112

WORD PARTS

Root Meaning Example Meaning

alter Other, different alternative Another choice
anthro human anthropology The study of humankind
aqua water aquarium Water container/tank
astro star astronomer A person who studies stars
auto self automobile Moving by itself
bio life biography A description of someone’s life
chron time synchronic Occurring at the same time
cycle circle bicycle Two circles (wheels)
demo people demographics A description of people
Dic, dict To speak, to say dictate To say words (out loud)
equi equal equilibrium Balance
extra Over, in addition extraordinary Out of the ordinary
geo earth geography A description of the earth
graph To write phonograph A device that records sounds
homo same homogeneous Of the same kind

Prefix Meaning Example Meaning

ab- Out of Absorb To take sth out of sth
ante- Before Antecedent Sbd/sth that existed in the past.
anti- Against Antigovernment Against the government
bi- Two Bidirectional In two or both directions
circum- Around Circumvent To avoid, to work around something
co- , col- Together, with Cooperate To work together
com- , con- Committee Congregate A group working together, to come
together
dis- Not, take away Dissatisfied Not satisfied
em- , en- In, into, inside Enclose To surround, to include
ex- Out, from external Outside, outer
for-, fore- Ahead, to the front forward ahead
il- , im- Not illogical Not logical
im- , in- In, into inhale To breathe in
in- , ir- Not Inconvenient, Not convenient,
irresponsible Not responsible
inter- Between, among interstate Among states

Suffixes Meaning Example

-able, -ible (adj) able lovable
-al, -ical, -ial (adj) belonging to, pertaining to, having to do with magical
-ance, -ence (n) State of being presence, absence
-ant, -ent (n) sbd/sth who does sth student
-er (n) Sbd who does sth worker
-fic (adj) making, doing specific
-ful (adj) full of Playful, joyful
-fy (V) To add, to make simplify
-hood (n) state, condition brotherhood
-ic (adj) belonging to public
-ion, -sion, tion (n) act, state Motion, decision

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LIST OF IRREGULAR VERBS

Infinitive Simple Past Meaning Infinitive Simple Past Past Meaning

Past Participle Participle
awake awoke awoken learn learnt/ learnt/
be was been learned learned
beat beat beat leave left left
become became become let let let
begin began begun lie lay lain
bend bent bent light lit lit
bite bit bitten lose lost lost
bleed bled bled make made made
blow blew blown mean meant meant
break broke broken meet met met
bring brought brought pay paid paid
build built built prove proved proved/
burn burnt/ burnt/ proven
burned burned put put put
buy bought bought read read read
catch caught caught ride rode ridden
choose chose chosen ring rang rung
come came come rise rose risen
cost cost cost run ran run
cut cut cut say said said
deal dealt dealt see saw seen
dig dug dug sell sold sold
do did done send sent sent
draw drew drawn shake shook shaken
dream dreamt/ dreamt/ shine shone shone
dreamed dreamed shoot shot shot
drink drank drunk show showed showed/
drive drove driven shown
eat ate eaten shut shut shut
fall fell fallen sing sang sung
feed fed fed sit sat sat
feel felt felt sleep slept slept
fight fought fought smell smelt/ smelt/
find found found smelled smelled
fly flew flown speak spoke spoken
forget forgot forgotten spend spent spent
freeze froze frozen stand stood stood
get got got steal stole stolen
give gave given stick stuck stuck
go went gone stink stank/ stunk
grow grew grown stunk
hang hung hung swear swore sworn
hang hanged hanged swim swam swum
have had had take took taken
hear heard heard teach taught taught
hide hid hid tear tore torn
hit hit hit tell told told
hold held held think thought thought
hurt hurt hurt throw threw thrown
keep kept kept understand understood understood
know knew known wear wore worn
lay laid laid win won won
lead led led write wrote written

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LIST OF IRREGULAR NOUNS

Singular: Plural: Singular: Plural:

alumnus alumni mouse mice

aquarium aquaria neurosis neuroses
bacterium bacteria nucleus nuclei
baggage baggage news news
child children oasis oases
cod cod octopus octopi
crisis crises ox oxen
curriculum curricula person people
deer deer series series
fish fish sheep sheep
foot feet son-in-law sons-in-law
fungus fungi species species
hippopotamus hippopotami syllabus syllabi
man men thesis theses
memorandum memoranda tooth teeth
moose moose woman women

 Plural nouns with no singular form

binoculars jeans scissors

cattle pants shears
clogs pincers shorts
contents pliers spectacles
earnings police tongs
glasses pyjamas (US pajamas) trousers
media scales tweezers

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LIST OF UNCOUNTABLE WORDS

1. advice 19. homework 37. rice

2. air 20. ice 38. silk
3. aluminum 21. impatience 39. soap
4. baggage 22. information 40. sugar
5. butter 23. knowledge 41. steel
6. cloth clothing 24. leather 42. talent
7. coal 25. luggage 43. toothpaste
8. cotton 26. meat 44. traffic
9. currency 27. metal 45. travel
10. dust 28. milk 46. vinegar
11. energy 29. money 47. weather
12. equipment 30. oil 48. water
13. experience 31. patience 49. wood
14. flour 32. photography 50. wool
15. food 33. plastic 51. work
16. furniture 34. polish 52. etc
17. gas 35. progress
18. heat 36. research

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LIST OF IDIOMS

NO IDIOMS MEANING EXAMPLES

1 24/7 Twenty-four hours a day; seven days a week; all the My little sister irritates me 24/7
time; constantly
2 A short fuse A quick temper Jamie is known for his short fuse; just a few days ago he screamed at
his coach for not letting him play.
3 A taste of your own medicine Bad treatment deservedly received for treating other After constantly being prank-called, Julian decided to give Juan a
people badly taste of his own medicine and ordered twenty-seven pizzas to be
delivered to Juan’s house.
4 Butterflies in my stomach To be nervous Liam had butterflies in his stomach before he went on stage to play
the violin.
5 Down for the count Tired; giving up; unable or unwilling to participate any No, you can’t take my dog for a walk – she’s down for the count after
longer. chasing cats all day.
6 Draw the line To stop; to know the point where something goes from Now I draw the line at speaking in front of 34,000 people.
okay to not okay.
7 Easier said than done Not as easy as it appears to be. You want me to come to work at 6:00 AM? Easier said than done!
8 Every cloud has a silver lining You can find good thing in every bad situation Even though you just got fired, remember that every cloud has a
silver lining – at least you don’t have to work for that grouchy boss
anymore!
9 Finding a needle in a haystack Virtually impossible to find Trying to get a new job these days is like trying to find a needle in a
haystack.
10 Fish out of water To be out of place Tom felt like a fish out of water at the Star Trek convention his new
girlfriend begged him to attend.
11 Get something off your chest To talk about something that has been bothering you I have to get this off my chest – I copied your answers from the test.
for a long time; to admit something you have done Thanks for the “D” by the way.
wrong
12 Give it a whirl To try something I’ve never gone kite-boarding, but I’m prepared to give it a whirl!
13 In the fast lane A life filled with excitement When Curtis turned forty, he decided he needed to live life in the
fast lane, so he quit his job as a dentist and decided to tour Europe
by motorcycle.

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NO IDIOMS MEANING EXAMPLES

14 In the nick of time Almost too late You came to pick me up in the nick of time – my teacher just saw me
skipping class and was on his way to give me detention.
15 Let the cat out of the bag Tell a secret Brady’s surprise party is going to be great if you don’t let the cat out
of the bag.
16 Lose your marbles To go crazy; insane Our professor has really lost his marbles; he assigned us seven essays
this week!
17 Once in a blue moon Rarely In Florida, the temperature drops below freezing only once in a blue
moon.
18 Plain as day Obvious; clear It’s plain as day that you’re in love with her, so just admit it.
19 Play second fiddle To be less important I hate playing second fiddle to my sister; she always does things
better than I do!
20 Put your foot in your mouth Saying something you shouldn’t have Jessica really put her foot in her mouth when she asked about John’s
job right after he lost it.
21 Sick and tired To be bothered or annoyed by She is sick and tired of her dog chewing up her shoes every day.
22 Sleep on it To think about something for a while before making a Don’t tell me whether you’ll move to Texas with me or not today.
decision Sleep on it, and get back to me tomorrow.
23 Snug as a bug in a rug Warm and cozy; content That baby looks as snug as a bug in a rug cuddled up next to his
mother.
24 Stick your nose into something To interfere Sharon always sticks her nose into everyone else’s business.
25 Straight from the horse’s mouth Directly from the person involved Listen to the news straight from the horse’s mouth; we’re all getting
bonuses this week!
26 Take it easy Relax I know you’re not feeling well, so try to take it easy today.
27 Tip of the iceberg The small easily visible part of a larger problem The fact that Carrie is dating a member of the mafia is just the tip of
the iceberg; she’s also smuggling contraband into the country.
28 To not see the wood for the trees To be so involved with the details that you don’t get She always argues about the silliest things; it’s like she can’t see the
the most important facts wood for the trees.
29 Up a creek without a paddle In an unlucky/bad situation If you don’t have any money to pay for the repairs we just made to
your car, I guess you’re up a creek without a paddle because you
can’t have your car back.
30 Put me on think that the other person is not serious I thinks Carol just puts me on about taking me to Bangkok.

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NO IDIOMS MEANING EXAMPLES

31 That's just what I need will be inconvenienced I heard that petroleum price will be a lot more expensive next year.
That's just what I need.
32 run out has used all the supply I've run out my papers. Would you please lend me some?
33 no joke agree with another person's statement/idea You said that it's a difficult test. No joke. I hope I passed it.
34 You're just not all there sometimes not attentive You keep asking me about what Mr. Smith just said. Honestly, You're
just not all there sometimes.
35 Mickey Mouse course something easy or without substance I can't believe that I signed up for this class. It's such a Mickey Mouse
course.
36 Don't bother doesn't want the other person takes action Don't bother. I can go home myself.
37 I'll say agree with another person's statement/idea Did you just say that you'll see the exibition? I'll say!
38 believe when see it doubtful I'll believe that you can drive car when I see it.
39 don't ask an emphatic no Speaker 1: How's your test result?
Speaker 2: Don't ask.
40 can't/couldn't agree more really agree with/support others' idea Buying ice cream now? I couldn't agree more.

For Internal Use Only UNESA 2016