bus, bath

bus - /bʌs/

bath - /bæθ/ 

• After a long ride on the bus, I needed a relaxing bath.
• She missed her bus and decided to take a bath while she waited for the next one.
• The children were tired after the bus trip, so they took a quick bath before bed.
• If you take the bus home, you’ll still have time for a bath before dinner.
• I spilled coffee on the bus and couldn’t wait to get home for a hot bath.
• The bus was delayed, so he had time to run back inside for a quick bath.
• After the camping trip, they hopped on the bus and dreamed of a warm bath.
• The bus was so crowded that she felt like she needed a bath afterward!
• She took the bus to the spa, where she enjoyed a luxurious bath.
• He got off the bus in a rush and went straight for a soothing bath.

Key Differences:

    • Bus (a large road vehicle for transporting people): /bʌs/ with a short "u" sound, as in "cup."

    • Bath (an act of washing in water): /bæθ/ with a short "a" sound, as in "cat," and a "th" sound.

hop -

1) (of a person) move by jumping on one foot

2) pass quickly from one place to another

soothing  - /ˈsuːðɪŋ/ 

1) having a gently calming effect

2) reducing pain or discomfort

boss, both

boss - /bɔːs/

both - /boʊθ/

• Both my boss and I agreed to start the project next week.
• The boss asked both teams to work together on the new assignment.
• I need to meet with both the boss and the manager this afternoon.
• My boss gave both praise and constructive criticism during my review.
• Both my boss and I have been working late this week.
• The boss assigned both tasks to me, expecting them to be done by Friday.
• I saw both my boss and his assistant in the meeting room earlier.
• My boss wanted both of us to attend the conference this weekend.
• The boss appreciated both my dedication and my attention to detail.
• Both my boss and my colleagues supported my promotion.

Key Differences:

    • Boss (a person in charge): /bɔːs/ with an "aw" sound, as in "saw".

    • Both (referring to two people or things together): /boʊθ/ with a long "o" sound, as in "go".

abet, abed

abet - /əˈbɛt/

abed - /əˈbɛd/ 

• She wouldn’t abet his risky plan while he lay abed, plotting alone.
• They accused him of trying to abet the crime, though he swore he was abed at the time.
• While he lay abed, wondering what to do, his friend tried to abet him by providing support.
• The detective suspected he would abet his brother’s escape, even while he remained abed himself.
• Abed and tired, he had no energy to abet anyone’s schemes that night.
• She lay abed, recovering from her illness, unaware of her friends’ plans to abet her return to work.
• He refused to abet their plan, choosing instead to stay quietly abed.
• While she was abed recovering, her allies continued to abet her cause.
• His refusal to abet their actions meant he often spent hours abed, worried about the risks.
• Though abed with a fever, he didn’t hesitate to abet his friends with advice.

Key Differences:

    • Abet (to encourage or assist, typically in wrongdoing): /əˈbɛt/ with the emphasis on the second syllable.

    • Abed (lying in bed, typically resting): /əˈbɛd/ also with stress on the second syllable but ending with a “d” sound.

Both words have the /əˈbɛ/ beginning, but their endings (“t” for abet and “d” for abed) set them apart, along with their meanings. 

abet - подстрекать

dad, dead

dad - /dæd/

dead - /dɛd/

• My dad told me stories about his childhood friends, many of whom are now dead.
• When the car wouldn’t start, my dad said, “The battery must be dead.”
• I found an old photograph of my dad and his dog, who’s sadly been dead for years.
• Dad warned us about the dangers of touching dead electrical wires.
• Even though the plant looked dead, my dad tried to bring it back to life.
• My dad has a dry sense of humor and often tells jokes with a deadpan expression.
• Dad walked through the quiet, dead streets of the town late at night.
• I didn’t believe my dad when he said the phone was dead until I tried it myself.
• Dad loves gardening, but he was upset to find half the flowers were dead.
• When the TV went dead, dad decided it was time to get a new one.

Key Differences:

    • Dad (informal term for father): /dæd/

    • Dead (no longer alive or functioning): /dɛd/

The main difference is in the vowel sounds:

    • Dad uses /æ/, a short "a" sound as in "cat."

    • Dead uses /ɛ/, a short "e" sound as in "bed."

down, dawn

down - /daʊn/

dawn - /dɔːn/

• We hiked down the mountain just before dawn.
• As the dawn broke, the temperatures began to go down.
• They stayed up all night and finally went down to sleep at dawn.
• The street lights turn off at dawn when the sun starts to rise down the street.
• We watched the stars slowly fade away at dawn, as the sky lightened down in the east.
• The mist settled down in the valley right as dawn arrived.
• He climbed down from his rooftop just as the first light of dawn appeared.
• By dawn, the rain had stopped, and the clouds were drifting down the hills.
• The birds flew down from their nests as soon as dawn broke.
• We camped on a hill to watch the sky go from dark to light as dawn came up and the stars went down.

Key Differences:

    • Down (toward a lower position or place): /daʊn/

    • Dawn (the first appearance of light in the morning): /dɔːn/

Down has the /aʊ/ diphthong sound (like "how"), while dawn has the /ɔː/ sound, a long "aw" sound as in "law."

low, law

low - /loʊ/

law -  /lɔː/

• The town has a law against noise, so everyone keeps their music volume low.
• The new law helped keep crime rates low in the city.
• Because of a strict law, we must keep our emissions low.
• The law requires low lighting in this area for wildlife protection.
• She spoke in a low voice to avoid breaking the library's noise law.
• The law mandates low speed limits in school zones.
• There’s a law about recycling to keep pollution levels low.
• In low-income areas, a new law provides additional support for housing.
• Local law enforcement is focused on keeping crime rates low.
• A new environmental law requires businesses to maintain low waste output.

Key Differences:

    • Low (meaning not high or at a small level): /loʊ/

    • Law (a rule or set of rules enforced by authorities): /lɔː/

The /oʊ/ sound in low is a long "o" sound, as in "go," while the /ɔː/ sound in law is a rounded "aw" sound, as in "saw" .

except, accept

except - /ɪkˈsɛpt/

accept - /əkˈsɛpt/

• She was ready to accept everyone’s help, except for his.
• I accept all feedback, except when it's not constructive.
• He’ll accept any job, except the one that involves working weekends.
• Everyone was invited to the event, except those who didn’t accept the terms.
• They accept all major credit cards, except American Express.
• The teacher will accept late assignments, except if they are more than a week overdue.
• I accept the challenge, except under unfair conditions.
• She decided to accept every request, except the ones that would take too much time.
• They were willing to accept the proposal, except for the high costs involved.
• We accept all members, except those who do not follow the rules.

Key Differences:

    • Accept (to agree to or receive something): /əkˈsɛpt/

    • Except (excluding or other than): /ɪkˈsɛpt/

The difference in pronunciation can be subtle:

    • Accept has a schwa sound /ə/ at the beginning, making it sound softer and more neutral.

    • Except starts with a clear /ɪ/ sound.

bad, bed, bet, bat

bad - /bæd/

bed - /bɛd/

bet - /bɛt/

bat - /bæt/

• I had a bad night’s sleep in that old bed, and I bet a baseball bat would be more comfortable!
• The hotel bed was so bad that I bet even a bat wouldn’t want to sleep there.
• He made a bad bet and had to sleep on a hard bed with only a bat for protection.
• I bet lying in bed all day feels bad after a while, like being hit with a bat.
• The mattress was so bad that even the bat hiding under the bed seemed more comfortable.
• After a bad game, he threw his bat aside and went straight to bed, making a bet to improve.
• I bet if you try to sleep on that bad bed, you’ll feel like you’ve been hit by a bat in the morning!
• She left her bat on the bed, hoping to forget the bad game and win her next bet.
• Sleeping with a bat under the bed is bad luck, I bet, but he did it anyway.
• The bed creaked so bad that even the bat hiding under it seemed to bet on it collapsing.

Key Differences:

• Bad (undesirable or poor quality): /bæd/
• Bat (a flying mammal or an item used in sports): /bæt/
• Bed (a place for sleeping): /bɛd/
• Bet (to risk something on an outcome): /bɛt/

The key difference lies in the vowel sounds:

    • Bad and bat have the /æ/ sound, as in "cat."

    • Bed and bet share the /ɛ/ sound, as in "pet."

cat, cut

cat - /kæt/

cut - /kʌt/

• The cat scratched the curtain, so I had to cut off the damaged part.
• After the cat knocked over the scissors, I made sure to cut the thread carefully.
• She saw the stray cat near the bushes where someone had recently cut the grass.
• I found the cat hiding in the garden, where I planned to cut some flowers.
• The playful cat tried to catch the paper as I cut it into small pieces.
• When the cat tangled itself in the yarn, I had to cut it free gently.
• The vet had to cut the mat out of the cat’s fur.
• After the cat scratched my hand, I noticed a small cut on my skin.
• The cat ran through the bushes, where branches had been cut back recently.
• I cut up some chicken for the cat as a special treat.

Key Differences:

    • Cat (a domesticated feline animal): /kæt/

    • Cut (to divide or make an incision): /kʌt/

In these sentences, cat has a short /æ/ sound, as in "bat," while cut has a short /ʌ/ sound, as in "cup."

sun, son

sun - /sʌn/

son - /sʌn/

• The father took his son to watch the sunrise and feel the warmth of the sun.
• As the sun set, the son realized he’d had the best day with his family.
• The mother asked her son to wear a hat to protect himself from the sun.
• He named his son after the sun, inspired by its strength and warmth.
• The sun shone brightly as the proud father introduced his son to the crowd.
• Both father and son enjoyed hiking up the mountain to watch the sun rise.
• While the sun was still low, the father taught his son to fly a kite.
• She watched her son play outside, enjoying the sun on his face.
• As the sun went down, the son helped his dad set up the tent for camping.
• The son wore sunglasses, laughing as his father complained about the sun in his eyes.

Key Differences:

    • Sun (the star at the center of our solar system): /sʌn/

    • Son (a male child): /sʌn/

slip, sleep

slip - /slɪp/

sleep - /sliːp/

• Be careful not to slip on the ice when you're tired and need to sleep.
• He tried to sleep early, but he had a bad slip and hurt his ankle.
• She might slip if she's too sleepy to watch her step.
• After the long hike, I almost slipped on the trail and couldn’t wait to sleep in a warm bed.
• Don’t let the opportunity slip away; get some sleep and make a decision in the morning.
• If you don’t sleep well tonight, you might slip during tomorrow’s presentation.
• I slipped on the wet floor because I hadn’t had enough sleep.
• He tried to stay awake but felt his mind slip into sleep during the lecture.
• The baby could slip out of the crib if you don’t make sure they’re safely asleep.
• After a restless sleep, she almost slipped while getting out of bed.

Key Differences:

    • Slip (to lose your footing or balance and slide unintentionally): /slɪp/

    • Sleep (to rest in a state of unconsciousness): /sliːp/

sit, seat

sit - /sɪt/

seat - /siːt/

• Please sit in the seat closest to the window.
• She asked him to sit while she found him a seat at the table.
• The seat was taken, so I had to sit on the bench.
• I prefer to sit in the front seat when I’m in a car.
• He didn’t want to sit on the ground, so he looked for an empty seat.
• Could you sit in your assigned seat before the movie starts?
• I had to sit for a moment because the seat was too uncomfortable to stand.
• She offered her seat to the elderly man, and then chose to sit on the floor.
• Please sit down while I check if there’s a free seat for you.
• He tried to sit on the chair, but the seat was already broken.

Key Differences:

    • Sit (to rest with your body supported by your buttocks): /sɪt/

    • Seat (a place where you can sit, like a chair or bench): /siːt/

ship, sheep

ship - /ʃɪp/

sheep - /ʃiːp/

• The ship sailed past a field of grazing sheep.
• He loaded the sheep onto the ship for transport to the island.
• They spotted a flock of sheep from the deck of the ship.
• As the ship approached the shore, they saw sheep scattered on the hills.
• The farmer had to send his sheep on a cargo ship to another country.
• The sound of the ship's horn startled the sheep in the distance.
• Sheep were herded onto the ship for their long journey across the sea.
• From the ship, they could barely make out the small, white sheep on the cliffs.
• The ship docked, and the crew helped unload the sheep safely.
• They watched the sheep grazing peacefully as the ship sailed away from the harbor.

Key Differences:

    • Ship (a large boat or vessel): /ʃɪp/

    • Sheep (a domesticated animal): /ʃiːp/

make out - manage with some difficulty to see or hear someone or something

live, leave

live - /lɪv/

leave - /liːv/

• I live in New York, but I plan to leave for vacation next week.
• She didn’t want to leave her family, even though she dreamed of living abroad.
• We’ll live here for a while and then leave when we find a better place.
• He asked if I wanted to live with him, but I wasn’t ready to leave my hometown.
• If you live far from the city, you may have to leave earlier to catch the train.
• She decided to leave the party early, even though she loves to live in the moment.
• They want to live close to the beach but might have to leave if the rent gets too high.
• When you live in a big city, you might need to leave for a quieter place sometimes.
• I'll live with my parents for now, but I plan to leave once I get a job.
• He couldn't live without his dog, so he didn’t want to leave him behind.

Key Differences:

    • Live (to reside or exist): /lɪv/

    • Leave (to depart or go away from): /liːv/

bit, beat

bit - /bɪt/

beat - /biːt/

• She bit her lip nervously as the drums beat in the background.
• He bit into the apple just as the music beat started playing.
• The boxer bit down on his mouthguard and prepared to beat his opponent.
• I bit off more than I could chew, but I still managed to beat the deadline.
• As the clock ticked, I bit my nails, hoping the team would beat the buzzer.
• The snake bit him before he could beat it away with a stick.
• He bit into the sandwich and felt his heart beat faster from excitement.
• I bit my tongue when I realized she beat me to the answer.
• The dog bit the toy, and the rhythm of the music beat steadily in the background.
• She bit into the chocolate bar while listening to the beat of her favorite song.

Key Differences:

    • Bit (past tense of bite, meaning to use your teeth): /bɪt/

    • Beat (to strike or defeat, or a rhythmic pattern): /biːt/

so, saw

so - /soʊ/

saw - /sɔ:/

• I was so surprised when I saw the results of the test.
• She saw the movie twice, it was so good.
• He was so tired that he barely saw what was happening around him.
• I saw you at the party last night, and I was so happy to see you!
• They saw the storm coming, so they decided to leave early.
• The painting was so beautiful that everyone who saw it was amazed.
• She saw the opportunity, so she took the chance to apply for the job.
• I saw the accident on the highway, and it was so shocking that I couldn’t look away.
• He saw the sunrise this morning, and it was so breathtaking.
• We saw the new restaurant in town, so we decided to give it a try.

Key Differences:

    • So (used as a conjunction or adverb to indicate reason, degree, or result): /soʊ/

    • Saw (past simple of see): /sɔː/

cat, code, caught

cat - /kæt/

code - /koʊd/

caught - /kɔːt/

• The cat caught a bird while I was trying to crack the code on my computer.
• I caught the cat playing with a string of code printed on paper.
• After the cat caught the mouse, I had to debug the code in peace.
• He wrote a code to track his cat, but the cat caught him by surprise.
• As the cat leaped onto the keyboard, it accidentally deleted the code, and I caught the error too late.
• The cat caught a bug while I was busy fixing bugs in my code.
• When the cat caught the laser pointer, it knocked over my notes on programming code.
• I was so focused on my code that I didn’t notice when the cat caught the ball.
• After hours of coding, I caught the cat sleeping on the stack of code papers.
• The cat caught my attention just as I was typing the final line of code.

Key Differences:

    • Cat (a small domesticated animal): /kæt/

    • Code (a system of symbols or instructions, often for computers): /koʊd/

    • Caught (past tense of catch): /kɔːt/

peek, peak, pick

peek - /piːk/

peak - /piːk/

pick - /pɪk/

• I took a quick peek at the mountain’s peak before deciding to pick the best trail to hike.
• At the peak of the concert, I managed to sneak a peek at the performer while trying to pick the right moment to leave.
• She climbed to the peak of the hill to peek at the view and pick a spot for the picnic.
• I’ll pick a book for you to read if you promise not to peek at the ending until you reach the peak of the story.
• As we approached the peak, I couldn’t resist taking a peek through the window while my friend stopped to pick a flower.
• He gave a quick peek at the chart showing the company’s peak performance before trying to pick the best investment option.
• I peeked at the mountain’s snowy peak and realized I needed to pick warmer clothes for the hike.
• The climbers reached the peak of the mountain, where they could finally peek at the sunrise and pick their next destination.
• After a quick peek at the top of the hill, I decided to pick the path that leads to the highest peak.
• She let me peek inside the box before we reached the peak of the hill and told me to pick my favorite item.

Key Differences:

    • Peek (a quick glance): /piːk/

    • Peak (the top or highest point): /piːk/

    • Pick (to choose or select): /pɪk/

mouth, mouse

mouth - /maʊθ/

mouse - /maʊs/

• I saw a mouse scurry across the floor while I was eating, and I almost dropped my food out of my mouth.
• He caught the mouse in his hand but quickly let it go when it bit him on the mouth.
• The cat had a mouse in its mouth when it ran into the house.
• I screamed when I saw the mouse, covering my mouth in shock.
• The little mouse nibbled on a piece of cheese, but the crumbs were all over its mouth.
• While I was telling a story, a mouse ran by, causing me to pause with my mouth open.
• The mouse escaped the trap and dashed past my mouth as I was leaning down to inspect it.
• She kept her mouth closed tightly, trying not to laugh at the sight of the mouse hiding under the couch.
• The mouse peeked out from the hole in the wall, and the look on its face made it seem like it had something to say, though it had no mouth to speak with.
• I accidentally dropped my sandwich on the floor, and before I could get it back to my mouth, the mouse grabbed a piece.

hat, head, heard

hat - /hæt/

head - /hɛd/

heard - /hɜrd/

• I put the hat on my head and heard someone call my name from across the street.
• She heard the news, grabbed her hat, and rushed out with her head held high.
• I heard a noise above, so I lifted my head and took off my hat to listen more carefully.
• After I heard the weather report, I decided to wear a hat to protect my head from the sun.
• He heard a loud bang, so he quickly pulled his hat down over his head and ran outside.
• I had just placed my hat on my head when I heard the doorbell ring.
• She heard her friend’s voice and turned her head, adjusting her hat as she walked over.
• When I heard the announcement, I removed my hat and bowed my head in respect.
• I heard the wind pick up, so I secured my hat tightly on my head before stepping outside.
• As soon as I heard the commotion, I threw on my hat and ducked my head out the window to see what was going on.

ankle, uncle

ankle - /ˈaŋkl/

uncle - /ˈʌŋkl/

• My uncle twisted his ankle while hiking last weekend.
• I sprained my ankle at the family reunion, and my uncle had to help me walk.
• After my uncle injured his ankle, he had to rest for a few days.
• My uncle gave me some advice on how to recover from my ankle injury quickly.
• When I broke my ankle, my uncle drove me to the hospital right away.
• My uncle always tells the story of how he hurt his ankle playing football.
• I accidentally stepped on my uncle’s ankle while we were playing soccer.
• During our hike, my uncle slipped and twisted his ankle on a rocky path.
• My uncle had a brace on his ankle after he fell down the stairs.
• I was limping because of my ankle, and my uncle noticed right away.

latter, letter, later

latter - /ˈlatə/

letter - /ˈlɛtə/

later - /ˈleɪtə/

• I received the letter yesterday, but I’ll respond to it later; as for your suggestions, I prefer the latter.
• The letter arrived much later than expected, and in the debate, I agreed with the latter argument.
• He sent the letter, but later realized that the latter part of it needed more detail.
• I’ll read the letter now and reply later, but keep in mind that I support the latter proposal.
• She wrote a letter explaining her decision, but she plans to send it later after choosing between the two options, favoring the latter.
• He found the letter hidden in a drawer, and later, he discovered that the latter pages were missing.
• The letter mentioned two meetings; I can attend the later one, and I agree with the latter suggestions made.
• I'll respond to the letter later, but for now, I want to discuss the latter half of your presentation.
• I forgot to send the letter, so I’ll do it later, but I still think the latter solution is better.
• After reading the letter, he realized that the later revisions were better than the latter half of the original draft.

Random Conversation Questions

•  learnhip: Random Conversation Questions

Фразовые глаголы

Turn in - сдавать (ся) в полицию

I would never turn my homies in.

We can't turn him in.

Фразовые глаголы с противоположным значением

Get up

to rise from a bed or a sitting position

I get up at 7 a.m.

Lie down

to recline or go to bed

I lie down to rest in the afternoon.

---

Put on

to dress in clothes

She puts on her coat.

Take off

to remove clothes

He takes off his shoes.

---

Turn on

to switch on a device

I turn on the TV.

Turn off

to switch off a device

She turns off the lights.

---

Pick up

to collect or lift something

He picks up the phone.

Drop off

to leave something or someone at a destination

I drop off the kids at school.

---

Sit down

to take a seat

Please sit down.

Stand up

to rise to your feet

Stand up when the teacher enters.

---

Wake up

to stop sleeping

We wake up early.

Fall asleep

to begin to sleep

We fall asleep quickly.

---

Give up

to stop trying

Don't give up on your dreams.

Take up

to start a new activity

She takes up yoga.

---

Put in

to place something inside

Put the money in the box.

Take out

to remove something

Take the book out of the bag.

---

Break down

to stop working

The car broke down.

Fix up

to repair something

They fix up the house.

---

Move in

to start living in a new place

We move in next week.

Move out

to leave a place you live in

They move out tomorrow.

---

Fill up

to make full

Fill up the tank with gas.

Empty out

to remove contains

Empty out the drawer.

---

Put together

to assemble

He puts the model together.

Take apart

to disassemble

They take the toy apart.

---

Calm down

to relax after being upset

Please calm down.

Cheer up

to become happier

Cheer up, it's a sunny day.

---

Look for

to search for

I look for my keys.

Find out

to get information about something

How did you found out about the school.

---

Run away

to escape

The dog runs away.

Come back

to return

He comes back home.

---

Go up

to rise

Prices go up.

Go down

to move down or decrease

The sun goes down.

---

Bring in

to bring something inside

Bring in the groceries.

Take away

to remove something

Take away the rubbish.

---

Speed up

to go faster

Speed up the car.

Slow down

to go slower

Slow down near the school.

---

Turn up

to increase volume or intensity

Turn up the music.

Turn down

to decrease volume or intensity

Turn down the heat.

---

Build up

to develop or increase

Build up your muscles.

Tear down

to demolish

They tear down the building.

---

Pick up

to lift something

Pick up the pen.

Put down

to place something down

Put down the pen.

---

Bring up

to mention a topic

She brings up an interesting point.

Drop off

to fall asleep or deliver something

He drops off quickly.

---

Get on

to board a vehicle

Get on the bus.

Get off

to leave a vehicle

Get off the train.

---

Set up

to arrange or establish

Set up the tent.

Take down

to dismantle or disassemble

Take down the decorations.

---

Come in

to enter

He came in the house.

Go out

to leave

Go out for a walk.

---

Put up

to hang or place something

He put up a poster.

Take down

to remove from a place

Take down the painting.

---

Call up

to phone someone

Call up your friend.

Hang up

to end a phone call

Hang up the phone.

---

Take off

to leave the ground (for airplanes)

The plane takes off at 6 pm.

Land in

to arrive at a specific location by plane

The plane lands in New-York.

---

Turn up

to arrive unexpectedly

She turn up at the party.

Turn down

to reject or refuse

He turn down the offer.

---

Go out

to leave home for social activities

They go out every weekend.

Stay in

to remain at home

I prefer to stay in tonight.

---

Break in

to enter by force

Someone tried to break in last night.

Break out

to escape

The prisoner broke out of jail.

---

Look up

to search for information

Look up the world in the dictionary.

Look down

to gaze downward or feel superior

He looks down from the balcony.

---

Give in

to yield or surrender

She gave in to the pressure.

Stand firm

to remain resolute

He stand firm in his beliefs.

---

Get in

to enter a place or a vehicle

Get in the car.

Get out

to leave a place or a vehicle

Get out off the room.

---

Put away

to store or tidy up

Put away your toys.

Take out

to remove or extract

The had to take out two trees.

---

Get together

to meet or gather

We get together every Friday.

Break up

to end a relationship

They decided to break up.

---

Take on

to accept challenge or responsibility

She takes on new projects.

Let go

to release or dismiss

He let go of his old habits.