English for Specific Purposes
Wrld

6. Confusing words

LEND / BORROW

To lend something means to give it.             I can lend you my dictionary.

To borrow something means to get it.         You can borrow my dictionary.

QUITE / QUIET

Quite = rather                               It’s quite a nice city.

Quiet = silent                                 The baby is very quiet.

LOSE / LOOSE

Lose = can’t find it                        I often lose my possessions.

Loose = not tight                           His shirt is loose - it is too big for him.

RISE / RAISE

Rise = increase                              The divorce rate rises steadily.

Raise = lift                                     Community decided to raise money for charity.

TAKE / BRING

Take = move from here to there       Can you take this book to the library?

Bring = move from there to here      I’ll bring you some strawberries from my garden.

LAY / LIE /LIE

LAY (LAID, LAID)

Lay = place one thing on top of another       You must lay the luggage on the floor.

LIE (LAY, LAIN)

Lie = to be in a fixed position                         Are you going to lie on the beach all day?

LIE (LIED, LIED)

Lie = to say something that is not true          Statistically people lie at least twice a day.

EXERCISES

Choose the right word.

1. If I were you, I would not believe her. She is always ____________.
2. Children often _______ keys.
3. Sun _______ early in summer.
4. Library _______ books to students  for the whole academic year.
5. We _______ our glasses to your health.
6. His words _______ a blush to her cheeks.
7. Sometimes he is _________ rude and he is not aware of it.
8. Could you ______ the plates on the table, please?
9. Don’t forget to ______ you bag, will you?
10. If you _____ quietly, they wil not notice you in the dark.
11. Nowadays young people prefer ______ clothes to tight ones.
12.  The banks constantly ______ the interest rates on loans.
13. Everybody expects the _____ of a new talent.
14. ______ detector is a special device that is designed to detect a lier.
15. Police officers decided to ______ in wait for a suspect.

Answer keys

Resources
ONLINE EXERCISES
Galina Kavaliauskienė
Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius, Lithuania