Using a monolingual dictionary

When you read or listen to texts in English there will be a certain percentage of words you do not know or are unsure about. It is often difficult to work out the exact meaning of these unknown words, but it is useful for you to learn how to work out the basic meaning: whether it is positive, negative, or neutral; the word class (e.g. noun, adjective); what kind of ‘thing’ it refers to (e.g. a tool, an action, a feeling, a person’s job). Once you have tried to work out the basic meaning, you should be able to identify the correct exact meaning from those given in the dictionary.

Why are these skills important?

• Improved Reading Comprehension: Understanding how to quickly analyze a word helps you grasp the overall meaning of a text without stopping for every single unknown word.
• Vocabulary Growth: Using a dictionary effectively is the fastest way to build a rich and accurate vocabulary.
• Independent Learning: Mastering these skills empowers you to become a more confident and autonomous learner of English.