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English Language Study Guide
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Page 1
Table of Contents
PARTS OF SPEECH .............................................................................................................................................................................. 3
NOUNS..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
PRONOUNS ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 10
VERBS .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
ADJECTIVES ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 23
ADVERBS ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 25
PREPOSITION ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 26
CONJUNCTIONS ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 27
INTERJECTIONS ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 28
PUNCTUATION ................................................................................................................................................................................ 29
COMMAS ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 29
FULL STOPS ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 30
SEMICOLONS ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 31
COLONS .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 32
DASHES .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 33
QUOTATION MARKS ................................................................................................................................................................................. 34
HYPHENS ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 35
CAPITAL LETTERS ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 36
APOSTROPHES ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 37
QUESTION MARKS .................................................................................................................................................................................... 38
SYNONYMS...................................................................................................................................................................................... 40
ANTONYMS ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 49
USING A DICTIONARY ...................................................................................................................................................................... 50
SENTENCES ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 51
IDIOMS ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 52
WRITING STORIES/ESSAYS............................................................................................................................................................... 53
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Parts of Speech
Nouns
A noun names a person, an animal, a place or a thing.
A common noun names a person, an animal, a place, or a thing in a general way.
Examples:
1. The girl hates football.
2. The dog barks too much.
Directions: Underline all the common nouns in these sentences.
1. I live on an island.
2. Shalette lives in the city.
3. Simone lives on a continent.
4. Delroy and Simone are going to the market.
5. Pansy goes to church every Sunday.
6. My dad owns a supermarket.
7. I love my car.
8. Usain Bolt is the fastest man alive.
9. She went to see her doctor.
10. I'm not sure of the name of that animal.
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Proper Noun
A proper noun identifies a particular person, animal, place, or thing.
Examples:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Kenisha hates basketball.
Rover barks too much.
He will go to Kingston tomorrow.
Number Elevens are my favourite mangoes.
Directions: Underline all the proper nouns in these sentences.
1. I live on the island of Jamaica.
2. Shalette lives in Kingston.
3. Simone lives on a continent.
4. Delroy and Simone are going to the market.
5. Pansy goes to church.
6. My dad owns a Honda Accord.
7. Volunteers from the Red Cross helped the survivors.
8. Usain Bolt is the fastest man alive.
9. She went to see Dr. Jonas.
10. I love to swim in the Caribbean Sea.
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Compound Nouns
Some nouns, like Number Elevens, are made out of two or more words. These are compound nouns.
United States of America is a compound noun that involves four words. Multi-word compound nouns can
be proper nouns:
St. Ann's Bay, Mrs. Johnson, Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, Honda Civic, Grand Bahama Island, …
or common nouns:
washing machine, swimming pool, post office, high school, police officer, attorney general, real estate, …
Some compound nouns are formed by hyphenating two or more words together:
jack-in-the-box, son-in-law, editor-in-chief, check-in, dry-cleaning, drop-out, passer-by, …
Other compound nouns are formed by joining two or more words together into a single word:
bathroom, rainfall, greenhouse, redhead, toothpaste, haircut, firefly, keyboard, notebook, lookout, …
In this last case, the joined-together word and the corresponding separated words can have very different
meanings. For example, a greenhouse is a structure (usually made mostly of glass) in which plants are
grown. On the other hand, a green house is a house that is painted green.
Directions: Underline all the compound nouns in these sentences by clicking each one with your mouse.
1. Finding affordable health care is a real challenge these days.
2. What's your favourite web site?
3. I'll send you a text message when I'm ready.
4. Scar tissue is always a concern after an operation.
5. The bride and groom were sitting at the head table.
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Collective Nouns
Some nouns like family, choir, flock, and army name a group and are thought of as one.
Examples:
1. The family is happy.
2. This choir sings beautifully.
Directions: Underline all the collective nouns in these sentences.
1. Swimming in the shallow water was a shoal of herring.
2. Join the army now.
3. What group do you need?
4. Your gang is defeated.
5. The herd has grown large.
6. He pastors a large congregation.
7. A crowd is never safe.
8. He spoke to a large audience.
9. The class is ready to begin.
10. The party is in a good mood.
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Number
Number in English grammar refers to whether something is singular or plural.
The usual way to form the plural is by adding "s", as in dog (singular); dogs (plural); girl (singular); girls
(plural).
Other ways of forming the plural:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Adding "es" (glass, glasses; fox, foxes)
Changing "y" to "ies" (city, cities; fly, flies)
Changing "f" or "fe" to "ves" (wife, wives; calf, calves)
Changing inside vowels: (foot, feet; man, men)
By using the singular form for the plural (sheep, sheep; furniture, furniture)
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Plurals
Directions: Type the plural form of each singular noun, using lowercase letters only.
Singular
Plural
phenomenon
son-in-law
beach
dish
bike
man
hen
pen
tool
foot
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Gender
The term gender is used to distinguish masculine (male) and feminine (female). In English grammar
there are two other genders: common and neuter.
Common gender can refer to either sex (teacher, child, lawyer, doctor, person).
Neuter gender has no reference to sex at all (tree, lake, garden, knife).
Below is a list of masculine and feminine forms.
Masculine
Feminine
Masculine
Feminine
actor
actress
conductor
Conductress
god
goddess
heir
Heiress
prince
princess
lad
lass
duke
host
groom
nephew
duchess
hostess
hero
Heroine
bull
Cow
monk
filly
dog
ewe
Lioness
Spinster
niece
ram
Deaconess
bachelor
gentleman
heifer
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lion
bride
steer
colt
deacon
shepherd
Lady
Nun
Bitch
Shepherdess
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Pronouns
A pronoun stands for a noun (pro means "for"). There are several pronouns:
Personal (standing for persons):
I
you
he
she
it
me
him
her
us
them
my
his
their
our
theirs
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Reflexive
Reflexive (turning the action to the doer):
myself
yourself
herself
himself
Example: I blame myself.
Intensive
Intensive (making emphasis)
Example: She herself said it.
Relative
Relative (linking):
who
which
that
who
whom
whichever
Example: The book which I read yesterday was interesting.
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Interrogative
Interrogative (beginning a question):
Who?
Which?
What?
Example: What is the cause of all this?
Demonstrative
Demonstrative (pointing to things):
this
that
these
Example: She needs that book.
Indefinite
Indefinite (referring to indefinite numbers of persons or things):
any
each
few
some
somebody
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Reciprocal
Reciprocal (plural reflexive):
each other
one another
Each other usually refers to two, one another to more than two
Examples:
1. Jane and Julie hate each other.
2. The dogs and the cats fight one another.
Subject
I
you
he
she
it
we
they
who
whoever
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Object
Pronouns can be used as object.
me
you
him
her
it
us
them
whom
whomever
Possessive
Pronouns can be used as possessive.
my, mine
yours
his
hers
its
our, ours
thier, theirs, whose
whosever
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Pronouns can be used as subject, as object, or as possessive.
Subject
Object
Possessive
I
me
my, mine
her
hers
you
you
he
him
we
us
she
it
they
who
whoever
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it
them
whom
whomever
yours
his
its
our, ours
their, theirs
whose
whosever
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Notice some right and wrong uses of pronouns:
Wrong: Me and you will go together.
Right: You and I will go together.
Wrong: They thought that it was him.
Right: They thought that it was he.
Note: The forms of the verb to be (be, is, am, are, was, were) either take two subjects or two objects
before and after them.
Wrong: "It is them," they said.
Right: "It is they," they said.
Wrong: They called him and she.
Right: They called him and her.
Wrong: Did you see Ken and we at the market?
Right: Did you see Ken and us at the market.
Wrong: Everyone but he had fled.
Right: Everyone but him had fled.
(Grammatically the pronoun he is the object of but. The object of a preposition must also be an object.
When but means except it is a preposition; when it means only it is an adverb.)
Wrong: Between you and I lies the river.
Right: Between you and me lies the river.
(Note that "between" is a preposition. One never says "between I" in English.)
Wrong: They saw both of us off, she and I.
Right: They saw both of us off, her and me.
(Note: They saw her and they saw me.)
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Verbs
A verb expresses an action. Since a complete sentence must express an action a sentence cannot be made
without a verb, even if the verb is understood.
The chief rule of agreement is that verbs and subjects must be alike in number. A singular subject needs a
singular verb, and a plural subject needs a plural verb.
Examples:
1. Keith plays football.
2. Keith and Kevin play football.
Note that the singular form of the verb takes an s. Nouns do the opposite.
More Difficult Constructions
1. A description of the boys is necessary.
Notice that the subject is description, not boys which is nearest to the verb is.
2. The days of the year are going fast.
3. Collective nouns take singular verbs.
Her family behaves quite well.
4. Indefinite pronouns take singular verbs if they are singular.
o Everybody wants a horse.
o None of the men is here.
o Neither the man nor the woman believes it.
But: Neither men nor women believe it.
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Agreement of Verbs
A verb expresses an action. Since a complete sentence must express an action a sentence cannot be made
without a verb, even if the verb is understood.
The chief rule of agreement is that verbs and subjects must be alike in number. A singular subject needs a
singular verb, and a plural subject needs a plural verb.
Examples:
1. Keith plays football.
2. Keith and Kevin play football.
Note that the singular form of the verb takes an s. Nouns do the opposite.
More Difficult Constructions
1. A description of the boys is necessary.
Notice that the subject is description, not boys which is nearest to the verb is.
2. The days of the year are going fast.
3. Collective nouns take singular verbs.
Her family behaves quite well.
4. Indefinite pronouns take singular verbs if they are singular.
o Everybody wants a horse.
o None of the men is here.
o Neither the man nor the woman believes it.
But: Neither men nor women believe it.
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Present Tense, Past Tense, Past Participle
A verb can be present, past or future. Usually the past tense of the verb is formed by adding "ed". For
example:
Kill
Killed
Climb
Climbed
Knock
Walk
Knocked
Walked
Sometimes a form of the verb "to have" is used to form the perfect tense, as in: He has killed. "Killed" here
when it is joined with "has" or "have" is not a verb but a past participle.
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Irregular Verbs
Here is a list of irregular verbs, showing their past tense forms and the participle forms.
Present
Past
Past Participle
am
Was
been
arise
Arose
arisen
awake
Awoke
awoken
begin
Began
begun
break
Broke
bear
beat
bite
blow
Bore
Beat
Bit
Blew
borne
beaten
bitten
blown
broken
bring
Brought
brought
cut
Cut
cut
choose
come
do
draw
Chose
Came
Did
chosen
come
done
Drew
drawn
Fell
fallen
drive
Drove
freeze
Froze
frozen
grow
Grew
grown
Knelt
knelt
eat
fall
give
go
Ate
Gave
Went
driven
eaten
given
gone
hear
Heard
know
Knew
known
lie
Lay
lain
hurt
kneel
lay
leave
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Hurt
Laid
Left
heard
hurt
laid
left
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lose
Lost
lost
Directions: In the boxes provided, type the present tense and past participle of the verbs whose past
tense is given.
Present
Past
1.
Drove
3.
fell
2.
Ate
4.
froze
6.
went
5.
7.
gave
grew
8.
heard
10.
kept
9.
11.
hurt
knelt
12.
knew
14.
left
13.
15.
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Past Participle
laid
lay
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Future Tense
The future tense is formed by adding shall or will to the plural form of the verb. These days shall is hardly
used.
Examples:
1. I will go tomorrow.
2. She will not see you.
3. They will discover all they need.
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Adjectives
Adjectives describe (or qualify) nouns or pronouns. In the following sentences blue, wonderful, clean and
old are used as adjectives.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
They love the blue sea. The sea is blue.
They had a wonderful experience. It is wonderful to live here.
The clean sheet had a pleasant smell. We know when it is clean.
The old man sat at the gate. They felt he was already old.
The big house is empty.
Directions: Underline all the adjectives in these sentences.
1. The slim girl is walking down the street.
2. The pretty girl is cooking stew.
3. The short girl is angry.
4. The lovely woman smiles peacefully.
5. She dances happily.
6. This is my fast car.
7. How are you, Bobette?
8. George is handsome.
9. I love ripe bananas.
10. I hate apples.
11. He has an interesting face.
12. I only like red grapes.
13. The house is empty.
14. I just felt a twinge in my left knee.
15. She is dressed smartly
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Degree of Comparision
Comparing two
To compare two things we add "er" to the adjective (fast, faster). If the adjective has more than two
syllables we place more before it (more important).
He is the smarter of the two.
She is more meticulous than her sister.
Comparing more than two
When we want to compare three or more or we want to suggest the highest degree of something we use
"est" (fastest) or add most (most important).
She is the quickest in the games.
Jamal is the most intelligent young man I have ever met.
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
Dear
dearer
dearest
Keen
Old
Short
Great
wonderful
keener
older
shorter
greater
more wonderful
Do not use "er" and "more" or "est" and "most" for the same comparison
keenest
oldest
shortest
greatest
most wonderful
Wrong: He is more smarter than the other boy.
Right: He is smarter than the other boy.
Wrong: Linton is the most kindest person in town.
Right: Linton is the kindest person in town.
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Adverbs
Adverbs describe (or modify) verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They often tell how, when, where, and
why.
Examples: The most common adverbs add "ly" to the adjective:
actively, beautifully, carefully, dutifully, effectively, figuratively, gracefully, healthily.
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Preposition
A preposition links nouns and pronouns in a sentence.
Common prepositions: to, from, in, into, on, upon, under.
Examples:
1. The food (noun) on (preposition) the plate (noun) is sufficient.
2. Wally has his head (noun) in (preposition) the air (noun).
Constant reading will tell you the right preposition to use in a sentence. For example: in and into are not
always interchangeable. In indicates position; into suggests movement.
Wrong: They are all into the water.
Right: They are all in the water.
Wrong: They went from the beach in the water.
Right: They went from the beach into the water.
Directions: In each box, write the preposition that is most suitable in the sentence. Select from this list:
across, against, at, in, into, on, onto, upon.
1. Sophia cannot get
the river without your help.
2. "I am not interested
3. I will wait
your trip," she replied.
the gate for you.
4. I think she spent the entire afternoon
the phone.
5. The child responded to his mother's demands by walking
6. Since he met his new girlfriend, David never seems to be
7. I'll be ready to leave the fish
8. Paul jumped
9. I like to stand
home.
the horse and hurt his arm.
my window and watch the traffic down the road.
10. Mother hides the game
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the water.
the carpet.
the barrel in the kitchen.
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Conjunctions
A conjunction joins words, clauses, or sentences.
Some conjunctions: and, but, if, yet, for, because
Examples:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Christopher and Ben ran home.
Mae and Fae ran home because they were late.
They saw him; but they were not afraid.
He will go if you stay.
She is angry; yet she is willing to smile.
And and but are the most useful conjunctions to join sentences.
Examples:
1. He batted in the match. He played well.
Joined: He batted in the match and played well.
2. Lawrence came into the room. He chose a chair. He sat down.
Joined: Lawrence came into the room, chose a chair, and sat down.
3. He walked five miles. He was in pain.
Joined: He walked five miles, but he was in pain.
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Interjections
An interjection is an exclamation that interrupts the flow of the sentence.
Examples:
1. But oh my friends, and ah my foes
It gives a lovely light.
2. But he, alas, had left.
3. The dove broods over the nest with warm breast and ah! bright wings.
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Punctuation
Commas
The comma is used to separate words, phrases, or sentences.
Examples:
1. He ate bread, mangoes, meat, fish, and rice.
2. He swam in the morning, ran in the afternoon, and slept at night.
A comma should not be used to separate a person from a title.
Wrong: Agriculture Minister, Roger Clarke, spoke at Denbigh.
Right: Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke spoke at Denbigh.
But note:
Right: The Minister of Agriculture, Roger Clarke, spoke at Denbigh.
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Full Stops
A full stop (sometimes called a period) is used at the end of a sentence.
Wrong: When he came home. He ate his dinner.
Right: When he came home he ate his dinner.
Wrong: Malcolm was a good student. A boy who studied hard.
Right: Malcolm was a good student, a boy who studied hard.
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Semicolons
The semicolon marks a long pause in the sentence. Sometimes it is used to replace conjunctions. It also
separates long phrases or lists.
Examples:
1. He gave me; I took it.
2. The semicolon is a stop sign; the colon is a green light.
3. Work when you work; play when you play.
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Colons
The colon is used to introduce quotations, ideas, or a series of things.
Examples:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Larry has discovered our secret: study, study, and more study.
The girl had one saving grace: she could sing.
They had one thing to say about it: "Don't bring it here."
We can't forget George's words: "I will return."
There are three things that come not back: the sped arrow, the spoken word, and the low prices.
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Dashes
A dash introduces a sudden break in a sentence.
Example: He came out of the bush — naked.
Sometimes dashes are used as parentheses.
Example: I am saying — and saying loudly — you are strange.
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Quotation Marks
Quotation marks are used for articles, chapters in books, sculpture, and paintings.
Examples:
1. He wrote "It's Time to Quit"
2. Michelangelo's "David" is one of the world's famous works of sculpture.
Quotation marks are used to indicate the exact words of a speaker.
Examples:
1. Jane said, "I will go to Hanover if you go to Portland."
2. "I will go there if I wish," Jane said.
3. "I will go there," Jane said, "if I wish."
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Hyphens
The hyphen is used to join two words, or to join a word that has two parts.
Examples: hush-hush, long-distance, twenty-five, three-fourths.
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Capital Letters
Capital letters are used in several ways:
1. They begin sentences.
o You will go to school.
o Next day he saw the light.
2. Sometimes a sentence occurs within another sentence:
o They often said, "Don't worry, he will come home."
3. Notice that both They and Don't begin sentences.
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Apostrophes
The apostrophe is used: (1) to show possession, and (2) to indicate that a letter is missing.
Examples:
1. Here's the bag with the boy's book.
2. Here's means here is. Similarly he's means he is; we've means we have; I'd means I had in I'd gone,
but I would in I'd go.
Directions: In each box in the "Contraction" column, write the shortened form of the corresponding
word or phrase that is underlined in the "Sentence" column.
Sentence
Contraction
Good news: I am coming home on Saturday.
I will phone to let you know the flight time.
I have enjoyed myself immensely.
I cannot describe it now.
On my return you will hear of it.
I hope all is well at home.
I suggest that you do not tell Daniel.
He will phone.
You have been very patient.
You had better make up the spare bed for me.
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Question Marks
The question mark (?) is used after questions.
Examples:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Why are you hitting him?
Can you tell me where he lives?
Will they be here tomorrow?
How old are the puppies?
Notice that the question mark is used when the words are in the questioner's exact words. This sentence:
Jack asked if you could tell him where he lives.
does not contain a question, and the question mark should not be used. But notice how this sentence is
written:
"Could you tell me where he lives?" Jack asked.
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Synonyms
a
abandon
desert, forsake, leave, quit
abundant
plentiful, profuse, lavish
abhor
absent
acceptable
accompany
accumulate
accustomed
acknowledge
across
address
admit
advantageous
aggravate
alarm
allow
amateur
anarchy
annual
apologize
appearance
apply
approximately
artificial
assistance
attendance
available
awful
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detest, hate, loathe
missing
agreeable
escort, follow, chaperone
collect
ordinary, usual
admit, endorse
over, beyond
greet, speech, residence
confess, acknowledge, own
useful, helpful, beneficial
worsen, provoke, heighten
frighten, terrify, startle, scare
approve, permit
unskilled, unprofessional, beginner
lawlessness, disorder, chaos, confusion
yearly, seasonal
repent, regret
arrival, emergence
employ, use, practice
almost, about, nearly
false, unreal
help, aid
presence, participation
accessible, convenient
fearful, horrible
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B
ban
prohibit, forbid, outlaw, abolish
benefit
advantage, gain, asset
banish
bearable
bestow
bewilder
bisect
blunder
boring
brittle
expel, exile, eject, expatriate
Tolerable
give, grant, present, confer
confuse, puzzle, perplex, confound, mystify
intersect, cut
error, mistake
tedious, monotonous, dull, wearisome
fragile, breakable
bureau
office, agency
category
class, degree, rank
C
cafeteria
chaos
commitment
compel
competent
conceit
conquer
consume
convenient
corpulent
corroborate
corrode
crystal
cunning
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Restaurant
confusion, disorder
pledge, guarantee
Force
proficient, fit, qualified
egotism, pride
capture, seize, subjugate
spend, exhaust, eat, drink
fit, suitable, appropriate, proper
fat, stout, obese
confirm, verify, establish
rust, erode
clear, translucent
crafty, sly, clever, shrewd, astute, wily
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D
debate
argue, discuss, deliberate
demeanour
behaviour, conduct
defer
deficient
deposit
deprive
derelict
desirable
desolate
destiny
discuss
disdain
drawback
durable
E
postpone, adjourn
lacking, short, inadequate
down-payment, accumulation
dispossess, rob
abandoned
pleasing, excellent, appealing, inviting
lonely, solitary, uninhabited, deserted
fate, lot
deliberate, argue, debate
scorn, contempt
disadvantage, handicap, fault
lasting, permanent
earnest
serious, sincere, determined
efficient
skilful, able, competent, capable
eccentric
ecstasy
eliminate
elude
eminent
employment
endless
entire
erroneous
exorbitant
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odd, peculiar, strange
bliss, elation, euphoria
remove
escape, evade
high, reputable
occupation, job, vocation
ceaseless, eternal, everlasting
whole, complete, full
wrong, false, mistaken
excessive
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F
facility
ease
feasible
possible, practicable
fascinate
fatigue
feud
final
financial
flexible
foreign
fortunate
futile
G
captivate, charm
tiredness
quarrel, bickering
last, decisive, eventual
economic, monetary, pecuniary
pliable, supple, lithe, yielding
strange, alien
lucky
useless, vain, fruitless, ineffective
gait
walk, bearing, stride
germinate
sprout, shoot, grow
genius
gentle
goal
grievance
guarantee
H
gift, flair, talent, knack
tender, kind, lenient, humane
aim, objective, ambition
complaint, grouse
pledge, promise, certify
habit
custom, practice, tradition
hilarious
funny, jocular
heroes
hideous
hopeless
hospitable
hostile
hue
humorous
hypocrite
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champions, conquerors
frightful, repulsive, revolting
wretched, despairing, pessimistic
sociable, kind, friendly
unfriendly
colour, tint, complexion
amusing, comical
pretender, impostor
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I
Identify
name, recognize, detect, discover
Impair
spoil, blemish, mar
Illiterate
Immaculate
Inaugurate
Increase
Integrity
Influence
Innocent
Intercede
Intimate
Irrigate
J
unlearned, ignorant
stainless, spotless, perfect, clean
begin, launch, initiate
augment, extend, expand, magnify
honesty, morality, sincerity
sway, control, authority
blameless, guiltless
intervene, mediate
familiar, confidential, close; hint, suggest
flood, water, inundate
Jealous
envious
Just
impartial, fair
Jest
Judicious
K
keen
kin
kindle
l
laborious
languid
learned
legible
logical
loiter
love
loyal
ludicrous
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joke, prank, fun
wise, prudent, astute
acute, sharp, astute; eager, earnest, ardent
family, relatives
light, ignite
arduous, hard, toilsome
listless, drooping, inactive
literate, informed, erudite, versed
readable, clear, plain
reasonable, sound
delay, idle, dawdle, tarry
adore, esteem
true, faithful, devoted
comical, amusing, absurd, funny
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m
mammoth
huge, enormous, gigantic, colossal, immense, large
menial
low, base, mean
manoeuvre
manipulate
minute
miscellaneous
moral
morale
mutual
myth
N
strategy, operation
operate, control, guide, steer
tiny, small
varied, assorted
decent, ethical, good, honest
confidence, self-esteem
common, joint, shared, reciprocal
legend, fable
naked
rude, bare, exposed
neglect
ignore, disregard, overlook
natural
necessary
nimble
novice
nuisance
O
oblige
obliterate
obstacle
omission
oppression
optimistic
oust
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normal, unrefined, regular, usual
essential, needful
active, alert, lively, quick, agile
beginner, learner, apprentice
bother, pest, annoyance
constrain, compel
destroy, eradicate, erase
barrier, block, hindrance, hurdle
exclusion, gap, oversight
tyranny, persecution, suffering, cruelty
confident, hopeful, positive, expectant
dislodge, eject, expel
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P
painstaking
industrious, diligent, conscientious, careful
peculiar
strange, odd, unusual
panic
particular
permanent
persuade
pious
portray
potent
precise
prejudice
primitive
prohibit
prominent
pursue
Q
terror, fright, alarm, consternation
specific, notable, distinct
durable, lasting
convince, coax, entice, induce, influence
devout, godly, religious
depict, evoke, show
strong, powerful
accurate, correct, exact
bias, bigotry, discrimination
ancient, prehistoric, primeval
ban, forbid, prevent, hinder
conspicuous, noticeable, bulging, distinguished
chase, follow, hunt, seek, aspire
queer
strange, unusual, odd
quote
Cite
quest
quiet
R
radiant
realize
rebellion
recede
recreation
recuperate
rehearsal
reservoir
rhythm
ridicule
ridiculous
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search, mission, expedition
silent, calm, peaceful
beaming, shining
understand, conceive, grasp
revolt, mutiny
ebb, retreat, subside
pastime, amusement, sport
recover, revive, convalesce
practice, preparation
Tank
accent, beat, metre, pattern, pulse
mock, deride, taunt
absurd, nonsensical
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rigid
stiff, unbending, firm, inflexible
sacrifice
offering; surrender
ruthless
S
sample
scan
secluded
sediment
severe
siege
snug
specimen
squalid
statue
strenuous
substantial
suppress
suspense
synonymous
T
taint
tear
tendency
thorough
thrifty
timid
tragic
tranquil
trivial
turmoil
typical
U
unanimous
unconscious
undoubtedly
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merciless, pitiless, cruel
specimen, example
examine, scrutinize
sheltered
dregs, deposit, residue
strict, harsh, cruel, stern
blockade
cosy, comfortable
original, sample, example
shabby, filthy, nasty, repulsive
representation, likeness, figure
energetic, vigorous, active
sturdy, sound; considerable, large
conceal, subdue, restrain
uncertainty, remainder, balance
Similar
stain, tarnish, contaminate, pollute, blot
cut, split, rupture, rip, slit
inclination, disposition
complete
frugal, sparing, economical
shy, bashful, diffident
sad, disastrous, dreadful, terrible
calm, peaceful, quiet, serene, still, composed
little, petty, unimportant, minor
uproar, disorder, chaos, commotion
characteristic, representative
united, harmonious, undivided
senseless, insensible, unaware, ignorant, unknowing
positively, definitely
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undulating
rolling, wavy
urgent
immediate, pressing
unique
unusual
V
vacillate
vague
valiant
vehement
velocity
venomous
verge
vicious
villain
virtue
W
wan
wane
wary
weary
weird
whirl
wonderful
wrath
Y
yearn
yield
Z
zeal
zenith
zero
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singular, matchless, exceptional
exceptional, different, peculiar
hesitate, waver
uncertain, indistinct
daring, brave, intrepid, courageous, bold
fierce, violent, furious
speed, swiftness, quickness
poisonous, noxious
edge, border, brink
barbaric, cruel, merciless
rascal, scoundrel, criminal
goodness, honesty, honour, integrity
pale, colourless, pallid
diminish, fade, decline, ebb
cautious, guarded, watchful
tired, fatigued, exhausted
eerie, unearthly, uncanny
spin, rotate, revolve, turn
astounding, fine, marvellous
anger, rage, ire, indignation
crave, long
surrender, submit, concede
eagerness, enthusiasm, keenness, fervour
apex, top, pinnacle
nothing, nought, nil
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Antonyms
An antonym means the opposite of the word given. Example: up-down, yes-no, bright-dark.
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Using a Dictionary
A dictionary can help you learn many words. It tells you how to spell them, how to use them, and how to
pronounce them. All the words in a dictionary are entered in alphabetical order. Words beginning with a
come before words beginning with b, and words beginning with b come before words beginning with c,
and so on. The second letter in words with the same first letter determines the order — then the third
letter, and the fourth letter, and so on.
Directions: Look up each of these words in a dictionary.
abbreviate, accumulate, ache, adjourn, belief, beverage, boundary, brief, brutal, candidate.
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Sentences
If you haven't been practising you won't find writing so easy. Let us begin at the beginning.
•
•
•
Writing is made up of sentences.
A sentence has two parts. The first part is the thing you are talking about, called the subject.
The second part is called the predicate, which is what you say about what you are talking about.
Notice these two sentences:
1. We drove on the North Coast.
2. Jenny Lawrence closed her eyes tightly.
In the first sentence we are talking about We, and in the second about Jenny Lawrence.
•
•
•
The two subjects then are We and Jenny Lawrence.
The predicate for the first sentence is: drove on the North Coast.
The predicate for the second sentence is: closed her eyes tightly.
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Idioms
An idiom is a fixed expression, both grammatically and lexically. It is not possible to replace any of the
words in the idiom and retain the idiomatic meaning. For example,
to let it all hang out
means "to have a very good time". If you said,
I'm going to allow it all to hang out
this would change the meaning completely and you might be talking about putting the washing out to
dry.
Some idioms remain in fashion and contribute to the unique character of a language over a long time. It is
useful to know these. Some idioms go out of fashion. New idioms come into fashion over a period of time.
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Writing Stories/Essays
When you tell a story, whether orally or in writing, your aim is to be interesting.
You could divide your story into three parts: the beginning, the middle, and the end.
Your beginning sets the stage, so it is important for you to have a good start. There are, of course, many
ways to start a story. Perhaps the most common is: "Once upon a time …". Sometimes "Once" is sufficient.
Examples:
1. Once, in a sweltering Italian city named Verona, one man wronged another.
2. There was once a king, an old king, the foolish, tired, vain old king of England.
In the middle or body of the story you decide what happens to the people (or animals) in your story. Your
story will be more effective if things happen that could happen in real life. You should let the people in
your story (called characters) speak and act like real people.
You conclude your story by making something happen that flows from what has gone on before. You will
have to decide what kind of end you want: expected or unexpected, happy or sad.
You will not find story writing so difficult if you base your story on something you have experienced or
something you have heard about. You can make the people in your story act and speak like people you
know.
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