You’ve learned English.  You can speak it pretty well.  But there are some confusing word pairs that still trip up even the most advanced ESL (English as a Second Language) speakers.    Following are three sets of commonly confused words.
Take the short quizzes below and find out if you are using these tricky words correctly!

FUN and FUNNY
QUIZ (Choose the correct word to complete the sentence)

1. Welcome back! Did you have a (fun / funny) vacation?
2. Scuba diving is really (fun / funny) -- you should try it!
3. Who's the guy with the (fun / funny) moustache? It's (fun / funny) how much he looks like Uncle George.
4. He thinks his jokes are (fun / funny), but they're actually pretty lame.

ANSWERS & EXPLANATION

(1) fun (2) fun (3) funny, funny (4) funny
Fun means enjoyable. Funny describes something that either amuses you (4)(i.e., makes you laugh, like a comedian or sitcom) or strikes you as odd, strange, or surprising (3).

The most common ESL mistake is using "funny" in a context such as (1) where you mean to say "enjoyable" (fun). Also note that we say funny, funnier, funniest, BUT fun, more fun, most fun.

TERRIBLE & TERRIFIC
Quiz (Choose the correct word to complete the sentence)

5. The service here is (terrible / terrific) -- I'm never coming back.
6. The main thing I like about this place is the (terrible / terrific) weather -- it's warm and breezy and it never rains.

ANSWERS & EXPLANATION

(5) terrible; (6) terrific

Terrible is the negative word -- a terrible storm, a terrible headache, a terrible scream. Terrific is positive -- a terrific success, a terrific friend.

Just to complicate things, however, we occasionally use 'terrific' to mean big or severe, so you might hear someone say he has a terrific toothache --- but he doesn't mean he's enjoying it!

And when we use 'terrible' in the adverb form -- 'terribly' -- it serves to emphasize; so, the neighbor who broke your car window and feels bad about it may apologize by saying "I'm terribly sorry!"

MEAN and THINK
QUIZ (Decide which uses of the word "mean" below are incorrect.)

7. I wanted to use open source software, but my boss MEANS(a) that it has too many problems.
8. I've been MEANING (b) to tell you that we moved up the launch date, which MEANS (c) you'll have to work some overtime this month.
9. Her email sounds quite MEAN (d), because it says I did a 'terrible' job; but I MEAN (e) that what she really MEANT (f) was a 'terrific' job.
10.The words are so similar, but MEAN (g) totally opposite things!

ANSWERS & EXPLANATION

The two wrong uses of "mean" are (a) and (e). The most common mistake in ESL is using "mean" instead of "think" (in the sense of "have the opinion that"). "Mean" can never be used in this sense. It does, however, have several other meanings: Intend (b)(f); Imply OR lead to a certain a result (c); unkind (d); be defined as (g).

English words can be TERRIBLY tricky, and not always FUN to learn, but with patience and practice, your English can be TERRIFIC!