GROUPS AND PAIRS OF WORDS

 Homonyms, Homophones & Homographs

 Phrases: Adjective phrases, Noun Phrases, and Adverb Phrases
 Compound Words
 Idioms
 Proverbs

Homonyms, Homophones & Homographs:

Homonyms: Homonyms are words that sound alike or are spelled alike. In a strict sense, a homonym is
a word that both sounds and is spelled the same as another word.

 Bank- where monetary transactions are done

Bank- side of a river
 Lie - not true
Lie- horizontal or resting position
 Train- mode of transport
Train- physical/mental exercise

Homophones: Words that are pronounced similarly but spelled differently.

 ad (advertisement) / add (increase)
 ate (past tense of eat) / eight (number 8)
 be (verb) / bee (the yellow/black flying animal)
 blew (past tense of blow) / blue (the colour)
 buy (purchasing) / by (proposition or adverb) / bye (farewell)
 cell (the small room where a prisoner is kept) / sell (hand over in exchange for money)
 hear (listening to something) / here (in, at, or to this place or position)
 hour (time) / our (something that belongs to you and others)
 its (belonging to or associated with a thing) / it’s (contraction of “it is”)
 know (knowing something) / no (opposite of yes)
 meet (getting together with someone) / meat (animal product as food)
 one (number 1) / won (past tense of win)
 their (belonging to or associated with people) / there (here or nearby) / they’re (contraction of
they are)
 theirs (belonging to or associated with people) / there’s (contraction of there is)
 to (motion or direction) / too (as well or in addition) / two (number 2)
 who’s (contraction of who is or who has) / whose (belonging to or associated with which person)
 your (belonging to or associated with which person) / you’re (contraction of you are)
 right, write
 peace, peace
 sail, sale
 weak, week
 hair, hare
 knew, new
 Homograph
The word homograph comes from the Greek word homos (=same) and grapho (=write). So, homographs
are written/spelled the same words but have different meanings. sometimes pronounced (how we say
words) differently. The pronunciation is often just a shift in the accented syllable.

Try to read the following words aloud when you look at their meaning. Even though they are
spelled the same, they sound different.
  compound
o COM-pound = to mix or combine
o Com-POUND = an enclosed area with a building or group of buildings inside
 Content
o Con-TENT = happy or satisfied
o CON-tent = all that is contained inside something
 Desert
o DE-sert = a hot, arid region
o DEs-ert = to leave
 Does
o DOSE = female deer (plural)/present
o Does = third person singular form of the verb “do”
 Evening
o Eaf-ning = late afternoon
o Even-ing = making more even
 Minute
o Min-ut = 60 seconds
o My-nute = extremely small
 Read
o Red = past tense of reading
o Reed = present tense of reading
 Present
o PRE-sent = at this moment or right now
o Pre-SENT = a gift
 Permit
o Per-MIT = Give permission
o PER-mit = Official document

Compound Words

In morphology, a compound word is made up of two or more words that express a single idea and function as
a single word and the meaning is completely different from the meaning of both individual words.
The most common types of compound words in English are compound nouns (e.g., cheeseburger), compound
adjectives ("red-hot temper"), and compound verbs ("waterproof the deck").
The rules for spelling compound words are not consistent. Some compound words are written as a single word
(eyeglasses), some as two (or more) hyphenated words (brother-in-law), and some as two (or more) separate
words (soccer stadium).

 Heads of Compound Words

"One part of a compound word is usually clearly its head, in a general way able to represent the meaning
of the whole compound. The heads of the various types of the compound word are [in capital letters] in
this list: bellBOY, spin-DRY, red HOT, inTO, and/OR. It can be seen that in English, the head of a compound
word is always the last element, on the right-hand end. (This is not true of compound words in all
languages, however.)"
Types of Compound Words:
 Open Compounds: When the modifying adjective is used with its noun to create a new noun. They
are spelled as 2 words. For example, ice cream, living room, dining table.
 Closed Compounds: These are usually made up of 2 independent, unique words joined to form a
single new word. For example, doorknob, notebook, fireman, bookstore.
 Hyphenated Compounds: Words that have a hyphen between two words. For example, long-term,
merry-go-round, mother-in-law.

Examples and Observations

 "As the car pulled into the parking lot, Kenny Dennard whipped a snowball right at the windshield."
 On Sunday afternoons in the summer, my grandfather and I enjoyed eating hot dogs at the ballpark.
 "While we were waiting for our food, I played with my chopsticks. They make excellent drumsticks. I
also told Dad all about this big baseball game we were going to play after school the next day."

 "He hid in a cave until the ship had left, only to find that his shipmates had taken pity on him, and
left him a barrel of biscuits and a fire, which he kept alight for months. A year later
a southbound ship stopped by."
 "A diary can take almost any form: written responses to a periodic e-mail reminder, a handwritten
notebook, a narrated video, or photos with written commentary."
 "In Aboriginal Australia all home building was do-it-yourself."
 "I became a shop steward immediately and a trustee in 1936. . . . I became the local's secretary-
treasurer in 1946."
 "On a hot day, nothing beats walking into a nice, cool, air-conditioned home. Unfortunately, running
your air conditioner is expensive and eats up energy."

Idioms

Idiom Definition: An idiom is a figure of speech established by usage that has a meaning not necessarily
deductible from those of the individual words. Idioms are a type of figurative language, which means they
are not always meant to be taken literally. Idioms express a particular sentiment, but they do not mean
what the individual words themselves mean.

An idiom is a saying that is specific to a language. For example, an idiom in English does not translate to an
idiom in Spanish.

Idiom Example
The grass is always greener on the other side.
This idiom does not mean that the “other side” will always have greener grass. There may not even be a
literal “other side” to the subject at hand—or grass for that matter.

Idioms Are Not Always Grammatical

Since idioms are born out of popular usage, they aren’t always logical, and they don’t always follow
traditional grammar patterns. This is because the phrase itself carries the meaning of the idiom, and not the
individual words in the phrase, regardless of each word’s grammatical function.

For example,

 This is a life-and-death situation.

Something that is life-and-death is extremely important, but that phrase itself is illogical. A situation can’t be -
life and death.
Similarly, a phrase like it’s not you, it’s me is technically ungrammatical.

Common English Idioms:

 Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 Meaning: What looks beautiful to one person may not look beautiful to another.
 Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
 Meaning: Do not count on something before it has come to be.
 No crying over spilled milk.
 Meaning: Do not be upset about something that cannot be changed. OR: Do not be upset
about something that is just a small matter.
 Curiosity killed the cat.
 Meaning: Being too curious or inquisitive can be dangerous.
 It’s raining cats and dogs.
 Meaning: There is a heavy downpour.
 Back to the drawing board.
 Meaning: Time to start over. We need to start from the beginning.
 The hay is in the barn.
 Meaning: The action is complete. It is finished.
 A penny for your thoughts.
 Meaning: What are you thinking?
 Beat around the bush.
 Meaning: Someone is avoiding the topic.
 You can’t judge a book by its cover.
 Meaning: Do not assume you know someone or something by how he or she appears.
 That costs an arm and a leg.
 Meaning: That is very expensive.

Idioms Are Not Complete Thoughts

As with any phrase, an idiom itself doesn’t create a complete sentence. They require additional context to give
them meaning.
For example,

 beat around the bush

This idiom is not a complete sentence. It’s the idea itself that is the idiom. One might make it into a complete
sentence by saying:

 Don’t beat around the bush.

-OR-

 He’s beating around the bush.

In summary, an idiom is:

 a figure of speech
 a phrase that should not be taken literally
 used to express a particular sentiment
 specific to a particular language, group, or region

Many Verbs, when followed by prepositions or adverbs acquire an idiomatic sense. For example,

 He backed up (supported) his friends.

 The present disturbances will soon blow over. (pass off).
 You should not build your hopes upon (rely upon) his promises.
 The matter has been cleared up (explained).
 I readily closed with his offer. (accepted)
 The fixed upon (chose) him to do the job.
 He is sticking out for (persisting in demanding) for a better offer.
 During her chronic sickness, she longed for( desired) death.

More Examples of Idioms

Here are some more examples of idioms:

 He was just a flash in the pan.

(The idiom a flash in the pan means something that shows potential at the start but fails
thereafter.)

 He is trying to be a good Samaritan.

 ("A good Samaritan" is a person who helps someone in need with no thought of a
reward.)

Does he have an ax to grind?

("To have an ax to grind" means to have a dispute with someone. )

 We should let sleeping dogs lie.

 ("To let sleeping dogs lie" means to avoid restarting a conflict.)

Thirty More Examples of Idioms

Here are thirty more examples of idioms with links to the pages explaining their origins. (The links open new
tabs.)

 as mad as a hatter  once the balloon has gone up

 back to square one  over the barrel
 bite the bullet  push the boat out
 bite off more than you can chew  raining cats and dogs
 chance your arm  skeletons in the cupboard
 a cock and bull story  spill the beans
 daylight robbery  strike while the iron is hot
 dead ringer  swing the lead
 feather in your cap  taken aback
 flash in the pan  to have someone over the barrel
 hoisted by your own petard  throw down the gauntlet
 if you scratch my back, I'll scratch  use your loaf
yours  to weep crocodile tears
 make money from old rope  whistle for it
 there's not enough room to swing a  whole nine yards (full nine yards)
cat  wolf in sheep's clothing

Antonyms and Synonyms:

Synonyms And Antonyms – Meanings

Before learning various words of synonyms and antonyms, let us first understand the meaning of both the words.

What is a Synonym?

A synonym is a word/phrase, the meaning of which is the same or nearly the same as another word or phrase. Words that are
synonyms are described as synonymous.
Synonym examples:

 Artful – Crafty
 Ballot – Poll
 Deceptive – Misleading
 Enormous – Immense

What is an Antonym?
An antonym is a word/phrase that means the opposite of another word or phrase. Check the examples.
Antonym examples:

 Admire – Detest  Crooked – Straight

 Bravery – Cowardice  Dainty – Clumsy
  Economise – Waste

Proverb
Meaning of Proverbs

A proverb is basically just an expression or saying based on common sense or experience. They are nothing but common and
traditional sayings which explain some truth. They are often metaphorical in nature. The origin of most common proverbs
generally lies in local or universal truths and principles. This is why it is easy to translate and use them in any language. In
other words, they have universal use regardless of their original language. This, in turn, makes their appeal and application
more direct. The main characteristic of a proverb is that it explains a truth or principle. This truth can be from diverse fields
like human experience, history, advice, etc. They can also be philosophical in many ways.

The origin of many proverbs lies in historical, religious and literary texts. Many others have no known origin and arise from
common sayings in local languages.

Famous Proverbs and their Meanings

The following are some common English proverbs along with their meanings:
1) Birds of the same feather flock together – people with common characteristics always end up together.
2) He who plays the piper calls the tune – when one has to act according to a superior’s wishes.
3) Out of sight, out of mind – once you lose sight of a thing, you can forget it altogether.
4) Beggers can’t be choosers – when a person is in a difficult position, he can only take whatever he gets.
5) All is well that ends well – everything is acceptable as long as the ending is favourable.
6) Two heads are better than one – two people can do a better job together than one person doing it alone.
7) Look before you leap – always be cautious before doing something big or important.
8) Robbing Peter to save Paul – when somebody harms one person to cause some benefit to another.
9) Make hay when the sun shines – making full use of a given opportunity.
10) Out of the frying pan and into the fire – entering one difficult situation from another.
11)  A drowning man catches all straws – a person in difficulty will make use of any help he receives.
12) Well begun is half done – just starting a venture successfully is enough to fulfil it completely.
13) Better late than never – it is better to delay something than not doing it at all.
14) A bird in hand is better than two in the bush – better to have something than having nothing at all.
15) Too many cooks spoil the broth – plans often fail when too many people work on it together.
16) It never rains but pours – things are never as good as they can or should be.
17) Rome was not built in a day – difficult tasks always take time to accomplish.
18) You reap what you sow – your results are just consequences of your own actions.
19) Every dog has his day – every person can have lucky days and favourable outcomes.
20) Hunger is the best sauce – everything tastes good when you are hungry but have nothing to eat.
21) The proof the pudding is in its eating – we can know whether something is good or bad only after trying it.
22) Once bitten twice shy – a person who has been in a bad situation before is always cautious.