Some may find these words confusing, if the exact meanings aren't clear because they have different meanings which often cause us trouble.

1. By Kamol Karmakar
Lecturer, DELL, USTC.

2. Before an infinitive we generally use agree, NOT
accept.
We agreed to join the upcoming tournament.
We accepted the invitation to join the upcoming
tournament.

3. i) Affect: Verb, meaning ‘to cause a change in’ or
‘to influence.’
ii) Effect: Noun, meaning ‘result’ or ‘change.’
(Can also be used as a Verb, meaning ‘to carry
out’ or ‘to cause to happen’).
The Coronavirus pandemic seriously affected the
global economy.
The Coronavirus pandemic had a serious effect
on the global economy.

4. Both can be used to talk about people or things/
about all the members of a group.
i) All with plural nouns; Every with singular
Every mother loves her child.
All mothers love their children.
ii) All = ‘every part of’/ ‘the whole of’
All Bangladesh mourned Ayub Bachchu’s death.
I was with her all day. (from morning to night)
She visited me every day. (Sunday, Monday,
Tuesday…)

5. iii) All with uncountables
They like all music. Every music.
iv) All with determiners (articles, possessives, or
demonstratives)
All + determiner + plural
He’s invited all his friends.
Every + singular
He’s invited every friend he has. (Every his
friend/ his every friend)

6. i) Arise: begin, appear or come to one’s notice.
He told us a difficulty could arise.
ii) Rise: get higher, come/go up.
The Sun rises in the west on Venus.

7. There is usually little to no difference between
‘begin’ and ‘start.’
We prefer ‘begin’ in a more formal style.
We are about to begin the session.
Cases where ‘begin’ doesn’t look OK.
* Starting a journey – we’d start at 5.
* Start working for machines – the bus isn’t
starting.

8. i) Big: Refers to the physical size of an object.
Also means that something is serious or
important
What a big family it is!
ii) Large: Refers to the physical size.
A large green book caught her attention.
* Both can be used with countable nouns: a big
city, a large company.

9. i) Wide: to express the physical distance from one
side of something to another.
We crossed over a wide stream.
ii) Broad: used mainly in expressions such as
'broad shouldered', 'broad faced' and the like.
* Descriptions of landscape = broad valley.
* In abstract expressions = broad minded, broad
daylight, broad agreement.

10. i) Elder and eldest are used only of persons.
ii) Older and oldest are used of both persons and
things.
An elder son/ daughter is the older of two; and
eldest is the oldest of two or more.
This is the oldest mosque in our area.
Her eldest/ oldest daughter studies Geography.

11. i) Finish + object = ‘complete’
He couldn’t finish his pizza.
ii) End + object = ‘stop’
He ended his relationship with these people.

12. Meaning ‘very.’
He is ever so intelligent.
That was ever such a great match.