Unit 1
Objetivos
Al finalizar la Unidad I los participantes estarn en capacidad de:
1. Definir e identificar los vocablos relacionados con las partes de un
diccionario.
2. Distinguir las diferentes categoras lxicas dadas, fuera o dentro de un
contexto, utilizando el diccionario que tengan a su disposicin.
Actividad de Lectura 1
Read this text to understand how to use your dictionary in a better way.
USINGANENGLISHDICTIONARY
For foreign students of English, a good dictionary is a necessary reference book. Like
all tools, however, it is valuable only if it is used correctly and efficiently. A short time
spent on learning what a dictionary contains and how it should be used will save you
much time later.
Dictionaries to Avoid
Because new words come into the language and old meaning frequently change, it is
important to use only a dictionary that has been recently published or revised. Avoid a
dictionary that is more than ten or at most fifteen years old.
Small paper-covered dictionaries have only a limited value for your study needs. They
are abridgements of abridgements. Also, though they may have been published recently,
many of these pocket-size dictionaries are copied without changes from older
dictionaries.
Avoid a native-language-to-English dictionary (for example, Japanese-English, French-
English, Persian-English). Dictionaries of this kind are frequently poorly edited and out
of date. Although they may serve an occasional and immediate convenience, their great
danger is the assumption that there is a one-for-one correspondence between the words
of the two languages. Sometimes there is, most often there is not. Word translations of
the kind that such dictionaries encourage can lead you into many mistakes. Furthermore,
you will not increase your English vocabulary but only temporarily find what may be a
false equivalent.
Why Use a Dictionary
1) to learn meanings of unfamiliar 1) para aprender significados de palabras
words desconocidas
2) to find correct spellings 2) para ubicar la correcta escritura
3) to find out how to correctly use a 3) para descubrir su uso correcto
word as what part of speech
4) para encontrar la pronunciacin
4) to find the pronunciation for a word correcta
5) to find the derivation of a word (the 5) encontrar las palabras derivadas (su
origins of the word ) origen)
6) to find the correct spellings of 6) encontrar la correcta escritura de
derivatives (root words with derivados (raz de palabra con sufijos
suffixes or other regular endings ) u otras terminaciones regulares)
Actividad de Lectura
Words to Know
GUIDE WORDS - two words listed PALABRAS GUAS dos palabras en el borde
at the top of each dictionary page superior de cada pgina que sealan las palabras
that signal the words alphabetically enlistadas en la misma.
listed on the page
PALABRAS ENTRADA siempre en negritas, da
ENTRY WORDS - in boldface type, la escritura (y algunas veces estn divididas en
gives the spelling (and is sometimes slabas)
divided to show syllables)
PRONUNCIACIN los smbolos usados para
PRONUNCIATION - the symbols mostrar como pronunciar la palabra
used to show how to pronounce the apropiadamente (los sonidos que representan los
word properly (the sounds the smbolos mostrados en la pronunciacin estn
symbols represent is shown in the presentados en la tabla) (cuando las
pronunciation key ) (when pronunciaciones son etiquetadas en 1 o 2, las
pronunciations are labeled "for 1" or mismas deben ser usadas para la definicin con el
"for 2" that pronunciation should nmero) (cuando se presentan dos
only be used for the definition with pronunciaciones para una palabra con una o
that number) (when two entre ellas, pueden ser usadas indistintamente)
pronunciations for one word have an
"or" between them the
pronunciations can be used DEFINICIN significados de palabras. Son
interchangeably) explicados brevemente y aparecen enumerados
para separar uno de otro.
DEFINITION - gives the meanings
of the word. They are stated briefly ORACIONES ILUSTRATIVAS (o frase)
and are numbered to separate each oracin utilizada para demostrar el uso de una
one. palabra
ILLUSTRATIVE SENTENCE - (or ETIQUETA una palabra descriptiva usada para
phrase) sentence used to demonstrate mostrar como es usada una palabra (ejemplo
how a word is used USO VIEJO o ARCAICO le dice al lector que la
palabra no es usada comunmente hoy da pero
puede ser necesaria una definicin porque la
LABEL - a descriptive word used to palabra puede ser usada en literatura).
show how a word is used ( example
OLD USE or ARCHAIC tells the
reader the word is not commonly ARGOT una etiqueta usada para decirle al lector
used in today's speech but a que la definicin es para un uso no estndar de la
definition may be necessary because palabra de entrada.
the word may be used in literature )
MODISMO una frase o dicho en el cual un uso
SLANG - a label used to tell the especial est hecho de una palabra, ejemplo:
reader that the definition is for a raining cats and dogs (est lloviendo a cntaros,
nonstandard use of the entry word con truenos y rayos)
IDIOM - a phrase or saying in which DERIVACIN el origen de la palabra de entrada
a special use is made of a word de donde viene la palabra (usualmente escrita al
example - raining cats and dogs final de la definicin en corchetes)
DERIVATION - the origin of the ABREVIATURAS (de categoras lxicas= -
entry word where the word comes identifica cada uso de una palabra por su funcin
from (usually written at the end of en una oracin.
the definition in brackets )
ADJ. Adjetivo ayuda a describir un nombre d
ABBREVIATIONS - ( of parts of un significado ms exacto.
speech) - identify each use of a word
by its function in a sentence
ADV.- adverbio ayuda a describir un verbo al
dar un significado ms exacto
ADJ.- adjective - helps describe a
noun gives a more exact meaning
CONJ.- conjuncin connecta palabras, frases o
clusulas
ADV.- adverb - helps describe a verb
by giving a more exact meaning
CONJ.- conjunction - connects
words, phrases or clauses
INTERJ.- interjeccin palabra independiente que
expresa sentimientos fuertes
INTERJ.- interjection - independent
word which expresses strong feeling
N.- nombre/sustantivo nombra a una persona,
lugar o cosa.
N.- noun - name of a person, place
or thing
PREP.- preposicin muestra la relacin entre
sustantivo y alguna otra palabra en la oracin
PREP.- preposition - shows
relationship between noun and some
other word in the sentence PRON.- pronombre usado en lugar de un
nombre o sustantivo
PRON.- pronoun - used in place of
noun VB.- verbo indica la accin o dice algo acerca
del sujeto
VB.- verb- indicates action or tells
something about the subject PL.- plural la forma de un sustantivo, adjetivo, o
verbo que indica que se est hablando en la
oracin de ms de una persona, lugar, o c
PL.- plural - form of a noun,
adjective, or verb which indicates
that more than one person, place, or
thing is being spoken about in the
sentence
Actividad 1
Este enlace lo llevar a una hoja de prctica en espaol.
El ejercicio es un pareo, en el cual debe presionar el botn izquierdo
del
mouse sobre la definicin (lado derecho) y llevarla encima del
trmino seleccionado (lado izquierdo).
[Link]
Activity 2
Practice: Using your dictionary, choose the best
definition for each term in bold as it is used in each
sentence.
Question
1. I started school during the fall semester.
Answers
Option 1
to drop or come down freely
Option 2
to lose office
Option 3
a season of the year
Option 4
armed capture of a place under siege
Feedback
Question
2 . We built a run for our new greyhound so she could get daily
exercise
Answers
Option 1
to sew a line of stitches
Option 2
an outdoor enclosure for animals or poultry
Option 3
to smuggle
Option 4
to compete in a race for elected office
Feedback
Question
3. The president of the association has complete rule.
Answers
Option 1
governing power
Option 2
a standard method or procedure for solving problems
Option 3
to make as with a ruler
Option 4
to be in total control or command
Feedback
Question
4. Will you please pick the pods from the vines?
Answers
Option 1
a casing forming part of a vehicle
Option 2
a school of marine animals
Option 3
a fruit of a leguminous plant such as the pea
Option 4
the lengthwise groove in boring tools such as augers
Feedback
Question
5. After she broke her tooth, she had to get a bridge from her
dentist
Answers
Option 1
a fixed or removable replacement for one or several of the natural teeth
Option 2
an electrical shunt
Option 3
the upper section of the human nose
Option 4
a span
Feedback
Question
6. Dont forget to turn off the iron when you have finished ironing
your clothes
Answers
Option 1
a golf club with a metal head
Option 2
a harpoon
Option 3
a metal appliance with a handle and a flat bottom
Option 4
great hardness or strength
Feedback
Question
7. Diane has such class. She carries herself well and always dresses
with perfection
Answers
Option 1
a group of students
Option 2
social rank or caste
Option 3
a grade of mail
Option 4
elegance of style, taste, and manner
Feedback
Question
8. The airline will have to charge extra if you want your cat to join
you onboard
Answers
Option 1
something for which an additional charge is made
Option 2
surprising news
Option 3
something of very high quality
Feedback
Question
9. The young boy and his dog had to be saved when the raging river
flooded their village.
Answers
Option 1
to rescue from danger
Option 2
to avoid waste
Option 3
to copy a file from a computers main memory
Option 4
to treat with care by avoiding fatigue
Feedback
Question
10. Be sure to fill the bucket to the very top.
Answers
Option 1
to supply as required
Option 2
to put into as much as can be held
Option 3
to supply with material
Option 4
a built-up piece of land
Categoras Lxicas.
Parts of Speech
Learning about the parts of speech is the first step in grammar study just as
learning the letters of the alphabet is the first step to being able to read and write.
From learning the parts of speech we begin to understand the use or function of
words and how words are joined together to make meaningful communication. To
understand what a part of speech is, you must understand the idea of putting
similar things together into groups or categories. Let's look at some examples of
categories.
COLORS FRUITS DRINKS LANGUAGES
blue banana milk Spanish
red apple water Arabic
yellow orange soda Japanese
green grape beer English
black lemon coffee Korean
Colors, fruits, drinks, and languages are categories. If I tell you that Grebo is a
language, you would understand exactly what Grebo is. If we did not have the
category language, it would be hard to explain what is meant by the word Grebo. It
is very convenient to have categories to talk about similar things. Let's look at some
more examples of categories. In the list below, which does not belong with the
others?
a) violin
b) hammer
c) drums
d) piano
e) guitar
If you chose hammer, you are right. Violin, drums, piano, and guitar are used to
make music, but a hammer is not used to make music. Hammer doesn't fit with the
other words because it is a tool and all of the others are musical instruments.
Let's try another example. Which of these does not belong with the others?
a) hammer
b) saw
c) violin
c) screwdriver
d) wrench
This time, the word violin does not belong because it is not a tool. It is very useful
to have categories like musical instruments and tools to organize our ideas. The
parts of speech are categories used to organize or classify words according to how
they are used. We use parts of speech as a way to make it easier to talk about
language.
The philosopher Aristotle and later scientists studied animals and classified them
according to what they have in common. For example, eagles, robins and sparrows
are kinds of birds;sharks, salmonand tuna are kinds of fish; and dogs, horses and
elephants are kinds of mammals. Aristotle and others also studied language and
classified words according to what they have in common. We usually use 8
categories or parts of speech to classify all the words we use in English. This
classification is not perfect. Sometimes it is hard to tell which category a word
belongs in. The same word may belong in different categories depending on how it
is used. There may be better ways to classify English than by using the 8 parts of
speech. But this classification has been used for a long time and many grammar
books use it, so it is easier to keep on using it. It is possible to speak or learn a
language without knowing the parts of speech, but for most of us, knowing about
parts of speech makes things easier.
Here is an example of how it can be helpful to know about the parts of speech. Look
at the sentence: The man surreptitiously entered the room. You probably don't
know the meaning of the word surreptitiously, but if you know about parts of
speech, you will recognize that it is an adverb and that it tells you something about
how the man entered the room. You may still not understand the exact meaning of
the word, but you can understand the whole sentence better than if you did not
know about parts of speech.
When you look up a word in a dictionary, you will find not only the meaning of the
word but also what part of speech it is. This information is very helpful in
understanding the full meaning of the word and knowing how to use it.
The 9 parts of speech that are used to describe English words are:
Nouns (Common Nouns and Proper Nouns)
Verbs
Adjectives
Adverbs
Pronouns
Prepositions
Conjunctions
Articles
Interjections
This set of lessons will teach you about each of the parts of speech and show how
they are different from each other. They will help you recognize which part of
speech each word in a sentence is and that will help you become a better reader.
Review this lesson as many times as you want.
Actividad de Lectura
Additional Reading
Parts of Speech
NOUNS Name a person, place, thing or idea.
Examples: teacher school desk book language recess
PROPER NOUNS Name a special person, place or thing.
Examples: Ms. Taylor Daniel Hunt Park September
Tuesday
PRONOUNS Take the place of a noun.
Examples: he she it her his they their we our
She called her mother
ADJECTIVES Are modifying words that describe a noun, such as size, color
and number.
Examples: small heavy yellow many new soft
The young boy rode his bike.
It has been a good day
ADVERBS We have seen that an adjective is a word that gives more
information about a noun or pronoun. An adverb is usually
defined as a word that gives more information about a verb, an
adjective or another adverb. Adverbs describe verbs,
adjectives and adverbs in terms of such qualities as time,
frequency and manner.
Examples:
In the sentence Sue runs fast, fast describes how or the
manner in which Sue runs.
In the sentence Sue runs very fast, very describes the adverb
fast and gives information about how fast Sue runs.
Most, but not all adverbs end in -ly as in But not all words that
end in -ly are adverbs (ugly is an adjective, supply and reply
can both be nouns or verbs). Many times an adjective can be
made into an adverb by adding -ly as in nicely, quickly,
completely, sincerely.
Adverbs of time tell when something happens and adverbs
of frequency tell how often something happens.
VERBS Show action or state of being.
Examples: see run read swim think watch sing
I walk to school. (present)
Sam drove the car. (past)
PREPOSITIONS Show how a noun or pronoun is related to another word in a
sentence. When used with a verb, it changes the meaning of the
verb.
Examples: in with from about to above on
The boy with curly hair ate lunch in the park
CONJUNCTIONS Join words, phrases and clauses together.
Examples: and as or so because however
Randy and Kim called because it was my birthday.
ARTICLES Three special words that can be used before a noun
Examples: a the
A bird flew in the tree
INTERJECTIONS State an exclamation or remark!
(Usually followed with an exclamation mark!)
Examples: Ouch! Hooray! Oh! Yes! Wow!
Activity 1: Choose the best option. Do not check before
you answer each question.
Question
1) Which does not belong with the others?
Answers
Option 1
September
Option 2
March
Option 3
Wednesday
Option 4
October
Feedback
Question
2) Which does not belong with the others?
Answers
Option 1
apple
Option 2
cherry
Option 3
peach
Option 4
lettuce
Feedback
Question
3) Which does not belong with the others?
Answers
Option 1
car
Option 2
radio
Option 3
train
Option 4
airplane
Feedback
Question
4) Which does not belong with the others?
Answers
Option 1
woman
Option 2
mother
Option 3
daughter
Option 4
aunt
Feedback
Question
5) Which does not belong with the others?
Answers
Option 1
adjective
Option 2
article
Option 3
category
Option 4
pronoun
Feedback
Question
6) Which is not a part of speech?
Answers
Option 1
conjunction
Option 2
classification
Option 3
noun
Option 4
preposition
Feedback
Question
7) Which word means to put into categories?
Answers
Option 1
belong
Option 2
explain
Option 3
classify
Option 4
name
Feedback
Question
8) Which of the following is the name of the category that the other words belong
to?
Answers
Option 1
philosophy
Option 2
subject
Option 3
history
Option 4
math
Feedback
Question
9) Which is a part of speech?
Answers
Option 1
subject
Option 2
clause
Option 3
object
Option 4
preposition
Feedback
Question
10) Which is not a noun?
Answers
Option 1
yellow
Option 2
face
Option 3
Colorado
Option 4
notebook
Activity 2
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
When you select your option, it will take you to another
site to give you feedback
Identify the part of speech of the highlighted word in each of the
following sentences:
The clown chased a dog around the ring Cloze (1):
and then fell flat on her face.
The geese indolently Cloze (2):
waddled across the intersection.
Yikes! Cloze (3):
I'm late for class.
Bruno's shabby Cloze (4):
thesaurus tumbled out of the book bag when the bus suddenly pulled out into
traffic.
Later that summer, she asked herself, "What was I Cloze (5):
thinking of?"
They wondered if there truly was honour among Cloze (6):
thieves.
She thought that the twenty zucchini plants would not be Cloze (7):
enough so she planted another ten.
Cloze (8):
Although
she gave hundreds of zucchini away, the enormous mound left over frightened
her.