A confusable is a word or phrase that is confused with another. There are lots of confusables in English. Can you use them correctly? Test your understanding with this vocabulary exercise.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate action.
1We can see ............... glass.
Wrong!
Use "through" to mean from one side of something to the other.
2He let out a ............... when he saw the damage.
Wrong!
A "groan" is a low sound someone makes because of pain or unhappiness.
3When two ............... lines meet, they form an angle.
Wrong!
Use "straight" to describe lines that do not bend or curve.
4Archimedes discovered a new scientific ...............
Wrong!
A scientific rule or basic truth is a "principle".
5He is sick and ............... special care and attention.
Wrong!
The verb "needs" means requires or must have.
6Horses like to ............... on their backs.
Wrong!
The verb "roll" means turn over and over.
7In the cricket match, Team India ............... Team Australia.
Wrong!
Use "beat" before the person or team that loses a game.
8We will have to hire a ............... if we have so many guests.
Wrong!
A person who prepares food is a "cook".
9There is a huge mango tree ............... my house.
Wrong!
Use "in front of" to describe position in space.
10The number of students who wanted to access the lab was ............... three hundred.
Wrong!
The phrase "in excess of" means more than a particular number or amount.
11She was displaying ............... feelings about the move.
Wrong!
Use "ambivalent" to describe mixed or opposing feelings.
12She told many funny ............... about her childhood.
Wrong!
Short, entertaining stories are "anecdotes".
Answers
- We can see through glass.
- He let out a groan when he saw the damage.
- When two straight lines meet, they form an angle.
- Archimedes discovered a new scientific principle.
- He is sick and needs special care and attention.
- Horses like to roll on their backs.
- In the cricket match, Team India beat Team Australia.
- We will have to hire a cook if we have so many guests.
- There is a huge mango tree in front of my house.
- The number of students who wanted to access the lab was in excess of three hundred.
- She was displaying ambivalent feelings about the move.
- She told many funny anecdotes about her childhood.