ENGLISH VOCABULARY for INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC EDUCATION
COUNCIL
ENGLISH VOCABULARY for INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC EDUCATION COUNCIL /
BOARDING/ FULL DAY
CLASS X/1
Contents
Introduction
Using this Modul
Learning
1. Learning and revising with this bookhave a routine, revision,
say the word aloud
2. Keeping a vocabulary notebook
record, the most important thing is..
3. Using a dictionary
look up a word, guess the meaning
4. English language words
adjective, phrasal verbs, question mark
5. Classroom language
board pen, share a book, swap places
Word formation6. Prefixes
un-, in-, im-, dis-
7. Noun suffixes
-ment, -ity, -ness, -tion
8. Adjective suffixes
-able, -ive, -al, -y
9. Nouns and verbs with the same formguess/to guess, kiss/to
kiss, rest/to rest
10. Compound nouns
traffic light, tin opener, credit card, film star11. Compound
adjective
easy-going, well-known, part-time
Phrase building12. Collocation ( word partners )
miss the bus, a soft drink, fast asleep
13. Idioms and fixed expressions
never mind, go ahead, take it in turns
14. Verb or adjective + preposition
depend on, belong to, interested in15. Pronunciation
book /bk/, cinema /snm/ , and so on.16. Likes, preferences and
interests
I quite like, and that short thing, Id rather17. Exercises
Using this modul
This modul is written to help learners at this level to improve
their English. It has been designed for students who are studying
on their own.
This is the page that introduces the new vocabulary for each
topic or area of language. First of all, the vocabulary is divided
into a number of sections ( A,B,C,etc.) with simple clear titles.
Then, within each section, new words/phrases are explained using a
number of different techniques:
1. A short definition
e.g. unemployed (= without a job ); hang on (= wait ); feel like
(= want or desire infml )
2. A short explanation
e.g. He admitted stealing her money, but denied taking the
computer (= he said yes he took the money, but nohe didnt take the
computer ).
3. A synonyms or opposite.
e.g. dreadful (=terrible ); dirty (opp clean )
4. In a situation. With some words and phrases it is easier to
see their meaning when they are in context, e.g. ( This is from a
text about a motoring accident ) ..The driver of the Mercedes was
OK, but the other driver was badly injured, and both cars were
badly damaged.
5.a picture or diagram. This seem the obvious way to explain a
large number of concrete nouns and verbs.
e.g. carrot Go along here and turn left
For many of the new words/phrases there are also sentence
examples which show the words in context in order to consolidate
the meaning and illustrate any special features.
e.g. My boyfriend gets very jealous when I talk to other
boys.
The plane appeared in the sky, then suddenly disappeared behind
a cloud.
Some people cant stand (=hate) working at the weekend. (cant
stand + -ing form)
Finally, a big effort has been made to introduce new words
alongside other words that often appear with them (this is called
collocation).
e.g. miss the bus; a strong accent; the car broke down; its
vitally important; fasten your seatbelt; go on holiday; give
someone a hand; to a certain extent; a terrible pain, etc.
This page contains the exercises to practice the new vocabulary
presented. In general, the first exercise practice the form of some
of the new words, and then there are further exercises which focus
on the meaning. In most units there is at least one exercise which
gives learners a chance to think about and practice new vocabulary
in relation to their own lives, and/or a task which invites
learners to do something with the vocabulary outside of the book.
In every unit there is a range of exercise types to help maintain
your interest.
I Learning and revising with this book Look at Exercise 1.1 on
the next page before you read this page.
A Have a routine A routine means doing certain things often and
in the same way. If you are using this modul for self-study (= to
study alone ), it helps to have a routine. So, how much time can
you spend on the book each day or each week? Here are some
ideas:
- if you are studying a new unit, spend at least (=minimum of )
half an hour or 45 minutes.
- if you are revising (- studying a unit for a second or third
time ), five or ten minute is very useful.
So, plan longer periods for new units and shorter periods for
revision.
B Using the book
Do different things to maintain your interest. (= keep your
interest high ) for example:
1. Dont study the units in the same order as the book. Choose
(=select) units that interest you ( = are interesting for you )
2. Be active when you are learning. For example:
When you are reading, use a highlighter pen to mark new or
interesting vocabulary
Practise saying the words aloud (=speaking them), so you can
pronounce them (=say the pronunciation), and also silently
(=without a noise) in your head to help you to remember them;
Put new words in your own notebook using some of the ideas from
unit 2.
C RevisionIts easy to forget words that you learn, but if you
revise for short periods, it helps you to remember words and make
them part of your active vocabulary. Here are some ideas.
1. Do exercises in pencil. Check your answer when you finish,
then rub them out (=remove them using a rubber). Later, come back
and do the exercises again.
2. Revise for short periods but do it often. Five minutes a day
(Not five minutes per day) is probably better than two hours a
month.
3. Be active when you revise, e.g. test yourself, practice the
pronunciation, write down important words and phrases in your
notebook with example sentences.ExercisesI.IRead these questions.
What do you think? (Answers are on the opposite page)
1. Is it better to plan regular self-study, or just study when
youve got some free time?
2. Is it a good idea to study the units in the same order as
they appear in the book?
3. Is it a good idea to write down new words in a notebook when
you are studying a unit?
4. Is it necessary to revise vocabulary (= study it again for a
second or third time)?
5. Is it better to revise vocabulary occasionally for long
periods of time, or is it better to revise regularly for short
periods of time?
I.2Complete the table.
I.4There is a mistake with the underlined words. Can you correct
each one?
1. Did you make of the exercises?
2. I studied for one half hour.
3. Do you always read the left page first?
4. I passed twenty minutes on the first exercise.
5. I read the all page.
I.5True or False? If the sentence is false, rewrite it to make
it true. Write in pencil.
1. In this book, most of the important new vocabulary is shown
in bold print.
2. Definitions/explanations of new words are often brackets
after the word.
3. A routine means doing certain things in a different way each
time.
4. If you maintain something at a level, it means you keep it at
the same level.
5. At least 50 people means a maximum of 50 people.
6. If you write something then rub it out, you remove it from
the page.
7. If you do something silenty, you do it without a noise.
8. Revision means studying something for the first time.
9. If you read a whole book, you read all of it.
10. A blank piece of paper is full of writing.
Check your answer. Look at any wrong answers carefully, then rub
them out. Do the exercise again tomorrow.
noun is word that refers to a person, a place or a thing, a
quality or an activity
e.g. born, sibling, young, age, presenter, etc.
Adjective ( Adj ) is a word describes a noun.
e.g. green in green grass
Adverb ( Adv ) is word that adds information to a verb, Adj,
phrase / another adverb
e.g. quickly in run quickly
Verb ( V ) is word or phrase that expresses an action
e.g. eat, an event : happen / a state exist
Phrase is group of words without a finite verb esp one that form
past of sentence
e.g. course outline, junior college, etc.
You dont need to record all of these things for every word or
phrase. The most important thing is to show the words in typical
examples. Leave space in your
2Keeping a vocabulary notebookAOrganising your notebook
Write the new words and phrases when you are learning.
BWhat do I need to report?What howexample
Meaninga translation remember = lembrar [ in Portuguese ]
b definition
A pond is an area of water smaller than a
lake.
c synonym or oppositeawful (= terrible ); ugly ( opp beautiful
)
d picture
saucepan
e example sentence My hands were cold, so I put on my
gloves.
Pronunciation phonemic symbols ache /ek/
or your own system ache [ like make ]
Part of speech noun (n), verb (v) gloves (n); remember (v);
careful (adj)
Grammar make a note + enjoy + -ing; I enjoy going to
parties.
example sentence weather ( uncountable ); we had lovely
weather in Italy.
Common partners phrase or sentence make a mistake; on the phone;
(a) black
coffee ( = coffee without milk )
Special style make a note purchase ( = buy: formal) kids ( =
children:
informal).
notebook as well, then you can come back and add more
information later if you learn something new.
C Organising words on the page Dont just write lists of
individual words. Put words together that appear together, e.g.
blonde hair ( opp black hair ), get off the bus ( = go out of the
bus). Make the pages interesting with pictures, diagrams and
example sentence.
Exercises2.1 Organise this list of words into three groups and
give each one title.
unfriendly put on platform gloves unhappy
train get on unable size jumper
wear late unkind tie passenger
Find the units in this modul which may include these words. Add
more each group.2.2 Fill the gaps with suitable words to form
common partners with the nouns in
bold.
1. Shes the phone at the moment
2. A : Do you want milk and sugar? B: No, just a coffee,
please
3. If youre cold, why dont you your coat?
4. I dont usually that mistake.
5. She me a big smile this morning.
2.3 Underline the correct answer1. A pond is:
a bigger than a lake b smaller than a lakec the same size
2.I really enjoy:
a play tennis
b to play tennis c playing tennis
3.When we were on holiday we had:
a lovely weather b lovely weather c a lovely weather
4.The underlined letters in ache are pronounced the same as
in:
a machine
b catch
c chemist
5.The past tense of fall is:
a fell
b felt
c falled
6.You can get off:
a a bus
b a kitchen
c a noise
7.Rise sharply means:
8. Purchase is:
a an informal word for buy b a formal word for buy c a formal
word for child
2.4 Look at the words below. What is the best way to record
their meaning? What other information would be useful? Use the
dictionary to help you.Example You could record dream with a
translation, a picture, or an explanation
e.g. things you imagine in your sleep. Dream can be verb or noun
and is
often followed by about, e.g. I dreamt about you.
dream concentrate beard nearly empty rescue knife
2.5. Write down three more nouns that often follow take. Do the
same for make and do
Take make do
Write the definition of the underlined words below!Reading text
1
Enrolling for the fall semester at college was an interesting
experience. According to the instruction in the college bulletin, I
was eligible for mail-in registration. I mailed in my form, feeling
proud of myself for beating the long registration lines. But
problems developed during my first day of classes. In my second
class of the day, my math instruction told me to take a more
advanced math course. In order to do that, I had to go to the
registers office to get a new class card. During my hour-long wait
in the line, I wondered about the value of mailing in my form. When
I finally reached the registers desk, all of the math courses were
closed. The clerk gave me a special form to get me into one of the
closed courses. For the rest of the day, I wandered around the
campus trying to get the dean the vice-president to sign my
form.
Guessing Meaning from ContextYou dont need to look up the
meanings of all new words in a dictionary. You can often guess the
meanings of many words from the context.
Sometimes a sentence gives the meaning of a new vocabulary item.
The meaning sometimes comes before or after the verb be.Example:
The context is the words around a new vocabulary item.
(What does context means? It means the words a round a new
vocabulary
Item.)
Recognizing Reading Structure
Paragraphs divide reading material into topics. One paragraph is
usually about one topic. In the reading selection, there is a
capital letter next to each of the five paragraphs.
3. Using a dictionary
A. What dictionaries do I need?Buy a good bilingual dictionary
and a good English-English dictionary. The bilingual dictionary is
easier for you to understand; but its also good for you to work in
English as much as possible.
Large dictionariesMedium-sized dictionaries
Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Oxford Advanced Learners DictionaryCambridge Learners
Dictionary
Longman Active Study Dictionary
Oxford Wordpower Dictionary
B. What information does a dictionary give me?
Look up a word (= find a word in a dictionary) and you will get
this information.
the meaning, e.g. homesick = unhappy because you are away from
home for a long period
the pronunciation (using phonemic symbols), e.g. island /alnd/,
lose /lu:z/, tiny /tani/ the part of speech, e.g. dirty adj (=
adjective), choose (= verb), law n (= noun)
word grammar, e.g. advice (U) (= uncountable noun), begin (
began, begun) (= the past tense and past participle)
common collocations, e.g. do homework (Not make); It depends on
you (Not of)
example phrases or sentences, e.g. The train leaves from
platform seven.
sometimes synonyms or opposites, e.g. polite (syn = courteous;
opp = impolite)
First, think of the word to look up. Then open the dictionary to
as close to the first letter or two of the word as possible. Then
either turn back or forward to find the word. To help the search,
dictionaries have guide words to help. Guide words are at the top
of each page. The first guide word is the first word on a page, and
the second guide word at the top of the page is the last word on
the page. Using the guidewords, you should find the word you a
looking for easily. It will be between the words.
C. How can I use my dictionary?When you look up a word, put a
tick next to it. Each time you return to a page with a tick, look
at it quickly to check you remember the word.
When you see a new word or phrase in a text, first try to guess
the meaning (= try to think of the meaning from the context), then
carry on (= continue) reading to see (= find out) if your guess it
correct. Use your dictionary to check the meaning. (= find out if
the meaning is correct)
Dont just read definitions. The example phrases and sentences
show you how a word or phrase is used, and they often help you to
understand the meaning more clearly.
If you look up a word in a bilingual dictionary and get several
different translations, check in monolingual dictionary to see
which translation is the best one in the context.
Remember that many words have more than one meaning. The first
meaning in the dictionary is not always the one you want. Read
through the different meaning.
In a dictionary, words and phrases (ent.ies) appear in
alphabetical order. For example, entries that begin with a come
before words that begin with all others letters. Entries that begin
with ca come before words that begin with ce or ci or cr. Entries
that begin with sce come before words that begin with sco or
scr.
Examples:1. area
5. fortunately
9. low
13. weather
2. beautiful6. heart attack
10. lower14. wet
3. crater7. ice field
11. measure15. window
4. degree8. July
12. moisture16. windyExercises
Complete these sentences about dictionary use.
1. Its important to have a good English-English dictionary and
also a dictionary, which is easier to understand.
2. Dictionaries show the ..using phonemic symbols.
3. Dictionaries will tell you if a noun is countable or ..
4. Dictionaries show synonyms and ..where they exist.
5. If you meet a word you dont know, you can try to ..the
meaning from the context, or you can ..it ..in a dictionary.
Right or wrong? If the answer is wrong, correct it.1. Advice is
a countable noun. Wrong (advice is an uncountable noun)2. Homesick
means you are unhappy living at home and you want to leave.
3. You dont make homework, you do homework.
4. Carry on means the same as continue.
5. The opposite of polite is unpolite.6. The past tense of begin
is begun.
7. Dirty is an adjective.
8. If you look up a word, you find the meaning in a
dictionary.
9. Trains arrive at and leave from platforms.10. Depend is
followed by the preposition of.3.3 In the word island/alnd/, the
letter s is silent (= not pronounced). Use your dictionary to find
the silent letters in these words. (Do not include the letter e at
the end of a word.)
3.4 Use a dictionary to find the answer to these questions about
words.1. What does tiny mean?
2. How do you pronounce lose? (Is it the same as choose or
chose?)
3. What is the opposite of lose a game?
4. What are the past tense and past participle of the verb
choose?
5. What noun is formed from the verb choose?
6. What part of speech is homesick?
7. What two verbs often go before homesick?
8. Can you complete this common phrase? Law and ..
3.5 Match the sentences on the left with the different meanings
of bar on the below.1. Theyve put bars in front of the window for
extra security.
2. We went to a bar in the centre of town.
3. Could you get me a bar of chocolate?
4. You have to order drinks at the bar.
MEMORIZING PART OF BODYA. Parts of the body
The outer part of the body is covered in skin, e.g. Too much sun
is bad for your skin.
B. Physical actionsPeople breathe through the nose or mouth, and
breathe in and out 12-15 times a minute.
People smile when theyre happy, and sometimes smile at people to
be polite.
Funny things make people laugh for example, when someone tells a
joke.
People sometimes cry if theyre unhappy or receive bad news.
They yawn when theyre tired or bored.
People in some countries nod their head to mean yes, and shake
their head for no.
47.4 What do these actions often mean? (There may be several
possible answers.)
1. People often smile when theyre happy..
2. They often breathe quickly after
3. They laugh when
4. They may bite their nails
5. They blow their nose ..
6. They shake their head .
7. And nod their head
8. They cry
9. They yawn when ..
4. Synonym and Opposites You already know the importance of
learning synonyms (or near synonyms) and antonyms (or near
antonyms) when you study vocabulary. Not all the words and
expressions have antonyms, or opposites, of course; adjectives have
opposites more than other parts of speech.
Synonym is a word with the same meaning of another word. For
example, famous and well known are the synonyms; theyre similar in
meaning to each other.
Antonym is a word with the opposite meaning of another word. For
example, seldom and often are antonyms; theyre opposite in meaning
to each other.
Vocabulary test often ask you to match the words with their
synonyms or antonyms. Read the directions carefully before you
begin.
Exercise Match the following words with their similar and
opposite meanings.
Write the correct letters on the lines. The first one is done
for you.
SYNONYMS1. e famousa. hurricane
2. powerfulb. lost
3. causec. strong
4. murdererd. unfortunate
5. storme. well-known
6. poorf. killer
7. confusedg. reason
ANTONYMS1. alivea. terrible
2. happyb. sad
3. loudc. calm
4. upsetd. poor
5. wonderfule. stand
6. richf. dead
7. lie downg. quiet
Find the correct opposites of the given words. Choose the
correct answer.
1) What's the opposite of more?fewlessa lotmany2) What's the
opposite of alive?asleepdeaddeathsick3) What's the opposite of
loud?softquitequietnoisy4) What's the opposite of
happy?gladuglydifficultsad5) What's the opposite of
last?firstbeginningstartend6) What's the opposite of
now?alwaysneverthensoon7) What's the opposite of to buy?to taketo
sellto bringto lend8) What's the opposite of
better?badworsegoodworst9) What's the opposite of
dangerous?easybeautifulsafepleasant10) What's the opposite of
cool?warmhotcoldcooler
4.1 Likes, preferences and interests
And things like thatWe can describe a list of things, e.g. likes
and dislikes, with one or two examples, then finish with general
phrases like these. We can also use them to ask about likes or
dislikes.
Shes very keen on poetry and drama and that sort of thing.
I try to eat healthy food simple pasta and salads, and stuff
like that.
My husband likes boxing and wrestling, but I hate things like
that.What kind of things/sort of stuff do you like?Look forward
toIm looking forward to going home. (= pleased and excited about
going home soon)
I always look forward to my birthday. (= pleased and excited
when it is going to happen)
Im not looking forward to the exams because I havent done much
work.
I look forward to hearing from you. [This is a common way to end
a formal letter]
Which do you prefer?In general
A: Which do you prefer, tea or coffee?
B: I prefer coffee to tea in the morning. But in the afternoon I
usually drink tea.
Specific occasionA: We can go to the cinema or the theatre it
doesnt matter. Which would you prefer?
B: Id prefer to go the cinema. Or Id rather go to the
cinema.
Id rather is the same as Id prefer to, but is more common in
spoken English.
What are you interested in?A: Are you interested in Latin
American music?
B: Yes, very (much). or No, not really. or No, it doesnt
interest me (at all).Exercises19.1 Correct the mistake in these
dialogues (one mistake in each).1. A: I love modern art.
5. A: Do you like tea?
B: Yes, I do.
B: Yes, but I prefer coffee than tea
2. A: Do you like this?
6. A: Does he like football?
B: Yes, I like very much.
B: No, hes not interesting in sport
3. A: Would you like to go out?
7. A: I dont like his new CD.
B: No, Id prefer stay here.
B: No, so do I.
4. Im looking forward to see you next week. 8. I dont mind to
help them.
19.2 Complete the phrases in bold in these sentences.1. My
sister loves Robbie Williams, but I cant him.
2. He likes windsurfing and waterskiing that sort of
3. Theyre not very keen sightseeing.
4. Do you really enjoy things .. that?
5. Are you looking . to your holiday?
6. I love the cinema, but this particular film doesnt . me at
all.
7. Carole is really modern art the moment. Personally, I hate
it
8. (formal letter) We look forward to ..from you.
19.3 Rewrite the sentences using the word on the right. The
meaning must stay the same.1. I hate these new shoes.
STAND
I cant stand these new shoes 2. I think theyd prefer to go
home.
RATHER
3. I dont find his book interesting
INTEREST
4. I dont really like that sort of thing.
THINGS
..
5. I find archaeology very interesting.
INTERESTED
6. I think the new building is OK.
MIND
19.4 Agree with each of these sentences using so or neither and
the correct verb.
1. I love this ice cream. So do I.
4. I cant work with music on.2. I like strawberries.
5. Im single.3. I dont like cold tea.
6. Im not married. Now write me too or me neither next to each
of your answers.19.5 Complete these sentences about yourself.
Compare with someone else if possible.
I really like ..and ..and things like that.
I dont mind.
I cant stand.
I prefer.to
Im looking forward to...
Im not looking forward to.
Im interested in.doesnt interest me.
5. English language wordsA. Parts of speech
B. Special terms Uncountable noun: (U) a noun which has no
plural form and isnt used with the indefinite article, e.g. can you
send me some information? (NOT an information or informations)
Plural noun: (pl) a noun which only has a plural form and isnt
used with the indefinite article, e.g. He was wearing blue trousers
and a white shirt. ( NOT a blue trouser).
Infinitive: the base form of a verb, e.g. We decided to stop
lunch.
Phrasal verb: a verb which needs a direct object, e.g. The
police caught the man [the man is the direct object of the verb
caught]. A verb which doesnt need a direct object is intransitive,
e.g. Tim and his brother are. always arguing.
Informal: a word or phrase which is informal used mostly in
spoken English. Formal English is more common in writing or with
people you dont know very well.
Many words also have synonyms, which are words with the same
meaning, e.g. big and large are synonyms in many contexts. The
opposite is small.
C. Word buildingWord building is the process of constructing an
imaginary world, usually associated with a fictional universe. The
result may sometimes be called a constructed world, conworld or
sub-creation. The term
In the word uncomfortable, un- is a prefix, comfort is a root,
and able is a suffix. Other common prefixes include: re-, in-, and
dis-. Suffixes include: -ity, -ment and ive.
Prefix is a word element placed at the beginning of a root.
Suffix is the ending on a word.
nouns
adjectives
adverbs
SuffixesExamplesSuffixesExamplesSuffixesExamples
-ance
-encedistance
difference-ant
-entdistant
different-ly
Clearly
simply
-ty
-ityability
availability-able
-ibleavailable
responsible
-ally
scientifically
D. Pronunciation Dictionaries show the pronunciation of a word
using phonemic symbols, e.g. book /buk/, before /bf/, cinema /snm/,
and so on.Every word has one or more syllables, e.g. book has one
syllable, before has two syllables, cinema has three syllables, and
so on.
For pronunciation, it is important to know which syllable has
the main stress, e.g. on before it is the second syllable (before),
and on cinema it is the first syllable (cinema), and so on.
E. PunctuationPunctuation often provides clues to the meaning of
sentences and paragraphs. A colon (:) can introduce a list that
explains the sentence before the colon. Sometimes each item of the
list has a number before it.
Commas separate the items. (if one or more items contain commas
themselves, semicolons often separate the items)
Example: the elderly people of the area live well: (1) they are
rarely sick; and (2) when
they die, they have their own teeth, a full head, and good
eyesight. (What do
the two numbered items show? Examples of how the elderly people
live
well).
Full stop .comma ,brackets ( )hyphen -question mark ?Hyphens are
used to connect certain words or parts of a word together, e.g. a
ten-year-old child.
Exercise4.1 There is one word missing in each line of the text.
Where does the missing word go? What could it be? What part of
speech it is?
End Punctuation
The punctuation marks that signal the end of a sentence are the
period, the question mark and the exclamation mark.
You use the period, by far the most common of the end
punctuation marks, to terminate a sentence that makes a statement.
You may also use periods with imperative sentences that have no
sense of urgency or excitement attached:
Without a doubt, Lady Emily was much happier after her
divorce.
Turn right at the stop sign.
Bring me a cup of coffee and a cheese danish.
When you want to express a sense of urgency or very strong
emotion, you may end your imperative sentences and statements with
an exclamation markLook out below!
Leave this house at once!
I hate him!
Exclamation marks are, however, rare in formal writing. Use them
sparingly, if at all.
You should use the question mark at the end of a direct
question:
Who's on first?
Where is my flowered cape?
Be careful not to use a question mark at the end of an indirect
question. Indirect questions are simply statements, and therefore
end with a period:
I wonder who was chosen as Harvest King in the county fair.
She asked if she could play pinball.
The teacher asked who was chewing gum. Written by Frances
Peck
4.2In the dialogue below, find at least one example of the
following an uncountable noun, a phrasal verb, and an idiom.
A: Its 8 oclock. Wed better get a move on if were going t meet
sue at the airport.
B: Thats OK. Her flight doesnt get in until 8.50.
A: Yes, but itll take us an hour to get to the airport you know
what the traffics is like.
B: OK. Ill just go and get a changed.
A: Whats wrong with your shorts?
B: I dont like driving in shorts. Im going to put some jeans
on.
4.3Look at the underlined verbs in these sentences. Which are
transitive? Which are intransitive?1. She broke her leg.
2. Take off your jacket.
3. I got up at 7.30.4. She doesnt like Chinese food.
5. We arrived late.
6. He told me to sit down.
4.4How many syllables are there in each of these words?
Now mark the main stress on each of the words.
4.5 Look at these words and answer the questions below.
1. What part of speech are these words?
2. Change each one into an adverb.
3. Write down a synonym for the first two words.
4. Which prefix do you need to form the opposite of the first
two words?
5. Write down the opposite of the last two words.
F. Phrasal VerbA phrasal verb consists of a verb and a
preposition or adverb that modifies or changes the meaning; 'give
up' is a phrasal verb that means 'stop doing' something, which is
very different from 'give'. The word or words that modify a verb in
this manner can also go under the name particle.
Phrasal verbs are idiomatic expressions, combining verbs and
prepositions to make new verbs whose meaning is often not obvious
from the dictionary definitions of the individual words. They are
widely used in both written and spoken English, and new ones are
formed all the time as they are a flexible way of creating new
terms.Phrasal verbs can be divided into groups:
Intransitive verbsThese don't take an objectThey had an
argument, but they've made up now.
Inseparable verbsThe object must come after the particle.They
are looking after their grandchildren.
Separable verbsWith some separable verbs, the object must come
between the verb and the particle:The quality of their work sets
them apart from their rivals
With some separable verbs, the object can before or after the
particle, though when a pronoun is used it comes before the
particle:Turn the TV off.Turn off the TV.Turn it off.
6. Prefixes and Noun suffixesA. With the meaning not
Prefixes can be added to some words to give them a negative
meaning.
Happy unhappy like (v) dislike (v)
Possible impossible legal illegal (= against the law/wrong)
Correct incorrect regular irregular, e.g. irregular verbs
un- is the most common, e.g. unfriendly, unable, unusual,
unnecessary, unemployed (= without a job), untidy (= not in order;
also, in a mess), unkind, unpleasant (= horrible).
in- is often used before words with a Latin origin, e.g.
invisible (= cant be seen), informal, inadequate (= not good
enough, e.g. The car park is inadequate for a big supermarket like
that).
im- is used before some words beginning with m or p, e.g.
impolite, impossible, impatient (= someone who is impatient wants
things to happen now; they cant wait for things), immoral.
il- can be used before l, e.g. illegible (= impossible to read
because the writing is bad).
ir- is only used before a few words beginning with r, e.g.
irresponsible.
dis- is used before some adjectives, e.g. dishonest (a dishonest
person is someone you cant trust, and often doesnt tell the truth),
and a few verbs, e.g. dislike, disagree.
Prefixes are groups of letters that can be placed before a word
to modify its meaning.
EG: impossible (the prefix im- modifies the meaning to produce a
negative senseB. Verb prefixes: un- and dis-
With some verbs, these prefixes can also mean the opposite of an
action.
The plane appeared in the sky, then suddenly disappeared behind
a cloud.
I locked the door when I left, but then I lost the key and I
couldnt unlock it when I got back.
I got dressed (= put on my clothes) and had my breakfast.
I got undressed (= took off my clothes) and got into bed
I had to pack my suitcase/ do my packing (= put everything in
it)
Very quickly, so when I unpacked (= took things out)
At the hotel, most of my clothes looked terrible.
C. Other verb prefixes with specific meaningsre- (= again) The
shop closed down but itll reopen next month.
I failed my exam but I can retake /redo it next year.
over- (= too much) My boss is overdoing it at the moment. (=
working too hard)
I went to bed very late and I overslept (= slept too long)
this
morning
The shop assistant overcharged me.
(= asked me for too much money)
mis- (= badly or Im afraid I misunderstood what he said.
incorrectly) Two of the students misread the first question.
Exercise6.1Whats the opposite of these words? (The words in the
last column are verbs,
The rest are adjectives).
1. unhappy
5. .patient
9. .polite
19. lock
2. .correct
6. .regular
10. visible
18. pack
3. .legible
7. .friendly
11. employed17. agree
4. .possible8. .formal
12. honest
16. like
6.2 Whats the reverse of these actions?
1. do ones packing unpack
3. appear
2. lock the door
4. get dressed
6.3Agree with these sentences, using a synonyms from the left
hand page for the
underlined words.1. Its against the law, isnt it?
Oh yes, its illegal2. His room is always in a mess, isnt it?
Yes, its very .
3. He took off his clothes!
Yes, he got
4. This handwriting is impossible to read.Yes I know, its
completely .
5. She can never wait for five minutes, can she?
No, shes very ..
6. The conference centre wasnt good enough for 500 people, was
it?
No, it was completely ..for that number.
7. Shes horrible sometimes.
Yes, she can be very
8. Im afraid they sometimes steal things and tell lies.
I know. Theyre both ..
6.4Complete the verbs in these sentences.
1. I completely disagree with him on this subject.
2. Im sorry, I mis ..her message.
3. We un .a soon as we got to the hotel, then went our for a
walk.
4. She was here a minute ago, then she dis.I dont know where she
is now.
5. My homework was so bad that Ill have to re.it.
6. Her alarm clock didnt go off and she over .
7. She finally managed to un..the door and we were able to go
inside
8. I dis.the film, but the others enjoyed it.
9. I dont think Ill pass the exam, but I can always re.it in
September
10. Shes over..things at the moment. She needs a complete break
from her job.
11. The post office shuts for lunch but it should re..at
2.00pm
12. I was very angry because they over.me by about 5 in that
shop.
6.5Keep several pages in your notebook for verbs and adjectives
which combine
with these prefixes. You can add new words to your lists and
test yourself at the same time.Noun suffixesverbsuffixnoun
improve (= get better)
govern (= control affairs of a city or country)
manage (= direct or control a business)
elect (= choose somebody by voting)
discuss (= talk about something seriously)
inform (= tell someone something)
jog (= running to keep fit or for pleasure)
spell (e.g. S-P-E-L-L)-ment
-ion
-ation
-ingimprovement
government
management
election
discussion
information
jogging
spelling
There has been a big improvement in the economy.
The problems are due to bad management.Who do you think will win
the election?
Im not very good at spelling.
Suffixes are groups of letters placed after a word to modify its
meaning or change it into a different word group, from an adjective
to an adverb, etc.
EG: gladly (the suffix -ly changes the word from an adjective to
an adverb)
approached (the suffix -ed changes the verb from the present to
the past)B.Adjective + noun suffixadjectivesuffixnoun
weak (opp strong)
happy
ill (= sick/ not well)
stupid (opp intelligent, clever)
active
similar (= almost the same; opp different)-ness
-ityweakness
happiness
illness
stupidity
activity
similarity
We have a weak governmentWhats her main weakness as a
manager?She was ill for a long time
Hepatitis s a very serious illness.
The two boys are quite similarThere is a similarity between all
three sons.
C.Pronunciation
Adding a suffix to a verb or adjective may change the
pronunciation.
adjectivenaoun
similar
stupidsimilarity
stupidity
verbnoun
educate
advertiseeducation
advertisement
D.-er/-or and -ist
These suffixes can be added to nouns or verbs. They often
describe people and jobs.
-er-er-or-ist
baller dancer
pop singermurderer (= person who kills someone)bus driver
shop manager
professional footballer
employertelevision actor
film director
translator
computer operatorartist, e.g. Picasso
economist
psychologist
journalist
Exercises
7.1Complete the tables and mark the stress on each word. The
last two in each column are not on the opposite page, but d you
know or can you guess the noun formed from them?verbnoun
educate
improve
jog
govern
spell
hesitate
arrange..
..
..
..
..
..
..
adjectivenoun
stupid
happy
weak
similar
active
sad
popular.
.
.
.
.
.
.
7.2Combine words on the left with the correct suffix on the
right to complete the text.
7.3 Complete the definitions below.
1. An employer is a person or company that employs people2. A
murderer is a person who .
3. A bank manager is a person who
4. A television actor is a person who .
5. A translator is a person who ..
6. A lorry driver is a person who
7. A journalist is a person who
8. An artist such as Picasso is a person who ..
E. Countries, nationality and
languageCountryNationalitylanguage
Argentina
Brazil
Britain
China
Egypt
France
Germany
Greece
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Mexico
Poland
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Spain
Switzerland
The United States (USA)
TurkeyArgentinian
Brazilian
British
Chinese
Egyptian
French
German
Greek
Israeli
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Mexican
Polish
Russian
Saudi Arabian
Spanish
Swiss
American
TurkishSpanish
Portuguese
English
Mandarin (also Cantonese)
Arabic
French
German
Greek
Hebrew
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Spanish
Polish
Russian
Arabic
Spanish
Swiss-German, French, Italian
English
Turkish
I come from Argentina, so I am Argentinian and my first language
is Spanish. The capital is Buenos Aires, which has a population of
more than 10 million people.
A. Regions
There are some names for regions of the world that we often
use.
Europe (e.g. Britain, Spain, etc)
the Mediterranean (e.g. Italian, Spain, etc)
the Far East (e.g. China, Japan, etc)
the Middle East (e.g. Egypt, Iran, etc)
The Caribbean (e.g. Jamaica, Trinidad, etc)South/Latin America
(Brazil, Chile,etc)
7. Using a Dictionary Quickly
When you read, you can often guess the meanings of new words
from the context. Sometimes, however, you may need to use a
dictionary. With a dictionary, you can find out the pronunciation
of words and check the spelling. You can find out parts of speech
and check your guesses about meaning. You can find examples of the
words in sentences.
In a dictionary, words and phrases (ent.ies) appear in
alphabetical order. For example, entries that begin with a come
before words that begin with all others letters. Entries that begin
with ca come before words that begin with ce or ci or cr. Entries
that begin with sce come before words that begin with sco or
scr.Can you find words and phrases in your dictionary quickly?
Practice in the use of alphabetical order (forward and backward)
will help you. Also, you can use the guide word (or words) at the
top of each dictionary page. The guide word on the left is the same
as the first entry on the left-hand page. The guide word on the
right is the same as the last entry on the right-hand page.
Exercise 1Work quickly. To put a group of words below in
alphabetical order, number the words in each group from 1 to 8. The
first with the correct answers is the winner.
powerful
health
influence
storm
camping
relax
affect
strong8. Adjective SuffixesA. Noun or verb +
suffixnounsuffixadjectives
danger, fame
music, politics, emotion
economics, industry
cloud, sun, fog, dirt
attract, create-ous
-al
-y
-ivedangerous, famous (= known by lots people)
musical, political, emotional (= have or show strong feelings),
economical (= saves you money)
industrial (= connected with industry and factories)
cloudy, sunny, foggy, dirty (opp clean)
attractive (= pretty, good-looking); creative (= ability to
produce new ideas; with imagination)
The roads were dangerous this morning; it was foggy and I
couldnt see far.
He was very emotional when he said goodbye.
Did you buy a diesel car because its more economical than
petrol?
Im afraid youll have to clean the floor its very dirty.B. able
This common suffix create adjectives from nouns and verbs:
an enjoyable eveninga comfortable chair
Jeans are still fashionable suitable (= right/correct for a
situation), e.g. a grey suit is very suitable for a wedding
Sometimes able means can be done:
washable (= can be washed), e.g. Is this jacket washable?
reliable (= can be trusted), e.g. Ive never had a problem with
the car-its very
reliable. Words ending able quite often express the opposite
meaning with the prefix un-
unsuitable (= not right/correct for a situation), e.g. Jeans are
unsuitable for wedding.
unbreakable (= cant be broken), e.g. The glass in the shop
window is unbreakable.words ending ible sometimes add the prefix
in- to form an opposite;
incomprehensible (= cant be understood), e.g. This street map I
incomprehensible.nvisible (= cant be seen), e.g. Trees surrounds
the house, so its invisible from the road.C. ful and -less
-ful often means full of or having the quality of the noun;
Careful (= doing sth with care and attention), e.g. careful
driver
Helpful (= able to help), e.g. Her advice was very helpful.
painful (= giving pain), e.g. It was painful when I hit my
hand.
useful (= has a lot of use), e.g. I found it a useful book.
thoughtful (= kind and think of others.)
-less often means without:
careless (= without care, and causing mistakes), e.g. His work
is full of careless
mistakes.
useless (= without use and often terrible), e.g. This knife is
useless it wont cut
anything.
homeless (= with nowhere to live), e.g. many families are
homeless because of
the war.
Exercise
8.1Write an adjectives (or adjective) form these nouns or verbs.
Cover the opposite page first.
1. danger
7. care
13. sun
2. attract
8. thought
14. music
3. create
9. politics
15. comfort
4. cloud
10. enjoy
16. fame
5. suit
11. pain
17. rely
6. use
12. dirt
18. emotion
8.2Fill the gaps with suitable adjectives from the opposite
page.
1. You must be very careful when you drive in wet weather.
2. Everyone in my country has heard of her; she very 3. The
tourist information office was very .., and told us everything we
needed to know.4. This is a very .. road, you know. There were
three serious accidents on it last year.5. It was very ..when I hit
my leg against the corner of that table.6. This bag is very : I
take it to work and when I go on holiday.7. Weve never had problems
with our TV in ten years; its been very..8. The factory is in the
part of the city, and its not very attractive.9. A 100 gram bag is
80 pence, but the 200 gram bag is only 1.20, so its more.. to buy
the larger bag.10. Its terrible that there are so many .people in a
country that is so rich.11. Teenagers want to be ., and wear all
the latest style.12. I cant understand a word of these instructions
theyre..8.3How many of these words can form opposites with the
suffix less?
1. wonderful2. useful3. awful4. careful5. beautiful
What are the opposites of the other words (the ones without
less)?8.4Match adjectives from the left with the most suitable
nouns from the right.
8.5From the adjectives on the opposite page, choose two or three
which could describe each of these people or things. (you can use
the same adjective more than once)
1. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart famous, creative, musical2. the
weather3. someones driving4. an area of a city5. a car6.
yourselfNouns and Verbs With the Same FormMany words in English
function as noun and verb, or verb and adjective, or noun and
adjective, with the same form.
Whats the answer? (n) I must clean my room. (v)I dont like the
cold. (n)
Answer the question. (v) Its clean room. (adj) I dont like cold
weather.(adj)
The same word form can have different meanings, but this unit
looks at examples where the meaning is the same or similar, and
concentrates on nouns and verbs with the same form.
A. Noun and Verb
Brake (= stop a car using the brake on the floor)ring (=
telephone)
Diet (= eat less to lose weight)
queue (= wait in line of people)
Guess (= give an answer without knowing the facts)murder (= kill
someone)
Many common words can function as noun and verb with the same
form and meaning:
Drink, rest, look, cost, swim, wash, push, pull, reply, kiss,
chat (= a casual conversation infml) [also practice (v) and
practice (n)].
B. Which Verb?It is often more natural in English to use the
verb + noun structure (e.g. had a guess) and not the verb (e.g.
guessed). You need to know which verbs to use with the nouns.
verbverb + noun
I didnt know the answer, so I guessed.We rested for a while.
He braked suddenly.
He needs to diet.Im going to ring him.
I looked in the paper.
I dreamt about you last night.
We had to queue for half an hour.I didnt know the answer, so I
had a guess.We had a short rest.She put on the brakes suddenly.
He needs to go on a diet.Im going to give him a ring.
I had a look in the paper.
I had a dream about you last night.
We had to wait in queue for half an hour.
ExerciseI.What word is being defined? (the first letter has been
given to you).
1. Give an answer without knowing the facts
g.
2. Eat less in order to lose weight
d.
3. Wait in line of people
q.
4. Kill someone
m
5. Telephone
r.
6. Press your lips against another persons lipsk.
7. Have a casual conversation
c.
8. Images in your mind when youre sleepingd.
II.Rewrite these sentences using the underlined nouns and verbs.
Change or add words if necessary.
ExampleThere are a lot of rain yesterday.
It rained a lot yesterday.
1. We had a long wait.
We..
2. This apple has got a strange taste
This.
3. We waited in the queue for half an hourWe..
4.The cost of the holiday was about 500.The..
5. I wrote a reply to his letter yesterday.I..
6. She gave me a smile this morning.
She.
III.Rewrite these sentences using the underlined verbs and
nouns. The meaning must stay the same.
ExampleThey want to rest for a bit
They want to have a rest for a bit.
1. Ill ring him this evening.
Ill.
2. Ill diet if necessary
Ill.
3. If you dont know, just guess.
If you dont know, just...
4. I braked but I still couldnt stop in timeI.
5. I dreamt about my mother.
I.
6. Did you look in the paper?
Did you.
IV.Sometimes the same word can be a verb and noun but the
meaning changes. Read these pairs of sentences. Do the verb and
noun have a similar meaning, or are they different in meaning?1aWe
had a long wait for the bus.
bif we wait any longer, we may miss the train.
2aI gave him the book.
bDid you book the table in the restaurant?
3aThey take a break after an hours work.
bdid he break his arm skiing?
4aI go for a run most mornings.
bI was late so I had to run to get to school on time.
9. Compound nounsA.Formation
A compound noun is formed from two words, and occasionally
three, to create a
single new idea.
Dining room (= room where you eat meals) film star (e.g. Tom
Cruise, Meg Ryan)
Science fiction (= stories about future) income tax (= tax you
pay on your salary)
Writing paper (= paper for writing letters) dishwasher (=
machine for washing dishes)
Mother tongue (= your first language) brother-in-law (= your
sisters husband or
Bus driver (= person who drives buses) wifes brother).
Bus stop (= where buses stop for people to get on)
Haircut (e.g. My hairs long: I need a haircut)
Traffic jam (= long line of cars moving very slowly)
Babysitter (= person who looks after children when parents are
out)
Box office (= place where you buy cinema or theatre ticket)
Travel agent (= job of a person who makes travel arrangements
for us)
B.One word or two?
Some short common compound nouns are written as one word, e.g.
bedroom, postman; a few are written with hyphen, e.g. T-shirt,
make-up (= stuff you put on the face, often on lips and around
eyes, to be more attractive); but most are written as two words,
e.g. credit card, bus stop. Use a dictionary to check if
necessary.
C. Pronunciation
The main stress is usually on the first part, e.g. post office,
income tax, but sometime it is on both parts, e.g. science fiction,
mother tongue. Use a dictionary to check if necessary.
D. Forming new compounds
One part of a compound often forms the basis for a number of
compound nouns.
Postman
Postbox
Post officeFilm star
Pop star
Rock starToothbrush
Toothpaste
toothacheLiving room
Waiting room
Chat room (= an area for communication on the internet)
Exercises9.1Find compound nouns on the opposite page connected
with each of these topic.
9.2Complete each sentence with a suitable compound noun from the
opposite page.1. We booked our holiday through a travel agent2. Im
sorry Im late. There was a terrible.on the motorway.
3. Humphrey Bogart was a famous.in the 1940s and 50s.
4. The.. ..were red but he still didnt stop.
5. When I got to the dentist, I had to sit in the for 40
minutes.
6. Mary wanted to go out, but she couldnt find a.for the
children.
7. When Im driving I always wear..if its very bright and
sunny.
8. Most people have to pay ..on their salary; the more you earn,
the more you pay.
9. I washed my hair; then I discovered that the wasnt
working.
10. We waited at the. .for 20 minutes, then three arrived at the
same time.
11. My brother loves .., but I never read stuff like that about
the future.
12. Your jeans were dirty so I put them in the ..with mine.
9.3Take one word (the first part of the second part) from each
compound and create a new compound. Use a dictionary to help you if
necessary.
Examplesbrother-in-law
mother-in-law
postbox
post office1. dining room
5. traffic lights..
2. film star..
6. sunglasses.
3. credit card..
7. hair dryer..
4. toothpaste..
8. boyfriend..
Compound adjectives1. A compound adjective is formed when two or
more adjectives work together to modify the same noun. These terms
should be hyphenated to avoid confusion or ambiguity.
Incorrect: The black and blue mark suggested that he had been
involved in an altercation.
Correct: The black-and-blue mark suggested that he had been
involved in an altercation.
Incorrect: Her fifteen minute presentation proved decisive to
the outcome of the case.
Correct: Her fifteen-minute presentation proved decisive to the
outcome of the case.2. However, combining an adverb (usually a word
ending in "ly") and an adjective does not create a compound
adjective. No hyphen is required because it is already clear that
the adverb modifies the adjective rather than the subsequent
noun.
Incorrect: The remarkably-hot day turned into a remarkably-long
week.
Correct: The remarkably hot day turned into a remarkably long
week.3. Furthermore, you should not place a hyphen in a compound
adjective if the adjectives are capitalized, such as when they are
part of a title.
Correct: His book was entitled, "Gender Neutral Language in
English Usage," and it revolutionized the way people think about
sex roles.
However: His book on gender-neutral language revolutionized the
way people think about sex roles.
Correct: The students were participants in Chicago-Kent's
vaunted Legal Research and Writing Program.
Also Correct:
The student decided to attend a school with a good
legal-research-and-writing program. Note that in this example, the
reference is to a type of program, rather than a specific program,
and so the use of hyphens is proper.A.Formation and
pronunciation
A compound adjective is formed from two words, and occasionally
three. The second part is often a present participle (e.g.
good-looking) or a past participle (e.g. well-known). They usually
have a hyphen before a noun, (e.g. a well-known actress, a
good-looking man) and we usually pronounce both parts with equal
stress.
B.Describing people
Many compound adjectives describe a persons appearance,
character and situation.
C.Well and badly
These adverbs combine with many past participles to form
compound adjectives.
We can use both of them with most of the participles, e.g.
well-paid or badly-paid (NOT badly known).
a well-organised team. a well-paid (= good salary)
a well-equipped computer room a badly-behaved child(= acting in
a bad way)
a well-written story a badly-dressed young man (= wearing old
or
a well-known writer (= famous) dirty clothes)
D.A five-minute walk
We often combine a number and a singular noun to form a compound
adjective.
The nouns in bold in these sentences, e.g. walk, hotel are often
used with the
particular adjectives.
Its a ten-minute walk to the shop. (= a walk of ten minutes)
He works in a four-star hotel. (= a hotel with a rating of four
tars)
I gave her a twenty-pound note. (= a note with a value of twenty
pounds)
Our flight finally left after a two-hour delay. (= the plane was
two hours late)
The winner was a ten-year-old girl. (= a girl who is ten years
old)
If you park your car there, you could get a fifty-euro fine. (=
a penalty of 50
to pay for parking in the wrong place)
E.Common compound
She used to have a part-time job- just mornings but now she
works full time.
Most people are right handed, but about 10% are left handed.
I went first class to Paris, but it was more expensive.
Mary bought a second-hand BMW. (= the car wasnt brand new for
her)
Exercises10.1 Match words from the left-hand box with words from
the right to form ten
compounds.Examples first class
10.2 Complete the compound adjective in these sentences.1. They
were both wearing short-.shirt.
2. Goran Ivanisevic is probably the most famous left-tennis
player.
3. Hes just bought a brand-car.
4. One girl was very badly: she kept shouting and then threw
food all over the floor.
5. Shes just got a-time job now. She works three hours a day,
Monday, to Thursday.
6. It was very badly-article: terrible punctuation and lots of
spelling mistakes.
7. Theyre very well.., so they can go to expensive
restaurant.
8. Shes got a little shop near the market, where she sells
second-things.
9. When I saw her, she was with a very good-man in a white
suite.
10. Have you ever met a well-..actor or politician?
11. I had a nice time with my cousin he good company and very
easy
12. She has a seven-..-old son.
10.3 Choose the most suitable noun to follow the adjectives in
these sentences.1. I stayed in a five-starin London.
2. We didnt get to Malaga until midnight because we had a
two-hour.at Heathrow.
3. She bought a paper and paid for it with a twenty-pound.
4. It just over a kilometre, so its only about a
fifteen-minute
5. I had to pay a forty-pound.for not having a parking
ticket.
11. COLLOCATION (Word Partners)A. What is collocation?
If you want to use a word naturally, you need to learn the other
words that often go with it. This can be different from language.
For example, in English we say:
I missed the bus. (= I didnt catch the bus) (NOT I lost the
bus)
He had to go to hospital; its serious injury. (= a bad injury)
(NOT a grave injury)
She was bitterly disappointed (= very disappointed /unhappy)
with her exam result.
B. Verb + nounThe meaning of many of these examples may be
clear, but did you know these verbs and nouns go together? Are they
the same or different in your language?
Start {drink (=noun-alcoholic drink
a family (= think about having a first child
Tell {a story a joke (= a funny story)
the truth (= opp tell a lie)
miss { a person (= be unhappy because a particular person is not
there)
a lesson (= not go to a lesson)
get on the bus (opp get off a bus) waste time/money (=use it
badly)
C. Adjective + noun
a soft {drink (= non-alcoholic drink) dry {wine (opp sweet
wine)
voice (opp a loud voice) wether (opp wet weather)
a strong accent (opp a slight accent) traffic (=a lot of cars on
the road)
(a) strong coffee (opp (a) weak coffee) heavy rain (= raining a
lot) smoker (= a person who smokers a lot)hard work (= difficult
physically or mentally) success (= very successful)
a hard question (= difficult to answer) a great time (= an
enjoyable time)
I cant understand his English because he has such a strong
accent.
The conference was hard work but everyone said it was a great
success.
There was a heavy traffic in the city centre because of the wet
weather.
We had a great time in Brazil the beaches are fantastic.
D. Adverb + adjective
The underlined adverbs in 1-3 mean very, the adverbs in 4-5 mean
fully/completely. In each case, we often use these adverbs with the
adjectives that follow them. Notice also the phrases in bold.
1. Im terribly sorry to bother you (= to disturb you), but is
Steven there?
2. She is well aware of the problem. (= She knows all about the
problem)
3. It is vitally important to make a note of common collocations
in your notebook.
4. hes fast asleep. (= in a deep sleep)
5. She was wide awake (= fully awake) a minute ago.
Exercises
11.1 You can keep a record of common collocations using
diagrams. They are very
Clear on the page and you can add o them. Complete these.
11.2 Write the opposite1. get on the bus get off the bus 5. an
alcoholic drink
2. a strong accent 6. tell the truth
3. strong coffee 7. catch the bus
4. a soft voice 8. sweet wine
11.3 Complete these sentences with a suitable words.
1. Im terribly sorry Im late, but I.the bus and had to wait ages
for another one.
2. He..everyone the same joke, and nobody laughed.
3. We had snow in the night and I couldntthe car this
morning.
4. Everyone said the party was asuccess.
5. I think they want to get married anda family.
6. We carried the suitcases up to the fourth floor, and it was
verywork.
7. Itsimportant that we finish this work by the end of the
week.
8. if this..rain continues, I dont think hell come.
9. I dont drink.coffee at night because it keeps me awake.
10. I really..my family when I stayed in Australia on my own
last year.
11. Im sure she isaware of the problem.
12. I..my time on that course; it was terrible.
13.When I went into the childrens room, the boys were
both..asleep, but Angela was.awake, reading Harry Potter story.
11.3 The adjectives on the left can all mean very big, but we
often use them with the nouns on the right. Use a dictionary to
find the correct collocations, and then complete the sentences
below. You will need to look at the example sentences in the
dictionary, perhaps at the adjectives and the nouns.
1. A: What.do you take? B: Medium or
2. Fortunately the shop I go to has a.. of shirts and jumpers to
choose from.
3. Ive got very, but my waist is quite small.
4. A few men cant find clothes to fit them, but the..
5. .are small, medium or large.
Exercise:
1I'm an ______ admirer of your work.
ardent
triumphant
stale
considerable
cast-iron
2This new process is a ______ advance in technology.
ardent
significant
stale
considerable
cast-iron
3He knows the interviewer already and that will give him an
______ advantage over me.
ardent
significant
unfair
considerable
cast-iron
4I wouldn't upset him. He can be a ______ adversary.
ardent
significant
unfair
dangerous
cast-iron
5He gave me some ______ advice and I took it.
ardent
significant
unfair
dangerous
blunt
6We know very little about this. We need to bring in an ______
adviser to help us.
outside
significant
unfair
dangerous
blunt
7I don't like this at all. It's a really ______ affair.
outside
ugly
unfair
dangerous
blunt
8It's not a very challenging job. I only have to deal with
______ affairs.
outside
ugly
everyday
dangerous
blunt
9They don't always agree but I think there is a bond of ______
affection between them.
outside
ugly
everyday
deep
blunt
10It seems no time at all since I started work and here I am at
______ age.
outside
ugly
everyday
deep
retirement
11That type of behaviour was possible in a ______ age but we are
more tightly regulated these days.
bygone
ugly
everyday
deep
retirement
12I don't trust him. I think he has a ______ agenda.
bygone
hidden
everyday
deep
retirement
13We cannot tolerate this sort of ______ aggression from a
competitor in one of our key markets.
bygone
hidden
naked
deep
retirement
14We have a ______ agreement with them and we must respect
it.
bygone
hidden
naked
binding
retirement
15I think they must be providing them with some kind of ______
aid. But I don't know what.
bygone
hidden
naked
binding
covert
16I agree with the ______ aims of what you are trying to do but
not with some of the details.
broad
hidden
naked
binding
covert
17I'm sure he's got the job. He's walking around with a ______
air.
broad
triumphant
naked
binding
covert
18You need to open the windows and get rid of the ______ air in
here.
broad
triumphant
stale
binding
covert
19The problems in Tokyo have caused ______ alarm on Wall
Street.
broad
triumphant
stale
considerable
covert
20He definitely wasn't there. He has a ______ alibi.
broad
triumphant
stale
considerable
cast-iron
The Parts of Speech
Traditional grammar classifies words based on eight parts of
speech: the verb, the noun, the pronoun, the adjective, the adverb,
the preposition, the conjunction, and the interjection.
Each part of speech explains not what the word is, but how the
word is used. In fact, the same word can be a noun in one sentence
and a verb or adjective in the next. The next few examples show how
a word's part of speech can change from one sentence to the next,
and following them is a series of sections on the individual parts
of speech, followed by an exercise.
Books are made of ink, paper, and glue.
In this sentence, "books" is a noun, the subject of the
sentence.
Deborah waits patiently while Bridget books the tickets.
Here "books" is a verb, and its subject is "Bridget."
We walk down the street.
In this sentence, "walk" is a verb, and its subject is the
pronoun "we".
The mail carrier stood on the walk.
In this example, "walk" is a noun, which is part of a
prepositional phrase describing where the mail carrier stood.
The town decided to build a new jail.
Here "jail" is a noun, which is the object of the infinitive
phrase "to build."
The sheriff told us that if we did not leave town immediately he
would jail us.
Here "jail" is part of the compound verb "would jail."
They heard high pitched cries in the middle of the night.
In this sentence, "cries" is a noun acting as the direct object
of the verb "heard."
The baby cries all night long and all day long.
But here "cries" is a verb that describes the actions of the
subject of the sentence, the baby.
The next few sections explain each of the parts of speech in
detail. When you have finished, you might want to test yourself by
trying the exercise.
Written by Heather MacFadyen
RootsMeaningWord
alterotheralternate, alter ego
ami, amic-loveamiable, amicable
amphiboth ends or all sidesamphibian
ann, enniyearanniversary, annual, biennial, perennial
anthrophuman, mananthropology, anthropomorphic, misanthrope
aqua, aquewateraquatic, aquarium, aqueduct
archchief, leader, rulerarchangel, monarch, archaic,
archenemy
arthrojointarthritis
audsoundauditorium, audible, audiologist, audiotape
bellwarbelligerent, bellicose
bibliobookbibliography, bibliophile
bio-lifebiography, autobiography, biology, antibiotic
brevshortbrief, abbreviate
captake, seizecapture, captivate, capacity
carnmeatcarnivorous, chili con carne
cedyield, gorecede, secede, proceed, intercede, concession
chrom-colorchromatic, monochrome, polychrome
chron-timechronicle, chronology, chronometer, synchronize
cognknowrecognize, cognitive, incognito
cord/chordcordharpsichord
corpbodycorpus, corpse, corporal
crac, cratrule, rulerautocrat, democracy, bureaucrat,
democracy
credbelievecredible, credulous, credibility, credit, credo
cruccrosscrucifix, crucial
crustashellcrustacean
crypthiddencryptogram, cryptology, cryptic
culpguiltculpable, culprit
deigoddeity, deify
demo-peopledemography, democracy, epidemic
denttoothdentist, dentifrice, dentin
derm-skindermatology, epidermis, hypodermic
dicspeak, saydictate, predict, diction, indict
doxbelief, opinionorthodoxy, paradox, heterodoxy
duc, ductleadinduce, deduce, seduction, conduct, abduct
duotwoduo
dynam-powerdynamo, hydrodynamics
egoselfegotist, egomania
equequalequal, equity, equanimity, equate, equidistant
facmake, domanufacture, factory, benefactor
filthreadlikefilament
fraterbrotherfraternal, fraternize
gam-marriagemonogamy, polygamy, bigamy
geo-earthgeopolitical, geology, geography, geothermal
glyphvertical grooveHieroglyphicsEgyptian sky writing
grad, gressstepgradual, progression, transgression
graph-writing, printinggraphology, biography, telegraph,
geography
gymnakedgymnasium
gyn-womangynecologist, androgynous
hemo, hema, hembloodhemophilia, hematology, hemoglobin
holowhole, entireholograph
hydro, hydrwaterdehydrate, hydraulics, hydroelectric,
hydroplane
isoequal, identicalisolate
ject throwinject, reject, subject, projection
judjudgejudicial, judge, adjudicate
leg, lectread, chooselegible, lectern, lecturer, election
literletterliterature, illiterate, literal
locplacelocal, location
logwordmonologue, epilogue
luclightlucid, elucidate
magnlargemagnify, magnate, magnificent
manhandmanufacture, manual, manuscript
marseamarine, mariner
matermothermaternal, maternity, matriarchy, matricide
merepart, segmentmere
meta, metbehind, betweenmetacognitionbehind the thinking
metri, meter-measuregeometric, thermometer, odometer
minsmallminority, minuscule, minute
mit, misssendpermit, submission, mission, emit,
mob, mot, movmovemobile, automobile, motion, promote, movie
monwarnpremonition, admonition
mor, mortdeathmortal, mortician, immortality
morphform, structuremetamorphosis, amorphous, morphology
mutchangemutant, mutability, mutate
neuronerveneurology, neurosis, neurobiology
nomen /nominnamenominal, nominate, nomenclature
novnewnovel, renovate, innovation, novella
nym, onymword, namesynonym, acronym, anonymous, pseudonym
odontotoothorthodontistone who straightens teeth
ortho-straight, correctorthodox, orthodontist, orthopedic
pacpeacepacify, Pacific Ocean, pacifist
paterfatherpaternal, paternity, patricide, patrilineal,
patriotic
pathfeeling, sufferingsympathy, apathy, empathy, telepathy,
pathology
ped, podfootpedal, pedometer, centipede, gastropod
pel, pulspushpulsate, repulsive, impulse, compel, propel
pendhang, weighpendulum, pendant, suspend, pending
phon-, phono-sound, voicetelephone, euphony, cacophony,
phonograph
planflatplanar, plantation, plane
pneumlungpneumatic
podfeetpodiatrist
portcarryportable, transport, portage, report,
potpowerpotent, omnipotent, potentate
psych-soul, spirit, mindpsychology, psychic, psychobiography
pugnafightpugnacious, pugilist
quer, quisaskquery, inquisition,
scent, scendclimbascend, ascent
schizo, schizdivision, splitschizophrenic
sciknowscientific
scisscutscissors
scrib, scriptwritemanuscript, scribe, proscribe, scripture
sec, sectcutdissect, section
sed, sesssitsedentary, session
sens, sentfeel, be awaresensible, sentient
sequ, secufollowsequence, sequel, consecutive
servserve, protectservice
similsamesimilar, assimilate, simile, facsimile (fax)
siphontubesiphon
solsunsolar
sonsoundsonar, resonate, unison
sophwisdom, knowledgephilosophy, sophisticated, sophomore (wise
fool)
spec, spiclook, seespectacles, spectator, inauspicious,
prospect
spircoilspiral
spirbreatheinspire, respiration, conspire, perspiration
spond, sponspromise, answer forrespond, responsible
spontby one's own forcespontaneous
statstay, positionstation
tang, tacttouchtactile, tangible
temptimetemporary, temporize
ten, tentholdtentative, tenable, tenuous
terrearthsubterranean, terrain, terrestrial, disinter
theogod, deitytheology, polytheism, atheist, monotheism
therm-heatthermal, thermos, thermometer
trophynutrition, foodatrophywithout nutrition
urourineurologist
vacemptyvacation, vacuum, vacuous, vacant
ven, ventcome, gointervene, convene, contravene
vertruthveracity, verify, verity
vertturnintrovert, irreversible, vertigo
vitlifevital, revitalize, vitamin
voccallrevoke, invocation, vocal, evocative, convocation
zooanimalzoo, zoology, zoolatry
PREFIXESPrefixMeaningExamples
a-, an-not, withoutamoral, anesthetic, apolitical, asocial
ab-away fromabduction, abstain, abnormal
ad-to, towardadjoin, adjacent (lying near to)
ambi-bothambidextrous, ambivalent
ana-up, back, againanalogy, anatomy, anagram
anti-againstantipathy, antiwar, antisocial
apo-from, away fromapology, apologize
auto-selfautobiography, automobile, autocracy, automaton
bene-goodbenediction benevolent benefactor
cata-, cat-down, againstcatastrophe--a turning down
centro, centri-around, centerconcentric, centrifugal
circum-aroundcircumlocution circumference, circumvent
com-with, togethercommunal, community
con-with, togetherconnect, confide conspire
contra-againstcontradict, contravene
de-down, awaydescend, deject (cast down)
dia-, di-through, acrossdiameter, division
dis-apart, notdisengage, discord, discomfort
dys-ill, difficult, baddysfunctional, dysentery
e-out of, fromelect (choose out of), eject (throw out)
ecto-on the outsideectoderm--outer skin
en-, em-inempathy--feeling in
endo-within, insideendoscope--instrument for observing
inside
epi-uponepitaph epidermis, epicenter
eso-inward, withinesoteric--more inward, esophagus
eu-well, goodeuthanasia--good death
ex-out of, fromexhume, exhale, exodus
hetero-other, differentheterosexual, heterodoxy, heterodox
heterogeneous
homo-samehomosexual, homogeneous, homogenized
hyper-overhypertension, hypersensitive, hyperactivity
hypo-underhypotension, hypodermic
il-notillegitimate, illicit, illegal, illegible
im-notimperfect, impolite, impossible
im-intoimbibe (drink in, take in)
in-notindiscreet, invisible
in-intoincorporate (take into the body)
inter-betweenintervene (come between), interstate
intra-withinintrastate, intramural
ir-notirregular, irrational, irredeemable
macro-largemacrocosm, macroeconomics
mal, male-bad, evilmalediction malevolent, malnutrition
meta-beyondmetaphysical
micro-smallmicroscope, microcosm, microeconomics
mono-one, singlemonologue, monotheism, monarchy, monogamy
neo-new, recentneologism, neo-liberal, neonatology.
neolithic
ob-againstobject, obstruct (build against)
palin-, pali-back, againpalindrome
pan-all, everypantheism, Pan-Hellenic, panorama, pandemic
para-falseparamilitary, paralegal, parachute
per-throughpercolate (flow through) perforate (punch
through)
peri-aroundperimeter, periscope
phil-, philo-like, lover ofphilosophy, Francophile, bibliophile,
philanthropy
poly-many, severalpolygon, polygamy, polytechnic, polytheism
post-afterpostgraduate, posthumous postpone
pre-beforeprecede, predict (tell before)
pro-for, forwardpromote, project
pros-toward, in frontprospectview in front, something coming
up
proto-firstprototype, protoplasm, protobiology
pseudofalsepseudonym, pseudoscience
re-again, backrepeat, recede, regress (step back)
retro-backretrogression, retroactive
se-away fromseduce (lead away), secede
sub-undersubmarine, subject, subhuman subterranean
sur-, super-over, abovesuperhuman, superego, superintend,
surpass
syn-, sym-, syl-, syswith, togethersymphony, synonym, system,
syllable
tele-distant, far offtelephone, telepathy, television,
telegram
trans-acrosstransient, Transatlantic, transport (carry
across)
SUFFIXESSuffixDefinitionExample
-agog, -agogueleaderdemagogue, pedagogue
-cidekill(ing)patricide, infanticide, herbicide. suicide
-ectomycuttingappendectomy, splenectomy
-ia, -yact, stateamnesia, mania, democracy, anarchy
-ic, -tic, -ical, -achaving to do withanthropomorphic, dramatic,
biblical, cardiac
-icsthings having to do withoptics, physics
-isk, -iscussmallasterisk--a little star
-ismthe belief inpacifism, terrorism, socialism, communism
-istone who believes inpacifist, terrorist, socialist,
communist
-iteone connected withmeteorite, polite, cosmopolite
-logystudy field ofbiology, geology, etymology, cardiology
-oidresembling, like-shapedasteroid, spheroid
-or, -erone who takes part indoctor, actor, teacher, driver
-phobiaexaggerated fearphotophobia, claustrophobia,
agoraphobia
-sisact, state, condition ofanalysis
What is a Pronoun?
A pronoun can replace a noun or another pronoun. You use
pronouns like "he," "which," "none," and "you" to make your
sentences less cumbersome and less repetitive.
Grammarians classify pronouns into several types, including the
personal pronoun, the demonstrative pronoun, the interrogative
pronoun, the indefinite pronoun, the relative pronoun, the
reflexive pronoun, and the intensive pronoun.
Personal PronounsA personal pronoun refers to a specific person
or thing and changes its form to indicate person, number, gender,
and case.
Subjective Personal PronounsA subjective personal pronoun
indicates that the pronoun is acting as the subject of the
sentence. The subjective personal pronouns are "I," "you," "she,"
"he," "it," "we," "you," "they."
In the following sentences, each of the highlighted words is a
subjective personal pronoun and acts as the subject of the
sentence:
I was glad to find the bus pass in the bottom of the green
knapsack.
You are surely the strangest child I have ever met.
He stole the selkie's skin and forced her to live with him.
When she was a young woman, she earned her living as a coal
miner.
After many years, they returned to their homeland.
We will meet at the library at 3:30 p.m.
It is on the counter.
Are you the delegates from Malagawatch?
Objective Personal PronounsAn objective personal pronoun
indicates that the pronoun is acting as an object of a verb,
compound verb, preposition, or infinitive phrase. The objective
personal pronouns are: "me," "you," "her," "him," "it," "us,"
"you," and "them."
In the following sentences, each of the highlighted words is an
objective personal pronoun:
Seamus stole the selkie's skin and forced her to live with
him.
The objective personal pronoun "her" is the direct object of the
verb "forced" and the objective personal pronoun "him" is the
object of the preposition "with."
After reading the pamphlet, Judy threw it into the garbage
can.
The pronoun "it" is the direct object of the verb "threw".
The agitated assistant stood up and faced the angry delegates
and said, "Our leader will address you in five minutes."
In this sentence, the pronoun "you" is the direct object of the
verb "address."
Deborah and Roberta will meet us at the newest caf in the
market.
Here the objective personal pronoun "us" is the direct object of
the compound verb "will meet."
Give the list to me.
Here the objective personal pronoun "me" is the object of the
preposition "to".
I'm not sure that my contact will talk to you.
Similarly in this example, the objective personal pronoun "you"
is the object of the preposition "to".
Christopher was surprised to see her at the drag races.
Here the objective personal pronoun "her" is the object of the
infinitive phrase "to see."
Possessive Personal PronounsA possessive pronoun indicates that
the pronoun is acting as a marker of possession and defines who
owns a particular object or person. The possessive personal
pronouns are "mine," "yours," "hers," "his," "its," "ours," and
"theirs." Note that possessive personal pronouns are very similar
to possessive adjectives like "my," "her," and "their."
In each of the following sentences, the highlighted word is a
possessive personal pronoun:
The smallest gift is mine.
Here the possessive pronoun "mine" functions as a subject
complement.
This is yours.
Here too the possessive pronoun "yours" functions as a subject
complement.
His is on the kitchen counter.
In this example, the possessive pronoun "his" acts as the
subject of the sentence.
Theirs will be delivered tomorrow.
In this sentence, the possessive pronoun "theirs" is the subject
of the sentence.
Ours is the green one on the corner.
Here too the possessive pronoun "ours" function as the subject
of the sentence.
Demonstrative PronounsA demonstrative pronoun points to and
identifies a noun or a pronoun. "This" and "these" refer to things
that are nearby either in space or in time, while "that" and
"those" refer to things that are farther away in space or time.
The demonstrative pronouns are "this," "that," "these," and
"those." "This" and "that" are used to refer to singular nouns or
noun phrases and "these" and "those" are used to refer to plural
nouns and noun phrases. Note that the demonstrative pronouns are
identical to demonstrative adjectives, though, obviously, you use
them differently. It is also important to note that "that" can also
be used as a relative pronoun.
In the following sentences, each of the highlighted words is a
demonstrative pronoun:
This must not continue.
Here "this" is used as the subject of the compound verb "must
not continue."
This is puny; that is the tree I want.
In this example "this" is used as subject and refers to
something close to the speaker. The demonstrative pronoun "that" is
also a subject but refers to something farther away from the
speaker.
Three customers wanted these.
Here "these" is the direct object of the verb "wanted".
Interrogative PronounsAn interrogative pronoun is used to ask
questions. The interrogative pronouns are "who," "whom," "which,"
"what" and the compounds formed with the suffix "ever" ("whoever,"
"whomever," "whichever," and "whatever"). Note that either "which"
or "what" can also be used as an interrogative adjective, and that
"who," "whom," or "which" can also be used as a relative
pronoun.
You will find "who," "whom," and occasionally "which" used to
refer to people, and "which" and "what" used to refer to things and
to animals.
"Who" acts as the subject of a verb, while "whom" acts as the
object of a verb, preposition, or a verbal.
The highlighted word in each of the following sentences is an
interrogative pronoun:
Which wants to see the dentist first?
"Which" is the subject of the sentence.
Who wrote the novel Rockbound?
Similarly "who" is the subject of the sentence.
Whom do you think we should invite?
In this sentence, "whom" is the object of the verb "invite."
To whom do you wish to speak?
Here the interrogative pronoun "whom " is the object of the
preposition "to."
Who will meet the delegates at the train station?
In this sentence, the interrogative pronoun "who" is the subject
of the compound verb "will meet".
To whom did you give the paper?
In this example the interrogative pronoun "whom" is the object
of the preposition "to."
What did she say?
Here the interrogative pronoun "what" is the direct object of
the verb "say."
Relative PronounsYou can use a relative pronoun is used to link
one phrase or clause to another phrase or clause. The relative
pronouns are "who," "whom," "that," and "which." The compounds
"whoever," "whomever," and "whichever" are also relative
pronouns.
You can use the relative pronouns "who" and "whoever" to refer
to the subject of a clause or sentence, and "whom" and "whomever"
to refer to the objects of a verb, a verbal or a preposition.
In each of the following sentences, the highlighted word is a
relative pronoun.
You may invite whomever you like to the party.
The relative pronoun "whomever" is the direct object of the
compound verb "may invite".
The candidate who wins the greatest popular vote is not always
elected.
In this sentence, the relative pronoun is the subject of the
verb "wins" and introduces the subordinate clause "who wins the
greatest popular vote". This subordinate clause acts as an
adjective modifying "candidate."
In a time of crisis, the manager asks the workers whom she
believes to be the most efficient to arrive an hour earlier than
usual.
In this sentence "whom" is the direct object of the verb
"believes" and i