This is a guide to help learners to communicate easily in both speech and writing through a better understanding of the English language.
Lend / loan
‘Lend’ means ‘to let someone borrow money or something that belongs to you for a short time.’
‘Lent’ is the past tense and the past participle of ‘lend.’
If you lend a book you are unlikely to get it back.
Shakespeare said, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be.”
‘Lender’ is a person or organisation that lends money to people on condition that they pay it back.
A lending library lends books for people to use them at home.
‘Loan’ is an amount of money that you borrow from a person or a bank.
Mala had to take out a loan to put up her house.
‘Loan’ was originally used as a verb, but it has been replaced by ‘lend.’
In British English ‘lend’ is the verb and ‘loan’ is the noun.
Loath / loathe
‘Loathe’ is a verb meaning ‘to feel hatred or intense aversion for someone or something.’ ‘Loath’ is the adjective meaning ‘averse, unwilling or reluctant.’
Yamuna was loath to tell her mother what had happened.
Some people loathe politics.
‘Loathing’ is a very strong feeling of hatred.
The nightmare left her with a sense of fear and loathing.
‘Loathsome’ is the adjective meaning ‘very unpleasant or cruel.’
I do not wish to meet that loathsome man.
Locality / location
A locality is the geographical designation of a place without reference to the people living there.
A location is a place of settlement or residence.
Weather reports are collected from several different localities.
My new apartment is in a really good location.
The word ‘location’ is often used when talking about buying or selling property. In everyday English people usually say ‘place.’
It is somewhat stressful moving to a new place.
Locate / find
To locate is to discover the place of, to establish in a place or situation.
Can you locate the exact spot where the murder took place?
To find is to come upon by chance or to recover something.
Her body was later found hidden in the bushes.
Loose / loosen
To loose is to be free from restraint.
The screw has come loose.
To loosen is to make something less tight or less firmly fastened.
You need a spanner to loosen the bolt.
The phrasal verb ‘loosen up’ means ‘to stop worrying and become more relaxed’
Raja’s welcoming smile helped loosen her up.
Loose / lose
‘Loose’ means ‘not attached to anything else.’
I want some loose papers.
If your hair is loose, it hangs freely rather than being tied back.
‘Loose clothes’ are big and do not fit your body.
‘Lose’ means ‘to not win a game, argument, election or war.’
Sam lost his seat in the election.
If you lose something important, you no longer have it.
Diane was very upset about losing her job.
‘Lost’ is the past tense and past participle of ‘lose.’
It will be impossible to make up the lost time.
Loud / loudly
As an adjective ‘loud’ means ‘making a lot of noise’
The clock fell to the floor with a loud bang.
He was talking in a very loud voice.
‘Loudly’ is the adverb.
Ben laughed loudly.
A loudhailer is a piece of equipment with a microphone.
Luxuriant / luxurious
‘Luxuriant’ means ‘growing strongly and thickly.’
Maryanne had luxuriant black hair.
‘Luxurious’ means ‘very expensive, beautiful and comfortable.’
The newly-married couple moved into a luxurious apartment.