There are several confusing words in English. Can you use them correctly? Take a moment to do this interactive exercise.
Fill in the blanks.
1. I just read a story about a man without a ………………
Shadow is the picture that forms when an area does not receive light.
2. We are looking for some ……………… to sit in.
Shade is the protection from the sun.
3. It was not a ……………… thing to do.
If something is sensible, it makes common sense.
4. ……………….. me to pay the bills.
To remind someone is to make them remember.
5. You make me ……………… my mother.
To remind is to make someone remember. The above sentence can also be written as: You remind me of my mother.
6. Who discovered the ………………. of gravitation?
A principle is a law or rule.
7. I have the ………………… to visit Dubai next year.
8. There is a/an ……………….. of my visiting Dubai next year.
9. I ……………….. the books on the table.
To lay is to put down something carefully. Laid is its past tense form.
10. I will see you ……………… a few days.
With a time expression, we use ‘in’ to mean ‘after now’.
11. She has a ………………….. way of walking.
Funny is something that makes you laugh.
12. I will be staying …………….. the weekend.
We use until to talk about a situation that continues up to a certain moment. We use by to say that an event will happen at or before a future moment.
Answers
1. I just read a story about a man without a shadow.
2. We are looking for some shade to sit in.
3. It was not a sensible thing to do.
4. Remind me to pay the bills.
5. You make me remember my mother.
6. Who discovered the principle of gravitation?
7. I have the opportunity to visit Dubai next year.
8. There is a possibility of my visiting Dubai next year.
9. I laid the books on the table.
10. I will see you in a few days.
11. She has a funny way of walking.
12. I will be staying until the weekend.
