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ANSWERS FOR LEXICOLOGY .................................................................................................... 2
PART A. THEORY ...................................................................................................................... 2
Q.1. What are lexicology, word and vocabulary? ..................................................................... 2
Q.2. State the origin of English words? .................................................................................... 2
Q.3. What is the assimilation of borrowings? ........................................................................... 2
Q.4. Classify borrowed words according to the degree of assimilation? .................................. 3
Q.5. What is morpheme? Classify morphemes? ....................................................................... 3
Q.6. What’s allomorph? State the kind of allomorph? Classify the morphological conditioned
allomorph? ................................................................................................................................ 5
Q.7. What is compound? Classify English compounds? .......................................................... 6
Q.8. What is clipping? State the kinds of clipping? .................................................................. 7
Q.9. What is conversion? State the semantic relationship in conversion?................................ 7
Q.10. What is meaning? ............................................................................................................ 8
Q.11. Lexical meaning of the word? ................................................................................................. 8
Q.12. What is metaphor? Types of metaphor? ......................................................................... 8
Q.13. What is metonymy? Types of metonymy?...................................................................... 8
Q.14. What is homonym? Classify homonym? State the origin of homonym? ....................... 9
Q.15. What is synonym? What are the criteria of synonym? State the types of synonym? ... 10
Q.16. What are the types of connotation? ............................................................................... 10
Q.17. What is euphemism? State the reasons for euphemism? .............................................. 11
Q.18. What is antonym? What are the types of antonym? ...................................................... 11
Q.19. What are the main characteristics of Phraseological units (Pus)? How can PUs can be
distinguished from Free word groups (FWGs)? ..................................................................... 11
Q.20. Principles of classification of PUs? .............................................................................. 12
Q.21. Structural classification of PUs? ................................................................................... 12
PART B. EXERCISES ............................................................................................................... 13
CHAPTER I. FUNDAMENTALS ......................................................................................... 13
CHAPTER II. THE ETYMOLOGY OF ENGLISH WORDS ............................................... 14
CHAPTER III. MORPHEME STRUCTURE OF ENGLISH WORDS ................................. 15
CHAPTER IV. WORD – BUILDING.................................................................................... 16
CHAPTER V. SEMANTICS – MEANING ........................................................................... 20
CHAPTER VI. HOMONYMS ............................................................................................... 21
CHAPTER VII. SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS .............................................................. 22
CHAPTER VIII. SET EXPRESSION - PHRASEOLOGY ................................................... 23
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ANSWERS FOR LEXICOLOGY
PART A. THEORY
Q.1. What are lexicology, word and vocabulary?
- Lexicology is a branch of linguistics dealing with the vocabulary of language and the properties
of words as the main units of language.
- Word is a speech unit used for the purposes of human communication, materially representing a
group of sound, possessing a meaning, susceptible to grammatical employment and characterized
by formal and semantic unity.
- Vocabulary is the term used to denote the system formed by the sum total of all the words that the
language possesses.
Q.2. State the origin of English words?
2.1. Native words:
- Definition: Native words are words belonging to original English stock
- The native element in English comprises a large number of high frequency words like the articles,
prepositions, pronouns, conjunctions, auxiliaries, and, also, words denoting everyday objects and
ideas.
- Native words are sub-divided into 3 groups:
+ Indo-European element: are meant words of roots common to all or most languages of the
Indo-European group. English words of this group denote elementary notions without which no
human communication would be possible.
Eg. Father, mother, brother, son, daughter, foot, heart, cow, day, night, sun, moon, star,
sheep, wolf, man, two, three, tree, etc.
+ Germanic element: are words of roots common to all or most Germanic languages.
Eg. Head, arm, bear, oak, rain, winter, spring, sea, land, house, boat, green, blue, earth, little,
strong, long, etc.
+ English proper: are words having no cognates in other languages. English proper element
can be approximately dated.
Eg. Bird, boy, girl, lady, woman, lord, apple, dog, bread, etc.
2.1. Borrowed words (borrowing / loan words):
- Definition: Borrowed words are those taken from other languages and modified in phonetic shape,
graphic, morphological…according to standards of the English language.
- Borrowed words can be taken from various languages such as: Latin, French, Russian, Greek,
Spanish, etc.
Eg. + Latin: butter, plum, beef…
+ Spanish: tomato, potato…
+ French: desire, adore, baron, count…
- The reasons for borrowings from a language to another may be:
+ It serves to fill a gap in vocabulary
+ It represents the same notion in some new aspect, supply a new shade of meaning or a different
emotional coloring.
2.3. International words:
- International words are words of identical origin that occurs in several languages as a result of
simultaneous and successive borrowing from one ultimate source: Football, email, internet.
Q.3. What is the assimilation (sự đồng hóa) of borrowings?
Def: The term assimilation of loan words is used to denote a partial or total conformation to the
phonetical, graphical and morphological standards of the receiving language and its semantic
system.
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Q.4. Classify borrowed words according to the degree of assimilation?
- Def: The term assimilation of loan words is used to denote a partial or total conformation to the
phonetical, graphical and morphological standards of the receiving language and its semantic
system.
- According to degree of assimilation, borrowed words can be classified into: completely
assimilated words, partially assimilated words and unassimilated words.
- Completely assimilated words are found in all the layers of older borrowings.
Eg. + Latin: cheese, street, wall, wine…
+ Scandinavian: husband, fellow, gate, root, wing…
+ French: table, chair, face…
- Partially assimilated words are sub-divided into 4 subgroups:
+ Loan words not assimilated semantically: denote the objects, notion of country they’re from
Eg. Kimono (Japanese), rickshaw (Chinese)
+ Loan words not assimilated grammatically:
Eg. Formula – formulae; index – indice; phenomenon – phenomena (plural form is kept
constant).
+ Loan words not completely assimilated phonetically:
Eg. ma’chine, car’toon, po’lice (stress / accent is kept on original syllabe)
+ Loan words not completely assimilated graphically:
Eg. Café, cliché (lời nói sáo rỗng) (keep a diacritical mark)
- Unassimilated words / barbarisms: are words from other languages used by English people in
conversation or writing, but not assimilated in any way, and for which there are corresponding
English equivalents. (additional)
Eg. ciao (Italian) – ‘good bye’
Q.4* What is etymological doublets/tripplets.
- Etymological doublets are two words originating from the same etymological source, but differing
in phonemic shape and in meaning. A doublet may also consist of a shorten word and the one from
which it was derived
Eg: history-story, shirt (E)-skirt (Sc)
- Etymological tripplets are groups of three words of common root. They occur more rarely.
Eg: hospital(Lat.)- hostel (Norm.Fr)- hotel ( Par. Fr)
Q.5. What is morpheme? What are the properties of morphemes. Classify morphemes?
- Definition: Morpheme is the smallest meaningful unit of a given language. It can not be devided
without altering or destroying its meaning.
Eg: understand, butcher, grocer,stand, look, etc.
- Properties of morpheme;
+ Morpheme is the smallest unit associated with a meaning
+ Morpheme is recyclable unit, eg: perceive, receive, etc.
+ Morpheme can not be confused with syllable, eg: understand: 1 morpheme but 3 syllable,
+ Morpheme may take phonetically different shape: eg: record (N, V)
- Classification:
5.1. According to its function:
- Grammatical morphemes: are morphemes which show grammatical meanings
Eg. books
“-s” is grammatical morpheme
- Lexical morphemes: are morphemes which show principle meanings
Eg. books
“book” is lexical morpheme
5.2. According to its distribution:
- Free morphemes: can stand alone as independent words
- Bound morpheme: can’t stand alone as independent words, can only be added to other words to
form new forms of word or new words.
Eg. booked “book” – free morpheme; “-ed” – bound morpheme
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5.3. According to word-buiding:
- Affixes can’t stand alone as independent words. Affixes are bound morphemes that occur before
or after a root and somewhat modify the basic meaning of the root.
 According to position, affixes can be subdivided in to prefixes, suffixes, infixes
+ prefix: unhappy, inexpensive, etc.
+ suffix: careful,happiness, etc.
+ infix: statesment, salesman, etc.
 According to function affixes are sub-divided into inflectional and derivational morphemes.
+ Inflectional morpheme is used to add to the root to form new form.
Eg. translated, flowers, etc.
+ Derivational morpheme is used to add to the root to form new word.
Eg. Teacher, commitment, etc.
 According to etymology, affixes are sub-divided into native affixes and borrowed affixes
+ Native affixes are those that existed in English in the old English period or were
formed from old English words. Eg: -dom, -hood, -ful, etc.
+ Borrowed affixes are affixes that are borrowed from other languages. Many of the
borrowed affixes are international and occur not only in English but in several other
European languages as well. Eg: -ate ( Fr), -ism (Greek), -able (Lat.)
 According to productivity, affixes can be classified into productive and non-productive
affixes.
+ Productive affixes are the ones which take part in deriving new words in this particular
period of language development. The best way to identify productive affixes is to look
for them among neologisms and so-called nonce-words. Eg: -er,-ed,-ly (forming
adverbs), -ize, un+ Nonproductive affixes are the ones which have restriction in combining with other
words to form new words. Eg: -hood, en-, -some,-ly (forming adjective)
 According to part of speech, affixes are subdivided as follows:
+ Prefixes: - prefixes that gives negative meaning: Eg: un-, in-, dis-, etc.
- prefixes that form Verbs. Eg: en-, em- prefixes that change the part of speech of the word without changing the
meaning ???
+ Suffixes: - Noun-forming suffixes
* from verb. Eg: -ing, -ion
* Agent noun from verb: -er, -or, -ee, etc.
* from Adj. Eg: -ness,
- Verb-forming suffixes:
* from Adj: -en, -ize
* from N: -ify, -ate.
- Adjective-forming suffixes:
* from N: -al, -ly, -ful
* from nationality: -ian, -ese,
* from V: -ent, -ive, -able
- Adverb forming suffixes: -ly, -ward, -wise
- Numeral forming suffixes: -fold, -teen, -th, -ty
- Root (base): is the lexical morpheme that constitutes the core of word. Base is the morpheme
which carries the principle meaning in the word and to which a suffix or prefix can be added.
Eg. happy (base) – happiness
Root can be free base morpheme or bound base morpheme. Free base can stand by itself while
bound base must be preceded by prefix or followed by suffix.
5*) What are the differences between free morphemes and bound morphemes?
Free morphemes are morphemes which can stay alone as independent words. Eg: stand, like, etc.
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Bound morphemes are morphemes which can not stay alone as independent words. They only
modify the meaning of the words. Un-, -ness, etc.
Free morphemes and bound morphemes are different in terms of distribution. Free morphemes can
stand alone as independent words while bound morphemes can not.
5**) How to cut the constituents of a word ( IC – Immediate Constituent division):
Each hierarchy is the layer or structure by which a word has been composed, we can make
successive division into parts, each of which called IC and this division is called IC division. IC
division has to follow these rules:
- If a word has an inflectional suffix, the first cut is between inflectional suffix and the
word,
- One of the IC should be a free form
- The meaning of the IC should be related to the total meaning.
Eg: un//happy/ness
Q.6. What’s allomorph? State the kind of allomorph? Classify the morphological conditioned
allomorph?
 Definition:
Allomorphs are various phonemic shapes that represent the same morpheme. An allomorph is a
structure which is similar semantically but phonologically or morphologically different.
Eg. /z/, /s/, /iz/ - are allomorph of {s}
6.2. Kinds of allomorph:
- Phonologically conditioned allomorph (PCA): a morpheme is phonologically conditioned when
its distribution depends on the phonological nature of the preceding phoneme.
Eg: {-ed}-/id/; /t/;/d/
- Morphologically conditioned allomorph (MCA): a morpheme is morphologically conditioned
when it is determined by a specific morpheme. It occurs in the case of irregular verbs and irregular
nouns
+ Classify MCA:
- Zero allomorph: no change in writing
Eg. sheep – sheep
{-s}={-}
- Additive allomorph: {-s} = {-en}
Eg. child – children
- Replacive allomorph:
+ Vowel: v  v
Eg. man – men
/æ/  /e/
Eg. tooth – teeth
/u:/  /i:/
+ Consonant --> consonant
Eg: advice- advise /s/ ->/z/
Q.7. What are processes of making new words?
There are 4 processes of making new words:
 Derivation/ Affixation: is the formation of making new word by adding affixes to the root
morpheme.
D= root+ affixes
Eg: work-worker, happy- happiness, luck-unlucky
 Composition: is the combination/formation of at least two free bases
C= FB+FB
Eg: icecream, railway, workforce,etc.
 Shortening may be represented as significant substraction, in which part of the original word
is taken away. Shortening includes clipping, blending and abbreviation:
Eg: + Clipping: Ad, Advert : Advertisement, fend : defend, flu: influenza, etc.
+ Blending: Telecast : television postcast, smog : smoke and frog, etc.
+ Abbreviation: WHO, NATO,
 Conversion: is a process by which word extends its grammatical function
Eg: Lunch- to lunch, elbow- to elbow, etc.
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Q.7. What are compounds? Their specific features?Classify English compounds?
- Compound words are words containing of at least two stems which occur in the language as free
forms. In a compound word, the ICs obtain integrity and structural cohesion that make them
function in sentence as a separate lexical unit.
- Features:
+ Both ICs of an English compound are free forms. Eg: afternoon, birthday,
+ The regular pattern for the English language is a two-stem Eg: mother-in-law, wastepaperbasket, etc.
+ One more specific feature of English compounding is the important role the attributive
syntactic function can play in providing a phrase with structural cohesion and turning it into a
compound. Eg: the records are out of date  out-of-date records
- Classification:
According to the structural aspect of ICs: Compounds can be subdivided in to neutral,
morphological and syntactic compounds.
- Neutral compounds: are compounds produced by the process of compounding without any linking
element, by a mere juxtaposition of two stems.
+ Simple neutral compounds: consist of simple affixless stems.
Eg. blackbird, ladybird, windshield, etc.
+ Derivational compounds: are compounds which have affixes in their structure. One of the
constituents is derivational stem.
Eg. lady-killer, air-conditioner, chainsmoker, etc.
+ Contracted compounds: are compounds which have a shortened( contracted) stem in their
structure.
Eg. V-day, H-bomb, U-turn, etc.
- Morphorlogical compounds: are compounds in which two compounding stems are combined by
a linking vowel or consonant.
Eg. handicraft, spokesman, handiwork, etc.
- Syntactic compounds: are words formed from segments of speech, preserving in their structure
numerous traces of syntagmatic relations typical of speech: article, preposition, adverb. Eg motherin-law, lady-in-waiting, good-for-nothing, lily-of-the-valley, etc.
According to semantic aspect of compound words: compounds can be subdivided into idiomatic
and non-idiomatic compounds
- Non-idiomatic compounds: are the compounds whose meanings can really be described as the
sum of their constituent meanings.
Eg. bedroom, earthquake, etc.
- Idiomatic compounds: are the compounds whose meanings do not correspond to the separate
meanings of their constituent parts. Idiomatic compounds are subdivided into two types: partial
semantic change and total semantic change
+ Partial semantic change: one of the components has change its meaning: Eg.
blackboard,blackberry, lazy-bone,etc.
+ Total semantic change: all the components have changed their meanings. In the
compounds, the process of deducing the meaning of the whole from those of the constituents is
impossible. Eg: tallboy, butterfly, etc.
According to parts of speech: compounds can be subdivided into compound Ns, compound Adjs
and compound Vs
- Compound Ns: +) N+N: eg: waste paper, milkman, etc
+) Ving+ N: dining room, working class
+) N/V + Prep: day-off, sale-off, knock-out, drop-out, etc.
+) V+N: dare-devil ( kẻ liều lĩnh), pick-pocket, etc.
+) Adj+N: Tallboy, blackboard, lazy-bird
- Compound Adjs: +) N+ P2: heart-broken, heart-shaped, pig-headed
+) N+Adj: world-wide, homesick, love-sick, etc.
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+) Adj+Adj: light-blue, red-hot, etc.
+) Adj+Ned: absent-minded, bad-tempered
+) Adj/N+ Ving: easy-going, hard-working, good-looking, summer
flowering, freedom loving, etc.
- Compound Vs: proof-read
Q.7*) What is blending? State the kinds of blending?
- Def: Blending is the fusion of words into one usually the first part of a word with the last part of
another. Eg: chunnel, smoke, etc.
- Kinds of blending:
+ Additive blending: is transformable into a phrase consisting of the respective complete stems
combined by the conjunction ‘and’. Eg: smog (smoke and fog), camcorder (camera and recorder)
+ Restrictive blending is transformable into an attributive phrase where the first element serves as
modifier of the second. Eg: Telecast = Television broadcast, motel = motorists’ hotel
Q.8. What is clipping? State the kinds of clipping?
- Def: Clipping is the cutting-off of the beginning or the final or the middle part of the word or
both, leaving a part to stand for the word.
- Kinds of clipping: according to the position of the cut part
+ Initial clipping: retains the final part of the word (the initial part is cut).
Eg. telephone  phone; violoncello  cello, etc.
+ Final clipping: retains the initial part of the word (the final part is cut).
Eg. advertisement  ad; examination  exam; laboratory  lab, etc.
+ Inito-final clipping: retains the medial part of the word (the initial and final parts are cut).
Eg. influenza  flu; refridgerator  fridge…
+ Medial clipping: retains the initial and final parts of the word (the medial part is cut).
Eg. mathematics  maths; spectacles  specs, etc.
Q.9. What is conversion? State the semantic relationship in conversion?
- Conversion is the process by which a word is extended its grammatical function.
Eg. book (n) – to book (v)
- Semantic relationship:
+ N – name of tool or implement; V – denotes action performed by it.
Eg. hammer – to hammer, comb – to comb, brush – to brush, etc.
+ N – name of animal; V – denotes action or aspect of behaviour considered typical of it.
Eg. dog – to dog, ape – to ape, etc. (except: fish – to fish _try to catch fish).
+ N – name of part of human body; V – denotes action performed by it.
Eg. head – to head, eye – to eye, leg – to leg, etc.
+ N – name of a profession of occupation; V – denotes an activity typical of it.
Eg. cook – to cook, nurse – to nurse, etc.
+ N – name of place; V – the process of occupying it or put sb/sth into it.
Eg. room – to room, table – to table, etc.
+ N – name of container; V – the act of putting sth within the container.
Eg. can – to can, bottle – to bottle, etc.
+ N – name of meal; V – the process of taking it.
Eg. lunch – to lunch, etc.
Q.9*) What is abbreviation, state the kinds of occupation?
- Def: Abbreviation is a process by which a word is formed from the inital letter or beginning
segment of a series of words. Eg: NATO, ASEAN, WHO, etc.
- Kinds:
+ the abbreviated written form can be read as an ordinary English word: Eg: UNESCO, ASEAN,
etc.
+ the abbreviated written form can be read as separate letters. Eg: BBC, WTO, etc.
+ the abbreviated written form can be read in both ways: UFO, UNO, etc.
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Q.10. What is meaning? What is semantic?
- Meaning can be more or less described as a component of the word through which a concept is
communicated.
- Semantics is the branch of linguistic which specializes in the study of meanings
Q.11. Lexical meaning of the word?
Lexical meaning of a word is the relization of the notion by mean of the definite language system.
The notion content of the word is expressed by the denotative meaning and the emotional content
of the word is expressed by the connotative meaning.
Q.12. What is metaphor? Types of metaphor?
- Metaphor is the transfer of name based on the association of similarity and thus is actually a hidden
comparison.
- Types of metaphor:
+ Similarity of shape or function.
Eg. head of cabbage, the key to a mystery…
+ Similarity of position.
Eg. foot of a page, foot of mountain…
+ Similarity of behaviour.
Eg. a bookworm, a fox, etc.
+ Analogy between duration of time and space.
Eg: a short path - a short time
+ Transition of proper name into common one.
Eg. Don Juan, Vandal…
Q.13. What is metonymy? Types of metonymy (Hoán dụ)?
- Metonymy is the transfer based upon the association of contiguity. It is a shift of names between
things that are known to be in some way or other connected in reality. The transfer may be
conditioned by spatial(không gian), temporal, causal, symbolic, instrumental, functional and other
relations.
- Types of metonymy:
+ Spatial relations:
the name of place is used for the people occupying it.
Eg. the pulpit
the name of container is used instead of the thing contained
Eg: the kettle is boiling
+ Causal relations:
 State or properties serves as names for objects and people possessing them.
Eg. youth, authoritied, forces…
 Name of action serves to name result of the action.
Eg. kill (O.E – means ‘hit on the head’)
 Emotion may be named by movements that accompanied them.
Eg. to start, to frown…
+ Symbolic relation: the symbol is used to replace the thing symbolized
Eg: “crown” for “monarchy”
+ Intrumental relation Instrument is used for action or the doer.
Eg. saxophone, violin are used to denote not the instrument but the musicians who play
them.
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+ Functional change: the shift is between names of things substituting one another inhuman
practice. Eg: “steerman” was called “pilot”, the man operating the flying controls of an aircraft was
also called pilot.
+ Common name derived from proper one, named after the inventor.
Eg. macadam, diesel…
+ Physical, technical units are named after great scientists.
Eg. volt, watt, ohm, ampare, farad…
+ Name of establishment is used not only for the establishment itself but also its staff or the policy.
Eg. the White House, the Pentagon, the Downing Street…
+ Geographical names used for goods originating where there are axceedingly numerous.
Eg. china, bikini, boston…
+ Garments came to be known by the name of those who brought them into fashion.
Eg. mackintosh, wellingtons, CK…
+ Material for particular article.
Eg. glass, iron, nickel…
Q.14. What is homonym( từ đồng âm khác nghĩa)? Classify homonym? State the origin of
homonym?
14.1. Definition:
Two or more words identical in sound and spelling but different in meaning, distribution and (in
many cases) origin are called homonym.
14.2. Classification:
- According to the sound: (sound form)
+ Homonym proper: same sound and spelling, but different meaning.
Eg. back (adv) – back (v)
+ Homophone: same sound, but different spelling and meaning.
Eg. by – buy – bye
+ Homograph: same spelling, but different sound and meaning.
Eg. row (n) /rou/ - row (v) /rau/;
lead (n) /led/ - lead (v) /li:d/
- According to lexico-grammatical criteria:
+ Full homonym: same sound, spelling and grammatical function (part of speech), but different
meaning.
Eg. match (n): in ‘football match’ and ‘matchbox’
spring (n): wound wire device and first season of the year
+ Partial homonym:
 Simple lexico-grammatical homonym: same sound, spelling and part of speech, but different
meaning.
Eg. found (v): PP of ‘to find’
to found: to build, to establish
 Complex lexico-grammatical homonym: same sound and spelling, but different part of speech
and meaning.
Eg. rose (n) – rose (v)_past tense of rise
 Partial-lexical homonym: same sound, spelling and part of speech, but different meaning and
change in part of speech.
Eg. to lie – lay – laid
to lie – lied – lied
14.3. Origin of homonym:
 Convergent development of sound form:
- Homonyms through convergent sound development when 2 or 3 words of different origins
accidently concide in sound.
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- It may consist of:
+ Phonetic change.
+ Phonetic change combined with loss of affixes.
+ Independent formation from homonymous bases by means of homonymous morpheme.
 Devergent semantic development:
- Homonyms developed from polysemy through devergent sense development, both may be
combined with loss of ending and other morphorlogical process.
- It may be:
+ Limited within lexico-grammatical class of words.
+ Combined with differences in lexico-grammatical class and therefore different in
grammatical function and distribution.
+ Based on independent formation from the same base by homonymous morpheme.
Q.15. What is synonym(từ đồng nghĩa)? What are the criteria of synonym? State the types
of synonym?
- Definition: Synonym can be defined as 2 or more words of the same language, belonging to the
same part of speech and possessing one or more identical or nearly identical denotational meaning,
interchangeable, at least in some contexts, without any considerable alteration in denotational
meaning, but differing in morphemic composition, phonemic shape, shades of meaning,
connotation, affective value, style, valency and idiomatic use.
- Criteria of synonym:
+ Interchangeability: only in some contexts synonym can be changed without any alteration
in denotational and connotational meaning.
+ Substitution: only in some contexts without changing the denotational meanings, and in
others the substitution may destroy the precision.
+ Notional criterion: synonyms convey the same notion but different shade of meaning or
stylistic charateristic.
- Types of synonyms:
+ Absolute (total) synnonym: the member of synonymic group can replace each other in any
given context without any alteration in denotational meaning. This is rare in vocabulary.
+ Contextual synonym: is similar in meaning only under some specific distributional
conditions.
Eg. to buy ticket ≈ to get ticket.
Q.16. What are the types of connotation?
- The connotation of degree or intensity.
Eg. to surprise – to astonish – to amaze – to astound
to like – to admire – to love – to adore – to worship
- The connotation of duration.
Eg. to stare: quick look – to glance: longer look
- Emotive connotation.
Eg. daddy (emotion) – father; mum (emotion) – mother
- Evaluative connotation.
Eg. well-known, famous, celebrate – positive meaning
notorious – negative meaning
- Causative connotation.
Eg. to shiver: to shake (with cold) – to shudder (with fear)
- Connotation of manner.
Eg. to stare – to glare – to gaze – to glance – to peep : # ways of looking at sth.
- Connotation of attendant circumstances.
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Eg. to peep: to look at sth quickly, secretary (through a small opening)
to peer: to look at sth carefully when it is unable to see well
- Connotation of attendant feature.
Eg. pretty: delicate feature
beautiful: classical feature
- Stylistic connotation.
Eg. snack, bite (colloqual); snap (dialect); refreshment (formal)
Kid (slang); child (neutral); infant (literature)
Q.17. What is euphemism (uyển ngữ)? State the reasons for euphemism?
- Definition: A source of synonyms from social linguistics is euphemism in which by a shift of
meaning, a word of more or less pleasant or at leasr inoffensive connotation substitutes one harsh,
obsence, indelicate or unleasant.
- Reasons for euphemism:
+ To avoid social taboos: eg. in the family way (pregnant).
+ To avoid getting hurt someone’s feeling: eg. to die is replaced by – to pass away
+ Religious taboos: eg. Devil – replaced by – the Prince of Darkness, Old Nick
+ For mental diseases: eg. mad – described as – unbalanced, insane.
The use and existence of euphemisms are caused by social conventions or by certain
psychological factors.
Q.18. What is antonym(từ trái nghĩa)? What are the types of antonym?
- Antonyms may be defined as 2 or rarely more words of the same language belonging to the same
part of speech, identical in style and nearly identical in distribution, associated and use together so
that their denotative meanings render (form) contrary or contradictory notions.
The antonyms are used to increase the positive or nagative aspect.
- Types of antonyms:
+ Absolute antonyms: formulae (A,B – antonyms; X,Y – the words they serve to qualify
respectively).
 A and (or) B = all.
Eg. good and bad; pros and cons
 Not A but (on the contrary) B.
eg. it is not big but small
 A or B.
eg. right or wrong
 X is A, and Y (on the contrary) is B.
eg. unity is strong, and seperation is weak; the whole is big, onself is little
+ Derivational antonyms: the affixes in them serve to deny the quality stated in stem.
 Negative prefixes: dis-, il-, im-, in-, un-, ir-.
Eg. polite – impolite; courage – discourage
 Suffix “-less”.
Eg. useful – useless; hopeful – hopeless
Q.19. What are the main characteristics of Phraseological units (Pus)? How can PUs can be
distinguished from Free word groups (FWGs)?
19.1. Charateristics:
- Double sense: the current mening of constituent words build up certain picture but the atual
meaning (hidden one) of the whole unit has little or nothing to do with that picture, it creates an
entirely new image.
- Using PUs with care especially to foreigner to aviod misunderstanding.
19.2. The differnces between the PUs and FWGs:
- Semantic criterion:
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+ FWG has one sense meaning which can be total meaning of the constituents expressing in the
utterances.
+ PUs has double sense (real and imagine), it can be total or partial change with the meaning of the
constituents.
- Strutural criterion:
+ Restriction in substitution:
 PUs convey single notion, the constitution can’t be changed – if they are changed, the total
meaning will be changed.
 FWGs: the constituents can be changed without any considerable change in total meaning.
+ Reatriction in introducing any additional components:
 FWGs: such change can be made without affecting the general meaning of the utterance.
 PUs: no additional components can be introduced.
+ Restriction in grammatical invariability:
 FWGs: grammar can be changed
 PUs: grammar can’t be changed.
Q.20. Principles of classification of PUs?
- Traditional principle:
+ Based on original content of PUs, may be alluded as “thematic”.
+ Has real merit but it does’t take into consideration the linguistic charateristic feature of PUs.
- Semantic principle:
+ Phraseological combinations: are word-group with a partially changed meaning.
Eg. to be good at sth
+ Phraseological unities: are word-groups with a completely changed meaning, the meaning of the
unit doesn’t correspond to the meaning of its constituent parts. The whole meaning of the unit can
be duduced from its components.
Eg. to stick to one’s gun
+ Phraseological fusions: are word-groups with a completely changed meaning, but in contrast to
unities, their meaning can’t be deduced from the meanings of the constituents.
Eg. neck and crop (entirely)
- Structural principle:
+ Verbal: eg. to run for one’s life
+ Substantive (noun): eg. cat and dog
+ Adjectival: eg. safe and sound, brand new
+ Adverbial: eg. high or low, for love or money
+ Interjectional: eg. my god!, good heavens!
Q.21. Structural classification of PUs?
- Functioning like nouns:
N+N
eg. maiden name, calf love, brain trust
 N’s + N
eg. cat’s paw (personized)
 Ns’ + N
eg. ladies’ man
 N + preposition + N
eg. the day after the fair (miss the chance)
 N + adj
eg. brand new, knight errant
 N + and + N
eg. lord and master (husband), neck and crop (completely)
 Adj + N eg. brown study, green room (the general reception room of a theatre)
 N + subordinate clause
eg. the ship that pass in the night
- Functioning like verbs:
V+N
eg. to take advantage
 V + postpositive eg. to give up
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 V + and/or + V
eg. to pick and choose, to kill or cure
 V + (one’s) + N + (prep) eg. to snap one’s fingers at
 V + one + N
eg. to give one the bird ‘to fire smb’
 V + subordinate clause
eg. to see how the land lies (to discover the state of affairs)
- Functioning like adjectives:
 Adj + and + adj eg. safe and sound, high and mighty
 (As) + adj + as + N
eg. as old as the hills, as mad as hatter
- Functioning like adverbs:
N+N
eg. tooth and nail
 Prep + N eg. by heart, of course
 Adv + preposition + adj + N
eg. once in a blue moon
 Prep + N + or + N eg. by hook or by crook
 Conj + clause
eg. before one can say jack Robinson
- Funtioning like prepositions:
 Prep + N + prep eg. in consequence of
- Functioning like interjections:
eg. god bless you, take your time
_________________________The End_________________________
PART B. EXERCISES
CHAPTER I. FUNDAMENTALS
E 3. What is the external structure (morphological structure) of the word irresistible? What is the
internal structure (semantic structure) of this word?
The external structure of the word irresistible consists of morphemes: the prefixes ir-, re-,
the root sist, and the adjective-forming suffix –ible.
The internal structure of the word: ir- means not, re- means again, sist meaningless, -ible
means capable. The word means ‘so strong that it can’t be stopped or resisted’.
E 5. Explain why the word blackboard can be considered a unity and why the combination of words
black board doesn’t possess such a unity?
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The word blackboard, which is characterized by unity, possess a single grammatical
framing: ‘blackboard’. The first constituent black is not subjected to any grammatical changes. In
the word-group black board each constituent can acquire grammatical forms of it own: the blackest
board. Other words can be inserted between the components which is immpossible so far as the
word concerned as would violate its unity: a black wide board.
In the word-group black board, each component conveys a separate concept: black – a
colour, board – a flat abject.
The word blackboard conveys only one concept: a type of board.
CHAPTER II. THE ETYMOLOGY OF ENGLISH WORDS
E 1. Explain the origin of the following words:
father, mother, brother, dog, cat, sheep, wolf, house, home, life, earth, man, apple, bread, live, go,
give, begin, come, quick, strong, long, wide, to, for, two, three, well, much, little.
- All the above words belong to native English origin, but they are divided into such group:
English proper
dog, bread, apple, come.
Indo-European
father, mother, brother, wolf,
man, live, go, give, quick,
wide, for, two, three, much,
well.
Germanic
house, cat, sheep, home,
life, earth, begin, strong,
long, to, little.
E 2. - State the origin of the following doublets
- Comment on the different formation of the doublets and on the difference in meaning if any.
1. abbreviate (L) – abridge (Fr)
2. hospital (L) – hotel (Fr) – hostel (Fr)
3. cavalry (L) – chivalry (Fr)
4. major (L) – mayor (Fr)
5. cart (Scand) – chart (Fr)
6. senior (L) – sir (Fr)
7. fragile (L) – frail (Fr)
8. canal (Fr) – channel (E)
9. suit (OE) – suite (Fr)
10. legal (L) – loyal (Fr)
11. shade (OE) – shadow (OE)
12. skirt (Scand) – shirt (OE)
13. dike (OE/Ger) – ditch (E)
14. screw (Fr) – shrew (OE)
E 3. Give adjectives of Latin origin corresponding to the following nouns: eg. lip – labial.
Noun
Adj
Noun
Adj
Mouth
Oral
Horse
Equine
Eye
Ocular
Ox
Bovine
Tongue
Lingual
Sheep
Ovine
Nose
Nasal
Mother
Maternal
Tooth
Dental
Father
Paternal
Body
Corporal
Brother
Fraternal
Head
Capital
Woman
Feminine
Ear
Auricular
Husband
Marital
Hand
manual
House
Domestic
Sight
Visible
Town
Urban
Mind
Mental
Moon
Lunar
Life
Vital
Sun
Solar
Youth
Juvenile
Sea
Marine
Book
Literary
E 4. Classify the following words:
- According to their origins
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- According to their meanings
ox, cow, beef, calf, veal, sheep, mutton, pig, bacon, deer, venison, chase, hunt, begin, commence,
baker, tailor, weaver, butcher, shoemaker, painter, fish-man, mason, shepherd, lord, baron, lady,
count.
- According to their origins, these words are divided into such groups: Native English and French
and Latin
English
French
Latin
Ox, cow, calf, sheep, pig, bacon, Veal, mutton, venison, chase, beef
deer, hunt, begin, baker, fish-man, commence, tailor, weaver, butcher,
shoemaker, shepherd, lord, lady.
painter, mason, baron, count.
- According to their meanings we have such groups:
Animal
Meat
Occupation & title Verb
Ox, cow, calf, pig,
Veal, mutton,
Baker, tailor,
Chase, hunt, begin,
sheep, deer,
bacon, venison
weaver, butcher,
commence, count
shoemaker, painter,
fish-man, mason,
shepherd, lord,
baron, lady
CHAPTER III. MORPHEME STRUCTURE OF ENGLISH WORDS
E 1. Analyze the structure of the following words: eg. misuse
B F
Convene
dislike
preface
foresee
darkroom
subway
B B
B F
B F
B F
F F
B F
Recut
supervise
postwar
policeman
friendship
typist
B F
F
B
B F
F F
F
B
F B
Loneliness
assistant
intervene
F
B
F B
B B
E 2. – Separate word form into its constituent morpheme:
Eg. expression = {ex-} {-press} {-ion}
- State whether the base is bound or free and what it means
- Give at least two English words containing the same base.
Detachment = {de-} {-tach} {-ment}, the base {-tach} is a bound one; eg. attachment
Expectation = {ex} {-pect} {-ation}, the base {-pect} is a bound base, eg. pectize
Portable = {port-} {-able}, the base {port} is free base, eg. import, export
Correspondent = {cor-} {-respond} {-dent}, the base {-respond} is free base, eg. irresponsive
Revise = {re-} {-vise}, the base {-vise} is bound base, eg. supervise
Eject = {e-} {-ject}, the base {-ject} is bound base, eg. inject, project
Retainer = {re-} {-tain} {-er}, the base {-tain} is bound base, eg. maintain, contain
Contradic = {contra-} {-dict}, the base {-dict} is bound base, eg. predict, dictionary
Telephone = {tele-} {-phone}, the base {-phone} is bound base, eg. homophone, headphone
Apprehensible = {ap-} {-pre} {-hens} {-ible}, the base {-hens}is bound base, eg. comprehensive,
comprehensible
Regress = {re-} {-gress}, the base {-gress} is bound base, eg. congress
Deceiver = {de-} {-ceiv} {-er}, the base {-ceiv} is bound base, eg. receive, perceive
Department = {de-} {-part} {-ment}, the base {-part} is free base, eg. apartment
Intervene = {inter-} {-vene}, the base {-vene} is bound base, eg. convene, subvene
Consent = {con-} {-sent}, the base {-sent} is bound base, eg. resent, assent
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CHAPTER IV. WORD – BUILDING
IV. 1. Affixation
E 1. Give examples of nouns with the following suffixes. State which of the suffixes are productive?
-tion, -dom, -ness, -ism, -ship, -er, -or, -ist, -ess, -ing, -th, -age
Suffixes
Productiveness
- tion: nation, derivation, station
productive
- dom: kingdom, freedom
- ness: homelessness, loneliness
productive
- ism: criticism, terrorism
productive
- ship: friendship, scholarship
- er: worker, teacher, lawyer
productive
- or: actor, professor, vendor
productive
- ist: impressionist, specialist
productive
- ess: lioness
- ing: wedding, functioning
productive
- th: sixth, eighth
- age: leakage, advatantage
E 2. State the origin and explain the meaning of the suffixes in the following words
Childhood, friendship, freedom, toward, backward, brotherly, rider, granny, teacher, aunty,
hierling, village, hindrance, drunkard, limitation, reinforcement, cheerfulness.
1. Native suffixes:
- hood: state or quality of , condition
- ship: state or quality of , condition
- dom: condition or state of
- ward: in the direction of
- ly: in the way mantioned, having the quality of
- er: denoting agent, residence of, device
- y: full of, having quality of
- ing: denoting agent, action, fact
- ness: the quality, state or charater of
- ard: having the quality
2. Borrowing suffixes:
- age: action or result of action (Latin)
- ance: state or charater (Latin)
- ion: action or process (Latin)
- ment: action, process (Latin)
E 3. Give adjectives or adverbs with the following suffixes:
- y: sleepy, cloudy, sunny, windy
- ed: talented, interested
- ward: backward, onward, upward
- long: age-long
- wise: clockwise, likewise
- ly: windy, manly, brotherly, slowly
E 4. Give verbs with the following suffixes:
- ize: legalize, civilize, industrialize
- en: lengthen, darken, widen
- fy: clarify, testify, modify
- ish: poverish, publish, polish
- ate: generate, activate, demenstrate
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E 5. Form some adjectives from noun stems by adding the suffix – ish. Explain the meaning of the
derivatives.
Child – childish
girl – girlish
baby – babyish
cat – cattish
In this form, suffix –ish is added to the noun to make the adjective have meaning “similar to or
behave like”. (use antonyms or synonyms to explain)
E 6. Form some adjectives from adjective stems by adding the suffix – ish. Explain the meaning of
the derivatives.
Cool – coolish
red – reddish
yellow – yellowish fool – foolish
When suffix –ish is added to adjective stem to make adjective it will add an depreciation to the
meaning of the stem.
E 7. Pick out the productive and non-productive prefixes:
Un-, be-, pre-, al-, non-, mis-, post-, a-, anti-, out-, ex-, for-, re-, up-, counter-, extra-, super-, dis,
trans-, inter-, ante-, ultra-, infra-, under-, introProductive prefixes:
Un-: unhappy – unhappily, uneasy – uneasiness – uneasily
Be-: beget – begetter
Pre-: preheat – preheating
Al-: allocate – allocation, almighty – almightily – almightiness
Non-: non-productive – non-productiveness
Mis-: misunderstand – misunderstanding
Post-: postposition – postpositional
A-: achromatic – achromatize – achromatism
Out-: outfight – outfighting, outfit – outfitter
Ex-: ex-service – exserviceman
For-: forbidding – forbiddingness
Re-: rearrange – rearrangement
Up-: upland – uplander
Super-: supercharge – supercharger
Dis-: disable – disability
Trans-: transact – transaction
Inter-: interact – interactive – interaction
The rest in bold are non-productive prefixes.
E 7. Classify the following prefixes according to their origin:
Re-, under-, with-, in-, over-, trans-, anti-, a-, non-, pre-, de-, dis-, inter-, mis-, co-, exNative prefixes: under-, with-, over-, a-, misBorrowing prefixes: re-, in-, trans-, non-, pre-, de-, dis-, inter-, co-, ex- (Latin).
anti- (Greek)
IV.2. Composition – compound
E 1. Arrange the compounds given below into grooups: idiomatic and non-idiomatic. Say whether
the semantic change within idiomatic compounds is partial or total.
Idiomatic
Total change
Partial change
Non-idiomatic
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Light-hearted
Butterfly
Tallboy
Bluestocking
Dragonfly
Homebody
Bluebell
Free-way
Highway
Blackberry
Lazy-bone
Good-for-nothing
Medium-size
Wolf-dog
Earthquake
Looking-glass
Necklace
Greengrocer
E 2. Identify the neutral compounds in the word combinations given below and write them out in
three columns: simple neutral compounds, neutral derived compounds and neutral contracted
compounds.
Simple neutral
A car’s windshield
A heavy topcoat
A snow-white handkerchief
A howl long and wolf-like
Neutral derived
An air-conditioned hall
A high pitched voice
Thoudsands of goldseekers
A lightish-colored man
A glass-walled room
A radio-equipped car
A big hunting-knife
Neutral contracted
To fight against H-bomb
Big A.A. guns
To go into frantic U-turns
To fix M-day
E 3. Analyze the structure of the following words:
Get-at-table, undertaker, looking-glass, sea-coast, fountain-pen, stay-at-home, red-hot, will-to-live,
heart-broken, hair’s breadth, bird’s eye, penny-a-liner, butter-fingers, mother-of-thousands, sunfish,
ladybird, no-longer-young, mother-in-law, non-stop-flight, up-to-date, gaslight, office-in-charge,
workday.
These above words are compounds, and they can be divided in to 3 groups according to the
structural aspects: neutral, morphological and syntactic compounds.
Neutral compounds
Morphological
Syntactic compounds
compounds
Simple
Derived
Sea-coast,
Undertaker,
Get-at-table, stay-at-home, will-tofountain-pen,
looking-glass,
live, penny-a-liner, mother-ofred-hot, sunfish, heart-broken,
thousands, no-longer-young,
#
ladybird,
hair’s breadth,
mother-in-law, non-stop-flight,
gaslight,
bird’s eye,
up-to-date, office-in-charge
workday
butter-fingers
E 4. - Comment on the meaning and the form of the following compounds
- Compare the meaning of the compound with that of its components.
+ butterball, butterfinger: N + N, idiomatic, total change
buttermilk, butter-woman: N + N, idiomatic, partial change
+ dustman, motorman, milkman, fisherman, shipman, postman, oilman, woodman: N + N,
idiomatic, partial change
nobleman, madman: Adj + N, non-idiomatic.
+ craftsman, salesman, batsman, oarsman, kinsman, herdsman, statesman, sportsman: N + infix +
N, idiomatic, partial change.
+ pot-boy, stable-boy, post-boy, cowboy, doughboy: N + N, idiomatic, partial change.
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+ ladybird, lady-in-waiting, lady-killer, lady-love: mixed up, idiomatic, total change.
+ hot-blooded, cold-blooded, thick-headed, woodened-headed, pig-headed: Adj + N_ed, idiomatic,
total change.
+ cross-eyed, eagle-eyed, sharp-eyed, single-eyed, wild-eyed, green-eyed (idiomatic, total change),
round-eyed: Adj + N_ed, idiomatic, partial change.
hollow-eyed, dim-eyed, sleepy-eyed: Adj + N_ed, non-idiomatic.
+ black-hearted, lion-hearted, stony-hearted, chicken-hearted, cold-hearted, light-hearted, cruelhearted: Adj + N_ed, idiomatic, total change.
E 5. Form as many compounds as possible, using the follwing stems as their first component:
Grass-, hand-, ink-, horse-, mother-, pack-, steam-, steelGrass-: grassroots, grasswidow, grasshopper
Hand-: handwriting, handicraft, handbag, handball, handbrake
Ink-: inkpot, inkbottle, inkpad, inkwell
Horse-: horsepower, horseback, horsebean, horse opera, horse race, horse-tail
Mother-: mother-in-law, mother-of-thousands, motherland, mother tongue, mother-to-be
Pack-: pack horse, pack saddle, pack job, pack rat, pack train
Steam-: steam engine, steam bath, steamturbine, steam jacket
Steel-: steelworker, steel band, steelhead
E 6. Form as many compounds as possible, using the following stems as their second components:
-man, -berry,- woman, - boy,- room, -looking
-man: salesman, policeman, businessman, spokesman
-berry: blackberry, strawberry, cranberry
-woman: policewoman, businesswoman, chairwoman
-boy: pot-boy, cowboy, post-boy
-room: livingroom, bathroom, bedroom
-looking: good looking, forward-looking
IV.3. Words formed by special processes:
IV.3.1. Conversion:
E 1. State the relationships in conversion of the following words:
Noun
Verb
Relationship
- ape
to ape
Nouns are the names of animals, verbs denote typical
- ass
to ass
actions or behaviour.
- duck
to duck
- fish
to fish
Try to catch fish
- eye
to eye
N – name of part of the human body, V – an action
- finger
to finger
performed by it.
- shoulder
to shoulder
N – name of place, V – the process of occupying the
- top
to top
place or of putting sth/ smb in it.
- dress
to dress
N – name of container, V – act of putting sth within the
- pocket
to pocket
container
- line
to line
- square
to square
N – name of symbol, V – process of making it.
- star
to star
- cork
to cork
N – name of tool, V – action performed by the tool.
E 2. Compare the meaning of the words in the bold type with that of the corresponding nouns.
- to head an army: means to lead
the noun head – part of body.
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- to toe a mark: means to make or press
- to eye a foe: means to watch
- to chair a candidate: means to point
- to table a resolution: means to discuss
- to foot a stocking: means to wear
- to mind a command: means to notice
- to fish a compliment: means to try to get
- to stone a martyr: means to kill
- to dress a wound: means to cover or wear
the noun toe – part of body.
the noun eye – part of body.
the noun chair – name of place.
the noun table – name of place.
the noun foot – part of body.
the noun mind – part of body.
the noun fish – name of animal.
the noun stone – name of tool.
the noun dress – name of container.
IV.3.2. Shortening
Write out in full the following shortened words. Define the type of shortening.
- N.C.O: Non Commissioned Officer
acronym
- pub: public house
ellipsis
- ad: advertisement
final clipping
- fancy: fantasy
contraction – rhythm
- H-bomb: Hydrogen bomb
initial abbreviation
- V-day: Victory day
initial abbreviation
- USSR: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
acronym
- UNO: United Nations Organizartion
acronym
- UNESCO: United Nations Educational,
acronym
Scientific and Cultural Organizaton
- mike: microphone
shortening spoken language
- lab: laboratory
final clipping
- FIFA: International Football Association
acronym
(Fédération Internationale de Football Association)
- USA: United Nations of America
acronym
- ml: millilitre
acronym
- UFO: Unidentified Flying Object
acronym
- TEFL: Teaching (of) English as a
acronym
Foreign Language
- UEFA: Union of European Football Associations acronym
CHAPTER V. SEMANTICS – MEANING
V.1. Metaphor
E 1. Pick out the metaphors from the following word combinations:
- a green bush, a green man, a green apple, green with envy.
- seeds of a plant, seeds of evil.
- a fruitful tree, fruitful work.
- a fruitless tree, a fruitless effort.
- the root of a tree, the root of a word.
- a blooming rose, blooming health.
- a fading or faded flower, fading or faded beauty.
E 2. What do we mean when we say a person is:
Like a fox, like a bull in a china shop?
- When we say a person like a fox, we mean he/she is a cunning or smart one and if we say someone
like a bull in a china shop we imply that he/she is a very careless person who always break every
thing.
V.2. Metonymy
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E 1. Comment on the type and meaning of the following cases of metonymy:
- sandwich, mackintosh, boycott, hooligan: thing known by the name of person who brought it to
public/fashion.
- cheviot, madeira, champagne, bordeaux, Havana: geographical name is used for goods originating
from place where they are exceedingly numerous.
E 2. Discuss the following cases of metonymy:
- He is the hope of family: states and properties serve as names for objects and people possessing
them.
- She was the pride of her school: states and properties serve as names for objects and people
possessing them.
- I have never read Balzac in the original: common name derived from proper name.
- My sister is fond of old china: geographical name is used for goods originating from place where
they are exceedingly numerous.
- the coffee pot is boiling: symbol for thing symbolized – instrument for the product.
CHAPTER VI. HOMONYMS
E 1. Find the homonyms proper for the following words:
- band: a company of musician
band: a thin flat strip of cloth
- seal: a warm-blooded fish-eating animal seal: close
- ear: part of human body
ear: plant part containing grain
- cut: the result of cutting
cut: change scene
- to bore: to make a long round hole
bore: to make somebody uninterested
- corn: a hard, horny thickening of the skin, esp. on the foot
corn: a type of cereal
- fall: the act of falling
fall: autumn – the 3rd season in the year
- to hail: to greet
hail: pellets of ice
- ray: a kind of fish
ray: single line or narrow beam of light
- draw: something that attracts attention
draw: finish with equal score (sports).
E 2. Find the homophones to the following words. Explain meaning in English.
- heir /e(r)/: person entiled to property
air /e(r)/: mixture of oxygen and nitrogen surrounding
the earth.
- dye /dai/: substance used to change color of hair or cloth
die /dai/: stop living.
- cent /sent/: common unit of currency
scent /sent/: smell, perfume.
- tale /teil/: story
tail /teil/: rear part of animal body.
- sun /sΛn/: star around which earth revolves
son /sΛn/: boy in relation with parents.
- meat /mi:t/: edible animal flesh
meet /mi:t/: to see another.
- steel /sti:l/: an alloy of iron and carbon
steal /sti:l/: to take sth illegally.
- knight /nait/: honoured military man (hist)
night /nait/: daily period of darkness.
- sum /sΛm/: total
some /sΛm/: several.
- hare /he(r)/: mammal like rabbit
hair /he(r)/: strands growing on the head or body.
- write /rait/: put words on paper with pen
right /rait/: true, correct.
- sight /sait/: seeing
site /sait/: place.
E 3. Find the homographs to the following words and transcribe both
- to bow /ba/: to bend the head of the body
bow /b/: looped knot
- wind /wind/: air in motion
wind /waind/: wrap sth with coil
- to tear /tзr/: to pull apart by force
tear /ti/: single drop of fluid from eyes
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- bear /bi/: a large, heavy animal
bear /be/: to carry, bring
- to dessert /diz:t/: to go away from a person or place
desert /dezt/: arid area
- row /r/: number of person or things in a line
to row /ra/: noisy quarrel.
CHAPTER VII. SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS
VII.1. Synonyms
E 1. In the following groups of synonyms, find the synonymic dominant:
- exact, precise, accurate
- salvage, uncivilized, barbarous
- hide, conceal, disguise
- agree, approve, consent
- recall, recollect
- cry, weep, scream, sheirk
- clever, able, intelligent, keen, sharp
- uneducated, ignorant, illiterate, misinformed
- agile, nimble, alert, quick, brisk, active
E 2. Arrange the following synonyms according to their degree of intensity:
- ask, implore, beg
ask  beg  implore
- longing, desire, wish
wish  desire  longing
- wither, decay, fade
fade  wither  decay
- handsome, pretty, beautiful
pretty  handsome / beautiful
- irritate, annoy
annoy  irritate
- pierce, penetrate
penetrate  pierce
- alarmed, frightened, terrified
fightened  alarmed  terrified
- happiness, pleasure, delight
pleasure  happiness  delight
- affiction, despair, sadness
sadness  dispare  affiction
- astonishment, surprise, consternation
surprise  astonishment  consternation
- excuse, pardon, forgive
excuse  pardon  forgive
- accident, disaster, misfortune
misfortune  accident  disaster
- malicious, naughty, nasty, wicked
naughty  nasty  malicious  wicked
- genius, capability, talent
capability  talent  genius.
VII.2. Antonyms
E 1. Give antonyms to the following words. Arrange them in three columns: derivational antonyms
(eg. careful – careless), absolute antonyms (eg. slow – fast) and mixed (eg. correct – incorrect,
wrong).
Alert, discord, alive, ugly, artless, appearance, assist, arrange, courage, attentive, descend, safety,
consistent, aware, convinent, competent, continue, preceding, correct, sufficent, frequent, distinct,
expensive, hostile, faithful, wet, enemy, temporary, legal, lower, kind, normal, painful, encourage.
Derivational antonyms
Artless – artful
Appearance – disappearance
Attentive - inattentive
Arrange – disarrange
Descend – ascend
Absolute antonyms
Discord – accord
Alive – dead
Ugly – beautiful
Assist – hinder
Courage – cowardice
Mixed antonyms
Aware – unaware, ignorant
Continue – discontinue, stop
Correct – incorrect, wrong
Expensive – inexpensive, cheap
Faithful – faithless, disloyal
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Consistent – inconsistent
Convenient – inconvenient
Competent – incompetent
Sufficent – insufficent
Frequent – infrequent
Distinct – indistinct
Legal – illegal
Normal – abnormal
Encourage - discourage
Safety – danger
Preceding – following
Hostile – friendly
Wet – dry
Enemy – friend
Temporary – permanent
Lower – higher
Kind – unkind, cruel
Painful – painless, pleasant
E 2. Give derivational antonyms to the following words:
Just, justice, use (v), use (n), fortunate, fortune, grateful, like (v), like (adj), lovely, movable, moved,
related, relative.
Just – unjust
Like (v) – dislike
Justice – injustice
Like (adj) – anlike
Use (v) – misuse
Lovely – unlovely
Use (n) – disuse
Movable – immovable
Fortunate – unfortunate
Moved – unmoved
Fortune – misfortune
Related – unrelated
Grateful – ungrateful
Relative - irrelative
CHAPTER VIII. SET EXPRESSION - PHRASEOLOGY
E 1. Analyze the structure of the following phraseological units. Give Vietnamese equivalents.
1. It is the last straw that breaks the camel’s back.
Function like noun. N + that clause. Già néo đứt dây.
2. Can the loepard change his spots?
Sentence. Đánh chết cái nết không chừa
3. To put all one’s eggs in one basket.
Function like verb. V + one’s + N + preposition. Được ăn cả ngã về không.
4. Burnt child dreads the fire.
Sentence. Chim phải đạn sợ làn cây cong.
5. To set the Thames on fire.
Function like verb. V + N. Kinh thiên động địa / Bán trời không văn tự.
6. It is not the grey coat that makes the gentleman.
Funtion like noun. N + that/ subordinate clause. Mặc áo cà sa không hẳn đã là sư.
7. As well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb.
Function like Adj. As + adj + as + N. Đâm lao thì phải theo lao / Đã trót thì trét.
8. To let no grass grow under one’s feet.
Function like verb. V + N. Đừng để nước đến chan mới nhảy.
9. To give somebody a piece of one’s mind.
Function like verb. V + N. Mắng cho một trận / Thẳng thắn phê bình.
10. A stitch in times saves nine.
Sentence. Diệt cỏ diệt tận gốc / Nhổ cỏ nhổ cả gốc.
11. The game is not worth the candle.
Sentence. Lợi bất cập hại / Thu không đủ chi.
12. To look for a needle in a bottle of hay.
Function like verb. V + postpositive. Mò kim đáy bể.
13. A skeleton in the cupboard.
Funtcion like noun. N + preposition + N. Đẹp tốt phô ra, xấu xa đậy lại.
14. To have a finger in the pie.
Function like verb. V + N + preposition. Dây máu ăn phần.
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15. To skate on thin ice.
Function like verb. V + postpositve. Liều lĩnh / Dễ gây sứt mẻ.
16. He who would catch fish must not mind getting wet.
Sentence. Muốn ăn thì lăn vào bếp.
17. To bring water to someone’s mouth.
Function like verb. V + N + preposition. Mỡ để miệng mèo.
18. Like fish out of water.
Function like noun. N + preposition + N. Như cá mắc cạn / Chim chích vào rừng.
19. To take the bull by the horns.
Function like verb. V + N + preposition. Đứng mũi chịu sào.
20. To let the cat out of the bag.
Funtion like verb. V + N + preposition. Để lộ bí mật / Cái kim trong bọc lâu ngày cũng lòi
ra / Giấu đầu hở đuôi.
21. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.
Sentence. Chớ thả mồi bắt bóng.
22. Like a cat on hot bricks.
Function like noun. N + preposition + N. Bồn chồn / Lo lắng / Như ngồi trên đống lửa.
23. Once bitten twice shy.
Funtion like verb. V + N. Phải một cái thì vái đến già.
24. On the horns of dilemma.
Function like adj. Preposition + N. Tiến thoái lưỡng nan.
25. Beauty is only the skin deep.
Sentence. Tốt gỗ hơn tốt nước sơn / Cái nết đánh chết cái đẹp.
26. Better luck next time.
Function like adj. Adj + N. Thua keo này bày keo khác.
27. A big fish in little pond. (In the kingdom of the blind, one-eyed man is the king)
Sentence. Thằng chột làm vua sứ mù
28. A game that two can play, two can play at that game.
Sentence. Gậy ông đập lưng ông.
29. Give the game away.
Function like verb. V + N. Tiết lộ bí mật.
30. The devil looks after his own.
Sentence. Mèo mù vớ cá rán.
31. Where there is a will, there is a way.
Sentence. Có chí thì nên / Có công mài sắt có ngày nên kim.
32. To be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth.
Sentence. Sướng từ trong trứng nước.
33. Necessity is the mother of invention.
Sentence. Cái khó ló cái khôn.
34. One good turn deserves another.
Sentence. Ở hiền gặp lành.
35. The worm will turn.
Sentence. Con giun xéo mãi cũng quằn.
36. Play it by ear.
Function like verb. V + N. Tuỳ cơ ứng biến
37. Fish in trouble water.
Function like noun. N + preposition + N. Đục nước béo cò / Thừa nước đục thả câu.
38. Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Sentence. Lắm thầy nhiều ma / Lắm sãi không ai đóng cửa chùa.
39. Two heads are better than one.
Sentence. Một cây làm chẳng nên non, Ba cây chụm lại nên hòn núi cao .
40. Heap coals of fire on somebody’s head.
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Function like verb. V + N. Lấy oán trả ơn / Gắp lửa bỏ tay người.
41. The devil makes work for idle hands.
Sentence. Nhàn cư vi bất thiện.
42. To talk of the devil and he will appear.
Function like verb. V + postpositive. Nhắc tới Tào Tháo thì Tào Tháo đến.
E 2. Explain whether the semantic change in the following phraseological units are complete or
partial.
1. Cast pearls before swine.
Complete change. Đàn gảy tai trâu.
2. Go on a fool’s errand.
Complete change. Có tiếng mà không có miếng.
3. To eat humber pie.
Partial change. Ngậm bồ hòn làm ngọt / Nếm mật nằm gai.
4. To be in the same boat.
Partial change. Cùng hội cùng thuyền.
5. Tell it to the marine.
Complete change. Nói cho ma nghe.
6. To stick to one’s gun.
Partial change. Giữ vững lập trường.
7. To beat about the bush.
Partial change. Vòng vo tam quốc.
8. To throw cold water on smb.
Partial change. Dội gáo nước lạnh.
9. To pour oil on fire.
Partial change. Đổ thêm dầu vào lửa.
10. Like father, like sun.
Partial change. Cha nào con nấy.
E 3. Complete the following phrases so that they make English proverbs and phraseological units.
1. a bird in hand
A bird in hand is worth two in the bush. Chớ thả mồi bắt bóng.
2. the devil makes work
The devil makes work for idle hands. Nhàn cư vi bất thiện.
3. kill two birds
Kill two birds with one stones. Một mũi tên trúng hai đích.
4. there’s no fool
There’s no fool like an old fool. Chẳng có cái dại nào như cái dại nào.
5. to eat one’s cake
To eat one’s cake and have it. Vẹn cả đôi đường.
6. the die
The die is cast. Bút sa gà chết.
7. the early bird
The early bird catches the worm. Trâu chậm uống nước đục.
8. between the cup and the lip
There is a many slips between the cup and the lip. Miếng ăn đến miệng còn rơi mất.
9. the cap
If the cap fits, wear it. Có tật giật mình.
10. spilt milk
It’s no use crying over spilt milk. Thôi đừng tiếc rẻ con gà quạ tha.
E 4. Complete the following similes, using words from the list below.
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a ditch-water, a post, a bear, day, nails, thieves, fiddles, bee, egg, bat, brass, fish, needle, gun, grave.
1. as dull as…
As dull as a ditch-water. (Nhạt như nước ốc)
2. as fit as…
As fit as a fiddle. (Khoẻ như vâm)
3. as sharp as…
As sharp as a needle. (Sắc như dao)
4. as surly as…
As surly as a bear. (Gắt như mắm tôm)
5. as silent as…
As silent as grave. (Kín như bưng / Lặng như tờ)
6. as deaf as…
As deaf as a post. (Điếc đặc điếc lòi)
7. as mute as…
As mute as a fish. (Câm như hến)
8. as clear as…
As clear as day. (Rõ như ban ngày)
9. as thick as…
As thick as thieves. (Ăn ý / Hoà hợp)
10. as busy as…
As busy as a bee. (Bận rộn)
11. as sure as…
As sure as a gun. (Chắc như đinh đóng cột)
12. as bold as…
As bold as brass. (Trơ tráo như gáo múc dầu / Mặt dày mày dạn)
13. as full as…
As full as an egg. (Chật như nêm)
14. as hard as…
As hard as nails. (Cứng nhắc)
15. as blind as…
As blind as bat. (Mù tịt)
E 5. Compare the meaning of the expressions given in the two columns below. State which of them
are phraseological.
#
Phraseological units
1. to have fling at smb/sth: speak in a
To have one’s fling: to be a playboy.
ironical voice.
To lose one’s heart to smb: to fall in love
2. to lose heart: to be cowardice.
with smb.
3. to take care: careful.
To take care of : to look after, mind.
4. to have a word with: to talk to smb.
To have words with smb: quarrel with smb.
5. in a family way: natural.
In the family way: to be pregnant.
6. in and out: to go in and out.
Ins and outs: specific.
7. a matter of fact: an obvious thing.
As a matter of fact: obvious.
8. before long: not long.
Long before: very long.
9. behind time: late.
Behind the times: backward.
10. nothing in common: different.
Nothing out of common: exactly the same.
E 6. Translate the following proverbs and idioms into English:
1. Trứng đòi khôn hơn vịt.
To teach one’s grandmother to suck eggs.
2. Khẩu phật tâm xà.
A woft in a sheep’s clothing.
3. Tránh vỏ dưa gặp vỏ dừa.
Out of the frying pan into the fire.
4. Vắng chủ nhà gà vọc niêu tôm.
When the cat’s away, the mice will play.
5. Liệu cơm gắp mắm.
To cut one’s coat according to one’s cloths.
6. Vỏ quít dày có móng tay nhọn.
Diamond cuts diamond / To set a thief to catch a thief.
7. Đứng núi này trông núi nọ.
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence/hill.
8. Chớ múa rìu qua mắt thợ.
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Never offer to teach fish to swim.
9. Nước đổ đầu vịt.
Like water off a duck’s back.
10. Dã tràng xe cát.
To build castle in the air.
11. Yêu cho đòn cho vọt, ghét cho ăn cho chơi.
To spare the rat spoil the child.
12. Chớ thả mồi bắt bóng.
A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.
13. Ngưu tầm ngưu mã tầm mã.
Birds of a feather flock together.
14. Một giọt máu đào hơn ao nước lã.
Blood is thicker than water.
15. Cầm đèn chạy trước ô tô.
To put the cart before the horse.
E 7. Give as many phraseological units as possible, using the followingwords:
a. to beat, to catch, to draw, to keep.
To beat:
- to beat about: khuấy.
- to beat one’s brain: vắt óc suy nghĩ.
- to beat about the bush: vòng vo tam quốc.
- to beat up: đánh cho nhừ tử.
- to beat it: go way.
To catch:
- to catch one’s meaning: hiểu ý.
- to catch out: tìm thấy điểm yếu.
- to catch up: bắt kịp.
To draw:
- to draw back: rút lui.
- to draw in one’s horns: mất tự tin.
- to draw out: gặng hỏi.
- to draw one’s last breath: trút hơi thở cuối cùng.
To keep:
- to keep way: để xa, tránh xa.
- to keep smb add some words: bắt ai làm gì.
- to keep up: duy trì, tiếp tục.
- to keep an eye on: để mắt đến, để ý.
b. bone, mind
Bone:
- to be on one’s bone: túng quẫn.
- to be bred in the bone: ngấm sâu vào máu.
Mind:
- to cause smb to mind: nhớ lại.
- to keep one’s mind on doing sth: chú ý làm gì.
- to change one’s mind: thay đổi ý kiến.
------------------The End-----------------
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