Relationships and communication · B1. Distinguish “apologise” (say sorry for a mistake) from “persuade” (cause someone to agree through reasons). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “disagreement” means difference of opinion; “trust” means belief that someone is honest and reliable. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
Complete 24 original tasks. Use the situation to choose the intended meaning, practise the form, then apply it in a fresh context.
The host called each guest to apologise for cancelling at short notice.
The host called each guest to apologise for cancelling at short notice.
These match this sense. Word families can change meaning; near meanings are not always interchangeable.
Practise “apologise for a mistake” as a whole phrase. Here “apologise” has the sense say sorry for a mistake.
Distinguish “apologise” (say sorry for a mistake) from “persuade” (cause someone to agree through reasons). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “disagreement” means difference of opinion; “trust” means belief that someone is honest and reliable. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
I need to apologise for losing your notes.
Distinguish “interrupt” (stop someone briefly while they speak) from “compromise” (settlement in which both sides give something up). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “respect” means consideration for another person's rights; “encouragement” means words or actions that give someone confidence. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
Please do not interrupt while I explain.
Distinguish “misunderstanding” (incorrect interpretation of a message) from “supportive” (giving encouragement and practical help). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “patience” means ability to wait without becoming angry; “sympathy” means understanding of another person's suffering. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
A misunderstanding about the date caused the delay.
I lost your notes, and I want to say I am sorry and accept responsibility.
Distinguish “interrupt” (stop someone briefly while they speak) from “compromise” (settlement in which both sides give something up). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “respect” means consideration for another person's rights; “encouragement” means words or actions that give someone confidence. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
Please do not interrupt while I explain.Distinguish “misunderstanding” (incorrect interpretation of a message) from “supportive” (giving encouragement and practical help). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “patience” means ability to wait without becoming angry; “sympathy” means understanding of another person's suffering. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
A misunderstanding about the date caused the delay.Distinguish “apologise” (say sorry for a mistake) from “persuade” (cause someone to agree through reasons). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “disagreement” means difference of opinion; “trust” means belief that someone is honest and reliable. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
I need to apologise for losing your notes.Keep the first try. Understand the change. Check it in a fresh situation.
No practice notes yet. Try a short warm-up.
say sorry for a mistake
cause someone to agree through reasons
stop someone briefly while they speak
settlement in which both sides give something up
incorrect interpretation of a message
giving encouragement and practical help
difference of opinion
belief that someone is honest and reliable
consideration for another person's rights
words or actions that give someone confidence
ability to wait without becoming angry
understanding of another person's suffering
Opening an answer records help for that question.
I lost your notes, and I want to say I am sorry and accept responsibility.
Look at “say I am sorry”. Here we need “say sorry for a mistake”: “apologise”. Use the communication aim: acknowledge a wrong, change a mind, cut in, make mutual concessions, understand incorrectly or give help. Completed sentence: “I need to apologise for losing your notes.”.
The owner refuses to repair the roof. We want to change the owner’s mind and gain agreement, not hire the owner to do a job.
Look at “change the owner’s mind”. Here we need “cause someone to agree through reasons”: “persuade”. Use the communication aim: acknowledge a wrong, change a mind, cut in, make mutual concessions, understand incorrectly or give help. Completed sentence: “We hope to persuade the owner to repair the roof.”.
Please wait until I finish speaking instead of cutting into my speech.
Look at “cutting into my speech”. Here we need “stop someone briefly while they speak”: “interrupt”. Use the communication aim: acknowledge a wrong, change a mind, cut in, make mutual concessions, understand incorrectly or give help. Completed sentence: “Please do not interrupt while I explain.”.
Each side accepted a different meeting time from the one it first wanted, so both made concessions.
Look at “both made concessions”. Here we need “settlement in which both sides give something up”: “compromise”. Mutual concessions produce an accepted middle solution. Different opinions are disagreement; incorrectly understanding what was said is misunderstanding. Completed sentence: “We reached a compromise on the meeting time.”.
One person thought the meeting was on Tuesday, but the other meant Thursday.
Look at “Tuesday”. Here we need “incorrect interpretation of a message”: “misunderstanding”. Mutual concessions produce an accepted middle solution. Different opinions are disagreement; incorrectly understanding what was said is misunderstanding. Completed sentence: “A misunderstanding about the date caused the delay.”.
During her training, her colleagues listened kindly, encouraged her and offered help.
Look at “offered help”. Here we need “giving encouragement and practical help”: “supportive”. Kind help and encouragement show support. Indifference gives no concern, hostility opposes, and unhelpfulness gives no useful help. Completed sentence: “Her colleagues were supportive during her training.”.
I want to tell her I am sorry and accept responsibility for hurting her feelings.
Look at “accept responsibility”. Here we need “say sorry for a mistake”: “apologise”. Use the communication aim: acknowledge a wrong, change a mind, cut in, make mutual concessions, understand incorrectly or give help. Completed sentence: “I hurt her feelings, so I should apologise rather than make excuses.”.
The committee currently opposes the plan. Her aim is to change their opinion with evidence and gain their agreement.
Look at “change their opinion”. Here we need “cause someone to agree through reasons”: “persuade”. Use the communication aim: acknowledge a wrong, change a mind, cut in, make mutual concessions, understand incorrectly or give help. Completed sentence: “She used clear evidence to persuade the committee to change its mind.”.
Complete the sentence with the expression that matches the stated situation.
Look at “Wait until she finishes”. Here we need “stop someone briefly while they speak”: “interrupt”. Use the communication aim: acknowledge a wrong, change a mind, cut in, make mutual concessions, understand incorrectly or give help. Completed sentence: “Wait until she finishes; do not interrupt her.”.
Complete the sentence with the expression that matches the stated situation.
Look at “both accepted”. Here we need “settlement in which both sides give something up”: “compromise”. Mutual concessions produce an accepted middle solution. Different opinions are disagreement; incorrectly understanding what was said is misunderstanding. Completed sentence: “Neither side got everything, but both accepted the compromise.”.
Complete the sentence with the expression that matches the stated situation.
Look at “Tuesday, but I meant Thursday”. Here we need “incorrect interpretation of a message”: “misunderstanding”. Mutual concessions produce an accepted middle solution. Different opinions are disagreement; incorrectly understanding what was said is misunderstanding. Completed sentence: “He thought I meant Tuesday, but I meant Thursday; it was a misunderstanding.”.
My manager responds kindly, offers help and encouragement, and is not hostile or indifferent to my difficulties.
Look at “listens and helps”. Here we need “giving encouragement and practical help”: “supportive”. Kind help and encouragement show support. Indifference gives no concern, hostility opposes, and unhelpfulness gives no useful help. Completed sentence: “My manager listens and helps when I struggle; she is very supportive.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
Look at “I wanted the coast, but Jo preferred the mountains”. Here we need “difference of opinion”: “disagreement”. Identify the particular attitude: different opinions, belief in honesty, consideration, confidence-building, calm waiting or sorrow at suffering. Completed sentence: “We had a disagreement about where to go: I wanted the coast, but Jo preferred the mountains.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
Look at “honesty”. Here we need “belief that someone is honest and reliable”: “trust”. Identify the particular attitude: different opinions, belief in honesty, consideration, confidence-building, calm waiting or sorrow at suffering. Completed sentence: “I can leave my keys with Mina because I have complete trust in her honesty.”.
The sentence names polite consideration for another person’s beliefs, without saying that the person is suffering or needs comfort.
Look at “consideration for another person’s beliefs”. Here we need “consideration for another person's rights”: “respect”. Identify the particular attitude: different opinions, belief in honesty, consideration, confidence-building, calm waiting or sorrow at suffering. Completed sentence: “Listening without mocking another person's beliefs shows respect for them.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
Look at “You can do it”. Here we need “words or actions that give someone confidence”: “encouragement”. Identify the particular attitude: different opinions, belief in honesty, consideration, confidence-building, calm waiting or sorrow at suffering. Completed sentence: “His words of encouragement — 'You can do it; try again!' — gave me confidence after I failed.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
Look at “waited calmly”. Here we need “ability to wait without becoming angry”: “patience”. Identify the particular attitude: different opinions, belief in honesty, consideration, confidence-building, calm waiting or sorrow at suffering. Completed sentence: “Despite the long delay, she waited calmly and showed great patience.”.
Hearing about his illness made me feel sorrow and concern for his suffering, rather than admiration for his achievements.
Look at “sorrow and concern”. Here we need “understanding of another person's suffering”: “sympathy”. Identify the particular attitude: different opinions, belief in honesty, consideration, confidence-building, calm waiting or sorrow at suffering. Completed sentence: “After hearing about his illness, I felt deep sympathy for him and his family.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
Look at “different opinions”. Here we need “difference of opinion”: “disagreement”. Identify the particular attitude: different opinions, belief in honesty, consideration, confidence-building, calm waiting or sorrow at suffering. Completed sentence: “Their disagreement was about the plan itself; they simply held different opinions.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
Look at “no longer believed”. Here we need “belief that someone is honest and reliable”: “trust”. Identify the particular attitude: different opinions, belief in honesty, consideration, confidence-building, calm waiting or sorrow at suffering. Completed sentence: “After he lied repeatedly, she lost her trust in him and no longer believed his promises.”.
The sentence names consideration for neighbours’ rights and feelings, not calm waiting through a delay.
Look at “consideration for neighbours’ rights”. Here we need “consideration for another person's rights”: “respect”. Identify the particular attitude: different opinions, belief in honesty, consideration, confidence-building, calm waiting or sorrow at suffering. Completed sentence: “Please show respect for your neighbours by keeping the noise down at night.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
Look at “You are improving”. Here we need “words or actions that give someone confidence”: “encouragement”. Identify the particular attitude: different opinions, belief in honesty, consideration, confidence-building, calm waiting or sorrow at suffering. Completed sentence: “The coach offered encouragement by saying, 'You are improving; keep going.'”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
Look at “without getting angry”. Here we need “ability to wait without becoming angry”: “patience”. Identify the particular attitude: different opinions, belief in honesty, consideration, confidence-building, calm waiting or sorrow at suffering. Completed sentence: “The ability to stay calm when explaining the same instructions several times, without getting angry, is called patience.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
Look at “family's sadness”. Here we need “understanding of another person's suffering”: “sympathy”. Identify the particular attitude: different opinions, belief in honesty, consideration, confidence-building, calm waiting or sorrow at suffering. Completed sentence: “The card expressed sympathy for the family's sadness following their loss.”.