Academic Vocabulary I

Knowing a word
- Besides understanding the meaning of a word, you need to be aware of how it fits into a sentence
(grammar), and which other words it often combines with (word collocations or word partners). To know
a word well, you have to meet it several times and pay attention to different aspects of its meaning and
use.
- Academic vocabulary is generally formal. You can check the Academic Word List (AWL), a list of the
most common words in academic texts.

Meaning
1. Match these common AWL verbs 1-5 to less formal verbs with the same meaning a)-e).

1 ___ demonstrate The graph demonstrates a decrease in smoking.

2 ___ obtain It is not easy to obtain research funding.
3 ___ occur Most accidents occur between 8 and 10 am.
4 ___ purchase Textbooks can be purchased online.
5 ___ respond We cannot respond to this email.

a) get/receive b) reply c) show

d) buy e) happen

Grammar
2. Identifying the part of speech is helpful in working out the meaning of a word. Study the way the
academic words in bold are used in the examples and decide the correct part of speech: noun (N),
verb (Vb), adjective (Adj) or adverb (Adv) for each one.

1. The walking school bus concept originated in 1998. ……….

2, The present study was conducted ……….
3. … in two rural and two urban locations ……….
4. … compared with previous generations ……….
5. Results revealed that … ……….

3. For each academic word in ex. 2 suggest a less formal word with the same meaning.

Word building: Nouns

4. Try to learn other family members of each new academic word. What nouns can be formed from the
verbs and adjectives below?

1. available 3. demonstrate 5. respond

2. maintain 4. participate 6. significant

Word partners
5. Fill in the missing prepositions in these phrases.

1. a decline ………. population

2. as demonstrated ………. research
3. to focus ………. a subject
4. to participate ………. events
5. to respond ………. a question
 6. In each sentence one of the words in brackets cannot be used. Cross out the incorrect word in each
group.

1. There has been an expansion of (road/rail/ship) transport.

2. The country’s transport (method/system/network) needs modernization.
3. The price rise is due to increased transport (costs/money/charges).

Spot the error: Spelling

7. Make sure you record new vocabulary accurately. There are five spelling mistakes in the following
extract. Underline the mistakes and correct them.

Exercise has many benefitts. Reserch has shown that it is a

good way of maintaining phisical fitness and overal health. It
also improves mental health and helps to prevent depresion.

8. Choose five academic words from this worksheet to learn, and write personal examples to help you
remember them.