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Carpet: This is a piece of material that covers the WHOLE floor.
Examples: The floor is warmer with a carpet.
Rug: This is a piece of material that is usually made from the same material as a carpet, but only covers PART of the floor.
Examples: I need a nice rug for the middle of my room.
Russians / Ukrainians: Almost everyone I know here in Ukraine has a wooden floor with rugs, not carpets. Actually, I've never been in a flat in Ukraine where there was a carpet.
Winner: Rug
Round 2: Sport v Exercise / Workout
Sport: This is usually a team or individual game like tennis, football, volleyball.
Example: I like to watch and play sport.
Exercise/workout: This is the action you do to burn calories like running, dancing, or going to the gym.
Example: I don't like sport, but I am keen on exercising.
Russians/Ukrainians: This is a word choice that can cause confusion. If you 'go to the gym' you workout - exercise. If you 'do sport' then the person you're speaking to will most likely think you play tennis or something.
Winner: Exercise / Workout - though the phrase 'go to the gym' is often more appropriate
Round 3: People v Persons
People: The plural of person.
Persons: The plural of persons.
Russians / Ukrainians: You will probably never ever need to use persons in your entire life. Always remember 1 person 2 people because the only time we really need persons in the plural is mostly for extremely formal and legal conversations or documents.
Winner: People
Round 4: Email v Letter
Email: This is an electronic letter. We often send and receive them everyday at work.
Letter: This is not electronic. This is written on some paper.
Russians / Ukrainians: This again can cause confusion in communication. Only use letter if you actually got a physical letter.
Winner: Email
Round 5: Take/have an exam v Pass an exam
Take/Have an exam: This is what we do. We have to take/have an exam and hope we do well enough to PASS.
Example: Tomorrow I have an English exam. I'm a bit worried I might not pass.
Pass an exam: This is when you have been successful. We take/have exams and if we are successful we PASS and if we are not, we FAIL
Russians / Ukrainians: You guys will often say 'pass' an exam when meaning take/have an exam. It can communicate arrogance thinking you have PASSED the exam before taking it. Note: Russian and Ukrainian speakers will often also say 'write' an exam. In the UK only exam designers write an exam. I don't know about North America.
Winner: Take/Have an exam.
Round 6: Make v Prepare
Make: This is something that doesn't involved too much time. You make breakfast, dinner, or a cake.
Example: I need to make my lunch for work the evening before because I don't have time in the morning.
Prepare: This involves a long process. You wedding day, you have to prepare everything for the big day. It isn't a quick process. If you are cooking for 20 people.... this also isn't a quick process and you would need to prepare for it.
Example: I am preparing to welcome 100 guests into my hotel this weekend.
Russians / Ukrainians: Get in the habit of replacing prepare with make because few of us actually prepare for anything.... apart for you teachers, preparing your lesson plans ;)
Winner: Make
Round 7: Bus station v Bus stop v Coach station
Bus station: This is big, and this is where all the busses go at the end of the day. Some, start their route here.
Bus stop: This is what you see on the side of the road. They are small STOPS that a bus makes during its route.
Coach station: This looks like a bus station, but it has coaches - big busses - that are going long distances to other cities or countries.
Russians / Ukrainians: Choosing the right one can really influence a conversation, so make sure which one to use.
Winner: all of them depending on the context
Round 8: Live v Stay
Stay: When you are somewhere for a short period of time.
Example: We stayed there for a month. It was really interesting.
Live: When you are somewhere for a longer period of time. I'd stay minimum 6 months.
Example: I lived and worked in Moscow in 2011
Russians / Ukrainians: When talking about your travels and trips, hello STAY.
Winner: Stay
Round 9: Save v Collect (money)
Save money: When you have a plan, like to visit a new country or to buy something, you need to SAVE.
Example: I am saving so I can buy a new computer.
Collect money: This is when you ask people for money for a special reason, especially charity.
Example: We are collecting money in the office to buy John a present.
Russians / Ukrainians: Unless you are doing something for charity, you are saving (up) for a reason to enjoy yourself.
Winner: Save
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