VOCABULARY BUILDING

• A good vocabulary is a vital part of

effective communication.
• A command of many words will make
you a better Writer, Speaker, Listener And
Reader.
THREE WAYS OF DEVELOPING
YOUR WORD POWER:
a. REGULAR READING
b. VOCABULARY WORKSHEET
c. VOCABULARY STUDY BOOKS
• REGULAR READING
 Through reading a good deal you will learn
words by encountering them a number of
time in a variety of sentences.
 Repeated exposure to a word in a context
will make it a part of your working
language.
 You should develop the habit of reading
daily newspaper, weekly magazines,
monthly magazines and some books.
• VOCABULARY WORKSHEET
 First as you read, you should mark off words that
you want to learn.
 Then look up basic information about these words
in dictionary.
 Put this information on a worksheet.
Vocabulary Worksheet
Word: formidable
Pronunciation:________
Meanings: feared or dreaded, extremely difficult
Other forms: formidably, formidability
Use of the word in context: Several formidable
obstacles stand between Matt and his goals.
• VOCABULARY STUDY BOOKS
 A third way to increase word power is to use
vocabulary study books.
 CONTEXT CLUES (These books help you to
learn a word by asking you to look at the context).
• HOMONYMS
Spelt and pronounce like another word but
different meaning like, see, see horn, horn.
• HOMOPHONES
A word pronounced like another word but a
different meaning or spelling like, some, sum.
• WORD FORMATION
Receive (V) Receptive (Adj) Reception(N)
 WORD FORMATION
• English words can be formed by using Suffix or Prefix
with Stem.
Stem = Measure
Suffix = Measurable
Prefix = Immeasurable
• A prefix usually changes the meaning of a word.
• A suffix usually changes its part of speech.
Example:
Immeasurable, Impossible
Breakable , enjoyable
• By learning only few prefixes and suffixes you can
recognize or guess hundred of words.
Prefix Area of Meaning Examples
Anti Against, Opposite Antithesis
Auto Self Automobile
Bi Two, Twice Bilingual
Dis Negative Disqualify
Inter Between, Among Interdependent
Mal Bad, Badly Maladministration
Mono One, Alone Monologue
Pan All, Worldwide Panacea
Post Behind, After Postpaid
Vice Deputy Vice President
Un, Im, In, Ir No, Not, Negative Unattractive
Suffix Area of Meaning Examples
-able Capable of being Responsible, Attainable
-ible
-ation, Condition , or the act of Sensation, Collection
-tion
-dom State, condition, Freedom, Kingdom,
dignity, office Serfdom
-ful Full of Thoughtful, Sinful
-ish To form adjective from Stylish, Girlish, Selfish
noun; belonging to,
like
-ness State, condition, quality Freshness, Fairness
-less Without, loose from Selfless, Cordless
 CHANGING PARTS OF SPEECH
• Making verbs into nouns.
To arrive the Arrival “al”
To deny the denial
To depart the departure “ure”
To legislate the legislature
To agree the agreement “ment”
To punish the punishment
• Making adjectives into nouns
Kind the kindness “ness”
Curious the curiosity “ity”
Human the humanism “ism”
• Making nouns into adjectives.
The fool Foolish “ish”
The cloud Cloudy “y”
The friend Friendly “ly”
The person Personal “al”
• Making verbs into adjectives.
To create Creative “ive”
To excel Excellent “ent”
• Making adjective into adverbs.
Noisy Noisily “ly”
Recent Recently
 Choose the word nearest in meaning to the
given word.

i. Abandon: Vacate, Unite, Recollect, Gain

ii. Conceal: Steal, Hide, Avoid, Pertain
iii. Enunciate: Matter, Ooze, waste, Pronounce
iv. Opt: Choose, Accept, Act, Mitigate
v. Profound: Empty, Thin, Silly, Deep