1. Below/Under
Below the table there were some empty wine bottles.*
Under the table there were some empty wine bottles.
Under the table there were some empty wine bottles.
When you borrow something (from
someone), you are allowed to use it: ‘Can I borrow one of your pencils?’ When
you lend something (to someone), you let them use it: ‘He asked me to lend him
one of my pencils.’
2. Beside/besides
We need to discover another source of income, beside oil.*
We need to discover another source of income, besides oil.
We need to discover another source of income, besides oil.
beside = next to: ‘She walked over and sat down beside me.’ besides = in addition to; also: ‘Who did you invite besides Tom and Mary?’ ‘Besides tennis, what other games do you play?’ ‘I’m too old to apply for the job. Besides, it would mean moving house.’
3. Borrow/lend
I asked my friend to borrow me some money.*
I asked my friend to lend me some money.
I asked my friend to lend me some money.
When you borrow something (from someone),
you are allowed to use it: ‘Can I borrow one of your pencils?’ When you lend
something (to someone), you let them use it: ‘He asked me to lend him one of my
pencils.’
4. bring/take
Would you like me to bring you home?*
Would you like me to take you home?
Would you like me to take you home?
Bring means 'come with sb/sth' (NOT 'go'):
'Could you bring me a glass of water, lease?' '1'1/ see you tomorrow at the
club, and remember to bring your tennis racket!' Take means 'go with sb/sth'
(NOT 'come'): 'You take the shopping indoors and I'll put the car away.' 'When
I go on holiday, I like to take a good book with me.
5. broken/not working
The car could not stop because its brakes were broken.*
The car could not stop because its brakes were not working.
The car could not stop because its brakes were not working.
broken = physically damaged: 'a broken windscreen'. not working = not functioning properly: 'I can't ring him because his phone's not working.'
6. calm/peaceful
If you prefer a calm environment, try the countryside.*
If you prefer a peaceful environment, try the countryside.
Calm is usually used to describe
situations where there has recently been violence or noisy activity: 'After
yesterday's fighting, the streets of Jerusalem are reported to be calm again
this morning.'
7. catch./understand
The dialogue in this video is very difficult to catch.*
The dialogue in this video is very difficult to understand.
Catch (= hear
and/or understand) is used only in connection with what someone has just said:
'I'm afraid I didn't quite catch the last point. Could you go over it again?'
'Did either of you manage to catch her name?'
8. cause/reason
The cause why I want to change my job is as follows.*
The reason why I want to change my job is as follows.
cause = an action, event,
situation etc that makes something happen: The cause of the fire is still being
investigated.' These outbreaks of violence will continue to occur until the
causes have been eliminated.' reason = something that provides an explanation:
'I'm sure that they must have good reasons for wanting to live abroad.' 'The
reason why there is only one applicant is that the job wasn't advertised.'
9. cheap/low
The wages in Taiwan are very
cheap.*
The wages in Taiwan are very low.
When you talk about costs, payments, rents, wages, salaries, incomes, expenses, taxes, fees etc, use low/high (NOT cheap/expensive): 'During the recession, prices stayed low.' 'People on low incomes have been severely hit.' 'Rents in Helsinki are very high compared to the rest of Finland.' Note that price is sometimes used with cheap/expensive, but not in formal styles.
10. choose/prefer
If you choose to see a film, we can go to the cinema
instead.*
If you prefer to see a film, we can go to the cinema
instead.
prefer = like something more than something else: 'Which do you prefer, black coffee or white coffee?' 'Peter prefers classical music to rock.' 'I'd prefer to stay here, if you don't mind.'
11.claiming/demanding
The public are claiming stricter laws.*
The public are demanding stricter laws.
claim = ask to be given something that belongs to you or that you think you are entitled to: 'People on a low income are able to claim legal aid.' demand = ask strongly for something: 'The laboratory was surrounded by demonstrators demanding an end to animal experiments.' Note also clamor for = repeatedly ask for something in a noisy or angry way: 'In response to the increase in domestic violence, people are clamoring for stricter laws that will help to protect wives and children.'
12. closed/locked
They closed the man in a room until the police came.*
They locked the man in a room until the police came.
lock/shut sb in a room, house, etc (NOT close): 'He was picked up by the police and locked in a cell for the night.' Compare: 'She closed the door and then locked it so he couldn't escape.'
13. colour/coloured
At Hari Raya we hang coloured lights around the house.
coloured = having one or more colours (not white or black), especially in order to look attractive: ‘Do you want plain envelopes or coloured ones?’ ‘Each book is full of brightly-coloured full-page illustrations.’
14. come back/go back
He was afraid of his father and didn't want to come back
home.*
He was afraid of his father and didn't want to go back home.
He was afraid of his father and didn't want to go back home.
Come is used for movement towards the place where the speaker is, was, or intends to be, or towards the person being talked about: ‘Come and look at this.’ ‘Why didn’t he come to see me?’ ‘He was just about to go out when his wife came into the office in tears.’ Go is used for movement in other directions: ‘I wish those noisy children would go away.’ ‘Let’s go to London for a few days.’
15. in common/in general
I think that people in general have good sides and bad sides.
If you have the same background, interests, tastes etc as someone, the two of you have a lot in common: ‘I’m sure the marriage won’t last. They’ve got nothing in common.’ When you mean that something happens or is true ‘in most situations’, use in general: ‘In general, parents care more about their children’s health than about their own.’ ‘Students in general have very little money to spend on luxuries.’
Concerning your accommodation, there are several
possibilities . With regard to your accommodation, there are several possibilities.
16. control /inspect
I was surprised that nobody wanted to control my luggage.*
I was surprised that nobody wanted to inspect my luggage.
I was surprised that nobody wanted to inspect my luggage.
control = make people or machines do what you want them to do: ‘Who will control the aircraft if the pilot has a heart attack?’ ‘The police were unable to control the crowd.’ inspect = carefully check or examine something: ‘The building is regularly inspected by fire-safety officers.’ ‘I got out of the car to inspect the damage.’
17. critics/reviews
The entertainment page usually contains one or two reviews of films being shown in local cinemas.
critic = a person who writes reviews of new books, films etc: ‘For five years she was theatre critic for the New Yorker.’ review = a short article in a newspaper or magazine which describes the good and bad qualities of a new book, film, play etc: ‘According to the reviews, the film is definitely worth seeing.’ Compare critique = an article, book, speech etc which carefully explains the weaknesses of a theory, policy, philosophy etc: ‘The speech was a devastating critique of Reagan’s economic policy.’
The wound took several weeks to heal.
Cuts, wounds, injuries, etc heal: 'Cuts generally take longer to heal in humid climates.
19. cure/recover
Those who are seriously ill take a long time to cure.*
Day by day the world is becoming a better place.
day after day = repeatedly or continuously, especially in a boring or unpleasant way: ‘I get fed up with listening to their complaints day after day.’ ‘I’m not prepared to sit here day after day doing nothing.’ day by day = gradually: ‘Day by day the weather is getting warmer.’ Their love grew day by day.’
My father died when I was still a baby.
Dead is an adjective and describes a state: ‘I can’t tell whether that plant is dead or alive.’ ‘Some of the fish were dead and were floating on the surface.’ Died is the past tense and past participle of die: ‘I think she died from a heart attack.’ ‘He died on the way to hospital.’
He asked his parents to help him, but they refused.
deny sth = say that it is not true: ‘He has been accused of stealing a car, but he denies it.’ ‘Both companies denied that they had been discharging toxic waste.’ refuse (to do sth) = say that you will not do it: Employers are refusing to discuss a pay settlement until the staff return to work.’ ‘The students were told to leave the building, but they refused.’
Despite all my money, I wanted to live in an ordinary house.
In the meaning ‘want/wish’, desire is usually used as a noun (not as a verb): ‘His one desire was to live to see his three grandchildren again.’ ‘I have no desire to go there again. Once is enough.’ Note however that this usage is fairly formal. As a verb meaning ‘want/wish’, desire is used mainly in literary styles: ‘For the first time in her life, she had everything her heart desired.’ In other styles, use verbs such as want, would like, hope, wish, intend,
24. destroyed /spoilt
This unpleasant man with his endless complaints destroyed
my journey.*
This unpleasant man with his endless complaints spoilt my journey.
work and women who choose to work.*
You have to make a distinction between women who have to
work and women who choose to work.
make/draw a distinction (between A and B) = not regard or treat A and B in the same way: ‘Sometimes it is difficult to make a clear distinction between qualifications and experience.’ ‘Most societies draw a distinction between the status of an unmarried woman and a married one.’
Those who refused to join the army were put in prison.
disagree = not have the same opinion: ‘He disagreed with nearly everything I said.’ ‘Why did she disagree with you?’ ‘We tended to disagree about politics, but we were still good friends.’ refuse (to do sth) = say that you will not do something that someone has asked you to do: ‘The students were asked to leave the building but they refused.’ ‘If anyone refuses to pay their bill, send for the manager.’
say because of my English.*
When I talk to them, I cannot say the things that I want to
say because of my English.
Discuss is a transitive verb and needs an object: ‘I’d like to discuss my homework with you.’ ‘The two sides will discuss further arms reductions.’
He ran away from home after an argument with his father.
discussion = a talk about something, especially one which allows different points of view to be expressed: ‘After further discussion, the government has decided to reject the American offer.’ argument = a quarrel or disagreement: ‘The couple next door are always having arguments.’ ‘I hate arguments. They upset me.’
29.. dishes/courses
Dinner usually consists of three dishes.*
Dinner usually consists of three courses.
A dish is (1) food prepared in a particular way and served as a meal or part of a meal: ‘My favorite Italian dish is lasagne.’ ‘For the main course there were six different meat dishes to choose from.’ (2) a (usually shallow) container that food is placed in and then cooked or served: ‘I hope this dish is ovenproof!’
A meal may be served in separate stages. Each stage is called a course: ‘The main course was disappointing, but the dessert was excellent.’ ‘I’m not hungry enough to eat a three-course meal.’
30. a long distance/a long way
It was a long distance between the hotel and the beach.*
It was a long way from the hotel to the beach.
When you want to say that two places are far apart, use a long way (NOT a long distance): ‘My flat is quite a long way from the university.’ ‘We’re nearly half-way there, but there’s still a long way to go.’ Compare: ‘I hate driving long distances.’ ‘Computers can talk to each other, even over long distances.’ Trains are excellent for long distance travel.’
Reference
Turton and Heaton. 1996. Longman Dictionary of Common Errors. England: Pearson Education Limited