\documentstyle{article}

\begin{document}

accents: \'{e}
now inline: bla\'{e} test
now inline: bla \'{e}test
now inline: bla \'{e} test

real spaces~~~xxx

ligatures: ffl fi fl Yp

\begin{verbatim}
now in verbatim (tt font) ligatures: ffl fi fl Yp

< funny carrots >
\end{verbatim}

\end{document}