IELTS & TOEFL Vocabulary – 142 Adjectives

A list of 142 adjectives to learn for success in the IELTS, TOEFL, or any other English exam. To communicate more powerfully in English, avoid weak, boring and overly-used words such as good or bad. Instead, choose one of the thousands of other more specific descriptive adjectives that can energize your language, convey greater meaning, and boost your IELTS and TOEFL scores.

PEOPLE

examples: She’s a helpful person. · He’s a selfish person.

PEOPLE
Good	Bad
helpful	unhelpful
friendly	unfriendly
generous	selfish
kind	mean
compassionate	wicked
sympathetic	evil
reliable	unreliable
gentle	violent
honest	dishonest
loving	ruthless
caring	uncaring
humble	snobbish
receptive	rude
understanding	manipulative
cheerful	angry
patient	impatient
trustworthy	untrustworthy
loyal	disloyal
faithful	unfaithful

WEATHER

examples: The weather was warm and sunny. · The weather was cold and windy.

WEATHER
Good	Bad
lovely	stormy
sunny	cold
warm	freezing
pleasant	windy
balmy	awful
beautiful	rainy
summery	humid
mild	foggy
fine	cloudy
clear	nasty

EXPERIENCE

examples: It was an amazing book. · It was a boring movie.

EXPERIENCE
Good	Bad
amazing	boring
exciting	unpleasant
positive	negative
wonderful	difficult
enriching	frightening
interesting	scary
unique	horrible
magnificent	terrible
joyful	depressing
productive	traumatic
relaxing	stressful

OTHER EXAMPLES

examples: What a pretty dress. · What a terrible accident.

OTHER EXAMPLES
Good	Bad
a pretty dress	a terrible accident
an attractive kitchen	an evil plot
a colourful painting	a tasteless meal
a splendid meal	a horrible day
a terrific show	a stupid idea
an amazing concert	a dreadful incident
a wonderful holiday	a violent demonstration
a superb actor	an exhausting trip
a magnificent collection	a bitter employee
an excellent presentation	a vengeful gang
an exceptional teacher	a tough customer
an extraordinary performance	a dirty room
a marvelous holiday	a dangerous neighbourhood
a fantastic movie	a tiring day
a tremendous honour	a difficult exam
an outstanding musician	a challenging quiz
a fabulous location	a notorious criminal
a beautiful woman	an illegal activity
a breathtaking performance	an immoral act
a lovely home	an isolated place
an exquisite painting	a lonely widow
an intelligent professor	a frustrating time
a gorgeous view	a confusing situation
a safe area	a disgusting smell
a proud parent	a shocking attack
a well-behaved child	a tense mood
a flexible policy	a helpless feeling
a fragrant garden	a cowardly act
a talented comedian	a strict rule
a comfortable bed	a careless driver
an optimistic attitude	a pessimistic view

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English Vocabulary Errors: Redundancies

Redundancies are unnecessary, repetitious words. They may appear before and after the main word. They make your communication longer, but not better. To improve your English, read through the list of common redundancies below and mark the ones you are familiar with. You may be surprised at how many you have been using! Omit (leave out) the repetitive word and start speaking and writing more clearly, accurately, and professionally. Some redundancies are completely wrong. Some are not wrong, but should only be used if you know why you are using them — for emphasis or differentiation.

Example of redundancy before the main word:

Wrong	The final conclusion was to close the bakery.
Right	The conclusion was to close the bakery.

Example of redundancy after the main word:

Wrong	The companies merged together last year.
Right	The companies merged last year.

5 MOST COMMON REDUNDANCIES:

Wrong	reply back: They replied back yesterday.
Right	reply: They replied yesterday.

Wrong	repeat again: Could you repeat that again, please?
Right	repeat: Could you repeat that, please?

Wrong	return back: Raj returned back yesterday.
Right	return: Raj returned yesterday.

Wrong	cash money: Do you have any cash money?
Right	cash: Do you have any cash?

Wrong	very unique: Your dress is very unique!
Right	unique: Your dress is unique!

COMMON REDUNDANCIES: Before the word

absolutely

• absolutely certain
• absolutely essential
• absolutely guaranteed
• absolutely necessary
• absolutely sure

advance

• advance planning
• advance preview
• advance reservation
• advance warning

completely

• completely annihilated
• completely destroyed
• completely eliminated
• completely filled
• completely finished
• completely surrounded

final

• final conclusion
• final decision
• final outcome
• final verdict

new

• new beginning
• new innovation
• new invention

past

• past experience
• past history
• past memories
• past records

still

• still continues
• still persists
• still remains

COMMON REDUNDANCIES: After the word

around

• circle around
• circulate around

back

• answer back
• repeat back
• reply back
• return back
• retreat back
• revert back

forward

• advance forward
• proceed forward
• progress forward

situation

• crisis situation
• emergency situation

together

• assemble together
• attach together
• cooperate together
• collaborate together
• connect together
• gather together
• integrate together
• join together
• meet together
• merge together

possibly

• could possibly
• may possibly
• might possibly

MORE COMMON REDUNDANCIES
Wrong	Right
actual facts	facts
added bonus	bonus
all-time record	record
alternative choice	alternative
armed gunman	gunman
ask a question	ask
assemble together	assemble
at the present time	at present
bald-headed	bald
basic essentials	essentials
basic fundamentals	fundamentals
best ever	best
biography of his/ her life	biography
bouquet of flowers	bouquet
brief moment	moment
classify into groups	classify
compete with each other	compete
current trend	trend
depreciate in value	depreciate
desirable benefits	benefits
disappear from sight	disappear
end result	result
estimated at about	estmated at
exact same	same
face mask	mask
fall down	fall
fellow classmates	classmates
fellow colleagues	colleagues
first began	began
foreign imports	imports
free gift	gift
frozen ice	ice
future plans	plans
general public	public
grow in size	grow
hurry up	hurry
invited guests	guests
irregardless	regardless
joint collaboration	collaboration
kneel down	kneel
lag behind	lag
lift up	lift
natural instinct	instinct
never before	never
old proverb	proverb
pair of twins	twins
period of time	time
personal friend	friend
plan ahead	plan
plan in advance	plan
postpone till later	postpone
reason is because	reason is
reason is why	reason is
rise up	rise
round in shape	round
same identical	same or identical
serious danger	danger
small size	small
soft in texture	soft
sudden impulse	impulse
suddenly exploded	exploded
surrounded on all sides	surrounded
tall in height	tall
tiny bit	bit
true facts	facts
undergraduate student	undergraduate
unexpected surprise	surprise
usual custom	custom
warn in advance	warn

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100 Phrasal Verbs Used as Commands

Many two-word phrasal verbs can be used alone as complete sentences or commands in English.

It is important to understand them because they are used so often in English. It is also easy to use them because they are so short! Please note that a few of the expressions below are considered impolite or rude and have been marked as such.
Note: A phrasal verb is a verb plus an adverb and/or preposition. It has a different meaning than when the verb is used alone. There are thousands of phrasal verbs in English, most of which are used as part of a sentence.

Phrasal Verb	Meaning
Back away!	move backwards, away from something frightening or dangerous
Back off!	(slang – rude) stop bothering or threatening someone
Back up!	move backwards; step backwards; drive backwards
Bear down!	push or press down hard
Bend down!	lean over and forward; lean down
Bend over!	lean forward from the waist
Breathe in!	take a breath in; take air into the lungs
Breathe out!	take a breath out; push air out of the lungs
Brighten up!	be cheerful; be happier
Buckle down!	start working, studying, or doing something else seriously
Buddy up!	find a partner
Bugger off!	(slang – rude) Go away!
Butt out!	(slang ­– rude) don’t interfere
Buzz off!	(slang – rude) Go away!
Calm down!	relax, don’t be angry, don’t be upset, don’t be worried
Carry on!	keep doing what you were doing
Cheer up!	be happier; don’t be sad
Chill out!	relax; don’t be upset or angry
Clean up!	clean yourself or your surroundings
Close down!	close a shop or business so it is not operating
Come back!	return to where you were
Come down!	move down off something high come south
Come on!	(encouraging someone) do what I am telling you to do (not believing someone) I don’t believe you (rushing someone) move faster
Come in!	enter a closed space
Come out!	leave a closed space
Come over!	come to my house; come to where I am
Come up!	move to a higher place
Cool down!	Relax; don’t be upset or angry
Cover up!	put on more clothes
Double up!	form pairs because space or resources are limited
Dream on!	(slang) I don’t think what you have just said will happen
Drink up!	finish your drink
Eat up!	finish your food
Fess up!	(slang) confess / admit what you did; tell the truth about what you did
Finish up!	finish what you have been doing
Fuck off!	(slang – very, very rude) Go away!
Gather around!	make a group and come together in one place
Gear up!	get ready to do something
Get away!	move away; run away; escape
Get down!	come down from a high place
Get in!	go inside something, like a car or bus
Get off!	go out of something, like a bus or train
Get on!	climb on board something moving or about to start moving, like a train
Get out!	(slang ­– rude) Leave this place! (used when angry at someone)
Get up!	become awake; don’t sleep
Give up!	stop doing what you’re doing give yourself to the police or authorities
Go around!	move to where you need to go by passing some obstacle instead of going straight
Go away!	leave the place where you are
Go back!	return to where you were
Go on!	continue what you were saying
Grow up!	behave in a mature way; don’t act like a child
Hang on!	wait hold tight
Hang up!	end the phone call
Hold on!	waithold this tight or you might fall
Hurry up!	do whatever you are doing quickly, whether it’s physical or mental
Keep away!	stay away; do not go near
Keep out!	stay outside; do not enter
Lace up!	tie your shoelaces; put on your shoes
Lay off!	(slang – rude) stop doing something that bothers someone
Lie down!	put your body in a horizontal position; relax on a bed or sofa
Lighten up!	cheer up; don’t be so serious or worried
Line up!	make or form a line
Listen up!	listen carefully
Loosen up!	(slang) relax; don’t be so stressed
Move along!	keep moving; don’t stop in this spot
Move back!	move to a place in the back
Move forward!	move to a place in the front
Move on!	continue your life; go on with your life
Open up!	Open the door!
Perk up!	cheer up; don’t be sad
Press on!	keep doing what you need to do; don’t give up
Pull back!	move backward
Quieten down!	stop being noisy
Queue up!	Make or form a line
Saddle up!	Get ready to ride a horse by putting the saddle on the horse
Scoot over!	(slang) move to make space for someone else
Stand up!	stand
Shut up!	(slang – rude) be quiet; stop talking
Sit down!	sit; be seated
Sit up!	sit straight in your chair, bed, etc.
Smarten up!	become more intelligent and aware of what’s happening around you
Speak up!	talk louder
Speed up!	move faster
Stand up!	stand
Stay away!	don’t go near
Straighten up!	stand straight; do not bend
Stretch out!	lie down comfortably
Sum up!	summarize
Take off!	leave fast
Tidy up!	clean the place; put things in the right places
Turn back!	go backwards
Turn over!	move your body so that the other side faces up
Wait up!	wait for me to catch up with you
Wake up!	don’t sleep anymore; become awake
Walk away!	leave a difficult situation
Walk out!	leave a situation because you do not approve of something leave someone (leave a relationship)
Watch out!	be very careful
Work away!	continue working
Write back!	reply to a letter or email

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50 Tongue Twisters to improve pronunciation in English

Tongue twisters are a great way to practice and improve pronunciation and fluency. They can also help to improve accents by using alliteration, which is the repetition of one sound. They’re not just for kids, but are also used by actors, politicians, and public speakers who want to sound clear when speaking. Below, you will find some of the most popular English tongue twisters. Say them as quickly as you can. If you can master them, you will be a much more confident speaker.

1. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
   A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked
   If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
   Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?
2. Betty Botter bought some butter
   But she said the butter’s bitter
   If I put it in my batter, it will make my batter bitter
   But a bit of better butter will make my batter better
   So ‘twas better Betty Botter bought a bit of better butter
3. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
   He would chuck, he would, as much as he could, and chuck as much wood
   As a woodchuck would if a woodchuck could chuck wood
4. She sells seashells by the seashore
5. How can a clam cram in a clean cream can?
6. I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream
7. I saw Susie sitting in a shoeshine shop
8. Susie works in a shoeshine shop. Where she shines she sits, and where she sits she shines
9. Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear. Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair. Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn’t fuzzy, was he?
10. Can you can a can as a canner can can a can?
11. I have got a date at a quarter to eight; I’ll see you at the gate, so don’t be late
12. You know New York, you need New York, you know you need unique New York
13. I saw a kitten eating chicken in the kitchen
14. If a dog chews shoes, whose shoes does he choose?
15. I thought I thought of thinking of thanking you
16. I wish to wash my Irish wristwatch
17. Near an ear, a nearer ear, a nearly eerie ear
18. Eddie edited it
19. Willie’s really weary
20. A big black bear sat on a big black rug
21. Tom threw Tim three thumbtacks
22. He threw three free throws
23. Nine nice night nurses nursing nicely
24. So, this is the sushi chef
25. Four fine fresh fish for you
26. Wayne went to wales to watch walruses
27. Six sticky skeletons (x3)
28. Which witch is which? (x3)
29. Snap crackle pop (x3)
30. Flash message (x3)
31. Red Buick, blue Buick (x3)
32. Red lorry, yellow lorry (x3)
33. Thin sticks, thick bricks (x3)
34. Stupid superstition (x3)
35. Eleven benevolent elephants (x3)
36. Two tried and true tridents (x3)
37. Rolling red wagons (x3)
38. Black back bat (x3)
39. She sees cheese (x3)
40. Truly rural (x3)
41. Good blood, bad blood (x3)
42. Pre-shrunk silk shirts (x3)
43. Ed had edited it. (x3)
44. We surely shall see the sun shine soon
45. Which wristwatches are Swiss wristwatches?
46. Fred fed Ted bread, and Ted fed Fred bread
47. I slit the sheet, the sheet I slit, and on the slitted sheet I sit
48. A skunk sat on a stump and thunk the stump stunk, but the stump thunk the skunk stunk
49. Lesser leather never weathered wetter weather better
50. Of all the vids I’ve ever viewed, I’ve never viewed a vid as valued as Alex’s engVid vid

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PRONUNCIATION Word Connection

Word Connection

Don’t speak word by word

1.       U + Vowel = W

·         Do i

·         Do it

·         Go any there

·         You are

·         Don’t you do it

·         Don’t you do it

·         You and i

2.       I + Vowel = Y

·         She Always

·         She ever

·         She isn’t

·         The end

·         I understand

·         I also need the other one

3.       T + Vowel = R/D

·         Take it away

·         But I get one

·         But I ‘m her e

·         Get out

·         Give it a try

4.       T + Consonant = held

·         What was

·         Get one

·         Sit down

·         That was

·         I cant wait for you

·         We don’t know what to do

5.       T + Y = tʃ

·         Don’t you

·         Not yet

·         Can I get I you drink

·         What your name ?

6.       D + Y = dʒ

·         Did you see it ?

·         Could you tell me

·         Would you like to do

·         Di you find it

7.     S + Y = ʃ

·         I miss you

·         Yes you are

·         I will try to guess your age

8.       Z + Y = ʒ

·         How’s your family ?

·         Where’s your friend

·         When’s your friend

9.       Θ + ð = Silent / blend together

·         With lemon

·         With june

·         With zeal

·         Both day

10.   H/ ð = preceded by verb are usually silent

·         Did he

·         Tell him

·         Ask him

·         Keep her

·         Kill him

·         Tell them

·         Ask them

11.   Consonant + Vowel = Link up

·         Came on

·         Feel oke

·         Hold on

·         Come in

·         Read only

·         Turn over

·         Follow up on

·         Pick up on

·         The American intonation

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Pronunciation of LAX

The Pronunciation of / i /

Contoh :

Easy                 These                           Believe                                    Either             

Each                Meat                           Bean                            Deep

Eagle               Equal                           People                         Field

Eat                   Evening                       Read                            Eat

In Sentences :

Ø  I’m not feeling well.

Ø  Long time no see.

Ø  What have you been busy with.

Ø  Go clean up your self !

Ø  I brus my teeth.

Ø  I need to take a leak.

Ø  I ‘ll get you seat.

The Pronunciation of / I /

Contoh :

 Explain           Big       City                  Build

English             Bit       Minute                        Guilt

Dizzy                sit        phyic               Imagine

Hit                   Kit       kill                   Thing

·         In Sentences :

·         It’s a fresh mint flavour toothpaste

·         Where did I put my towel

·         Your breath is stink

·         Make it fast

·         I’m in hurry

·         Watch with the slippery

The Pronunciation of / ε /

Contoh :

Bed                              head                breakfast                    any

Get                              heaven            every                           many

Send                            heavy              every                           pen

Ready                          Effort               set                               health

Contoh :

·         You never know what’s gonna happen

·         Don’t you ever do that to me again

·         Not yet.

·         I have understood well.

·         Any additional time or not ?

·         Don’t under estimate me.

The Pronunciation of / æ /

Contoh :

Happy                        Example                    Actor

Jacket                        Catch                          Actually

Fast                            Bad                             Active

Trap                           Lamp                          After

Gap                             Land                           Last

Pan                             National                    Handsome

In sentences :

·         I gotta take a bath

·         Cant you make a little faster

·         Why were you absent

·         I have to prepare myself  for the exam

·         Don’t you have a class

·         Are you laughing at me

·         Don’t be such a jackass!

·         I cant stand my own.

The Pronunciation of / ɑ /

Contoh  :

Box             honor                   knock                             odd

Stop            arch                      honest                  lock

Hot             shot                      bomb                    god

In Sentences :

·         Guys it’s hot in this room

·         Give me some space, will you

·         My nouse wont stop running

·         Have some more

·         you are gonna leave the door open

·         Watch your language

·         What the foxy mama !

The Pronunciation of / Λ /

         

Contoh :

Must               luck                             dump                          just

Upper             up                                bus                              lunch

Come              double                        front                           love

Done               once                            cover                          us

·        In sentences :

·        You forget to tighten up your button

·        Let up for a minute, you cant study all day

·        Don’t just stare at your teacher

·        My favorite subject is English

·        I think I ‘ll cut class today

·        The way she sucks up to the teacher makes me sick !

·        I got something to do

The Pronunciation of / u /

Contoh  :

Food               Smooth                      School

Lose                move                          do

Who                glue                            shoes

Fruit               juice                            tune

Music              new                             school

·        In Sentences ;

·        I need to take a poop

·        Don’t take too long

·        How was school ?

·        Are you trying to fool me ?

·        Get well soon, okey !

·         Don’t lose your money

The Pronunciation of / ʊ /

Contoh :

Put                        push                      full

Butcher                 spoonful               fulfill

Cushion                book                     look

Wool                     wolf                      foot

Stood                             could                     would

In Sentences :  

I think we should get together sometime

I’m full

You look confused

Put on my table

Could I ask permission ?

Just miss understood

How can you like that kind of show ?

The Pronunciation of  / ə /

Contoh :

Away              agree                                     abuse                                    aboard

Against         along                         attention                   advance

Contain         polite                          support                     absent          

Japan                        photoghraph           umbrella                    infant

In sentences :

·         I graduated from Senior High school a year ago          

·         I have been arround

·         You have to read the theory and method and the test

·         Why were you absent

·         The teacher tends to pay attention onlu to beautiful girls

·         You can’t run away from this problem

The Pronunciation of / ɔ /

Contoh :

Storm                        Door                         Horse                        Caught

Awe               law                             dog                             ball

Naughty       daughter                  almost                      talk

Walk              song                           lawn                         horse

In Sentence :

·        You are so tall now

·        Its too salty

·        I have been waiting here for a long time

·        Waiting is most boring thing in the whole world.

·        You pick up the wrong information.

·        Try to talk to me and we ‘ll make things better

           

           

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