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. i) Cite - to quote/ mention (Verb)
I cited ten quotes from the same author in my
paper.
ii) Sight - vision (Noun) & - come into view (Verb)
Her heart quickened at the sight of him.
iii) Site - position or place (Noun)
The site was occupied by a small fishing village.

3. i) Shade: protection from the sun.
We took a siesta in the shade.
ii) Shadow: shape produced by a body coming
between rays of light and a surface.
We heard the story of a man without a
shadow.

4. i) Small: used to talk about the size of something. It’s
physical.
Can I have two small pizzas please?
ii) Little: can be used to talk about:
√ size, (she is small)
√ some kind of emotion, (that poor little boy)
√ and, can also be used with uncountables (I have a
little coffee every afternoon)

5. i) Formality:
Talk: in informal communication/ lectures.
Speak: in serious or formal situations/ lectures.
Could I talk to you about the football match?
The Pope spoke to the crowd.
ii) Languages:
Speak to refer to knowledge and use of languages.
The boy speaks 5 languages fluently.

6. i) Tall: √ a great or more than average height of a person or
an object.
√ used with living things (Tall people often get backache).
ii) High: √ a great distance from top to bottom (High
mountains).
√ emotional state of a person (I have high hopes of
winning the game).
√ body temperature of a person (A high fever).
√ a person is said to be high when he has had alcohol or
any other drugs (He is high).
√ used with non-living things (The tree is 50m high).

7. i) Grateful: people’s reactions to kindness.
I am very grateful for all your help.
ii) Thankful: people’s feelings of relief at having
avoided a danger/ at having come through an
unpleasant experience.
We are very thankful that the lockdown was
finally lifted.

8. i) Voyage: a long sea journey.
ii) Trip: traveling to a place and returning back to
where we started.
iii) Journey: traveling from one place to another (not
necessarily returning to where we started).
iv) Travel: to go to a place and especially one that is
far away.

9. i) Wish + infinitive = want (no progressive forms).
I wish to see the captain of the ship.
ii) I wish you = some expressions of good wishes.
We wish you a speedy recovery.
iii) Wish + that-clause = expresses regret that things
are not different, and refers to situations that are
unreal, impossible or unlikely.
(That can be dropped in informal writing/
speaking).
I wish I could fly.

10. i) Little: not much, carries a negative meaning
Few: not many, carries a negative meaning
He showed little interest in watching the film.
Books, like friends, should be few and well chosen.
ii) A little: some, carries a positive meaning
A few: some, carries a positive meaning
A little leak will sink a great ship.
He packed a few things into a bag.

11. iii) The little: not much, but all there is
The few: not many, but all there are
The little skill he has is not enough to build a house.
The few shirts I have are all wet.
N.B.: Little refers to non-countable nouns.
Few refers to countable nouns.

12. 1. Dual (A): consisting of two parts or components
usually in pairs.
Dual SIM smartphones have become an inevitable
part of our lives.
2. Duel (N): a combat between two persons.
The two men fought a duel over the lady.
3. Duet (N): a composition in music for two persons.
Let's sing a duet.