Raise Your English Level with More Vocabulary

Let’s look at two English learners. One knows about 500 words and understands how they are used in a sentence. The other knows about 1,000 words but has some problems with grammar.

Which person can understand and communicate more in English?

Clearly, it is the person who knows 1,000 words.

Some studies have shown that for learners to fully understand a written work, they need to know 95 percent or more of the words in it. That means that if there are only five or more words you do not know in a 100-word text, you might not really understand it!

In today’s program, we will give you some advice for building up your vocabulary. “Vocabulary” can mean a single word, two words such as phrasal verbs, or many words together, such as an expression.

Two important things

There are two important things to keep in mind when trying to learn new vocabulary.

First, connect new words to a story or a situation. This makes it easier to remember vocabulary than studying words from lists.

Second, be active, not passive. Make yourself use the new words.

Here are some ways to do that:

More learning tips

Noun: There is no hope of success. Verb: I hope we win the game. Adjective: The situation is hopeless. Adverb: Hopefully, we will win the game.

Most of all, remember to be active instead of passive. Make yourself think and use new words. And you will see your vocabulary grow day by day!

I'm Andrew Smith. And I'm Dorothy Gundy.

Andrew Smith wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English.

active -adj. characterized by taking action and doing something instead of letting things happen

passive -adj. characterized by lack of activity or letting things happen instead of taking action oneself

unit -n. a single, complete thing

positive -adj. having good and/or hopeful effects

negative – adj. having harmful or undesirable effects

formal – adj. serious and official

informal – adj. relaxed and casual, as with friends; not formal

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