Article:
Words That Even Native Speakers Use Incorrectly
English learners often say that they want to talk like a native speaker. But did you know that there are many words that even native speakers use incorrectly? Here are some examples.
"Poisonous" vs. "Venomous"
Something that's "poisonous" will harm you if you eat it, while something that's "venomous" will harm you if it bites you. For example, some plants are poisonous, while some snakes are venomous. However, you will hear many native speakers say "poisonous snake."
"Nauseous" vs. "Nauseated"
You might hear a native speaker say that they feel "nauseous" after a roller coaster ride. However, they should say that they're "nauseated." Something that causes nausea is "nauseous" and makes people feel "nauseated."
However, this mistake is so common that some dictionaries have added a second definition for "nauseous"!
"Depraved" vs. "Deprived"
If someone is "depraved," they do very bad things. For example, you might say bank robbers or some politicians are "depraved."
But if someone is "deprived," they don't have something they need. For example, to be "sleep-deprived" means that you haven't gotten enough sleep.
"Infamous"
Some native speakers use the word "infamous" to mean "very famous." However, to be "infamous" is to be famous for doing something bad! For example, a well-known bank robber can be described as "infamous," while the Korean boy band BTS is just "famous."
Questions:
When it comes to poisonous, what comes to your mind first? Why?
When it comes to venomous, what comes to your mind first? Why?
When it comes to infamous, what comes to your mind first? Why?
When it comes to famous, what comes to your mind first? Why?
Is there anything you are deprived of recently?
When it comes to nauseous, what comes to your mind first? Why?