Download dictionary skills

English: Grade 7
Language Use: Dictionary Skills
DICTIONARY SKILLS
You have worked with a dictionary in previous grades, so you should already know how to:
-
look up the meaning of words that you don’t know
in a dictionary;
check the spelling of words in the dictionary;
check which part of speech the word is;
look up the plural form of a word;
look up related words;
find out alternative spellings of the word;
find out phrases and idioms in which the word is
used;
see how to pronounce a word;
identify the origin of words.
You will realise that a dictionary is a very valuable tool, which you will use throughout your
life, at school and when you go to work.
All of the words in the English language can be found in a dictionary, with new ones being
added every year, as new words become commonly used, for example, ‘selfie’ and ‘hashtag’.
A dictionary can also help you to put a list of words in alphabetical order. However, by now
you will probably be able to do this without the help of the dictionary.
Hopefully you will be in the habit of noting down words that you don’t understand in a
personal dictionary.
You can use a dictionary in a book or online and most will have a similar layout. The
illustration overleaf shows the general layout of a dictionary. However, different versions
might vary slightly.
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English: Grade 7
Language Use: Dictionary Skills
Go to the link below to see the various layouts of online dictionaries for the word
‘dictionary’.
http://www.onelook.com/?w=dictionary&ls=a
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English: Grade 7
Language Use: Dictionary Skills
CHECKLIST
Module:
Dictionary Skills
Name of Learner:
Grade:
Date:
Show off your knowledge by explaining the layout of a
dictionary entry for a particular wordin the table below and
hand this assessment sheet to your teacher for him/her to
mark.
I understood the layout
of a dictionary and can
explain it without help.
Yes
No
Not
Sure
The guide words on this page are:
The entry word is:
The meaning/meanings of this word is/are:
The part/s of speech for this entry word are:
This word is pronounced:
The syllabification for this word is:
Related words for this entry word:
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English: Grade 7
Language Use: Dictionary Skills
CHECKLIST (cont.)
The plural form for this entry word is:
Phrases and idioms using this entry word (if any):
Alternative Spellings for this entry word (if any):
Origin of this entry word:
My score in Activity 1 was:
My score in Activity 2 was:
My score in Activity 3 was:
My score in Activity 4 was:
Teacher’s comments:
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