American Cultural Association, Beylikdüzü, İstanbul
Comp. By Max Sean, Instructor - TOEFL
Fall 2015
TOEFL Grammar Exercises
Exercise #1
Directions: The questions here test your knowledge of English grammar. Each question consists of a short
written conversation, part of which has been omitted.
Four words or phrases, labeled 1, 2, 3, and 4, are given below the conversation.
Choose the word or phrase that will correctly complete the conversation.
Click on the answer you think is correct.
1. What year did you _____ university?
graduate
graduate from
graduating
graduating from
2. It seems to be getting worse. You had better _____ a specialist.
consult
consult to
consult with
consult by
3. Chicago is a large city, _____?
aren't it
doesn't it
won't it
isn't it
4. Don't leave your books near the open fire. They might easily _____.
catch to fire
catch the fire
catch on fire
catch with fire
5. Do you enjoy _____?
to swim
swimming
swim
to swimming
6. I have trouble _____.
to remember my password
to remembering my password
remember my password
remembering my password
7. Do you have _____ to do today? We could have a long lunch if not.
many work
much work
many works
much works
8. My brother will _____ for a few nights.
provide us up
provide us in
put us up
put us in
9. When will the meeting _____?
hold on
hold place
take on
take place
10. The board meeting was held _____.
at Tuesday
on Tuesday
with Tuesday
in Tuesday
11. Why don't you _____ us?
go to the house party with
go together the house party with
go the house party with
together the house party with
12. That awful accident occurred _____.
before three weeks
three weeks before
three weeks ago
three weeks past
13. They didn't _____ John's plan?
agree with
agree to
agree
agree about
14. The social worker _____ the two old sisters who were ill.
called to the house of
called on the house of
called to
called on
15. Tomorrow is Paul's birthday. Let's _____ it.
celebrate
praise
honor
congratulate
16. If you don't understand the text, don't hesitate _____.
ask a question
asking a question
to ask a question
to asking a question
17. It's snowing. Would you like to _____ on Saturday or Sunday?
skiing
go to ski
go skiing
go ski
18. Our company didn't pay _____ for that banner advertisement.
much funds
many funds
many money
much money
19. Do you feel like _____ now?
swimming
to swim
swim
to go swimming
20. Tom was thrilled to be _____ such a beautiful and interesting lady.
introduced
introduced at
introduced with
introduced to
21. "What happened to them last night? They look depressed"
"I don't think _____ happened."
nothing
everything
something
anything
22. "It is not very cold. I don't think we need these big jackets."
"I don't think so, _____."
anyway
neither
either
too
23. "Bill is not doing well in class."
"You must _____, that he is just a beginner at this level."
keep minding
keep to mind
keep in mind
keeping in mind
24. "Excuse me. Do you know where the bus terminal is?"
"It is _____ the large police station."
opposite
opposed to
opposite with
opposite to
25. "Those students will perform the annual school play."
"Yes, it is _____ for next week."
due
scheduled
time-tabled
put on
Exercise #2
Directions: The questions here test your knowledge of English grammar. Each question consists of a short
written conversation, part of which has been omitted.
Four words or phrases, labelled 1, 2, 3, and 4, are given below the conversation. Choose the word or
phrase that will correctly complete the conversation. Click on the answer you think is correct.
1. "You are welcome to order the goods now."
"But payment should be made _____."
for advance
advancing
in advance
to advance
2. "Where do you live now?"
"I live in Utah; my _____."
parents too do
parents do
parents do, too
parents also do
3. I cannot understand my neighbour's accent. I wish she would _____.
speak clearer
clearer speak
more clearly speak
speak more clearly
4. "Why are you driving so fast?"
"I'm _____."
must be hurry
in hurry
in a hurry
hurrying
5. I have your music CD. I think I _____ your concert video.
also have
have too
too have
have further
6. I hear you have started a new job. _____ like it?
How do you
How
What you
What do you
7. I really have to go now. I have _____ the doctor.
appointments to
an appointment to
appointment with
an appointment with
8. I can meet you at Central Station. Will _____?
convenient for you
that convenient
that be convenient
you be convenient
9. I don't have any results for you today. I _____ tomorrow.
have any
may have any
have some
may have some
10. I would rather _____ a quiet cup of coffee in the office than sit in a noisy cafe.
have
to have
prefer
prefer to have
11. "Where _____ last weekend?"
"I went to see my aunt and uncle."
are you go
do you go
have you went
did you go
12. I was very surprised _____ that she didn't pass the exam."
hearing
to hearing
at hearing
to hear
13. "Why _____ she isn't speaking to us?"
"We must have done something that upset her. She is just too sensitive."
are you think
are you imagine
do you think
you think
14. I hope that this winter won't be _____ last."
as cold as
so cold as
as cold like
so cold like
15. Sorry to be late. I was delayed by _____."
a heavy traffic
heavy traffic
some heavy traffic
traffic being heavy
16. The sky is getting dark. It _____ rain is on its way.
looks
looks like
seems to
will be
17. Would you do me a small favour? I _____ very much.
appreciate it
would appreciate
would be appreciative
would appreciate it
18. I am familiar with that product. I don't know _____ times I've seen it advertised on TV.
how many
how often
how much
many often
19. "When _____ leaving for Toronto, Canada?"
"We are planning to set out at 10 o'clock."
are we
will we
will us
are us
20. I asked Robert when he could fix my leaking tap. He said that he would come round and fix it
_____.
as much as possible
as possible as he could
as fast as he could possibly
as soon as possible
21. "Do you know _____ that building is?"
"I would say that it is was built at least 100 years ago."
old
how age
how old
which age
22. The man told us that the next train would arrive _____.
at three thirty
at three thirty o'clock
in three thirty
in three thirty o'clock
23. "How _____ a crowd had gathered at the scene of the accident?"
"I don't know exactly, but there were a lot of shocked onlookers."
large
often
many
much
24. That is the city _____ worst crime record.
on the
in the
with the
for the
25. "Where should I put this key?"
"You can _____ it on the shelf?"
hang
deposit
sit
put
Upper Intermediate Vocabulary - TOEFL Test Practice
Meaning of Words
Below is a list of words that often appear on theTOEFL test. The underlined sections of a word provide links
to definitions of that word's respective roots, prefixes and suffixes. Sentences are provided as examples of word
usage.
A
act, ag

react (verb): to act in response to something
o re + act
o How did he react when he heard the news?

agent (noun): something which acts or acts upon something else
ag + ent
o
The travel agent helped her purchase the tickets.

active (adjective): involving movement, moving about
o act + ive
o Joan is an active child.

agitate (verb): to excite, to disturb, to stir up
o agit + ate
o The washing machine agitates the load of laundry.
aud, audit, aur

audible ( adjective): can be heard
o aud + ible
o Your voice is barely audible over the sound of the train whistle.

auditorium (noun): a place where one goes to hear something
o audit+ orium
o The band played in the school auditorium

auricular
o
o
+ ic + ul + ar
The auricular ability of the cat is well-known.
aur
am, ami

amorous (adjective): loving
o amor + ous
o The actor played an amorous role.

amiable (adjective) friendly, agreeable
o ami + able
o He seems to be an amiable man.

amicable (adjective): friendly
o
o
amic
+ able
The two neighbors came to an amicable decision about the fence.
anim

animal (noun): a living creature
o anim + al
o A dog is an animal.

animate (verb): to give spirit or support, to supply movement
o anim + ate
o The artist animated the cartoon.

animosity (noun): hostility, ill will
o animos + ity
o There isn't any animosity between us.
ann, annu, enni

annals (noun): record of events, historical records
o ann + al + s
o The annals of the organization are kept in notebooks.

annual (adjective): yearly
o annu + al
o She is planning on going to the company's annual meeting.

annuity (noun): money payable yearly
o annu + ity
o Joan is going to invest her annuity in the stock market.

anniversary (noun): the yearly celebration of an event
o anni + vers + ary
o John's parents will celebrate their wedding anniversary in April.

perrenial (adjective): enduring, persisting for several years
o per + enn + ial
o I would like to buy some perrenial plants.
auc, aug, aut

author (noun): one that originates or creates, a writer
o auth + or
o Susan met the author of this book.

augment (verb): to increase, to add to
o aug + ment
o He had to augment his salary by taking another job.

auction (noun): a sale of goods to the highest bidder
o auct + ion
o I bought this car at the auction.
B
bene

benevolent (adjective): marked by goodwill
o bene + vol + ent
o The "Salvation Army" is known as a benevolent society for its acts of charity.

benign (adjective): harmless, mild, gentle
o ben + ign
o The doctor removed a benign tumor from my neck and I went home the same day.
biblio

bibliography (noun): a list of written works
o biblio + graph + y
o Olaf listed a brief bibliography at the end of his paper.
bio, bi

biology (noun): the study of life
o bio + log + y
o In biology class the students learned about how the human body works.

brief (adjective): short
brev
o
o
brief
Anand gave a brief lecture on the rain forest.

abbreviate (verb): to shorten
o ab + brevi + ate
o How does one abbreviate the word "Minnesota"?

brevity (noun): short or concise expression
o brev + ity
o The politician gave short speeches and he became known for his brevity.
C
cad, cap, cas, ceiv, cept, cid

deceive (verb): to cause or allow someone to believe something is true when it is actually false; to
mislead
o de + ceive
o The criminal deceived many people into believing she was honest.

capable (adjective): having the ability to do something; having the traits necessary to perform some
action
o cap + able
o Jose is a very capable lawyer.

capacious (adective): containing a great deal
o capac + ious
o
You have a capacious library with many unusual books.

captive (noun, adjective): a person held against his or her own will; held prisoner
o cap+ tive
o The captives were taken to the jail.
o Geoff had a captive audience.

accident (noun): an unplanned event
o ac + cid + ent
o Don't get upset about minor accidents and errors.

capture (verb): to gain control of, to gain by effort
o capt + ure
o In the game of chess, the object is to capture the king.

occasion (noun): an opportunity; a happening, instance or celebration
o oc + cas + ion
o Did you have an occasion to speak with your professor?

receive (verb): to take in, to acquire
o re + ceive
o Imelda received many letters in the mail today.

concept (noun): an idea
o con + cept
o The concept of using computers in the classroom is relatively new.
ceas, cede, ceed, cess

predecessor (noun): a person who has previously occupied a position that another has taken over
o pre + de + cess + or
o I hope I can live up to my predecessor's reputation.

succeed (verb): to follow after another, to do well
o suc + ceed
o To succeed as a student, one must study.

recede (verb): to move back, to withdraw
o re + cede
o The water receded five days after the flood.

concede (verb): to accept as true, to yield, to allow
o con + cede
o I conceded to her point of view.

exceed (verb): to go beyond a limit, to be greater than
o ex + ceed
o The driver exceeded the speed limit by ten miles an hour.

recess (noun): an indentation, a temporary break
o re + cess
o The children were given a recess from the lessons.

deceased (adjective): dead
o de + ceas + ed
o The deceased person will be cremated rather than buried.
chron

chronic (adjective): marked by a long period of time, recurrence
o chron + ic
o Gabrielle has a chronic back disorder and cannot lift heavy objects.

chronicle (noun): a historical account arranged in order of time
o chron + icle
o The teacher asked us to read a chronicle on the Revolutionary War.

chronological (adjective): arranged in order of time
o chrono + log + ical
o The text book listed the presidents in chronological order.
clam, claim

acclaim (verb): praise
o ac + claim
o The restaurant is acclaimed for its desserts.

exclaim (verb): to speak loudly, to cry out in surprise
o ex + claim
o The children exclaimed "hurray" when they heard there would be no classes tomorrow.

clamor (noun, verb): n. noise, v. to make noise
o clam + or
o The children clamored for more ice cream.

proclaim (verb): to declare loudly
o pro + claim
o The president of the university proclaimed March 21 to be a holiday in honor of the school's
award winning faculty.
cogn, gnos

cognizant (adjective): aware
o cogniz + ant
o The man was cognizant of the danger of walking through the park at night.

diagnose (verb): to recognize (diseases) by symptoms
o dia + gnose
o The patient was diagnosed with Lyme's disease.

agnostic (noun): one who believes that any ultimate reality is unknowable
o ag + gnost + ic
o
John is unsure of the reality of god and considers himself to be an agnostic.

recognize (verb): to know, to identify
o re + cogn + ize
o I thought I recognized your face from somewhere.

corpse (noun): a dead body
corp
o
o
corpse
A corpse was found floating in the river.

corpulent (adjective): having a large body
o corp + ul + ent
o The corpulent politician jabbed a fat finger in the air.

incorporate (verb): to unite into one being
o in + corp + or + ate
o The artist incorporated paint, photographs, and fabric into her artwork.

corporate (adjective): formed into a body or association, united in one group
o corp + or + ate
o The corporate structure allowed many people to work as a group.
cre, cresc, cret

crescent (noun, adjective): a narrow curved shape; a quarter moon or smaller
o cresc + ent
o The crescent moon could be glimpsed through the clouds.

create (verb): to originate, to produce through imagination
o cre + ate
o The musician created a new musical arrangement.

accretion (verb): growth by gradual addition
o ac + cret + ion
o The accretion of dirt on windows is sometimes hard to detect.

increase (verb): to grow in size or amount
o in + crease Alfonse wishes he could find a way to increase his salary.

credible (adjective): can be believed, reasonable
o cred + ible
o The witness gave a credible account of the accident.

credulous (adjective): too ready to believe
o cred + ul + ous
cred
o

The credulous child believed the story about flying horses.
incredible (adjective): unbelievable, amazing
o in + cred + ible
o Makiko said she just saw an incredible horror movie.
cour, cur, curr, curs

excursion (noun): a trip
o ex + curs + ion
o The father planned an excursion to the zoo for his children.

discourse (noun, verb): a conversation, to talk
o dis + course
o The discourse between the speaker and the audience was informal.

courier (noun): a messenger
o couri + er
o The courier gave the message to the secretary.

course (noun, verb): forward movement, movement from point to point; to run along a path
o
o
course
Blood courses through your veins with every beat of your heart.

occur (verb): to happen, to come to mind
o oc + cur
o It just occurred to me that tomorrow is your birthday.

current (adjective, noun): happening now, up to date; the movement of water
o curr + ent
o Is this information current or out of date?
D
dic, dict, dit

dictionary (noun): a book of definitions
o dict + ion + ary
o Juliana looked up the word in the dictionary.

condition (noun): the state of something or someone
o con + dit + ion
o Is your car in good condition?

indicate (verb): to show, to point out
o in + dic + ate
o The gas gauge indicates that we are almost out of gas.

dictate (verb): to speak for a person to record, to issue an order
o
o
+ ate
The lawyer dictated the letter to her secretary.
dict

predict (verb): to say what will happen in the future
o pre + dict
o Joseph predicts that he will get married in ten years.

addict (verb): to be devoted to something in an obsessive manner
o ad + dict
o Leslie is addicted to betting on the horse races.
doc, doct

doctor (noun): a person who has received the highest degree a university offers, a physician
o doct + or
o Andre is going to medical school so that he can be a doctor like his mother.

doctrine (noun): something that is taught, dogma
o doctr + ine
o We learned about the doctrine of "manifest destiny" in our American history class.

docile (adjective): obedient, easily taught
o doc + ile
o Mrs. Galindez wants to buy a docile dog for her son.

document (noun): an official paper
o docu + ment
o The library houses many government documents in its collection.
dog, dox

orthodox (adjective): holding conventional beliefs
o ortho + dox
o I don't know if my interpretation of that book is orthodox or not.

dogma (noun): an established opinion
o dog + ma
o Some people find the dogma associated with that organization disturbing.

paradox (noun): a statement that seems to contradict itself but contains some truth
o para + dox
o The paradox of the matter is that I want to see the opera but I also want to stay home.
dec, dign

decorate (verb): to make something look attractive or suitable
o dec + or + ate
o Linda decorated her apartment with paintings and plants.

decent (adjective): conforming to standards, good, kind
o dec + ent
o This magazine contains a decent article on home improvement.

dignity (noun): quality of being worthy, noble, honored
o dign + ity
o I haven't yet had the dignity and honor of being grand marshall of the parade.
duc, duct

conduct (verb, noun): v. to lead or guide, n. a person's behavior
o con + duct
o Jared was conducted into the doctor's office by the nurse.
o Arnelle's conduct was inexcusable and she should apologize to the class.

educate (verb): to train, to provide schooling for
o e + duc + ate
o The school tries to educate its students to be productive members of society.

induct (verb): to install in office or to enroll in military service
o in + duct
o Mindy was inducted into the army last month.

deduct (verb): to subtract
o de + duct
o The salesperson deducted five dollars off the purchase price of the radio.

deduce (verb): to make a decision or draw a conclusion by reasoning
o de + duce
o I deduced from the trail of crumbs and the empty milk carton that the children were home.

produce (verb, noun): to bring forward, to make to bear or yield; something made or grown
o pro + duce
o The lawyer produced new evidence at the trial.
o The produce from the farm will go to the market next week.

seduce (verb): to persuade (especially into doing something wrong), to tempt
o se + duce
o Money and power have been known to seduce many honest people.

induce (verb): to persuade, cause, or bring about by artificial means.
o in + duce
o If a child swallows poison, it is suggested that vomiting should be induced.
E
ev, et

eternal (adjective): not effected by time, without beginning or end, ceaseless
o
o

etern + al
The lecture seemed eternal and many in the audience had fallen asleep.
medieval (adjective): relating to the Middle Ages (500 - 1500 AD)
o med + ieval
o There are many styles to medieval architecture and a building built in 500 AD looks different
from one built in 1000 AD.
F
fict, feign, fain

faint (adjective, verb): indistinct, not clearly perceived, weak; to lose consciousness from lack of
blood to the brain
o
o
o

faint
There is a faint odor of apples in this room.
Some people faint at the sight of blood.
feign (verb): to pretend
o
o
feign
The child feigned illness in an attempt to avoid the test.

fiction (noun): something produce from imagination, an invented story
o fict + ion
o The excuse Marvin just gave for not doing his homework is pure fiction.

effigy (noun): a figure representing a disliked person.
o e f + fig + y
o The children made an effigy of their nasty neighbor.

figure (noun): shape, pattern, drawing
o fig + ure
o The figure Louise drew on the paper looks nothing like an apple.

figment (noun): a thing that does not exist, something made up
o fig + ment
o Ghosts and monsters are figments of an active imagination.
fig
fac, fact, fec, fic, fas, fea

fashion (noun, verb): the form of something, style; to give shape or form to
o fash + ion
o The current fashion is hair worn short.

feasible (adjective): capable of being done
o feas + ible
o
The engineer thought that building the bridge across the river was a feasible project.

feature (noun, verb): the appearance or form of a person or object; to picture or portray
o feat + ure
o Lisette's best feature is her eyes.

factory (noun): a place where things are made or built
o fact + ory
o There is a boat factory near the river.

difficult (adjective): hard to do, troublesome, hard to understand
o di + fic + ult
o The test was difficult and I answered only eight of the ten questions.

fact (noun): something known to be true
o
o
fact
It's a fact that the world is round.

effect (noun): a change caused by something, a result, influence
o e + fect
o The sun's effect on human skin is known to be harmful.

fertile (adjective): productive, bearing or capable of bearing fruit in large quantities
o fert + ile
o The land by the river is quite fertile and many crops are grown there.

refer (verb): to classify within a general category, to send or direct to another source
o re + fer
o The patient was referred to a physical therapist for additional treatment.

infer (verb): to come to a conclusion from facts or ideas, to guess
o in + fer
o Sometimes a reader has to infer from the facts presented in an article what the main idea is
about.

diffident (adjective): hesitant in acting, shy
o dif + fid + ent
o The diffident student would not speak in front of the class.

fidelity (noun): the quality of being faithful, accuracy
o fid + el + ity
o The fidelity of this video reproduction is quite good.

confide (verb): to trust, to trust another person with a secret
o con + fide
o Joan confided in her friend and told her a secret.
fer
fid
flu, fluct, flux

fluent (adjective): capable of moving with ease, able to speak another language
o flu + ent
o The dancer had a fluent body.
o Juanita is fluent in several languages.

superfluous (adjective): extra, more than is needed
o super + flu + ous
o Three cherries on my piece of cake is superfluous; I only needed one.

influence (verb, noun): to have an effect on something; the ability to affect something indirectly
o in + flu + ence
o It was John's success as a musician that influenced my decision to take guitar lessons.

fluid (adjective): capable of flowing, a smooth style, liquid
o flu + id
o The ink my new pen is quite fluid and flows evenly across the page.

fluctuate (verb): to shift back and forth, to move erratically
o fluctu + ate
o My body temperature has been fluctuating all day -- sometimes I'm hot and sometimes I'm
cold.
form

format (noun): the shape and size of something, the arrangement of something
o form + at
o The format of this class will be half lecture and half class participation.

formulate (verb): to prepare from a set of steps (formula), to devise
o form + ul + ate
o The chemist formulated a new way of making dish detergent.
fract, frag, frai

fracture (verb, noun): to break, to crack; a broken bone
o fract + ure Miguel fractured arm his while skiing.

fragment (noun): a piece broken off, a part of something
o frag + ment
o It bothers me that I can remember only a fragment of the poem rather than the whole piece.

frail (adjective): easily broken, not strong
o
o
frail
Be careful! That chair is frail
G
gen, gin

generally (adverb): in a general manner, usually, with regard to the whole not specifics
o gen + er + al + ly
o Generally, Lance leaves work at 5:00 p.m.

gingerly (adverb, adjective): careful
o gin + ger + ly
o Paulette picked up the antique vase gingerly and placed it on the shelf.

indigenous (adjective): native, having been born in a specific area or environment
o in + di + gen + ous
o The tomato plant is indigenous to South America.

geography (noun): a science that describes the earth's surface
o geo + graph + y
o The geography of New York varies from the sandy shores to rocky mountains.

categorize (verb): to place things in classes or sets, to classify
o cate + gor + ize
o The professor asked her students to categorize the plants they found.
ge
gor
grad, gress, gree

grade (noun): a stage in a process, a mark indicating quality
o
o
grade
Ali hopes to receive a passing grade on his midterm exam.

progress (verb, noun): to move forward; forward movement
o pro + gress
o Mina progressed to the next level in her French language program.
o There hasn't been much progress made in getting the house built -- only the frame is up.

degree (noun): a step or stage in a process, a rank, a level of intensity
o de + gree
o There is a high degree of stress associated with being a police officer.
graph, graf

graphic (adjective): written, drawn, vividly shown
o
o

graph + ic
Dominic is planning to study graphic art.
graffitti (noun): drawings or writing on a wall
o graph + itti
o Many people find the graffitti on the subway trains disturbing.
H
her, hes

adhere (verb): to stick
o ad + here
o Paper often adheres to wet surfaces.

hesitate (verb): to hold back a decision, to waver
o hesit + ate
o Don't hesitate to call me if you need help.
J
jac, ject, jet

adjacent (adjective): to lie next to
o ad + jac + ent
o You won't have a long walk between classes because the engineering building is adjacent to
the chemistry laboratories.

jettison (verb): to throw away, to cast off
o jett + ison
o The captain of the sinking ship jettisoned the cargo.

reject (verb): to throw out, unwilling to accept
o re + ject
o David was rejected by two schools before he found a school that accepted him.
jug, junct, just

adjust (verb): to change or adapt to fit or match something
o ad + just
o Jared has to adjust to his new work schedule.

conjugal (adjective): of marriage, marital relationship
o con + jug + al
o

One should think seriously before entering a conjugal relationship.
junction (noun): the place at which two things join
o junct + ion
o Deborah's house is at the junction of Hill and Maple streets.
L
lex, leg

college (noun): a school for higher learning, a group of people having a common purpose
o col + lege
o Yolanda is going to college to become a lawyer.

legal (adjective, noun): based on law; conforms to law
o leg + al
o Jared is working as a legal secretary for two lawyers in New York
o Is it legal to own fireworks in Massachusetts or is there a law against them?

league (noun): a group of people, an association
o leag + ue
o There are fifty people participating in the bowling league.

collect (verb): to gather, to bring together
o col + lect
o The little girl collected wildflowers for her mother.

legible (noun): readible, clear enough to read
o leg + ible
o His handwriting is quite legible.

eligible (adjective): qualified, worthy to be chosen
o e + lig + ible
o Now that Geoffrey is eighteen he is eligible to vote.

locally (adverb): nearby, relative to a certain area
o loc + al + ly
o The vegetables are grown locally.
lect
loc
log

logic (noun): the study of reason
o log + ic
o Simone is taking a class in logic and she is learning about how to reason.

translucent (adjective): allowing some light to shine through
o trans + luc + ent
o The sheet of paper is translucent when held close to a lightbulb.

illuminate (verb): to provide with light, to make lighter, to make clear
o il + lum + in + ate
o The lamp illuminates the room.

illustrate (verb): to explain by using pictorial examples, to show by using visual examples
o il + lustr + ate
o Christopher illustrated his idea on piece of paper for everyone to see.

management (noun): the act of handling or running something, usually a business.
o man + age + ment
o This store is under new management.
luc
M
man
mem

commemorate (verb): to remember an important event through ceremony or observation
o com + mem + or + ate
o The American Revolution is commemorated every Fourth of July.

memory (noun): the ability to recall past events
o mem + or + y
o Geanine has an excellent memory and she can recall things that happened years ago.
ment

mental (adjective): related to the mind
o ment + al
o Lauren's mental abilities must be quite good if she achieved a perfect score without even
studying.

mention (verb): to cite, to speak about, to refer to
o
o
+ ion
The instructor forgot to mention that the class was cancelled.
ment
min

minor (adjective): lesser, less important
o min + or
o The knife slipped and Marcelle received a minor cut.

minute (adjective, noun): tiny, very small; sixty seconds
o min + ute
o Even though the speck of dirt on the camera lens was minute, it ruined the photograph.
o Terry will be finished in one minute.

minuscule (adjective): very small
o minusc + ule
o The minuscule gem was very hard to see without magnifying glasses.
mit, miss

admit (verb): to accept, to confess, to allow entry
o ad + mit
o I must admit that even though you didn't like the movie I did.

missive (noun): a letter to be sent
o miss + ive
o Missives were more common one hundred years ago. Today, people use the telephone.
mob, mov, mot

remove (verb): to take off or to take away
o re + move
o The waiter removed the dirty dishes from the table.

mobile (adjective): able to move
o mob + ile
o Many people drive their mobile homes from North to South, following the warm weather.

motion (noun): act of moving, action
o mot + ion
o Many people find the motion of a rocking chair soothing.
N
nasc, nat, gnant, nai

native (adjective): belonging to a place by birth, indigenous
o nat +ive
o Turkeys are native to North America.

nascent (adjective): just born
o nasc + ent
o The nascent kittens curled up with their mother.

pregnant (adjective): having a child developing in the womb, "with child"
o pre + gn +ent
o Linda's dog is pregnant and it will have its puppies in November.

naive (adjective): lack of experience, not knowledgeable of the world
o nai + ve
o When Olivia went to New York ten year's ago she was naive, but now she is a well-seasoned
traveler.

nominate (verb): to name for office
o nomin + ate
o Vittorio nominated Mary for class president.

synonym (noun): a word with a similar meaning to another word in the same language
o syn + onym
o The word "fair" is a synonym for the word "just."

novelty (noun): something new
o novel + ty
o After six months the novelty of Pierre's new car is starting to wear off.

novice (noun): a newcomer, a beginner, someone new to something
o nov + ice
o Bjorn is a novice when it comes to playing poker or other card games.

operate (verb): to work, to perform
o oper + ate
o People are advised not to operate heavy machinery after drinking alcohol.

opus (noun): a musical composition
nom
nov
O
oper
o
o
opus
Vivaldi's opus number three is not as well known as is other compositions.
P
pat

patient (adjective, noun): calm, bearing pain without complaint; a person under medical care
o pati + ent
o Josiah was patient as he waited in line for concert tickets.
o Amelia has been a patient of Dr. Gustaf's for ten years.

passion (noun): a strong feeling or emotion
o pass + ion
o Barbara has a passion for motorcycle racing.

sympathy (noun): sharing another person's feelings, the ability to feel for another person's suffering
o sym + path + y
o Ching-wei expressed his deepest sympathy when hearing of Mrs. Martin's death.

pathology (noun): the study of diseases
o patho + log + y
o Blaise is studying pathology because he wants to learn about diseases.

impede (verb): to hinder, to slow down
o im + pede
o The shackles and chains impeded the prisoner's escape.

pedestal (noun): a support for a column or other structure, a base for something
o pedest + al
o Johannes put the vase on a pedestal.

pedestrian (noun): a person walking
o pedestr + ian
o As soon as the cars stopped, the pedestrians crossed the street.

podium (noun): a platform, an area raised above the surrounding ground, a place at which to speak
in front of an audience
o pod + ium
o The professor walked up to the podium and spoke into the microphone.
ped
pod
pel

repel (verb): to drive away or push back
o re + pel
o Does Margo's new jacket repel water?

pulse (noun): the regular action of blood through arteries
o
o
pulse
The nurse felt for the patient's pulse in his neck.
pend, pond

suspend (noun): to hang from, to interrupt, to stop
o sus + pend
o The light was turned on by a string suspended from the light fixture.

ponder (verb): to think about, to weigh in one's mind
o pond + er
o Levi pondered the possibility of going to medical school.
phan, fan

phantom (noun): something seen but having no physical existence, a ghost.
o phan + tom
o The children told horror stories about phantoms and ghosts.

fantasy (noun): a creation of the imagination that cannot be real, a daydream
o fantas + y
o When Miguel was a child he had a fantasy about being a doctor on the planet Jupiter.

philosopher (noun): a person who seeks (loves) wisdom
o philo+ soph + er
o Plato wrote about the Greek philosopher Socrates.
phil
phon

phonetic (adjective) relating to speech sounds
o phonet + ic
o The phonetic alphabet is useful when studying languages or linguistics.

depict (verb): to portray, to represent
o de + pict
pict
o
In the movie the character was depicted as evil.
port

import (verb): to bring in from a foreign country
o im + port
o Fyodor imports caviar and other products from Russia.

portage (noun) the labor of carrying boats across land
o port + age
o Bill said that he had a five mile portage on his last canoe trip.
pli, ply

reply (verb, noun): to respond, to answer; a response
o re + ply
o Did Marco reply to Emily's invitation?
o Lynn received a negative reply from her parents and she will not be going to the party.

implicate (verb): to involve, to incriminate
o im + plic + ate
o The thief was implicated in three burglaries.

ply (noun): a layer
o
o
ply
Two ply tissue paper is stronger than one ply.
pon, pos

position (noun): a place occupied by something
o posit + ion
o What position does Ian hold at his mother's company?

postpone (verb): to put off to a later time
o post + pone
o The baseball game was postponed because of the storm.

posture (noun) the position of a body
o post + ure
o Denise has terrific posture -- her back is straight and strong.
psych

psychology (noun): study of how the mind works
o psycho + log + y
o Lynette studies psychology because she is interested in how people think and feel.
Q
quir

inquire (verb): to ask about
o in + quire
o Debbie inquired about employment opportunities at the factory.

exquisite (adjective): carefully selected, marked by beauty
o ex + quis + ite
o Everyone noticed the exquisite diamond Toni was wearing.

quest (noun): a search, the act of seeking
o
o

quest
At four in the morning Quincy went out on a quest for ice cream.
query (verb, noun): to ask questions, a question
o
o
o
query
The lawyer queried the witness.
I have a query about the origins of the English language.
R
rupt

corrupt (verb, adjective): to change from good to bad
o cor + rupt
o The politician was corrupted by power and money.
o The corrupt judge was arrested for accepting a bribe.

rupture (verb): to break or burst
o rupt + ure
o The water bed ruptured and the water flowed onto the floor.

interrupt (verb): to stop, to break in (usually with questions)
o inter + rupt
o It's impolite to interrupt someone while they are speaking.

conscious (adjective): aware, having knowledge of oneself
o con + sci + ous
S
sci
o

Gerturde was conscious of everything even though she appeared asleep.
science (noun): a system of knowledge
o sci + ence
o Claire enjoys science, especially biology.
scrib, scrip

scribble (verb): to write quickly or carelessly
o scribb + le
o He scribbled a note in his notebook.

script (noun): handwriting, something written
o
o

script
Sometimes her script is hard to read.
describe (verb): to say what something is like
o de + scribe
o The scientist described his experiment to the class.
sent, sens

sensation (noun): ability to feel due to stimulation
o sens + at + ion
o Jamal felt a tingling sensation in his arm after he hit his elbow on the table.

sentimental (adjective): marked by feeling or emotion
o senti + ment +al
o Lauren has a sentimental attachment to that quilt because her great grandmother made it.
sequ
soci

sequence (noun): a continuous series
o sequ + ence
o The sequence of events were as follows: first we had dinner, then we went to the movies, and
then we went fo ice cream.

consecutive (adjective): following in an unbroken order
o con + secut + ive
o Terri was elected team captain three consecutive years in a row.

ensue (verb): to happen afterward
o en + sue
o After a disagreement in the restaurant, a fight ensued in the parking lot.

society (noun): community, the relationship among individuals living or working in a common area,
companionship
o societ + y
o Sometimes what is best for a society is not always good for an individual living in that
society.

solitary (adjective): being alone
o solit + ary
o There was a solitary bather on the beach.

isolate (verb): to separate from others, to place something by itself
o i + sol + ate
o The sick cat was isolated from the other animals.
sol
solv, solu

solve (verb): to find an answer
o
o
solve
The professor asked the student to solve the problem and show her answer on the board.

absolute (adjective): complete, unrestricted, perfect
o ab + sol + ute
o The babysitter has absolute authority over the children while their parents are away.

soluble (adjective): able to disperse in liquid
o sol + uble
o Sugar is soluble in water.
spec, spi

spectator (noun): a person who watches or observes
o spect + at + or
o There were over a thousand spectators at the local baseball game.

despise (verb): to hate, tolook down on
o de + spise
o Marguerite despises people who are cruel to animals.

auspicicious (adjective): favorable
o au + spicic + ious
o The thousand dollar donation made for an auspicious beginning.

espionage (noun): using spies or observers
o e + spion + age
o Espionage is often depicted in mystery movies and novels.
spir

respiration (noun): breathing
o re + spir + at + ion
o Respiration becomes increasingly difficult the higher one climbs.

inspire (verb): to stimulate, to fill with a feeling or desire
o in + spire
o Students are often inspired by their teachers.
stab, stat

stature (noun): height of a body, importance of position
o stat + ure
o I'm reluctant to say she was short, but she was of rather small stature.

establish (verb): to found, to start, to make firm
o e + stabl + ish
o Southampton College was established in 1963.

stance (noun): a way of standing, a position, an attitude
o sta + nce
o A person's stance is very important in the games of golf and baseball.
strain, strict

restrain (verb): to hold back, to prevent from doing
o re + strain
o The dog was restrained by the trainer's grip on its leash.

constrict (verb): to squeeze, to make narrow
o con + strict
o Marvin felt constricted by the suit and tie he wore to the meeting.

stringent (adjective): strict, tight, severe
o string + ent
o There are stringent rules and regulations one must follow when operating a child care center.

prestige (noun): respect for a person or a thing
o pre + stige
o There is a lot of prestige associated with occupying a political position.
stru, stroy

destroy (verb): to ruin, to pull down
o de + stroy
o
The house was destroyed by the fire.

misconstrue (verb): to interpret, analyse, or understand something incorrectly; misunderstand
o mis + con + strue
o Do not misconstrue his actions to mean he likes you -- being pleasant to customers is part of
his job.

obstruct (verb): to block, prevent, hinder
o ob + struct
o The fallen tree obstructed the roadway and blocked traffic for hours.
T
tact, tang

tactilely (adverb): related to the sense of touch
o tact + ile + + ly
o Some people are tactilely oriented while others are visually oriented.

tangible (adjective): able to be perceived by touch, physically real
o tang + ible
o Many people want tangible proof of something before they believe it to be true.

contiguous (adjective): touching, next in a sequence
o con + tig + uous
o The United States has forty-eight contiguous states.

contingent (adjective): possible, dependent on something else
o con + ting + ent
o Armand's move to a new apartment is contingent on his getting a raise.
tend, tens

extensive (adjective): large in area, wide
o ex + tens + ive
o There are extensive farm fields located in the plain states.

contend (verb): to strive or reach for, to argue
o con + tend
o The two fighters contended for the heavy-weight championship title.
tain, ten

retain (verb): to keep, to hold in place
o re + tain
o Blanche retained her Alaskan residence since she will return there when she is finished with
school.

continue (verb): to keep going, to remain
o con + tin + ue
o The movie is scheduled to continue until midnight.

content (noun, adjective): something contained, held; satisfied
o con + tent
o I can't tell what the content of this can is until I open it.

tenacious (adjective): holding or sticking to something
o ten + ac + ious
o Kareem is tenacious and he will stick with a subject until he understands it.
term

exterminate (verb): to kill off, to get rid of
o ex + term + in + ate
o The Schaeffer's hired a company to exterminate the cockroaches living in their house.

terminal (adjective): relating to an end
o term + in + al
o Margot has been diagnosed with a terminal disease and has been given only six months to
live.

territory (noun): area of land
o territ + ory
o This area is considered to be Canadian territory.

terrain (noun): the physical features of an area
o terr + ain
o There is some very rough terrain in the White Mountain area of New Hampshire.

attest (verb): to provide proof, to say something is true
o at + test
o Malcolm can attest to Shiela's honesty since he has known her for ten years.

testify (verb): to make a statement based on personal knowledge
terr
test
o
o
therm
test ify
The witness testified at the trial.

thermometer (noun) a device for measuring heat
o thermo + meter
o I took my temperature with a thermometer.

thermal (adjective): relating to the presence of heat
o therm + al
o Lisa bought some thermal underwear to take with her when she goes skiing.

torment (noun, verb): agony, pain; to cause recurring pain
o tor + ment
o The torment Jean's nightmares caused made him seek professional help.
o The guards tormented the prisoners.

torsion (noun): twisting of a body or an organ by an external force along an axis
o tors + ion
o The torsion of the bolt will help release the wheel.

contort (verb): to twist into an abnormal shape
o con + tort
o The actor contorted her face into an evil grin and scared the audience.
tor
tract, trai

attract (verb): to draw toward, to arouse interest
o at + tract
o The spilled sugar attracted flies and ants.

train (verb): to teach or to cause to do something
o train
o Yvette trained her dog to perform tricks.

treaty (noun): a formal agreement
o treat + y
o The rebels and the new government signed a treaty calling for peace.

unite (verb) to make one, to join together
o unite
o The two small companies united and became one large business.

unison (noun): at the same time, at the same pitch
U
uni
o
o
+ son
The two singers sang in unison.
uni
V
vac

vacant (adjective): empty, not occupied, free
o vac + ant
o The hotel has only one vacant room left.

vacuum (noun): empty space, isolation from outside influence
o vacu + um
o Some people seem to live in a vacuum and they have no knowledge of current events.
ven, vent

convene (verb): to assemble, to come together
o con + vene
o The meeting convened at 2:00 p.m. and lasted until 5:00 p.m.

invent (verb): to create through thought or imagination
o in + vent
o Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone and other devices.

prevent (verb): to act ahead of, to keep from happening
o pre + vent
o Lamont prevented a disastrous fire by calling the fire department the moment he smelled
smoke.

verify (verb): to confirm that something is true
o ver + ify
o The police officer verified Arthur's identity by asking for his driver's license.

veracity (noun): truthfulness, accuracy
o ver + ac + ity
o Daphne is known for her veracity and honesty.
ver
verb, verv

verbalize (verb): to express in words, to put into words
o verb + al + ize
o

Sometimes it is difficult to verbalize one's feelings.
verve (noun): enthusiasm
o
o
verve
The cheerleaders showed verve and school spirit at the football game.
vers, vert:

versatile (adjective): capable of changing or adapting, useful
o vers + at + ile
o When used correctly, a computer can be a versatile tool.

revert (verb): to go back, to return (to an original state)
o re + vert
o The land slowly reverted to a wild state after it was abandoned.
vid, vis

video (noun): television or recorded movies
o vid + eo
o Patricia rented a video and watched it on her television.

review (verb): to look at again, to re-examine
o re + view
o Marsha reviewed for the test by re-reading her class notes.

visible (adjective): able to be seen
o vis + ible
o Sometimes the moon is visible during the day.

indivisible (adjective, noun): cannot be separated
o in + di + vis + ible
o The Pledge of Allegiance mentions that the United States is an indivisible nation.
vit, viv

vital (adjective): necessary for life
o vit + al
o The cancer had not yet spread to her vital organs and she was given an excellent chance for a
full recovery.

revive (verb): to return to life
o re + vive
o After spending a day in the sun, I was revived by a glass of water.
voc, voke

vocal (adjective): uttered by the voice, producing sound
o voc + al
o Parrots are known to be very vocal birds.

revoke (verb): to call back, to withdraw
o re + voke
o Karl's license was revoked because he was caught driving 20 miles over the speed limit.
volv, vol

revolve (verb): to turn around
o re + volve
o The earth revolves around the sun.

revolt (verb): to rebel, to turn against, to feel disgust
o re + volt
o It was the peasants who revolted during the French Revolution.
o Cooked carrots revolt some people.

evolution (noun): the process by which something develops
o e + vol + ut + ion
o
Darwin and other natural scientists have developed theories of evolution.
Advanced English Vocabulary - Roots
The following is a list of roots for English vocabulary. The list is displayed so that the root with its
definition is shown first, then the source of the root (Latin, Greek, etc.) with the source word's definition,
and then last is an example of the root as used in a word and the word's definition. The sample words are
linked to additional words with the same root.
A

act, ag: do, act, drive
o Latin, agere: to drive, lead, act, do
o active (adjective): moving about

am, ami: love, like
o Latin, amare: to love
o amorous (adjective): loving

anim: mind, life, spirit, anger
o Latin, animus: spirit
o animal (noun): a living creature

annu, enni: yearly
o Latin, annuus: yearly
o annual (adjective): yearly

auc, aug, aut: to originate, to increase
o Latin, augere: to originate, increase
o augment (verb): to increase, to add to

aud, audit, aur: hear
o Latin, audire: to hear
o audible (adjective): can be heard

bene, ben: good, well, gentle
o Latin, bene: good
o benign (adjective): harmless, mild, gentle

bio, bi: life
o Greek, bios: life
o biography (noun): a book written about a person's life

bibli, biblio: book
o Greek, biblion: book
o bibliophile (noun): a person who likes or collects books

brev: short
o Latin, brevis: short
o abbreviate (verb): to shorten
B
C

cad, cap, cas, ceiv, cept, cid: to take, to seize, to hold
o Latin, capere: to seize
o receive (verb): to take in, to acquire

ceas, cede, ceed, cess: go, yield
o Latin, cedere: to go
o exceed (verb): to go beyond a limit, to be greater than

chron: time
o Greek, khronos: time
o chronological (adjective): arranged in order of time or sequence

clam, claim: shout
o Latin, clamare: to call out, shout
o clamor (verb): to make noise

cogn, gnos: know to know
o Latin, cognoscere: to know
o recognize (verb): to know, to identify

corp: body
o Latin, corpus: body
o corporate (adjective): formed into a body or association, united in one group

cre, cresc, cret: grow
o Latin, crescere: to grow
o create (verb): to originate, to produce through imagination

cred: trust, believe
o Latin, credere: to believe
o incredible (adjective): unbelievable

cour, cur, curr, curs: run, course
o Latin, currere: run
o occur (verb): to happen, to come to mind

dic, dict, dit: say, speak
o Latin, dicere: to say
o indicate (verb): to show, to point out

doc, doct: teach, prove
o Latin, docere: to teach
o docile (adjective): obedient, easily taught

dog, dox: thought, idea
o Greek, dokein: seem, think
o dogma (noun): an established opinion

dec, dign: suitable
o Latin, decere: to be suitable
D
o
decent
(adjective): conforming to standards, suitable, good

duc, duct**: lead
o Latin, ducere: to draw or lead
o conduct (verb): to lead or guide
(noun) - a person's behavior
o ** ducere is one of the most prolific sources of English words

ev, et: time, age
o Latin, aevum: lifetime
o medieval (adjective): related to the Middle Ages (500 - 1500 AD)

fac, fact, fec, fic, fas, fea: make do, do
o Latin, facere - make, do
o difficult (noun): hard to do, troublesome

fer: bear, carry
o Latin, ferre: bear, carry
o infer (verb): to come to a conclusion from looking at facts, to guess

fict, feign, fain: shape, make, fashion
o Latin, fingere: shape, make
o fiction (noun): something produced from imagination, an invented story

fid: belief, faith
o Latin, fidere: to trust
o confide (verb): to trust, to trust another person with a secret

fig: shape, form
o Latin, figura: form, shape, figure
o figurem (noun): shape, pattern, drawing
(verb) - decide, plan, decipher

flu, fluct, flux: flow
o Latin, fluere: to flow
o fluid (adjective): capable of flowing, a smooth easy style
(noun) - a liquid

form: shape
o Latin, forma: beauty, shape, form
o format (noun): the shape and size of something

fract, frag, frai: break
o Latin, frangere: to break
o frail (adjective): easily broken, not strong, weak
E
F
G

gen, gin: to give birth, kind
o Greek, genus: birth
o generate (verb): to produce, to create

geo: earth
o Greek, ge: earth
o geography (noun): a science that describes the earth's surface

gor: to gather, to bring together
o Greek, ageirin: to gather
o category (noun): a class or set in which a thing is placed

grad, gress, gree: step, go, move
o Latin, gradus: step
o degree (noun): a step or stage in a process

graph, graf: write, draw
o Greek, graphein: write, scratch, carve
o graphic (adjective): written, drawn, vividly shown

her, hes: to stick
o Latin, haerere: to stick
o adhere (verb): to stick

jac, ject, jet: to throw
o Latin, jacere: to throw, to lie
o reject (verb): to throw out, unwilling to accept

jug, junct, just: to join
o Latin, jungere: to join
o junction (noun): a place at which two things join

lex, leag, leg: law
o Latin, lex: law
o legal (adjective): based on law

lect, leg, lig: choose, gather, select, read
o Latin, legere: to choose
o collect (verb): to gather, to bring together

loc: place, area
o Latin, locare: to place
o location (noun): a place, a position occupied

log: say, speech, word, reason, study
H
J
L
o
o
Greek, logos: speech, word, reason
logic (noun): the study of reason, reasoning

luc, lum, lust: light
o Latin, lucare: shine
o Latin, lumen: light
o Latin, lustrare: light-up
o translucent (adjective): permitting some light to come through

man: hand, make, do
o Latin, manus: hand
o manage (verb): to handle with skill, to be able to do

mem: recall, remember
o Latin, memor: mindful
o memory (noun): the ability to recall or to bring to mind

ment: mind
o Latin, mens: mind
o mental (adjective): related to the mind

min: little, small
o Latin, minuere: to lessen
o minor (adjective): less important, lesser

mit, miss: send
o Latin, mittere: put, send
o admit (verb): to accept, to allow entry

mob, mov, mot: move
o Latin, movere: move
o motion (noun): act of moving, action

nasc, nat, gnant, nai: to be born
o Latin, nasci to be born
o nascent (adjective) - just born

nom, nym: name
o Latin, nomen: name
o nominate (verb): to name for office

nov: new
o latin, novus: new
o novice (noun): a beginner or newcomer

oper: work
M
N
O
o
o
Latin, opus: work
operate (verb): to work, to perform
P

pat, pass: feel, suffer
o Latin, pati: suffer
o passion (noun): a strong feeling or emotion

path: feel
o Greek, pathos: feeling
o sympathy (noun): sharing another person's feelings

ped: foot
o Latin, pes: foot
o impede (verb): to hinder, to slow down

pod: foot
o Greek, pous: foot
o podium (noun): a platform, an area raised above the surrounding ground

pel, puls: drive, push
o Latin, pellere: to drive, push, beat
o repel (verb): to drive away or push back

pend, pond: to hang, weigh
o Latin, pendere: to hang, to weigh
o append (verb): to add or correct

phan, phas, phen, fan, phant, fant: show, make visible
o Greek, phainein: show
o phantom (noun): something seen but having no physical existence, a ghost

phil: love
o Greek, philos: loving
o philosopher (noun): a person who seeks (loves) wisdom

phon: sound
o Greek, phone: voice, sound
o phonetic (adjective): related to speech sounds

pict: paint, show, draw
o Latin, pingere: to paint
o picture (verb): to paint or draw

port: carry
o Latin, portare: carry
o import (verb): to bring in from a foreign country

pli, ply: fold
o Latin, plicare: fold
o reply (verb): to respond, to answer

pon, pos: put, place
o
o
Latin, ponere: to lay down, put, place
postpone (verb): to put off to a later time

psych: mind
o Greek, psukhe: soul, spirit
o psychology (noun): study of how the mind works

quir, quis, quest, quer: seek, ask
o Latin, quaerere: seek, ask
o query (verb): to ask questions

rupt: break
o Latin, rumpere: break
o rupture (verb): to break or burst

sci, scio: to know
o Latin, scire: to know
o conscious (adjective): aware, having knowledge of oneself

scrib, scrip: write
o Latin, scribere: to write
o script (noun): handwriting, something written

sent, sens: feel, think
o Latin, sentire: feel
o sentiment (noun): a thought prompted by feeling

sequ, secut, sue: follow
o Latin, sequi: to follow
o sequence (noun): a continuous series

sist: to withstand, make up
o Latin, sistere: to make a stand
o insist (verb): to be firm about something needed, to demand

soci: to join, companions
o Latin, sociare, socius: to join, a companion
o sociable (adjective): inclined to seek friendship, companionship

sol: alone
o Latin, solus: alone, single
o solitary (adjective): being alone

solv, solu, solut: loosen, explain
o Latin, solvere: too loosen, release
Q
R
S
o
solve (verb):
to find an answer

spec, spi, spic, spect: look
o Latin, specere: look, look at
o spectator (noun): a person who watches

spir: breath, soul
o Latin, spirare: breathe
o respiration (noun): breathing

stab, stat: stand
o Latin, stare: to stand
o stature (noun) - height of a standing body, importance of position

strain, strict, string, stige: bind, pull
o Latin, stringere: to bind or pull tight
o constrict (verb) - to squeeze, to make narrow

stru, struct, stroy: build
o Latin, struere: to build
o destroy (verb): to ruin, to pull down

tact, tang, tig, ting: touch
o Latin, tangere: to touch
o tactile (adjective): related to the sense of touch

tele: far away
o Greek, telos: end
o telepathy (noun): communication from one mind to another without verbal or written
communication

tend, tens: stretch
o Latin, tendere: to stretch
o contend (verb): to strive or reach for, to argue

tain, ten, tent, tin: hold, keep, have
o Latin, tenere: to hold
o retain (verb): to keep, to hold in place

term: end, boundary, limit
o Latin, terminusm: limit, boundary
o exterminate (verb): to kill off, to get rid of

terr: earth
o Latin, terra: earth
o territory (noun): area of land

test: see, witness
o Latin, testis: witness
o attest (verb): to provide proof, to say something is true

therm: heat
T
o
o
Greek, therme: heat
thermometer (noun): a device for measuring heat

tor, tors, tort: twist
o Latin, torquere: twist
o torsion (noun): twisting of the body

tract, trai, treat: pull, draw
o Latin, trahere: pull
o attract (verb): to draw toward, to arouse interest

uni: one
o Latin, unus: one
o unite (verb): to make one, to join together

vac: empty
o Latin, vacare: to be empty
o vacant (adjective): empty, not occupied

ven, vent: come
o Latin, venire: to come
o convene (verb): to assemble, to come together

ver: true
o Latin, venus: true
o verify (verb): to confirm that something is true

verb, verv: word
o Latin, verbum: word
o verbalize (verb): to express in words, to put into words

vers, vert: turn,change
o Latin, versare: to turn
o versatile (adjective): capable of changing or adapting, useful

vid, vie, vis: see
o Latin, videre: to see; Latin, videre: to separate
o visible (adjective): able to be seen
o divide (verb): to separate

vit, viv: live
o Latin, vivere: to live
o vital (adjective) - necessary for life

voc, voke: call
o Latin, vocare: call, voice
o vocal (adjective): spoken or uttered by the voice

volv, volt, vol: roll, turn
U
V
o
Latin, volvere: to roll, turn
o
revolve
(verb): to turn around
Prefixes
Prefixes and suffixes were originally words themselves but they are now groups of letters added to words or
to roots to create new words. Prefixes [pre (before) + fix (fasten) = fasten before] are groups of letters
placed before words or roots. Prefixes modify or extend the meanings of words and roots. Following is a
list of commonly used prefixes and sample vocabulary.
A

a-, ac-, ad-, af-, ag-, al-, an-, ap-, as-, at- to, toward, near, in addition to
o aside (adverb): to or toward the side
 a + side
o accompany (verb): to go with someone as a companion
 ac + com + pan + y
o adjust (verb): to correct, to move closer to a correct position
 ad + just
o affix (verb): to attach to something, to fasten
 af + fix
o aggression (noun): hostile behavior towards someone or something
 ag + gress + ion
o allocate (verb): to distribute to specific people or for specific purposes
 al + loc + ate
o annihilate (verb): to destroy
 an + nihil + ate
o associate (verb): to join with
 as + soci + ate
o attend (verb): to look after, to go to
 at + tend

a-, an- not, without
o apolitical (adjective): without interest in politics
 a + polit + ic + al
o anemia (noun): the condition (disease) of not having enough red blood cells
 an + em + ia

ab-, abs- away from, off
o abrupt (adjective): unexpected change
 ab + rupt
o absolve (verb): to be set free from one's actions or obligations
 ab + solve

ante- before
o anterior (adjective): before or near the front
 ante + rior

anti- against
o antipathy (noun): dislike, opposite feeling
 anti + path + y

auto- self
o automotive (adjective): related to self-propelled machines
 auto + mot + ive
B

bi- two
o
o
biped (noun): a two-footed animal
 bi + ped
biennial (adjective): happening every two years bi + enni + al
C

cat-, cata-, cath- down, with
o category (noun): a class or set to which a thing belongs
 cate + gor + y
o catalogue (noun): a book or pamphlet that lists and describes
 cata + log + ue
o catheter (noun): a medical device used to transfer fluids cath +eter

circum- around
o circumvent (verb): to manage to get around a situation
 circum + vent

co-, cog-, col-, com-, con-, cor together, with
o cohesiveness (noun): the ability to stick together
 co + hes + ive + ness
o cognate (adjective): related, similar in nature
 cog + nate
o collaborate (verb): to work together
 col + lab + or + ate
o commitment (noun): to entrust, to put into a place
 com + mit + ment
o convenient (adjective): handy, nearby
 con + veni + ent
o correct (verb): to set right, to be right
 cor + rect

contra- against, opposite
o contradict (verb) to state the opposite
 contra + dict

de- to do the opposite, to take away from
o decrease (verb): to grow smaller, to become less
 de + cre + ase

di-, dif-, dis- apart, separate, two, opposite, not
o divide (verb): to separate into two or more parts
 di + vide
o differ (verb): to be unlike
 dif + fer

dis- not, opposite of, exclude
o distrust (verb): to have no confidence or trust
D

dis + trust
E

e-, ex- out, out of, from
o emit (verb) to send out
 e + mit
o expel (verb): to force out ex + pel

en-, em- put into
o enamor (verb): to cause to love, to "put" someone "into" love
 en + am + + or
o empower (verb): to give power, to put into power em + pow + er

epi-, upon, beside, over
o epilogue (noun): the concluding section of a play or literary work
 epi + logue

extra- beyond
o extraordinary (adjective): going beyond normal
 extra + ordin + ary

il-, im-, in-, ir, not, in
o illegible (adjective): cannot be read
 il + leg + ible
o imposter (noun): someone who poses as someone else
 im + post + er
o inaction (noun): lack of motion, idle
 in + act + ion
o irresolute (adjective): uncertain about hot to act, undecided, not having a solution
 ir + re + solute

in-, im-, il- in, into
o instead (adverb): in place of, an alternative
 in + stead
o import (verb): to bring into a country from another country
 im + port

inter- between, among
o interject (verb): to throw something (usually a comment) between other things
 inter + ject

intro- into
o introspection (noun): to look into one's own thoughts and feelings
 intro + spect + ion

mal- bad
o malfunction (noun): when something does not work properly
I
M

mal + funct + ion

mis- wrong
o misconduct (noun): wrong doing, bad behavior
 mis + con + duct

mono- one
o monologue (noun): a dramatic performance or speech given by one actor
 mono + logue

multi- many
o multiply (verb): to increase in number
 multi + ply

non- not, no
o nonsense (noun): something that has no meaning or makes no sense
 non + sense

ob-, oc-, of-, op- toward, against, in the way
o obtain (verb): to gain or get, to get a hold of
 ob + tain
o occur (verb): to happen, to come to mind
 oc + cur
o offer (verb): to attempt to give, to propose, to try to hand out
 of + fer
o oppose (verb): to be against, to stand in the way of something
 op + pose

over- excessive, above
o overwork (verb): to have too much work
 over + work

para- beside
o paradox (noun): a statement that seems true and contradictory at the same time
 para + dox

per- through
o persecute (verb): to go after, to pursue
 per + secute

post- after
o postpone (verb): to put off to a later time, to delay
 post + pone

pre- before
o precede (verb): to go before, to come in front of
N
O
P

pre + cede

pro- for, foward
o propel (verb): to push forward
 pro + pel

re- back, again
o readmit (verb): to allow in again
 re + ad + mit

retro- backward
o retrospect (noun) to look back at past events
 retro + spect

se- apart, move away from
o secede (verb): to withdraw from an organization
 se + cede

semi- half
o semiannual (adjective): occurring twice a year
 semi + annu + al

sub-, suc-, suf-, sup-, sur-, sus under, beneath, near, from below, secretly, above, up
o submarine (adjective): underwater
 sub + mar + ine
o succeed (verb): to do well, to come after
 suc + ceed
o suffice (verb): to be enough
 suf + fice
o support (verb): to hold up, too keep up
 sup + port
o survive (verb): to live, to live through something, to exist
 sur + vive
o sustain (verb): to keep up, to hold up,
 sus + tain

super- over, above
o superimpose (verb): to place something on top of something else
 super + im + pose

syn-, sym- together, at the same time
o synchronous (adjective): happening at the same time
 syn + chron + ous
o sympathy (noun): sharing another person's feelings, compassion
 sym + path + y
R
S
T

trans- across, beyond, change
o transform (verb): to change shape
 trans + form

tri- three
o tripod (noun): a three-legged stand
 tri + pod

un- not, against, opposite
o unceasing (adjective): never ending, continuous
 un + ceas + ing

uni- one
o uniform (adjective): having the same form or consistency
 uni + form
U
Suffixes
Suffixes are groups of letters attached to the ends of roots, words, and word groups. Suffixes serve a
grammatical function. A suffix can indicate what part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb) the word belongs
to. Suffixes can also change and extend the meaning. The following suffixes are grouped beneath the
grammatical function they perform.
NOUNS
Nouns perform the function of naming. Nouns name persons, places animals or things, as well as groups,
ideas and qualities. In a sentence, nouns can be subjects, objects, or appositives.
A

-acy, -cy
o Noun: state or quality
 privacy: the state of being alone
 priv + acy
 infancy: the state of being a baby or young child
 in + fan + cy

-age
o
Noun: activity, or result of action
 courage : having the spirit to overcome fear
 cour + age

-al ,el, ul
o Noun: action, result of action
 referral : the action of directing a person to another place, person or thing
 re + ferr + al

-an
o
Noun: person
 artisan : a craftsperson
 arti + san

-ance, -ence
o Noun: action, state, quality or process
 resistance : the action of opposing something
 re + sist + ance
 independence: the state of not being under the control of others, free, self-governing
 in + de + pend + ence

-ancy, -ency
o Noun: state, quality or capacity
 vacancy : an empty room or position
 vac + ancy
 agency: the capacity to exert power or influence, a position or person that performs a
function
 ag + ency

-ant, -ent
o Noun: an agent, something that performs the action
 disinfectant : an agent that destroys germs, somthing that cleans
 dis + in + fect + ant


-ate
o

dependent: a thing supported by another, a thing determined by another
 de + pend + ent
Noun: state, office, fuction
 candidate : a person nominated for an office or position
 candid + ate
-ation
o
Noun: action, resulting state
 specialization : the result of being distinguished by one quality or ability
 spec + ial + iz + ation
D

-dom
o
Noun: place, state of being
 wisdom : possessing knowledge
 wis + dom
E

-er, -or
o
Noun: person or thing that does something
 porter : a person who carries things
 port + er
 collector: a person who collects or gathers things
 col + lect + or
o
Noun: an amount or quanity that fills
 mouthful : an amount that fills the mouth
 mouth + ful
F

-ful
I

-ian, an
o Noun: related to, one that is
 pedestrian : a person who walks
 ped + estr + ian
 human: a person
 hum + an

-ia
o

-iatry
Noun: names, diseases
 phobia : an illogical fear of something
 phob + ia
o



-ic, ics
o
Noun: related to the arts and sciences
 arithmetic : a branch of math that usually deals with non-negative numbers
 arithm + et + ic
 economics: the social science related to studying business
 eco + nom + ics
o
Noun: act
 malice : the desire to do evil
 mal + ice
-ice
-ing
o





Noun: material made for, activity, result of an activity
 flooring : a material made for floors
 floor + ing
 swimming: the activity of swimming or moving through water
 swim(m) + ing
 building: the result of making a structure
 build + ing
-ion
o

Noun: art of healing
 psychiatry : branch of medicine that deals with the mind and emotions
 psych + iatry
Noun: condition or action
 abduction : the action of carrying someone away by force
 ab + duct + ion
-ism
o
Noun: doctrine, belief, action or conduct
 formalism : a belief in sticking to prescribed forms or artistic styles
 form + al + ism
o
Noun: person or member
 podiatrist : a foot doctor
 pod + iatr + ist
o
Noun: product or part
 graphite : a black material used in making pencils
 graph + ite
-ist
-ite
-ity, ty
o
Noun: state or quality
 lucidity : clear thinking
 luc + id + ity
 novelty: something new or unusual
 nov + el + ty
o
Noun: condition
 native : a person born in a specific place
-ive

nat
+ ive
M

-ment
o
Noun: condition or result
 document : an official paper usually showing proof or evidence of something
 docu + ment
N

-ness
o
Noun: state, condition, quality
 kindness : the quality of being kind or nice
 kind + ness
o
Noun: condition or activity
 valor : bravery, courage
 val + or
O


-or
-ory
o
Noun: place for, serves for
 territory : an area around a place
 territ + ory
S

-ship
o
Noun: status, condition
 relationship : the state of being related or connected to something or someone
 re + lat + ion + ship
U

-ure
o
Noun: act, condition, process, function
 exposure : the condition of being exposed or unprotected
 pos + ure
o
Noun: state, condition, result of an activity
 society : companionship
 soci + et + y
 victory: the result of winning something
Y

-y

vict + or + y
VERBS
Verbs make statements about nouns, ask questions, give commands, or show states of being. Verbs can be
active or passive. Verbs also show tense or time of action.
A

-ate
o
Verb: cause to be
 graduate : to give a degree to, to pass from one stage to the next
 gradu + ate
o
Verb: past tense
 attained : something that has been reached or grasped
 at + tain + ed
o
Verb: to cause to become
 moisten : to cause to become moist or damp
 moist + en
E



-ed
-en
-er, -or
o
Verb: action
 ponder : to think about
 pond + er
 clamor: to make noise, to call for loudly
 clam + or
o
Verb: cause
 specify : to name or indicate in detail
 spec + ify
I



U
-ify
-ing
o
Verb: present participle
 depicting : showing, describing with images or pictures
 de + pict + ing
o
Verb: cause
 fantasize : to dream about something, to create images in the mind
 fant + as + ize
-ize

-ure
o
act

Verb: conjecture : to come to a conclusion by supposition or guesswork
 con + ject + ure
ADJECTIVES
Adjectives describe or modify nouns. Adjectives tell the reader more about the noun used in the sentence.
A

-able, -ible
o Adjective: worth, ability
 solvable : able to be solved or explained
 solv + able
 incredible: not able to be believed, amazing
 in + cred + ible

-al, -ial, -ical
o Adjective: quality, relation
 structural : related to the physical make up of a thing
 struct + ure + al
 territorial: related to nearby or local areas
 territ + or + ial
 categorical: related to a category, aboslute
 cate + gor + ical

-ant, -ent, -ient
o Adjective: kind of agent, indication
 important : marked by worth
 im + port + ant
 dependent: determined or relying upon something else
 de + pend + ent
 convenient: at hand, easy to use
 con + ven + ient

-ar, -ary
o Adjective: resembling, related to
 spectacular : related to something that is eye-catching or amazing
 spectac + ul + ar
 unitary : related to units or single groups representing quantities
 unit + ary

-ate
o
Adjective: kind of state
 inviolate : not disturbed, pure
 in + viol + ate
o
Adjective: having the quality of
 terraced : having terraces or steps
E

-ed




terrac + ed
-en
o
Adjective: material
 silken : made from silk, a fiber produced by worms
 silk + en
o
Adjective: comparative
 brighter : more light
 bright + er
o
Adjective: superlative
 strongest : having the most strength
 strong + est
o
Adjective: having, giving, marked by
 fanciful : marked by imagination
 fanci + ful
o
Adjective: quality, relation
 generic : related to a whole group
 gener + ic
o
Adjective: having the qualities of
 projectile : something thrown with an outside force
 pro + ject + ile
-er
-est
F

-ful
I





-ic
-ile
-ing
o
Adjective: activity
 cohering : the act of sticking together
 co + her + ing
o
Adjective: having the character of
 newish : modern, recent
 new + ish
-ish
-ive, -ative, -itive
o Adjective: having the quality of
 festive : having the quality of a festival or party
 fest + ive
 cooperative : being able or willing to work with another person or thing
 co + oper + ative
 sensitive: easily felt, responsive to the senses

sens
+ itive
L

-less
o
Adjective: without, missing
 motiveless : a reason for someone to do something
 mot + ive + less
O

-ous, -eous, -ose, -ious
o Adjective: having the quality of, relating to
 adventurous : characterized by the desire to seek new experiences or risks
 ad + vent + ur + ous
 courageous : characterized by courage, brave
 cour + ag + eous
 verbose: having more words than needed
 verb + ose
 fractious: characterized by being difficult or troublesome
 fract + ious

-y
Y
o
Adjective: marked by, having
 hungry : having hunger, marked by a desire
 hungr + y
ADVERBS
Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives and other adverbs.
F

-fold
o
Adverb: in a manner of, marked by
 fourfold : being four times as great
 four + fold
o
Adverb: in the manner of
 fluently : marked by ease of movement, effortlessly smooth
 flu + ent + ly
L

W
-ly

-ward
o

Adverb: in a direction or manner
 homeward : toward home
 home + ward
-wise
o
Adverb: in the manner of, with regard to
 timewise : with regard to time
 time + wise
TOEFL Writing Topics
The following are TOEFL style essay examples:
1) If you could change one important thing about your country, what would you change? Use reasons and
specific examples to support your answer.
2) What are some important qualities of a good school teacher? Use specific details and examples to explain
why these qualities are important.
3)Many people say that the internet is the most important invention ever. Do you agree or disagree with this
and if not, what do you believe to be more important? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
opinion.
4) Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People pay too much attention to the less
important things in life and fail to see the larger issues. Use specific reasons and details to explain your
opinion.
5) Which do you feel is more important in your life: security or freedom and independence? Use reasons and
specific examples to support your opinion.
6) A job should mean a job for life. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support
your answer.
7) Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? With the help of technology, life is easier today
than in the past. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
8) Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? A problem shared is a problem solved. Use
specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
9) Some music is very inspirational. Other music seems boring and meaningless. Which type of music do
you listen to and why do you think some music forms are much more popular than others? Use specific
reasons and examples to support your answer.
10) If you could travel back in time or into the future, which would you choose and what exact period of
time would you like to experience? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.