Vocabulary: what do you need to know about a word?	

1 	syntax
	These words all have a similar basic meaning but the syntax is different. How?
	Make a simple sentence using each and describe the differences.
	say	tell

2	collocation
	Collocation is 'the regular use of some words and phrases with others, especially in a way 	which 	is difficult to guess' (Cambridge Advanced Learners' Dictionary Online)

	Which of the following are used with do and which with make?
a mess	   a mistake	   the housework	 the beds              damage	                
a noise    a wish	   a test	         a promise            someone a favour	
a job	                  your best	        a speech
the shopping	           a telephone call		

	Some more questions on collocation
	The opposite of strong tea is weak tea. 
	What is the opposite of strong cigarettes, a strong wind, a strong smell?
	What is the usual way of describing someone who smokes a lot?
		a big smoker
    		a strong smoker
   		a hard smoker
   		a heavy smoker

3	connotation
	What, if any, are the differences between the following groups of words?

	curious, interested, inquisitive,  nosy
	literate, well-read, bookish
	spontaneous, impulsive
	dream, dreamer, visionary

4	register
 	I regret to inform you that I will be absent tomorrow.
	Sorry, I won't be here tomorrow.
	I'm afraid I will be away tomorrow.
	
	I would like to introduce you to my colleague, David.
	This is David – he works with me.

	What is your job nature?
	What does your job involve?

	I'd like to be perfectly clear about this.  Are you suggesting we should change suppliers?
	Let's get this straight. Are you saying we should change suppliers?

Keeping a vocabulary notebook	

Word

stressed out 
	Part of speech
 
adjective	Word family

stress 
stressful	Pronunciation

[strest-out]	
Register

Spoken
Informal	Collocation

	Connotation	Translation	
Definition
worried and nervous
affected by stress	
Examples

I was really stressed out before the exam.
I’ve been really stressed out at work recently.
She realized she’d become a stressed-out workaholic	
Notes
There's not much difference between the adjective 'stressed' and 'stressed out' in meaning.
'Stressed out' is less formal.	

Word

satisfactory 
	Part of speech
 
adjective	Word family
unsatisfactory
satisfy
satisfaction
satisfied / satisfying	Pronunciation

Register

spoken / written
neutral - formal

	Collocation

wholly ~
highly ~
generally ~
~ performance
~ explanation
~ solution	Connotation	Translation	
Definition
good or good enough for a particular need or purpose
good enough to be accepted in a particular situation	
Examples
The teachers seem to think his work is satisfactory.
We hope very much to find a satisfactory solution to the problem.
The result of the match was highly satisfactory.	
Notes
Has a more positive meaning when used with  highly / wholly