When you look up a word in a dictionary, you are looking up an entry word. An entry word is usually printed in bold. Most entry words appear with listed endings. For example, you would look up the word country, not countries, stop, not stopping; and smile, not smiled.
entry word...
Guide words are words that appear at the top of a dictionary page. They tell you the first and last word on that page of the dictionary. If the word you are searching for comes between the guide words in ABC order, it will be on that page of the dictionary.
For example, bagel would be on the...
Being able to place words in alphabetical order, or ABC order, can help you find what you are looking for in a dictionary, an encyclopedia, an index, or at the library.
When two words start with the same letter, use the second letter to decide the order. If the first two letters of the words...
A simile is a comparison of two unlike things using the words like or as.
Lydia's cheeks were as red or cherries.
The sea sparkled like jewels in the morning sun.
A metaphor is a comparison of two unlike things without using like or as.
Alexander's heart was a steady drum beating in his chest.
A multiple-meaning word(also called a homograph) is a word that has more than one meaning.
Can you help us? George bought a can of tuna.
Mia won the doll at the fair. It's not fair that you have to go last.
A multiple-meaning word(also called a homograph) is a word that has more than...
A homophone is a word that sounds the same as another word but has a different spelling and meaning.
It takes an hour to get there. Our team won the game!
Tom will be late. The bee landed on the pink flower.
A homophone is a word that sounds similar as another word but spelled...
An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word.
hard, soft
loud, quiet
new, old
right, wrong
An antonym is a word that has an opposite meaning of another word.
A synonym is a word that has the same or almost the same meaning as another word.
like, enjoy
dad, father
quick, fast
insect, bug
A synonym is a word that has a similar or almost similar meaning to another word.
A syllable is part of a word and has one vowel sound. As you say a word, listen to the number of vowel sounds. This is the number of syllables the word has.
book= 1 vowel sound= 1 syllable
pic/ture= 2 vowel sounds= 2 syllables
for/ev/er= 3 vowel sounds= 3 syllables
Compound words can be...
The suffix -ful means full of, if a base word ends in y, change the y to i ebfore adding ful.
roomful= a room full of beautiful= full of beauty
The suffix -less means without.
colorless= without color endless= without end
The suffix -able means can be or able to be. If a base word ends in...
Suffixes can be added to the words of some words. A suffix changes the meaning of the word to which it is added.
The suffix -ly means in a way, if a base word ends in y, change the y to i before adding ly.
slowly= in a slow way happy> happily= in a happy way
The suffix -y means being or...
A prefix can be added to the beginning of some words. Adding a prefix changes the meaning of a word.
The prefixes un- and dis- both mean not.
Some words starts with a prefix. Adding a prefix before the word changes the meaning of the word. Both prefixes un- and dis- both mean not.
uneven= not...
A contraction is a short way of writing two words. When the words are combined, an apostrophe(') takes the place of the missing letters.
I am= I'm he will= he'll we have= we've is not= isn't
The words will and not form the contraction won't.
A contraction is a quick way of writing two words...
A compound word is made by joining two shorter words.
pop+corn= popcorn star+fish= starfish sun+flower=sunflower
Basically, a compound word is a combination of two words to fuse into one word.
A possessive is a word that shows ownership. Adding an apostrophe(') plus s to a word makes it possessive.
Dante's jacket, Mr.Fargo's mail, the shirt's collar
A possessive is a word that displays ownership. Adding an apostrophe(') plus s to a word makes it possessive.
Even when a singular word...
Some plural words are irregular. They do not follow the rules, so you must memorize their plural forms.
child children foot feet mouse mice goose geese
woman women man men ox oxen die dice
Irregular words do not follow the rules so you must memorize their plural forms above.
The singular and...
The word plural means more than one.
To make most words plural, just add s. book books bell bells
If a noun ends in sh,ch,s, or x, add es. fox foxes bush bushes
If a noun ends with a consonant and y, drop the y and add ies.
fly flies city cities
For some words that end in f or fe, change the...
The endings -er and -est can be added to base words to make a comparison.
Add er to mean more. louder = more loud.
Add est to mean most. loudest= most loud.
For words that end in e, drop the e and add er or est.
wise, wiser, wisest
For words that end in a consonant and y, change the y to i...
New words can be formed by adding s or es to base words.
Just add s to the end of many action words to change their form.
Tim and Maya smile. Mays smiles.
If an action word ends with y, change the y to i and add es.
Mom and Dad worry. Mom worries.
If an action word ends with s,sh,ch,x, or...
A base word is a word without any endings added to it.
If a base word has a short vowel sound and ends in a consonant, double the consonant before adding ed or ing.
rub, rubbed, rubbing
If a base word ends with e, drop the e before adding ed or ing.
taste, tasted, tasting
If a base word...