Some words are confused because they are pronounced alike. In this lesson we will learn about those words which cause confusion because they produce similar sound.
Allowed (Verb): let somebody do something
Aloud (adverb): audibly
- He allowed me to go.
- She cried aloud for mercy.
Alter (verb): change, make or become different
Altar (noun): holy table in a church
- You must alter the order of the words.
- The priest bowed before the altar.
Bare (Adjective): not covered
Bear (Verb): tolerate
Bear (noun): an omnivorous four legged animal that has thick fur
- As he had no shirt the sun burnt his bare skin.
- I can’t bear this pain.
- A bear has thick fur.
Birth (noun): event of being born
Berth (noun): bed on ship or train
- What is your date of birth?
- Can I reserve a berth in the train?
Bore (noun) something that bores
Bore (verb): make somebody uninterested
Boar (noun): a wild animal
- He bored me with his silly jokes.
- The boar is a brave wild animal.
Brake (noun): device that slows or stops a machine
Break (verb): separate something into pieces
- See if you can break this stick?
- You stop a car by applying the brake.
Counsel (noun): counsel means advice.
Council (noun): an assembly of people meeting regularly to advise or organize something.
- People who give advice are called counsellors.
- A council is a group of people met together on some business.
Current (noun): flow of water or air
Current (adjective): existing now
Currant (noun): small dried grapes
- This river has strong current.
- You must be aware of current events.
Fair (noun): gathering of stalls and amusements for public entertainment. An exhibition to promote particular products.
Fair (adjective): light complexion
Fare (noun): the money a passenger on public transport has to pay
- Her skin is fair, not dark.
- How much is the railway fare?
Herd (noun): a large group of animals that live or are kept together.
Heard (verb): perceive with the ear
- A herd of cattle
- I heard him talking.
Hole (noun): cavity, aperture
Whole (adjective): entire, complete
- There is a hole in my socks.
- Rabbits live in holes.
- She spent the whole night reading.
- You have eaten a whole loaf.
Piece (noun): a portion separated from the whole
Peace (noun): freedom from war
- Please give me a piece of paper.
- Do you want war or peace?
Plane (noun): aircraft
Plain (noun): flat expanse of land
Plain (adjective): simple and ordinary
- She had a plain face.
- The Gangetic plain is very fertile.
Practice (noun): the doing of something repeatedly to improve one’s skills
Practise (verb): do something repeatedly so as to become skilful
- Practice makes man perfect.
- You need to practise cricket regularly.
Prey (noun): animals hunted by other animals
Pray (verb): speak to God
- What a tiger kills is its prey.
- I pray that no tiger will ever catch me.
Principal (noun): the head of a school or college
Principal (adjective): the most important
Principle (noun): rules or beliefs governing one’s personal behaviour
- He is the principal of the college.
- He is the principal player in the team.
- To gamble is against my principle.
Sight (noun): faculty of seeing
Site (noun): place where something stands
- A blind man has no sight.
- I will build my house on this site.
Whether (conjunction): expresses a doubt or choice between alternatives
Weather (noun): the state of the atmosphere at a place and time
- You are going to take this medicine whether you like it or not.
- We had to cancel the trip because of bad weather.
- In May the weather is hot.
