B2 · Vocabulary

False Friends & Confusables

Lesson Handout

What are false friends?

False friends are words that look similar to a word in another language but have a different meaning in English. These are common sources of error.

Confusable pairs

These pairs look or sound similar in English and are confused by many learners.

More confusables

Summary

B2 · Vocabulary

False Friends & Confusables

Worksheet

Name: ___________________________ Date: _______________

False friend or not? Choose the correct word (8 points)

1. She is a very ______ person — she always makes wise decisions under pressure.

☐ sensible☐ sensitive

2. The study ______ that automation has a significant impact on employment levels.

☐ shows☐ demonstrates actually

3. I went to the ______ to borrow some books on environmental law.

☐ library☐ bookshop

4. He ______ felt embarrassed when he mispronounced the word in front of the class.

☐ actually☐ eventually

5. The project failed many times, but ______ they found a sustainable solution.

☐ eventually☐ actually

Affect or effect? Raise or rise? (8 points)

6. Deforestation ______ biodiversity on a massive scale.

☐ affects☐ effects

7. The ______ of automation on the workforce has been significant.

☐ effect☐ affect

8. Carbon emissions have ______ sharply over the last decade.

☐ risen☐ raised

9. The company ______ awareness of mental health issues in the workplace.

☐ raised☐ rose

10. She ______ to sign the new contract without reading it first.

☐ refused☐ denied

11. He ______ having received the report, but his email clearly showed he had.

☐ denied☐ refused

12. Could you please ______ me to send the report before 5pm?

☐ remind☐ remember

13. I always ______ to check my carbon footprint before booking a flight.

☐ remember☐ remind

Discover or invent? Economic or economical? (6 points)

14. Marie Curie ______ radium — it existed in nature before she found it.

☐ discovered☐ invented

15. Alexander Graham Bell ______ the telephone — it did not exist before him.

☐ invented☐ discovered

16. This is the ______ car on the market — it uses very little fuel.

☐ most economical☐ most economic

B2 · Vocabulary

False Friends & Confusables

Answer Key

1. sensible

2. shows

3. library

4. actually

5. eventually

6. affects

7. effect

8. risen

9. raised

10. refused

11. denied

12. remind

13. remember

14. discovered

15. invented

16. most economical