Learn common prefixes
- anti- (against): antidote, antisocial
- bene- (good): benefit, benevolent
- mal- (bad): malfunction, malnutrition
- pre- (before) and post- (after): prepare, postpone
- sub- (under): submarine, subordinate
- trans- (across): transport, transfer
Learn common roots
- dict (say): dictate, predict, contradict
- port (carry): transport, import, portable
- scrib or script (write): describe, manuscript
- spect (look): inspect, spectator
- vert or vers (turn): convert, reverse
Common endings
Endings often show the part of speech. “-tion” and “-ness” usually make nouns, “-ly” usually makes adverbs and “-able” means “can be done,” as in “readable.” “-less” means “without,” as in “careless.”
Use context clues
When you meet a new word, look at the sentence around it. There is often a hint, such as a contrast (“Although he was frugal, his brother spent freely”) or an example. Guess the meaning, then check it.
A simple daily routine
- Learn three to five new words a day and write one sentence for each.
- Review the words from the past week every Sunday.
- Read one English news article or editorial every day and note unfamiliar words.
- Practice synonym and antonym items in our free Verbal Ability reviewer.