COBUILD

What’s the difference between alone and lonely?

This week we are looking at two words which are sometimes confused: alone and lonely. alone If you are alone, you are not with any other people. I wanted to be alone. Lucy spends most of her time alone in the flat. Make sure that you… Read More

What’s the difference between affect and effect?

This week we are looking at two words which are sometimes confused: affect and effect. affect Affect /əˈfekt/ is a verb. To affect someone or something means to cause them to change, often in a negative way. More than seven million people have been affected by… Read More

What’s the difference between accept and except?

This week we are looking at two words which are sometimes confused: accept and except. accept function playAudio(url) { new Audio(url).play(); } Accept /əkˈsept/ is a verb. If someone offers you something and you accept it, you agree to take it. I never accept presents from clients. Your… Read More

What’s the difference between borrow and lend?

This week we are looking at two words which are sometimes confused: borrow and lend. borrow function playAudio(url) { new Audio(url).play(); } If you borrow something that belongs to someone else, you use it for a period of time and then return it. Could… Read More

What’s the difference between loose and lose?

This week we are looking at two words which are sometimes confused: loose and lose. loose Loose /luːs/ is an adjective. It means `not firmly fixed’, or `not tight’. The handle is loose. Mary wore loose clothes. lose Lose /luːz/ is a verb. If you lose something, you cannot find it,… Read More

What’s the difference between bass and base?

This week we are looking at two words which are sometimes confused: bass and base. bass A bass saxophone, guitar, or other musical instrument is one that has a lower range of notes than other instruments of its kind. The vocalist had been joined by the lead… Read More

What’s the difference between sting and bite?

This week we are looking at two words which are sometimes confused: sting and bite. sting function playAudio(url) { new Audio(url).play(); } Sting is usually a verb. Its past tense and past participle is stung. If a creature such as a bee, wasp, or… Read More

What’s the difference between illness and disease?

This week we are looking at two words which are sometimes confused: illness and disease. illness function playAudio(url) { new Audio(url).play(); } If you have an illness, there is something wrong with your health. An illness can last for a long time or a short time, and its effects… Read More