long did the travel take?
  7. I think his latest book is terrific. I really enjoyed it.
  8. I don't think Catalans are mean. It's just a topic.
  9. The politician threatened to demand the newspaper. He said that there was no truth in the story.
  10. I had an eye proof last week and the optician said I needed new glasses.
  11. He has a cold so he phoned in ill to work.
  12. I think it's a disgrace that she hasn't called to congratulate you.
  13. I'm waiting a phone call from my boss. He said he'd phone.
  14. I hope that the government isn't going to rise taxes again.

Have a look at past posts on Confusing Words if you need help.

Have a go at some of these Kahoots on Confusing Words.

Comments

Montse said…
Hi, Graham. How were your Easter holidays? I did this exercise.

1. Can you speak up please? I can hardly listen TO you.
2. She likes her new job. She says that her colleagues are NICE.
3. He offered to help the old lady FOR CARRYING her shopping.
4. Where did you MEETyour girlfriend?
5. I lent her some money but she hasn't paid me back FOR IT yet.
6. What time did you arrive at the hotel? How long did the JOURNEY take?
7. I think his latest book is terrific. I really enjoyed it.
8. I don't think Catalans are mean. It's just a CLICHÉ.
9. The politician threatened to SUE the newspaper. He said that there was no truth in the story.
10. I had an eye TEST last week and the optician said I needed new glasses.
11. He has a cold so he phoned in SICK to work.
12. I think it's a SHAME that she hasn't called to congratulate you.
13. I'm waiting FOR a phone call from my boss. He said he'd phone.
14. I hope that the government isn't going to RAISE taxes again.

I see you on Tuesday.
Graham said…
Hi Montse,

Let's just say that my Easter wasn't great despite the wonderful weather.

I'm sure your hols were far better tan mine.


You did the exercise really well.


1. Can you speak up please? I can hardly HEAR you.

3. He offered to help the old lady (TO) CARRY her shopping.

5. I lent her some money but she hasn't paid me back yet.

8. I don't think Catalans are mean. It's just a STEREOTYPE. (stereotype is for people, cliché is more for boring expressions that people repeat)

12. I think it's a SHAME/ DISGRACE that she hasn't called to congratulate you. (it's a shame = it's a pity, disgrace is much stronger)

13. I'm EXPECTING a phone call from my boss. He said he'd phone. (expect = I think he'll phone, I'm waiting for a phone call = you aren't doing anything else - just looking at the phone)

Unknown said…
Hi Graham.

This is my homework.

1. Can you speak up please? I can hardly LISTEN you. LISTEN TO
2. She likes her new job. She says that her colleagues are SYMPATHETIC. NICE
3. He offered to help the old lady carry her shopping.RIGHT
4. Where did you KNOW your girlfriend? MEET
5. I lent her some money but she hasn't paid me back yet. RIGHT
6. What time did you arrive at the hotel? How long did the TRAVEL take? JOURNEY
7. I think his latest book is terrific. I really enjoyed it. RIGHT
8. I don't think Catalans are mean. It's just a TOPIC. STEREOTYPE
9. The politician threatened to DEMAND the newspaper. He said that there was no truth in the story.TO SUE
10. I had an eye PROOF last week and the optician said I needed new glasses. A TEST
11. He has a cold so he phoned in ill to work. RIGHT
12. I think it's a DISGRACE that she hasn't called to congratulate you. PITY
13. I'm waiting a phone call from my boss. He said he'd phone. RIGHT
14. I hope that the government isn't going to RISE taxes again. INCREASE

See you tomorrow.
Alida
Graham said…
Hi Alida,

Check out the posts on any ones you got wrong.

1. Can you speak up please? I can hardly hear you. (= ability)

11. He has a cold so he phoned in sick to work. (this is a tricky one - here it is just a collocation)

12. I think it's a disgrace that she hasn't called to congratulate you. (pity is right too but isn't as strong as disgrace - it depends how bad you think it is that she hasn't called)

13. I'm expecting a phone call from my boss. He said he'd phone. (= I think my boss is going to phone me but I'm not waiting next to the phone)

14. I hope that the government isn't going to raise taxes again. ("increase" is correct too but check out the post on the differences between "rise" and "raise")


Well done!
Anonymous said…
1. Can you speak up please? I can hardly HEAR you.
2. She likes her new job. She says that her colleagues are NICE.
3. He offered to help the old lady FOR CARRYING her shopping.
4. Where did you MEETyour girlfriend?
5. I lent her some money but she hasn't paid me back FOR IT yet.
6. What time did you arrive at the hotel? How long did the JOURNEY take?
7. I think his latest book is terrific. I really enjoyed it.
8. I don't think Catalans are mean. It's just a CLICHÉ.
9. The politician threatened to SUE the newspaper. He said that there was no truth in the story.
10. I had an eye TEST last week and the optician said I needed new glasses.
11. He has a cold so he phoned in SICK to work.
12. I think it's a SHAME that she hasn't called to congratulate you.
13. I'm waiting FOR a phone call from my boss. He said he'd phone.
14. I hope that the government isn't going to RAISE taxes again.
Graham said…
Hi Natalia,

You have been very busy. Keep up the good work.

3. He offered to help the old lady to carry her shopping.

5. I lent her some money but she hasn't paid me back yet.

8. I don't think Catalans are mean. It's just a stereotype.

12. I think it's a disgrace that she hasn't called to congratulate you.

13. I'm expecting a phone call from my boss. He said he'd phone.

Well done!
brigida said…
1.Can you speak up please? I can hardly listen TO you
2.She likes her new WORK. She says that her colleagues are NICE.
4.Where did you MEET your girlfriend?
9.The politician threatened to SUE the newspaper. He said that there was no truth in the story
10.I had an eye CHECK-OUT last week and the optician said I needed new glasses
12.I think it's a PITTY that she hasn't called to congratulate you.
13.I'm waiting FOR a phone call from my boss. He said he'd phone.
Graham said…
Hi Brigida,

Not as easy as it might appear...

1. Can you speak up please? I can hardly hear you. (See listen v hear post)

2. She likes her new job. She says that her colleagues are NICE. (see job v work post)

3. RIGHT

4. Where did you MEET your girlfriend? RIGHT

5. RIGHT

6. What time did you arrive at the hotel? How long did the journey take? (see journey v travel v trip post)

7. RIGHT

8. I don't think Catalans are mean. It's just a stereotype. (see topic post)

9. The politician threatened to SUE the newspaper. He said that there was no truth in the story. RIGHT

10. I had an eye-test last week and the optician said I needed new glasses. (see proof)

11. He has a cold so he phoned in sick to work. (see sick v ill)

12. I think it's a disgrace that she hasn't called to congratulate you. (see disgrace)

13. I'm expecting a phone call from my boss. He said he'd phone. (see expect v wait v look forward to post)

14. I hope that the government isn't going to raise taxes again. (see rise v raise)

María Rossignoli Montero said…
Hi Graham!

Can you speak up please? I can hardly listen you. WRONG. listen to you

She likes her new job. She says that her colleagues are sympathetic. WRONG. she always says THAT her colleagues are sympathetic.

He offered to help the old lady carry her shopping. WRONG. By carrying her shopping.

Where did you know your girlfriend? WRONG. Where did you meet

I lent her some money but she hasn't paid me back yet. WRONG. But she didn't pay me back yet.

What time did you arrive at the hotel? How long did the travel take? WRONG. At what time?

I think his latest book is terrific. I really enjoyed it. WRONG. His last book

I don't think Catalans are mean. It's just a topic. WRONG. STEREOTYPE

The politician threatened to demand the newspaper. He said that there was no truth in the story. RIGHT

I had an eye proof last week and the optician said I needed new glasses. WRONG. I NEED.

He has a cold so he phoned in ill to work. WRONG. SICK/ILLNESS

I think it's a disgrace that she hasn't called to congratulate you. WRONG. she didn't call

I'm waiting a phone call from my boss. He said he'd phone. RIGHT

I hope that the government isn't going to rise taxes again. RIGHT
Graham said…
Hi María,

I think it would be worth your while making your way through the posts on Confusing Words.

All OK apart from:


Can you speak up please? I can hardly hear you.

She likes her new job. She says that her colleagues are nice/friendly.

He offered to help the old lady carry her shopping. RIGHT

I lent her some money but she hasn't paid me back yet. RIGHT

What time did you arrive at the hotel? How long did the JOURNEY take?

I think his latest book is terrific. I really enjoyed it. RIGHT

The politician threatened to sue the newspaper. He said that there was no truth in the story.

I had an eye test last week and the optician said I needed new glasses.

He has a cold so he phoned in sick to work.

I think it's a disgrace that she hasn't called to congratulate you. RIGHT

I'm EXPECTING a phone call from my boss. He said he'd phone.

I hope that the government isn't going to raise taxes again.


Better luck next time :-)