Vocabulary Guide

To help you build up your vocabulary we have organised these pages using a thematic approach and used lots and lots of pictures, words and sounds.

How to use these pages:-

Beginners: Start with the basic vocabulary sections and learn the words at the beginning of each theme. Do the tests. Search for different images on Google Images and make a collection of links for each word. Review the words regularly.
Intermediate Learners: Make sure you know the words at the beginning of each theme. Study the build-up section and dialogues at the end of each section. Do the games and tests. Make up your own dialogues (you can share them with us on the forum, and we will correct them). Go to the expanded themes page.
Advanced Learners: You should know all the words at the beginning of each theme, be able to understand the build-up section and dialogues at the end of each section. Comfortably read the culture section. Write your own guide to the culture in your country for each theme (you can share it with us on the forum, and we will correct them).

The words associated with the picture are shown, with their plural form in brackets. When you see (s) on the end of a word it means add an 's' to form the plural.

!Tip - Say each word out loud. Think about when and where you come across these things in your daily life.

Once you are confident with your understanding of the vocabulary check out the games and tests for that section.

Often nouns describe a group of nouns. We call these collective nouns.

For example:-

cutlery = implements used for eating, such as knives, forks and spoons

When we introduce nouns that fall into this category there will be a button called "Collective Noun" at the end of such a group, click on the button and a window pops up showing the collective noun for that group of nouns. Say the word out loud and click on OK to close the dialog box. Try it now!

Example:-

knife(knives)fork(s)spoon(s)

You can listen to the pronunciation of each word along. Just double click on the text and you can choose to hear the American or British pronunciation. A list of all the words is also included in the useful vocabulary section on our pronunciation pages, click on the speaker symbol at the bottom of each Useful Vocabulary section.

The main irregular verb for each section is covered in more depth. For example under the 'Eating' theme the main verb is 'to eat'. This verb is then shown in all its tenses using a timeline and associated verbs are shown under the verbs about eating section.

When applicable we have included a section on British culture. This section is suitable only for advanced learners and may discuss anything from etiquette to the history of the subject in question.

To expand your vocabulary more check out our recommended vocabulary books.