How to enrich our vocabulary

To learn a new word, it is no good learning it in isolation. You should see how it is used in sentences and learn it through a meaningful chunk of words – the shortest part of a sentence capturing its usage.

Of the six notes below, (1) explains and illustrates the learning of vocabulary items through meaningful chunks of words. (2) sets out useful chunks of words picked up from the two BBC news reports at (3) and (4). The notes at (5) and (6) show the usage of a number of useful vocabulary items.

1. 1. • Learning vocabulary items through meaningful chunks of words
      • Picking up meaningful chunks of words when reading a text
      • BBC News Report: Xi Jinping and Obama summit in California
      • BBC News Report: NSA chief defends US surveillance programmes
      • Learning new words: advance, compel, competent, competition,... complimentary
      • Learning new words: compose, condolences, concern, confidence, ...complimentary.