Activity: Vocabulary Building

Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Lower Advanced

 I n s t r u c t i o n s f o r Te a c h e r s
This list is meant to be used as a vocabulary building tool for use in class and as a take home activity. It provides an excellent opportunity for
students to self-assess their own basic vocabulary.

Use:

Explain the list to students using the information page as a guide. Use percentages in explaining the numbers as fractions and ordinal numbers
may not be familiar to all students.

Have the students go down the list verifying that they know the meaning of each word immediately without having to think about it. If they
have to think about the meaning (even for a second) have them mark that word for further practice. If they dont know a word instruct them to
ask the meaning using the word number.

Encourage other students to provide their fellow students with the answers. When multiple meanings are possible, some constructive
discussion may ensue. Encourage answers but try to provide the most often used and simplest definition.

Students will likely reference the equivalent word or phrase in their own language. A blank is provided next to each entry for this purpose. This
list becomes the students own personal glossary for study outside of class.

Depending on the level of your students you may choose to only cover 25-50 words per lesson. Discourage working ahead by more advanced
students as this weakens the usefulness of the activity.

Students practice recognition of patterns, pronunciation, and saying large numbers in this exercise without even knowing it. Finally, this is an
excellent filler activity if you find yourself with extra time in class.

Licensing:

2006 Center for Applied Linguistics & Language Education. As with all CALLE activities and references, this document is freely available for
classroom use and reproduction so long as it is kept in its original format and the CALLE name and logo are not removed. Removal of CALLE
name or logo will result in a violation of US and International copyright law and may be prosecuted as such.
 Information
This list is the product of several years of linguistic research and surveys. It is meant to provide a reference of the most common words in the
English language based on their frequency of use in written texts.

Methodology
A team of scientists used computers to analyze every piece of widely circulated print literature in the English speaking world for a period of three
years in the early 1990s. This included major newspapers, magazines, and novels. The team recorded the words on each page and recorded
how many times each word appeared . Their research resulted in this list which ranks the 1000 most common words in the English language by
how often they are used.

Note that today a few more words may appear in this list that were not so common in the early 1990s such as internet, website, Iraq, etc. Also
be aware that each word is counted independently so a noun may appear in both its singular and plural forms and a verb may appear in several
forms throughout the list.

Importance of these Words

These words make up a standard basic vocabulary. They do not meet any specific need, but comfort with and practice of these words will make
reading and learning more complex forms much easier.

The first 25 words make up 33% of all written texts. The first 100 words make up a full 50%.
And, the first 300 account for 65% of all words you are likely to encounter when reading.
Knowing all 1000 of these words means that you can read 75% of most books and newspapers
even before learning any specialised vocabulary.
1. the ______________ 26. or ______________ 51. will ______________ 76. n u m b e r _____________
2. of ______________ 27. one ______________ 52. up ______________ 77. n o ______________
3. and ______________ 28. had ______________ 53. other ______________ 78. w a y ______________
4. a ______________ 29. by ______________ 54. about ______________ 79. c o u l d ______________
5. to ______________ 30. word ______________ 55. out ______________ 80. p e o p l e _____________
6. in ______________ 31. but ______________ 56. many ______________ 81. m y ______________
7. is ______________ 32. not ______________ 57. then ______________ 82. t h a n ______________
8. you ______________ 33. what ______________ 58. them ______________ 83. f i r s t ______________
9. that ______________ 34. all ______________ 59. these ______________ 84. w a t e r ______________

10. it ______________ 35. were ______________ 60. so ______________ 85. b e e n ______________

11. he ______________ 36. we ______________ 61. some ______________ 86. c a l l ______________
12. was ______________ 37. when ______________ 62. her ______________ 87. w h o ______________
13. for ______________ 38. your ______________ 63. would ______________ 88. o i l ______________
14. on ______________ 39. can ______________ 64. make ______________ 89. i t s ______________
15. are ______________ 40. said ______________ 65. like ______________ 90. n o w ______________
16. as ______________ 41. there ______________ 66. him ______________ 91. f i n d ______________
17. with ______________ 42. use ______________ 67. into ______________ 92. l o n g ______________
18. his ______________ 43. an ______________ 68. time ______________ 93. d o w n ______________
19. they ______________ 44. each ______________ 69. has ______________ 94. d a y ______________
20. I ______________ 45. which ______________ 70. look ______________ 95. d i d ______________
21. at ______________ 46. she ______________ 71. two ______________ 96. g e t ______________
22. be ______________ 47. do ______________ 72. more ______________ 97. c o m e ______________
23. this ______________ 48. how ______________ 73. write ______________ 98. m a d e ______________
24. have ______________ 49. their ______________ 74. go ______________ 99. m a y ______________
25. from ______________ 50. if ______________ 75. see ______________ 100. p a r t ______________
101. over ______________ 126. say ______________ 151. set ______________ 176. try ______________
102. new ______________ 127. g r e a t ______________ 152. put ______________ 177. k i n d ______________
103. s o u n d ______________ 128. w h e r e ______________ 153. end ______________ 178. h a n d ______________
104. take ______________ 129. h e l p ______________ 154. d o e s ______________ 179. p i c t u r e _____________
105. only ______________ 130. t h r o u g h ___________ 155. a n o t h e r ____________ 180. a g a i n ______________
106. l i t t l e ______________ 131. m u c h ______________ 156. w e l l ______________ 181. c h a n g e _____________
107. w o r k ______________ 132. b e f o r e ______________ 157. l a r g e ______________ 182. off ______________
108. k n o w ______________ 133. line ______________ 158. m u s t ______________ 183. p l a y ______________
109. p l a c e ______________ 134. r i g h t ______________ 159. big ______________ 184. s p e l l _____________
110. year ______________ 135. too ______________ 160. e v e n ______________ 185. air ______________
111. live ______________ 136. m e a n ______________ 161. s u c h ______________ 186. a w a y ______________
112. me ______________ 137. old ______________ 162. b e c a u s e ___________ 187. a n i m a l _____________
113. b a c k ______________ 138. any ______________ 163. t u r n ______________ 188. h o u s e _____________
114. give ______________ 139. s a m e ______________ 164. h e r e ______________ 189. p o i n t ______________
115. m o s t ______________ 140. tell ______________ 165. why ______________ 190. p a g e ______________
116. v e r y ______________ 141. boy ______________ 166. ask ______________ 191. l e t t e r ______________
117. a f t e r ______________ 142. f o l l o w ______________ 167. w e n t ______________ 192. m o t h e r _____________
118. t h i n g ______________ 143. c a m e ______________ 168. men ______________ 193. a n s w e r _____________
119. our ______________ 144. w a n t ______________ 169. r e a d ______________ 194. f o u n d ______________
120. just ______________ 145. s h o w ______________ 170. n e e d ______________ 195. s t u d y ______________
121. n a m e ______________ 146. also ______________ 171. l a n d ______________ 196. still ______________
122. g o o d ______________ 147. a r o u n d _____________ 172. d i f f e r e n t __________ 197. l e a r n ______________
123. s e n t e n c e __________ 148. f o r m ______________ 173. h o m e ______________ 198. S h o u l d _____________
124. man ______________ 149. t h r e e ______________ 174. us ______________ 199. A m e r i c a ____________
125. t h i n k ______________ 150. s m a l l ______________ 175. m o v e ______________ 200. w o r l d ______________
201. high ______________ 226. saw ______________ 251. i m p o r t a n t ________ 276. miss ______________
202. e v e r y ______________ 227. left ______________ 252. u n t i l ______________ 277. i d e a ______________
203. near ______________ 228. d o n t ______________ 253. c h i l d r e n ___________ 278. e n o u g h ____________
204. add ______________ 229. few ______________ 254. side ______________ 279. eat ______________
205. f o o d ______________ 230. w h i l e ______________ 255. feet ______________ 280. f a c e ______________
206. b e t w e e n ___________ 231. a l o n g ______________ 256. car ______________ 281. w a t c h ______________
207. own ______________ 232. m i g h t ______________ 257. mile ______________ 282. far ______________
208. b e l o w ______________ 233. c l o s e ______________ 258. n i g h t ______________ 283. I n d i a n ______________
209. c o u n t r y ____________ 234. s o m e t h i n g ________ 259. w a l k ______________ 284. r e a l l y ______________
210. p l a n t ______________ 235. s e e m ______________ 260. w h i t e ______________ 285. a l m o s t _____________
211. last ______________ 236. n e x t ______________ 261. sea ______________ 286. let ______________
212. s c h o o l _____________ 237. h a r d ______________ 262. b e g a n ______________ 287. a b o v e ______________
213. f a t h e r ______________ 238. o p e n ______________ 263. g r o w ______________ 288. girl ______________
214. k e e p ______________ 239. e x a m p l e ___________ 264. t o o k ______________ 289. s o m e t i m e s ________
215. tree ______________ 240. b e g i n ______________ 265. r i v e r ______________ 290. m o u n t a i n __________
216. n e v e r ______________ 241. life ______________ 266. f o u r ______________ 291. cut ______________
217. s t a r t ______________ 242. a l w a y s ______________ 267. c a r r y ______________ 292. y o u n g ______________
218. city ______________ 243. t h o s e ______________ 268. s t a t e ______________ 293. talk ______________
219. e a r t h ______________ 244. b o t h ______________ 269. o n c e ______________ 294. s o o n ______________
220. eye ______________ 245. p a p e r ______________ 270. b o o k ______________ 295. list ______________
221. l i g h t ______________ 246. t o g e t h e r ___________ 271. h e a r ______________ 296. s o n g ______________
222. t h o u g h t ___________ 247. got ______________ 272. s t o p ______________ 297. b e i n g ______________
223. h e a d ______________ 248. g r o u p ______________ 273. w i t h o u t ____________ 298. l e a v e ______________
224. u n d e r ______________ 249. o f t e n ______________ 274. s e c o n d _____________ 299. f a m i l y ______________
225. s t o r y ______________ 250. run ______________ 275. l a t e r ______________ 300. i t s ______________
301. b o d y ______________ 326. o r d e r ______________ 351. l i s t e n ______________ 376. f a r m ______________
302. m u s i c ______________ 327. red ______________ 352. w i n d ______________ 377. p u l l e d ______________
303. c o l o r ______________ 328. d o o r ______________ 353. rock ______________ 378. d r a w ______________
304. s t a n d ______________ 329. s u r e ______________ 354. s p a c e ______________ 379. v o i c e ______________
305. sun ______________ 330. b e c o m e ____________ 355. c o v e r e d ____________ 380. s e e n ______________
306. q u e s t i o n s __________ 331. top ______________ 356. fast ______________ 381. c o l d ______________
307. fish ______________ 332. ship ______________ 357. s e v e r a l _____________ 382. c r i e d ______________
308. area ______________ 333. a c r o s s ______________ 358. h o l d ______________ 383. p l a n ______________
309. m a r k ______________ 334. t o d a y ______________ 359. h i m s e l f ____________ 384. n o t i c e ______________
310. dog ______________ 335. d u r i n g ______________ 360. t o w a r d _____________ 385. s o u t h ______________
311. h o r s e ______________ 336. s h o r t ______________ 361. five ______________ 386. sing ______________
312. b i r d s ______________ 337. b e t t e r ______________ 362. s t e p ______________ 387. war ______________
313. p r o b l e m __________ 338. b e s t ______________ 363. m o r n i n g ___________ 388. g r o u n d _____________
314. c o m p l e t e __________ 339. h o w e v e r ___________ 364. p a s s e d _____________ 389. fall ______________
315. r o o m ______________ 340. low ______________ 365. v o w e l ______________ 390. k i n g ______________
316. k n e w ______________ 341. h o u r s ______________ 366. t r u e ______________ 391. t o w n ______________
317. s i n c e ______________ 342. b l a c k ______________ 367. h u n d r e d ___________ 392. Ill ______________
318. e v e r ______________ 343. p r o d u c t s ___________ 368. a g a i n s t _____________ 393. unit ______________
319. p i e c e ______________ 344. h a p p e n e d _________ 369. p a t t e r n ____________ 394. f i g u r e ______________
320. told ______________ 345. w h o l e ______________ 370. n u m e r a l ___________ 395. c e r t a i n _____________
321. u s u a l l y _____________ 346. m e a s u r e ___________ 371. t a b l e ______________ 396. f i e l d ______________
322. d i d n t ______________ 347. r e m e m b e r _________ 372. n o r t h ______________ 397. t r a v e l ______________
323. f r i e n d s _____________ 348. e a r l y ______________ 373. s l o w l y ______________ 398. w o o d ______________
324. e a s y ______________ 349. w a v e s ______________ 374. m o n e y ______________ 399. fire ______________
325. h e a r d ______________ 350. r e a c h e d ____________ 375. map ______________ 400. u p o n ______________
401. d o n e ______________ 426. d e c i d e d ____________ 451. p l a n e ______________ 476. f i l l e d ______________
402. E n g l i s h _____________ 427. c o n t a i n ____________ 452. s y s t e m _____________ 477. heat ______________
403. r o a d ______________ 428. c o u r s e ______________ 453. b e h i n d _____________ 478. full ______________
404. halt ______________ 429. s u r f a c e ____________ 454. ran ______________ 479. hot ______________
405. ten ______________ 430. p r o d u c e ____________ 455. r o u n d ______________ 480. c h e c k ______________
406. fly ______________ 431. b u i l d i n g ___________ 456. b o a t ______________ 481. o b j e c t ______________
407. gave ______________ 432. o c e a n ______________ 457. g a m e ______________ 482. am ______________
408. box ______________ 433. c l a s s ______________ 458. f o r c e ______________ 483. rule ______________
409. f i n a l l y ______________ 434. n o t e ______________ 459. b r o u g h t ____________ 484. a m o n g ______________
410. wait ______________ 435. n o t h i n g ____________ 460. u n d e r s t a n d _______ 485. n o u n ______________
411. c o r r e c t _____________ 436. rest ______________ 461. w a r m ______________ 486. p o w e r ______________
412. oh ______________ 437. c a r e f u l l y __________ 462. c o m m o n ___________ 487. c a n n o t _____________
413. q u i c k l y _____________ 438. s c i e n t i s t s ________ 463. b r i n g ______________ 488. a b l e ______________
414. p e r s o n _____________ 439. i n s i d e ______________ 464. e x p l a i n ____________ 489. six ______________
415. b e c a m e ____________ 440. w h e e l s _____________ 465. dry ______________ 490. size ______________
416. s h o w n ______________ 441. stay ______________ 466. t h o u g h _____________ 491. d a r k ______________
417. m i n u t e s ____________ 442. g r e e n ______________ 467. l a n g u a g e __________ 492. ball ______________
418. s t r o n g ______________ 443. k n o w n ______________ 468. s h a p e ______________ 493. m a t e r i a l ___________
419. v e r b ______________ 444. i s l a n d ______________ 469. d e e p ______________ 494. s p e c i a l _____________
420. s t a r s ______________ 445. w e e k ______________ 470. t h o u s a n d s ________ 495. h e a v y ______________
421. f r o n t ______________ 446. less ______________ 471. yes ______________ 496. fine ______________
422. feel ______________ 447. m a c h i n e ___________ 472. c l e a r ______________ 497. pair ______________
423. fact ______________ 448. b a s e ______________ 473. e q u a t i o n __________ 498. c i r c l e ______________
424. i n c h e s ______________ 449. ago ______________ 474. yet ______________ 499. i n c l u d e ____________
425. s t r e e t ______________ 450. s t o o d ______________ 475. g o v e r n m e n t ______ 500. b u i l t ______________
501. c a n t ______________ 526. p i c k e d ______________ 551. legs ______________ 576. b e s i d e _____________
502. m a t t e r ______________ 527. s i m p l e ______________ 552. sat ______________ 577. g o n e ______________
503. s q u a r e ______________ 528. c e l l s ______________ 553. m a i n ______________ 578. sky ______________
504. s y l l a b l e s ___________ 529. p a i n t ______________ 554. w i n t e r ______________ 579. g l a s s ______________
505. p e r h a p s ____________ 530. m i n d ______________ 555. w i d e ______________ 580. m i l l i o n _____________
506. bill ______________ 531. l o v e ______________ 556. w r i t t e n ____________ 581. w e s t ______________
507. felt ______________ 532. c a u s e ______________ 557. l e n g t h ______________ 582. lay ______________
508. s u d d e n l y ___________ 533. rain ______________ 558. r e a s o n _____________ 583. w e a t h e r ___________
509. test ______________ 534. e x e r c i s e ___________ 559. k e p t ______________ 584. r o o t ______________
510. d i r e c t i o n __________ 535. e g g s ______________ 560. i n t e r e s t ____________ 585. i n s t r u m e n t s ______
511. c e n t e r ______________ 536. t r a i n ______________ 561. a r m s ______________ 586. m e e t ______________
512. f a r m e r s ____________ 537. b l u e ______________ 562. b r o t h e r ____________ 587. t h i r d ______________
513. r e a d y ______________ 538. w i s h ______________ 563. r a c e ______________ 588. m o n t h s _____________
514. a n y t h i n g ___________ 539. d r o p ______________ 564. r e s e n t ______________ 589. p a r a g r a p h _________
515. d i v i d e d ____________ 540. d e v e l o p e d ________ 565. b e a u t i f u l __________ 590. r a i s e d ______________
516. g e n e r a l ____________ 541. w i n d o w ____________ 566. s t o r e ______________ 591. r e p r e s e n t _________
517. e n e r g y _____________ 542. d i f f e r e n c e ________ 567. job ______________ 592. soft ______________
518. s u b j e c t ____________ 543. d i s t a n c e ___________ 568. e d g e ______________ 593. w h e t h e r ___________
519. E u r o p e _____________ 544. h e a r t ______________ 569. p a s t ______________ 594. c l o t h e s _____________
520. m o o n ______________ 545. sit ______________ 570. sign ______________ 595. f l o w e r s ____________
521. r e g i o n ______________ 546. sum ______________ 571. r e c o r d ______________ 596. s h a l l ______________
522. r e t u r n ______________ 547. s u m m e r ____________ 572. f i n i s h e d ___________ 597. t e a c h e r ____________
523. b e l i e v e _____________ 548. w a l l ______________ 573. d i s c o v e r e d ________ 598. h e l d ______________
524. d a n c e ______________ 549. f o r e s t ______________ 574. w i l d ______________ 599. d e s c r i b e ___________
525. m e m b e r s __________ 550. p r o b a b l y __________ 575. h a p p y ______________ 600. d r i v e ______________
601. c r o s s ______________ 626. a l r e a d y ____________ 651. hair ______________ 676. r o l l e d ______________
602. s p e a k ______________ 627. i n s t e a d ____________ 652. age ______________ 677. b e a r ______________
603. a p p e a r ______________ 628. p h r a s e _____________ 653. a m o u n t ____________ 678. w o n d e r _____________
604. m e t a l ______________ 629. soil ______________ 654. s c a l e ______________ 679. s m i l e d ______________
605. son ______________ 630. bed ______________ 655. p o u n d s _____________ 680. a n g l e ______________
606. e i t h e r ______________ 631. c o p y ______________ 656. a l t h o u g h __________ 681. f r a c t i o n ____________
607. ice ______________ 632. free ______________ 657. per ______________ 682. A f r i c a ______________
608. s l e e p ______________ 633. h o p e ______________ 658. b r o k e n _____________ 683. k i l l e d ______________
609. v i l l a g e ______________ 634. s p r i n g ______________ 659. m o m e n t ____________ 684. m e l o d y _____________
610. f a c t o r s _____________ 635. c a s e ______________ 660. tiny ______________ 685. b o t t o m _____________
611. s l e e p ______________ 636. l a u g h e d ____________ 661. p o s s i b l e ___________ 686. trip ______________
612. r e s u l t ______________ 637. n a t i o n ______________ 662. g o l d ______________ 687. h o l e ______________
613. j u m p e d _____________ 638. q u i t e ______________ 663. m i l k ______________ 688. p o o r ______________
614. s n o w ______________ 639. t y p e ______________ 664. q u i e t ______________ 689. l e t s ______________
615. ride ______________ 640. t h e m s e l v e s _______ 665. n a t u r a l _____________ 690. f i g h t ______________
616. c a r e ______________ 641. t e m p e r a t u r e _____ 666. lot ______________ 691. s u r p r i s e ___________
617. f l o o r ______________ 642. b r i g h t ______________ 667. s t o n e ______________ 692. F r e n c h _____________
618. hill ______________ 643. l e a d ______________ 668. act ______________ 693. d i e d ______________
619. p u s h e d _____________ 644. e v e r y o n e __________ 669. b u i l d ______________ 694. b e a t ______________
620. b a b y ______________ 645. m e t h o d ____________ 670. m i d d l e _____________ 695. e x a c t l y _____________
621. buy ______________ 646. s e c t i o n _____________ 671. s p e e d ______________ 696. r e m a i n _____________
622. c e n t u r y ____________ 647. lake ______________ 672. c o u n t ______________ 697. d r e s s ______________
623. o u t s i d e ____________ 648. c o n s o n a n t ________ 673. cat ______________ 698. iron ______________
624. e v e r y t h i n g ________ 649. w i t h i n ______________ 674. s o m e o n e ___________ 699. c o u l d n t ___________
625. tall ______________ 650. d i c t i o n a r y ________ 675. sail ______________ 700. f i n g e r s _____________
701. row ______________ 726. p r e s i d e n t s ________ 751. y o u r s e l f ___________ 776. c a u g h t _____________
702. l e a s t ______________ 727. b r o w n ______________ 752. c o n t r o l _____________ 777. fell ______________
703. c a t c h ______________ 728. t r o u b l e ____________ 753. p r a c t i c e ___________ 778. t e a m ______________
704. c l i m b e d ____________ 729. c o o l ______________ 754. r e p o r t ______________ 779. God ______________
705. w r o t e ______________ 730. c l o u d ______________ 755. s t r a i g h t ____________ 780. c a p t a i n ____________
706. s h o u t e d ____________ 731. lost ______________ 756. rise ______________ 781. d i r e c t ______________
707. c o n t i n u e d _________ 732. sent ______________ 757. s t a t e m e n t _________ 782. ring ______________
708. i t s e l f ______________ 733. s y m b o l s ____________ 758. s t i c k ______________ 783. s e r v e ______________
709. else ______________ 734. w e a r ______________ 759. p a r t y ______________ 784. c h i l d ______________
710. p l a i n s ______________ 735. bad ______________ 760. s e e d s ______________ 785. d e s e r t ______________
711. gas ______________ 736. s a v e ______________ 761. s u p p o s e ___________ 786. i n c r e a s e ___________
712. E n g l a n d ____________ 737. e x p e r i m e n t _______ 762. w o m a n _____________ 787. h i s t o r y _____________
713. b u r n i n g ____________ 738. e n g i n e _____________ 763. c o a s t ______________ 788. cost ______________
714. d e s i g n ______________ 739. a l o n e ______________ 764. b a n k ______________ 789. m a y b e ______________
715. j o i n e d ______________ 740. d r a w i n g ____________ 765. p e r i o d ______________ 790. b u s i n e s s ___________
716. f o o t ______________ 741. east ______________ 766. w i r e ______________ 791. s e p a r a t e ___________
717. law ______________ 742. pay ______________ 767. c h o o s e _____________ 792. b r e a k ______________
718. e a r s ______________ 743. s i g n a l ______________ 768. c l e a n ______________ 793. u n c l e ______________
719. g r a s s ______________ 744. t o u c h ______________ 769. v i s i t ______________ 794. h u n t i n g ____________
720. y o u r e ______________ 745. i n f o r m a t i o n ______ 770. bit ______________ 795. f l o w ______________
721. g r e w ______________ 746. e x p r e s s ____________ 771. w h o s e ______________ 796. l a d y ______________
722. skin ______________ 747. m o u t h ______________ 772. r e c e i v e d ___________ 797. s t u d e n t s ___________
723. v a l l e y ______________ 748. y a r d ______________ 773. g a r d e n _____________ 798. h u m a n ______________
724. c e n t s ______________ 749. e q u a l ______________ 774. p l e a s e ______________ 799. art ______________
725. key ______________ 750. d e c i m a l ____________ 775. s t r a n g e ____________ 800. f e e l i n g _____________
801. s u p p l y ______________ 826. g u e s s ______________ 851. t h i c k ______________ 876. m a j o r ______________
802. c o r n e r ______________ 827. s i l e n t ______________ 852. b l o o d ______________ 877. o b s e r v e ____________
803. e l e c t r i c ____________ 828. t r a d e ______________ 853. lie ______________ 878. t u b e ______________
804. i n s e c t s _____________ 829. r a t h e r ______________ 854. s p o t ______________ 879. n e c e s s a r y _________
805. c r o p s ______________ 830. c o m p a r e ___________ 855. bell ______________ 880. w e i g h t ____________
806. t o n e ______________ 831. c r o w d ______________ 856. fun ______________ 881. m e a t ______________
807. h i t ______________ 832. p o e m ______________ 857. l o u d ______________ 882. l i f t e d ______________
808. s a n d ______________ 833. e n j o y ______________ 858. c o n s i d e r ___________ 883. p r o c e s s ____________
809. d o c t o r ______________ 834. e l e m e n t s __________ 859. s u g g e s t e d _________ 884. a r m y ______________
810. p r o v i d e _____________ 835. i n d i c a t e ___________ 860. thin ______________ 885. hat ______________
811. t h u s ______________ 836. e x c e p t ______________ 861. p o s i t i o n ___________ 886. p r o p e r t y ___________
812. w o n t ______________ 837. e x p e c t ______________ 862. e n t e r e d ____________ 887. p a r t i c u l a r _________
813. c o o k ______________ 838. flat ______________ 863. f r u i t ______________ 888. s w i m ______________
814. b o n e s ______________ 839. s e v e n ______________ 864. tied ______________ 889. t e r m s ______________
815. t a i l ______________ 840. i n t e r e s t ____________ 865. rich ______________ 890. c u r r e n t ____________
816. b o a r d ______________ 841. s e n s e ______________ 866. d o l l a r s _____________ 891. p a r k ______________
817. m o d e r n ____________ 842. s t r i n g ______________ 867. s e n d ______________ 892. sell ______________
818. c o m p o u n d _________ 843. b l o w ______________ 868. s i g h t ______________ 893. s h o u l d e r ___________
819. m i n e ______________ 844. f a m o u s _____________ 869. c h i e f ______________ 894. i n d u s t r y ___________
820. w a s n t ______________ 845. v a l u e ______________ 870. J a p a n e s e __________ 895. w a s h ______________
821. f i t ______________ 846. w i n g s ______________ 871. s t r e a m _____________ 896. b l o c k ______________
822. a d d i t i o n ___________ 847. m o v e m e n t _________ 872. p l a n t s ______________ 897. s p r e a d _____________
823. b e l o n g _____________ 848. p o l e ______________ 873. r h y t h m _____________ 898. c a t t l e ______________
824. s a l e ______________ 849. e x c i t i n g ____________ 874. e i g h t ______________ 899. w i f e ______________
825. s o l d i e r s ____________ 850. b r a n c h e s __________ 875. s c i e n c e ____________ 900. s h a r p ______________
901. c o m p a n y ___________ 926. s i s t e r ______________ 951. gun ______________ 976. t o t a l ______________
902. r a d i o ______________ 927. o x y g e n _____________ 952. s i m i l a r _____________ 977. d e a l ______________
903. w e l l ______________ 928. p l u r a l ______________ 953. d e a t h ______________ 978. d e t e r m i n e _________

904. a c t i o n ______________ 929. v a r i o u s ____________ 954. s c o r e ______________ 979. e v e n i n g ____________

905. c a p i t a l ______________ 930. a g r e e d _____________ 955. f o r w a r d ____________ 980. n o r ______________

906. f a c t o r i e s ___________ 931. o p p o s i t e ___________ 956. s t r e t c h e d _________ 981. r o p e ______________
907. s e t t l e d _____________ 932. w r o n g ______________ 957. e x p e r i e n c e ________ 982. c o t t o n ______________

908. y e l l o w ______________ 933. c h a r t ______________ 958. r o s e ______________ 983. a p p l e ______________

909. i s n t ______________ 934. p r e p a r e d __________ 959. a l l o w ______________ 984. d e t a i l s _____________

910. s o u t h e r n ___________ 935. p r e t t y ______________ 960. fear ______________ 985. e n t i r e ______________

911. t r u c k ______________ 936. s o l u t i o n ___________ 961. w o r k e r s ____________ 986. c o r n ______________

912. t r a i n ______________ 937. f r e s h ______________ 962. W a s h i n g t o n _______ 987. s u b s t a n c e s _______

913. p r i n t e d ____________ 938. s h o p ______________ 963. G r e e k ______________ 988. s m e l l ______________

914. w o u l d n t __________ 939. s u f f i x ______________ 964. w o m e n _____________ 989. t o o l s ______________

915. a h e a d ______________ 940. e s p e c i a l l y _________ 965. b r o u g h t ____________ 990. c o n d i t i o n s ________

916. c h a n c e _____________ 941. s h o e s ______________ 966. led ______________ 991. c o w s ______________

917. b o r n ______________ 942. a c t u a l l y ___________ 967. m a r c h ______________ 992. t r a c k ______________
918. l e v e l ______________ 943. n o s e ______________ 968. n o r t h e r n __________ 993. a r r i v e d _____________

919. t r i a n g l e ____________ 944. a f r a i d ______________ 969. c r e a t e ______________ 994. l o c a t e d ____________

920. m o l e c u l e s _________ 945. d e a d ______________ 970. B r i t i s h _____________ 995. s i r ______________

921. F r a n c e ______________ 946. s u g a r ______________ 971. d i f f i c u l t ___________ 996. s e a t ______________
922. r e p e a t e d __________ 947. a d j e c t i v e __________ 972. m a t c h ______________ 997. d i v i s i o n ____________

923. c o l u m n _____________ 948. fig ______________ 973. win ______________ 998. e f f e c t ______________

924. w e s t e r n ____________ 949. o f f i c e ______________ 974. d o e s n t ____________ 999. u n d e r l i n e _________

925. c h u r c h _____________ 950. h u g e ______________ 975. s t e e l ______________ 1000. v i e w ______________

 Analysis
Certain things about the order of words on this list may surprise you but actually make sense. Keep in mind that this is based on a survey of
written English and not of spoken. Thus we find words used to talk about people are things before those used to talk about ourselves. This is of
course contrary to traditional ESOL courses which concentrate almost entirely on speaking about ourselves. American occurs early on, but
considering 330 million of the 400-500 million native speakers of English live in the US, that again should come as no surprise. Note however
that Indian comes far before England and British reflecting the oft forgotten reality that India is the second largest English speaking population
behind the US. Take note of the following series and their occurrences on the list as an aid in determining emphasis in teaching.

Articles: the (1), a (4), an (43)

Verb [be]: am (482), is (7), are (15), was (12), were (35), be (22), been (85), being (297)
Verb [do]: do (47), does (154), did (95), done (401), doing
Verb [have]: have (24), has (69), had (28), having

Pronouns: I (20), you (8), he (11), she (46), it (10), we (36), they (19); me (112), him (66), her (62), us (174), them (58)
Possessives : my (81), your (38), his (18), her (62), its (89), our (119), their (49)

Youll also find the basic colors, numbers, prepositions, and conjunctions, words for time (day, week, year, etc.), and basic geographic terms like
land, island, mountain, etc.

Finally note that many words are repeated in plural form.

Source:

There are several variations of this list. This particular listing is taken From: The Reading Teachers Book of Lists, Third Edition; by Edward Bernard Fry,
Ph.D, Jacqueline E. Kress, Ed.D & Dona Lee Fountoukidis, Ed.D.