Word Usage: English Grammar

June 9, 2022

‘Word Usage’ is a systematic grammatical process in which words are structured according to rules and meanings. It is the way in which words are actually used in particular contexts, especially with regard to their meanings. Usage is strictly about choosing the right words where they fit best, and avoiding the wrong words for what is meant.

ACTIVITY 1

Use the words given in the brackets properly and rewrite the sentences:

1. The power of his eyes was considerably enhanced. (enhancement)
2. George shook his head regretfully. (regret)
3. My father had a working analysis of mankind’s troubles. (worked)
4. Smith knew what was going to happen to himself next minute. (happening)
5. It was a bewildering crisscross of light rays. (bewildered)
6. I will prepare some nice stuff for my friend. (preparation)
7. You tried to kill him. (killing)
8. The other groaned on hearing it. (heard)

ANSWERS:

1. There was a considerable enhancement in the power of his eyes.
2. George shook his head with regret.
3. My father had worked for the analysis of mankind’s troubles.
4. Smith knew what was happening to himself next minute.
5. It was a bewildered crisscross of light rays.
6. There will be a preparation of some nice stuff for my friend by me.
7. You tried killing him.
8. The other heard it and groaned.

ACTIVITY 2

Fill in the blanks with the words in brackets to form new suitable words:
1. Whenever we meet, we talk about ________ and peace in the world today. (free)
2. My elder brother spent his ________ in South Africa. (child)
3. The new car is not ________ for us. It’s too expensive. (afford)
4. The ________ of our rainforests is a really serious problem. (destroy)
5. Listen carefully to the ________ before you start to write. (instruct)
6. Don’t they think it’s too ________ for them to swim in the river now? (danger)
7. You have to wear the helmet for ________ reasons. (safe)
8. The teacher made few ________ in the essay I wrote yesterday. (correct)
9. ________ , I was invited for the inauguration of book-exhibition. (lucky)
10. George gave me some good ________ about the right way for hiking. (advise)
11. My sister had no ________ in finding the way to airport. (difficult)
12. The employees were very ________ when the boss came in. (noise)
13. The movie was quite ________ . I almost fell asleep. (bore)
14. To write a good poem, you need a lot of ________ . (imagine)
15. You have the ________ . You can either play cricket or football. (choose)
16. Smith, thank you for being so ________ in the morning today. (help)

ANSWERS:
1. Whenever we meet, we talk about freedom and peace in the world today.
2. My elder brother spent his childhood in South Africa.
3. The new car is not affordable for us. It’s too expensive.
4. The destruction of our rainforests is a really serious problem.
5. Listen carefully to the instructions before you start to write.
6. Don’t they think it’s too dangerous for them to swim in the river now?
7. You have to wear the helmet for safety reasons.
8. The teacher made few corrections in the essay I wrote yesterday.
9. Luckily, I was invited for the inauguration of book-exhibition.
10. George gave me some good advice about the right way for hiking.
11. My sister had no difficulty in finding the way to airport.
12. The employees were very noisy when the boss came in.
13. The movie was quite boring. I almost fell asleep.
14. To write a good poem, you need a lot of imagination.
15. You have the choice. You can either play cricket or football.
16. Smith, thank you for being so helpful in the morning today.