Hear, Listen
      Hear – I heard some noise in the next room.
      Listen – I enjoy listening to the radio.
      Note: “To listen” is to give attention in order to hear and understand the meaning of a sound or sounds.

      Hard, Hardly
      Hard (adj.) = (a) not soft 硬 – as hard as rock
      (b) difficult 困難 – This is a hard problem.
      Hard (adv.) = (a) diligently 努力地 – He worked very hard.
      (b) with great force 大力地 – He hit the ball hard.
      Hardly (adv.) = with great difficulty – I can hardly hear you. Can you speak louder, please?

      Imaginary, Imaginative
      Imaginary = existing only in the mind; not real 虚構的 – The film was about an imaginary country.
      Imaginative = full of imagination 富想像力的 – She has an imaginative mind.

      Know, Recognize
      Know = be acquainted with 認識 – Do you know the man who attacked you?
      Recognize = identify someone or something seen before 認出 – Can you recognize the man who attacked you?

      Late, Lately
      Late (adj.) 遲到 – He is often late for work.
      Late (adv.) – He arrived home late.
      Lately = recently 最近 – I have been very busy lately.

      Exercise 練習
      hard/hardly/hard-working
      (a) “Speak louder! We can __________ hear you.”
      (b) He is a __________ student. He works very __________.
      (c) He kicked the ball __________.

      hear/listen to
      (a) “Do you __________ me?”
      (b) “Paul, you’re not __________ me.”

      know/recognize
      (a) I have __________ Mr. Wong for five years in my capacity as his supervisor at ABC Company.
      (b) We met so long ago that you don’t __________ me.
      late/lately
      (a) He came rather __________ in the evening.
      (b) Have you seen him _________? 

      ANSWERS
      1. (a) hardly (b) hard-working (c) hard (d) hard
      2. (a) hear (b) listening to
      3. (a) known (b) recognize
      4. (a) late (b) lately