033. Studying English and Taking Exams

to get on

Verb

/ɡɛt ˈɑn/

Close

Sign in

to develop or perform in a positive or successful way

regress

Grammatical Information:

intransitive

Phrasal Status

inseparable

phrase's verb

get

phrase's particle

on

wide

Adjective

w

i

aɪ

d

e

encompassing a broad, varied range of people, items, situations, content, or subjects

vocabulary

noun

v

o

oʊ

c

k

a

æ

b

u

j

ə

l

a

ɛ

r

y

i

all the words used in a particular language or subject

accurately

Adverb

a

æ

cc

k

u

jɜ

r

a

ə

t

e

l

y

i

in a way that has no errors or mistakes

inaccurately

Grammatical Information:

adverb of manner

fluent

Adjective

f

l

ue

uə

n

t

capable of using a language easily and properly

accent

noun

a

æ

c

k

c

s

e

ɛ

n

t

a manner of speaking that indicates social class, nationality, or locality of the speaker

What is an "accent"?

An accent refers to the way in which words are pronounced, often influenced by a person's geographical origin, social background, or cultural identity. Accents can affect vowel and consonant sounds, rhythm, and intonation patterns. For example, a person from the southern United States may have a different accent compared to someone from New York City, resulting in distinct pronunciations of the same words. Accents can also reveal information about a person's identity and can vary widely even within the same language, adding richness and diversity to spoken communication.

consonant

noun

c

k

o

ɑ

n

s

o

ə

n

a

ə

n

t

‌(phonetics) a speech sound produced by interfering with or stopping the flow of air through the mouth or nose

vowel

What is a "consonant"?

A consonant is a speech sound produced when airflow is partially or completely blocked in the vocal tract. Unlike vowels, which are produced with an open vocal tract, consonants involve some form of closure or narrowing, creating distinct sounds. In the English alphabet, consonants include letters such as "b," "c," "d," "f," "g," "h," and so on. Consonants can be classified based on their place and manner of articulation, such as stops, fricatives, and nasals. Understanding consonants is essential for phonetics, spelling, and pronunciation in language.

alphabet

noun

a

æ

l

ph

f

a

ə

b

e

ɛ

t

the basic foundational steps or stages of learning any subject

vowel

noun

v

o

a

w

ʊ

e

ə

l

‌(phonetics) a speech sound produced without interfering with the flow of air coming through the mouth or nose

consonant

What is a "vowel"?

A vowel is a speech sound produced with an open vocal tract, allowing air to flow freely without significant obstruction. Vowels are typically characterized by their resonance and can be voiced or voiceless, although most vowels in English are voiced. In the English alphabet, the letters "a," "e," "i," "o," and "u" represent vowel sounds, and "y" can also function as a vowel in certain contexts. Vowels are essential for forming syllables and words, and they play a key role in determining the pronunciation and meaning of words in a language.

to understand

Verb

u

ʌ

n

d

e

ə

r

s

t

a

æ

n

d

to know something's meaning, particularly something that someone says

Grammatical Information:

transitive

to increase

Verb

i

ɪ

n

c

k

r

ea

i

s

e

to make something larger or greater in amount, degree, size, etc.

decrease

Grammatical Information:

transitive

basic

Adjective

b

a

eɪ

s

i

ɪ

c

k

having the simplest form without extra complexity

simple

Adjective

s

i

ɪ

m

p

ə

l

e

not involving difficulty in doing or understanding

willing

Adjective

w

i

ɪ

ll

l

i

ɪ

n

g

interested or ready to do something

unwilling

experiment

noun

e

ɪ

x

ks

p

e

ɛ

r

i

ə

m

e

ə

n

t

the testing of an idea

to pick up

Verb

/ˈpɪk ˈʌp/

to learn about something, typically without intending to

Grammatical Information:

transitive

Phrasal Status

separable

phrase's verb

pick

phrase's particle

up

to have an ear for something

phrase

/hæv ɐn ˈɪɹ fɔːɹ ˌɛstˌiːˈeɪtʃ/

to be quick at learning and understanding a piece of music or a specific language and be able to accurately reproduce or utilize it

to do

Verb

d

o

u:

to study or learn something

Grammatical Information:

transitive

to pass

Verb

p

a

æ

ss

s

to get the necessary grades in an exam, test, course, etc.

fail

Grammatical Information:

transitive

to fail

Verb

f

ai

eɪ

l

to be unsuccessful in an examination or course

pass

Grammatical Information:

transitive

to revise

Verb

r

e

i

v

i

aɪ

s

z

e

to review and adjust something, particularly to modernize or enhance its quality or functionality

Dialect

British

Grammatical Information:

transitive

to retake

Verb

/ˈɹiˈteɪk/, /ɹiˈteɪk/

to take an exam again after an initial attempt, typically to improve one's score or performance

Grammatical Information:

transitive

to take

Verb

t

a

eɪ

k

e

to participate in a specific examination or assessment

Grammatical Information:

transitive

exam

noun

e

ɪ

x

gz

a

æ

m

a way of testing how much someone knows about a subject

hard work

noun

/hˈɑːɹd wˈɜːk/

a great deal of effort or endurance put into achieving a specific goal or task

Grammatical Information:

compound noun

to do one's best

phrase

/dˈuː wˈʌnz bˈɛst/

to try to do something as well as one is capable of

grade

noun

g

r

a

eɪ

d

e

a letter or number given by a teacher to show how a student is performing in class, school, etc.

Dialect

American

mark

British

What is a "grade"?

A grade is a mark given by a teacher to reflect how well a student is doing in a particular subject or course. It is typically represented as a letter (such as A, B, C) or a number, with higher marks indicating better performance. Grades are used to assess a student's understanding of the material, skills, and overall progress throughout the term. They are often used in determining academic achievement, influencing future opportunities such as higher education or job prospects.

mark

noun

m

a

ɑ

r

k

a letter or number given by a teacher to show how good a student's performance is; a point given for a correct answer in an exam or competition

Dialect

British

grade

American

to get through

Verb

/ɡɛt θɹˈuː/

to succeed in passing or enduring a difficult experience or period

Grammatical Information:

transitive

Phrasal Status

inseparable

phrase's verb

get

phrase's particle

through

revision

noun

/ɹiˈvɪʒən/

the act of examining and making corrections or alterations to a text, plan, etc.

What is "revision"?

Revision is the process of reviewing and modifying a text, plan, or work to improve its clarity, accuracy, or overall quality. It involves making changes, such as correcting mistakes, reorganizing ideas, or refining language, to ensure that the final version is clear and effective. In writing, revision often includes checking for grammatical errors, improving structure, and refining arguments or content. The goal of revision is to enhance the work, making it more polished and well-organized before it is finalized or submitted.

preparation

noun

p

r

e

ɛ

p

a

ɜ

r

a

eɪ

t

ʃ

io

ə

n

preparatory school work done outside school (especially at home)

to do

Verb

d

o

u:

to produce, provide, or make something available

Grammatical Information:

transitive

to write

Verb

w

r

i

aɪ

t

e

to make letters, words, or numbers on a surface, usually on a piece of paper, with a pen or pencil

Grammatical Information:

transitive

essay

noun

e

ɛ

ss

s

a

e

y

ɪ

a piece of writing that briefly analyzes or discusses a specific subject

What is an "essay"?

An essay is a short piece of writing that explores a specific topic or argument. It presents a writer's thoughts, analysis, or perspective on the subject, often structured with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Essays aim to inform, persuade, or entertain, and they can vary in style and purpose, including analytical, descriptive, argumentative, or reflective types. The goal of an essay is to clearly communicate ideas and support them with evidence or reasoning.