Some words that are pronounced alike have very different meanings. Examples are: piece and peace. These word pairs cause a great deal of confusion.
Here is a simple exercise that tests your ability to use these words correctly.
1Please give me a ............... of paper.
Wrong!
Use "piece" for one part or sheet of something.
2How much is the railway ...............?
Wrong!
Use "fare" for the price of a journey by public transport.
3Jane has got very ............... looks.
Wrong!
Use "plain" to mean ordinary or not very attractive in this sentence.
4As he had no shirt, the sun burnt his ............... skin.
Wrong!
Use "bare" to mean not covered by clothing.
5I really want to ............... some weight.
Wrong!
Use "lose" as the verb meaning to reduce or no longer have something.
6An oil lamp needs a ...............
Wrong!
Use "wick" for the string in a lamp or candle that burns.
7My little brother is very ..............., so we don't let him touch anything breakable.
Wrong!
Use "irresponsible" to describe someone who cannot be trusted to act carefully.
8A ............... looks like a big rabbit.
Wrong!
Use "hare" for the animal that looks like a large rabbit.
9She was unusually ...............
Wrong!
Use "quiet" to mean not making much noise or not speaking much.
10............... going to the market.
Wrong!
Use "We're" as the contraction of "we are" before "going".
Answers
- Please give me a piece of paper.
- How much is the railway fare?
- Jane has got very plain looks.
- As he had no shirt, the sun burnt his bare skin.
- I really want to lose some weight.
- An oil lamp needs a wick.
- My little brother is very irresponsible, so we don’t let him touch anything breakable.
- A hare looks like a big rabbit.
- She was unusually quiet.
- We’re going to the market.
