Ways to Improve Vocabulary
Master context clues, morphology, prefixes, suffixes, roots and more with interactive lessons, tips, and quizzes
Master context clues, morphology, prefixes, suffixes, roots and more with interactive lessons, tips, and quizzes
Words are the basic blocks of a language, and one of the key predictors of someone’s educational level, profession and social status. Yet most students struggle to increase their vocabulary effectively.
It’s not that we have difficulties in grasping vocabulary when we see it. Rather, we struggle to recall when we get the opportunity to use it, or worse yet, forget to use frequently enough only to end up back where we began.
When solving reading comprehension questions, you can use different vocabulary development methods:
Vocabulary in context refers to the sentences or the whole paragraph surrounding an unfamiliar word. Context clues are used to make a good guess at the word’s meaning.
Think of context clues as detective work. You’re looking for clues in the surrounding text to figure out the meaning of an unknown word.
The author restates a word to clarify its meaning. Often uses commas, hyphens, or parentheses.
Example: The rebec, an instrument played with a bow, has only three strings.
Examples used in context may help reveal the meaning.
Example: The scientist was accused of several acts of espionage, such as photographing secret documents and taping private conversations.
Look for familiar words that may be synonyms of words not known.
Example: The club’s coffers were so low that the members had to ask for donations to refill the treasury.
An unknown word may be compared or shown to be similar to a more common word.
Example: As in so many polluted cities, the air in our community is sometimes too contaminated to breathe.
An unknown word may be contrasted with a more familiar word.
Example: The team’s uniforms were immaculate before the game, but by the end of the first half they were dirty.
An unfamiliar word may be related to the cause or effect of an action, feeling, or idea.
Example: Will Rogers was considered to be a humanitarian because he worked to improve people’s lives.
Morphology means the study of word formation. It discusses how words are formed through prefixes, suffixes, and roots. This is one of the most powerful tools for learning new words and deciphering the meaning of other new words.
Think of morphology as building with LEGO blocks. Prefixes, roots, and suffixes are the building blocks that combine to create words.
Latin and Greek elements (prefixes, roots, and suffixes) are a significant part of the English language and a great tool for learning new words.
Bio = life (biology, biography)
Chron = time (chronology, chronic)
Geo = earth (geography, geology)
Graph = write (autograph, graphic)
Anti- = against (antibiotic, antisocial)
Pre- = before (preview, prehistoric)
Re- = again (rewrite, return)
Un- = not (unhappy, unclear)
-able = capable of (readable, lovable)
-ful = full of (hopeful, beautiful)
-less = without (hopeless, careless)
-ment = state of (enjoyment, movement)
Prefixes are added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning. Understanding common prefixes helps you guess the meaning of unfamiliar words.
Prefixes are like road signs at the beginning of a word – they tell you which direction the word’s meaning is going.
These prefixes give negative meanings to words:
Pre- = before (preview, prehistoric)
Post- = after (postpone, postwar)
Sub- = under (submarine, subway)
Super- = above (superior, supernatural)
Uni- = one (unicycle, uniform)
Bi- = two (bicycle, bilingual)
Tri- = three (triangle, tricycle)
Multi- = many (multicultural, multiply)
Pre- = before (preview, prehistoric)
Post- = after (postpone, postwar)
Re- = again (rewrite, return)
Fore- = before (forecast, forehead)
Suffixes are added to the end of a word to change its meaning or grammatical function. Understanding common suffixes helps you determine a word’s part of speech and meaning.
Suffixes are like word endings that tell you what “job” the word has in a sentence – whether it’s a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb.
-ology = study of (biology, psychology)
-ist = person who (scientist, artist)
-ism = belief/system (capitalism, socialism)
-ment = state/action (development, movement)
-able/-ible = capable of (readable, visible)
-ful = full of (hopeful, beautiful)
-less = without (hopeless, careless)
-ous = having (dangerous, famous)
-ate = to make (activate, celebrate)
-en = to become (weaken, strengthen)
-ify = to make (simplify, purify)
-ize = to make (realize, organize)
Economic system based on private ownership
Political theory advocating state ownership
System with no private property
Discrimination based on race
Discrimination based on gender
Love for one’s country
Study of living things
Study of the mind
Study of human society
Study of rocks and earth
Study of human beings
Study of ancient cultures
Addiction to books
Addiction to stealing
Addiction to power
Addiction to fire
Addiction to sex
Addiction to alcohol
Fear of spiders
Fear of enclosed spaces
Fear of heights
Fear of open spaces
Fear of foreigners
Fear of water
You hold the key to a better vocabulary. By using the tips outlined in this chapter, you should be well on your way to discovering and learning new words to enhancing your vocabulary and strengthen your use of the English language. Finally, remember that you must practice putting your new words into your writing and speaking or risk not retaining them in your brain.