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Year 9 English — Words that are easy to confuse

Choose correctly between words that sound alike or look alike — accept and except, affect and effect, advice and advise, its and it's, lose and loose.

Name: ________________________

  1. 1.Sort each sentence by the word that belongs in its gap.

    Groups: there · their · they're

    • ____ waiting outside the gate.
    • ____ going to be late again.
    • The children left ____ bags on the bus.
    • Is ____ any milk left?
    • I cannot find ____ address anywhere.
    • Put the box over ____ by the door.

  2. 2.Match each word to its meaning.

    • stationary
    • stationery
    • principal
    • principle
    • desert
    • dessert
    • paper, pens and envelopes
    • the head of a school
    • the sweet course at the end of a meal
    • standing still
    • a rule you live by
    • a dry, sandy land

  3. 3.Sort each sentence by whether it is correct.

    Groups: Correct · Not correct

    • Please except my apology.
    • Please accept my apology.
    • Her advise was useful.
    • The rain did not effect the match.
    • Her advice was useful.
    • The rain did not affect the match.

  4. 4.Everyone in the class came ____ Ravi, who was ill at home.

    • a) accept
    • b) expect
    • c) except
    • d) exept

  5. 5.Which sentence is correct?

    • a) I always loose my pen.
    • b) Do not loose your ticket.
    • c) The screw is lose.
    • d) Do not lose your ticket.

  6. 6.Which sentence is correct?

    • a) It's been raining since morning.
    • b) Its' paw was hurt.
    • c) The cat licked it's paw.
    • d) Its been raining since morning.

  7. 7.Sort each word by whether it names a thing or does an action.

    Groups: A noun — a thing · A verb — an action

    • effect
    • advice
    • belief
    • affect
    • believe
    • advise

  8. 8.Write "its" or "it's": "The dog wagged ____ tail."

Answer key — Year 9 English — Words that are easy to confuse

  1. 1. The children left ____ bags on the bus. → their; Put the box over ____ by the door. → there; ____ waiting outside the gate. → they're; I cannot find ____ address anywhere. → their; Is ____ any milk left? → there; ____ going to be late again. → they're
  2. 2. stationary → standing still; stationery → paper, pens and envelopes; principal → the head of a school; principle → a rule you live by; desert → a dry, sandy land; dessert → the sweet course at the end of a meal
  3. 3. Please accept my apology. → Correct; Please except my apology. → Not correct; The rain did not affect the match. → Correct; The rain did not effect the match. → Not correct; Her advice was useful. → Correct; Her advise was useful. → Not correct
  4. 4. c) except
  5. 5. d) Do not lose your ticket.
  6. 6. a) It's been raining since morning.
  7. 7. effect → A noun — a thing; affect → A verb — an action; advice → A noun — a thing; advise → A verb — an action; belief → A noun — a thing; believe → A verb — an action
  8. 8. its