Practice: Word study
1. Abbreviations and numbers
2. Using prefixes - 1
3. Using prefixes - 2
4. Using prefixes — 3
5. Spelling and pronunciation - 1: Vowels
6. Spelling and pronunciation - 2: Diphthongs
7. Spelling and pronunciation - 3: Consonants
8. Compound words - 1
9. Compound words - 2
10. Using suffixes - 1: Adjectives
11. Using suffixes - 2: Actions and people
12. Using suffixes - 3: Abstract nouns
13. Opposites
14. Stressing the right syllable
15. Synonyms
1. Abbreviations and numbers
1. Work in pairs. What do these common abbreviations mean? Look up the ones you don't know in a dictionary - or ask another pair.
approx. approximately
c/o e.g. etc. esp. FBI GMT incl. info. intro. i.e. BST max. min. misc. No. N, S, E&W PTO Rd. RSVP St. VAT VIP vocab. Xmas 1st, 2nd & 3rd
See the answers on page 22.
2. Say these numbers and sums aloud:
333
144 113 227 850,000 5.75 1,992 7/8 11/4 + 22/3 = 3.9167
43/4 – 21/2 = 2.25
3. Write the numbers out in full. When you've finished, compare your answers with a partner.
4. Listen to and write down the numbers you hear (Activity 1, p 37), in figures not in words. Examples 1-6 are telephone and fax numbers, 7—12 are just numbers, 13-16 are times and 17-20 are prices. The first one is: 5180477.
5. Compare your answers with a partner. If necessary, listen again to check your answers.
6. Dictate some names, addresses and numbers to your partner.
2. Using prefixes -1
1. Work in pairs. Prefixes can be used with words to alter their meaning. Look at the verbs in italic. What are the differences in meaning?
1. I arranged all these papers tidily on my desk, now someone has rearranged them all.
2. She told him she never wanted to see him again. She expected him to react sensibly, but he threw himself on the ground and started crying. He overreacted as usual.
3. I estimated the work would take five minutes, but I underestimated how difficult it would be.
4. Which is worse: pre-holiday tension or post-holiday depression?
2. Add more examples to the lists below, using these root words:
appear build charge consider crowded dinner excited lunch marry pay prepared print read war
re rearrange rename repay………………………………………………...
pre- pre-Christmas pre-school ………………………………………………
post- post-war post-Christmas ………………………………………………...
over overdone overpriced ……………………………………………………
under underdone underestimate ……………………………………………….
3. Use the words in bold at the end of each line to form new words to fit in the spaces.
1. We were late because we underestimated how long the bus would take. estimate
2. Many buildings had to be.................after the earthquake in 1980. build
3. Most candidates suffer from............nerves, but some are...........exam confident
4. I queued for ages at the checkout - that supermarket really is.................. staff
5. Most employees feel that they are.................and.................. pay value
6. People who.................often become.................. eat weight
7. I.................the letter because the first draft was full of mistakes. write
8. He arrived late for work because he.................. sleep