lesson link TEACHERS NOTES

Using the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary for

dealing with easily confused words
Level
Advanced
Approx. total time 45 mins
Aim
To clarify and practise some words that are often confused, and learn

how to distinguish between easily confused words with the help of a

dictionary.
Materials
Photocopies of the worksheet; Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary,

7th edition
Preparation
Make one copy of the worksheet for each student.
They will need access to copies of the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, 7th edition
Procedure
A Activity 1. Elicit from the Ss any examples of words that they find easy to confuse in English
and ask them (briefly) to explain the differences if they can. (Do not get bogged down on these
here). Tell them that they are going to learn more about easily confusable words and practise
using them correctly.
Now ask the Ss to do Activity 1 on their worksheets.
Key
a above
c no
e take care of
g no
b no
d start
f besides
h no
B Activity 2. Discuss the answers with the students, referring to the WHICH WORD? boxes in the
dictionary to clarify the correct answers. (NB they will need to use the WHICH WORD? boxes
rather than the other notes to find the solutions.)
C Activity 3. This activity requires the Ss explicitly to rehearse some of the rules.
Key
a over
c actually
e effect
g besides
b above
d affect, noun
f effect
h except/apart from
D Activity 4. This activity gives students some freedom to complete the sentences using the
knowledge they have gained in the lesson.
Possible completions for Activity 4
a Egypt depends on the Nile. It doesnt have many important rivers apart from that.
b I know you like J K Rowling, but do you have any other favourite authors apart from her/
besides her?
c My previous job was much harder than my present one/my current one
d Tim lives in a very cold part of the world. The daytime temperatures rarely rise above zero.
e The earthquake was terrible. Most parts of the country were affected (by it).
f Many household appliances are just thrown away because repairing them is not
economical.
PHOTOCOPIABLE

Oxford University Press 2008

lesson link WORKSHEET

Easily confused words
1 Study the ten sentences below (which are all correct) and decide whether
the word(s) in italics can be replaced by one of the items from this box:
actual apart from affect take care of
besides above start economical
If you decide that the word(s) can be replaced by a synonym, write the synonym
on the dotted line next to the sentence. If not, write NO (or UNSURE).
a We live in a flat over a bookshop.

b Last lesson we discussed current issues from the news.

c What has been the economic effect of the smoking ban?

d I usually begin work at 7.30 each morning.

e Who will look after the dog when you go on holiday?

f What homework do you get apart from learning vocabulary?

g The new motorway seems to have had no effect on the amount

of traffic going through the town.

h We can both use the book if you sit beside me.

2 The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary has blue WHICH WORD? boxes to help with
each of these possible problem areas. When you have finished Activity 1, use these
boxes to decide whether your answers to Activity 1 were correct.

PHOTOCOPIABLE

Oxford University Press 2008

lesson link WORKSHEET

3 The rules
Complete these statements using the WHICH WORD? boxes at above,
actual, affect, besides and beside in the dictionary if you need to.
a is used to mean more than with numbers, ages, money
and time.
b is used to mean more than when you compare levels.
c never means currently or at the moment.
d means to have an influence on somebody/something. It is a verb and
can never be used as a
e The noun meaning result, influence is not affect but
f The verb is rare and means to achieve or produce (e.g. The mediator
hopes to a reconciliation between the two sides.
g We do not use beside to mean in addition to. The correct form is
h To mention the only thing that is not included in a statement, you use the word
(e.g. I like all sports football).

4 Complete the following sentences in your own words. Include some of the words that have
been featured in this lesson.
a Egypt depends on the Nile. It doesnt have many important rivers
b I know you like J K Rowling, but do you have any other favourite authors ?
c My previous job was much harder than
d Tim lives in a very cold part of the world. The daytime temperatures rarely rise
d The earthquake was terrible. Most parts of the country were
e Many household appliances are just thrown away because repairing them is

PHOTOCOPIABLE

Oxford University Press 2008