Homophones/Confusing Words Grammar Lesson 1 Homophones/Confusing Words

What is its color? It's green. It's been a long, long time. Remember, it's means it is or it has! Use its to show possession.

I would accept your excuse, except the part about losing the watch. To accept is to receive, and except is to exclude.

I need your advice. Please advise me on this. Advise is a verb meaning “to give counsel to; offer an opinion or suggestion as worth following.” Advice is a noun meaning “an opinion or recommendation offered as a guide to action, conduct, etc.”

We need a lot (two words. ) of money We need a lot (two words!) of money. She will allot funds according to need. A lot (two words) is an informal phrase meaning "many." It can take an adjective, for example, "a sizeable lot." Example: Karl needed a lot of time for the job. Allot means "to distribute between or among."

Are you all ready already, or do we have to wait for you? “All ready” is a phrase meaning “completely prepared,” as in “As soon as I put my coat on, I'll be all ready.” “Already,” however, is an adverb used to describe something that has happened before a certain time, as in “What do you mean you'd rather stay home? I've already got my coat on.”

He has divided the money between Carlos and his daughter He has divided the money between Carlos and his daughter. He has divided the rest of his property among his three brothers. Between is used when naming distinct, individual items (can be 2, 3, or more)

I'll be back in a while. Can you wait awhile I'll be back in a while. Can you wait awhile? (Awhile [one word] is an adverb that can modify a verb.) Notice in the following sentence that you could replace "a while" with another article-noun combination such as "a year": Go play awhile. "Awhile" means "for a time" and it's an adverb. Notice in the following sentence that you could replace "awhile" with another adverb such as "quietly": It's been a while since Squiggly tried jelly.

Besides my unphotogenic aunt and uncle, there were fourteen other people standing beside the train station. Beside means next to. Besides means apart from or and another thing.

She complimented her sister on the way her scarf complemented her blouse. A compliment, with an i, is a kind or flattering remark. If a friend says he likes your new shoes, he’s giving you a compliment. He’s complimenting you. A complement, with an e, means they go well together. You might talk about a picture frame that complements a photo. I like to give compliments.

She was confident that her confidant had given her good information. Confident is how you feel on a good hair day, but a confidant is the person you tell when you're secretly wearing a wig.

She didn't seem conscious of the fact that her husband has no conscience. You have something on your conscience when you feel guilty. Your conscience tells you the difference between right and wrong. You are conscious when you are awake and conscious of something when you are aware of it.

Any cool dessert would taste great out here in the sandy desert.

What effect does this have on you? How does it affect you? Affect with an a means "to influence," as in, The rain affected Amy's hairdo. It is a verb. Effect, meaning "a result". For example, you can say, "The effect was eye-popping," or "The sound effects were amazing," or "The rain had no effect on Amy's hairdo.“ It is a noun.

Everyday (one word) means “common.” We use our everyday dishes every day. Everyday (one word) means “common.” You let the kids set the table with the everyday dishes, not the good china. Every day (two words) means “each day.” Every day I keep hoping I’ll feel better.

The document now makes explicit what had been only implicit in the shifty eyes of the negotiator. Something is implicit when it is implied but not directly stated. Something is explicit when it is directly stated and leaves no room for uncertainty.

Can run farther than you, but let's discuss that further after the race. The quick and dirty tip is to use “farther” for physical distance and “further” for figurative, distance. It's easy to remember because “farther” has the word “far” in it, and “far” obviously relates to physical distance.

She has fewer complaints, but she has less energy. Fewer is for things you count, and less is for things you don’t count. You can count M&Ms, glasses of water, and potatoes—so you eat fewer M&Ms, serve fewer glasses of water, and buy fewer potatoes for the salad. You can’t count candy, water, or potato salad—so you eat less candy, observe that the lake has less water, and make less potato salad for the next potluck.

Lose: fail to keep something (lost) Did you lose the game? My shoes are so loose that I'm going to lose them. Lose: fail to keep something (lost) Did you lose the game? Loose: not tight; not closely constrained or constricted or constricting She is wearing loose clothing.

Past means the time before the present. Whatever has passed us by is now in the past. Past means the time before the present. In the past, cookies cost a nickel. Passed means movement. He passed her in the race.

They're driving their new car over there this afternoon. Their is used to show ownership. Their books, their clothes, their shoes They’re means they are. They’re going to the party. There is used all other times. Go over there. That boy there. There is something strange going on.

He threw a baseball right through the neighbor's front window He threw a baseball right through the neighbor's front window. The neighbor made a thorough report to the police. [The word thru is not standard English.] Threw means to throw. Through means in one side and out the other.

In two hours, it's going to be too hot to go to town. Two is the actual number of things. I have two cats. Too means “also” or excessively. I am going to the party, too. or He talks too much. Use “to” for all other reasons. You don’t have to.

Where were you? We're over here. Where refers to a place. I don’t know where you live. Were is the past tense of the verb “to be”. Were you their. We’re means we are. We’re going to the party together.

Who vs. Whom If you can replace the word with 'he' or 'she,' use who. If you can replace it with 'him' or 'her,' use whom.