English Basics

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English Basics
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Synonyms
Synonyms are words that have the same or similar meanings.

Note the highlighted word in each selection. Underline its synonym. The first
one has been done for you.

1. This law is far from perfect. We need to change parts of

it to make it fair. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to amend a
law.
2. That woman’s remarks are always rude! Why can’t she
keep her comments to herself?
3. Don’t expend too much energy on that game or you
won’t have enough left to use on homework.
4. You shouldn’t make a big deal about Sam’s errors when
you haven’t even corrected your own mistakes!
5. I’ll create a new account for you if you make a list of
features you want it to have.
6. Carefully observe the behavior of John’s sister Ashley. If
you study her actions, you’ll understand why John says
she’s weird.
7. Jordan is a very smart girl. She’s intelligent enough to
solve puzzles that some adults can’t handle.
8. The smell of your shoes is a most unpleasant odor.
9. The smell of that flower is a very pleasant fragrance.

Nouns as Adjectives
Sometimes words that are usually nouns can function as adjectives. This happens
when the “noun” is used to define a noun. Underline the adjective in each sentence
that is often a noun. The first one is done for you.

1. Karen always wipes her runny nose with paper towels.

2. Teasing a junkyard dog is a bad idea.
3. An intelligent person will never put his head into an
empty pickle jar.
4. I hear that apple juice is a healthy drink.
5. Troy would like an onion sandwich with a touch of
mustard.
6. Remind Kurt to stop eating cat food!
7. That’s what you get for using a glue stick as lipstick!
8. The chubby little frog refused to try the new beef diet.
9. Yes, there are automobile dealers you can trust.

English Basics, Vol 8, No. 1, September 25, 2002 http://rhlschool.com Copyright 2002 RHL

The Real Verb

Sometimes the same word can be a noun, verb, or adjective, depending on how that
word is used. Note the two underlined words in each selection and draw a ring around
the verb.

1. Did I dream about you? It was more like a nightmare

than a dream!
2. The spy decided that he would never poison himself. In
spite of that decision, he continued to carry a poison pill in
his shoe.
3. I can’t cover the pot until I find the cover!
4. Sam knew what question to ask first when it was his turn
to question the suspect.
5. My old pickup truck is big enough to truck all the parts
to the site in one trip.
6. Do you plan to sell your soap flavored health drink at a
discount to members of the company’s health plan?
7. Did someone use dye to color this yellow paper or did it
actually yellow with age?

The Real Noun

Sometimes the same word can be a noun, verb, or adjective, depending on how that
word is used. Note the two underlined words in each sentence and draw a ring around
the noun.

1. Please don’t use too much water when you water the
lawn.
2. I’d say that there is a remote chance of finding the
remote under the couch.
3. Is it a good trade when you trade your new shoes for a
warm ice cream cone?
4. The drains get plugged every time Alfred drains the
pools.
5. We can’t delay the trip any longer; it will be cancelled if
there is any further delay.
6. We’ll treasure our memories of the quest even though we
never found any buried treasure.
7. We must hire a brave and intelligent guard to
successfully guard my priceless toenail collection!

Thanksgiving Analogies
 Complete each analogy by writing the best word in the blank. You may use a
dictionary.

1. Deer is to venison as turkey is to _______________.

bird meat turkey hunt

2. Christmas is to December as Thanksgiving is to _______________.

month date celebrate November

3. Apollo 11 is to space as Mayflower is to _______________.

New World ocean west settle

4. Apollo 11 is to Moon as Mayflower is to _______________.

New World ocean west settle

5. Birthday is to birth as Thanksgiving is to _______________.

celebrate celebration winter harvest

6. Corn is to field as cranberries is to _______________.

can red jellied bog

7. Columbus is to 1492 as Pilgrims is to _______________.

1493 1620 1776 1957

More Halloween Analogies

Complete each analogy by writing the best word in the blank. You may use a
dictionary.

1. Building is to frame as body is to _______________.

skin muscles form skeleton

2. Costume is to disguise as ghost is to _______________.

haunt sheet mask spirit

3. Foot is to boot as face is to _______________.

frown mouth look mask

4. Apples is to orchard as pumpkins is to _______________.

carve patch orange face

5. Bad is to worse as spooky is to _______________.

ghosty scary spookier cookie

6. He is to his as Halloween is to _______________.

her holiday Halloweens Halloween's

7. Valentine's Day is to winter as Halloween is to _______________.

spring summer autumn winter

English Basics, Vol.6, No. 2, October 26, 2001 http://rhlschool.com Copyright 2001 RHL

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