Confusable words

Fun/Funny

Fun is normally an uncountable noun Fun is normally an uncountable noun. It can be used after be to say that things or people are enjoyable or entertaining.

The party was fun, wasn’t it? Anne and Eric are a lot of fun.

Funny is an adjective, and is used to say that something makes you laugh.

Why are you wearing that funny hat?

Ill/sick

ill and sick are both used to mean “unwell” ill and sick are both used to mean “unwell”. George didn’t come in last week because he was sick/ill.

Ill is not very common before a noun. I am looking after my sick mother. (more normal than… my ill mother)

Be sick can mean “vomit”(bring food up from the stomach) Be sick can mean “vomit”(bring food up from the stomach). I was sick three times in the night.

sensible/ sensitive

A sensible person has a “common sense” and does not make a stupid decisions.

A sensitive person feels things easily or deeply and may be easily hurt.

I want to buy that dress.-Be sensible,dear. It is too expensive.

Don’t shout at her- she is very sensitive.

Have you got a sun cream for sensitive/sensible skin?

politics/policy

Politics is used to talk about government and related ideas.

I don’t know much about politics, but I don’t think this is a democracy.

Policy is used for people’s rules of behavior (not necessarily connected with politics).

It is not my policy to believe everything I hear.

Grateful/thankful

Grateful is the normal word for people’s reactions to kindness, favours etc.

I am very grateful for all your help.

Thankful is used especially for feelings of relief at having avoided a danger…

I am thankful that we got home before the storm started.

childish/childlike

Childish- behaving in a silly way that makes you seem much younger than you really are = immature

Childlike- having qualities that are typical of a child, especially positive ones like innocence…

“You know I love you” – she said with childlike/childish simplicity.

Homework 1.economic/economical 2.diary/dairy 3…..