Words you may confuse

This unit look at words which are easy to mix up
1. Similar sounds
+ quite/quiet
   This book is quite good.
   My bedroom is very quiet.
(= silent/ no noise)

+ lose/loose:
   Why do I always lose my keys!
   _ Here they are.
   Oh, thank you!
If you lose something, you do not know where it is
(you can't find it).
These trousers are very loose.
(loose means they are not tight, because they are too big)

+ fell/felt
Fell is from fall/fell/fallen.
Yesterday I fell and broke my arm
Felt is from feel/felt/felt.
I felt ill yesterday, but I feel OK today.

+ cooker/cook
This cooker costs 500$. (= the thing you cook on)
He is a very good cook. (= the person who cooks)

2. Similar or related meanings.
+ lend/borrow
If you lend something, you give it.
Sam wants a bicycle:
_ Will you lend me your bicycle?
(= you give it to me for one day/an hour, etc.)
or
_ Can I borrow your bicycle? (= I get it from you)
Yes, take it.
_ Thanks.

+ check/control
The passport officer checked my passport. (= looked at it)
The mouse controls the computer. (= tells it what to do)

3. Other words often mixed up.
record (n)/ record (v)
essential (adj & n)
potential (adj & n)

What does a mouse do to a computer? It controls it.
What does the passport officer do to your passport? He/she checks it
If you want to use someone's camera for two hours, what do you say?
Can I borrow your camera?
What do you say to someone at 3 p.m? Good afternoon.
What do people do at a bus stop? They wait for the bus.
What do you say a friend if you need 1$ for the phone?
Can you lend me $1 for phone?
What do you say if someone makes too much noise?
Please be quiet.