Vocabulary is all about words in any language — the words in a language or a special set of words you are trying to learn called Vocabulary.
Affixes
Prefixes and Suffixes are together called Affixes and they are used to form words.
A prefix is an addition at the beginning of a word. Some examples are as follow:
| Prefix | Meaning | Word |
| ex- | Out of, former | ex-student |
| inter- | between | inter school |
| semi- | half | semicircle |
| equi- | equal, the same | equidistant |
| auto- | self | autobiography |
| anti- | opposed to | antisocial |
| dis- | opposite of | dislike |
| de- | opposite of | defrost |
| sub- | beneath | sub standard |
| up- | to a higher state | upgrade |
| trans- | across | transmission |
| mis- | wrongly | misunderstand |
| non- | not | nonsense |
| dis- | not | dishonest |
| macro- | relatively large | macromolecules |
| tele | linking across distance | television |
Prefixed Used to Make Antonyms:
Prefixes like dis-, im-,in-,un-,ir-il-are used to make antonyms.
For example:
please – displease
proper – Improper
correct – incorrect
regular – irregular
legal – illegal
Prefixes Used to Make Verbs:
Prefixes like en-, em-, im-, for-, fore-,over- are used to make verbs:
For example;
power – empower
mobilise – immobilise
2. Suffixes
A suffix is an addition at the end of a word. Some examples are as fallow:
| Suffixes | Meaning | Word |
| -able | quality | changeable |
| -ible | of | sensible |
| -acy | state | conspiracy |
| -ful | quality | careful |
| -ment | state | excitement |
| -ly | quality | meanly |
• Suffixes Used to Make Nouns:
(a) -or, -er, -yer, -ar (person)
paint – painter
beg-beggar
(b) – dom
wise-wisdom
free-freedom
(c) – ship (state)
friend- friendship
hard- hardship
(d) – th(condition)
heal- health
grow- growth
(e) – ism (specific doctrine)
secular – secularism
(f) -ness (quality)
neat – neatness
happy – happiness
Suffixes Used to Make Verbs:
In many cases suffixes are added without any change. In some cases there are changes such as the following:
doubling of the last consonant: sad – sadden
dropping of the vowel ‘e’: pure- purify
other changes: sancity-sancity
• Suffixes used to Make Adjectives:
Suffixes like -ish, -some, -worthy, -like,-ward,-less, -y are used to make adjectives.
For Example;
boy-boyish
note – noteworthy lady-ladylike
whole – wholesome
Antonyms
Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. They are formed by using the following
prefixes:
1. -anti
freeze – antifreeze – perspirant-antiperspirant
2. -dis
agree – disagree
3. -in
discreet – indiscreet
4. – il
legal – illegal
5. -im
mature – immature
6.-ir
rational – irrational
7.-mis
judge – misjudge
8. -un
acceptable – unacceptable
Synonyms
Synonyms are those words which have the same meanings. Examples are:
| Word | Synonym |
| abduct | kidnap |
| ache | long/pain |
Similes
A Simile is the comparison of two unlike things having a common quality, using the word
‘like’ or ‘as’. For example;
1. as black as coal
2. as agile as a monkey
3. as dull as dishwater
4. as old as the hills
5. as common as dirt
One-word Substitution
One-word Substitution means one word used for a group of words that have similar meaning. Examples are:
1. Alien – a person living in a country of which he is not a citizen
2. Amphibian – an animal that can live both on land and in water
3. Audience – assembly of hearers
4. Annual – coming off after every one year
5. Bankrupt – a person who has lost all his money
6. Brittle – that is easily breakable
7. Curable – that can be cured
8. Edible – fit to be eaten
9. Fatalist – a person who believes in fate
10. Hospitable – one who entertains one’s guests
11. Illegal – that which is against the law
12. Innocent – one who is not guilty
13. Invisible – that which cannot be seen
14. Irreparable – that which cannot be repaired
15. Incapable – not able to do something
Phrases, Idioms, Proverbs
1. Phrases
1. At arm’s length= maintaining some gap in familiarity.
The new principal keeps his staff at arm’s length
2. At all cost = whatever may be the price/sacrifices
I will be honest at all cost.
3. At one’s fingertips = thorough and ready knowledge
All the information is at her fingertips.
4. At sixes and sevens= in disorder, chaos After the farewell party, the room was left at sixes and sevens.
5. At the eleventh hour= at the last moment.
He reported the damage to me at the eleventh hour.
6. beyond question: undoubtedly
Her voice is, beyond question the sweetest.
7. By fair means or foul = by good or bad method
They decided to win the game by fair means or foul.
8. At daggers drawn = open enmity
The family is at daggers drawn because of property.
2. Idioms
• Idioms referring to animals
1. Cots and logs – rain heavily
2. Let the cat out of the bag – tell a secret
3. Got to the dogs – ruin oneself, be ruined
4. Lead a dog’s life – have an unhappy life with many troubles
5. A dark horse – a person whose abilities are hidden or unknown
6. Flog a dead horse – waste your time with useless effort. go on doing something after there is clearly no chance of success
• Idioms referring to Parts of the body
7. Keep somebody at arm’s – avoid having a close relationship with somebody
8. Be all ears – be waiting with interest to hear what somebody has to say
• Idioms referring to Trees
9. Tum over a new leaf – start to behave in a better way
10. A hard nut to crack – a difficult problem to solve
•Idioms referring to Colours
11. Black and white – in writing
12. In the pink – very well, very healthy
3. Proverbs
Action speak louder than words -What a person actually does mean more than what he says he will do.
The apple never falls far from the tree – A child usually behaves in a similar way to his or her parents.
Beauty is only skin-deep – How a person looks is less important than his/her character.