Below is the list of common confusing words in english with infographics and PDF. Confusing words of english are sometime very disturbing as they cause a lot of trouble and confusion for ESL students learning English Vocabulary.
Confusing Words with Meaning
Below are some common confusing words with meaning and examples!
Too, enough
“too” gives a negative meaning and “enough” gives a positive meaning.
- He is too (adv.) Weak to run. (he is very weak.) The watch is too (adv.) Large for your wrist. We are able enough (adv.) for this post. (we are quite able.)
- The new house is big enough (adv.) for our family.
Very much, quite
Placed before adjectives in the first degree.
- The story is very much (adv.) True. The question is quite (adv.) Easy.
“much” may be placed before adjectives and adverbs in the second degree.
- Sahir is much (adv.) Abler than other students. Suraiyya writes much (adv.) faster than her friend.
Fairly, rather
Both these words mean “to some extent.” but “fairly” often gives a positive meaning and “rather” a negative meaning.
- They are fairly (adv.) Good at english. We are fairly (adv.) Advanced in agriculture (-)). The plan is rather difficult. He is rather foolish.
Sometimes “rather” (adv.) gives a positive meaning.
- Theirs is a rather successful team.
Other uses of “rather:” we would rather not take (prefer not to take) the examination than to fail. She will rather (adv.) Study in pakistan.
Some, any
“some” is used in affirmative sentences and “any” in negative and interrogative ones:
- We visited some (adv.) new places. They didn’t visit any (adv.) new places. Did you visit any?
- She has eaten something (adv.). Have you eaten anything (adv.)?
- You look hungry. Do you want some (adj.) Food? Of course i want some.
- When “some” is used in a question, the answer is “yes.”
Each other, one another
Quite often “each other” is used for two persons or things and “one another” for more than two. But there is no strict rule about it now.
- The two parties helped each other (conj.) They can teach each other [or one another (conj.)
Seldom (not often), rarely
- We seldom (adv.) Read stories.
- We rarely (adv.), if ever, read stories.
Anyway, all the same (whatever the situation is)
- We do not have any (adv.) Good clothes, anyway (adv.) we shall go to the party.
- They speak against me on different occasions, all the same they are my friends.
As soon as, no sooner had (at once)
- As soon as (conj.) I gave her the money, she bought the book. No sooner had (conj.) given her the money than she bought the book. She replied to me as soon as she got my letter.
- No sooner had they got the books than they started reading.
As well as (in addition to)
- The players are present as well (conj.) as the captain.
- The students are playing and the teachers as well. As well as a doctor he is a teacher. Study, work hard and enjoy life as well. Sing, dance, play, but work as well.
Either … Or, neither … Nor
- Either you or (conj.) your friend has broken the chair.
- Either the teacher or (conj.) the students have closed the doors. Neither you nor (conj.) He is at fault.
The helping verb is used according to the latter noun or pronoun.
Either, also
“either” for negative sentences, as “also” is for affirmative.
- Kabir could not sleep and Hasan could not either (conj.).
- Civilian governments did not succeed, and military governments couldn’t either (conj.). Kabir went, and Hassan also went. ( … Hassan went too.)
Either, neither
For one or other of two; “all” for everyone, everything; “none” for “not any.”
- I know either of the two brothers. (both of them)
- She studies in neither of the two classes.
- We met all the people at the party.
- They saw none of the five films there.
- We got all the books, they got none.
Of course (used to show a natural result)
- She slept during the film, of course (conj.) it was boring.
Unless, until
- Unless (conj.) you work hard, you cannot pass. (condition)
- Until (conj.) you come, we shall be staying here. (time)
Ago, before
Ago for “back in time from now”; before for “earlier than that”
- I went to Quetta two years ago (adv.).
- I reached there before (prep.) You did.
So as to (in order to-in such a way)
- Shama bought a sewing machine so as to (conj.) sew her clothes herself.
- Ride your bicycle carefully so as not to hit anyone.
So … That (to such a degree; in such a way)
- Rashid spoke so fast that (conj.) No one could understand him.
- They started early so that (conj.) they might reach college on time.
Lest
- They obeyed the police lest (conj.) they got punished. (past)
(or) they obeyed the police lest (conj.) They should get punished.
- The team will play well lest it fail to win. (future)
(or) the team will play well lest it should fail to win.
As … As (affirmative); not as … As (negative) or so … As, not so … As
- Poonam helped me as (so) much as she could.
- The students were not as (so) clever as their teacher.
- This film is not as (so) good as the one we saw last week.
Though, although (in spite of the fact that, notwithstanding the fact that)
- We all played for several hours even though (conj.) the examination was near.
- Although the novel is long, i shall read it.
- Although (though) (conj.) He is my friend, he never helps me.
However (all the same); however (in whatever way)
- They ran a lot, however (adv.) they did not get tired.
- You can never be a good singer however much you may try.
Nevertheless (however, yet)
- She studies a lot, nevertheless (adv.) she gets low grades in her examinations.
- Ali and javaid have fought, but they like to meet nevertheless (adv.).
Hardly (scarcely-with difficulty, not at all, almost not)
- kiran could hardly (adv.) Answer such questions.
- They hardly (adv.) ever visit us. There I could hardly get help from my friends.
- They had hardly (adv.) Gone out when it started raining.
- During the holidays I could hardly (barely) (adv.) Visit two friends out of so many.
Leave a Comment