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Question

Directions : In the following questions a pair of similar sounding words is provided. You are required to select the option that most appropriately describes the meaning of both the words and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.

‘Accept’ and ‘Except’  

This question was previously asked in
CDS I 2022 English Previous Year Paper (10-April-2022)
The correct answer is

Accept means to agree and Except means to exclude

Understanding Accept and Except: Similar Sounding Words

Let's break down the meanings of the two similar-sounding words, 'Accept' and 'Except', to understand how they are used differently in English.

Meaning of 'Accept'

The word 'Accept' is generally used as a verb. It means:

  • To agree to receive or take something offered.
  • To agree to do something requested.
  • To believe or come to recognize something as true, suitable, or normal.

Think of 'Accept' as saying "yes" to something or taking something willingly.

Examples of 'Accept' in a sentence:

  • She decided to accept the job offer. (Agreeing to take the offer)
  • He found it hard to accept the truth. (Coming to recognize something as true)
  • Please accept this gift. (Agreeing to receive something)

Meaning of 'Except'

The word 'Except' is usually used as a preposition or a conjunction. It means:

  • Not including; other than.
  • Excluding.

Think of 'Except' as leaving something or someone out of a group or statement.

Examples of 'Except' in a sentence:

  • Everyone attended the meeting except John. (Excluding John)
  • The store is open daily except on Sundays. (Not including Sundays)
  • He eats everything except mushrooms. (Excluding mushrooms)

Analyzing the Options

Now let's look at the provided options and see which one correctly pairs the meanings of 'Accept' and 'Except'.

  • Option 1: Accept means to exclude and Except means to agree.
    This is incorrect. 'Accept' means to agree or receive, and 'Except' means to exclude.
  • Option 2: Accept means to agree and Except means to extend.
    This is incorrect. 'Accept' means to agree or receive, but 'Except' does not mean to extend.
  • Option 3: Accept means to agree and Except means to exclude.
    This matches our understanding. 'Accept' is about agreeing or receiving, and 'Except' is about excluding or leaving out.
  • Option 4: Accept means to extend and Except means to agree.
    This is incorrect. 'Accept' does not mean to extend, and 'Except' does not mean to agree.

Based on the meanings, the option that correctly describes both words is "Accept means to agree and Except means to exclude".

Revision Table: Accept vs Except

Word Part of Speech (Common Use) Primary Meaning Keyword Association
Accept Verb To agree to receive; To believe; To undertake Agree, Receive, Take, Consent, Approve
Except Preposition/Conjunction Not including; Excluding Exclude, Omit, Other than, Apart from, But

Additional Information: Homophones and Look-Alike Words

'Accept' and 'Except' are often confused because they sound very similar. Words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings are called homophones (e.g., 'there', 'their', 'they're'). While 'Accept' and 'Except' don't sound exactly the same to all speakers, their similarity causes confusion.

It's important to pay attention to the spelling to know which meaning is intended. Remember:

  • Accept starts with 'A' and is about taking action to receive or agree.
  • Except starts with 'E' and is about excluding something.

Mastering the difference between these commonly confused words is crucial for clear communication and writing.

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Important Questions from Homophones

  1. Select the correct pair of homophones to fill in the blanks.

    The stained glass windows behind the _______ in Glenn Church are in need of repair.

    Genetic screening has the potential to _______ the genetic composition of the population

  2. Select the most appropriate homophone to fill in the blank.

    The shareholders are planning to ___________ control of the company from the current directors.

  3. Fill in the blank with the appropriate homonym :

    He left the meeting in a fit of __________ .

  4. Fill in the blank with the appropriate homonym :

    A __________ gives us his words of wisdom.

  5. Fill in the blank with the appropriate homonym :

    He favours a ___________ and stick approach to teaching.

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