Commonly Confused Words Exercise

Fill in the blanks.

1. Don’t ………….. in bed all day.

lie
lay
lain

To lie is to be down or become horizontal.

2. Susie was supposed to go to the party, but she was ill so Joe went ......................
her.

instead of
without
Either could be used here

If Joe went instead of Susie, that means he replaced her. If he went without Susie, that
means he went alone. Susie didn't accompany him.

3. ………….. expensive holidays could be the most interesting.

The least
Least
The lesser

The least can be used before adjectives in the same way as ‘the most’.

4. He …………….. to me when he said he loved me.

laid
lied
lain

Lied is the past participle of lie.

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 Commonly Confused Words Exercise

5. She didn’t let me …………… what she was writing.

see
to see

Let is followed by an infinitive without to.

6. After questioning they were …………. home.

allowed to go
let go

Let is not normally used in passive forms.

7. My parents had …………….

hard life
a hard life
Either could be used here

When 'life' refers to the whole of a person’s life, it is normally countable and is used with
articles.

8. I …………….. you and your husband.

like very much

very much like
Either could be used here

Very much cannot go between like and its object.

9. I waited ………………… but he didn’t arrive.

long
for a long time
Either could be used here

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 Commonly Confused Words Exercise

Long is mainly used in questions and negatives. In affirmative clauses, we use for a long
time.

10. …………….. carefully – it is moving.

Look
Look at
Look in

No preposition is used when there is no object after look.

11. Paper is made ………… wood.

of
off
with
from

When a material is changed into a totally different form to make something, we use make
from.

12. You …………… work tomorrow if you don’t want to.

needn't
don't have to
Either could be used here

Needn’t and don’t have to mean the same.

PLAY AGAIN !

Answers

1. Don’t lie in bed all day.

2. Susie was supposed to go to the party, but she was ill so Joe went instead of her.
3. The least expensive holidays could be the most interesting.
4. He lied to me when he said he loved me.

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 Commonly Confused Words Exercise

5. She didn’t let me see what she was writing.

6. After questioning they were allowed to go home.
7. My parents had a hard life.
8. I very much like you and your husband.
9. I waited for a long time but he didn’t arrive.
10. Look carefully – it is moving.
11. Paper is made from wood.
12. You needn’t / don’t have to work tomorrow if you don’t want to.

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