words that confuse study guide

ENGLISH 8

WORDS THAT CONFUSE

there: (adv) in a place

they’re: contraction for they are

their:  (pn) belonging to them

affect: (v) to influence

effect: (n) a result

assure: (v) to bring comfort

ensure: (v) to make certain something happens

insure: (v) to secure

alot: NOT A WORD!

a lot: (n) many  allot (v) share

disinterested: (adj) don’t care either way

uninterested: (adj) bored with

farther: (adj) actual distance

further: (adj) nonmeasureable  Ex:  I have farther to walk and further to learn.

hear: (v) perceive by EAR

here:  (adv) in or at a place wHERE?

passed: (v) the past tense of pass

past: (adj) finished, gone by

amount: use when you cannot count the items Ex:  The amount of sunlight in the room.

number:  use when you can count the items Ex: The number students in the class.

Accept: to allow   Except: to exclude

than:  (conjunction) in contrast to

then: (adv) next

to: (prep) in the direction of

too: (adv) also

two: (adj) the number after one

who: (pn) substitute for he, she, they

whom: (pn) substitute for him, her, them

your: (pn) belonging to you

you’re: contraction for you are

can: states physical ability

may: states permission

among: use when comparing three or more

between: use when comparing two

each other: use when referring to two

one another: use when referring to three or more

e.g.: latin abbreviation; for example

i.e: latin abbreviation; it is or that is

feel bad: physical ailment

feel badly: emotional pain

fewer: use when you can count the items

less: use when you cannot count the items

good:  (adj) describes a noun Ex:  The candy is good.

well: (adv) describes an action or a verb Ex:  He plays football well.

its: POSSESSIVE  belonging to it

it’s CONTRACTION for it is

lay:  to place an item somewhere Ex: I lay the books on the table.

lie: to recline Ex:  I must lie down and rest.

that: (pn) introduces a restrictive clause 

which: (pn)  introduces a nonrestrictive clause

where: location

were: past plural of be

we’re: contraction  of we are

restrictive clause:

nonrestrictive clause:

couldn’t care less:  correct

could care less: not correct

False joiners:  however, consequently, therefore, moreover, also, and furthermore.  Use these words to add meaning to your sentences but NOT to put the sentences together.  Use conjunctions as joiners:  and, but, or and nor

Flammable and inflammable mean the same thing!!

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