Opposite words / Confusing words

OPPOSITES AND CONFUSING WORDS

OPPOSITE WORDS

Generous

Stingy/Greedy

Mr. Jones was a generous person. He liked to help people in need,

She's so stingy that I bet you can’t get her to buy you a coke.

Huge

Tiny

He lives in a huge house. It is the hugest of the neighborhood.

It is a tiny apartment with only one bedroom.

Identified

Unidentified

They kept the unidentified body in the hospital morgue for days.

The identified suspect was seen in a local store.

Available

Unavailable

A new update is already available.

I'm sorry, but that medicine you’re looking for is unavailable.

Familiar

Unfamiliar

He is familiar with the problem. He knows all about it.

He is unfamiliar with the problem. He doesn't know anything about it.

Disappearance

Appearance

They were surprised by the sudden appearance of their father, who they know only from a 10-year-old photograph.

Her disappearance was reported to the police.

Save

Squander

He squandered all the money he inherited. Now he has to work to make a living.

My father saved some money before his retirement.

Success

Failure

The movie was a complete success. Everyone was telling every body else how good it was.

Don't be afraid of the failure; it is the best way to learn.

Disadvantage

Advantage

An advantage of learning english idioms is that you can make your speech to sound better.

You are at disadvantage; he’s better prepared than you.

CONFUSING WORDS

Principal

Principle

He is a man of principle. You can rely on him.

The principal wanted to talk with the students' parents.

Personnel

Personal

The boss organized a meeting with the new personnel to explain the way of working.

I trust you. This is very personal. Don’t tell a soul!

Stationery

Stationary

I just bought a stationary bycicle on internet.

I usually get my stationery at the bookstore.

Human

Humane

What you did for that dog was very humane.

Human beings are susceptible to fault.

Customs

Costumes

It is hard to get used to the customs in a foreign country.

My costumes have won many Halloween contests.

Adopt(ed)

Adapt(ed)

The chameleon can be easily adapted to any color.

They don’t have any children of their own. Fred is an adopted child.

Device

Devise

The company is developing a new device.

I'm trying to devise something really amazing.

Serial

Cereal

Which one is the cereal you always buy?

Charles Manson was a notorious serial killer.

Dessert

Desert

If you walk through the desert you can die.

I would like some ice cream for dessert, please.

Piece

Peace

Looking for some peace and quiet.

Please place the last piece to complete the puzzle.

Advise

Advice

Chester gave Posey good advice.

I advise my patient not to quit therapy.

Thank you!

Boynton, S. (1982) Opposites [Image] Retrieved from: https://www.amazon.es/Opposites-Boynton-Board-Books-Sandra/dp/0671449036

Henny, J. (2020) Why Singing Terms Are Confusing [Image] Retrieved from: https://johnhenny.com/53-2/