CONFUSING VERBS
argue verb (DISAGREE)
[ I ] to speak angrily
to someone, telling that person that you disagree with them:
·
It's normal for couples to argue now and then.
·
When two of your best friends argue it puts you in a
very awkward position.
·
They used to argue all the time and now they've
practically stopped talking to each other.
·
My mother never takes sides when my brother and I
argue.
·
Stop arguing with me, Daryl, and do as you're told!
Discuss verb /dɪˈskʌs/
to talk
about something to other people, often exchanging ideas or opinions:
·
We have been discussing the possibility of working
together.
·
This booklet discusses how to invest money wisely.
Notice verb UK /ˈnəʊ.tɪs/ US /ˈnoʊ.t̬ɪs/
to see
or become conscious of something or someone:
·
I noticed a crack in the ceiling.
·
Mary waved at the man but he didn't seem to notice.
·
[ + (that) ] He noticed (that) the woman was staring
at him.
·
[ + question word ] Did you notice how she did that?
Realize verb uk usually realise UK /ˈrɪə.laɪz/
US /ˈriː.ə.laɪz/
realize verb (BECOME
AWARE)
to understand
a situation, sometimes suddenly:
·
They
didn't realize the danger they were in.
·
"Do
you realize (that) this is the third time you've forgotten?" she said
angrily.
·
I
realize how difficult it's going to be, but we must try.
·
As
he watched the TV show, he suddenly realized (that) he'd seen it before.
·
"You're
standing on my foot." "Sorry, I didn't realize."
Avoid verb [ T ] UK /əˈvɔɪd/ US
/əˈvɔɪd/
to stay away from someone or something:
·
I
try to avoid supermarkets on Saturdays - they're always so busy.
·
I'm
anxious to avoid the motorway at rush hour.
·
Do
you think Lukas is avoiding me? I haven't seen him all day.
Prevent verb [ T ] UK
/prɪˈvent/ US /prɪˈvent/
to stop
something from happening or someone from doing something:
·
Label
your suitcases to prevent confusion.
·
[ +
-ing verb ] His disability prevents him (from) driving.
·
The
police seem to be powerless to prevent these attacks.
·
She
would go over the accident again and again in her mind, wishing that she could
somehow have prevented it.
·
A
block in the pipe was preventing the water from coming through.
·
Fierce
winds prevented the race from taking place.
Look verb UK /lʊk/ US /lʊk/
look verb (SEE)
to direct your eyes
in order to see:
·
Look!
There's grandma.
·
They
looked at the picture and laughed.
·
Look
at all these toys on the floor.
·
She
looked up from her book and smiled at me.
Seem verb [ I + adv/prep, L ] UK
/siːm/ US /siːm/
to give the effect of being;
to be judged to be:
·
He's
16, but he often seems (to be) younger.
·
The
children seemed (as if/as though/like they were) tired.
·
I
suspect his claims are not all they seem - he tends to exaggerate.
·
They
seem to be taking a long time to decide.
·
It
seems (that) she can't come.
Mind
don’t mind, he
doesn’t mind
We can use
don’t/doesn’t mind to mean ‘not feel annoyed or worried by
something’.
·
I
don’t mind living near the train line. You get used to it.
·
She
doesn’t mind waiting up late.
Warning:
We say I don’t mind,
or it doesn’t matter. We don’t say it doesn’t mind:
A: Sorry, there are no more chairs!
B: I
don’t mind. I can sit on the floor. (or It doesn’t matter. I can sit on the
floor.)
Not: It doesn’t mind
…
Matter as a verb
Matter in the
negative
The most common use
of the verb matter is in the expression it doesn’t matter (and the less common
forms it didn’t matter, it wouldn’t matter and it won’t matter). It doesn’t
matter means ‘it is not important’, ‘I don’t mind’ or ‘it is not a problem’:
A:I forgot to buy milk when I was in town.
B:It
doesn’t matter. We’ve got enough till tomorrow.
·
It
doesn’t matter if you can’t be here by nine o’clock. We can start without you
and you can join us later.
·
It
wouldn’t matter if we didn’t invite Paul and Jan to the wedding. They wouldn’t
expect to be invited.
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