Exercises B1 : practice false friends in English

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False friends in English [B1] — VocaVerb

This course highlights English words that look familiar but carry unexpected meanings. These exercises will help you identify and correctly use the most common false friends in English.

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Exercice 1 — True Meaning or False Friend?

Choose the correct meaning of the underlined word in each sentence.

  1. She went to the library to borrow a book for her research.
  2. He felt embarrassed when he forgot his colleague's name in front of everyone.
  3. They decided to visit a bookshop to find a gift for their friend.
  4. The actor played a sympathetic character who helped strangers in trouble.
Correction

  1. A library is a place where you can borrow books for free, not a place where you buy them.
  2. Embarrassed means he felt ashamed or self-conscious, not that he was pregnant.
  3. A bookshop is a place where you purchase books, which is different from a library.
  4. Sympathetic here means the character was likeable and easy to feel compassion for, not simply someone who expressed pity.

Exercice 2 — Match the False Friend to Its Real Meaning

Match each English word on the left with its correct definition on the right. Then write a full sentence using the word correctly.

  1. Match: 'actual' → Which definition is correct? A) current and existing right now, B) real in the sense of factual data, C) a synonym for 'virtual', D) related to acting on stage. Then use it in a sentence.
  2. Match: 'eventually' → Which definition is correct? A) possibly, B) in the end, after some time, C) at the very beginning, D) suddenly and without warning. Then use it in a sentence.
  3. Match: 'sensible' → Which definition is correct? A) very sensitive and emotional, B) having good practical judgment, C) able to feel physical sensations, D) relating to the five senses. Then use it in a sentence.
  4. Match: 'pretend' → Which definition is correct? A) to claim something is true when it is not, B) to intend to do something later, C) to defend someone in court, D) to attend an event without being invited. Then use it in a sentence.
Correction

  1. The correct match is A: 'actual' means current and existing right now. For example: The actual cost of the project turned out to be much higher than expected.
  2. The correct match is B: 'eventually' means in the end, after some time. For example: She studied hard every day and eventually passed her exam.
  3. The correct match is B: 'sensible' means having good practical judgment. For example: It is sensible to carry an umbrella when the weather forecast shows rain.
  4. The correct match is A: 'pretend' means to act as if something is true when it is not. For example: The children decided to pretend they were explorers discovering a new island.

Exercice 3 — Fill in the Correct Word

Complete each sentence with the correct English word. Be careful — the missing word is a common false friend that looks similar to a word in another language but has a different meaning.

  1. I need to go to the ___ to pick up the novel I reserved last week. (library / bookshop)
  2. She turned red and looked completely ___ after she spilled coffee on her boss's shirt. (embarrassed / pregnant)
  3. What is the ___ situation with the project? We need an update right now. (actual / current)
  4. He didn't know the answer so he decided to ___ he hadn't heard the question. (pretend / attend)
Correction

  1. I need to go to the library to pick up the novel I reserved last week.
  2. She turned red and looked completely embarrassed after she spilled coffee on her boss's shirt.
  3. What is the actual situation with the project? We need an update right now.
  4. He didn't know the answer so he decided to pretend he hadn't heard the question.

To go further on this topic:

Review the lesson · Crossword puzzle

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