Confusing words in English: High vs. Tall

Do you know when to use "high"? How about "tall"? 

In this lesson, you will learn what the difference is between these two adjectives and how to use them accurately. There are two short exercises for you to practise at the end of the lesson. 

* Sometimes these adjectives can be used interchangeably. 


HIGH  

🔸 We use "high" to measure the distance from the bottom to the top. 

🔸 We use it to describe: mountains, statues, towers, walls, fence, buildings, etc. 

🔸 We use "high" to describe things that are a long way above the ground. 

🔸 Buildings can be "high" or "tall". (Both are correct.) 


Examples: 
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• The window has a great view, but it's too high on the wall. 
• The room has a high ceiling. Why don't you hang the plant on the wall? 
• On average, the Great Wall of China is 7.8 meters high. 
• The highest tides occur when the Moon is full. 
• I always use a ladder to reach the high shelves. ​
• Most dining tables are around 70-75 cm high. 
• The door handle is too high. 

❗️ Don't use "high" to talk about people. Use "tall". 



TALL 

🔸 We use "tall" when a person, building, tree, etc. has a greater than average height. 

🔸 We use it to describe: people, trees, plants, grass, buildings and parts of buildings. 

🔸 We use "tall" to describe things that are high and thin. 

🔸 Buildings can be "high" or "tall". (Both are correct.) 


Examples: 

• He's as tall as his sister. 
• He's (a little) taller than his sister. 
• He's a tall man in his late twenties with dark hair and brown eyes. (Intermediate level) 
• There are so many places to visit in Toronto. For example, you can go up the CN Tower, which is one of the tallest buildings in the world. There, you'll be able to see the whole of the city. 
• Do you know how tall the Eiffel Tower is? 
• How tall should models be? 
• This plant can grow as tall as one meter. 
• Most dining tables are around 70-75 cm tall. 

❗️ Don't use "tall" to talk about mountains or walls. Use "high". 

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Exercise 1 

Is it high or is it tall? 

1. a ............... door 
2. a ............... window  
3. a ............... shelf 
4. a ............... bookcase 
5. a ............... office chair 
6. a ............... rose 
7. a ............... fence 
8. a ............... building 
9. a ............... glass of wine 
10. a ............... box 

Answers: 
1; tall; 2. high/tall; 3. high; 4. tall; 5. tall; 6. tall. 7. high; 8. high/tall; 9. tall; 10. tall; 



Exercise 2 

Complete the sentences with high or tall. Use the comparative or superlative form of each adjective where necessary. 

1. The apartment has spacious rooms with ............... ceilings. 
2. I'm not ............... enough to reach the top shelf. 
3. The house was surrounded by ............... walls. 
4. These trees grow hundreds of feet ............... . 
5. The Burj Khalifa of Dubai is by far the ............... building in the world. 
6. Mount Everest, located in Nepal and Tibet, is said to be the ............... mountain in the world. 
7. These plants grow ............... in warmer regions. 
8. Grandiflora roses tend to grow from 6 to 8 feet ............... . 
9. The windows are so ............... that you'll probably need a ladder if you want to clean them. 
10. The ............... palm trees can grow up to a height of 60 meters. 

Answers: 
1. high; 2. tall; 3. high; 4. tall; 5. highest/tallest; 6. highest; 7. taller; 8. tall; 9. high; 10. tallest; 



Other lessons: 
Confusing words: Come vs. Go 
Confusing words: Bring vs. Take 
Confusing words in English: Famous vs. Popular 
Confusing words in English: Fast, Quick or Quickly 
Confusing words in English: Slow vs. Slowly 
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