Study
unit 2 Keeping a vocabulary notebook
A What do you do?
This is what some students do. cup saucer mug
RAFAEL I write down new English words and phrases in my notebook, and
next to each one I write a Spanish translation. I usually write down if
a word is a noun, verb, adjective, and so on.
KAZUO I sometimes write a word in phonemics because English pronunciation
is very difficult for me. But my notebook is a mess [nothing is in a good
order; syn untidy]. I like to draw pictures.
EUN I sometimes make a note of new words in my notebook, but I often
forget [don’t remember]. I usually write a translation, and sometimes I
write example sentences as well.
ANDREY I’ve got a notebook. I don’t use it much but when I do, I try and list words
by topic, so I put all the animals together, and all the clothes words
together, and so on. I find it’s easier to remember the words this way.
DONATA I note down new words and phrases. Sometimes I translate them
into Polish, and sometimes I write an explanation [a description of what
something means] in English if it is not difficult. For example:
kitten – a very young cat
B Tips for your notebook
A tip is a piece of advice to help you. Here are some tips for your notebook.
• Put words from one topic in the same place, e.g. food in one place, clothes in another, etc. Don’t
mix them up [put them together with no order]. You can also have grammar topics, e.g. ‘uncountable
nouns’, or a page for words that all have a connection, e.g. words and phrases that were all in a
story you read in English. Some words and phrases will go in more than one topic.
• If you can’t find a topic for a new word or phrase, e.g. useful or in particular, put them in a different place
in your notebook, e.g. a page for each day or each week, or perhaps one page for every English lesson
you have. Write the date clearly at the top, e.g. Monday 14th May.
• When you write down new vocabulary, write a translation if it is necessary [you need it; opp
unnecessary], but also write the meaning in English if it is possible, or draw pictures.
• If possible, add synonyms, opposites, other parts of speech, etc. (See Unit 1.)
awful adj = terrible (syn dreadful)
enjoy v = like something and get pleasure from it n = enjoyment adj = enjoyable
• Example sentences help you with the grammar of a word, or with word partners (collocations).
I enjoy living in a big city. (NOT I enjoy to live in a big city.) (See Units 87–8.)
I spent two weeks in Rome. (NOT I passed two weeks in Rome. You spend time in a place.)
(See Unit 74.)
• Remember, words often have more than one meaning that you need to know, e.g. a tip is also
money that you give, for example, to a waiter for serving you in a restaurant.
10 English Vocabulary in Use Pre-intermediate and intermediate
Exercises 2 Study
unit
2.1 Organise the words into the topics below. One word can go in two different topics.
Use a dictionary to help you.
diet branch lay the table count v dig v ground flour add up
raw leaf minus butcher thousand frozen zero butterfly
food garden numbers
diet
2.2 Explain these words in English, or draw a picture, or if you think an explanation is too
difficult and a drawing is not possible, write a translation instead.
1 raw not cooked
2 dig
3 butcher
4 leaf
5 flour
6 lay the table
7 add up
8 minus
2.3 What information could you include with these words? The answers are all on the
opposite page.
1 forget opposite – remember
2 awful
3 necessary
4 translate
5 tip
6 enjoy
2.4 Over to you
Answer the questions. If possible, compare your answers with someone else.
1 Look again at what the students said on the opposite page. What are the good things that
they do? Underline them.
2 Do you do all of these things?
3 Is there anything you don’t do now, but will do in the future?
4 At the moment, which person’s notebook is most like your notebook?
5 What are the most useful tips on the opposite page for you?
English Vocabulary in Use Pre-intermediate and intermediate 11
