Vocabulary:
Some Things to Notice about the Words You Learn
* = incorrect
Layers of Word Knowledge
Examples
Meaning
Positive/Negative Connotation
Degree (strength of a word)
She is slender/scrawny.
*The students’ records are annihilated after
five years.
(Too strong; use “destroyed”)
Collocations: Words that go together
Fixed Phrases
*Large sums of people went to the movie.
(Larges sums of money)
Preposition Use
*I like to listen music.
(Listen + to)
Grammar
Count/Non-count Nouns
Parts of Speech
Gerund or infinitive?
*My friend gives me good advices.
*I will absent on Tuesday.
*I want studying ESL because I enjoy to
speak English well.
Word Parts
Right word, wrong suffix
*His car was giving off too much exhaustion.
(Exhaust is the correct noun here)
Right word, wrong prefix
*The cheap ring was invaluable.
(in- does not mean not here)
Appropriateness
formal/informal
What’s up, dude?
[Is this okay for two high school friends to
use? How about an employee to his boss?)
polite & sensitive/
impolite & insensitive
direct/euphemistic
Physically challenged/ crippled
people can lead full lives.
I heard that your grandfather died/ passed
away.
Bottom Line: Learning a new word is like making a new friend:
 It doesn’t happen after just one meeting; it takes time to get to
know each other.
 The more you learn about your friend, the deeper your friendship
becomes.
 A true friendship requires your attention and careful observation
over time.