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Online Current English

Word Nerd
A fortnightly digest of words, grammar and news

WORKSHEET 3: 23 February 2024


1. Refer to paragraphs 1:
a. Explain the use of capital letters in Please Call Me. (1)
b. Your spell check might change meditate to mediate as the words look similar.
Why would this be incorrect in this context? (1)
2. The word could, which is part of the verb could make (paragraph 2), is a type of
auxiliary verb known as a modal verb. Here, could expresses the idea of possibility
(there is a possibility the court case will make him one of the richest men). Match the
sentences containing modal verbs with the meaning that is expressed: (4)
Sentence with modal verb Meaning that is expressed
The case might make him a rich man It will happen in the future
The case can make him a rich man It most certainly will happen
The case will make him a rich man It is possible but will not necessarily happen
The case must make him a rich man It is able to happen
3. Deduce from their context the meanings of these words from paragraphs 4 and 5,
which are related to the court case in which Makate was involved:
a. advocating
b. attributed
c. accrued
d. entitlement (4)
4. Homonyms are pairs of words that sound the same and look the same, but they
have different meanings. Create sentences which show that these homonyms have
different meanings from the way they are used in the text:
a. interest (paragraph 5)
b. mind ((paragraph 10)
c. articles (paragraph 15)
d. rest (paragraph 16) (4)
5. Refer to “It’s only important to me that the record’s set straight” (paragraph 12).
Discuss what the word only conveys in this sentence. (1)
6. How does the meaning shift when only is placed elsewhere, as in these sentences:
a. It’s important to only me that the record’s set straight. (1)
b. It’s important to me that only the record’s set straight. (1)
7. Give the meanings of these idiomatic expressions:
a. think outside the box (paragraph 8)
b. blood, sweat and tears (paragraph 13) (2)
8. Rewrite the following sentence in indirect speech: “If I can get that right for just a
few children, I’ll die a happy man,” he said (paragraph 17). (2)
9. Rewrite this sentence in direct speech, using the correct punctuation: He added that
the path he had taken with the Vodacom lawsuit had also taught him to take care of
his mental wellbeing (paragraph 19). (2)
10. Note how the verb practise(d) is used in paragraph 19. Write a sentence with the
noun practice to show the difference in use. (1)
11. Psychology (paragraph 20) has a silent p. Write down two different words which have
a silent p. (1)
[25 marks]

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