Confusing English word pairs create a huge blunder while you are having conversations or you are texting someone. There are a few words that we use in the wrong situations. Our intentions might not be wrong, but using those confused words creates a blunder and a slightly bad image of ourselves. While you learn the English language make sure that you learn it in such a way that it does not confuse you and you use the right words in the right situations without being confused and without confusing the other person.
Why do English learners get confused with such kinds of confusing English word pairs?
The very basic reason why people get confused with such kinds of confusing English word pairs is that those words seem to be the same but they have different meanings. This is the most basic reason why people get confused between the two words. At times it happens that people get confused and use the wrong word in a situation. This happens because they do not understand the meaning of the word, which is why they use it anytime and anywhere.
What can be done to avoid such kinds of situations?
To begin with, the least we could do is understand the meaning and the function of that particular word. First, jot down the words that confuse you and then study them. What is it that makes you confused? And then understand that aspect.
Apart from this, there is a way through which you can recognize the difference between confusing English word pairs. It is by noticing how does the word sounds in the sentence and whether what part of speech is that word. Is it an adjective, an adverb, a noun, a gerund, or what is the function of the word in that sentence? After determining this, read the sentence out loud and see to it whether it is sounding right or not.
Let us now look at some examples of confusing English word pairs of English words and see what is the difference between them,
- Are you tired or is it tiring?
Did these two words confuse you? Well then, don’t worry! For an instance, you are tired today because you studied a lot, which is why you want to relax and take a nap. Studying for a long time is a reason why you are tired.
On the other hand, you are planning to go to Goa by bus, and you reach your destination the next day. Because the bus ride was exhausting, your bus ride was tiring. You will not say that the bus ride was tired, that would be a completely non-sensible thing to say. The correct statement would be that the bis ride was tiring. In both of the mentioned examples, the word ‘tired’ is playing the role of an adjective whereas the word ‘tiring’ is playing the role of a gerund.
- Are you scared or was it scary?
Speaking of these two words, both of them sound similar, right? The meaning of both these words is also similar. Then what is the difference?
The difference is that ‘scared’ is a feeling. For an instance, you are alone at your home at night and somebody knocked at your door out of nowhere. You will be scared because you have no place to go or chances are that you cannot do anything at that time. This is when you will be scared. On the other hand, it becomes scary when you are alone in the house at night-time. You don’t know who would knock on your door. Another example would be that you don’t want to watch the same horror movie because the movie is scary. The difference is slight but the slight difference also plays an important role.
Now that you know why do learners get confused between two confusing words and what can be done to avoid confusing situations; all you have to do is study the word and understand the difference, that’s all!
