Hear and Listen To any layman, hearing and listening may appear to be one and the same thing,

but there is a subtle difference between the two words. At one level, they are of course both functions of the ear that involve receiving sounds and processing them. However, herein lies the difference: any sound that is received by the ear and noted by the brain can be said to have been heard; it is only when a conscious effort is made to hear something that listening comes into play. For example, if the sounds from a conversation carry to you, but you make no effort to understand what is being said, you must say that you heard the conversation. On the other hand, as soon as you make a conscious effort to understand or pay attention to what you are hearing, you are listening. Therefore, we do not hear songs, we listen to them (unless, of course, they are simply part of the background and we arent actually paying attention to them). It must be noted that hear can be used in place of listen sometimes, but listen should not be used in place of hear. For example, you may tell someone that you heard what he or she said, and it is understood that you were listening, ie, paying attention. You will learn these variations with practice in conversation. Much and Many Much and many are both determiners that suggest an unspecified quantity, with more or less the same basic meaning: in great quantity or in large number. There is, however, a distinction in their usage. Much, not many, is used for uncountable nouns, which are in singular form. I have much faith in him. How much money do you have in your wallet? There was much compassion in his voice. On the other hand, many is used for countable nouns, which are in plural form, and here much cannot be used. Many youngsters today are taking to atheism. How many days remain? There are many obstructions ahead for us. See and Watch See and watch are words that are commonly misunderstood as being interchangeable, but while both refer to the optic function, they are not one and the same thing. They stand for different ways of using the eye. To see something is simply to look at it or spot it; it may be unintentional, ie, you may not have been looki ng for it. Example : I saw a man up ahead. To watch something is look at something closely or intently, generally because it is moving. Example : I watched the movie.

Loose and Lose Lose and loose are often mixed up, and this is understandable because there is only an o of difference between them. They do not, however, have any meanings in common. Loose is generally used as an adjective, the opposite of tight or contained. The dog is running loose in the streets. These jeans are loose around my waist. Lose is a verb that means to suffer the loss of, to miss. Dont lose the car keys. We cannot afford to lose this match. Have and Has Have and has are both used to denote possession, form the perfect tense, and the past tense of both is had, but they are used differently. Have is used with - the following pronouns: I, you, we, they. Examples : 'I have a pencil.' 'We have a big house.' - pluralised nouns: Example : 'Doctors have a rough time, dealing with illnesses all the time.' Has is used with the third person singular (he, she, it). Examples : 'She has your money.' 'Amit has the book.' Some and Any Both some and any are used to refer to indefinite quantities, i.e., when it is not necessary to specify a number. For example, I would like some milk indicates that the speaker wants milk, but it is not stated how much of it he or she wants. Similarly, Is there any cake left? does not specify how much cake the speaker wants there to be; any amount will do for the purpose of the question. There are important differences between the two that must be grasped for usage, however. Some Some is commonly used in affirmative statements, such as I would like to have some fun. Any is hardly ever used in such statements, except to emphasise that the quality of the object does not matter. For example, I would like any apples suggests that the speaker does not care what kind of apples they are (indicating a desperate need or desire for apples), whereas I would like some apples does not suggest anything about the quality of the apples or desperation of the speaker. Any Any is commonly used in negative statements, such as We do not have any apples. Here, some may not be used.

Any is also used in affirmative statements, if the statements contain negative words such as hardly, barely, never, without, little, etc. For example, We hardly have any apples cannot be rewritten as We hardly have some apples. In questions While both any and some can be used in questions, any is more common and natural in this form. Do you have any apples? can be rewritten as Do you have some apples? However, some is not always applicable. For example, in the case of Do you have any idea what the score is?, any cannot be replaced by some. Some is more commonly used in offers and requests, such as Would you like some tea? If clauses Both some and any are common in if clauses, with similar meanings, as in If you need some/any assistance, feel free to give me a ring. Beside and Besides It is easy to confuse beside and besides, but they are not one and the same thing. Beside is a preposition, whereas besides works as both a preposition and an adverb, and although besides is sometimes used in place of beside, they have distinct meaning. Beside means by or at the side of. For example: He stood beside his new car proudly. As a preposition, besides means in addition to or apart from. For example: What are you working on besides the research project? As an adverb, it means furthermore. As in, He was not selected because he did not have a good grasp of his concepts. Besides, he did not seem very keen. As mentioned above, the distinction between the two words is sometimes ignored. Besides can never mean at the side of, but beside is often used in place of besides. This can lead to misunderstanding, though; the sentence There was no one beside him in the hall could mean that he was all by himself, or that there was no one next to him. Principle and Principal Principle and principle are often confused but do not, in fact, share any meanings. Principle is only a noun and usually refers to a rule or standard. The principles of socialism, for exam ple, refers to the tenets of the socialist ideology. My principles prevent me from taking such petty action suggests that the speakers moral/ethical stand is against the action being spoken of. Principal, on the other hand, is both a noun and an adjective. As a noun, it has special financial and legal connotations, but in general usage it refers to someone who holds a high position or is important in a certain context: a meeting of all the principals involved in the deal . As an adjective it has the sense of most important: My principal concern is to get my health back.

Stationery and Stationary These two words are among the most frequently confused in the English language, although their meanings are vastly different. Stationery is a noun that refers to writing material and office supplies such as pens, paper, clips, etc. Stationary is generally an adjective that is used to describe something that is not moving. For example, a man who is standing in one place can be described as stationary. The difference in the spellings of the two words can be used to remember their meanings: the second a in stationary can be thought to stand for adjective. It is replaced by an e in stationery. Was and Were The basic difference between were and was is obvious: were is used when the number of objects or entities exceeds one, as in We were late for the dinner. Was is used when only one object or entity is being referred to, as in I was late for the dinner. There are, however, nuances in their use. For example, Everyone was well-dressed seems incorrect because everyone refers to more than one person. However, here the implication of the pronoun comes into play; everyone refers to all the members of a group individually, as do none (None of us was well-dressed) and each (Each of us was well-dressed). Hence, was is used after these words instead of were. On the other hand, all refers collectively to the entire group (All of us were well-dressed). This does not mean, however, that all and were necessarily always go together. When all is used with countable nouns, it is correct to use were, as in All the apples were stale. However, when it is used with non-countable nouns, which are in the singular form, was must be used, as in All the milk was over. What about 'The examination was failed by all the students'? This, too, can be confusing. After all, here all refers to the collective student body but was is used. This is because the verb was acts on the singular examination, not on the phrase all the students. If the subject (examination) were to be pluralised (examinations), was would have to replaced by were. Lastly, the use of were as the past subjunctive of the present to be is important. A subjunctive is used to express possibility, hope, supposition, etc., rather than to state a fact. Hence, we say, If I/he were famous... instead of If I/he was famous... Double Negatives A double negative is when two negatives used in a sentence cancel each other out to make a positive. This must not be misunderstood to mean that double negatives are an accepted grammatical device; they are grammatically incorrect and must not be used. How does one avoid double negatives? It is quite simple. When using the negative form of a verb (e.g. arent, dont, wont, etc), do not follow it up with a negative determiner/quantifier (e.g. nowhere, nothing, never, etc). Consider the following sentences: They arent going nowhere. They dont do nothing.

They wont never stop. All of the above employ the double negative, and are hence grammatically incorrect. Formerly, the double negative was a device for emphasis, but the effort to make English conform grammatically to formal logic has rendered it unacceptable today. Logically, the meanings of the above sentences, deduced by applying the formula negative + negative = positive, are: They are going somewhere. (arent + nowhere = somewhere) They do something. (dont + nothing = something) They will stop. (wont + never = will) The ban on multiple negatives also applies to combination with adverbs such as hardly and scarcely. It is therefore regarded as incorrect to say I couldn't hardly do it or The vehicle has scarcely no fuel. To, Too and Two It is best to be clear on the meanings of these three words so as not to confuse them in everyday usage. To To functions as 1. A preposition, in which case it always precedes a noun, as in I am going to school and He is on his way home. 2. An infinitive, in which case it always precedes a verb, as in I am going to study and I am going to take a vacation. Too Too functions 1. As a synonym for also, as in I would like to come, too and He worked on the project, too. 2. As a synonym for excessively, where it precedes an adjective or an adverb, as in I am too tired to continue or This pastrami is much too salty. Two Two is the number that follows one and precedes three. It has no other meaning. Either and Neither It is important to grasp the meanings and difference between either and neither so that we dont get confused between the two. Both words can be used as pronoun, conjunction and adjective; however, the use of either is considered positive, while the use of neither is considered negative As adjective: Either indicates one or the other, or both. For example: You may use either hand for the purpose. = You may use your right or left hand for the purpose. There were tall houses on either side of the river. = There were tall houses on both sides of the river.

Neither indicates not one or the other; none of the two. For example; Neither twin was invited to the wedding. = None of the twins was invited to the wedding. As pronoun: Either indicates one or the other. For example: Both buses are headed in that direction, you can get on either. = Both buses are headed in that direction, you can get on one or the other. Neither indicates not one or the other. For example: Both pups were pure-breed, but neither displayed the characteristic traits of its breed. = Both pups were purebreed, but not one or the other displayed the characteristic traits of its breed. As conjunction: Either is used with or to imply a choice of alternatives. For example: You can either play on the computer or watch TV. = You can do one of two things: play on the computer or watch TV. Neither is used with nor to negate both parts of a statement. For example: I can neither play on the computer nor watch TV. = I cannot play on the computer or watch TV. Either is also used as an adverb, to mean also, following negative expressions. For example: If you dont go, I wont go either. = If you stay, I will stay also. Neither, on the other hand, is not used as an adverb. Your and You're Your is the second person possessive adjective, or, in simpler terms, it is used to describe something as belonging to you. It is nearly always followed by a noun. For example,

Is this your wallet? Your presence at the table is very much appreciated. What happened to your foot?

You're is the contraction of you are and is often followed by the present participle, ie, verb form ending in ing. For example,

Youre looking ill. Youre going to be late. Youre a fool.

Could, Would and Should Would, should and could are auxiliary verbs, meaning that their function is to assist main verbs. For example, in the sentence, I would like to meet him, like is the main verb that is assisted by would. They can be defined as the past tenses respectively of will, shall and can, but each has many uses that sometimes even express the present tense. It is important to be able to differentiate between the three so as not to use them incorrectly. We shall discuss some of the common functions of the three words here. Would 1. To ask questions:

Would you like to see the doctor? = Do you want to see the doctor? 2. With who, what, when, where, why, how:

How would he react? What would she do?

In both sentences, would is more or less interchangeable with will. 3. To make polite requests:

I would like more salad, please. = I want more salad, please. 4. To show a different response if the past had been different:

I would have done something if I had known you were in trouble. = I didn't know that you were in. This is why I did not do anything to help. 5. To explain an outcome to a hypothetical situation:

Were I to win a million dollars, I would go on a world cruise. = If I win a million dollars, I will go on a world cruise. 6. To show habitual past action:

The dog would howl whenever its owner would leave it alone at home.

Think of would as did. 7. To show preference between two choices, used with rather or sooner:

I would sooner face the punishment than lie and escape it. = I prefer speaking the truth to lying. 8. To show intention:

He said he would do it. = He said it was his intention to do it.

Should 1. To ask questions (it is generally interchangeable with ought in such cases):

Should I submit my assignment now? = Am I supposed to submit my assignment now? 2. To show obligation:

You should brush your teeth twice a day.

Here, too, should can be replaced with ought to, but in this context it is used to make a persuasive statement. 3. To express a hypothetical situation:

Should you wish to do so, you may. = If you wish to do so, you may. 4. To express what is likely:

If you take the highway, you should be there in two hours. Here, should means something like probably will. Could 1. As the past tense of can:

There was a time when I could run a mile without breaking a sweat. 2. To ask questions:

Could I submit my assignment now? = Am I allowed to submit my assignment now? 3. To show possibility:

You could do a lot better. = You have the potential to do a lot better. 4. To express tentativeness or politeness:

I could be wrong. = I may be wrong. Till and Until English speakers are often found asking for the difference(s) between the words till and until. The fact of the matter is, however, that when till acts as a preposition or conjunction, there is no difference between the two words. To clarify, till has multiple meanings: it works as a noun, verb, preposition and conjunction. Until, on the other hand, works only as a preposition and a conjunction; in these capacities, both words mean exactly the same thing and are thus entirely interchangeable. Till is actually the older word. Until was formed by the addition to it of the prefix un-, meaning up to. Today, as the first word in a sentence, until is ge nerally preferred.

Of and Off The words of and off are used so frequently in modern English that people often confuse them. For example, the sentence, He took off without a word could be mistakenly written as He took of without a word, and the mea ning would be lost. Let us discuss the distinctions between the two words. The word of has several functions, but it is most in use as a preposition that denotes various relations described in the sentence. For instance, it indicates a point of reckoning : South of the border. It is also commonly used to point out what something is made of or what it contains: Heart of gold (this is metaphorical, of course), Cup of tea. Another relation frequently described by of is that of possession, as in Queen of England. Off is also a very common word with large number of functions as well, but it is most frequently used as an adverb or a preposition. As an adverb, it is used usually to describe a state of discontinuance, or suspension: Turn off the light. As a preposition, it is used to indicate the physical separation or distance from a position of rest, attachment or union, as in Take it off the table or The gas station is just off the corner ahead. In and Inside In and inside are words that are more or less synonymous as prepositions, and can be used in most cases interchangeably. There is a subtle difference, however, which explains why inside cannot replace in in phrases like in the thick of it. Inside is generally used to contrast with outside; therefore, it carries with it the strong suggestion of being physically enclosed. For example, to say We were inside Russia sounds wrong, doesnt it? This is because there is sense of being surrounded by walls, or tangible boundaries on all sides, when one says one is inside something. It is almost strictly locative, which in grammar/linguistics refers to words that indicate location. For example, to say The clothes are inside the cupboard sounds correct. On the other hand, in is used more generally; it carries no such suggestion. To go in can mean simply to participate in something (Im in the group), or to be at a place (Im in Chennai); it does not conjure images of enclosures or walls, or being physically surrounded. Do and Does The difference between do and does is very basic. Do is a verb (see Auxiliary Verbs), and does is its third person singular present tense. Thus, when the subject is represented by the pronouns I, you, we, or they, we must use do. I do not know the way. Do you know the way? We do not know the way. Do you they know the way? On the other hand, when the subject is represented by the pronouns he, she or it, we must use does. He does not know the way. She does not know the way.

It does not look like the right way. Tell and Say Both tell and say refer to the act of communicating verbally with someone, but they are used differently. It is important to keep the differences in their usage in mind, for the two words are not interchangeable. With direct speech, we use say. Tell is only used with direct speech that is commanding or informative. She said, I must leave. Let me go, I said. He told her: Leave. It is that way, he told her. With reported speech, either of the two words may be used, but as you may have noticed above, tell is followed by a pronoun. The object must be specified when using tell. Thus, you say something, but you tell someone something. She said that she had to leave. He told her to leave. Will and Going to Will and going to are the two forms of simple future used in English. They are used more or less interchangeably, but there are certain subtle differences between them that even many experienced English speakers are not aware of. The main rule to keep in mind is that: if the decision to act was made before the time of speaking, going to must be used; if not, will must be used. Will There are two primary distinct uses for will: 1. To express voluntary action. Voluntary action refers to the following: a. Any action that the speaker offers to perform. I will take you up on that offer. I will get you your breakfast in bed. b. Any action that the speaker declines to perform. I will not (wont) be able to come for your party. I will not do your work for you. c. Any action that the speaker requests the listener to perform. Will you come home on Friday night?

Will you take me to the amusement park? 2. To express a promise. I will come back to work as soon as I make a full recovery. I will call you later tonight. Going to There is one primary distinction for use of going to: it is used to express plans, i.e. the intention of the speaker to do something in the future. This can take two forms: 1. To state such an intention: I am going for the match on Thursday. I am going to ensure that we have fun on this trip. 2. To ask about such an intention: Are you going to watch the match on Thursday? Are you going to Jaipur with the others? Will/Going to Both will and going to can be used when making predictions about the future. It looks like it will rain today. = It looks like it is going to rain today. I dont think he will do it. = I dont think hes going to do it. Idle and Idol Idle is an adjective which means inactive It is also used as a verb in the same sense, meaning spending time without doing anything. Sentences: 1. 2. The machines lying idle are causing great losses to the company. He is jobless, and thus is usually idle at home.

Idol is a noun used to describe a person who is greatly admired and loved. Also, it is used to describe an image or a representation of god. Sentences: 1. The idol of Lord Krishna is made up of gold.

2.

Sachin Tendulkar has emerged as an idol for millions of young sportsmen.

Allusion and Illusion Allusion is a noun which means an expression where an object is referenced to, without mentioning it clearly. Sentences 1. 2. The novel she was reading made multiple allusions to the Bible. His speech was basically an allusion of the speech made by Martin Luther King.

Illusion is a noun which means an untrue idea or a belief. Sentences 1. 2. A magicians task is to create illusions. Indian education system is based on the illusion that marks are more important than learning.

Plain and Plane PLAIN is an adverb which means, simple and ordinary looking, with no decorations. It is also used as an adverb to emphasize upon something As a noun, Plain is also used to define a large flat area, with fewer trees Sentences: 1. She is wearing a plain dress. 2. I mean, you took the wrong way home, thats plain stupid. 3. High mountains rise above the plain. PLANE is a noun, commonly used to describe an airplane. In mathematical terms, it is used to define a flat surface where a straight line joining two points can wholly lie. Sentences: 1. The plane is flying high, above the sky. 2. Two planes intersect each other in a three-dimensional surface Irrelevant and Irreverent Irrelevant is an adjective which means something which is not significant or unimportant. Sentences: 1. 2. The questions asked were irrelevant to our syllabus. The arguments made by the lawyer were irrelevant to the case,

Irreverent is an adjective used to define a person who doesnt respect things, which are generally taken seriously. Sentences: 1. 2. Criminal minds are known for irreverence for the laws. The news report was irreverent towards the Prime Minister

Which and Who Which is a pronoun which is used to extract information for one or more persons or things. It is also used to add the previously mentioned information. Sentences: 1. 2. 3. Which mango is the sweetest of them all? Which holiday destination is your favourite? This is the same car which won the race for him.

Who is a pronoun used to ask about the identity of a particular person. It is also used to give further information about a subject previously mentioned. Sentences: 1. 2. 3. Who is that guy in a black shirt? Who is this childs father? This is the same girl who passed out of school 20 years ago.

Born and Borne Born is an adjective which is used to describe the result of birth. Also, it is used to describe a person who has a natural ability to do a particular job. Sentences: 1. 2. He was born and brought up in India. He was born to be an engineer.

Borne is an adjective which means to carry, or to transport Sentences: 1. 2. Malaria is a mosquito- borne disease. The responsibility of her young siblings was borne by her from a very tender age.

Cereal and Serial Cereal is a noun which means a grain used to make different food products. Sentences: My cornflakes are made of cereals. Cereals are a healthy breakfast to have. Serial is a noun which means a television show. Sentences: I never miss my favourite serial, Fear Factor. The serials on discovery are amazing. Brake and Break Brake is a noun which means a function in a vehicle to slow down or completely stop it. Sentences: I applied brakes to my car to avoid it from banging into the other car. The driver immediately applied brakes to stop the train. Break is a verb which means to form one or more pieces of an object. Sentences: The glass broke into several small pieces. Please dont touch the vase or else it will break. Pray and Prey Pray is a verb which means to devote oneself in front of god. Sentences Let us all pray to god for peace. I go to church every Sunday to pray.

Prey is a noun which means to be a victim or being in danger of. Sentences The lion is looking for its prey.

The old man fell prey to the thieves. Wait and Weight Wait is a verb which means an action which causes delay of time Sentences I had to wait for twenty minutes for the bus to arrive. We have to wait outside till the movie starts. Weight is a noun which means heaviness or the pressure applied by an object. Sentences The weight of the box is 10kg. Ram used to weigh 78kgs once, but now he is 65kgs. Which and Who Which is a pronoun which is used to extract information for one or more persons or things. It is also used to add the previously mentioned information. Sentences: 1. 2. 3. Which mango is the sweetest of them all? Which holiday destination is your favourite? This is the same car which won the race for him.

Who is a pronoun used to ask about the identity of a particular person. It is also used to give further information about a subject previously mentioned. Sentences: 1. 2. 3. Who is that guy in a black shirt? Who is this childs father? This is the same girl who passed out of school 20 years ago.

Suit and Suite Suit is a noun which means set of something, maybe clothes, cards, jewellery, etc. Sentences: The suit looks perfect on you. Suite is a noun which means a connection series of rooms to be used together

Sentences: The Presidential suite of this hotel is very luxurious. Wave and Waive Wave is a verb which means to move to and fro of any object which is either living or non -living. Sentences The boy waved his hands at her. The people waved the flag to stop the bus. Waive is a verb which means to deny or not agree to something. Sentences I waived my right to my grandfathers property. The Supreme Court waived the death penalty for eight criminals. Tire and Tyre Tire is a verb which means to grow weary or to become in need of rest or sleep. Sentences: Sammy got tired after playing for so long. The journey was very tiring. Tyre is a noun which means a rubber covering the wheels of vehicles. Sentences: The tyre of the car has been deflated by someone. The tyres of truck are huge. Aesthetic and Ascetic Aesthetic is an adjective which is concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty. Ii is also used as a noun which means a set of principles concerning the work of a particular artist or his work. Sentences: That designers clothes usually have an aesthetic quality. Greek philosophy derives highly from aesthetics.

Ascetic is an adjective which refers to strict self- discipline and abstention from all kinds of indulgence, especially for religious reasons. It is also a noun which refers to a person who practices such self-discipline Sentences: Ascetic practices are followed deeply in Buddhism. He gradually became an ascetic, with a large number of followers. Anecdote and Antidote Anecdote is a noun which means a short, amusing and an interesting story, which sometimes is taken as a rumour. Sentences: There are numerous anecdotes about the personal lives of celebrities. Our grandparents always have one or the other anecdote to tell us. Antidote is a noun meaning a remedy to counter a particular poison. Sentences: After a snake bit him, He was immediately administered an antidote. Spa and beauty treatments act as a perfect antidote to stress. Marital and Martial Marital is an adjective which is used for marriage or related to marriage. Sentences: Tom and Jill had a marital breakdown. Jack was asked his marital status during the interview. Martial is an adjective which mean situation of war or warfare. Sentences: The country will have martial law for 2 years. The commander has been facing a court martial. Coma and Comma Coma is a noun which means unconscious or deep sleep. Sentences:

The boy was hit so hard on the head that he went into coma. She died because she had slipped into coma. Comma is a noun which is a punctuation mark (,) used to indicate pause or to wait in the sentence. Sentences: Dave did the cleaning, while Sam did cooking. The shopkeeper had so many varieties of fruits like apples, mango, banana, grapes.

Improving Vocabulary by Learning Root Words The English language has its roots in languages like Greek and Latin. An understanding of the common root words will help us make educated guesses about the meaning of new words and substantially strengthen our vocabulary. Given below is a list of commonly used root words, their meanings and some examples of words formed using these root words. ROOT Ambi MEANING Both

EXAMPLE WORDS Ambidextrous Use both hands well Ambiguity Double meaning, can be interpreted in more than one way Aquarium Artificial environment for water plants and animals Aquatic Plant or animal living in water Artistic Natural skill in art Artisan Skilled manual work Automatic Working by itself Autonomous Having self-government Biannual Occurring twice in a year Bigamy Being married twice Biology Study of living things Biohazard Risk to living things Cardiology Branch of medicine dealing with the heart Cardiovascular Pertaining to the heart and blood vessels Centenary Hundredth Anniversary Centenarian Person who is hundred or

Aqua

Water

Art

Skill

Auto

Self

Bi

Two, Twice

Bio

Life

Cardio

Heart

Cent

Hundred

more years old

Cert

Sure

Certificate Document attesting a fact like birth, death, graduation, marriage etc Certitude Feeling of certainty Chronology Study of events in the order of their occurrence Chronograph Instrument that records time with high accuracy Counter-intuitive Contrary to intuition Counter-productive Having the opposite effect as intended Detoxify Remove the poisonous substances Dethrone Remove from the throne Democracy System of government elected by the people Demography - Statistics of births, deaths, mortality etc. of people Dermatologist Doctor specialized in the study of skin disorders Dermatitis Inflammation of the skin Florist Person who sells flowers Floral Decorated with flowers Gastritis Inflammation of the stomach lining Gastroenterologist Doctor specialized in the study of stomach and intestinal disorders Gratify Delight or please someone Gratuity Tip, token of appreciation Hepatitis Inflammation of the liver Hepatic Relating to the liver Heptagon Figure with seven sides Heptathlon Athletic event having seven events Hexagon Figure with six sides Hexavalent Having a valency of six Interconnect Connect with each other

Chrono

Time

Counter

Contrary

De

Remove

Dem

People

Derm

Skin

Flor

Flower

Gastro

Stomach

Grat

Pleasing

Hepa

Liver

Hept

Seven

Hex Inter

Six Between

Interdepend Depend on each other Isosceles Triangle having two equal sides Isobar Line on map connecting points of equal barometer pressures Judiciary Collective of judges Judgement Decision of a court Kilogram Thousand grams Kilolitre Thousand litres Lactic Obtained from mil Lactose Sugar occurring in milk Malevolent Wishing bad things on others Malice Intention to do evil Mortuary Place where dead bodies are kept until they are cremated or buried Mortician - Undertaker Narrate - To tell a story Narrator - Person who tells a story. Novelty Newness or originality Novice - Beginner Octagon Figure with eight sides Octave Stanza of eight lines Ocular Connected with the eyes Oculist Specialist in the medical treatment of eye disorders Omnipresent Present everywhere at the same time Omnivorous Eating all kinds of foods Orthodontics Dealing with straightening of teeth Orthopaedics Dealing with the straightening of bones Panorama An all-around view Pandemic Prevalent all over a country or world Pedicure Treatment of the feet Pedal Foot operated lever

Iso

Equal

Jud

Law

Kilo

Thousand

Lacto

Milk

Mal

Bad

Mort

Death

Narr

Tell

Nov

New

Oct

Eight

Ocu

Eye

Omni

All

Ortho

Straight

Pan

All

Ped

Foot

Poly

Many

Polygon Figure with many sides Polygamy Having more than one husband or wife at the same time Psychiatry Study of mental diseases Psych Prepare oneself mentally for a task Quadruple Increase four times Quadrangle Figure having four sides Quintuple Increase five times Quintuplet Five children born at the same time Semi-circle Half of a circle Semiaquatic Animal living partly on land and partly in water Septuplet Seven children born at the same time Septuagenarian People aged before 70 and 79 Transpacific Across the Pacific Ocean Transnational Across national boundaries Triangle Figure with three sides Triathlon - Athletic event having three events Unitarian People who believes God is one person Unique One of a kind Invincible One who cannot be conquered Convince Persuade a person

Psych

Mind

Quad

Four

Quin

Five

Semi

Half

Sept

Seven

Trans

Across

Tri

Three

Uni

One

Vince

Conquer

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Alter 2. Aud 3. Biblio 4. Bio 5. Ced 6. Chrom 7. Derm 8. Ego 9. Duo

other light

together air

any sound

short water school evil book

vehicle education eat go

college life sleep water skin gd

wake snow bone sand muscle self

color teeth other one

together two three

another four

10. 10. Equ

less

more like water

small

equal like air stars nails wood

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Fil

like film planets

like thread earth bones coal love time

2. Geo 3. Hemo 4. Hydro 5. Ject 6. Min 7. Neuro 8. Ped 9. Script

solar system muscles water fight large blood foot learn empty

blood electricity catch small nerve hand read full

throw ellipse nails elbow listen half

bones

mouth write semi

10. 10. Vac

Prefixes
Prefixes are placed before the words to modify their meanings; like suffixes, they are groups of letters that rarely serve a purpose unless attached to a word. Here is a list of commonly used prefixes to give you an idea of how to identify them.

Prefix -a -al -be -by -for -fore -gain -in -mis -over -out -to -un -under -with -wel

Meaning On/in/out/from all by Be/on the side through before against in wrong Above/beyond out this Not/to reverse an action below Against/back In good condition

Examples Away, aboard, arise, alight Alone, already Below, before Bypass, byword forget, forgive Forecast, foresee Gainsay Inside, income Mislead, mistake overflow, overcharge Outside, outcome Today, tonight Unkind, untie Underground, undersell Withdraw, withhold Welcome, welfare

Suffixes
Suffixes are placed after words to modify their meanings; like prefixes, they are groups of letters that rarely serve a purpose unless attached to a word. Here is a list of some of them to give you an idea of how to identify suffixes. Suffix -able/-ible -ac/-ic -acy -acious/-icious -al -ance/-ence -dom -eer/-er/-or -escent -esque -fy -iferous -ise -ish -ism -ist -ity -less -ment -ness -oid -ose -osis -ous -ship -sion/-tion -tude -y Meaning Examples capable of portable, legible like/related to cardiac, Nordic state/quality of being privacy, legitimacy full of gracious, malicious related to logical, philosophical state/quality of being maintenance, permanence state/quality of being freedom, kingdom person who mountaineer, writer, counsellor becoming, to be adolescent, fluorescent like/reminiscent of picturesque, Kafkaesque to make magnify, electrify containing, yielding vociferous, carboniferous make, become civilise, terrorise having qualities of hellish, fiendish doctrine, belief, practice favouritism, communism person who chemist, florist state/quality of being ingenuity, oddity without brainless, endless state/quality of being, result of enjoyment, embankment, action, process abridgement state of being thinness, loneliness like celluloid, ovoid full of adipose, verbose condition hypnosis, psychosis full of illustrious, nauseous position held friendship, membership state/quality of being torsion, transition state/quality of being fortitude, certitude characterised by funny, greedy

Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are combinations of words that perform the function of a verb. These combinations necessarily include a verb and either an adverb or a preposition (or both). They form one complete semantic unit because the words that comprise a phrasal verb together describe one action. For example:

Phrasal Verb ask around

Meaning Example Sentences To ask the same question from I have not seen him here but I many people

will ask around. I am not sure if there are vacancies, but I will ask around the office. She explained why the work was not ready, but her story does not add up. add up to something To equal/corroborate a fact The clues we found at the house and the museum must add up to something. I want to ask her out but she is dating someone. ask someone out To invite someone on a date I wish I could muster the courage to ask her out. The girls in school always blow gossip up to huge proportions. blow something up To exaggerate My mother blows my achievements up in front of guests. The captain will not back him up just because he is his son. You may be wrong but I will back you up because you are my brother. The army is going to blow up that building with a bomb. Our calculations were wrong and the rocket blew up just after liftoff. The old train is certain to break down if it is not maintained properly. He was driving recklessly and the old car broke down. They broke the students down into groups of four. break something down To divide and subdivide The detective said they were still breaking the information down to make sense of it. The newspaper reported a break-in at the bank. Last night, two thieves broke into the house next door. A break up can lead to

back someone up

To support

blow up

To explode

break down

To stop functioning (usually for vehicle, machine, etc.)

break into something

To enter forcibly/ interrupt

break up

To end a relationship

emotional trauma. After being together for five years they have decided to break up. The Taliban helped 500 inmates escape of the Afghan jail. break out To escape Ten inmates broke out of prison in the southern town yesterday. There was a world panic when SARS broke out in China in 2002. break out To spread The news about the adulterous affair will break out in tomorrows newspaper. The boss manages to bring down my mood every day. His pessimistic comments bring down the whole group. I was broke up in a conservative Hindu family.

bring someone down

To upset someone or to make someone unhappy

bring someone up

raise a child

bring up

call around

After being abandoned by his parents in Ghana he was brought up by an Italian couple. My sister walks out of the room when I bring up the subject of To initiate a conversation on a sports. subject I will bring up the issue of cleanliness in the meeting today. We called around but we could not find the spare part we needed. To phone different places/people I have not seen him today but I will call around and inquire. Please me back when you get this message. To return a phone call I could not answer your call earlier but I will call back shortly. The referee has decided to call off the game due to bad weather. They have decided to call off the wedding due to financial troubles. The boss wants you to call up

call someone back

call something off

To abandon or cancel

call someone up

To phone someone

the client now. She will call you up later to discuss the issue. It is going to be okay, please calm down. calm down relax after being angry The crew asked us to calm down during turbulence. You will have to walk faster if you want to catch up with To get to the same point as someone else/ or to work hard Maya. in order to equal with someone You have studied a lot more and I need to catch up. When you arrive at the airport, you have to check in at the airline desk. To reach and register at a hotel or airport At a hotel, check-in is normally required in order to obtain a room key. You will have to return the room when you check out of the hotel. check out To leave a hotel Please ensure that you are in possession of all your belongings before checking-out of the hotel. She cheered up when she heard Used as an expression to ask that the result was positive. someone to be happy Cheer up, it is your birthday! If everybody chips in, we can get a bottle of the most expensive wine. To contribute/help I do not have enough money for a pizza so all of you need to chip in as well. They need to clean up the platform because it is really dirty. To tidy a place You must clean up the room before the president arrives. I came across these books when I was tidying the cupboard. come across something find unexpectedly While reading this book I came across new information

catch up

check in

cheer up

chip in

clean something up

come apart

To separate/ fall down/ break down

regarding dinosaurs. The flimsy decorations came apart halfway through the celebrations. The group of friends came apart once they went to different colleges. Her son came down with the flu last weekend. My throat is sore; I think I am coming down with a cold. The hospital is anxious for more donors to come forward. Who will come forward and take the responsibility? He resides in Brazil although he comes from Spain. Most of the stench comes from the open drain behind the house. Can I count on you to complete this essay by tonight?

come down with something

To become sick

come forward

To support/ to take an initiative

come from somewhere

To originate in

count on someone/something

To rely on a person or thing I could not complete the task so I am counting on you to do it. Kindly cross out your old telephone number and write the new one. That word is wrong and you need to cross it out as soon as possible. My financial advisor has asked me to cut back on unnecessary expenditure. We need to cut back on driving since the price of petrol is at an all-time high. He cut into the argument with a point of his own. He asked if could cut in on the dance between Tim and me. The butter is frozen. Cut off a small blob and let it rest outside so that it melts faster. He cut off a small piece from the large slab of cheese using a knife.

cross something out

To draw a line through something

cut back on something

To use or consume less of something

cut into

To interrupt in between something or someone

cut something off

To cut something with something sharp

cut something off

cut something out

The cable company cut off our connection because we did not To stop providing/to break all pay our bill. relations with someone After he was convicted, his family decided to cut him off. She looked over the article and cut the introduction out and rewrote it. To remove pieces or part of something She cut a piece out of the chunk of cheese and placed it on the counter. You sang the wrong words this time; we will have to do it over. To do something again My homework assignment was unacceptable, so my teacher asked me to do it over. It is time to do away with all these old files. My mother asked me to do away with all the unusable toys. The party is at a fancy restaurant so we need to dress up appropriately. I was asked to dress up for the mayors party. He dropped back to fifth position because he fell off his motorcycle. The coach asked the attacking players to drop back. I thought Id drop in and say hi.

do something over

do away with something

To dispose of or discard something

dress up

To be dressed in a fancier or better way than normal

drop back

To move back in a position

drop in/by/over

To come without an appointment

Drop someone/something off

drop out

To take someone/something somewhere and leave them/it I will drop him off at the train there station before reaching the venue. He dropped out of the chess club because it was too difficult for him. To quit a class, school, etc. She dropped out of college but managed to set up her own company.

I was surprised when she dropped in unannounced at midnight. Can you drop me off at the bus stop?

eat out

To eat outside of home, usually in a restaurant

I eat out almost five days a week. I do not feel like cooking today so lets eat out? If you do not work, you will end up on the streets. He studied history at college but ended up working at a bank. This wall will fall apart if we do not use cement. The house of cards stood for a minute but then fell apart. If he does not walk carefully on the ledge, he will fall down. He was walking carelessly and thus, fell down. The veteran cricketer has fallen out of favour. The coach and the player had a fall out and the latter decided to quit. She needs to figure out what the problem is. We need to figure out the route before commencing the trek. Fill in the blank spaces and submit the sheet. You must fill in the form in order to obtain a ticket. I want you to fill up the tank with diesel. She wanted to fill up the entire glass with wine. How do I find out where he lives? I need you to find out whether he is lying or not. He is a good orator and has no problem getting his message across. He could not get across the message. One must get along with their

end up

To do/to eventually reach/to decide

fall apart

To break into pieces

fall down

To fall on the ground/ to fall off from somewhere to the ground

fall out

To separate

figure something out

To study/understand

fill something in

To write information in a form, etc.

fill something up

To fill something completely or to the top

find out

To search/discover

get something across/over

To communicate

get along/on

To like each other

colleagues. It is about time you buried the hatchet and got along with each other They are planning a romantic get away for their anniversary. get away To go on a vacation or a leave We have not travelled in a while so we are planning a getaway this summer. He will not get away with an abusive remark like that. You cannot steal cars in broad daylight and expect to get away with it. She did not get back home until 5 oclock. The boss needs you to get back from the Bahamas and complete the report. My brother got back at me for eating his piece of cake. After being humiliated in public, she decided to get back at her with ruthless intent. The train was full so we could not get on. To reach the chandelier, you must get on the stool. The stock market is slowly getting over the recession. get over something To recover/overcome You need to get over the fact that he stole your bicycle. Do you want to get together this Saturday? get together To meet Lets get together at the mall this weekend. Please get up, this seat is reserved for ladies. get up To stand/get out of bed You are not allowed to sit there, so, kindly get up. The ice cream company is giving away free scoops To reveal/give something for tomorrow. free/donate Before dying, he had pledged to

get away with something

do something (usually something wrong) without being noticed or punished

get back

To return

get back at someone

To retaliate/to take a revenge

get on something

To step onto something

give something away

give away half his money to charity. You must give the bone back to the dog. give something back To return You have her mobile phone and need it give it back to her. The dictator finally gave in to the mounting pro-democracy protests. After arguing for over two hours, I decided to give in to her demands. This exam is really difficult and I think I am going to give up. Never give up, never surrender! The big dog is going to go after the cat. go after someone To follow someone The police decided to go after the criminal after he had robbed a bank. My father always encouraged me to go after my goals. She is really working hard going after the top prize. Does he really want to go against the policies of the company? go against someone or something To oppose You cannot go against the coach and expect to remain with the team. The General wants us to go ahead with the plan. go ahead To proceed/start/initiate something The centre has asked the states to go ahead with FDI in the retail sector. This place is very dangerous; I suggest you go back home. He needs us to go back to the office and collect his belongings. Lets go out for dinner tonight to celebrate your promotion! I will go out in the evening to watch the play. Tim has wanted to go out with

give in

To unwillingly stop fighting or arguing

give up

To stop trying

go after something

To try to achieve something

go back

To return to a place

go out

To leave home to go out for an occasion, etc. To date someone

go out with someone

Mary for a long time now. She is going out with two boys at the same time. Its great that Hari has moved next door; I can just go over to his place whenever Im bored! She is going over to his place later tonight. Here are your insurance papers, please go over them carefully so that you know all the details. go over To check or review We need to go over this brochure and select a location for the meeting. We used to be great friends, but after college we began to grow apart. grow apart To end a friendship We were good friends but grew apart after graduating from college. It is always hard for parents when their children grow up. grow up To become an adult The puppy was tiny when they found it but it grew up to be a huge dog. I will buy a new pair of trousers if and when I grow out of this pair. I have gained weight and grown out of the pants I purchased last summer. Initially he had some trouble at the new office, but things went smoothly after he grew into his role. She has become taller and grown into the dress. When I was a child, I was handed down my brothers clothes. Please hand down your old books to underprivileged children. The party members were spreading their propaganda by

go over something

To pay a visit to someone/something nearby

grow out of something

To get too big for something, usually a piece of clothing

grow into something

To grow big enough to fit

hand something down

To give something used to someone else

hand something out

To distribute to a group of people

handing out fliers. The boss is going to hand out a list of responsibilities to everybody today. The thieves asked us to hand over all our belongings. hand something over To give (usually unwillingly) The landlord requested us to hand over the keys to the apartment. When my friend was diagnosed with cancer, all I could say to him was, Dont lose hope. Hang in there. Dont lose heart, hang in there! Hang on, let me get ready and then we can leave. Hang on, Im coming too! My friends and I generally hang out at malls. Lets hang out at the bar after work tonight. When I get angry with someone on the phone, I simply hang up. I did not wish to talk to him anymore so I decided to hang up the phone. If you have a complaint, dont hold back; you cannot fix the problem if you do not voice it. You must hold him back from committing such a dangerous stunt. He was a great athlete, but he was held back from succeeding by his parents, who wanted him to study instead. He held back his tears even though he was distraught. She asked the taxi driver to hold on while she located her wallet. hold on To wait for a short time He has asked you to hold on to his book until he returns. He asked them to keep on working while he looked

hang in

To stay strong and positive

hang on

To wait for a short time

hang out

To spend time relaxing or chilling out

hang up

To end a phone call

Hold someone/something back

To prevent from doing/going

hold something back

To hide an emotion/to be stopped by something or someone

keep on doing something

continue doing

around. The musicians kept on playing even though it was raining. Why do you keep secrets from me? You have a wonderful voice so you must not keep from singing. The insects must be kept out at all costs.

keep something from someone

To not tell/not do/to keep a secret

Keep someone/something out

To stop someone or something from entering at a place The gate has been installed to keep out stray dogs. Keep up the good work! To continue at the same rate

keep something up

Keep up this speed for the rest of the journey and we will reach on time. You can rely on her; she will never let you down. You have let me down with this disappointing performance. Please lock the door and do not let anybody in.

let someone down

To disappoint someone

let someone in

To permit to enter Yes, he is a guest so please let him in. Nurses are supposed to look after patients.

look after someone/something

To take care of I need you to look after my dog while Im away. She always looks down on her staff and treats them badly.

look down on someone

look for someone/something

look forward to something

look into something

To belittle someone/ to consider someone inferior to oneself A lot of people look down on them because they are poor. Do you want to look for the pen we lost yesterday? To try to find Let us look for the ball in the garage. Are you looking forward to tonights football match? To be excited about some future plan, etc. I am really looking forward to the weekend! We are going to look into the price of cars today. To investigate They need to look into the

matter carefully in order to avoid a lawsuit. Dont forget to look out for mosquitoes in the swamp. look out To be careful Look out for speeding buses on the highway. The guide told them to look out for pickpockets in the marketplace. look out for someone/something To be extra careful or vigilant Look out for hurricane alerts on the island at this time of the year. Give the document a look over for errors. look something over To check/examine The teacher wants the student to look over his answers once again. I look up to my sister because she is a wonderful human being. I look up to my coach because he was a great sportsman. When asked why I hadnt done my homework, I made up a story about having done it but forgotten that that day was the day of submission. You must stop making up stories because we know you are lying. He returned my money very late, but tried to make up for it by treating me to lunch. make up To forgive each other He is taking her out to dinner to make up for being at work on their anniversary. She was so nervous she almost went on stage without any make up. That actor uses a lot of make up before shooting a scene. We got through most of the show without any mix ups, but right at the end the lead actor forgot one of his lines. The experienced striker pounced on a defensive mix-up to fire

look up to someone

To respect someone immensely

make something up

To lie about something

make someone up

To apply cosmetics

mix something up

To get confused

home into an open goal. I took two weeks off work because my grandfather passed away. pass away To die Our dog had been ill for a few months and passed away last night. It was so hot in the examination hall that one of the students passed out for a couple of minutes. He walking in the sun and passed out due to the heat. There should be no money issues between friends, so when I lend money to my friends I tell them they can pay back whenever it is convenient for them. You can borrow money now but you must pay back within a week. It is my policy to pay for everything when I am out on a date. The police swore that the terrorist would pay for destroying the building. I always let my mother pick out my clothes, because she has excellent taste. The concierge at the hotel helped us pick out a nice restaurant. I tried to give the tourists directions orally, but they couldnt understand me, so I pointed out the turning they were supposed to take. I have asked the professor to point out all the mistakes in my assignment. I was very tired that day, so I put off the meeting till after the weekend. The boss has asked us to put off our lunch plan to a later hour.

pass out

To lose consciousness

pay someone back

To return the owed money

pay for something

To be punished for doing something bad

pick something out

To choose

Point someone/something out

To point or indicate using your finger

put something off

To postpone

We had to put together the presentation in 2 days. put something together To assemble The different parts have been provided in order to put together this mountain bike. My roommate told me to move out, saying, I cant put up with your irresponsible ways To bear or tolerate something anymore! or someone The company is not going to put up with inappropriate behaviour at the workplace. I did not need to put on the tshirt to know it was too big for me. To wear a dress/accessories on your body Pick out a dress, put it on, and decide whether you like it or not. I ran into an old friend from college the other day. To meet someone unexpectedly It was a pleasant surprise when I ran into him at the mall the other day. Your toy is broken because I ran over it with my car. To drive a vehicle over a person or thing The truck accidently ran over a cat on the highway. The bride had run away with someone else on the wedding day. To leave unexpectedly/ to escape The children made a plan to run away from home to join the circus. They ran out of sandwiches at the cafe. To have nothing left of something She couldnt make tea as they had run out of milk. I sent back the steak because it raw. To return This product is not what we had ordered and we are going to send it back. They want to set up a lemonade stall at the fair. The government needs to set up

put up with someone/something

put something on

run into someone/something

run over someone/something

run away

run out

send something back

set something up

To arrange/organize

a commission for the riot victims. The hunter set the lion up for the trap but it escaped. set someone up To trick/trap someone or something The people at the bank were part of a set up by the police to catch the criminal. He wants to show off his house by illuminating it.

show off

sleep over

sort something out

stick to something

switch something off

switch something on

To act boastfully when people watch Most people simply love to show off their wealth in front of their friends. Jack is planning a sleepover at his place on his birthday. To stay somewhere out of home, for the night The first sleepover at a friends place can be a big deal for some children. You may want the lawyers to sort the issue out. To organise/ to resolve a situation We need to sort out these cards and arrange them according to size. You will not lose weight if you do not stick to the diet. To continue doing something Most people do not stick to the same job for a long period. Could you switch the light off please? To turn off Please switch off the television before going to bed. He turned the machine on again and it stopped making a noise. To turn on Grandmother wants you to switch on the radio for her. I need to take my money back from him. To return something He can keep my bag for now but Im going to take it back tomorrow. I feel that the most thrilling part of any plane journey is when it takes off.

take something back

take off

To start flying

take something off

The plane finally took off after taxiing for twenty minutes. To remove something (usually I was about to take off my

items of clothing)

clothes when I realised there was someone else in the room. I want you to take this off the list and include that instead. She took out some money from the safe.

take something out

To remove from a place Please take out the garbage after dinner. My girlfriend was very depressed because she had lost her job so I took her out for dinner. On the last day of college the professor took the students out for lunch. My boss simply tears up the articles he doesnt like. The cat tore up the newspaper. Whenever I think back to my school days, tears of nostalgia come to my eyes. Think back to the time when we were at the beach. You must think this job offer over before taking a decision.

take someone out

To take someone out with yourself and also to pay for them

tear something up

To rip something into pieces

think back

To recall or remember

think something over

To consider This is my proposal, think it over, and let me know. I like that bag, please do not throw it away. These dirty clothes need to be thrown away. I want to turn down the volume. The old man has asked me to turn down the volume. He asked her to marry him but she turned him down. He turned down the offer from ABC Corporation. He turned off the lights before going to bed.

throw something away

To trash something or to dispose of

turn something down

To decrease the volume

turn something down

To refuse

turn something off

To switch off Please turn off the fans when you leave. She forgot to turn on the charger

turn something on

To switch on

so her cell stayed off. He asked her to turn on the coffee machine. Do you want to try out this new shampoo? try something out To test Most people refrain from trying out a new cuisine. I get very tense when my friends come over because they use up all my supplies. I cannot print this page because all the ink in the printer has been used up. I generally wake up at about 7 in the morning. You need to wake up early in the morning for karate practice. It is a good idea to warm up before engaging in strenuous physical activity. It is essential to warm up a little before swimming. The difference between superior and inferior products is that the latter wear out much more quickly. The sole of this old shoe has worn out. My lifestyle has gotten so sedentary since I joined the office that I have signed up for daily work outs at the gym. Only a few people take gym memberships to actually work out. I really hope that things work out for you. This job will work out only if I can get my own office.

use something up

To use something entirely or to finish all

wake up

To stop sleeping

warm up

To prepare the body for exercise

wear off

To diminish in quality because of frequent use

work out

To exercise

work out

To be successful with something

In each of the above cases, the phrasal verb shares no similarity with the verb that it replaces. These are idiomatic phrasal verbs, commonly used in informal, everyday speech. Phrasal verbs are not necessarily idiomatic, though; they can be literal as well. For example, literal phrases such as look up, walk across and switch off are also

considered phrasal verbs, because the action described by each cannot be described if any of the words in the phrase are omitted. If up is taken out of look up, the description of the action will be incomplete.

Synonyms
Synonyms are words which have similar meanings. The meaning of these words need not be exactly the same. Most words can have one or more synonyms. Quiz on Synonyms Trying to find out synonyms of new words you encounter is a good way of improving English vocabulary.

LIST OF SYNONYMS
Abroad - Overseas

Big - Large Bizarre - Weird Blank - Empty

Accord - Agreement Brave - Bold Admit - Confess Broad - Wide Agree - Consent Bucket - Pail Alike - Same Busy - Active Allow - Permit Calamity - Disaster Amount - Quantity Candy - Sweets Angry - Mad Center - Middle Answer - Response Change - Transform Ask - Inquire Chiefly - Mainly Attire - Dress Choosy - Picky Away - Absent Close - Shut Awful - Terrible Collect - Gather Baby - Infant Complete - Total Beautiful - Pretty Confine - Restrict Becoming - Fitting Confuse - Mixed Up Beg - Implore Considerate - Thoughtful Begin - Commence Contrary - Opposite Belly - Stomach Correct - Right

Cunning - Clever Dash - Sprint Daybreak - Dawn Dedicated - Committed Deliberate - Planned Delicate - Fragile Destiny - Fate Disclose - Reveal Discount - Reduction Disgrace - Shame Eager - Keen Elevate - Raise Enormous - Huge Enquire - Investigate Evaluate - Assess Evil - Bad Exactly - Precisely Except - Apart From Exit - Leave Extra - Additional Fair - Unbiased False - Untrue Famous - Renowned Fantastic - Great Fast - Quick Finish - Complete Formerly - Previously Fortunate - Lucky

Fun -Entertaining Function -Operate Funny - Amusing Garbage - Trash Get - Receive Glad - Happy Glitter - Sparkle Good - Fine Grab - Seize Grumble - Grouse Hall - Corridor Handsome - Good Looking Happily - Fortunately Hard - Difficult Hazard - Danger Help - Assist Hint - Tip Huge - Enormous Hurt - Injure Hurry - Rush Ignore - Snub Ill - Sick Imitate - Mimic Immediate - Instantly Impact - Affect Impartial - Neutral Important - Significant Inconsiderate - Thoughtless

Infamous - Notorious Infect - Contaminate Informal - Casual Innocent - Harmless Inspect - Examine Instructions - Directions Insufficient - Inadequate Intellectual - Mental Intelligent - Smart Intend - Mean Inventory - Stock Invoice - Bill Jealous - Envious Job - Work Joy - Delight Kid - Child Kind - Benevolent Learn - Memorize Lethal - Deadly Listen - Hear Little - Small Lots - Many Loving - Fond Loyal - Faithful Lucid - Clear Mad - Crazy Make - Build Maintain - Preserve

Maybe - Perhaps Meeting - Assembly Mild -Gentle Misery - Distress Modern - Contemporary Movie - Film Native - Local Necessary -Essential Near - Close New - Recent Nice - Pleasant Noon - Midday Notify - Inform Numerous - Many Odd - Strange Old - Mature Ornament - Decoration Outgoing - Friendly Overlook - Miss Oversee - Supervise

Part - Section Particular - Specific Perception - Insight Perfect - Flawless Possibility - Opportunity Praise - Compliment Provide - Supply

Quake - Tremble Quite - Fairly Raise - Lift Real - Genuine Receive - Get Regret - Remorse Reliable - Dependable Remark - Comment Renew - Resume Respond - Reply Rest - Relax Rich - Wealthy Rock - Stone Rude - Impolite Sad - Unhappy Safe - Secure Scared - Afraid See - Look Select - Choose Significant - Meaningful Sincere - Honest Sleepy -Drowsy Slim - Sender Steady - Firm Stop - Cease Suggest - Propose Sure - Certain Symbolize - Represent

Talk - Speak Temper - Mood Temporary - Transitory Think - Ponder Tiny - Small Transform - Convert Trustworthy -Reliable Try - Attempt Uncommon - Unusual Uncooked - Raw Under - Below Unfortunate - Unlucky Use - Utilize Usually - Generally

Vague - Indistinct Vanquish - Conquer Vary - Differ Vast - Huge Want - Desire Weak - Feeble Withstand - Resist

Yell - Shout

Antonyms
Antonyms are words which have almost opposite meanings. Most words can have one or more antonyms. Quiz on Antonyms

Better Worse Big Little Birth Death Black White Blunt Sharp

Each time you learn a new English word, try to find out its antonyms. This is a good way to improve your vocabulary.

Bold Timid Brave Cowardly Brief Long

LIST OF ANTONYMS

Bright Dull Busy Idle

Above Below Absent Present Achieve Fail Add Subtract Afraid Confident After Before Amateur Professional Ancient Modern Argue Agree Arrive Depart Arrogant Humble Ascend Descend Attack Defend Awake Asleep

Buy Sell

Cautious Careless Cheap Expensive Clean Dirty Close Open Cold Hot Complex Simple Compliment Insult Cool Warm Crazy Sane Crooked Straight Cruel Kind

Dark - Light Bad Good Beautiful Ugly Before - After Day - Night Deep Shallow Decrease Increase

Demand - Supply Destroy Create Divide Unite Down - Up Drunk Sober

Gloomy Cheerful Grief Joy Guilty - Innocent

Happy Sad Hard Soft

East West Easy Difficult End Begin Even Odd Evening Morning Expand Contract

Heaven Hell Heavy Light High Low Hire - Fire Huge Tiny Hungry - Full

Fail Pass False True Fat Skinny Fiction Fact Float - Sink Follow Lead Foolish - Wise Forgive Blame Freeze - Boil Full Empty

Idle Active In Out Include - Exclude Individual Group Innocent Guilty Inside Outside

Joy Sadness

Kind Cruel Knowledge Ignorance

Generous Stingy Gentle Rough Giant - Dwarf Give Receive Last First Laugh Cry Less More

Lie Truth Like Dislike Likely Unlikely Liquid Solid Lonely Crowded Long Short Loose Tight Lost Found Love Hate

Now Then

Obvious Hidden Odd Even Often Seldom Old Young On Off Optimist - Pessimist Ordinary Extraordinary Over Under

Major Minor Man Woman Marvelous Terrible Mature Immature Maximum - Minimum Mix Separate Moist Dry More Less Most Least Move Stay Pain Pleasure Panic Calm Partial Complete Passive Active Peace - War Permanent Unstable Play Work Plentiful Sparse Polite Rude Poor Rich Near Far Never Always New Old Noisey Quiet None All North South Nothing Something Positive Negative Powerful Weak Praise Criticism Pride Modesty Private Public Problem Solution Profit Loss

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Upset Stabilize Urge Deter

Vacant Occupied Vague Definite Vertical Horizontal Victory - Defeat Villain Hero Visible - Invisible

Wax - Wane Wealth Poverty Well - Sick Wet Dry White Black Wild Tame Win Lose With Without Worthy Worthless

Young - Old