Confusing Words Clarified: Group T; Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, Synonyms, Polysemes, etc. +
(lists of "T" sections that are organized into what for some people are confusing groups of words)
If you have any problems understanding the pronunciation symbols, go to this Pronunciation Chart for clarifications.
2. To appeal for assistance: "She decided to turn to her family for the money she needed to start up her new business."
3. To become or to gradually change: "The weather is expected to turn very cold over night."
"She had to turn the key in the lock to the right in order to open the door."
"We were playing checkers and it was my friend's turn to make a move."
2. To appeal for assistance: "She decided to turn to her family for the money she needed to start up her new business."3. An expected or unanticipated change in the direction something is going: "The turn in the road was so sharp that she had to slow the car down so she wouldn't have an accident."
My friend and I took a short turn on the beach being careful not to step on the tern nest.
Our conversation took an unexpected turn when my friend mentioned that he had discovered a new formula to make terne.
"We have seen more pedestrians walking in this city than we ever see in our hometown."
2. Used to introduce the second or last of two or more things or people that are being compared: "Ten is less than fifteen.""He can run faster than his brother."
3. Used to say that something happens immediately after something else: "No sooner did I ask where my wife was than she came into the room."2. Soon after, following next in a sequence, or used to indicate what happened next: "In the circus parade, first came the clowns then came the horseback riders."
"We walked down the street, then we found our friend waiting on the corner."
3. A function word used to make a final statement that refers back to the things that have just been mentioned or described: "These words, then, are the most applicable for this context.""Both of us, then, must accept some responsibility for these results."
To simplify these words, we should remember that than is used more often to indicate a comparison; while then usually indicates some form of time sequence.
Examples include: "The new shopping center is bigger than the old one."
"The scientist did his research; then he wrote the report for the university."
I would rather be inside and cool than outside and hot. Then I would be so uncomfortable I would just sit in the shade and wait for the sun to go down.
"All I can tell you is that she was sitting there a minute ago."
2. An expression used to indicate something that has caused frustration and is now accomplished: "There, the dishes are finally done and put away; so, now we can go shopping."3. At a point in a process, activity, story, etc.: "Stop right there, before you say something you will regret."
4. Used to introduce a sentence in which the subject comes after the verb: "There is nothing we can do about it now because it is simply too late."
"There's still a lot for us to do on this project, don't you agree?"
5. Used to show satisfaction, approval, or encouragement: "There, it's finally finished and you helped so much to make it possible.""We still might be able to get some more milk at the store, but it all depends on whether they're still open."
They’re hanging their coats over there on the coat rack.
Several students are in the play; so, if they’re not up here on the stage, then they must be out there in the audience with their parents.
2. For that: "I am ordering clothes as indicated and enclosing payment therefor."
"I hate worms; therefore, I avoid digging in the garden."
Therefore normally appears at the beginning of a clause and may be followed by a comma. If it appears parenthetically within a clause, it has a comma before and after: "It appears, therefore, that he must be guilty."
The long letter from the customer stated in part; therefore, I am returning the unopened box and I request a refund therefor.
2. Something or someone near in time, place, etc.: "This is the person I wanted you to meet."
3. What has been indicated in a subsequent expression: "I will say this about my best friend; she is always there when I need her."
"I was upset that the conflict between the students and the faculty should result in such mudslinging!"
Look at this, it is really something. She thinks that we should write to our professor about it.
2. A sandal which is fastened to the foot using a narrow strip of fabric which goes between the toes and is fastened around the foot and ankle: "My left thong came undone and fell off while I was walking on the beach."
"A throng of fans was waiting for the players to arrive."
"Shoppers will throng the mall for the sales that will be available next week."
Just for fun I took a survey of the throng at the beach to see how many were wearing thongs that included leather thongs as part of their compositions.
"The police were thorough in their investigation of the bank robbery."
2. Having mastery or competence in something: "Her reputation was based on being a thorough and competent violinist."Throughout the time it took the police to complete a thorough investigation of the car accident, we were not allowed to leave the scene.
Fortunately, my friend was a thorough master of the harmonica and so he played so we could more easily pass the time away.
"Our team is determined to thrash the competition this year!"
2. To beat the stalks and leaves of a plant to separate the desired seeds from the leaves and stems of plants: "The weather is perfect so we will thrash the wheat this afternoon."3. To move about or to strike violently: "When I first learned to swim, I would thrash about in the water."
2. To separate grain from the plant on which it was grown using mechanical procedures: "The new machine in the barn will thresh the grain more quickly than doing it by hand."
During my summer work experience on the farm, I used a flail to thrash the grain; however, on the first night after a day of threshing the wheat, I was so tired that all I could do was thresh around in my sleep, trying to find a comfortable position.
2. To have fallen off or to have fallen down: "The horse threw a shoe and was limping."
"She was upset and threw herself down on the sofa to have a good cry."
3. To put something on or to take something off in a casual way: "I threw on my coat when I went outside to watch the sunset."4. To have given or organized an entertainment: "My sister threw a party for me when I went to visit her."
"She looked through the binoculars so she could see what was happening on the other side of the river."
2. Progressing without stopping: "He accidentally drove through the red light at the intersection."3. Used to describe a movement within a space or an area of land, air, etc.: "They rode their bicycles through the woods."
After her son accidentally threw a baseball through the window next door, he went to his mother to exclaim, "I'm sorry I threw the ball thru our neighbor’s window."
Every time I went to hear the famous soprano sing, it gave me a thrill to hear the way she could trill the high notes in the arias.
2. To cause or to create: "The sun throws long shadows across the land at the end of the day."
I noticed that her throes of sadness happened every day just as the sun throws a shadow across the window.
"The king's throne was decorated with gold and gems."
"He was thrown with emotion when he realized his friend was not hurt in the accident."
2. To have dashed or to hit something violently: "During the storm, the ship was thrown against the reef and was badly damaged."3. To have built, constructed, or exerted oneself to do something: "The construction company has thrown together a shed for storing all of their equipment."
"He has thrown all his influence into the proposal to build new houses."
The king was so angry that he hurled the royal chair at his military minister; in other words, the throne was thrown as an expression of the king's displeasure.
"It was easy for the horse to throw the rider because she was not holding the reins properly."
2. To put someone or something in a position or situation: "She was sure that when her little sister got home, she would throw her arms around the tree in the front yard because she would be so happy."3. To roll or to cast something: "He watched the man throw a pair of snake eyes when he rolled the dice."
2. A difficult struggle or experience: "The economic throe of the nation is reflected in the struggle experienced by the artistic community."
I thought I would throw a temper tantrum if we had to face the throe of a flat tire while we were crossing the dessert.
"It was so cold when he stepped outside that he thrust his hands into his pockets so they could be warmer."
2. The main concern or purpose of something: "The major thrust of the scientific team's research will be to find practical applications."
3. The pushing or pulling force exerted by a power plant; such as, an aircraft engine or rocket engine: "When a passenger plane takes off, it is necessary that passengers and staff members are all seated or they could be knocked down from the resulting thrust of the aircraft as it ascends into the air from the airport runway."
The thrust of the feature article in the paper was that a celebrity got upset at the paparazzi and thrust them aside as she got out of her car.
2. An expression meaning to catch a ride when an individual is hitchhiking: "I will thumb a ride to town instead of taking the bus."
I used my thumb to mark my place in the recipe book while I tried to thumb through the other pages looking for another recipe.
Confusing Words: Homonyms, Homophones, and Homographs; explained and demonstrated.
Confusing Words: Units, Groups A to Z.
Confusing Words: Vocabulary Quizzes Listed.
