Vocabulary

Key Concepts

1. Word Meanings

• Understand the meaning of specific words.

2. Word Forms

• Words can change form as a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb.
  • Example: competition (noun), compete (verb), competitive (adjective), competitively (adverb).

3. Correct Spelling

• Ensure words are spelt correctly.

4. Synonyms & Antonyms

• Synonyms – words with similar meanings (e.g., happy – joyful).
• Antonyms – words with opposite meanings (e.g., hot – cold).

5. Homophones & Homonyms

• Homophones – words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings (e.g., patience – patients).
• Homonyms – words that are spelt and pronounced the same but have different meanings (e.g., bark (of a tree) – bark (of a dog)).

6. Abbreviations & Acronyms

• Abbreviations – shortened forms of words (e.g., Dr for Doctor).
• Acronyms – words formed from the first letters of a phrase (e.g., NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration).

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Common Errors & Correct Usage

✔ Fixing Word Form Errors

• Incorrect: 'She's healthy and I love her,' she continued calm.
• Correct: 'She's healthy and I love her,' she continued calmly.
• Explanation: 'Calm' is an adjective, but the adverb 'calmly' is needed to describe how she continued speaking.

✔ Degrees of Comparison

• Adjective forms:
  • Positive: beautiful
  • Comparative: more beautiful
  • Superlative: most beautiful
• Example:
  • Correct: According to the mother, her baby is the most beautiful of all.

✔ Homophones Confusion

• Incorrect: The teacher never lost patients, even though the class was rowdy.
• Correct: The teacher never lost patience, even though the class was rowdy.

✔ Choosing the Right Word Form

• Incorrect: Robert Phipps has information us about the importance of eye contact.
• Correct: Robert Phipps has informed us about the importance of eye contact.
  • Explanation: The verb 'has' requires 'informed' instead of 'information'.
• Incorrect: If you are training someone, it is usefull to know how their mind works.
• Correct: If you are training someone, it is useful to know how their mind works.
  • Explanation: 'Full' is an exception to the '-ful' spelling rule.
• Incorrect: Having enough money makes you independence.
• Correct: Having enough money makes you independent.