Confusing Words
ADVICE or ADVISE?
ADVICE (noun)
ADVISE (verb)
The guests were amazed by the …… statues in the garden.
colour
colourful
You must send your form __________ 7 December at the latest.
1) on 2) at 3) by 4) in
3) by
I met my friend Howard __________ chance __________ the lobby of the Raffles Hotel __________ Singapore.
by in in
The delegates seemed to find the presentation very …… .
(A) interests
(B) interest
(C) interesting
(D) interestingly
(C) interesting
EFFECT or AFFECT?
EFFECT (noun)
AFFECT (verb)
The rise in steel prices has resulted in a …… increase in our production costs.
consider
considerable
The next quarterly meeting is __________ 6 June.
1) at 2) on 3) in 4) for
2) on
There’s a phone number __________ the newspaper that we can call __________ more information.
in for
The attorney warned against trying to ...... the young witness.
(A) influential
(B) influence
(C) influentially
(D) influencing
(B) influence
BESIDE or BESIDES?
BESIDE (next to)
BESIDES (apart from, in addition)
While Jane was at college, she …… to her sister every week.
write
wrote
Most French people would rather go out __________ the evening than watch TV at home.
1) on 2) at 3) by 4) in
4) in
__________ Korea, it is considered bad luck to sign your name __________ a red ink pen.
In with
The journalist refused ...... the federal investigator the names of his sources.
(A) tell
(B) told
(C) telling
(D) to tell
(D) to tell
BORROW or LEND?
BORROW (take)
LEND (give)
The project team found it very difficult to hide their …… over the rejection.
disappoint
disappointment
In big cities, the average commuter’s journey __________ work takes nearly an hour.
1) at 2) to 3) by 4) in
2) to
The plumber promised me he would be here __________ least __________ three, but he didn’t arrive __________ five.
at by until
Inexperienced investors are ...... to enter this new market with caution.
(A) advice
(B) advisory
(C) advised
(D) advising
(C) advised
ALTHOUGH or DESPITE?
ALTHOUGH (subject + verb)
DESPITE = in spite of (noun/pronoun/verb -ing)
I heard that the board gave our project proposal a very …… review.
favor
favorable
The office will be open __________ 8 am to 6 pm, Monday __________ Friday.
1) of / to 2) by / by
3) from / through 4) through / from
3) from / through
InterSystem’s international sales increased __________ 21% __________ 2000 and 2005.
by between
Young adults who are ...... with their use of credit may find themselves in trouble sooner than they expect.
(A) careless
(B) uncaring
(C) carelessly
(D) uncared
(A) careless