WORDS DIFFERENTATION

Able - Capable

Able : if someone or something is able to do something, they have skills or qualities which make it possible for them to do it.

Capable : if a person or thing is capable of doing something, they have the ability, capacity, or potential to do it.

Capable : also shows a sense of possibility whereas there is no such usage with able.

+ The situation is capable of improvement.

+ In this situation, we can't replace capable with able to show the possibility for improvement.

The different usage between able and capable is ' able ' has a broader meaning in one's ability but ' capable ' shows one's ability in a more specialized aspect.

+ She is an able teacher. (She is a teacher with quality)

+ She is a capable teacher. (She has the ability to be a teacher)

Another - The other

Another : another thing or person means an additional thing or person of the same type as one that already exists.

The other : the other thing or person means the only remaining thing or person except the existing one.

+ Have another piece of cake.

+ Please fetch another cup for me.

+ That's quite another matter.

+ Both my uncles are abroad, one in Paris and the other in New York.

+ One of them is yours; the other is mine.

Asleep - Sleeping

Asleep : someone who is asleep is sleeping.

Asleep : is adj being placed in front of the verb to be. It cannot be used before a noun.

+ Looking at the asleep baby. (wrong)

+ Looking at the sleeping baby. (right)

Sleeping: (present participle of sleep)

Sleeping : is adj that precedes a noun such as sleeping baby etc. While it is used after the verb to be, it is functioning as a verb.

+ Looking at the sleeping baby. (right)

+ Who is that sleeping man?

+ Keep an eye on the sleeping baby.

+ Let sleeping dogs lie.

At ease - With ease

at ease : feeling confident and relaxed.

+ The old couple are quite at ease as their son is out of danger.

+ With good social security, the aged can live at ease.

+ Her promise of support set my mind at ease.

+ I don't know why he is ill at ease.

with ease : easily or without difficulty

+ They fulfil the task with ease.

+ Our football team gained the day with ease.

+ Every day we marched twenty miles with ease..

Believe - Believe in

Believe : to accept as true

+ Do you believe his reports.

+ I can hardly believe my eyes.

+ In ancient times, it was believed that the earth was flat.

Believe in : to have faith in somebody or something.

+ We do not believe in ghosts.

+ He believes in getting plenty of exercise.

+ In the days of the French Revolution, people believed in liberty, equality and fraternity.

Comparing the two sentences:

+ I believe him (= I believe what he says)

+ I believe in him (= I trust him)

By all means - by no means

by all means: no matter what measure is taken.

+ You must bring him here by all means.

+ This project must be realised by all means.

+ You should by all means warn him before he leaves for Macau.

by no means: not at all.

+ She is by no means bright.

+ I will by no means consent.

+ The first step will take quite a long time and can by no means accomplished overnight.

Note: - by all means or by no means, the word means is in plural form. We can't omit the ( s ).

By all means also can be used as 'of course' 'no problem'.

May I have one? ---- Yes, by all means (of course)

By name - in name

by name : by the name of

+ The aeronautical engineering institute has built an airplane, ' Stingray ' by name.

+ There was a great poet in China, Qu Yuan by name.

+ Someone by the name of Mary wants to see you.

in name : if you say that a situation exists in name only, you mean that it does not have the status or position that it claims to have.

+ He is a doctor in name only; he stays in the stock exchange all day long.

Other usages:

+ Know him by name.

+ He mentioned you by name.

Close - Near

Close : if one thing or person is close to another, there is only a very small

distance between them.

+ My house is close to the public library.

+ The examination is close at hand.

+ She is close with him: They are very close friends.

+ First cousins are close relatives.

+ His father is close on ninety years of age.

Near : if something is near a place, thing, or person, it is a short distance from them.

+ In Hong Kong, residential houses are quite near to the airport.

+ Is Tiger Balm Garden near or far?

+ In the near future they can complete this arduous task.

Decided - Decisive

Decided: clear and definite

+ He was quite decided in the matter and no one could stop him.

+ They are quite decided about it

+ Please give us a decided answer.

Decisive: if a fact, action, or event is decisive, it makes it certain that there will be a particular result.

+ The battle of Stalingrad is a decisive one in the Second World War.

+ General Patton was known for his decisive manner.

+ He has a decisive character.

+ Public opinion is decisive on this question.

Disability - Inability

Disability: lacking ability caused by injury or inherent defect

+ He has a disability pension because he lost his legs while he was in the army

+ He was always cheerful in spite of his disability

+ Facilities for people with disabilities are still insufficient.

Inability: lack of power or means

+ His inability to undertake the work is due to his physical disabilities.

+ Can you account for your inability to pay the debt ?

+ Her inability to concentrate could cause an accident.

Discover - Invent

Discover: to find out something existing but not yet known

+ Columbus discovered America but he did not explore the new continent.

+ Modern astronomers have discovered a million such galaxies.

+ The circulation of blood was discovered by Harvey.

Invent: to create or design some thing not existing before

+ Edison invented the electric light bulb.

+ A new-type stethoscope has yet to be invented.

+ Don't you know a lie is always invented ?

+ We must invent an excuse of being late.

Distinct - Distinctive

Distinct: well-marked, clearly defined or easily discernible

+ The photo you took in Hong Kong Cultural Center is not distinct enough

+ She has a distinct pronunciation.

+ There is a distinct smell of smoke in my room.

Distinctive: marking or showing a difference

+ Can you find the distinctive watermarks of this stamp?

+ Pupils in Hong kong usually have distinctive badges on their school uniforms.

+ One of the distinctive features of this book is its distinct illustrations.

English - The English

English: the English language

+ English is chosen as one of the official languages to be used during meetings at the UN.

English: is also the official language in India.

+ Hard Times is an English novel, written by Charles Dickens

The English: the English people

+ The English have a wonderful sense of humor.

+ The English belong to the white race.

In favor of - In favor with

In favor of: If one thing is rejected in favor of another the second thing is done or chosen instead of the first

+ Are you in favor of this new project?

+ The court ruled in favor of the defendant.

+ The Prime Minister resigned in favor of a better candidate.

In favor with: to acquire support from someone or groups

+ The Chief Executive is now in favor with the people.

+ Our plan is not in favor with the authority.

Into - In to

Into: transforming from one condition into another.

+ He fell into the pond.

+ The explorers get into difficulties.

+ The boss flew into a temper.

+ The rain changed into snow.

In to: 'In' is adverb and ' to' is preposition or bare infinitive

+ Let's go in to look at the book show.

+ Entries for the competition should be sent in to the editorial board before January 19th.

+ The news came in to us.

+ They went in to supper.

Wood - Woods

Wood: material which forms the trunks and branches of trees.

+ All the furniture here is made of wood.

+ The wood is rotting.

+ The woodcutter collected two bundles of wood.

Woods: area of lands covered with growing trees, or forest.

+ We came upon a clearing in the woods.

+ After dinner Alice slipped away for a walk in the woods with Artie.