There are many cases like that in English. Cases when two words are almost the same, but for one small detail which makes a difference. Today it's all about the difference between STATIONARY and STATIONERY
STATIONARY/ˈsteɪʃ(ə)n(ə)ri/
Adjective (przymiotnik)
Means:
not moving or not changing (nieruchomy, stojący w miejscu, unieruchomiony, stacjonarny, niezmienny)
She rammed into a stationary vehicle at the side of the road.
Uderzyła w zaparkowany na drodze samochód.
The rate of inflation has been stationary for several months.
Stopa inflacji nie uległa zmianie od kilku miesięcy.
a stationary bike
(rowerek treningowy)
a stationary bike
STATIONERY /ˈsteɪʃ(ə)n(ə)ri/
Noun (rzeczownik)
Means:
pens, paper, envelopes, pencils, and other things used for writing (materiały piśmienne, materiały biurowe)
paper used for writing letters, often with the name of a company on it, and envelopes that match (papier listowy, papeteria)
Verbs connected with looking - there are so
many of those... Take see, watch, look, gaze, stare... Do I need to number all
of them? I've counted 9, but I'm pretty sure there are more ;)
LOOK
To direct your eyes at something or somebody so that you can see them (popatrzeć;
spojrzeć):
Dan looked at his
watch.
Sue looked at herself
in the mirror.
If you look through
that window, you can see the cathedral.
To
search for something (szukać):
I’ve been looking
for the keys, but I can’t find them anywhere.
The burglar looked
through all the cupboards and drawers.
To
have a particular appearance (wyglądać):
The room looked
a complete mess.
She looked tired.
What does your brother
look like?
Brian looked as
if he was going to cry.
Rick doesn’t look
his age.
It looks like Bill
will be able to come.
To
make a suggestion or direct somebody’s attention to something (popatrz):
Look! Here she comes!
Look, why don’t
we meet tomorrow and discus it?
In
some fixed phrases like:
I’m just looking.
(used in a shop when you don’t know if you want to buy something or not) (Tylko
sie rozgladam)
Look me in the
eye. (used to tell somebody to tell you something straight and honestly)
(Popatrz mi prosto w oczy)
WATCH
To
look at someone or something for a period of time (oglądać):
Have you been watching
the match?
The spectators watched
the player win set by set.
Watch how I do it!
We arrived early
to watch the players warming up.
To
look at a television programme, film or sports event, usually from the beginning
till the end (oglądać):
Our kids only watch
videos at weekends.
Did you watch the
news last night?
To
secretly look at somebody or something for a period of time, especially because
you want to get information or to do something illegal (obserwować):
I think somebody
is watching us.
To
be careful of something (uważać):
Watch the knife!
It’s sharp!
You should watch
what you say about my friends.
To
take care of a child, an animal or somebody’s property for a short time
and make sure that nothing harms it (doglądać; pilnować):
Could you watch
my bag for a second?
Can you watch the
baby when I’m at the dentist’s?
SEE
To
notice someone or something using your eyes (widzieć):
The spectators applauded
when they saw the champion.
I can see you!
It was too dark
to see anything.
She can’t see anything
without her glasses.
To
watch something like a television programme or a film (oglądać):
Have you seen ‘Titanic’?
I didn’t see the
news yesterday.
To
meet or visit someone who you know (spotykać się; widzieć się z):
I’m seeing my dentist
tomorrow.
See you at the station
at 5 p.m.
I saw Susan the
other day.
I see my mom once
a week.
I don’t want to
see anybody today.
To
understand something (rozumieć):
I see what you mean.
I think I see what
the problem is.
I can’t see why
you are angry.
GLANCE
Loving Glance
Pierre Louis Goudreaux
To
look somewhere quickly and then look away (rzucić okiem; zerknąć):
Roy glanced around
the room.
Carl glanced at
his watch and said he needed to go.
GAZE
To
look at someone or something for a longer time, for example because they are
attractive or interesting, or because you are thinking of something else (wpatrywać
się):
She lay on the bed
gazing up at the ceiling.
They gazed into
each other’s eyes.
STARE
Intense stare
To
look at something very directly for a long time (gapić się):
He was staring at
her through the window.
His eyes were staring
at me.
I hate when people
stare at me.
PEEP
Peeping through the blinds
To
look at something quickly and secretly, usually from a place where you think
you cannot be seen (zerkać; podglądać):
He peeped through
the gates to see who was in the garden.
PEER
Kids were peering into the water.
To
look very carefully, especially because something is difficult to see (przyglądać
się badawczo, z niepokojem):
The boy was peering
at the court, but he couldn’t see where the ball was.
GLIMPSE
To
see someone or something for a moment or not completely (ktoś lub coś nam mignęło
prze oczyma):
I glimpsed Mark
when I was walking into the office.
The only video
that comes to my mind when I think of those verbs is either Smashing Pumpkins
with Everlasting Gaze or U2 with the amazing Staring at the Sun, and for the
purpose of learning the second one is definitely better...
U2 Staring at
the Sun
SUMMER stretching on the grass ... summer dresses pass
In the shade of a willow treecreeps a crawling over me
Over me and over you stuck together with GOD's glue
It's going to get stickier too ...
It's been a long hot summer
Let's get undercover
Don't try too hard to think ... don't think at all
I'm not the only one starin' at the sun
Afraid what you'd find if you took a look inside
Not just deaf and dumb I'm staring at the sun
Not the only one who's happy to go blind
There's an insect in your ear if you stratch it won't disappear
It's gonna itch and burn and sting
Do you want to see what the stratching brings
Waves that leave me out of reach
Breaking on your back like a bitch ...
Will we ever live in peace?
'cause those that can't do often have to
Those that can't do often have to preach
To the ones staring at the sun ...
Afraid what you'd find if you took a look inside
Not just deaf and dumb ... staring at the sun
I'm not the only one who'd rather to go blind
Intransigence is all around ... military still in town
Armour plated suits and ties ... daddy just won't say goodbye
Referee won't blow the whistle God is good but will HE listen
I'm nearly great
But there's something I'm missing I left in the dute free
STATIONERY /ˈsteɪʃ(ə)n(ə)ri/
