Confusing Verbs and Nouns and Quiz

English has several examples of nouns and verbs that are can be confused because they have similar pronunciation or spelling.

Let's see some examples:

affect (verb) - to change x effect (noun) - the result of a change

advise (verb) t- o suggest x advice (noun) - a suggestion

all together - all in one place or at once x altogether - completely

assent - agreement, approval x ascent - hill, climb

censure - criticize x censor - to cut parts of movies, books or newspaper content

chord - musical notes x cord - a string

council - a group of people giving advice x counsel - to advise or advice

defuse - make a situation less tense x diffuse - to spread

Now, can you complete the following sentences with one of the words from the commonly confused pair of words given?

The answers come after the quiz.

1. He gave me the best _____ I've ever gotten. (advice / advise)

2. Air pollution can _____ humans and the environment. (affect / effect)

3. He wasn't _____ happy in the new house. (all together / altogether)

4. The _____ gets together to decide on important issues. (council / counsel)

5. Many governments _____ content on the internet. (censure / censor)

6. I need to tie a _____ around the suitcase so it won't open. (chord / cord)

7. She needed the _____ of all the members to pass the new regulation. (assent / ascent)

8. The writer's ideas were _____ all over Europe last century. (defuse / diffuse)

Answers:

1. advice; 2. affect; 3. altogether; 4. council; 5.censor; 6. cord; 7. assent; 8. diffused