Confusing Words

Confusing Words

bring take get
I'm coming I'm going I will come back
come go leave
...closer... ...away to somewhere. ...from here.
look see watch
try, outward, pay attention understand without words look at something moving
listen hear
try, outward, pay attention understand without eyes
want like
desire something, immediate & circumstantial enjoy something, timeless & regardless of circumstance
say tell speak talk
quote, exact words an answer, a story address other people, a language pure action
Pardon me. Excuse me. (I'm) sorry. Oops!
considerate, courteous, formal, no harm done, no regret, possibly after-the-fact or during or before casual or formal, maybe considerate, maybe sarcastic, maybe informal, maybe harm done, little or no regret, possibly after-the-fact or during or before admission of guilt or wrongdoing, request for forgiveness, expression of regret, after-the-fact, insulting if sarcastic informal, slang, similar to "sorry", clearly not thought-through
have v. (once) have never v. (Have) n. ever v. ?
statement that someone has done something as been done at least once statement that something has never been done even once question about whether a thing was done at least once
would (if) should / need to could (if)
willingness obligation capability
probably possibly certainly
>50% >0% 100%
likely, “in all likelihood" maybe, (might/can/may) v. surely, (will/shall) v.
one's place ones' place
a place that belongs to someone a term used in Math


loan borrow
pay buy
cost spend


(non-truth) lie lies lied lied lying
(something) lay lays laid laid laying
(self) lie lies lay lain lying
(something) set sets set set setting
(self) sit sits sat sat sitting
(not win) lose loses lost lost losing
(release) loose looses loosed loosed loosing
(open) loosen loosens loosened loosened loosening