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CONFUSING
WORDS 1
VOCABULARY, PRONUNCIATION
& GRAMMAR LESSON
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1 affect - /əˈfekt/
effect - /ɪˈfekt/

Both can take the form of a noun and a verb, but

affect is most commonly a verb, and effect is most
commonly a noun.

Usually, something ‘affects’ something to produce an

‘effect’.

to affect: to have an influence on somebody/

something

Do video games affect children’s behaviour?

an effect: a result/influence
Do video games have an effect on children’s
behaviour?

Effect as a verb is quite rare:

to effect: to achieve or produce

We hope to effect a change in policy.

Affect as a noun is VERY rare:

It is used in the field of psychology/ psychiatry to mean
an emotional response.

MEMORY TIP:
Remember that affect comes first alphabetically, and
an action (to affect) has to occur before you can have a
result (an effect)

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2 bring - /brɪŋ/
take - /teɪk/

Bring means moving something or someone. The

movement is either from where the listener is to where
the speaker is, or from the speaker to the listener.

Both of these dialogues are from Tom’s point of view:

Tom and Jane are in the living room.

Tom: Are you going to the kitchen?
Jane: Yes
Tom: Can you bring me my phone charger?
Jane will return from the kitchen with Tom’s phone
charger.

Tom: Are you coming over for dinner tonight?

Jane: Yes.
Tom: Please could you bring a dessert?
Jane will carry the dessert from where she is to where
Tom is.

Take means movement with something or someone

from where the speaker or listener is to a different
place.

Tom and Jane are at home together.

Tom: Please could you take this letter to the post
office?
(Jane is moving the letter away from where the
speaker, Tom, is)

Jane: Would you like me to take you to the station

tomorrow?
(Jane will 'carry' Tom away from where they are at
present, to the station.

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3 either - /ˈiːðə(r)/ or /ˈaɪðə(r)/

neither - /ˈniːðə(r)/ or /ˈnaɪðə(r)/

In British English, we tend to use both pronunciations

interchangeably. In American English, they tend to
favour /ˈiːðə(r)/ and /ˈniːðə(r)/, but this is not a strict rule.
Choose whichever you like best.

Either - one or the other of two things/people; it does

not matter which

Neither - not one nor the other of two things or people

Let’s pretend I ask my class for a synonym for ‘happy’.

Miguel: Content
Rania: Cheerful
Both answers are correct. I can use either answer.

Aga: sad
Nguyen: down
Neither answer is correct.

4 advise- /ədˈvaɪz/
advice- /ədˈvaɪs/

Advise is the verb meaning to tell somebody what you

think they should do in a particular situation.

I would strongly advise against going out alone.

Advice is the noun meaning an opinion or a

suggestion about what somebody should do in a
particular situation

His advice was to not go out alone.

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5 practise - /ˈpræktɪs/
practice - /ˈpræktɪs/

In British English, practise is the verb and practice is

the noun.
In American English, practice is normally used as both
the noun and the verb.

To practise/practice: to do an activity or train regularly

so that you can improve your skill
Practice: doing an activity or training regularly so that
you can improve your skill; the time you spend doing
this.
British English:
I need to practise my violin as it takes a lot of practice
to play well.
American English:
I need to practice my violin as it takes a lot of practice
to play well.

Activity
1. Wars ________ everyone, and their devastating ________
can be felt for years after.
2. If you _______ hard enough, you will become a fantastic
dancer.
3. Her ________ was to stop drinking so much coffee.
4. When you go to the bedroom can you _______ me a pillow?
5. How much of an ________ do arguments have on babies?
6. _________ of the dresses are nice - I hate them both!
7. I don't want to give unsolicited ________ but I think you
should exercise more.
8. Will lockdown _________ our mental health?

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The End
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