Spelling Problems - Help with Spelling Problems for ESL Classes

Spelling Problems - Help with Spelling Problems for ESL Classes

Contractions

Contractions or what we can call "shortcuts" are most often used in spoken English and with informal written works. Here is a list with example sentences:


Positive Contractions

I'm --- I am --- Example: I'm waiting for my friend.
I'll --- I will --- Example: I'll see you tomorrow.
I'd --- I had / I would --- Example: I'd better leave now. OR I'd already eaten by the time he arrived.
I've --- I have --- Example: I've worked here for many years.
You're --- You are --- Example: You're joking!
You'll --- You will --- Example: You'll be sorry!
You'd --- You had / would --- Example: You'd left before he arrived, hadn't you? OR You'd better hurry up.
You've --- You have --- Example: You've been to London many times.
He's --- He is / has --- Example: He's on the phone now. OR He's been playing tennis since 10 this morning.

Random Words 5

deep - adj. going far down; a long way from top to bottom

reduce - v. to make less or smaller in number, size or amount; to cut
speed v. to make something go or move faster; n. the rate at which something moves or travels; the rate at which something happens or is done
depression - n. severe unhappiness; a period of reduced business and economic activity during which    many people lose their jobs
bed - n. a sleeping-  place
crash - v. to fall violently; to hit with great force
forget - v. to not remember
building - n. anything built for use as a house, factory, office, school, store or place of entertainment
most - ad. greatest in size or amount

Random Words 7

attempt - v - to work toward something; to try; to make an effort
He will attempt to get his homework in on time.
Fred attempted to get a new job, but had difficulties.


evidence - n - material or facts that prove something; a reason for believing
There was no evidence of any crime.
The detective searched the scene for evidence.


harvest - v - to gather crops;
              n. the crop after it is gathered
This year's harvest was very good. There were lots of tasty vegetables!
I'm going to help my father harvest the fruit in our garden.


smash - v -to break or be broken into small pieces by force; to hit or move with force
The young boy smashed his mother's favorite vase.
Be careful or you'll smash into a tree!


bright - adj -

giving much light; strong and clear in color

Could you turn that light in the other direction? It's much too bright.

The sun is very bright today.

leak - v - to come out of or to escape through a small opening or hole (usually a gas or liquid)
The hose is leaking. Get some tape to cover the hole up.
I think your cup might be leaking.

Random Words 6

motion - n. a movement; a continuing change of position or place

He saw a motion in the corner of the room.

The cat's motion is fascinating.

trap - v. to catch or be caught by being tricked; to be unable to move or escape; n. a device used to catch animals

He set a trap to catch the mice.

I've been trapped by an awful man!

urgent - adj. needing an immediate decision or action

Please tell Mr. Simmons that it's urgent.

He felt an urgent need to visit his best friend.

criticize - v - to say what is wrong with something or someone; to condemn; to judge

He didn't want to criticize her performance.

Would you like to criticize your work?

solid - adj- having a hard shape with no empty spaces inside; strong; not in the form of a liquid or gas

The sculpture is made of solid marble.

He has a solid knowledge of mathematics.

Random Words 4

custom - n. a long-established belief or activity of a people

Countries all over the world have their own interesting customs.

feed - v. to give food to

My niece has to feed her pet dog twice everyday.

serve - v. to work as an official; to be employed by the government; to assist or help

Policemen have to serve the people by protecting them from criminals.

sentence - v. to declare the punishment for a crime;

                n. the punishment for a crime

The judge sentenced the criminals to life imprisonment without parole.

prize - n. something offered or won in a competition; something of value that one must work hard for to get

She won the 1st prize for the English contest after nights of studying hard.

weapon - n. anything used to cause injury or to kill during an attack, fight or war

The soldiers gathered the weapons left in the field.

red - adj. having the color like that of blood

The teams wore red, blue and white shirts to distinguish themselves from each other.

degree - n. a measure of temperature

The temperature today is 37 degress Celsius.

debate - v. to argue for or against something; n. a public discussion or argument

The 2 groups had a debate on the topic of divorce.

too - ad. also; as well as; more than is necessary

I love you too.

amount - n. the number, size or weight of anything

She gave him the exact amount of money he needed.

Random Words 3

environment - noun -
     all surrounding things, conditions and influences that affect life; the natural world of land, sea, air, plants and animals

IF we don't take care of the environment things will begin to quickly get worse.

He grew up in a loving and caring environment.

neither - adjective

not one or the other of two

Neither Tom nor his friend came to the party.

I'm afraid I know neither Peter nor Shane.

treatment - noun

the act of treating; the use of medicine to try to cure or make better

My treatment for my ear infection lasted for three weeks.

Jeff visited the doctor for treatment of his illness.

decrease - verb

to make less in size or amount

I'm going to decrease my spending on restaurants.

The budget decreases research and development spending.

surface - noun 

the outer side or top of something ("The rocket landed on the surface of the moon.")

He worked for hours getting the surface smooth.

The surface of the moon is full of craters.

Random Words 2

security
n. freedom from danger or harm; protection; measures necessary to protect a person or place ("Security was increased in the city.")
wrong
ad. not correct; bad; not legal; opposite of right
remain
v. to stay in a place after others leave; to stay the same
third
ad. coming after two others
lend
v. to permit someone to use a thing temporarily; to make a loan of money
oppress
v. to make others suffer; to control by the use of unjust and cruel force or power
agriculture
n. farming
embassy
n. the offices of an ambassador and his or her assistants
round
ad. having the shape of a ball or circle

WS: Random Words 1

Match the words inside the box with their meanings.

WORDS:

Alley	Appetite	Boast	Cattle	Drudgery
Dull	Entirely	Gigantic	Goofy	Hatch
Naked	Outraged	Outskirts	Peddler	Portion
Roam	Slim	Struggle	Swell	Upgrade

MEANINGS: 1.someone who sells things	2.a general name for "cows"
3.skinny; thin	4.huge, large, enormous
5.without covering or clothing	6.on the whole
7.improve the quality of something	8.wander, walk around without direction
9.desire to eat	10.upset, very mad
11.funny, silly	12.boring, not exciting; not bright or sharp
13.have difficulty doing something; fight	14.break out of an egg
15.brag; say great things about yourself	16.get bigger, enlarge
17.small part or section	18.the suburbs, area around a city
19.a narrow passageway or streets.	20.hard, uninteresting labor

Random Words 1

Word =                                  Definition
alley =                                a narrow passageway or street
appetite =                             desire to eat
boast =                               brag; say great things about yourself
cattle =                                a general name for "cows"
drudgery=                           hard, uninteresting labor
dull=                                    boring, not exciting; not bright or sharp
entirely =                               on the whole
gigantic =                              huge, large, enormous
goofy =                                    funny, silly
hatch =                                       break out of an egg
naked =                                   without covering or clothing
outraged =                                  upset, very mad
outskirts =                                 the suburbs, area around a city
peddler =                                       someone who sells things
portion =                                   small part or section
roam =                                    wander, walk around without direction
slim =                                         skinny; thin
struggle =                                    have difficulty doing something; fight
swell =                                        get bigger, enlarge
upgrade =                                 improve the quality of something

Check your mastery of the words by answering: WS: Random Words 1 http://enjoyenglishwme.blogspot.com/2012/09/ws-random-words-1.html