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Confusing Words 4

Grisly & Grizzly.

Its & It’s.Lead & Led.

Licence & License.

Lie & Lay.

Loath & Loathe.

Loose & Lose.

Material & Materiel.

May be & Maybe.

No one & No-one.

Passed & Past.

Plane & Plain.

Pour, Pore & Poor.

grisly and grizzly

Grisly means 'horrible'.Grizzly is a bear from North America.

The words 'grisly' and 'grizzly' sound similar, but their meanings are quite different.

GrislyThe adjective 'grisly' means 'horrible', 'shockingly repellent', 'terrifying' or 'gruesome'.

Examples:In the grisly climax to the South Park episode, the kids try to rescue Chef, but he falls off a bridge into a ravine, where he is impaled on a tree trunk and mauled by wild animals.

A convicted killer was today found guilty of a second murder, betrayed by his grisly habit of cutting off his victims' breasts.

The police spokesman told the reporters that they had uncovered some grisly clues in the missing-girl case.

Grizzly

The words 'grizzly' (used as a noun or adjective) refers to a powerful brownish-yellow bear found in the uplands of western North America. It can be called either a 'grizzly' (plural: grizzlies) or a 'grizzly bear'.

Avoid grizzly bears. If you get caught off guard by a grizzly, and it decides to attack you, shoot it in the heart. If you do not have a gun and you cannot get away, tuck into a tight ball or play dead. However, if the grizzly is intent on you being its next meal, fight back with everything you've got.

Pictures of grizzly bears amusing themselves in the river make them seem cute and innocent, but they are extremely dangerous.

Many Forest Service employees have laid their jobs on the line to prevent the destruction and fragmentation of the prime habitat for grisly bears. (should be grizzly)

Examples:

avoid grizzly bearsor admire from a distance

OTHER SIMILAR WORDS

'Grizzled' means 'having gray hairs'.

'Gristly' means 'full of gristle' (usually when referring to meat).

This is a :grizzly

Grizzled

This beef jerky is not : grizzled

Select the correct version:

actor.

grisly /

gristly /

Grizzly /

its and it's

It's is short for it is or it has.Its is the possessive form of it.

There is often confusion between its and it's. If you delve deeper into this issue, you will see that there is good reason for the confusion. However, if you just want to know what is right, the matter is very simple:

It'sIt's is short for it is or it has. This is a 100% rule. It cannot be used for anything else. If you cannot expand it's to it is or it has, then it is wrong.

ItsIts is like his and her.

His is used for masculine things. (These are his pies.)

Her is used for feminine things. (These are her flowers.)

Its is used for neuter things. (These are its footprints.)

Examples:

It's been raining for a week, and now it's starting to snow. (It has been raining....it is starting to snow)

It's one of the hardest courses in it's history. (The first it's is correct. The second should be its.)

I think the company wants to have its cake and eat it. (its - possessive form. This is correct.)

The reef shark chases it's prey through the coral. (should be its, i.e., the possessive form. You cannot expand this to it is or it has.)

I'm astounded by people who want to 'know' the universe when it's so hard to find your way around Chinatown. (Woody Allen)

A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on. (Winston Churchill)

There is nothing in the world like the devotion of a married woman. It's a thing no married man knows anything about. (Oscar Wilde)

Whenever cannibals are on the brink of starvation, Heaven, in its infinite mercy, sends them a fat missionary. (Oscar Wilde)

Constant company wears out its welcome.

A frog can't empty its stomach by vomiting. To empty its stomach contents, a frog throws up its stomach first, so the stomach is dangling out of its mouth. Then the frog uses its forearms to dig out all of the stomach's contents and then swallows the stomach back down again.

A completely blind chameleon will still take on the colours (colors ) of its environment.

NEVER EVER WRITE IT'S (THE EASIEST WAY TO GET IT RIGHT)

Never write it's.

Instead of writing it's, write the full version (i.e., it is or it has). If you cannot (because your sentence does not make sense), then use its.

POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES

The words his, hers and its are known as possessive adjectives. There are no apostrophes in any possessive adjectives. This is another 100% rule.

As covered here, apostrophes are used to show possession. For example, the possessive form of dog is dog's (as in the dog's teeth).

Therefore, somewhat understandably, many think that the possessive form of it should be it's. It seems to fit the pattern. To make matters worse, there is some evidence that the possessive form of it used to be it's. The word it's is used erroneously (by today's conventions) throughout the American Constitution.

Many, including some very prominent companies, still get this wrong. An it's error by the Co-operative Bank is discussed in Grammar Monster's grammar court.

THE CONFUSION

Well, got to be true. the best evidence yet that the Moon landing was a hoax. a ridiculous thought - of course they landed on the Moon.

The ghost of Kneller Hall? a true story, I tell you. No one has ever seen body, but last Tuesday one man heard wailing voice all night long.

Looking at the weather, I think the right time for the company to release summer campaign - before

too late.

its it's / It's /

it's /

its it's / it's / its

it's / its it's / its

It's / Its

Select the correct version:

it's / its Its

its

lead and led

'Lead' (rhymes with bead) is associated with being in charge or being in front. The past tense of the verb 'to lead' is led. Confusion

arises because 'lead' (a soft toxic metal) is pronounced 'led'.

There is often confusion over the words 'lead' (rhymes with bead) and 'led'.

Lead

'Lead' can be an adjective, noun or verb:

Lead that rhymes with bead is associated with being in charge or being in front.

Lead the team back to the tents. (lead as a verb)

You can take your dog off the lead. (lead as a noun)

Keep this pace up. You are in the lead. (lead as a noun)

You have been selected to be the lead tenor. (lead as an adjective)

Lead that rhymes with bed is a soft heavy toxic metallic element. (It is a noun.)

In the UK, it is illegal to use lead for weights in fresh-water fishing. (lead as a noun)

Someone has stolen the lead off the church roof again. (lead as a noun)

lead ore

Led

The word 'led' is the past tense and the past participle of the verb 'to lead' (rhymes with bead).

He led the cavalry over the hill. (This is the verb to lead in the past tense.)

He has led the cavalry over the hill. (The word led is a past participle in this example.)

Examples:

LEAD

The confusion arises because the noun 'lead' (rhymes with bed) is spelt identically to the verb 'lead'. (The noun 'lead' is of course the name of a soft heavy toxic metallic element.) As a consequence, some writers use 'lead' when they mean 'led'.

To add to the confusion, 'lead' (rhymes with bead) also exists as a noun. A dog's lead, for example. Therefore, you have to rely on context.

Take the lead.(Without context, it is impossible to know whether 'lead' in this example rhymes with bead or bed.)

The trail of destruction has straight to the culprit’s front door.

Tony the group yesterday.

It was his greed that to his downfall. Will you , John?

He has two teams up Everest.

His ambition him down an unsavoury path.

She has the party faithfully for six months.

lead /led

lead /led

lead /led

lead /led

lead /led

lead /led

lead /led

Select the correct version:

licence and license

UK convention: Licence is a noun. To license is a verb.US convention: Use license for both.

Licence and License

There is often confusion over the words 'licence' and 'license'. In order to understand which to use, you must know the difference between a noun and a verb. This is because 'licence' is a noun; whereas, 'license' is a verb. However, there are tricks to get around this.

Examples:This restaurant is licensed to sell alcohol. (licensed - from the verb)("This restaurant is allowed to sell alcohol" < sounds ok; licensed is correct)

Can I see your driving licence please? ('licence' - noun)("Can I see your driving card/papers?" < sounds ok; licence is correct)

"licensed" (correct version - from the verb 'to license')(sign outside a public house)

I am unable to give you a license because of your history. ("...to give you an allow/allowing/allowed..." < nonsense; license is wrong.)("...to give you a card/allowance/papers..." < sounds ok; should be licence)

This is not worth losing your licence over.

A LITTLE TRICK TO SPOT LICENCETry using the word 'card' (or 'papers') instead of 'licence'. If the sentence still makes sense, then 'licence' is almost certainly correct. (This trick works because 'licence' is a noun, just like the words 'card' and 'papers'.)

A LITTLE TRICK TO SPOT LICENSE Try using the verb 'to allow' (in its various forms; e.g., allowing, allowed, allows) instead of 'license'. If the sentence still makes sense, then 'license' is almost certainly correct. However, if you find yourself using 'allowance' then you should be using 'licence', because both are nouns. (This trick works because 'to license' is a verb, just like 'to allow'.)

NO CONFUSIONThere should be no confusion with licensing or licensed. The endings ing and ed mean these are always from the verb; i.e. there are no such words as licencing or licenced in British or American English.

LICENSE IN AMERICAIn American English, 'license' is both noun and verb.

She was only 15 when she got her pilot's .

Every house with a television requires a TV .

Do you have the authority to me to hunt?

James Bond is to kill.

Who issues those to kill?

Can you show me your driving ?

licenced / licensed

licences / licenses

licence /license

licence /license

licence /license

licence /license

Select the correct version (using UK convention):

Anglers fishing this water are to be in possession of their rod .

How many points did you get on your driving for speeding?

The menu in the Black Bull is first rate, but unfortunately it is not to sell alcohol.

licence /license

licence /license

licence /license

lay and lie

To lay means 'to place in a horizontal position'.To lie means:

(1) 'to be in a horizontal position' (beware: the past tense is lay).(2) 'to speak an untruth'.

There is often confusion over the verbs 'to lay' and 'to lie'.

Lay and Laid

'To lay' means to put place something in a position, especially a horizontal position.

Examples:

The maids lay the table for dinner at 7 o'clock.

Sudan urges rebels to lay down arms.

Put your hands up, and lie down your weapons. (should be 'lay down')

In April, our white spotted bamboo shark began to lay eggs.

The past tense is 'laid':

Examples:

Annabelle laid the puppy in the basket.

They laid the body on the bank and notified the coroner.

According to the pamphlet, we should have laid old sheets on the floor to prevent paint splashes landing on the decking.

A teenager killed by a shark in northern New South Wales has been laid to rest.

The past participle is also 'laid':Examples:

Lie, Lied, Lay and Lain

The verb 'to lie' has two unrelated meanings:

To say something which is untrue in order to deceive.

Did you lie about your age to join the Army?

Your eyes betray you when you lie.

My reflexologist says I am lying about my health. He says that my feet, however, do not lie. (present participle = lying)

Examples:

The past tense is 'lied':

Malcolm lied his way past the doormen.

Billy lied so often about his boxing achievements, he forgot the truth.

Examples:

The past participle is also 'lied':

Malcolm had lied his way past the doormen.

To be in, or move into, a horizontal position.

I think I'll lie down for 20 minutes after lunch.

Lie on your back and look at the stars.

Clutching his betting slip, Mr. Reynolds screamed, "Get up! Don't just lie there." However, Paul was just lying on his back with one eye on the referee while the count went ahead. (present participle = lying)

My problem lies in reconciling my gross habits with my net income. (As in this example, 'to lie' can simply mean 'to be'.)

Examples:

An alibi? I just lay on the sofa all night, watching The Simpsons.

The snow lay on the field all week.

The past tense is 'lay':

Examples:

The past participle is 'lain':

Mark had lain at the foot of the knoll for hours.

How often have I lain beneath rain on a strange roof, thinkingof home.

Examples:

TABLE SHOWING THE FORMS

Tabulated below are the various forms of lay, lie and lie:

Present Past ParticiplesTo lay (to place in a horizontal position)I lay...He lays...

He laid... is laying (present)was laid (past)

To lie (to tell an untruth)I lie.He lies.

He lied... is lying (present)has lied (past)

To lie (to be in a horizontal position)I lie.He lies.

He lay... is lying (present)has lain (past)

MAIN CULPRIT

The most common mistake is to use 'lie' instead of 'lay'. If you remember that lie cannot take a direct object, then you will eliminate this error.

To lay your head on the pillow.

To lie your head on the pillow. (In these examples, 'your head' is the direct object. Remember, lie cannot have a direct object.)

My chicken lays eggs.

My chicken lies eggs.

(In these examples, 'eggs' is the direct object. Remember, lie cannot have a direct object.)

THE OTHER CULPRITS

Lay (past tense of 'to lie') is not common. To many people, 'laid' sounds okay:

The crocodile laid still for hours.

(should be 'lay')

'Lain' is not a common word. To many people, 'laid' sounds correct.

The snow had laid on the field all week. (should be 'lain')

Select the best answer to replace the words in bold:

Q1 Put down your swords.

a. Lie b. Laid c. Lay

Q2 The young police officer was buried in his hometown.

a. lain to rest b. laid to rest c. lay to rest

Q3 He did not tell the truth about his age.

a. lies b. laid c. lied

Check Answers

Q1 She always tells untruths. a. lies b. laid c. lied

Q2 Peter was slumped on the sofa all evening.

a. lied b. lain c. laid

Q3 Rest your head on this cushion. a. Lied b. Lay c. Lie

Check Answers

She will eat just about anything, but she loathes celery.

I loved the Army as an institution and loathed every single thing it required me to do.

loath and loathe

To loathe means 'to hate'. Loath means 'unwilling'.

Writers occasionally confuse 'loath' and 'loathe'. Their meanings are related as they both relate to not liking something.

LoatheLoathe is a verb meaning 'to hate'. In fact, many consider it even stronger than 'to hate'. It can also be translated as 'to hate intensely'.

Examples:

Loath

Loath is an adjective meaning 'unwilling'.

She is loath to join, because her friends play for a rival team.

Magazines and newspapers are loath to discuss these types of dealspublicly.

At daybreak, when loathe to rise, have this thought in thy mind: I am rising for a man's work. (should be 'loath')

Examples:

EVEN IN SPEECH

People confuse loathe and loath even when talking.

Note:

Loathe ends in a soft 'th' sound. It rhymes with 'betroth'.

Loath ends in a hard 'th' sound. It rhymes with the 'oath' or 'both'.

Select the correct version:

Jenny will be to support your campaign - her father is a veteran.

I nuts in bread.

I really frogs.

He has produced at least two hit romantic comedies with 'When Harry Met Sally' and 'Sleepless in Seattle', which I .

loath /loathe

loath /loathe

loath /loathe

loath /loathe

There's rubbish everywhere. He is to throw anything out.

I door-to-door salesmen.

I find it difficult to a professional sportsman, but he makes it easier.

The real story is that the corporate media is to divulge is that is openly calling for more crime.

loath /loathe

loath /loathe

loath /loathe

loath /loathe

loose and lose

Loose means 'not tight' or 'free from constraint'.To lose means to fail to (1) keep (2) win or (3) make money.

There is often confusion over the words 'loose' and 'lose'. This is due to the lack of consistency in pronouncing words that end 'oose' and 'ose'. For example, loose (LOOSS) rhymes with noose (NOOSS) but not choose (CHOOZ).

LoseThe word 'lose' rhymes with snooze. It has the following meaning:

Fail to keep (either physically or in an abstract sense), to misplace, fail to make money in a business:

If I lose my glasses once more this week, I am going to glue them to my head.

Terry had already lost one family member to the cult. He did not want to lose another.

The surveillance team lost their target when he entered the park.

"Here, geezer, if you don't shift those clock radios, I'll lose 300 sovs."(UK slang: "shift" = sell / "sovs" = sovereigns = pounds)

Examples:

Fail to win:

Back in 2002, our pub landlord bet ฃ10,000 on Brazil to lose against Germany in the World Cup final.

If you do not train during the week, you will lose on Saturday.

Examples:

Let's play heads or tails (a bit of fun)

(1) I have chosen either heads or tails.

(2) Guess which one. Select heads or tails.

orHeads

Tails You wrongly chose heads. You lose.

Reset

You correctly chose tails.You win. I lose.

Reset

Loose

Loose, which rhymes with moose, is an adjective meaning 'not tight', 'not dense' or 'free from constraint'. Less commonly, it can be used as a verb meaning 'to unleash' (e.g., to loose plagues upon humanity).

Watch your footing on this loose gravel. (not dense / not compact)

Travelers are advised to wear a lightweight shirt that is lose fitting. This is important to allow air circulation. (should be 'loose fitting')

There is a dangerous dog loose on the street. (free from constraint)

Examples:

LOOSE MOOSE

People make mistakes with 'loose' and 'lose' because of the confusion over pronunciation. If you remember that 'loose' rhymes with 'moose', you will eliminate this error.

moose on the loose

This man is trying to weight.

My daughter tells me that it is fashionable to wear jeans that are very around the waist. is an understatement. She means hanging around the hips. I have no intention to buy any new jeans, so I'll just have to some weight.

Back in the '70s, a few rock stars who owned big cats set them when the law on keeping them became more stringent. By all accounts, some of the cats have mated, and their offspring are still on the . I may already have lost one sheep to these big cats. I cannot afford to another.

This dress is .

loose / lose

loose / lose

loose / lose

loose / lose loose / lose

loose / lose

loose lose /

loose / lose

Select the correct version:

material and materiel

"Material" is the matter from which a thing is made."Materiel" is the equipment or supplies in military or

commercial supply-chain management.

Most of us know what "material" is (i.e. it's what things are made of), but many of us are unsure what "materiel" is.

MATERIEL = EQUIPMENT

Let the last "e" in materiel remind you that it means equipment.

Materiel

The word "materiel" means the equipment and supplies in military or commercial supply-chain management. So, a forklift truck (which is equipment used in the supply chain) and a can of petrol (which is one of the supplies) would both be classified as materiel. In other words, materiel is the things a military force or a business needs to do its job.

I need more men and materiel if I am to defeat the enemy.

The Minister for Defense and the Minister for Defense Materiel announced that the Government will buy a fleet of new vehicles.

The fire in our distribution centre has damaged so much materiel, we will be unable to trade for at least six months.

Examples:

MaterialMaterial means matter, fabric, substance or cloth. It is the matter from which a thing is made. As an adjective, "material" denotes that something is physical. (You might have material needs as opposed to physical needs or emotional needs, e.g. "I have material needs. I need a car not a hug."

Her table cloths were made of fine material such as silk or linen. (as a noun)

We are living in a material world, and I am a material girl. (Madonna)(as an adjective)

Television is now so desperately hungry for material that they're scraping the top of the barrel. (Gore Vidal)(as a noun)

The quality of American life must keep pace with the quantity of American goods. This country cannot afford to be materially rich and spiritually poor. John F. Kennedy (1917 - 1963)(as an adverb – meaning "rich by physically owning lots of things")

Examples:

maybe and may be

'Maybe' means 'perhaps'.'May be' means 'might be'.

There is often confusion over 'maybe' and 'may be'.Maybe

Maybe (one word) can be substituted with 'perhaps' or 'possibly'. ('Maybe' is an adverb.) Try substituting the 'maybe' in these examples with 'perhaps':

Maybe this world is another planet's hell. (Aldous Huxley)

Courage is saying, "Maybe what I'm doing isn't working; maybe I should try something else." (Anna Lappe)

Maybe you have to know darkness before you can appreciate the light. (Madeleine L'engle)

There are a lot of people who can't write and maybe shouldn't write. (Sarah Hepola)

Examples:

Conscience is the inner voice that warns us somebody may be looking. (H. L. Mencken)

If two men agree on everything, you may be sure that one of them is doing the thinking. (Lyndon B. Johnson)

The ability to delude yourself may be an important survival tool. (Jane Wagner)

May Be

May be (two words) is similar to 'might be', 'could be' or 'would be'. (The word 'may' in 'may be' is an auxiliary verb.)

Examples:

USE 'MAYBE' IF 'PERHAPS' WORKS

Like 'maybe', the word 'perhaps' is an adverb. If it works perfectly in your sentence, then you should be using 'maybe'. If 'perhaps' does not work well (i.e. you feel there is a word missing), then you should be using 'may be'. For example:

If you trust Google more than your doctor then maybe it's time to switch doctors. ("..then perhaps it's time" — works perfectly. Therefore, 'maybe' is okay.)

Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery. (Dr. Joyce Brothers )("Listening, not imitation, perhaps the sincerest form..." — sound wrong. Therefore, 'may be' is okay. 'Maybe' would be wrong.)

We know what we are, but know not what we .

If we can connect in some tiny way with a human that doesn't agree with us, then we won't blow up the planet.

To find a fault is easy. To do better difficult.

he's only a little bit crazy, like painters, or composers, or some of those men in Washington.

maybe /may be

maybe /may be

maybe /may be

Maybe /May be

Select the correct version:

Honesty the best policy; therefore, dishonesty is the second-best policy.

Think twice before you speak, and you able to say something more insulting.

After a year in therapy, my psychiatrist said to me, ' life isn't for everyone.'

The right word effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.

maybe /may be

maybe /may be

maybe /may be

maybe /may be

no one and no-one

Spell 'no one' (without a hyphen) as opposed to 'no-one'.

No HyphenThe formal spelling of 'no one' is without a hyphen.

Correct spelling of no one(Sign in US laundry room)

Example:

Hyphen Becoming Acceptable

In recent years, the 'no-one' version has become more popular. Some grammarians condone the hyphenated version, claiming it eliminates ambiguity with 'no one' as in "No one person can overcome her power." However, the times when there would be true ambiguity are very seldom. Here is one example:

No one can will work.(Is the subject "No one can" or "No one"?)

NO ONE IS ALWAYS RIGHT

There is notable leniency on how to write 'no one' - using a hyphen does not constitute a grammatical howler. However, let's be clear on this, the correct spelling is no one.

NO ONE IS ALWAYS RIGHT

There is notable leniency on how to write 'no one' - using a hyphen does not constitute a grammatical howler. However, let's be clear on this, the correct spelling is no one.

NOONE IS NEVER RIGHT

Nobody and nowhere have become single words. However, 'no one' has not. Noone is wrong.

passed and past

'Passed' is the past tense of 'to pass'. For everything else, use 'past'.

There is often confusion over the words 'passed' and 'past'.

Passed

The word 'passed' is the past tense of the verb 'to pass', e.g., I pass (present tense), I passed and I have passed (both past tense), and I will pass (future tense).

She passed the exam with distinction. (In this example, 'to pass' = to be successful in a test)

The operator has already passed the note to the typist. (In this example, 'to pass' = to hand over)(Here, 'passed' is a past passive participle.)

The lion passed the zebra without so much as a glance. (In this example, 'to pass' = to move past)

Examples:

'To pass' often means 'to move past', and this is where confusion can arise. Of note, 'to pass' can also mean 'to sail past', 'to fly past', 'to run past', 'to hop past', etc. - the method of moving is irrelevant. This is worth bearing in mind, because if you have used a verb indicating motion already, then it will be partnered with 'past' and not 'passed'. Remember, 'passed' is the past tense of the verb 'to pass'. This is a 100% rule.

The lion passed the zebra without so much as a glance.

The lion wandered past the zebra without so much as a glance.

The Harrier passed at an altitude of 100 feet.

The Harrier flew past at an altitude of 100 feet.

Examples:

verb indicating motion

verb indicating motion

Past

The word 'past' has several meanings (usually related to 'time before the present' or to indicate movement 'from one side of a reference point to the other side'.) 'Past' can be used as an adjective, an adverb, a noun or a preposition:

As an Adjective, 'past' denotes time before the present.

This past year has been difficult for the recruiters.

She loves to tell us about past dance competitions in the hall.

As a Noun 'past' means 'the time before the present'.

That's all in the past.

Can you dig into his past.

As an Adverb, 'past' means 'beyond' or denotes movement 'from one side of a reference point to the other'.

Don't go past.

Alan ran past.

(Note: The word 'past' is acting as an adverb in each of these examples. However, it could be argued that the word 'past' is a preposition forming part of phrasal verb (like 'to run away' or 'to jump up' ). See the similar examples below.)

As a Preposition. As a preposition, 'past' means 'beyond' or denotes movement 'from one side of a reference point to the other'.

Don't go past the gate. (past = beyond)

Alan ran past the postman. (past = denotes movement 'from one side to the other')

SUBSTITUTE WITH 'WENT PAST'

When referring to movement (i.e., not passing tests or handing stuff over), only use 'passed' when it is the past tense of the verb 'to pass'. To test whether 'passed' is correct, substitute it with 'went past'. If your sentence still makes sense, then 'passed' is the correct version.

He passed the shop. He went past the shop. (Still makes sense - passed is correct)

He skipped passed the shop. He skipped went past the shop. (Not correct - passed is wrong)

SUBSTITUTE WITH 'GONE PAST'

On occasion, it may be necessary to use 'gone past' to test whether 'passed' is correct. This is because 'passed' is also the past passive participle of 'to pass'.

He has passed the dockyard. He has gone past the dockyard. (Still makes sense - passed is correct)

Bonzo, the youngest marmoset in the new compound, delighted onlookers in the town’s zoo on Saturday. Just minutes into his first public appearance, Bonzo a banana to his mother, who peeled it and it back. With new banana in hand, Bonzo ran excitedly

his father who deftly whipped Bonzo’s lunch out of his young paw. Bonzo’s mother released a reprimanding yell, at which point, Bonzo’s father the banana back to Bonzo.

past passed /

Select the correct version:

The has a habit of repeating itself. In a carbon copy of last year’s final, the young Argentinian blasted the ball the post after being awarded a penalty in the last minute. Visibly distraught, he removed his captain’s armband and it to Wells. He stormed off the pitch, walking straight his manager without so much as a glance.

passed /past passed /past

passed /past passed /past

passed /past

passed /past

passed /past

plane and plain

'Plane' usually means an airplane, a flat surface or a tool for shaving wood. 'Plain' usually means simple or an expanse of lowland.

The words 'plane' and 'plain' have several meanings. Unfortunately, both have a meaning relating to flatness, and this is often the source of confusion.

Confusion arises mostly between 'plain' meaning expanse of lowland and 'plane' meaning a flat surface or a level.

A plain (lowland) is always on the ground; whereas, a plane (a surface or a level) is nearly always above the ground...like an airplane.

Therefore, if it's above the ground, it's almost certainly 'plane'.

Plain

The word plain has several meanings:

Simple (i.e., not elaborate).

a plain girl a plain cake a plain colour

Also simple as in apparent.

It is plain to see. It seems quite plain to me. Plain is an adjective in these examples.

An expanse of level and low land.

The Russian Plain. I joined the Chinese farmers as they attempted to drive the yaks across the plain in western China. Plain is a noun in these examples.

Plane

The word plane has several meanings:

An airplane.

What time is your plane?

A flat surface (especially in mathematics) .

In a 3D space, a plane can be defined by specifying a point and a normal vector to the plane.

Also means a level (usually figurative).

I was hoping for a conversion on a higher plane.

A tool for smoothing or shaping wood (i.e., a carpenter's plane).

Also the verb 'to plane' (i.e., to shape wood).

Can you plane a few inches off the top of the door?

To travel on the surface of water.

The car hit the puddle and planed straight into the back of the lorry. (also known as 'to aquaplane')

Select the correct version:

I need to take an inch off this plank. Pass the .

Catch the morning to Glasgow.

Specify a point and normal vector to define a .

Flex your mind and reach a higher .

plain / plane

plain / plane

plain / plane

plain / plane

In Mexico, prairie dogs are primarily found at the southern end of the great .

I'm not a fancy cook. It will be a meal.

Patricia was such a girl when she was younger.

Our company takes network transformation to a higher .

plains / planes

plain / plane

plain / plane

plain / plane

pour, pore and poor

'To pour' means to tip a liquid out a container.'To pore' means to examine closely. 'A pore' is small opening in

the skin. 'Poor' usually means impoverished or inadequate.

The words 'pour', 'pore' and 'poor' sound identical, but their meanings are very different.

Pour

The verb 'to pour' means to transfer a liquid from a container (usually by tipping).

Shall I pour the gravy? Pour the molten steel onto a rotating drum that is cooled by water.

Examples:

PoreThe word pore has two unrelated meanings:

To examine closely.Examples:

He pored through the documents for hours looking for a loop hole.

I need to pore over these files before tomorrow.

In this meaning, pore is a verb. Note: You can pore over something or pore through something.

A small opening in the skin.

Examples:

The dust clogs your pores.

The sweat was leaking out of my pores.

In this meaning, pore is a noun.

Poor

The adjective poor means impoverished (i.e., having little money or few possessions), or low quality (e.g., poor crop) or unfortunate (e.g., That poor cat).

As poor as a church mouse. I am feeling quite poor this month.

Religion keeps the poor man from murdering the rich.

Poor show.

Will you take that poor animal to the vets?

Examples:

POUR OUT SOUP

The word poor does not usually cause grammar mistakes; however, there is often confusion over pour and pore.

If you remember that 'pour out soup' contains three sets of the letters 'ou', it will help you remember the meaning of 'pour', which only has one meaning. Therefore, everything else must be 'pore'.

Select the correct version:

Clogged skin :

I need to through this book.

Darling, can you me a beer please? I need to settle down and through this book. If I pass the exam, we'll never be again. You're looking a little flustered. Have you got clogged again?

Please the wine.

pores /pours

pore /pour pore / pour

pore / poor pores /pours

pore /pour

pore /pour