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B1 PRELIMINARY · VOCABULARY · READING PART 5

Words that are easily confused

Say or tell? Borrow or lend? Look, see or watch? – the pairs that cause the most mistakes.

Finn the puffin with glasses and a book, your vocabulary teacher
Finn says

Some English words have very similar meanings, and Reading Part 5 loves putting them together as options. Learn the difference and you'll never mix them up again!

Common pairs

say / tell
say something · tell someone something
She said hello. She told me a story.
borrow / lend
take from someone · give to someone (for a time)
Can I borrow your pen? Can you lend me your pen?
look / see / watch
look at (on purpose) · see (with your eyes) · watch (something that moves)
I watched a film and saw my friend there.
bring / take
come here with · go there with
Bring your book to class. Take an umbrella when you go out.
lose / miss
not have something any more · not catch a bus or not be at an event
I lost my keys and missed the bus.
fun / funny
enjoyable · makes you laugh
The party was fun. The joke was funny.

How it comes up in Part 5

In Reading Part 5 you choose the word (A, B, C or D) that best fits each gap. The four options often have similar meanings, so knowing which words go together is what gets you the mark.

Can you lend me some money until tomorrow?
A lend B borrow C give D pay

Lend = give for a time; the person asking would borrow.

He told me that the shop was closed.
A told B said C spoke D talked

Tell + a person: he told me.

We watched a great match on TV last night.
A watched B looked C saw at D viewed

We watch TV and things that move.

Common mistakes

  • ✗ Can you borrow me your bike?✓ Can you lend me your bike?You lend something to someone.
  • ✗ She said me the answer.✓ She told me the answer.'Tell' + person; 'say' + words.
  • ✗ The film was very fun – I laughed a lot.✓ The film was very funny – I laughed a lot.'Funny' makes you laugh; 'fun' means enjoyable.
Finn the puffin, smiling kindly
Finn's exam tip

Look at the words around the gap. 'Me', 'him', 'us' straight after the gap? Then it's 'tell' or 'lend', not 'say' or 'borrow'.

Quick check

Choose the word that best fits each gap.

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