Homophones and collocations

Homophones sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. The story has many:

• piece (a part) / peace (calm);
• weather (the state of the sky) / whether (if, for a choice or doubt);
• son (a child) / sun (the star);
• rain (water falling) / reign (a ruler's time in power) / rein (controls a horse).

The exercise makes a joke with the last pair: 'every farmer hopes for the next reign by nature': nature ruling, not just raining.

More:

• plain (flat, simple) / plane (an aircraft, or a flat surface);
• sell (exchange for money) / cell (a small room);
• seem (appear) / seam (a line where cloth is joined).

No spellchecker will catch 'plane fields'. Think of the meaning before you write the word.

Collocations are words that naturally go together. Nothing stops you saying 'wrinkled weather', but nobody does, and it sounds wrong.

From the story:

• favourable weather;
• wrinkled skin;
• dejected expression;
• fragrant garden;
• ceaseless activity;
• beloved country.

Learn adjectives with the nouns they usually go with, and your English will sound natural.

Words from the story:

• muttered: said in a low voice;
• forlorn: sad and lonely;
• at a loss: confused, not knowing what to do;
• sparkled (of eyes): shone with joy.