Shades of Meaning
Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs describing similar actions and among adjectives differing in intensity; make real-life connections between words and their use
What a learner can do afterwards
- Compare similar verbs by acting them out (e.g. 'walk', 'march', 'strut', 'prance')
- Order adjectives by intensity (e.g. big, huge, gigantic)
- Connect vocabulary to personal experiences (e.g. note things at school that are 'colourful')
The lesson
Some words mean almost the same thing. But they are not exactly the same. 'Walk' and 'strut' both mean moving on your feet. They feel different though.
Try acting these out. Walk is calm and plain. March is stiff, like a soldier. Strut is proud, like a show-off. Prance is light and bouncy.
When you pick a word, think about how strong it feels. 'Huge' is bigger than 'big'. 'Gigantic' is the biggest of all.
Similar words feel different, so pick the one that fits best.
Watch it
Where it sits
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.