English Learning Tips For Students
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Manjusha Nambiar

Allowed (Verb): let somebody do something
Aloud (adverb): audibly

He allowed me to go.
She cried aloud for mercy.

Alter (verb): change, make or become different
Altar (noun): holy table in a church

You must alter the order of the words.
The priest bowed before the altar.

Bare (Adjective): not covered
Bear (Verb): tolerate
Bear (noun): an omnivorous four legged animal that has thick fur

As he had no shirt the sun burnt his bare skin.
I can't bear this pain.
A bear has thick fur.

Birth (noun): event of being born
Berth (noun): bed on ship or train

What is your date of birth?
Can I reserve a berth in the train?

Bore (noun) something that bores
Bore (verb): make somebody uninterested
Boar (noun): a wild animal

He bored me with his silly jokes.
The boar is a brave wild animal.

Brake (noun): device that slows or stops a machine
Break (verb): separate something into pieces

See if you can break this stick?
You stop a car by applying the brake.

Counsel (noun): counsel means advice.
Council (noun): an assembly of people meeting regularly to advise or organize something.

People who give advice are called counsellors.
A council is a group of people met together on some business.

Current (noun): flow of water or air
Current (adjective): existing now
Currant (noun): small dried grapes

This river has strong current.
You must be aware of current events.

Fair (noun): gathering of stalls and amusements for public entertainment. An exhibition to promote particular products.
Fair (adjective): light complexion
Fare (noun): the money a passenger on public transport has to pay

Her skin is fair, not dark.
How much is the railway fare?

Herd (noun): a large group of animals that live or are kept together.
Heard (verb): perceive with the ear

A herd of cattle
I heard him talking.

Hole (noun): cavity, aperture
Whole (adjective): entire, complete

There is a hole in my socks.
Rabbits live in holes.
She spent the whole night reading.
You have eaten a whole loaf.

Piece (noun): a portion separated from the whole
Peace (noun): freedom from war

Please give me a piece of paper.
Do you want war or peace?

Plane (noun): aircraft
Plain (noun): flat expanse of land
Plain (adjective): simple and ordinary

She had a plain face.
The Gangetic plain is very fertile.

Practice (noun): the doing of something repeatedly to improve one's skills
Practise (verb): do something repeatedly so as to become skilful

Practice makes man perfect.
You need to practise cricket regularly.

Prey (noun): animals hunted by other animals
Pray (verb): speak to God

What a tiger kills is its prey.
I pray that no tiger will ever catch me.

Principal (noun): the head of a school or college
Principal (adjective): the most important
Principle (noun): rules or beliefs governing one's personal behaviour

He is the principal of the college.
He is the principal player in the team.
To gamble is against my principle.

Sight (noun): faculty of seeing
Site (noun): place where something stands

A blind man has no sight.
I will build my house on this site.

Whether (conjunction): expresses a doubt or choice between alternatives
Weather (noun): the state of the atmosphere at a place and time

You are going to take this medicine whether you like it or not.
We had to cancel the trip because of bad weather.
In May the weather is hot.

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