Vocabulary: Class 12 English Notes and Short Questions

Advanced word use for Class 12: roots from Latin and Greek, words with shades of meaning, formal and informal words, one-word substitutes, commonly misused words, figurative language and idioms, and tips for building vocabulary.

Key points

At Class 12 level, vocabulary is tested through meanings in context, synonyms and antonyms, one-word substitutes, correct word choice and use of idioms. The aim is to use precise and formal words in essays, letters and comprehension answers.

Word roots from Latin and Greek help to understand many English words:

scrib or script (write): describe, manuscript, prescription.
spect (see): inspect, spectator, perspective.
port (carry): transport, import, portable.
dict (say): predict, dictate, contradict.
bene (good) and mal (bad): benefit, benevolent, malfunction, malice.
chron (time): chronology, synchronize.
bio (life) and geo (earth): biography, geography.

Words have connotation as well as denotation. Denotation is the dictionary meaning. Connotation is the feeling attached to the word. Slim, thin and skinny all mean not fat, but slim sounds pleasant, and skinny sounds unkind. Choose words by connotation so that your tone suits the reader.

Formal writing uses precise words, while informal speech uses simple or casual words. Examples: ask for (request), get (obtain), buy (purchase), help (assist), enough (sufficient), show (demonstrate), start (commence). Avoid slang and contractions in applications, essays and reports.

One-word substitutes (one word for a group of words):

A person who loves books: bibliophile.
One who cannot be defeated: invincible.
A speech by one actor alone: monologue.
Government by the people: democracy.
A person who is new to a task: novice.
A place where books are kept: library.
That which cannot be read: illegible.
A person who does not eat meat: vegetarian.

Words that are often misused: 'among' is used for more than two (a talk among friends) and 'between' for two (between you and me). 'Fewer' goes with countable nouns (fewer books) and 'less' with uncountable ones (less water). 'Imply' means to suggest and 'infer' means to conclude. 'Economic' relates to the economy, while 'economical' means saving money. 'Historic' means important in history, while 'historical' means related to the past.

Figurative language uses words beyond their literal meaning. A simile compares with like or as (brave as a lion). A metaphor says one thing is another (Time is a thief). Personification gives human qualities to objects (The wind whispered). Hyperbole is exaggeration for effect (I have told you a million times). Irony says the opposite of what is meant, or shows a gap between expectation and result.

Idioms and proverbs for advanced writing:

to turn a blind eye: to ignore something on purpose.
to bite the bullet: to face a hard situation with courage.
to throw in the towel: to give up.
the last straw: the final problem that makes a situation unbearable.
to be in hot water: to be in trouble.
a storm in a teacup: a big fuss over a small matter.

Words can change meaning by part of speech. A word such as 'record' is a noun when the stress is on the first syllable (a REcord) and a verb when the stress is on the second (to reCORD). Learn the word forms: decide, decision, decisive, decisively. Pick the right form to fit the sentence.

Build your vocabulary by reading newspaper editorials and books, noting new words with the sentence where you found them, and revising them weekly. Use new words in your own writing within a few days. Using a word is the best way to remember it.

Study tip: Make flash cards for 15 new words every week: write the word, its meaning and an original sentence. Revise the one-word substitutes and idioms before the paper, as these are short, high scoring items. In synonym questions, check the part of speech first, then choose the option that fits the sentence best.

Definitions and flashcards

Say the meaning first, then open the card to check.

Root

The base part of a word that carries the main meaning

Denotation

The literal dictionary meaning of a word

Connotation

The feeling or association that a word carries beyond its dictionary meaning

One-word substitute

A single word that replaces a whole phrase

Simile

A comparison using like or as

Metaphor

A direct comparison saying one thing is another

Hyperbole

Deliberate exaggeration for effect

Formal register

A style of language suited to official or academic writing

Proverb

A short, well-known saying that gives general advice

Short questions with model answers

These are the kind of questions asked for 2, 3 and 5 marks. Try each one before opening the answer.

Distinguish between denotation and connotation with an example. (2 marks)

Denotation is the plain dictionary meaning of a word. Connotation is the emotion or idea it suggests. The words 'home' and 'house' both denote a place to live, but 'home' carries a warm feeling of family and comfort.

Give one-word substitutes for: (a) a person who loves books, (b) that which cannot be defeated, (c) a speech by one person alone. (3 marks)

(a) Bibliophile. (b) Invincible. (c) Monologue.

Explain how knowing Latin and Greek roots helps in learning vocabulary. Give examples. (5 marks)

Many English words are made from roots, so knowing a root helps in understanding a family of words. The root spect means see, so you can understand inspect, spectator and perspective. The root dict means say, which explains predict, dictate and contradict. A student who knows roots can guess the meaning of an unfamiliar word, remember spellings more easily and learn several words at once instead of one by one.

What is the difference between 'imply' and 'infer'? Use each in a sentence. (3 marks)

To imply is to suggest something without saying it directly. To infer is to reach a conclusion from evidence. Her silence implied that she was angry. From her silence, I inferred that she was angry.

Name any three figures of speech and explain each in one line. (3 marks)

Simile compares two things using like or as. Metaphor states that one thing is another. Personification gives human qualities to non-living things, for example 'the moon smiled'.

Write the meaning of 'a storm in a teacup' and use it in a sentence. (2 marks)

It means a great fuss about something unimportant. The argument over the seat was a storm in a teacup, and everyone forgot it by evening.

Common mistakes

Using informal words such as 'kids' or 'get' in formal letters and essays.
Using 'less' with countable nouns, as in 'less students' instead of 'fewer students'.
Confusing economic and economical, or historic and historical.
Writing a one-word substitute with a wrong spelling, such as 'bibliofile'.
Explaining an idiom word by word instead of giving its real meaning.

Practise this chapter

Practice questions and timed test Printable worksheet