improve vocabulary and usage of words What is vocabulary?
Vocabulary is the words used in a language
A good vocabulary is a tool for effective communication Effective communication is being able to say properly what you want to say Success and vocabulary go hand in hand Words can perform miracles for your speech and writing Tips for improving vocabulary-I
Read as much as you can from newspapers, books
and on the internet Do not forget to consult a dictionary every time you do not know the meaning of a word Example of a good dictionary is Concise Oxford English Dictionary Write words and their meanings with example sentences on blank flashcards Keep such cards in your pocket and read from them several times in a day Tips for improving vocabulary-II
Install Merriam Webster dictionary app for
instantly checking meanings on a smartphone Listen to English radio broadcasts by installing mobile apps such as ‘Simple Radio’ or apps by BBC Watch English movies as listening is a great way to improve vocabulary and remember better Tips for improving vocabulary-III
A language can only be learnt well by engaging in
all its components, that is, listening, reading, writing and speaking Try to use newly learnt words in short sentences Gradually try to write paragraphs on topics that interest you and then move on to write essays Writing a daily diary can help a lot You can only speak English if you start thinking in English Begin speaking by using English words in your thoughts and practising in front of a mirror Testing vocabulary
Write words opposite in meaning to the given words:
1. Tall S______ 2. North S______ 3. Happy S______ 4. Different S______ 5. Dangerous S______ 6. Big S______ 7. Dull S______ 8. Noisy S______ 9. Sit S______ 10. Receive S______ A more difficult test
Write words opposite in meaning to the given words:
Homonyms are words that are pronounced almost exactly
alike but that differ considerably in meaning. 1. Most buildings have [(a) stationery, (b) stationary] walls. 2. The [(a) principal, (b) principle] features of Southern California are sunshine and smog. 3. His vocal [(a) cords, (b) chords] are inflamed. 4. He sat for hours [(a) poring, (b) pouring] over the dictionary. 5. Admiral Nelson is famous for one of the most important [(a) navel, (b) naval] encounters in British history. 6. Sitting contentedly by the fire, the cat licked [(a) it’s, (b) its] paws. Why build vocabulary?
The meanings of individual words contribute
to the meanings of sentences and therefore to understanding. After the age of five, oral conversation is a much less effective way of developing vocabulary knowledge. As students increase their reading skills, text becomes the vehicle for learning many new words that are not part of their oral vocabulary. Is dictionary enough?
Using a Dictionary is Not Enough:
Reading a definition does not tell us how a
word is actually used We need examples in context Dictionary definitions can be incomplete Being able to define a word is an end result of knowing the word very well Words in context
Generous: Mr Kumar was quite generous in giving
donations to hospitals. Stingy: He is stingy when it comes to sharing expenses. Believe: She could not believe that her son had won an international chess competition. Complicated: It was a complicated puzzle and Akash was not able to solve it. Skeptical: The government was skeptical of the economic analysis published by newspapers. Word games
Word games help in improving vocabulary to a great
extent One of the simplest word games is word search puzzles Some other common word games are crossword, scrabble and hangman Young learners can also make anagrams. An anagram is a word or phrase formed by rearranging the letters of another word. For example, schoolmaster is an anagram of ‘the classroom’. Other examples are ‘The eyes’ and ‘They see’, punishment and ‘nine thumps’, and ‘eleven plus two’ and ‘twelve plus one’. Word search puzzle Crossword Learning via roots
Like human families, words have origins and can be
traced to a root word in the same or some other language Learning more about root words can help in increasing vocabulary by leaps and bounds The Greek root anthropos means mankind and learning it can make words like anthropology, misanthropy, philanthropy and anthropocentric easier Anthropos makes it clear that all these words have something to do with mankind. Anthropology is the study of mankind while philanthropy is the promotion of welfare of others. Greek root philos means love.