False friends/commonly confused words

Choosing the wrong word when speaking English can have unexpected results.  Make sure not to mix up some of the following words:

  • I can advise (verb) someone by giving them some advice (noun), but advice is never advices
  • you can cook chicken (noun) in a kitchen (noun), but you cannot cook a kitchen in a chicken
  • clock (noun) is not worn on your wrist, whereas a watch (noun) is
  • cook (personal noun) is not the same as the machine cooker (noun)
  • You feel (verb) good, but not if you fall (verb) over.  Remember the different verb forms: feel, felt, felt; fall, fell, fallen
  • If something is funny (adjective or noun), it makes you laugh, which means you have fun (noun)
  • hot (adjective) is when the weather is not cold because there is too much heat (noun)
  • hunger (verb or noun) is when you have not eaten, whilst anger (verb or noun) is how you feel because you are hungry (adjective)
  • make (verb) friends is not the same as do (verb) friends, at least not in English!
  • I can practise (verb) sports if I am a professional, but normally I play (verb) or do (verb) sports
  • scientific (adj) is not the same as scientist (noun)
  • You see (verb in this case) your friends, but watch (verb in this case) television
  • when we go on a trip (noun) we travel (verb), but if we only go one way we make a journey (noun)
  • wish (verb in this case) is usually pessimistic, whilst hope (verb in this case) is optimistic.  Example, I hope to understand English :) or I wish English was not so difficult :(

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