Thursday, 17 May 2018
Tuesday, 15 May 2018
Eleven important figures of speech used in English
Figures of speech are used to create different effects in the English language, they usually emphasise a point or help an audience to visualise something.
Words and phrases are used out of their literal contexts to create different,heightened effects.When a person is "starving" , for example, that person is unlikely to be dying of hunger; rather, he or she is simply hungry.
Let's learn some of the figures of speech
Words and phrases are used out of their literal contexts to create different,heightened effects.When a person is "starving" , for example, that person is unlikely to be dying of hunger; rather, he or she is simply hungry.
Let's learn some of the figures of speech
Alliteration
The same letter or sound is used at the start of multiple words Cathy cleverly combined cold coffee cake and kiwi fruit.
Simile
The words like one as are used to compare two things.
She is as plump as a pumpkin ,but she moves like a deer.
Metaphor
One thing is described as being a different thing, resulting in a comparison between the two.
Her cheeks are sun-blushed apples.
Euphemism
A mild word or phrase is substituted for a word or phrase that might cause offence.
She has ample proportions.(She is overweight).
Pun
Also known as word play, the multiple meanings of a word are used to create humour.
She gave me her measurements as a round figure.
Hyperbole
A statement is grossly exaggerated.
She said she could eat an elephant.
Personification
An object or animal is given human qualities.
Oxymoron
Two terms are used together that contradict each other.
The moon looked terribly beautiful.
Onomatopoeia
A word is used that mimics the sound of what it stands for.
She burped noisily.
Anaphora
A word or phrase is repeated at the start of successive clauses for emphasis.
She ate the cake;she ate the apple;she ate the pie.
Irony
One thing is said but the opposite thing is meant,usually for humour or emphasis.
I admired her sense of dressing.(She was not well dressed).
Wednesday, 9 May 2018
Let's know these words better
Usage of certain words makes us pause for a minute. Some words in English language sound alike but are totally different in meanings. This creates confusion in our minds, the wrong usage of words in a context often leave us in embarrassment.
So let's check out a few of them
1. accessory - a helper, contributing to a crime.
accessory - a supplementary part, or object
2. accomplish - finish, successfully; complete
accomplice - a companion, a partner in crime
3. advert - turn attention to, refer
avert - turn away, prevent.
4. bait - food kept on a hook, to attract fish.
bate - lessen, reduce, become less.
5. banish - drive away, exile.
burnish - make bright, by rubbing polish.
6. bean - a seed in a long pod.
been - the past participle of 'be'
I have been to London.
7. beer - an alcoholic drink
bier - a coffin, along with its stand.
8. bell - hollow metal vessel, to give a ringing sound.
belle - beautiful girl, or a woman.
9.breach - a break, an opening, breaking of the rule.
breech - the lower part of the body.
10. Canon - a law, or rule of the church.
Cannon - a large gun
11.cease - stop, discontinue, to desist from
Seize - catch, grasp, lay hold off.
12. commensurate - adequate, in proportion, equal in size.
Commiserate - to pity, sympathise, to condole.
13. defy - to dare, to resist, refusing to obey.
deify - to worship, as a God.
14. demur - raise objections.
demure - shy and modest.quiet and serious, reserved.
15.dearth - shortage,lack, scarcity
death - end of life, dying.
* keep viewing my blog for more such words.Tuesday, 1 May 2018
Find out more about Prepositions
The usage of prepositions ,along with other words, are illustrated as follows:
1. abhorrent hateful,shocking,horrible, remote in character.
abhorrent to - Noise is abhorrent to her feelings.
2. abide - reside, endure or be faithful to
3. abide by - I hope you will abide by the rules and regulations.
abide at (a place) - Do you abide at this place?
abide with (someone) - She abides with her sister.
4. abounding - containing plenty.
abounding in: It is a shop, abounding with books.
5. access - way to a place
access to - The staircase is the only access to the attic.
6. abounding with - English is a language ,abounding with idiomatic forms of expressions.
7. accede - agree, assent, to come forward.
accede to - He acceded, to the throne.
8. accountable - responsible ,answerable
9. accountable to - (person) He is accountable to me, for his actions.
10. accrue - add to, grow from, arise come
accrue to - Many benefits will accrue to him, if he works sincerely.
* More usages of prepositions to follow ...Keep watching my additions on this topic.
1. bare - uncovered
bare of - That valley, is bare of trees.
2. bent - natural skill, inclination, determined to do.
bent on - He is bent on ,mastering the subject.
3. blended - combined or mixed together
blended with - The rainbow is blended with several colors.
4. bred - trained, educated, brought up
bred in - what is bred in, will come out.
bred up - He has not been bred up as a carpenter.
5. busy - occupied
busy at - They were busy at, tidying the room.
busy in - He is busy in washing, his clothes.
busy with - He was busy with, his work.
busy over - She was busy over, her school work.
Monday, 23 April 2018
KNOW THESE INTERESTING FACTS
Some of the most interesting facts of English language
The word "go" is the shortest grammatically correct sentence in English.
The most common words in English language are "I "and "You".
The most common adjective in English used is good.
The words month, orange, silver and purple do not rhyme with any other word.
"Goodbye " originally came from the old English phrase" God be with you."
Oxyphenbutazone is the highest scoring word in the game of scrabble.
aegilops is the longest word with its letters in alphabetical order. It is a type of a plant.
Twyndyllyng is the longest word without any vowel.
The words abstemious has all the vowels in alphabetical order. Other words are absentious, aerious, arsenious and facetious.
Fact of numbers - if you were to write out every number in order as words(one,two,three....) the letter b will not be used until you reach one billion.
Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number 13.
Paraskevidekatria phobia is the fear of Friday the 13th.It is also known as friggatriskaidekaphobia.
The year 2018 will have two fridays falling on 13th.one was 13th April. The next 13th July.
Wednesday, 18 April 2018
Friday, 13 April 2018
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