Q&A for How to Expand Your Vocabulary

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What kind of books should I read to work on my writing?

Donagan

Top Answerer

There are many books on how to write well. However, reading absolutely any book will help your writing if you pay attention to the way the writer uses words.

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I've tried hard to learn more and more words and utilize them in my daily conversation, but at the right moment I abruptly forget and get stuck. What should I do?

Donagan

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Just keep practicing. We get better at things we practice.

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I can't understand some words when Americans sing, but I understand everything when they speak. Why is that?

Community Answer

American singers often sing very quickly and do not pronounce words clearly. Many native English speakers have to look up song lyrics in order to know what singers are saying.

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Is there any easier way to understand American people?

Community Answer

You can do that by listening more and more to their music and movies, and also watch a lot of interviews and programs.

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How do I expand my vocabulary if I cannot remember the words?

Community Answer

ake a point to use the words in your daily conversations. Write down the words in a small notebook and go through them regularly.

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What are some tips for reading?

Community Answer

Find a book that interest you. Find a comfortable spot to read in. You may choose to read out loud or quietly to yourself.

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Do I need to mark vocabularies down in a notebook to make the whole thing more effective?

Donagan

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Do whatever works well for you. The important thing is to review new words periodically, and say them aloud in sentences so that you can remind yourself of their meanings.

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How can I improve my English language communication skills?

Donagan

Top Answerer

The best way is to speak a lot (or write back and forth) with someone who is fluent in English.

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How do I remember new words that I learn?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Use them in actual sentences from time to time.

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Question

Can I use these tips to learn Indonesian words?

Community Answer

These tips are useful for any language you may want to speak/understand better.

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How can I learn idioms?

Community Answer

If you want local phrases from folks that live in a specific place, then try searing YouTube.com for certain areas or topics. Example: If you were trying to learn idioms of 'southerns talking about vegetables', then search something 'vegetables' related, click through a few videos and listen for a stereotypical southern style accent. YouTuber's often give out information about the city or state that they're filming in or from, so it helps figure out if you're dealing with someone from South Carolina verse someone from Mississippi for your phrases.

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What if I encounter hundreds of words I don't know when reading, should I look up every word in the dictionary?

Donagan

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Yes, if you want to know what they mean and how to pronounce them. Make up a few funny sentences using those words to help you remember them.

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What is an effective way to learn phrasal verbs?

Community Answer

Use online teaching phrasal sites. You can also use novels a sources to identify different phrasal verbs, and use Post-it notes and a highlighter to help you memorize them.

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Question

When I learn a word and its definition, I forget the definition in a few days. What should I do?

DanteInAthens

Community Answer

Write the word and definition on a flashcard, and put the flashcard in a place where you will see it every day, such as a bathroom mirror, and repeat the word and definition every time you see it.

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Question

Which one is better: learning vocabulary or grammar?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Neither is "better." They're both important. It might make sense, however, to concentrate first on vocabulary.

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Is learning prefixes, suffixes, and roots really helpful for the SAT test?

Community Answer

Yes it is, because if you do not know a word, you can reason through it and get a general idea of what the word means by knowing prefixes, suffixes, and roots.

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What can I do to understand English words while I'm reading a book?

Community Answer

Keep a dictionary nearby while you're reading. If English is not your first language, you might want to keep Google Translate or another translation app/program open to consult as well.

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Question

How will I know when I am using the appropriate word in a sentence?

Donagan

Top Answerer

If you're not sure, ask the opinion of one or more other people who are good with words.

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Question

I have the richest vocabulary in my class, I just finished reading Illustrated Classic’s Jane Eyre. What should I do next?

Sarah A.

Top Answerer

Read another classic novel or a more challenging piece of literature. You could also try expanding your vocabulary even further by looking up new words and incorporating them into your daily conversations and writing. Additionally, you could join a book club or discuss your readings with friends to gain different perspectives and insights.

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