LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

MODAL AUXILIARIES (MODALS)

- Expresses: ability, possibility, permission, or prediction
- Can vs Could
o Generally used to imply two types of possibilities: it can be done and it will perhaps
be done
o Can – indicates physical activity to do something; may also mean permission
▪ I can cook.
▪ You can leave now.
o Could – past form of can; more polite
▪ I didn’t know you could dance so well.
▪ Could you do me a favor?
- May vs Might
o Implies permission, possibility, and wish
o May – indicates permission; denotes a possibility that something will perhaps be
done or something can be done; denotes a wish
▪ May I use your computer?
▪ There may be a typhoon today.
▪ May you be very happy.
o Might – past tense of may
▪ You might cut your finger.
- Will vs Would
o Will – denotes desire or willingness, a polite request, and exclamation or orders
▪ I will do the cleaning of the bathroom.
▪ Will you please do the laundry?
▪ Keep working, will you?
o Would – denotes a past habit, obstinacy or stubbornness, and wish
▪ He would read the papers every morning.
▪ Jana would still insist on going to the party although her father didn’t allow
her.
▪ Would that I’d be a star!
- Should vs Ought to vs Must vs Have to
o Should – past tense of shall; denotes obligation and condition
▪ You should study harder.
▪ Should you arrive on time, you will be first on the list!
o Ought to, must, and have to denote obligation
▪ Sheila ought to do it.
▪ Jojo must finish cleaning.
▪ You have to enroll this week.
- Am to vs Let
o Am to – does not mean the same as must; implies an arrangement or an
agreement
▪ I am to go to Hawaii for the assembly.
 ▪ I am to meet the actress for an interview.
o Let – denotes suggestion, wish, permission
▪ Let us go to the carnival.
▪ Let it be me.
▪ My sister lets me accompany her to the mall.
- Hope vs Wish
o Hope – used to express an idea which is attainable or likely to happen; used with
can, may, will, and have with hope.
▪ I hope I will pass the UPCAT.
▪ They hope they have enough funds.
o Wish – used to express an idea which is not attainable; used with could, were,
would, had, might
▪ I wish I could be a star!
▪ I wish I could become a pirate.

CONTEXT CLUES
- Strategies for using context clues
WORD PARTS
- Break down the different parts of a word:
o base word (word stem or root word), prefixes, and suffixes
o Some words have a prefix only (reread), a suffix only (reading), both a prefix and a
suffix (prereading), a combination (unreadableness), or neither (read)
o Discrimination
Dis-: not, opposite of, reverse, deprive of; apart, away
-crimin-: verdict, judicial decision; judgment
-tion: indicates the word is a noun
DEFINITION
- Look for a definition or an explanation within the sentence
o Discrimination or unfairly targeting one or more groups by those who perceive
themselves to be superior can cause distress.
SYNONYM
- Words next to the unknown word can be a clue that there is a synonym
o Discrimination or bias can cause distress toward the targeted group.

ANTONYM/CONTRAST
- Opposite information about the unknown word can be offset by words and phrases such as
unlike, as opposed to, different from
ANALOGY
- Comparisons of the word help to determine what it means
 USING PREPOSITIONS

agree with a person agree to a proposition

differ from (person or thing) differ from or with an opinion
reconcile with (a person) reconcile to (a statement or idea)
compare with (to determine value) compare to (because of similarity)
part from (a person) part with (a thing)
confide in (to trust in) confide to (to intrust to)
confer on (to give) confer with (to talk with)
convenient to (a place) convenient for (a purpose)

COMMON MISUSED AND INTERCHANGED WORDS

- PERSECUTE - to subject to ill treatment

- PROSECUTE - to bring to a lawsuit
- ADVICE - an offered opinion or recommendation; used as a noun
- ADVISE - to give counsel to; used as a verb
- LOSE - verb, to miss from one's possession
- LOOSE - adjective, a state of laxity
- ANTICIPATE - means to expect and prepare for something; active
- EXPECT - doesn't include idea of preparation; passive
- LAY, LAID, LAID - to put or set something down
- LIE, LAY, LAIN - to recline
- LIE, LIED, LIED - to deceive
- A WHILE - noun; a period of time
- AWHILE - adverb; for a short time
- AWAIT - does not require a preposition (for)
- WAIT - usually require a preposition (for)
- BECAUSE - use it to denote a specific cause-and-effect relationship
- SINCE - is acceptable in a causal sense but best used when it denotes a period of time
- BESIDE - means at the side of
- BESIDES - means in addition to
- BETWEEN - general, use it for two items
- AMONG - for more than two
- BIANNUAL - twice a year
- BIENNIAL - every two years
- CAPITAL - is the city
- CAPITOL - is the building
- CARAT - unit of weight for precious stones
- KARAT - measure of gold content
- ALL READY - adjective, all prepared
- ALREADY - adverb; pertains to time, something that had happened
- AT PRESENT - means now
- PRESENTLY - means soon
- EMINENT - respected
- IMMINENT - pending
- EMIGRATE FROM - leave
- IMMIGRATE TO - transfer
- COMPLEMENT - pair
- COMPLIMENT - praise or flatter
- TAKE - denotes movement away from speaker
- BRING - denotes movement toward the speaker
- ELIGIBLE - meaning authenticated
- ILLEGIBLE - pertains to handwriting
- FILL IN - to answer; to be a substitute
- FILL UP - to put something; fill completely
- FILL OUT - supply what is neede in the forms
- AGREE TO - a proposal or (of) something
- AGREE WITH - a person
- DIFFER IN - disagree in opinion
- DIFFER WITH - disagree with a person
- IN BEHALF OF - for the benefit of; in the interest
- ON BEHALF OF - representing; on the part of
- THAT - refers to people or things
- WHICH - refers only to things
- WHO - refers only to people
- CITIZEN - one who exercises full civil rights of a nation either by birth or neutralization
- RESIDENT - an inhabitant of the state or a city
- NATIVE - a person born in a specific location
- CONTINUAL - steadily repeated
- CONTINUOUS - uninterrupted
- DECLINE - implies courtesy in rejecting
- REFUSE - blunt and emphatic in rejecting
- DISINTERESTED - impartial, unbiased
- UNINTERESTED - lacks interest
- EACH OTHER - referring to two people
- ONE ANOTHER - referring to more than two
- FARTHER - use in physical distance only
- FURTHER - use in all other instances
- FEWER - refers to distinguishable units
- LESS - refers to bulk sum, amount, period, or concept
- IMPLY - to suggest
- INFER - to conclude
- IN SPITE - spelled separately
- DESPITE - never use with the preposition of
- ALL TOGETHER - people or things gathered in one place
- ALTOGETHER - completely, entirely
- CENSOR - remove something questionable; person who censors
- CENSURE - find fault or condemns; reprimands
- CITE - mention or quote someone
- SITE - a particular place
- CLIMACTIC - refers to the climax
- CLIMATIC - refers to the climate
- EXPLICIT - clearly expressed or observable
- IMPLICIT - implied or expressed indirectly
- MANY - people to things that could be counted
- MUCH - refers to a large qty
- WHO - requires a subject pronoun (equivalent to he/she)
- WHOM - requires a object pronoun (equivalent to him/her)
- RAISE - transitive verb; lift, heighten, promote
- RISE - intransitive verb; get up or increase
- LATER - referring to time
- LATTER - referring to second of two persons or things mentioned previously
- IN - means inside
- INTO - suggests movement
- HUNG - past tense of hang (suspend)
- HANGED - past tense of hang (execute)
- A LARGE NUMBER OF - used with count nouns
- A LARGE AMOUNT OF - used with non-count nouns

LIST OF IDIOMS

Expression Meaning
add fuel to the fire to worsen the situation
add insult to injury to make a bad situation worse for someone by doing
something else to upset them
anybody's game a contest where everyone has an equal chance of winning
at loss for words unable to speak or explain
bad blood enmity, hostility
beat around the bush avoid the main topic of discussion; to evade the issue
beaten black and blue beaten with visible bruises
catch with one's pants down catch off-guard, unprepared, or in an embarrasing situation
cheeky by jowl very close together
come to terms reach an agreement; accept something difficult
down and out lacking funds, resources, or prospects
dutch treat/Go Dutch an economical form of hospitality in which each person pays
for the other's expenses, or which each pays his own
expenses
eat dirt be humiliated
 face the music take punishment or unpleasant consequence
fair-weathered friend a friend who deserts you when you're in trouble
fish story improbable story said to be true
get hitched get married
get the knack of get used to
green-eyed monster jealousy
have an eye for to be good at noticing something
heart of gold generous and merciful in nature
hoist the white flag surrender
hold your peace keep silent; to hold one's tongue
in black and white written, printed or photograph form
in cahoots with in connivance with
in cold blood without showing emotion
in good faith sincere
in hot water serious trouble
in the same boat same situation
keep mum keep quiet (and not tell anyone)
keep your nose clean keep out of trouble
keep your spirits up don't give up; be optimistic
labor of love inspired work
laughing matter a joke
lead a dog's life lead a miserable life
lay waste to devastate
let your hair down loosen up
meet you halfway compromise
mess around with to annoy
much ado about nothing much excitement over a trifle
new blood new people with new ideas
not born yesterday not gullible
nurse a grudge (against) to feel resentful (against)
out on a limb in a precarious situation
paint the town red have a good time
pass the buck put the blame or responsibility on someone else
play safe be careful
play with fire engage in a dangerous activity
put our heads together pool our ideas
rake in the money collect huge sums of money with little effort
right between the eyes in a vulnerable spot
rub elbows meet casually
save your skin save your life
see things your way agree with you
seventh heaven a condition of perfect happiness
sharp tongue critical or harsh manner of speaking
 show your real face show your real attitude
shrug it off disregard
skin deep superficial
soak the rich overcharge the wealthy
speak for everybody on behalf of everybody
straight from the horse's mouth direct for (from?) the source; credible
strange bedfellows unusual companions
stand in your way to hinder
take heart be more optimistic
taken aback startled
take the rap to be punished
tell it to the Marines interjection used as a reply to express doubt or disbelief
time of your life pleasant or joyous occasion
tit for tat this for that; reciprocation
trailblazer a pioneer or innovator
turn the tables on you to reverse positions
turn yellow become cowardly
under oath obligated by promise
up in arms in violent opposition
walk on air to feel happiness on achieving success
weak stomach inability to consume a variety of food
wear pants in the family holds the dominant position in the family
your hands are clean free of guilt