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Dictionary Work: Key 10th Grade/Level 6 2014/15

A-Dictionaries can help you in many ways. Each entry gives you information about the Word, its pronunciation, its part of speech, its usage and the way it can be transformed to form a new word.

1-What do the following common abbreviations in dictionaries refer to?

noun adverb (C) Countable sl slang preposition (U) Uncountable Ame American English sing singular usually v/ vb Verb s/subj Subject fml formal & and Esp especially Sbdy somebody conjunction adjective o/obj Object Bre British English plural pronoun eg example sthg something 2- Read these sentences. The word in bold has many different meanings. Using the context, identify which meaning is being used, from all those listed in the dictionary entries reproduced below. 2.1- I was carrying three bags full of groceries and the dog. Fortunately my next door neighbour stopped and gave me a hand.

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2.2-The minister said that schools were going to give high priority to the teaching of Maths.

2.3-Where did you put the newspaper? I want to see what’s playing at the local cinema this weekend.

2.4-That girl is the sole survivor of the train accident.

3-Phrasal verbs should be looked up after the explanation of the main verb and appear in alphabetic

order. These verbs are a combination of verb + preposition or verb + adverb particle.

3.1-Underline the phrasal verbs used in the following jokes and look up for their meaning in the

dictionary.

a- What he lacks in intelligence, he makes up for in stupidity. b- My son has taken up meditation – at least it’s better than sitting doing nothing. c- Did you hear about the secretary who was a miracle? – It was a miracle if she turned up to work on time. d- Do you think my daughter should take up the piano as a career? – No, I think she should put down the lid as a favour.

Margarida Ribeiro