PROBLEM VOCABULARY AND PREPOSITIONS

This section contains information and exercises on commonly misused words . confusingly
related words . use of prepositions . and two-word verbs . With each section are example
sentences and exercises . The answers to the exercises will be found at the end of this
section .

It should be noted that the material presented here may appear not only in the vocabulary
section of TOEFL but also in the grammar section and even in the listening comprehension
section . Some exercises are adapted to the use of these items in both the vocabulary section
and the grammar section .

Memorizing long lists of words may result in frustration and is actually not very useful .
There is no way to know which of the words you memorize will appear on TOEFL .
Therefore you should try to improve your vocabulary as you improve your English in general .
The following suggestions will be useful in helping you improve your vocabulary .

1. Read well-written books , magazines , and newspapers . Magazines such as Time and
Newsweek , for example , and major newspapers contain sophisticated vocabulary
and grammatical constructions . Reading such materials is very useful .
2. Look up every word that is unfamiliar to you in the practice tests in this book and
in other reading material . Keep a notebook of unfamiliar words . After looking up the
word , write the word , the definition , and an original sentence in your notebook
and study it often .
3. Study the problem vocabulary items and two-word verbs ( verbalidioms) in this
book.

COMMONLY MISUSED WORDS

The following words are often misused by native English speakers as well as nonnative
speakers . Sometimes the spellings are so similar that people fall to distinguish between
them . Others are pronounced exactly the same , but they are spelled differently and have
different meanings . Words in the latter category are called homonyms . Study the words ,
parts of speech ( noun , verb , etc ) , definitions , and sample sentences in this list .

ENGEL (noun ) a spiritual or heavenly being . The Christmas card portrayed a choir of angels
hovening over the shepherds .

ENGEL (noun) a figure formed by two lines meeting at a common point . The carpenters
placed the pianks at right angles .

CITE (verb) quote as an example . In her term paper . Janis had to cite many refences .

SITE (noun) location . The corner of North Main and Mimos Sireets will be the site of the new
shooping center .

SIGHT (a)(noun) aim (of a gun or telescope ) . Through the sight of the rifle , the soldier
sportted the enemy (b) (noun) view . Watching the landing of the space capsule was a
pleasant sight (c)(verb) see . We sighted a ship in the bay .
COSTUME (noun) clothing , typical style of dress . We all decided to wear colonial costumes
to the Fourth of July celebration .

CUSTOM (noun) a practive that is traditionally followed by a particular group of people . It is

a custom in Western Europe for little boys to wear shore pants to school .

DECENT ( adjective ) respectable or suitable . When one appears in court , one must wear
decent clothing .

DESCENT (noun) (a) downward motion . The mountain climbers found their descent more
hazardous that their ascent . (b) lineage . Vladimir is of Russian descent .

DESSERT (noun) the final course of a meal , usually something sweet . We had apple pie for
dessert last night .

DESERT (noun) (desert) a hot , dry place . It is difficult to survive in the desert without water .

DESERT (verb) (desert) abandon . After deserting his post , the soldier ran away from the
camp .

LATER (adverb ) a time in the future or following a previous action . We went to the movies
and later had ice cream at Dairy Isle .

LATTER (adjective) last of two things mentioned . Germany and England both developed
dirigibles for use during World War II , the latter primarily for coastal reconnaissance . ( latter
= England)

LOOSE (adjective) opposite of tight . After dieting , Marcy found that her clothes had become
so loose that she had to buy a new wardrobe .

LOSE (verb)(a) to be unable to find something . Mary lost her glasses last week . (b) opposite
of win . If Harry doesn’t practice his tennis more , he may lose the match .

PASSED (verb) past tense of pass (a) elapse . Five hours passed before the jury reached its
verdict . (b) go by or beyound . While we were sitting in the park , several of our friends
passed us . (c) succeed . The Students are happy that they passed their exams .

PAST (a) (adjective ) a time or event before the present . Tis past week has been very hectic
for the students returning to the university . (b) (noun) time before the present . In the past ,
he had been a cook , a teacher , and a historian .

PEACE (noun) harmony or freedom from ... peace was restored to the community after a
week of noting .

PIECE (noun) part of a whole . .......... a ...... of chocolate cake for dessert .

PRINCIPAL (a)(noun) director of an elementary or secondary school . The principal callled a

facualty meeting . (b) (adjective) main or most important . An anthropologist , who had worked
with the indigenous tribes in Australia , was the principal speaker at Friday’s luncheon .
PRINCIPLE (noun) funda mental rule or adherence to such a rule . Mr.Connors is a man who
believes that truthfulness is the best principle.

QUIT (adjective ) serene , without noise . The night was so qulet that you could hear the
breeze blowing .

QUITE (adverb) (a) completely . Louise is quite capable of taking over the house hold chores
while her mother is away . (b) somewhat or rather . He was quite tired after his first day of
classes .

QUIT (verb) stop . Herman quit smoking on his doctor’s advice .

STATIONARY (adjective ) nonmovable , having a fixed location . The weatherman said the warm
front would be stationary for several days .

STATIONERY (noun) spesial writing paper . Lucille used only monogrammed stationery for
correspondence .

THAN (conjunction ) used in unequal comparisons . Today’s weather is better than yesterday’s .

THEN (adverb) a time following a previously mentioned time . First , Julie filled out her
schedule : then , she paid her fees .

THEIR (adjective) plural possesive adjective . Their team scored the most points during the
game .

THERE (adverb)(a) location away from here . Look over there between the trees . (b) used with
the verb be to indicate existence . There is a book on the teacher’s desk .

THEY’RE (pronoun - verb) contracation of they + are . They ‘re leaving on the noon flight to
Zurich .

TO ( preposition) to ward , until , as far as . Go to the blackboard and write out the equation .

TWO (noun or adjective ) number followingone . Two theories have been proposed to explain
that incident .

TOO ( adverb) (a) excessively . This morning was too cold for the children to go swimming . (b)
also . Jane went to the movie , and we did too .

WEATHER (noun) atmospheric conditions . Our flight was delayed because of bad weather .

WHETHER (conjuncion) if , indicates a choice . Because of the gas shortage , we do not know
whether we will go away for our vacation or stay home .

WHOSE (pronoun) possessive relative pronoun . The person whose name is drawn first will win
the grand prize .

WHO’S ( relative pronoun –verb) contranction of who – is . Who’s your new biology professor ?
YOUR (adjective ) possessive of you . We are all happy about your accepting the position with
the company in Baltimore .

YOU’RE (pronoun – verb ) contraction of you + are . You’re going to enjoy the panorama from
the top of the hill .

Kel.1

Exercise 54 : commonly Misused Words

Select the correct word in parentheses to complete the meaning of the sentence .

1. A beautiful (angle/angel) adorned their Christmas tree .

2. I have ( your/you’re) notes here , but i cannot find mine .
3. The rescuers were a welcome (cite/sight/site) for those trapped on the snow-covered
mountain .
4. (Who’s - Whose) supposed to supply the refreshments for tonight’s meeting ?
5. It is a ( costume/custom)in the . United States to eat turkey on Thanks-giving .
6. (Weather/Whether) we drive or fly depends on the length of our vacation .
7. Pasqueale is of French (decent/descent) , but his cousin is English .
8. Dr.Hipple will not be coming ( to/two/too) the meeting because he has (to/two/too)
many papers to grade .
9. Although my mother never eats (desert/dessert).I prefer someting sweet .
10. I guess (their/there/they’re) not interested because we have not heard from them .
11. Doris and Marge teach kindergarten , the ( latter/later) works in putnam .
12. Isaac Asimov’s science books are more easily understood (that/then) most scientists ‘
13. The fender on Sean’s bike came (loose/lose) and had to be tightened .
14. Nobody had any ( stationary/stationery) , so we had to use notebook paper to write the
latter .
15. The hikers had (passed/past) many hours waiting to be rescued .
16. Lisa had to (quiet/quit/quite) .... ing apples after the orthodontist put braces on her
teeth.
17. After any war the world destres a lasting (peace/piece)
18. Albert Einstein expressed his (principal/principle) of relativity .
19. Marcia was (quit/quiet/quite) tired after the long walk to class
20. You must remember to (cite/site/sight) your refernces when you write a paper.

CONFUSINGLY RELATED WPRDS

These are words that . cause problem when the speaker is not able to distinguish between
them . They are similar in meaning or pronunciation but CANNOT be used interchangeably .
Learn the definition of each and its use before employing it in conversation .

ACCEPT (verb) to take what is given . Professor Perez will accept the chairmanship of the
humanities department .
EXCEPT (preposition ) excluding or omitting a thing or person . Everyone is going to the
convention except Bob , who has to work .

ACCESS (noun ) availability , way of gaining entrance . The teachers had no access to the
students files , which were looked in the principal’s office .

EXCESS (a) (adjective ) a bundant , superfluos . We paid a surcharge on our excess banggage
.(b)(noun) extra amount . The demand for funds was in excess of the actual need .

ADVICE (noun) opinion given to someone , counseling . If you heed the teacher’s advice ,
you will do well in your studies .

ADVISE ( verb) act of giving an option or counsel . The congress advised the president
against singning the treaty at that time .

AFFECT (verb) to produce a change in . The doctros wanted to see how the medication
would affect the patient.

EFFECT (a) (noun) end result or consequence . The children suffered no ill effects from
their long plane ride . (b) (verb) to produce as a result . To effect a change in city government
we must all vote on Tuesday .

AGAIN (adverb) re