9 New English Words You Should Learn to Use

Over 1000 new English words are introduced annually and this edition of grammar study brings you, nine new English words and how to use them in sentences.


Here's a chance to improve your vocabulary.

Are you ready ?

Let's go!

9 New English Words You Should Learn To Use

1. Drool-worthy

Definition

Extremely attractive or desirable

Sentence Usage

• He is drool-worthy
• The company's drool-worthy website was hacked.
• Jane's drool-worthy appearance won her the contest.

2.Illiterati

Definition

People who are not well educated or well informed about a particular subject or activity.

Sentence Usage

• A member of the computer illiterati prepared the dish.
• He encouraged the growth of the blossoming illiterati
• Welcome to the world of the illiterati!

3.Infomania

Definition

The desire or enthusiasm to check for or accumulate news and information typically through a mobile phone or computer.

Sentence Usage

• Infomania keeps you abreast with latest trends on social media.
• The rise in infomania could reduce workers sharpness
• Web workers may be more familiar with infomania

4.Locavore

Definition

A person interested in eating locally produced food, whenever possible.

Sentence Usage

• Locavore eateries are everywhere.
• The farmer is a locavore.

5. Freegan

Definition

A person who seeks to help the environment by reducing waste, especially by retrieving and using discarded foods or goods.

Sentence Usage

• The freegan gathered all leftover food at the end of the party.
• Jesus was a freegan.

6.Screenager

Definition

A person in their teens or twenties who has a knack for computers and the internet.

Sentence Usage

• He has been working online since he was a screenager.
• The hack was attributed to a screenager

7.Chillax

Definition

To calm down and relax (coined from 'chill-out' & 'relax')

Sentence Usage

• Brother, chillax with some cool music.
• Stop stressing and chillax.

8.Voluntourism

Definition

Describing people who volunteer overseas for a charity with the actual motivation of visiting foreign places.

Sentence Usage

• I longed to visit America, so I thought voluntourism would do the trick.

9.Hangry

Definition

Bad temper or irritation caused by hunger.

Sentence Usage

• I'm starting to feel really hangry

Now, you can work on incorporating these new English words into your vocabulary.

Grammar Test

Write a sentence in the comments section featuring at least four new English words

Also, Read - Six English Words You Should Learn To Use Properly

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Grammar Study - Idiomatic Expressions

Idioms are phrases which have a deeper meaning than the surface meaning.
In other words, idioms are group of words that convey extended meanings apart from the individual word meanings.

The interesting thing about idioms are that they vary in different languages and often times sound ridiculous with it's explanation.

Learning the idioms of the English language can be very interesting and enlightening!

Here's an example of an idiomatic expression.

To Carry The Day

'The day' of course can never be literally carried therefore the phrase above clearly denotes something else - being victorious.

40 Idiomatic Expressions and Their Meanings

1. Behind closed doors - Without any publicity ; in secret
2. To do away with - To get rid of
3. To get even with someone - To get revenge upon 
4. To take heart - To have courage
5. To read between the lines - To work out meaning not immediately
6. To hold one's tongue - To keep silent for a moment
7. To pull the wool over one's eye - To deceive someone
8. To sleep over an issue - To think over an issue
9. To cry over spilled milk - To grieve over a situation that cannot be corrected
10. To know one's onions - To be an expert at a particular job
11. To smell a rat - To become suspicious
12. To build castles in the air - To think of an impossible task
13. To find one's feet at something - To become used to.
14. Starting something on the wrong feet - To make an initial mistake
15. To be at logger head with - To have a serious disagreement with someone
16. Coming out with flying colors - To perform very well
17. To lead a cat and dog life - To quarrel frequently with someone
18. To face the music - To bear the consequences of one's action
19. To be pushed to the walls - To reach the limits of what one can endure
20. Running away with tails between the legs - To leave a place completely defeated.
21. To raise one's eyebrows - To show surprise
22. To play to the gallery - Trying to win cheap applause or praises.
23. To give someone a wide berth - To keep far away from someone
24. To beat about the bush - To approach a matter in an indirect way
25. To tighten one's belt - To try to spend less money
26. Caught red-handed - To be caught in the very act of doing something - esp something wrong
27. To see eye with somebody - To agree totally with someone's idea or view
28. To be up to date - To have the latest information
29. To make ends meet - To try one's best to survive
30. To get away with an action - To go unpunished after committing an offence
31. To blow your trumpet - To praise your actions 
32. To happen once in a blue moon - A rare occurence
33. To eat one's words - To deny saying something
34. To fall out with someone - To have a misunderstanding with someone
35. To borrow a leaf from someone - To learn something good from someone
36. To fight tooth and nail - To struggle very hard to achieve something
37. To rise to the occasion - To handle an emergency situation well
38. To be in the same both - To be in the same situation as another person
39. Raining cat and dogs - To rain heavily
40. To leave no stone unturned - To do everything possible under a particular situation.

Conclusion

Use of idiomatic expressions in speech and writing is used to measure to what extent you understand a particular language.

As an English scholar, you should get to know and use this idioms as it improves your vocabulary. Surf the web for more of it!

Exercise

Write 20 English Idiomatic Expressions

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Grammar Study - Consonant Clusters

• Definition of consonant clusters
• Positions of consonant clusters
• Exercises

A consonant is a speech sound produced as a result of an obstruction of the free flow of air from the lungs.

For consonant letters, they include every other letters of the alphabets other than A,E ,I, O,U (verbs).

In the study of consonant clusters , however , great attention is paid to the sound of the clustering consonants.

Consonant clusters refers to the occurrence of two or more consonant sounds in a word without the interference of a vowel. In this case, every vowel sound in the said word is found either before or after the clusters.

Consonant clusters are also called consonant blends.

POSITIONS OF CONSONANT CLUSTERS

There are basically three positions of consonant clusters

Initial Clusters

This is observed  when the consonants cluster at the beginning of the word.

It may be a combo of 2-3 consonant sounds

Examples of initial two consonant clusters

Slay
Speak
Fry
Dwarf
Dress
Skate
Fly


Examples of initial three consonant clusters

Splash
Strong

Medial Clusters

Clusters in this category are noticed in the middle of words.

Examples of words with medial clusters 

Kidnap
Casket
Pregnant
Basket
Comfort

Final Clusters 

This is noted when consonants cluster at the end of the words.

Examples of words with final clusters

Crust
Mask
Porch
Cost
Lurk

Sentences Where Clusters Take A Prominent Role

1.It is best to ask for help, if the task is too hard.
2.Most adults find it difficult to ask for help.
3.The president wore a mask to the camp at dusk.
4.He drank from the swamp at the end of the park. 

Exercises

1.List ten words to show the
-Initial clusters
-Medial clusters
-Final clusters.

2.Put down three sentences with at least two consonant clusters.

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Grammar Study - Collocation

     
This week's grammar study provides a run through on - Collocation


A collocation is a union of two or more words that are used together or combined regularly.
In a way, the words are more suitably used side by side than apart from each other.

To understand what we actually mean by collocation

Consider two words, 'thick' and 'dense'

We might form phrases like, 

• Thick forest or Dense forest
• Thick fog or Dense fog
• Thick smoke or Dense smoke

On the other hand, we can never say 'dense hair" rather we say 'thick hair'

Therefore 'thick' collocates or combines perfectly with hair rather than 'dense'

Also consider

Two other words 'sharp' and 'acute'

We might form phrases like

'sharp' pain or 'acute' pain

But we cannot say
'acute knife' rather we make use of 'sharp knife'

This means that 'sharp' collocates with 'knife'  more than 'acute'

         

EXAMPLES OF COLLOCATION

Verb Collocations

This is usually the most common form of collocation used in everyday situations.
It's a combo of a verb + noun

Examples of  Verb Collocations

1.Feel free to take a seat and enjoy the event.
2.Turn (off/on) the computer after use.
3.We are making rapid progress on the project.

Adjective Collocations

This collocation form is seen in sentences where an adjective precedes a noun.

Examples Of Adjective Collocation

1.He fell in a deep sleep after the party.

2.John is a heavy smoker

3. I bet you will get into deep trouble by following his advice.

Expression Collocations

This refers to the use of collocates to express how a person feels about an ongoing situation.

Examples of Expression Collocation

1.I deeply regret the loss of my most priceless asset.

2.I was positively encouraged by his remarks.

3.I did that in utter fury.

Business Collocations

These are collocates used more frequently in during business engagements.

Examples Of Business Collocations

1.We just sealed a contract worth millions of Naira.

2.I wouldn't spend my hard earned money on a fruitless mission.

3.He paid us with counterfeit money.

So we are done!

Test your abilities on collocations

Identify collocations in the following sentences

1.His poor performances resulted in strong criticism.

2.He is being held in high esteem by the fans

3. No one loves someone with low self esteem.

4.The teacher has an awe-inspiring personality.

5.Mark was greatly disappointed by his fiancee.


Share to your friends to test their abilities and spread word about Innovative Future.

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5 Steps To Improve Your Vocabulary And Speak Correct English

As John walked out of the interviewer's office, he was full of confidence that he has done just enough to land his dream job.
Even when the interviewer went about twisting words and using synonyms rather than commonly used words, he had a clear understanding and supplied satisfying answers without messing up with his use of English.

Just before he got home, he got a call from the director of the company, confirming that he has been hired.

From John's story, we discover that his strong base of words (vocabulary) had helped him win the heart of his new employer.
You may not need to improve your vocabulary to help you get a new job, but knowing a lot of words and how to use it in sentences both in speaking and writing is a huge bonus to you as a student.

Why You Need To Improve Your Vocabulary 

• You can find your way around twisted and difficult exam questions.
• Your writing skills are improved.
• Your English public speaking skills are improved.
• You grow confidence
• You earn some plaudits from your peers and teachers.

That's a five in one piece!

Now you know why you need to improve your vocabulary ,the rest of this post outlines important steps to improving your vocabulary,so you can speak correct English.

1.Embrace the Course 

Specialty in use of English words would take some time to achieve especially when your environment does not foster it.
In some cases, we can say it comes close to being the only fish in a pond.

You must include it in the list of things you'll work on and not just as something to do when you have a free time. That way, you make getting acquainted with the water a priority.

2.Study The Dictionary 

A clear definition, pronunciation and sentence application of any word is found in the word bank,making it the ideal vocabulary book. Make the dictionary your friend.

Schedule time each week to acquaint yourself with at least ten new words and try to include these words in your sentences for the next week.

Get a pocket sized English dictionary or install one on your mobile, so you can get access to it at any time.

3.Speak English As Often As You Can 

Not in the manner of a talkative but in the manner of practicing new words.

At every opportunity, endeavor to employ those words you're working on rather than those you're conversant with.

Do you know any perfect person,anywhere in the world? Obviously 'No'. Then, do not bother yourself with what people would say or think, the right set of people will offer correction when you make a mistake.

Also Read : How To Spend Your Free Time At School

4.Read A Lot Of Books 

This exposes you to different writers choice of words which you can in turn use to build your vocabulary.

You could spend time going through news paper editorials, school debates, blog posts and other books with high grammatical content.
Write out each new word you come across and check them out in the dictionary afterwards.

5.Play Word Puzzle Games

If you do not always like to read, then this method of improving your vocabulary will be suitable for you.

You can catch some fun while getting acquainted with new words. Write down new words as you unscramble them on the word game, while you can look up the meanings and sentence application at a later time.

Conclusion

It will eventually take some time before you can build a strong word base and speak correct English, but just like every other activity, constant practice is the key to getting better.


Go! go! go!

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5 Steps To Improve Your Vocabulary And Speak Correct English

As John walked out of the interviewer's office, he was full of confidence that he has done just enough to land his dream job.

Read More »