Summary of Comprehensive English Vocabulary Resource
Comprehensive English Vocabulary Resource: Master Key Terms
Introduction
Vocabulary is a key academic skill that helps you understand texts, express ideas precisely, and communicate confidently. This guide organises useful lexical items, collocations, expressions, and word-formation patterns to help university students expand receptive and productive vocabulary for academic and everyday contexts.
Vocabulary: the set of words and fixed expressions a person knows and uses, including collocations and word-formation patterns.
1. Collocations and Common Expressions
Collocations are words that frequently occur together. Learning them helps your speech and writing sound natural.
Make + noun/verb
- make an impression — be remembered
- make an effort — try hard
- make way — move aside
- make inquiries — ask for information
- make time — find time for something
Tip: Collocations often have habitual partners (e.g., make an effort, not do an effort).
Table: Examples and opposites/matches
| Expression | Meaning | Example / Match |
|---|---|---|
| make an impression | be remembered | You don’t remember meeting him at all. |
| make an effort | try hard | Jed couldn’t be bothered to try. |
| make way | move aside | The trail was blocked. |
| make inquiries | ask for information | No one ever asked us. |
| make time | find time for something | She’s busy with her other friends now. |
Expressions with DO
- have a do — have a party/event
- make do — manage with little
- it just won’t do — unacceptable
- won’t do any harm — not dangerous/bad
- do someone a favour — help someone
Examples: They had a big do after graduation. We made do without Wi‑Fi.
Phrases with WITHIN
- within sight — visible/close
- within reach — possible to get
- within reason — sensible limits
- within the hour — before one hour passes
- within your means — affordable
Practical use: When planning budgets or deadlines, pair these phrases with clear metrics: "Complete the draft within the hour" or "Stay within your means when renting."
2. Word Families, Prefixes and Suffixes
Understanding morphological patterns helps you form and recognise related words.
Word family: a group of words derived from the same base (e.g., think, thought, thoughtful).
Suffix -ful / negative prefix un-
- -ful = full of / having the quality of: harm → harmful (harmful to your health)
- un- = not / opposite of: enviable → unenviable (an unenviable task)
Table: Examples
| Base | With -ful / with un- | Example collocation |
|---|---|---|
| harm | harmful | harmful to your health |
| bear | unbearable | unbearable pain |
| mistaken | unmistakable | an unmistakable smell |
| justification | unjustified | unjustified criticism |
| precedent | unprecedented | unprecedented growth |
| doubt | undoubted | an undoubted success |
Common suffix patterns in use
- employ → employment (employment opportunities)
- helpful → helpful advice
- tact → tactful (a tactful response)
- respectful → respectful behaviour
- doubtful → a doubtful result
3. Adjectives of Size and Degree
Size adjectives are common in descriptions and comparisons. Learn typical collocations to use them correctly.
Table: Adjectives and collocations
| Adjective | Meaning | Common collocations |
|---|---|---|
| miniature | tiny copy/model | miniature car, miniature village |
| tiny | very small | tiny room, tiny insect |
| sizeable | fairly large | sizeable profit, sizeable house |
| vast | enormous | vast ocean, vast knowledge |
| minute | extremely tiny | minute detail, minute particles |
| substantial | large/signific |
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Advanced Vocabulary Essentials
Klíčové pojmy: Learn collocations (word partnerships) for natural speech, Memorise word families using prefixes like un- and suffixes like -ful, Use size adjectives with typical collocations (e.g., sizeable profit), Group verb phrases (give, put, bring, run) to remember meanings, Practice prepositional phrases (within, from, under, on) for precision, Replace vague words with fixed noun collocations (a matter of importance), Use idioms of feeling to convey emotion in informal language, Recognise onomatopoeic sounds to improve descriptive writing, Form sentences practising 8–10 items from the guide each week, Check collocation accuracy by comparing with example usages