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s1001 Notes PDF
s1001 Notes PDF
VOCABULARY
STUDY TIPS
3. Register some words are more formal and more appropriate than others. One
must choose the most appropriate word for the context.
Page 1 of 18
1. Word Forms
In English the form of a word can change, sometimes quite significantly, when that
word is used as an Adjective or Noun, Verb or Adverb.
Eg.
Adjective
Noun (Person)
Noun (Thing)
Verb
Adverb
analytical
analyst
analysis
to analyse
analytically
Where a different word form has not been created, then stress can be used to
distinguish key word forms, for example a Noun from a Verb.
Eg.
Noun
Verb
con trast
con trast
2. Pronunciation
Pronunciation means how to make the sounds of a language. It also means which
sounds to stress.
Stress affects:
volume
pitch
length
(loud or soft)
(high or low sound)
(short or long)
Adjective
Noun - person
Noun - thing
Verb
Adverb
Page 2 of 18
3. Register
Register means how formal or appropriate is the chosen word.
In all languages some words are more formal than others some words are used on
special occasions, in special contexts and for special reasons, while others words are
more common. In English a general rule is that a longer word is more formal than a
shorter word.
For example, Phrasal Verbs (a simple verb with a preposition to look into, to look
after) are the least formal choice and are commonly used in informal spoken
language, notes, emails and postcards (informal writing). However, unusual words,
borrowed into English from other languages, especially Latin and Greek, are quite
formal, or high register.
Greek and Latin borrowings into English often have several syllables. These words
are used often in technical, scientific, medical, psychological and philosophical
writings.
The following words have similar meanings:
look into
study
research
analyse
investigate
Which word is easiest to remember?
The smaller or shorter word is the easiest to learn and remember. So, you will
probably learn look into or study first. Then you will pick up research and lastly
analyse and investigate.
Many words ending in ion are borrowed from Latin:
discussion
examination
explanation
information
instruction
investigation
presentation
For all words ending in ion the stress falls on the second last syllable:
dis cu ssion
examin a tion
explan a tion
inform a tion
in stru ction
investi ga tion
presen ta tion
Page 3 of 18
4. Word Choice
Choosing the best or most appropriate word is important. As your vocabulary grows
and strengthens so your choice of words will extend and you will be better able to
describe things more exactly and appropriately.
To compare is to show how two things are similar. To contrast is to show how two
things are different compare and contrast similarities and differences.
Synonyms
Instead of always using the same word and repeating it many times in your writing, it
is a good idea to learn some extra words with similar or closely similar meaning.
What is the difference between argue, debate and discuss?
Look at the passage below and think about the difference in meaning of these words.
The group meeting began with a general discussion of the issue but
soon developed into a more formal debate as the different participants
took particular sides for and against the topic. As feelings became quite
heated, the various members of the group began to argue with each
other. Finally the group leader called for order.
It is important to increase your vocabulary so you will be able to express what you
are trying to say more accurately and appropriately.
Page 4 of 18
5. Organisation
It is a good strategy when learning vocabulary to organise words by topic.
Developing your vocabulary for a particular topic will enable you to be more specific
and interesting when discussing that topic. You will be able to discuss particular
matters quite accurately and also have a range of synonyms to draw from.
As your vocabulary grows it is a good strategy to begin to organise words into groups
and sets. Take the topic of Education. This topic consists of several fields: institutions, departments, subjects, personnel, resources and so on. Some of these
fields can be divided further. Look at the table.
INSTITUTIONS
university
school
college
kindergarten
pre-school
FACULTIES
medicine
architecture
engineering
science
law
EDUCATION
SUBJECTS
mathematics
French
physics
history
geography
music
PERSONNEL
professor
lecturer
teacher
tutor
registrar
librarian
RESOURCES
classroom
blackboard
projector
desk
laboratory
library
Words linked to the field of study - assignments and instructions - can then be
collated:
Vocabulary for Assignments and Instructions
ADJECTIVE
analytical
argumentative
comparative
comparable
contrastive
convincing
debatable
discursive
examined
explicable
informative
instructive
investigative
summative
OPPOSITE
unanalytical
NOUN
PERSON
THING
analyst
analysis
argument
comparison
unconvinced
debater
examiner
inexplicable
informer
instructor
investigator
presenter
researcher
contrast
conviction
debate
discussion
examination
explanation
information
instruction
investigation
presentation
research
summary
VERB
analyse
argue
compare
contrast
convince
debate
discuss
examine
explain
inform
instruct
investigate
present
research
summarise
ADVERB
argumentatively
comparatively
inexplicably
informatively
instructively
summarily
Page 5 of 18
STUDY NOTES
SPELLING RULES
RULE 1
ie/ei
Write i before e
Except after c
Or when sounded like ay
As in neighbour and weigh.
This rhyme may help you remember the rules for using ie and ei correctly.
As the rule says, you should generally write ie except under TWO conditions:
1. when the two letters follow c
2. when the two letters sound like ay (as in day)
Examples:
Some ie words:
believe, belief, chief, field, grief, relief, yield, siege, niece, friend
Some ei words:
ceiling, conceit, deceive, deceit, receive, receipt, neighbour, eight, weigh, weight,
vein, skein
HINT: The major exceptions to this rule are the following words:
conscience
forfeit
seize
counterfeit
height
sheik
either
leisure
species
financier
neither
sufficient
foreign
science
weird
RULE 2a
If the word ends in a consonant preceded by a single vowel, then double that last
consonant when you add a suffix beginning with a vowel.
drag
flip
nap
shop
slip
star
tap
trap
wet
dragged
flipped
napped
shopped
slipped
starred
tapped
trapped
wetted
dragging
flipping
napping
shopping
slipping
starring
tapping
trapping
wetting
flipper
shopper
slipper
trapper
wetter
Note that in one-syllable words with TWO vowels, do not double the last consonant.
beat
foot
look
seat
footed
looked
seated
beating
footing
looking
seating
beater
footer
looker
Page 6 of 18
Note that in one-syllable words ending in a double consonant, do not double the last
consonant.
lock
knock
swing
climb
talk
locked
knocked
climbed
talked
locking
knocking
swinging
climbing
talking
locker
knocker
swinger
climber
talker
hoped
stared
taped
hoping
staring
taping
Note also not to double the last consonant when adding a suffix that starts with a
consonant.
star
fear
doubt
RULE 2b
starless
fearless
doubtless
fearful
doubtful
For words with two or more syllables that end with a consonant preceded by a single
vowel, then double the consonant when both of these conditions apply:
1. Add a suffix beginning with a vowel
2. The last syllable of the word is accented
begin
occur
omit
prefer
refer
regret
submit
unwrap
occurred
omitted
preferred
referred
regretted
submitted
unwrapped
beginning
occurring
omitting
preferring
referring
regretting
submitting
unwrapping
beginner
occurrence
regrettable
Note that when the last syllable of a two-syllable word is not stressed then the final
consonant is not doubled.
labour
format
laboured
formated
labouring
formating
labourer
Page 7 of 18
RULE 3
Prefixes
Meaning
before
against
self
good
two, twice
life
dediseximin-
away, down
not, no longer, away
out, no longer
in, not
in, not
interintra-
between, among
within, between members
of the same group
wrong, bad
entirely, through
after
before
for, take place of
again, back
back
half, partially
not, contrary to
misperpostpreproreretrosemiun-
Examples
anteroom, antenatal, antedate, antediluvian
antidote, antibody, antidisestablishmentarianism
automobile, automation, automatic, autoimmune
benefit, beneficial, beneficiary, benefactor
bicycle, bicameral, bi-weekly, biennial
biography, biology, biosphere, biochemistry, biotechnology
depress, decrease, demerit, depreciate
disappear, disapprove, disavow, disallow
exclude, expel, ex-wife, ex-president
immense, immodest, immoderate, improper
inflow, incorrect, incompetent, incomplete,
incoherent
interact, interstate, interrelated, intersect, intervene
intramural, intranet, intrastate, intravenous,
intrapreneur
misspell, misinterpret, misadventure, mispronounce
perfect, pertain
post-mortem, postdate, postpone
pregame, premarital, prefix, premature
prohibit, proclaim
retell, re-do, reply, readdress, rethink, reclaim
retrospect, retrograde, retroactive
semicircle, semiautomatic
unhappy, unable, unwise
Correct
dissatisfaction, dissatisfied
misspelling, misspelled
Page 8 of 18
RULE 4
Suffixes
If the word ends in e and the suffix begins with a vowel (for example -able, -ary, ing, and -ous), drop the -e
age
fame
aging
famous
desire
imagine
desirable
imaginary
Exception: To keep the /s/ sound of ce, and the /dz/ sound of ge, do not drop the final-e
before able or ous
change
knowledge
notice
changeable
knowledgeable
noticeable
courage
marriage
courageous
marriageable
There are also a few exceptions for other words in which the e is kept in the word before a
suffix starting with a vowel:
acre
acreage
mile
mileage
If the word ends in e and the suffix begins with a consonant (for example less, -ly, -ment, ness, -some) keep the e
care
name
same
whole
careful
nameless
sameness
wholesome
entire
safe
state
entirely
safety
statement
Exception: There are some words in which the e is dropped before a suffix starting with a
consonant.
argue
nine
argument
ninth
awe
true
awful
truly
Page 9 of 18
4b
If a word ends in -l, do not drop that l when adding the suffix ly:
formal
usual
real
formally
usually
really
But if the word already ends with two l s, merely add the y of the ly suffix.
chill
hill
4c
chilly
hilly
When a word ends in ic, add a k before suffixes starting with i, -c, OR y
picnic
traffic
picnicking
trafficking
politic
politicking
Some words that end in ic add the suffix ally not ly.
logic
RULE 5
logically
tragic
tragically
Y to I (sp)
applies, applied
carries, carried
studies, studied
apologies
beautiful
ceremonies,
ceremonious
busied, business
easily, easiness
happily, happiness
applying
carrying
studying
Exception: If there is a vowel before the initial y, keep the y before adding s or
ed.
stay
enjoy
day
attorney
key
stays, stayed
enjoys, enjoyed
days
attorneys
keys
Page 10 of 18
RULE 6
Plurals (sp)
6a
one boy
one wall
a shoe
the page
one ribbon
Mr Herron
Mrs Smith
two boys
two walls
a pair of shoes
two pages
six ribbons
the Herrons
all the Smiths
For phrases and hyphenised words, pluralise the last word, unless another word is
more important.
one videocassette recorder
one systems analyst
one sister-in-law
two videocassette
recorders
two systems analysts
two sisters-in-law
When words end in s, -sh, -ch, -x or z , add-es for the plural form (because an
extra syllable is needed for pronunciation).
one box
a loss
the church
a buzz
a brush
6b
two boxes
several losses
two churches
several buzzes
a pair of brushes
For plurals of some words that end in f or fe change the fe to ve and add -s
one thief
a leaf
a wife
one life
two thieves
two leaves
several wives
their lives
For other words ending in f add s without making any changes to the base word.
a roof
his beliefs
the chief
a reef
two roofs
their beliefs
several chiefs
many reefs
Page 11 of 18
6c
two companies
some candies
6d
two boys
some monkeys
two radios
some patios
For words ending in a consonant plus o, add an s for some plurals, and es for
other plurals, and either s or es for still other plurals.
-s only
autos
memos
pianos
salvos
6e
-es only
echoes
heroes
potatoes
tomatoes
-s or es
zeros or zeroes
cargos or cargoes
For some words, the plural is formed by changing the base word:
one child
a woman
one goose
a foot
a mouse
two children
two women
two geese
two feet
several mice
Page 12 of 18
6f
Some words have the same form for both singular and plural:
deer
sheep
fish
6g
cattle
trousers
scissors
pliers
wheat
rice
alumnus
antenna
appendix
criterion
psychosis
radius
thesis
basis
crisis
datum
medium
memorandum
phenomenon
alumni
antennae
appendices
criteria
psychoses
radii
theses
bases
crises
data
media
memoranda
phenomena
NB: Some of these words are beginning to acquire an English plural form eg
memorandums/memos, antennas
Page 13 of 18
RULE 7
Homonyms
English has many words which sound alike but spelled differently and have different
meanings. These are called Homonyms.
Here are the most commonly misspelled sound-alike words:
WORD
PART OF SPEECH
MEANING
EXAMPLE
accept
except
verb
preposition
expect
verb
to agree, receive
exclude, all but, other
than
await, anticipate
affect
verb
influence
effect
noun
result
effect
verb
accomplish
hear
verb
here
its
its
passed
preposition
possessive adjective
Contraction pronoun+verb
verb
past
adjective
than
then
their
there
theyre
at that time
3rd person plural
possessive
not here, in that place
they are
to
two
comparative particle
adverb of time
possessive adjective
preposition
contraction
pronoun+verb
preposition
adjective
too
adjective
a lot, also
were
verb
plural of was
wear
where
verb
adverb
put on clothes
question for location
were
we are
weir
contraction
pronoun+verb
noun
a small dam
whos
whose
interrogative + verb
possessive adjective
your
youre
possessive adjective
contraction
pronoun+verb
who is
possessive adjective
question
2nd person
possessive
you are
direction towards
double, duo
Page 14 of 18
PART OF SPEECH
MEANING
EXAMPLE
advice
noun
recommendation
advise
angel
verb
noun
angle
noun
bare
bear
adjective
noun
buy
by
verb
preposition
purchase
along, passed
bye
cite
noun
verb
farewell
point out
sight
noun
vision
site
council
noun
noun
location, place
a governing group
counsel
verb
desert
dessert
noun
verb
give advice,
suggestions
dry place
abandon course of
sweet food
forth
noun
forward
fourth
adverb
after third
hole
whole
noun
adjective
knew
new
know
verb
adjective
verb
no
peace
piece
quit
quiet
particle
noun
noun
verb
adjective
negative
quiet time, no war
part, section
to stop work, give up
not noisy
quite
adjective
very
stationary
adjective
not moving
stationery
weather
whether
noun
noun
conjunction
paper, pens
climate
if
Page 15 of 18
There are also many single and two-word phrases that sound alike but have different
meanings.
WORD
PART OF
SPEECH
EXAMPLE
all ready
already
all right
adjective
adverb
alright
all together
adjective
adjective
altogether
adverb
any body
phrase
anybody
any more
anymore
any one
anyone
anytime
pronoun
phrase
adverb
phrase
pronoun
phrase
anytime
any way
adverb
phrase
anyway
a while
awhile
every body
everybody
every day
everyday
every one
everyone
in to
into
may be
maybe
somebody
somebody
some one
someone
adverb
phrase
adverb
phrase
pronoun
phrase
adjective
phrase
pronoun
preposition +
conjunction
preposition
verb phrase
adverb
phrase
pronoun
phrase
pronoun
Page 16 of 18
acceptable
accomplish
across
advise
aisles
amateur
angle
appropriate
associate
authentic
beginner
boundary
business
carrying
changeable
commercial
competition
confident
consistent
coolly
criticise
definite
despair
disappoint
environment
especially
existence
extremely
February
gauge
harass
hindrance
ideally
incidentally
initiative
irrelevant
jealousy
leisure
lightning
losing
manageable
meanness
mischievous
naturally
ninth
official
opposite
parallel
penetrate
persuade
pleasant
precede
principal
professor
pursue
accessible
accuracy
actually
affect
alcohol
among
announcement
approximate
athlete
average
believe
breath
cafeteria
category
changing
commitment
conceited
conscious
continuous
course
curiosity
dependent
develop
disastrous
eighth
exaggerate
expense
familiar
financially
government
height
hoping
ignorant
incredible
intelligent
irresistible
knowledge
lenient
likelihood
luxury
management
meant
missile
necessary
noticeable
omitted
ordinarily
particular
perceive
physical
politician
preferred
privilege
prominent
questionnaire
accidentally
achievement
address
effect
alleys
amount
apparent
argument
attach
bargain
beneficial
breathe
calculator
cemetery
channel
committee
conceive
conscience
controlled
coarse
dealt
descend
different
disease
elaborate
excellent
experience
family
forty
grammar
here
huge
imaginary
independent
interest
irritated
laboratory
liable
loneliness
magazine
marriage
medicine
mortgage
nickel
obstacle
operate
originally
past
performance
piece
possess
prejudice
probably
promise
quiet
accommodate
acquaintance
admission
against
all right
analysis
appearance
article
attack
basically
benefited
bulletin
calendar
census
chief
comparative
concentrate
conscientious
controversy
courteous
deceive
describe
disagree
divine
embarrass
except
experiment
fascinate
friend
guaranteed
hear
humorous
immediately
indispensable
interference
its
laid
library
lose
magnificent
material
mere
muscle
niece
occasionally
opinion
paid
passed
permanent
peace
possibly
preparation
procedure
pronunciation
quite
Page 17 of 18
quit
recipe
rehearsal
reminisce
safety
secede
separate
similar
straight
success
suspicious
temporary
theyre
thought
transferred
unconscious
valuable
villain
Wednesday
women
quizzes
recognise
relief
restaurant
sandwich
secretary
sergeant
sincerely
strategy
sufficient
symbol
tendency
there
tomorrow
tremendous
until
various
visible
weird
writing
realise
recommend
relieve
rhythm
satellite
seize
sheriff
sophomore
strength
suicide
technical
than
thorough
to
tries
usage
vegetable
warrant
where
written
really
referring
religious
ridiculous
scarcity
siege
shining
specimen
studying
surely
technique
then
though
too
truly
usually
view
weather
were
yield
receive
repetition
remembrance
sacrifice
schedule
sense
significant
statistics
succeed
surprise
temperature
their
through
tragedy
typical
vacuum
violence
whether
woman
yacht
Page 18 of 18