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Friday, October 23, 2015

Like two peas in a pod, but different after all: paronyms (I)

Hello again mates,
Everything alright ? Today, I'm writing a post about paronyms. Paronyms are similar words in appearance but different at the end of the day. These are the words we usually have problems with when in our English-learning process, since we frequently mistake them. Does it ring a bell ? Well, you will see my selection of paronyms now. I'm pretty sure that you have encountered and even mistaken- some of these pairs of words along your English learning process. Let's begin ! :
1. quiet vs. quite : a) Quiet = Calm, not noisy, peaceful
                               b) Quite = Really, completely, very.
The child was not simple quiet, he was quite quiet all the evening.
2. appealing vs. appalling : a) Appealing = Attractive, something that attracts your attention.
                                              b) Appalling = Awful', 'terrible' or 'disgusting.
The Chinese restaurant was an appealing idea, but the food turned out to be appalling ! We'll never come back.
3. college vs. colleague: a) College = University
                                        b) Colleague = Workmate
I work as an English teacher in Trinity College and when, I finish my work, I usually go out for a beer with my colleagues.
4. Price vs. prize: a) Price = The sum of money you pay for something.
                               b) Prize = Reward, award.
The prize of the competition was a great deal of money. You'll never again have to care for the prices at shops.
5. swam vs. swan: a) Swam = The simple past of the verb swim.
                                b) Swan = An animal of the goose family, similar to a duck.
Three swans swam in this lake yesterday. Now they are gone !
6. Lose vs. loose vs loss : a) Lose = The opposite of 'find.'
                                          b) Loss = The action of losing something.
                                          c) Loose = The opposite of 'hold'. To release or drop something.
Children often lose money when they have it in their hands and they loose it. Then, they are sad because of the loss of money.
7. Fall vs. feel: a) Fall = To come down to the ground. The past of is 'fell' and the participle 'fallen.'
                          b) Feel = To have feelings. The past and the participle is 'felt'.
The child felt a lot of pain when he fell down the stairs.
8. Lie (1) vs. lie (2) vs. lay = a) Lie (1): Not tell the truth. The past and participle are 'lied'
                 b) Lie (2): To rest in horizontal position. The past is 'lay' and the participle is 'lain.'
                 c) Lay: Other than the past of lie (2), it can mean to set or put something in a fixed place. Its past and participle are 'laid.'
Children usually lie on the sofa or lie when you ask them to lay the table.
9. Crash vs. crush: Crash = To make a loud noise or break to pieces
                                 Crush = To press, squeeze or break by force.
He was crushing grapes with his feet all the afternoon and, tired by the effort, he drove and crashed his car into a tree.
10. Coach vs. couch: Coach = A large bus; a carriage; or a person who trains a team.
                                    Couch = Sofa.
The coach slept on the couch after a nine-hour journey in a coach from the bus station, and a four-hour journey in a horse coach.
Did you enjoy my selection of paronyms? Did you use to have problems with these words when you studied English ? Do you still have problems with them ? Don't worry, son I will be writing another post with yet some more paronyms. Until then, I await your comments.

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